They say the quiet ones are the scariest when angered.
And right now, that saying couldn’t be more true.
The Faerus—normally gentle, timid little creatures—were changing before my eyes. The same beings that used to tremble at the sight of predators now trembled for an entirely different reason: fury.
Even the meekest creatures have their limits, and for the Faerus, that limit was clear.
Their home.
This abandoned mansion wasn’t just a hideout to them—it was their sanctuary. The one place they could exist without fear.
And now, someone had dared to destroy it.
Their delicate, glowing eyes, usually filled with curiosity and shyness, had turned sharp and burning red.
But if you looked at them without context—small, fluttering, almost fairy-like creatures making soft balloon-like piyuu sounds—you’d never think they were dangerous.
"Vermin..." the intruder spat, sneering as he raised his weapon. "Just a bunch of bugs!"
See that? He still didn’t get it.
He had no idea what he’d just provoked.
Because you can mock their size all you want—but you never, ever make the Faerus angry.
"Piyuu!"
That single cry echoed like a spark hitting dry leaves.
Then another.
And another.
Until the sound filled the air—hundreds, maybe thousands of overlapping cries. The Faerus began to gather, their tiny bodies swirling together in a strange, mesmerizing dance.
At first, I didn’t understand what they were doing. They looked like a chaotic swarm, spiraling and fusing in midair, light bending around them.
But then—
The air shifted. The ground trembled.
A shape began to emerge.
A massive head formed first, followed by an enormous mouth lined with razor-sharp teeth that gleamed like silver. Then came the body—long, coiling, layered with scales so black they reflected the faint light like glass.
Powerful limbs took shape, claws digging deep into the floorboards. Wings unfurled from its back, stretching wide enough to fill the room.
And finally, eyes opened—glowing, eerie, and intelligent.
A low rumble filled the air, shaking the entire mansion.
I could only mutter one word under my breath.
"...A dragon."
The Faerus had merged together—hundreds of them, maybe more—forming a single colossal being.
A dragon that shouldn’t exist.
"What... what is that?" Anna’s voice trembled as she stared at the creature towering before us. Her earlier confidence had vanished, replaced by awe and disbelief.
I couldn’t blame her.
Just moments ago, they were palm-sized creatures that fit easily in my hand—soft, harmless, adorable.
Now, they were a roaring embodiment of fury, a guardian born of wrath and unity.
It was enough to make anyone’s heart stop.
But since I already knew about the Faeru’s abilities, I simply stood there, watching quietly.
They weren’t predators—they were prey.
In nature, it’s always the smallest, most fragile-looking creatures that develop the most terrifying ways to survive. A tiny snake carries venom that can kill an elephant. A chameleon bends light around itself to disappear from sight.
And the Faeru... they evolved in their own way too.
Their power—transformation.
That’s how these fragile, palm-sized creatures endure in this brutal world. When faced with danger, they don’t run. They gather. Dozens—hundreds—of them merge together, their mana weaving into a single shared form.
And that form... becomes reality.
This wasn’t some trick of the eye or illusionary magic. Those scales, that tail, the glowing eyes and fanged maw—all of it was real.
Of course, it wasn’t a true dragon. It wouldn’t breathe fire or carry the overwhelming aura of an ancient beast. But the body it created? The mass, the pressure, the sheer presence—that was no illusion.
Still, I couldn’t help but raise a brow.
’A dragon, though? Seriously?’
In the manga, they’d only ever managed to turn into something like a wyvern. A respectable imitation, but nowhere near this.
For them to take on the form of a dragon now... that meant something.
The Faeru were angry. Really angry.
The ground trembled faintly as the dragon’s massive body shifted, its golden eyes narrowing at the man across from us.
The color drained from his face.
He stumbled back a few steps, his earlier confidence crumbling. And then, as if only just realizing who was behind the creature, his eyes locked onto Anna.
"The princess...!" he spat, his voice full of desperation.
I met his glare from behind my helmet. His killing intent was palpable—but completely pointless.
What are you going to do with that glare?
To even reach us, he’d have to get past the Faeru first. And right now, the Faeru weren’t letting anyone get close. Their hostility radiated through the air like heat from a forge, and the man froze, unable to take another step forward.
I hadn’t exactly planned for this outcome—but I couldn’t deny the satisfaction I felt.
Everything that could go wrong for him... had.
He’d gone through all the trouble to use a magic disruptor against the Golden Knights, had probably imagined his perfect victory, his flawless ambush. But the moment he’d thrown open that carriage door, the princess was already gone—with me.
And when he finally tracked us down, hoping to fix his mistake, he was greeted by a dragon staring him down.
From his perspective, it must’ve felt like the universe itself was mocking him.
But really... what could he do now?
Sometimes, you dig your own grave without even realizing it.
You really should’ve been more considerate.
When you break into someone’s home, it’s only natural for the owner to get a little... angry.
And looking at those bared, razor-sharp teeth, I’d say angry was an understatement.
The dragon’s eyes burned like molten gold, its chest expanding as it drew in a deep breath.
Then—
KROAAARARARARA!!
The roar split the air like a physical force, shaking the ground beneath our feet.
"Kyaaa!"
"Ugh...!"
Anna and Berno both covered their ears instinctively, stumbling backward under the sheer pressure. Even I couldn’t help but wince, my helmet doing little to muffle the deafening sound.
It was so loud, so overwhelming, that for a split second, I honestly thought my eardrums might burst.
Am I... actually going to bleed from my ears?
That ridiculous thought somehow found its way through the chaos.
The roar rolled across the entire cavern like a thunderstorm, echoing endlessly until, at last, it faded into a low rumble. The air felt heavier now, charged with heat and mana.
The moment silence returned, the man in front of us moved.
"Ice Lance!"
A surge of icy mana erupted from his hands, forming a massive spear of pure frost.
Maybe he thought that if he just stood there, frozen in fear, he’d lose his only chance to reach Anna.
Brave. Admirably reckless.
But still—
Not a good choice.
Thud.
The dragon’s massive foot came down, and the entire ground trembled as if the earth itself had groaned in protest. Dust rained down from the ceiling, cracks splintering across the stone floor.
Then, with a sudden twist of its enormous body—
WHOOSH—CRASH!
Its tail swung through the air like a battering ram, colliding squarely with the man who had been charging forward.
"Gah!!"
The impact sent him flying like a ragdoll. He slammed into the far wall with a bone-crunching sound before collapsing in a heap of broken armor and blood.