Brando's Decision

"Don't hit me! I remember now. I think there really was such a thing..." Shta hurriedly hugged his head with his short, baby-fat-covered arms and screamed, "I'll tell you! I did steal their things, but those guys were a bunch of paupers. They didn't have anything good to eat!"

Little Female Dragon grabbed him by the scruff and yanked him backward, cutting him off. "Who asked you about that? Tell us, where exactly is that Surash fellow?"

"Oh no, I really don't know the guy you're talking about." The chubby little dragon stumbled as he was pulled, shrinking his neck as he wailed in dismay, "Really, I promise! I swear! I swear on Lord Bahamut's third scale!"

"The Dragon God doesn't want a disgrace like you. Let's see if you still dare to play tricks!"

"Aloz, enough." Brando had no choice but to stop the farce. "Let Shta go. I have something to ask him."

Little Female Dragon answered bluntly, "Why should I listen to your orders?" Even so, she released Shta. The poor dragon had been shaken until stars swam before his eyes, and it took him quite a while to recover.

Shta took a breath and finally realized that his future employer seemed to carry some weight in front of Aloz, this female tyrannosaur. A natural slyness made him immediately want to hide behind Brando, but just as he prepared to move his short little legs, Aloz swept him with her golden eyes. He froze there in terror.

Brando pretended not to notice the little fellow's movements. "Shta, you said you don't know Surash? Then who was the existence that entered into a contract with you?"

"No, that's completely different. The one who entered into a contract with me was—" The Frost Wyrmling suddenly faltered.

"Was?" Aloz bared