The dragon's harem

Chapter 865: The Worth of Life, and A Guest From Afar

”How funny...” Arad said, his muscles expanding as the veins on his body bulged. The ground beneath his feet started shaking as he glared down at Millenniumous. ”I too found a bug... one thatʼs made of steel and is standing before me.”

Liliaʼs office door got kicked open and a wizard yelled, pointing his staff at them. ”Drop the magic!” He cast [Anti-magic Field]

Arad opened his mouth and a massive beam of blue energy burst forth at the wizard, followed by a horrifying stream of fire. As the flames faded, a hole enough for an elephant to pass through was left in Liliaʼs office, she stood there before the wizard, protecting him with a glowing barrier.

”You fool, the anti-magic field doesnʼt work on him. He isnʼt using magic after all, he mightʼve used his magic to create that blast inside his stomach, but what came out was a natural phenomenon.” She looked at Arad with his mouth smoking, ”Only I and that golem can stop him. Tell everyone to hide.” She teleported the wizard away, even though she too was caught in the anti-magic field.

Lilia then turned toward Millenniumous, ”Show him. Arad canʼt see anything ahead of him when someone he knows is involved, especially those he considers his wives.”

Millenniumous lifted his arm, ”Fine, but youʼll do the learning yourself.” A book appeared above his palm, ”Have fun.”

Arad snatched the book and flipped through the pages, it was a detailed guide about teleportation magic, the location of dimensions, and how to move through them. But, due to how precise the moves and magic are, usually, only the caster could do it. Even if Arad were to learn everything in the book, heʼd only be able to visit Zephyr, not bring her out.

”At least, a start.” Arad stored the book in his stomach, ”Iʼll figure something out with Merlinʼs help.” He looked at Lilia, ”Youʼve been a pain since I first met you. But thank you for the help today.” He smiled.

”Iʼve only told Millenniumous what he must do.” Lilia waved her hand and the hole behind her got fixed. ”Heʼs quite dense.”

”Iʼm made of steel.” Millenniumous said and looked at his hand, ”Can I ask you something? Arad Orion.”

”Youʼve already done, what do you want?” Arad looked at him with a passive face.

”What is the value of a single mortal life? Iʼve never been alive once, neither are my machines.” Millenniumous looked at Arad with glowing eyes.

”Life itself is worth nothing more than the dirt it walks upon. Actions are what determine somethingʼs worth, even people.” Arad stared back at Millenniumous.

”So...since weʼre constantly working... we got worth. Weʼve lived in the world, yet were never alive.” Millenniumous mumbled.

”Thatʼs it. Just as my sword is probably worth more to me than a random bandit, youʼre the same.” Arad started floating, ”A golem, soulless tool. But that doesnʼt matter, what matters is what you believe in.” ZON! Arad teleported away.

Millenniumous fell on his butt and looked up, ”Yeah...heʼs right. We live through our actions.” He slowly looked back at Lilia, ”You were right about him, heʼs something else.” Lilia laughed, ”What is a god doing asking a mortal above the worth of life?”

”I already know about him, donʼt act as if I know nothing.” He stood and looked at her, ”You told me heʼs still too young, you were lying.”

”I never lie, heʼs indeed young. Less than a year old.” Lilia smiled, ”He might as well be a newborn.”

”Age is relative, a one-year-old ant is already a grandpa, and might even be dead. A year for him, heʼs already beating inevitables whom demigods run from, hiding in terror for centuries.” With a burst of fire, jets exploded from beneath Millenniumousʼs feet and he started flying with lightning cracking from his back and hands. ”Humans, if they knew the monster standing beside them...they would rather saw down their limbs, gouge their eyes, and rip their skin off than breath the same air as him.”

He glared at Lilia, ”Thatʼs a far more reasonable decision than risking getting him angry. You better get him out of the mortal world as soon as possible.” He flew away.

****

Back in the university, Arad had returned and was heading back to his class. The moment he approached, he could see a large tiger beast man standing at the door, shouting at the students inside.

