Chapter 24: Differences Between Dragons

"Who, who is speaking?"

Linde looked left and right, stubbornly refusing to lower his head to look at the ground.

"Are you deliberately refusing to look at me?"

The mature, older sister-like voice echoed once more. Linde let out a heavy sigh, finally deciding to face reality and look down at Cirona.

Her eyes were as clear as jade, and her layered, cyan feathers evoked the poetic imagery of lush green mountains. She possessed a slender neck and a well-proportioned figure, with not an ounce of excess fat. Standing there quietly, she radiated an ethereal quality, much like a crane hidden away in the wilderness.

*Sigh...*

Having been single for so long, even a bird started looking beautiful to him.

Her appearance was secondary; what truly made it difficult for him to accept was that melodious voice. Given her usual chattering, noisy, and boisterous bird-like behavior, Linde had imagined that if she were human, she would be a bratty little girl—the kind who needed a good scolding. Hearing Cirona speak in such a serious, articulate manner in the Dragon tongue created a jarring contrast that was hard to ignore.

*How am I supposed to roast you without any psychological burden like this! Just chirp "trash, trash" like you used to and let me use the personality-correction punch to help you turn over a new leaf...*

"Hey! Are you secretly cursing me in your head?!"

Seeing the constipated expression on Linde's face, Cirona spoke up with dissatisfaction. "Do you want me to pluck a few of those black hairs off your head?"

The familiar, fiery temper was back—it had all returned. A sense of comfort washed over Linde. He hooked his finger and flicked Cirona right on the top of her head.

"One more chirp and I'll stew you. You're really getting cocky just because you learned a couple of new words."

"You...!"

The Butterfly Dragon flapped her wings in a rage, ready to peck at his head. These days of living together had allowed Linde to master Cirona's standard attack pattern; she was essentially an advanced version of a goose. As long as he gripped her slender neck with one hand and leaned his body backward, pivoting as she moved, no matter how hard she flapped her wings, she couldn't do much to him.

Cirona seemed to realize that her efforts were in vain. After flapping symbolically a few times, she tucked her wings back in, though her eyes remained fixed on Linde with lingering resentment.

"I was just showing concern for you, and yet I get nothing but grief in return."

"Thanks. If only your concern could translate into actual action to help me, just like a certain little dragon's efforts, that would be even better."

As Linde spoke, his peripheral vision drifted toward Victoria behind him. She had been talking to him just a few minutes ago, yet now she was fast asleep. According to her logic, a summer afternoon was the perfect time for a nap. By the time she woke up, the sun would have set, and the cool air would be just right for a meal. This carefree lifestyle of the young dragon made him feel a twinge of envy.

*Damn it, being a dragon that has no worries and only thinks about eating after a nap must be nice!*

Cirona also noticed the sleeping Victoria and lowered her voice. "Since you aren't doing a good job with those... blocks of yours, why not change your mood... maybe do something else instead, um..."

Her hesitant, unfinished sentence made it hard for Linde to remain patient, so he went straight to the point. "If you need my help with something, just say it. There's no need to be shy. Victoria and I have both accepted you joining us; we're all one team now, so don't be so distant."

"Uh, uh, uh..."

Cirona covered her face with her wings in embarrassment, explaining softly and bashfully, "It's, it's the first time I've had a proper conversation with you, chirp... Since we've always been bickering before, it's hard to just ask you for a favor, chirp..."

Linde noticed that whenever she was nervous, she subconsciously added "chirp" to her speech. How should he put it? It was a little bit cute. It was like an icy, professional office senior who, when alone with you in private, accidentally blurts out a "No way!" in a moment of panic, her feigned anger laced with a hint of coquetry.

*Damn, I'm overthinking it. I'm even fantasizing about this.*

If she were to actually turn into a human later, he didn't even want to imagine what might happen. Ultimately, it was Cirona's voice that added so much to her appeal.

"Heh, you little bird, don't try to cloud my focus. Tell me what it is; if it's something improper, I won't help—pssh, I only help with proper things."

"What kind of weird things are you saying? And, for the record, I am a dragon. I have dragon blood in my body. Whatever, whatever... suit yourself."

Cirona waved her wings in resignation. Through Victoria's translations, she had lost count of how many times Linde had insulted her by calling her a bird. One more time wouldn't make a difference. Since she was the one asking for a favor, she had to lower her attitude.

"Look, in the little dirt pit over there, I've placed the small glowing pearls I brought out. I gave you and Victoria some a few days ago."

"If you can help me string these pearls into a necklace, I'll give you the ten pearls I originally planned to keep for myself as... a token of gratitude."

Cirona had wanted to say "payment," but remembering Linde’s comment about them being a team, she quickly changed her wording. To show that she had tried her best, she added, "I had intended to drill the holes and string them myself, but the pearls are too smooth, and my beak can't hit the same spot every time."

"I asked Victoria what to do, and she said you were a remarkable person who could handle it easily, and that I should just ask you."

"So..."

"Alright, I understand. I'll make the necklace for you."

Linde nodded earnestly. In his heart, he thought about how different the personalities of dragons could be. If it were Victoria, she wouldn't have so many complicated thoughts; she would just dump the pearls in front of him, yell "Please, human child," and run off to play. Cirona, on the other hand, had more adult-like reasoning—she felt she owed a debt of gratitude and couldn't quite let her guard down.

Come to think of it, he suddenly recalled the system's previous mission:

[Mission Accepted: Butterfly Dragon Cirona's Request - Search for the Offered Treasure]
[Reward upon completion: 100 Reputation]

He had been puzzled as to why he hadn't received the reputation reward after finding the pearls for Cirona. Now it seemed that he needed to earn her recognition. To her, loose pearls were not yet a "treasure" worthy of offering; they had to be crafted into jewelry like a necklace to meet her expectations. As for why a necklace, perhaps Cirona had seen similar treasures in the Red Dragon's hoard.

Linde picked up one of the crystal-clear glowing pearls from the pit, rolling it between his fingers while contemplating what tools to use for drilling.

An electric drill was out of the question. Even with a workbench, he might not be able to craft it, especially since he didn't know the recipe. He would have to rely on a primitive method—something akin to a bow drill used for making fire. He could fashion a sharp screw, fix it to a wooden handle, and bind it to another handle to create a primitive hand-drill. That would make the work much easier and more efficient.

With the plan set in his mind, Linde immediately took action.