Academic gathering with a lich

"I'm sorry, Mr. Dragon, but it's still too much for me to accept," Lyle's heart was a bit uneasy. Even though he had followed his rationality, no one likes to be repeatedly rejected. Watching the dragon's claws cross in front of its chest, Lyle wasn't sure if it had gotten angry.

Mr. Dragon made a move. "I've thought of a good method to resolve our differences," he said as he took out another pouch. Compared to the one carrying treasures, this one was more attractive and considerably smaller. It was labeled "For Teaching Use" in the script that Lyle could read. Mr. Dragon took out an even more exquisite purple little bag from it and handed it to Lyle, "This is a storage bag, made of chimera hide. In the first class, I will distribute some essential items to my students. This was originally intended as a reward for my exceptional students. Take it, Plague Doctor, this one is just a bit more refined than the free ones."

Lyle did not refuse again since the reward was barely within his acceptable range. Touching its textured surface, he was certain it was worth quite a bit more than he had thought.

"Mr. Dragon, there are three Olious inside! Did you forget to take them out?"

"That's the scholarship for outstanding students, pre-paid to you, Mr. Plague Doctor, with the expectation that you will study my course diligently," Mr. Dragon explained.

"I will work hard," Lyle said with joy.

Though receiving high pay for low labor is not fair, high rewards are always pleasant. Perhaps this was Mr. Dragon's attitude towards students. He was kind and wise, often encouraging those around him with inspirational words. He was a good teacher.

The two consequently took seats on the wooden chairs at the corner of the hall. Mr. Dragon began brewing tea on the table. Judging by his skillful method, the tea was surely going to taste much better than Alianna's.

As Mr. Dragon busied himself, Lyle started to bring up a topic.

"Sir, I still don't understand what exactly the course you teach is?"

As he stirred his spoon, Mr. Dragon absentmindedly tapped on the wooden table. "It's quite a basic subject for Andrey, closely related to the journey of our lives. It's not difficult to learn, but it's a compulsory course for us."

"Hmm... Is it life sciences?" Lyle's only thought was of this field which he had once discussed with the Light Bat Onion.

Mr. Dragon exclaimed in surprise, "No, dear Plague Doctor. Although I don't teach life sciences, I'm undoubtedly a fan of the field. Do you also like life sciences?"

Mr. Dragon suddenly displayed immense passion, seemingly more enthusiastic about the field than his own course.

"Sir, you still haven't told me your teaching topic is..."

"Haha, sorry, I got a bit carried away. At Andrey, I'm responsible for the Spirit Summoning Studies course."

Spirit Summoning Studies.

It sounded like a mysterious discipline, related to life... Could it be the study of the origin of souls? Lyle could only conjecture from the literal meaning, as he had no knowledge of the subject.

But, he wasn't in a hurry. After all, he was about to learn the course and he had made a firm promise to master it.

Conversely, Lyle was more interested in Mr. Dragon. Members of the Chalice of Opulence were undoubtedly from the Hedonistic Faction, so what were Mr. Dragon's desires? Were they related to the field of life sciences?

Mr. Dragon's tea was ready; just at the final step, he added quite a few chunks of raw potato to it.

Hm?

"The tea is ready, potato," he said.

"Thank you, respected Sir," a sound came from inside the crystal, and the slightly larger Light Bat landed on the table, settling on the side closer to Mr. Dragon. While enjoying the potato tea, the Light Bat also conveniently adjusted its light to a softer level, though the joy inside made the light flicker on and off.

So, the tea was for the Light Bat.

Ever since Mr. Giant Spirit began brewing the tea, Lyle had been puzzled because Mr. Dragon had only used one cup—he thought Mr. Dragon was just a bit forgetful and neglected to remember him, but actually, he hadn't even remembered his own share; the tea was intended for the Light Bat.

While the potato enjoyed the tea, Mr. Dragon's large paw stroked the potato's back gently and soothingly.

"Ah~ so refreshing~"

Lyle watched Mr. Dragon with a face full of black lines as he made strange noises.

The sound lasted for less than a minute.

Although Potato was used to it, faced with Lyle's new face and under the influence of embarrassment, he quickly enjoyed his meal and returned to the chandelier.

"Eh? Why so fast today? Potato, you should rest a bit after eating, eating so quickly is bad for your health," Mr. Dragon made a regretful gesture toward the chandelier.

"Cough, cough." Lyle suddenly felt an itch in his throat.

It was then that Mr. Dragon came back to his senses, ending his stance of self-pity.

"Ah, my apologies, Plague Doctor, seeing animals tends to make me lose my composure," Mr. Dragon was quite laid-back about his own behavior.

That's not losing composure, that's being sick. You're like a pervert with Light Bats. If I'm not mistaken, Potato is male too; who could stand that?

Lyle had a significant change of heart regarding Mr. Dragon; indeed, no one in the world is perfect.

"That's right, that's my desire. I am extremely passionate about these magical creatures, very, very passionate."

"And the bigger they are, the more I love them. You must know from my codename what my favorite magical creature is."

It's the dragon, considered a symbol of evil by Westerners.

"I really want it so badly, to have a dragon companion, to be with it from its birth, watch it grow, eat meat with it, soar in the sky together, rest on the ground together, always together..."

Mr. Dragon let out a hysterical wail.

"Then why doesn't Mr. Dragon keep one? Is it too dangerous? Or did Andrey forbid keeping dragons?"

"Ha, as if danger meant anything, as if a ban meant anything, it's just that I can't find any. Dragons were almost driven to extinction fifty years ago."

"They were driven to extinction fifty years ago? Wait, listening to Mr. Dragon's statement, do you mean that was done deliberately?" Lyle had a bold guess, as if he saw the angels in the heavens winking at him mischievously.

Mr. Dragon said morosely, "Fifty years ago, the Crusaders went on their eastern campaign..."

"Huh?!" I remember the Crusaders' eastern campaign was against MSL territory, a religious military movement targeting Heretics; how could it have led to the extinction of dragons?

"I remember, sir, historical records state that the Crusaders' eastern campaign targeted the Heretics."

"That's just to fool you all. With the expansion of the Church's power and the growing influence of the Holy Light, some rare magical creatures appeared under the Holy Light. The human-centric Holy Light inherently pushed for human purity. They believed humanity was supreme, so, tell me, would they oppose potentially corruptible human heretics or those beautiful and strong magical creatures?"

"Those damned members of the church, if they had honestly gone to cut down those damned Heretics, it would have been fine, but they all went off to slay dragons instead. Dragons, the most powerful beings at the top of the food chain, with long lifespans and strong bodies. Dragons possess intelligence no less than humans'. Given time, those beautiful creatures could definitely have replaced us as the rulers of the world; no, they always were, the supreme kings. Those fools of the Holy Light, for the sake of mindless glory, inflicted violence upon such a species and boasted upon their corpses. To avoid panic, they disguised this massacre as a war against Heretics, but the grieving dragon bones are still proudly displayed in those bastards' houses, damn them."

Listening to Mr. Dragon's anti-human speech, Lyle fell silent. There was a feeling that the Holy Light always seemed to take the blame in this era, but the Holy Light's ability to take the blame was undeniable. Dragons, their species wiped out by the Crusaders' eastern campaign, strengthened Lyle's resolve not to be exposed by the Holy Light.

As for the Church's attacks on dragons, Lyle could understand.

If I had the ability, I too would become a Dragon Slayer, then hang a dragon head in my living room, blissful, indeed.

Watching Mr. Dragon stand up uncontrollably, ranting and raving, cursing the Holy Light's ancestors for eighteen generations.

Lyle felt he was integrating into Andrey's life.