I Raised A Black Dragon

After a moment’s contemplation, Park Noah collected her thoughts. With hesitation, she said, “I said what I only know, but there may be other possibilities as well. Perhaps someone who lived here wrote a novel out of admiration to you and Lenia… I’m not even completely sure whether or not Lenia is the egg thief. She was the supposed master of the dragon as written in the novel, so I tried to send Muell to her.”

“As of now, she is the primary suspect. Has there ever been an event that has progressed exactly like the content of the book?

“So far, no. But the recent occurrences are certainly far from the original storyline.”

“I see… Anyway, I’ll keep a record for reference.” Kyle Leonard muttered, writing in his journal. 

Park Noah inched closer to the investigator, narrowing her eyes. “But, sir, this is just really out of curiosity, have you ever felt differently about Lenia?”

“Miss Noah, I’ve never even seen Lenia Valtalere.” The investigator’s voice was as cold as midwinter frost, crushing Park Noah’s fantasies. In her previous life, she had scoured the book until the last page, eager for romance. Yet, it seemed too intangible even in their world. 

“Is there anything else I don’t know about Miss Noah?” Kyle Leonard’s voice interrupted her melancholy. Pursing her lips, Park Noah shrugged her shoulders.

“You know everything that is to know about me.” Indeed, the investigator did; it was not an exaggeration. Kyle Leonard finally relaxed, his face sporting a look of satisfaction.  

“That’s great. Continue to tell me everything without hiding anything.”

“Yes, yes.” Park Noah singsonged, earning a disapproving look from him.

“I wish I had listened to you sooner…”

The train slowed down as conversations in the cabin continued. Only the meadows were stretched out in the middle of the night, and the sparse buildings blended, gradually beginning to take the shape of a village.

The attendant’s voice echoed inside the train through the microphones attached on the ceiling of every room.

“This station is the first district of Lunazel. It’s Lunazel Station. Passengers going to the capital city of Tezeba, please transfer here!”

Kyle Leonard glanced outside the window and arose from his seat. “Let’s prepare to get off first. Never take off your robe. We don’t know how many of those will follow if they find out about Eleonora.”

“I know. But, aren’t you quite a celebrity too?” The witch’s appearance had already spread throughout the entire Laurent; she was a favorite in the newspaper’s headlines. The investigator, on the other hand, wasn’t as recognized. However, Yulem must have already done their research. 

Park Noah bit her nail, in deep thought. Her blue orbs narrowed at Kyle Leonard. 

“I cannot help it. I have no choice but to use that method.”

“What method?” Kyle Leonard looked at her, doubtful. Suddenly, her mouth stretched into a mischievous grin. The investigator immediately frowned, “I have a very ominous feeling when you smile like that, Miss Noah.”

“Don’t be so nervous. For now.” Park Noah snickered, and leaned towards him. Then, she unfastened one of the buttons of his uniform. 

“Why don’t you take this off first?”

*

“Sir, can’t you do a little better?”

“How do you do better than this?”

“Relax your face. Relax your arms. You are giving away the disguise!”

Kyle Leonard removed his uniform at the instructions of Park Noah and was left with a plain white shirt. She seized his uniform, discovering quantities of gears, including handcuffs, daggers, and bullets. In her mind, she commended Kyle Leonard for his ability to hide such things unnoticeably.

He pushed his sunglasses up and complained, “I don’t feel comfortable.” 

“It’s okay. It looks good on you.” Park Noah assured, disheveling his well kept hair. Although it was merely a cheap trick, she thought it was better than not to do it.

After polishing off his disguise, her worries turned to herself. Eleonora Asil’s vibrant apricot hair and piercing blue orbs were too difficult to conceal. Fortunately, Park Noah wore a robe which she can use to cover hair. 

Unable to change the color of her eyes, she took out something from her suitcase — an accessory which she originally believed was useless.

Kyle Leoanard glanced down at her, shaking his head. “…It makes me dizzy.”

“That’s a relief, because if you are, then everybody else will be.” Feeling triumphant, Park Noah fixed her funky glasses properly on the bridge of her nose. It was one of Eleonora Asil’s inventions left in her house which caused dizziness to anyone who stared. 

“Why did you pack these things?” The investigator asked, incredulous.

“Well, in the worst case, Muell can assist, but I wouldn’t want you dying in shock. So, I brought some things that might be of help. Sir, don’t move away, and stick a little closer to me. Now, does this make us seem like a couple?”

To intensify their disguise, Park Noah came up with an idea: pretend to be lovers. To their advantage, Muell was there to play the role of their child. Furthermore, she intended to use the investigator’s hatred against Eleonora Asil or Eleonoraphobia, as she likes to call it, as a tactic. 

Since Elenora Asil was a natural enemy of an investigator, it would create confusion among their opponents if their disguise fails, leaving them enough time for diversion.

Of course, Kyle Leonard flatly refused at first. However, he eventually admitted that the method was quite useful, albeit reluctant.