"Don't gre at me like that; it wasn't me who tied you up, it was my servant faul," I said in a pyful tone.

  Ms. Nymph shifted her hostile gre toward the forest elf, her eyes filled with anger.

  "Wha— M-My Lord, it was you who ordered me to tie her up!" the elf protested in a pleading voice.

  By the time we reached my dwelling, Ms. Nymph had already regained consciousness, only to find herself bound by a tough leather rope crafted from monster intestines. These ropes, made by forest elves, were highly versatile, so each elf carried one. Her hostility only deepened as she realized what restrained her.

  "Now, let's get down to business," I said in a serious tone, my presence making her flinch.

  "Why did you attack me out of nowhere? As far as I recall, I’ve done nothing to harm you. On the contrary, I saved you from the ant's ir."

  "It's because you dragons are Selfish!" she roared, her voice thick with anguish and frustration, as if unleashing long-held grievances.

  "You attacked our home and murdered my sisters! All of your kind are vile monsters!"

  "I have no memory of attacking your home or harming your sisters as you cim," I countered.

  "You can't deceive me! You're all the same—selfish, arrogant creatures. You might even be an ally of the one responsible," she spat.

  "Hmm... I won't deny that we dragons are selfish and arrogant by nature," I admitted. "But your accusation that I had any part in the attack on your vilge is false."

  "So, you don't deny being a selfish bastard," she retorted, attempting to provoke me.

  "Indeed... and you should be thankful for my selfishness."

  "And why is that?" she asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

  "Because it's my selfishness that has kept you alive," I sneered.

  At my words, she fell silent, understanding my implication. Even Faul remained quiet, doing his best to shrink into the background, as if hoping to go unnoticed and avoid being dragged into the tense exchange.

  "Miss Nymph, let me teach you something about us dragons. We are arrogant, selfish, and thrive in chaos, driven by our primal instincts—it's simply in our nature. But that doesn’t mean all dragons are the same. The one who attacked your vilge was likely a mindless beast, consumed by its instincts and compelled to bring destruction. I, however, am an exception. I consider myself a supreme dragon because I have not succumbed to my nature. The very proof of that stands before your eyes. Do you understand?" i said reprimanding them

  "…"

  "…"

  Both of them fell into silence. My words challenged everything they had been taught about dragons. To them, dragons were nothing more than beings of destruction, leaving only ruin in their wake. That belief had been deeply ingrained in their minds. Being lectured by a dragon—one who spoke as if they were ignorant children—was almost absurd to them. It was as if they were frogs trapped in a well, unaware of the vast world beyond. And so, they were left speechless.

  "Now, will you share your story with me? That way, we can truly understand each other," I asked, giving her the chance to speak.

  The tree nymph hesitated, unsure whether to reveal her past. After a moment of contemption, she chose to speak, but only about the reason behind her deep hatred for dragons.

  ?

  ?

  ?

  ?

  Leya's POV //

  I am Leya, a tree nymph. My sisters and I lived peacefully within the great forest, each tending to our duties as we always had, nurturing the pnts and trees to ensure a bountiful harvest, which was our primary source of sustenance. Though we all saw one another as family, some bonds were closer than others. My dearest sister and I were given an important task: to deliver a tribute to our guardian. While everyone referred to her as "the guardian," we saw her as our elder sister, for she had lived longer than any other nymph in the forest.

  "Leya, I heard you've been chosen by the guardian?" Mi asked.

  "Hmm? Oh, an elder sister told me I have potential to be chosen as a protector," I responded proudly.

  "I see… Your control over nature is incredible. Even I can't help but feel envious. Perhaps the guardian recognized your potential?" Mi said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

  "Hehe, maybe so," I grinned triumphantly, not understanding the words beyond it.

  To be chosen as a protector was an honor—something many longed for but only a few attained. Those with weaker magic could only assist in growing pnts and hastening the fruit-bearing process, while those with greater magical abilities could manipute trees at will. These gifted nymphs were the protectors, charged with driving away monsters that threatened our home. But even they were no match for the guardian, who could command entire groves with a mere wave of her hand.

  "Don't worry! I'll grow stronger and protect all of you, along with our sanctuary," I decred confidently.

  "Then I'll work hard to nourish the trees, so you'll always have plenty to eat," Mi reassured me with a forced smile.

  I had made a promise—to protect those dear to me and the sanctuary we called home. But that promise was shattered in an instant.

  A violent gust of wind suddenly howled through the forest, escating into a raging tornado. Trees were ripped from the earth and shredded into splinters. My sisters, caught in its fury, were lifted into the air—only to be torn apart. I stood frozen, paralyzed by shock and fear.

  "Leya! Snap out of it!" Mi's voice pierced through my haze, shaking me back to reality.

  "We have to find shelter—now!" she urged.

  "No… You should go hide. I am a protector. I have to stop this!" I insisted, though my voice wavered.

  Sensing my fear, Mi grabbed my hand and dragged me away.

  "Let go! I have to help our sisters escape!" I protested, trying to pull free.

  "No! I can tell you're scared, and you can't stop that thing!" she argued.

  "I am a protector! It's my duty!"

  "No!! You're still just a potential candidate! Even you can’t stop this!" she cried, desperation in her voice. Then, suddenly, she spped me—forcing me to face the truth.

  "I may not have as much power as you, but I don’t want to lose you too. Just like the other sisters i'm close with… they were chosen, but I never saw them again. You're the only one I have left—my only true family... so please… don't go." Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with me.

  Mi was older than me. She had cared for me since I was a small nymph. I had always considered her family, and seeing her like this, I found myself unable to argue.

  "I don’t want to lose anyone else… Please, Leya… don’t leave me."

  But before I could respond, the tornado veered in our direction. The force of the wind lifted us both into the air. Instinctively, I used my power to command the trees—roots burst from the ground, wrapping around me to hold me down. But then I remembered—Mi had no such power.

  "Mi!!" I screamed.

  I quickly maniputed another tree, forcing its roots to lunge toward Mi, who was already being swept into the sky. But controlling two trees at once was beyond my skill. Desperate, I reached out, grasping her extended hand and entwining with the roots i maniputed.

  "Don't worry! I’ll save you!" I swore.

  But the storm was too strong. The wind wrenched her away, and in an instant, her hand was torn from her body—left dangling within the roots as the rest of her was swallowed by the tornado, ripped apart before my eyes.

  "NOOOO!!!" I screamed in agony, watching helplessly as my close family was destroyed.

  And there—standing behind the tornado—was a green dragon.

  With each beat of its wings, more tornadoes formed, tearing through the forest, sughtering my sisters, and reducing our home to ruin.

  "You evil bastard!!!" I roared, blinded by fury.

  Pushing past my limits, I forced the trees to rise against the storm, desperately trying to stop the destruction. But my magic drained rapidly—I had yet to fully master nature’s power. And before I knew it, the world around me faded to bck as I colpsed from exhaustion.