Demonic Dragon: Harem System - Chapter 748

Capítulo 748: Help me give it a name.

The pale morning sun reflected off the eternal ice of the Ice Monarch’s palace, scattering bluish and silvery hues across the exterior. The cold was constant, but not hostile—a controlled, civilized cold, shaped to coexist with life.

Scarlet sat in a carved stone chair near the parapet, her legs crossed.

In her lap, the small dragon.

The hatchling was awake now, still quiet, but much more alert than the previous night. Its tiny body remained curled against Scarlet, while its thin tail moved slowly, almost lazily. Scarlet carefully ran her fingers over the dragon’s head, caressing between the small crystalline scales.

The dragon emitted a low sound, almost a cold purr, partially closing its eyes.

It seemed… comfortable.

A few meters away, Strax was training.

Without armor.

Without spectators.

His movements were precise, controlled—strikes in the air that made the mana vibrate around him, slightly distorting space. Each step broke and reformed the ice beneath his feet, as if the very ground obeyed the rhythm of his body.

He glanced sideways.

And smiled.

“You seem quite entertained petting that little dragon.”

Scarlet didn’t even look at him.

“Shut up.”

Strax laughed, spinning his body and finishing a strike that made the air crackle like thin glass.

“I’m just observing. Yesterday you wanted to throw that ‘dangerous creature’ out the window…”

Scarlet petted the back of the dragon’s small head, even more gently.

“Don’t distort things.”

“…and now look at you.” He turned to face her, placing his hands on his hips. “If someone passed by now, they’d swear you were the mother.”

Scarlet narrowed her eyes.

“I’m going to rip your tongue out.”

The dragon opened one eye.

It looked in Strax’s direction.

And growled.

A low, short sound, clearly directed at him.

Scarlet froze for a second.

” …hey.” She lowered her tone immediately, petting him again. ” You don’t need to do that. He’s just annoying, not a threat.”

The dragon didn’t seem convinced.

Strax raised an eyebrow, amused.

“See? She has common sense.”

“It doesn’t encourage it.” Scarlet gave him a deadly look. “And don’t confuse that with acceptance. I just…” she hesitated, looking at the little dragon “…she’s too small to leave alone.”

“Of course. ” Strax replied with feigned seriousness. “Pure civic responsibility.”

Scarlet snorted.

“You’re unbearable.”

“And you’re extremely inconsistent. She finally turned her face to meet his.”

“What’s this?”

“Yesterday: ‘This thing is a walking danger, it’ll destroy everything, it’ll probably try to kill me.'” He counted on his fingers. “Today: cuddles, affection, a soft tone of voice.”

Scarlet opened her mouth to retort—

But the dragon moved.

She stretched slightly, carefully climbing up Scarlet’s torso… and then turned her snout towards Strax again, her crystalline eyes half-closed.

Pure arrogance.

She let out a small growl again.

And then, deliberately, turned her back to Scarlet, slipping off her lap unceremoniously.

Scarlet’s eyes widened.

“Hey—!”

The dragon walked a few clumsy steps across the ice… straight to Strax.

Before he could react, the little one clung to his leg, climbed up with surprising ease, and settled against his chest, curling up like a possessive little dragon.

The cold around him adjusted immediately.

As if to say, without words:

He’s mine.

Strax blinked.

He looked down.

The dragon closed her eyes, satisfied.

Scarlet gaped.

“…that… ” she pointed “…that brat just replaced me?!”

Strax tried — and failed — to hold back a laugh.

“Looks like it.”

“I spent the whole morning petting her!”

The dragon opened one eye just to stare at Scarlet.

And let out a cold hmph.

Strax laughed loudly this time.

“Good morning to you too, little one.”

Strax was still chuckling softly when he sensed the change in the air.

It wasn’t hostile—it was… formal.

A clean shift of mana, too precise to be natural.

He slightly raised his gaze at the exact moment an eagle made entirely of magic descended from the clear sky, its translucent wings beating silently. Thin runes traversed its ethereal body, and its eyes gleamed with artificial intelligence.

The eagle landed directly on Strax’s shoulder.

Or tried to.

The reaction was instantaneous.

—SHRRK—!

The small dragon opened its eyes at once.

And attacked.

It launched itself from Strax’s chest with a sharp hiss, its small claws shimmering as a short burst of condensed ice exploded from its mouth. It wasn’t powerful—but it was precise, aggressive, and full of intent.

The magical eagle was pierced through the middle of its body.

It dissolved into particles of bluish light in the air, like snow in the sun.

“EI—!” Scarlet jumped up from her chair. “THAT THING WAS A MESSENGER!”

The dragon landed back on Strax’s chest, slightly inflating its body, clearly pleased with itself.