”I said itʼs time!” The large beast-man shouted, roaring at the class. Arad approached from the back, and walked inside, hitting him with his shoulder. ”Excuse me...” Arad said and started heading toward his seat.

”You! Who are...” The man shouted at Arad, but he fell silent the moment Arad glared back at him. Both of them were massive, hulking beasts of muscles that could barely fit through the door.

”I said excuse me.” Arad replied, ”Weʼre both too large to fit through the door, let alone with you standing there.” Aradʼs eyes started flashing with purple magic. ”Either enter or get out, donʼt stand in the door.”

The man was about to speak, but he sighed, ”Fine...” He complied and walked into the class, ”Iʼve got more important things to deal with.” His eyes shifted toward Matilda, ”Youʼre coming back home, itʼs already time.”

”Iʼm not going back. How many times Iʼve told you to get out.” She growled and then stared at Arad, ”He listens to you. Why didnʼt you tell him to get out instead of in?”

”Donʼt drag me into this...” Arad sighed, ”Teacher Lucia, this is your job, right.”

”He isnʼt listening to me. Iʼve told him to get out countless times, but...” She looked a bit troubled.

”Iʼm not going out without her.” The man pointed at Matilda.

”Matilda.” Arad looked at her, ”Want to go back with him?”

”Of course not! Iʼm staying here.” She growled back, and the man immediately shouted, ”Time is up, youʼve been here long enough. Youʼre coming back home with me and itʼs final.”

Arad nodded and extended his hands forth, grabbing Matilda from beneath her armpits and lifting her up from her chair. She gasped, and he put her on his lap. ”Wha...what are you doing?!” Matilda cried, as did most of the class.

”Come...” Arad looked at the man, ”Come take her if you want.” Lucia couldnʼt use magic to blast him away for one reason, heʼd already gotten too close. Heʼll knock her out before she can cast magic. At this distance, only martial artists can fight.

Veins bulged on the manʼs face as he growled, his ears flattened and his claws extended out. ”You cheeky youngster... Get your hands off her...” He lunged at Arad, swinging his claw at

blinding speed.

CLANG! As if steel hit steel, Arad blocked the manʼs claws with his forearm without even standing in his chair. Matilda was still sitting on his lap, ”Bring it on. Youʼll never reach her.”

The man could see it, Matilda wasnʼt sitting on the lap of a man, but in the embrace of a massive monster. The maiden between the dragonʼs claws, like a ripe fruit in the middle of a waspʼs nest, getting her is nearly impossible.

The man roared and started swinging his claws as fast as he could, aiming to cleave Aradʼs head from his neck, but all attacks ended up deflected by Aradʼs left arm. The whole class rumbles and the other students stare in terror, it was the first time they saw Arad fight up close. This reminded me of them when he fought the bear and tiger while Mira sat between

his legs.

The moment the barrage slowed down, Arad swung his right hand and slapped the man in the face hard enough to rip his teeth out and send him flying out of the window. He even had time to deflect all the droplets of blood and prevent them from hitting him or Matilda. Matilda stared at Aradʼs face, a mixture of terror and awe ran through her mind, she knew he was fast and strong, but not like this. ”Wait...is he alive?!” she gasped, looking at the window.

”Why care?” Arad asked.

”Thatʼs my dad.” She cried, ”You didnʼt kill him, did you?” She looked down at her fatherʼs fangs stuck to the wall, Arad slapped him that hard. ”AHHH! Heʼll get even dumber now...”

”Wait... So, heʼs your dad?” Arad grabbed her by the shirt and stood up, lifting her up like a little kitten.

”What are you doing?” Matilda looked at him, and he took her and jumped out of the window, landing beside her injured father.

Arad pulled out a healing potion and poured it on him. Her father immediately jolted back to life, ”You bastard, what was that?!” He roared.

Arad dropped Matilda on the ground, ”Sorry for interfering, here she is. I thought you were

some stranger...” He looked at them. While Matilda looked mostly human, her father had a tigerʼs head and was covered in fur.

”Wait! You were protecting me just now, why the change of heart.” Matilda growled at Arad,

”Donʼt stop now.”

”The situation changed, heʼs your father.” Arad replied.