DEB 73

Once brought back to the world, Yasha resumed his duties, which had been halted by his first encounter with malice. 

He continued to protect all living beings, including dragons, and to cultivate the world.

As the first dragon and the primordial being, Yasha did not favor dragons over the weak. 

Depending on the situation, the balance of power, and moral duty, Yasha’s scales tipped back and forth between humans and dragons, aiding each side as needed.

At times he helped humans, and at other times he helped dragons, ensuring that both species could coexist. 

Since all life was precious to him, Yasha mourned every death and prayed for their peace.

He mourned daily and prayed daily. 

Because he sincerely valued life and had nothing to be ashamed of before the gods, the situation unfolded differently than when he was in seclusion. 

The dragons’ change in attitude was the first sign of this shift.

In the past, the dragons had been wary of Yasha and had forgotten him. 

Now, they regarded him as their rightful guardian, seeking his help for both minor and major issues. 

Meeting Vina and Moot was part of this process.

Although born from dragons, they had been swept away by hunting parties, separated from their group, hatched in an unknown forest, taken in by humans, and eventually abandoned and sold into the slave market.

Had Yasha not known their story, he might have overlooked them. 

But knowing their plight, it was impossible for him to ignore them.

“Would you like to come with me?”

Ultimately, Yasha decided to take them to his lair, at least until they reached adulthood.

Of course, not everyone agreed with this decision.

“This is driving me crazy, Yasha! Is this a shelter?”

Ash, disgruntled by the sudden increase in dragons from one to three, threw a fit. 

His concerns about the lair being discovered and them facing trouble from taking in unknown dragons were worries Yasha had never heard before. 

While Ash’s complaints were endearing, they were not to be dismissed lightly.

“It’s fine, Ash. Even though you say that, you’ll get along with them just fine.”

Every time Yasha said this, Ash would flare up and breathe fire, yet he never turned away the young dragons. 

Instead, he took them in and taught them personally, although he faced considerable difficulty due to Vina and Moot’s lack of social skills.

Despite the struggles, Yasha and Ash eventually managed to open the hearts of the two young dragons through persistent effort.

The once expressionless and wary children began to smile and call out Yasha and Ash’s names. 

The hatchlings, who had grown considerably, dropped their guards and played with Ash, filling the lair with energy. 

The space, once warmed by Ash’s presence, now buzzed with vitality.

Watching this, Yasha felt ripples in his heart. 

Initially planning to heal their wounds and return them, he found himself wishing more and more for the two dragons to stay by his side.

He enjoyed the lively atmosphere they created in the lair, and he was pleased that Ash, who was always alone when Yasha left the lair, now had new companions. 

For Ash’s sake, he hoped they wouldn’t leave.

When he allowed himself to desire this, as if by a miracle, the two dragons simultaneously asked to become his disciples. 

It was a huge blessing for Yasha.

“If you have the courage to share my burden, I will accept you.”

To reciprocate their feelings, Yasha cut open his heart and bestowed his power upon them. 

The young dragons were surprised by Yasha’s sudden action, but they neither felt burdened by the power they received nor did they ignore Yasha’s sentiments.

Vina and Moot gladly accepted Yasha’s power, becoming his second and third disciples. 

The more disciples he took in, the more fulfilled Yasha felt. 

Just as new colors filled the world when new species were born, Yasha’s heart became more vibrant with each new disciple.

‘I feel so happy, it’s almost strange. Am I nearing my end?’

Feeling so peaceful and fulfilled, he had no fear. 

Even if a great evil appeared one day, his heart felt strong enough to face it head-on. 

It was then that he realized that while he thought he had been nurturing and protecting his disciples, they had also been helping him grow.

“…You will become an unforgettable memory for me.”

Even if I live for tens of thousands of years, I will never forget. Even if my disciples leave me.

If he looked at them too long, he would feel a lump in his throat, and his three disciples would each respond with different expressions but the same emotions. 

Ash would worry, Moot would look puzzled, and Vina would leave a small, critical remark about Yasha being too emotional. 

However, beneath it all was affection, and Yasha accepted all their words with gratitude.

Meeting Zenith and Vita happened one day during such times.

As usual, Yasha was wandering through the forest, tending to his lair, when a small fern-like hand suddenly grabbed his clothes. 

Thinking it might be a fairy’s prank, Yasha looked down and found two green dragons, their breathing weak, exhaling feverish breaths as if they were on the verge of death.

Seeing them, Yasha immediately knew they were just shy of leaving the hatchling stage.

Every dragon experiences a severe fever before reaching adulthood, leaving them in their most vulnerable state. 

Typically, leaders within the group protect young hatchlings during this time, but for some reason, these two dragons had no group.

They were so injured that it wouldn’t have been surprising if they had stopped breathing right then.

Usually, in such conditions, dragons are highly sensitive and wary, unwilling to accept help.

Being on the verge of adulthood and injured, they would normally refuse external help and try to overcome it on their own. 

Yet, they had come to his forest seeking help, likely having heard rumors among dragons about a guardian.

These young dragons sought his help despite their injuries. 

Realizing this, Yasha immediately took them to his lair, knowing these children would become another significant bond.

Bonds that persist stubbornly always start this way.

“Yasha! What did you bring this time?”

“…They’re injured hatchlings.”

“Wait a minute. Something’s odd about them. Are they really young hatchlings?”

Vina, ever observant, was the first to notice something unusual. 

True to his nature as a keen-eyed Blue Dragon, Vina immediately saw that the hatchlings Yasha had brought were not ordinary. 

Yasha nodded.

All dragons reach adulthood after living for three hundred years, but these dragons, despite looking over four hundred years old, were still in the hatchling stage.

This could only mean one thing: life-threatening injuries.

Normally, such injuries would heal over time, but these two dragons bore traces of demonic energy, which was hindering their recovery and blocking their growth into adulthood.

The deathly aura on their faces was likely due to this.

“It’s a miracle they’re still alive.”

Yasha felt an even greater sense of responsibility. 

These two dragons, severely weakened, had come to him, which meant they desperately wanted to live.

“Yasha, these injuries seem like they came from demons.”

“Yes, Ash, go get some holy water.”

It seemed they had been attacked by a powerful demon, and their wounds hadn’t healed for a hundred years.

Yasha decided to use the holy water he had received as a gift from the gods when he first descended to the earth to aid their recovery. 

Additionally, he cut a piece of his heart to make a small crystal.

While the holy water would expel the demonic energy, Yasha would have to restore the life force of the two dragons, which had almost depleted.

Even though his disciples were shocked and tried to stop him, Yasha did not hesitate.

“If you were in my place, you would have done the same, so why stop me?”

All three of Yasha’s disciples had been saved by his sacrifice and had become his disciples as a result. 

None of them could argue against this.

In the end, Yasha stubbornly cut a piece of his heart to revive the two dragons on the brink of death. 

No, it wouldn’t be wrong to say he resurrected them. 

The two Green Dragons, who transitioned from hatchlings to adults as their wounds healed, had briefly died and then barely opened their eyes.

“H-How…”

Still disoriented, they touched their now-adult bodies, unable to believe their transformation. 

Confused and overwhelmed by their newfound vitality, the two dragons were met with Yasha’s usual gentle smile.

“Welcome. Since you’re half-reborn… let’s call you Zenith and Vita.”

Later, Zenith and Vita would tell him that if he hadn’t been bleeding from his mouth and healing his heart while speaking, it would have been less frightening and more touching.

From that day on, the number of dragons staying in Yasha’s lair grew from three to five.

It was the beginning of a bond worth sacrificing his heart for.