Strax blinked once.

Then twice.

“…hm.”

The remaining particles of the eagle began to reorganize for a second—and then collapsed completely, dropping only a small folded note, which floated gently to Strax’s hand.

He caught it in mid-air.

The dragon tilted its head, observing the paper with utter distrust.

Strax opened the note.

He read it silently.

His smile slowly faded.

Scarlet crossed her arms, already suspicious.

“Judging by your face, I imagine it’s not an invitation for tea.”

Strax folded the note again.

“It’s from Monica.”

“Of course it is.”

“They found something.” He looked up. ” Something dangerous.”

The surrounding wind seemed to respond, growing a little colder. The dragon sensed the change and snuggled closer to him, emitting a low, attentive sound.

“Dangerous as an ‘administrative problem’,” Scarlet asked, “or dangerous as ‘we’ll have to kill something ancient’?”

Strax put the note away.

“The second option.”

Scarlet smiled slowly.

Then she stretched, arms raised, her spine cracking with satisfaction.

“Finally,” she sighed. “It was about time to go home.”

She approached, stopping beside Strax and looking at the little dragon, who stared down at her with a superior air.

“Don’t think you’ve won, brat.”

The dragon closed her eyes.

Completely ignored him.

Strax let out a short laugh.

“Prepare yourself,” he said, spreading his wings. “Looks like the rest is over.”

The sun reflected off the little dragon’s scales…

Strax walked through the open palace corridors with the small dragon nestled against his chest, its tiny claws clinging to the fabric of his clothes as if this were the most natural place in the world. The ice beneath his feet creaked softly with each step, reflecting the clear morning light.

Mercedes stood on the main balcony, observing the horizon with her arms crossed, her expression serious as if she were already organizing problems in her head before they even happened.

She turned when she sensed his presence.

“Strax”

The sentence died in her throat.

Her eyes slowly descended… to the small, awakened crystal dragon, alert, its large eyes reflecting the light like living gems.

“…she’s awake.” said Mercedes, genuine surprise in her voice.

The dragon tilted its head slightly at the sound of her voice.

“And it seems wide awake.” finished Mercedes, taking a few steps closer, carefully examining the hatchling. “Actually… she’s prettier than when she hatched.”

The dragon responded immediately.

A short, sharp, crystalline sound, almost like a cheerful tinkle.

She stretched her snout towards Mercedes, curious, and her tail flicked lightly in the air.

Mercedes smiled without realizing it.

“Oh… — she murmured. — Hi to you too, little one.”

Strax watched the scene with evident amusement.

“You see?” he commented. “— Much friendlier with you than with Scarlet.”

The dragon let out another happy sound, as if agreeing.

Mercedes raised an eyebrow, amused.

“She has good taste.”

Strax gave a half-smile, but soon his expression became more serious.

“We came to tell you we’re leaving.”

Mercedes winked.

“Already?”

“I need to return to my territory.” “Things are moving,” he replied. “And…” he glanced briefly at the dragon, “…some decisions can’t wait.”

Mercedes let out a long, heavy sigh.

“Of course they need to,” she said, running a hand over her face. “You took advantage of these ‘vacations’ too much, you know?”

“I disagree,” Strax replied calmly. “I haven’t finished what I started yet.”

She let out a sound somewhere between laughter and exhaustion.

“I have so many problems to solve that I hardly know where to begin. Unstable winds, displaced mana, strange rumors…” she shook her head. “Being Monarch doesn’t give you rest.”

Strax watched her for a moment.

“Before I leave…” he said, “…I’m going to do something for you.”

Mercedes looked up immediately.

“What?”

“Not yet,” he replied. “But it will help.”

She stared at him suspiciously.

“That never sounds simple when it comes from you.”

Strax shrugged.

“Probably not.”

There was a brief, comfortable silence between them.

Then Strax looked at the dragon again.

“By the way… we need help with something.”

“Hm?”

“A name,” he said. “We haven’t given her a name yet.”

Mercedes’ eyes widened slightly, surprised to have been included in this.

She looked at the dragon, who was now watching her intently, as if listening.

“A name…” Mercedes murmured thoughtfully. “Something short. Sharp. But… lively.”

The dragon tilted her head.

“Vex,” Mercedes finally said.

The dragon reacted immediately.

She let out an excited sound, louder this time, and swung her tail enthusiastically, small crystals forming in the air.

Strax raised an eyebrow.

“Vex…”

He looked at the little one.

“Looks like she liked it.”

The dragon—Vex—snuggled even closer against his chest, content.

Mercedes smiled, tired but genuine.

“So… have a good trip, Strax.”

He bowed his head respectfully.

“Take care of your kingdom, Mercedes.”

She sighed.

“Always.”