The green dragon that attacked the sanctuary of the tree nymphs was now recovering in a nearby mountain after its battle with the dryad. It was still nursing the severe wounds it had sustained, which was why it had yet to unch another assault on the dryad's sanctuary.

  “How can you be so sure? What if the dragon has already fully healed itself? after all, days have already passed” I questioned.

  “I highly doubt it,” she replied. “One of its hands was broken, and one of its wings was bent. Its body was riddled with deep wounds when I fought it. At the time, I believed that was enough to immobilize it, but its will to survive was stronger than I expected. As a st resort, it summoned a tornado, and I was torn to shreds in the process.”

  “Yet, you’re still alive?” I asked, astonished.

  “Fufu~ only my clone perished. I rarely leave my chamber,” she answered, clearly amused by my reaction.

  “I see,” I replied, now understanding. Even the dryad standing before me was merely a clone.

  I was relieved that our retionship remained amicable. If just her clone was powerful enough to defeat a dragon, I dared not imagine the strength of her true form.

  “Now then, Lord Dragon, about my request—will you accept it?” she asked, awaiting my response.

  “Before I agree, I must ask—will you and the other tree nymph guardians assist in subduing the dragon?” I inquired.

  “Yes~ but keep in mind that my power will be significantly weakened. My true form draws strength from the Tree of Life, which I protect. If I leave its influence, my clone will only possess the strength of an ordinary tree guardian nymph,” she expined.

  “I see. In that case, organize a group of tree nymphs to participate in the battle. As you know, I am still a newborn dragon who has only recently hatched,” I stated, signaling my acceptance of her request.

  “Fufufu~ thank you for aiding us. Rest assured, I will personally select the guardian nymphs for this task,” she decred.

  I shifted my gaze toward the elders who had been attentively listening to our conversation. Now that they were my subjects, it was time to put them to use as I saw fit.

  “Elders, I need you to gather some of your warriors to assist in subduing the dragon,” I commanded.

  “Yes, my lord. We shall follow your orders,” Elder Jolen responded without hesitation, his unwavering loyalty evident in his tone.

  “With that, this meeting is concluded. You are all dismissed—make your preparations for our mission,” I decred, bringing the gathering to an end.

  As everyone began to leave, the forest elf elders and their warriors were the first to depart, followed by the dryads and their company. However, just as she was about to exit, the dryad stopped and instructed her people to wait for her outside.

  “Faul, leave us for a moment,” I ordered, noticing that he had remained behind. As my servant, it was only natural for him to stand by my side, but I needed privacy for this conversation.

  “Understood, my lord,” Faul responded, immediately recognizing my intent. Without hesitation, he obeyed and exited my dwelling.

  “So, have you come to a conclusion after observing me?” I asked, intrigued.

  “Hmm~ To be completely honest, I can’t quite understand what you are,” she admitted bluntly.

  “What do you mean by that? Are you mocking me?” I retorted coldly.

  “See? Even now, you remain unpredictable. Any other fire dragon would have lost control, turning into a mindless beast at even the slightest provocation. And yet, you tolerate my words without reacting aggressively. You don’t behave like your kind, and that is what puzzles me,” she said, still trying to make sense of my demeanor.

  “Hmph, don’t compare me to those simple-minded creatures who blindly succumb to their instincts. Unlike them, I am unique, special and way better,” I replied, a touch of narcissism in my voice.

  "That’s true~ you’re far better than the others. You actually remind me of someone I knew," she said with a thoughtful tone.

  "You’ve met another fire dragon who behaved like me?" I asked, intrigued by the comparison.

  "No, not a fire dragon," she replied. "He was an earth dragon who lived in the barren nds."

  "Hmm," I murmured, sensing she had more to share.

  "That earth dragon was unique in his own right, though different from you. He possessed a chivalrous spirit," she added, continuing her reflection.

  "Anyway~ I’ve strayed too far from my original purpose," she said, her tone turning serious. "Since you’ve become the ruler of this area, I want to make another proposal."

  "Another proposal?" I echoed.

  "Yes~ I want to establish an official alliance," she crified.

  "Aren't we already allies?" I asked, slightly puzzled.

  "What I mean is a long-term alliance," she expined. "If my sanctuary is ever threatened, I want your assistance, just as we would aid you if your territory were in danger."

  "You’re certain you want to ally yourself with a fire dragon?" I questioned.

  "Yes~" she answered without hesitation.

  I now understood her intent. At present, we were merely cooperating to subdue the green dragon, but once that was over, things would return to the way they were.

  "Then let’s modify the terms of our previous agreement," I proposed. "Instead of simply trading food, I want access to the resources of your sanctuary. What do you say?"

  "Hmm~" she mused, considering my request.

  "I know your people cultivate farms and tend to fruit-bearing trees. I assume you have an abundance of herbal pnts and seasonings. I want you to share those resources," I stated.

  "Alright~ we don’t particurly need them anyway," she agreed. "But in exchange, I want you to prioritize us over your own people when danger arises. Do you accept?" she countered,

  "Then we have a deal," I agreed.

  Prioritizing them was a logical decision. Their sanctuary was abundant in food and resources, which would benefit me greatly. While I had become the ruler of my people, they should still be capable of handling their own problems. If they expected me to solve every issue that arose, then what was the point of having subjects in the first pce?