Gurgle—

In the quiet space, a low moan softly echoed.

Gurgle gurgle.

"I'm so hungry—"

Valentina lay lifelessly on the bed, pouting as she rubbed her stomach, her eyes blank as she stared at the ceiling's edge.

Hungry, hungry.

Why am I so hungry?

"It feels like the price to pay after using my brain too much…"

As Valentina subconsciously thought this, another thought naturally flashed through her mind.

'That's right.'

Following this, she felt her stomach shrink even more, as if the energy in her body was being siphoned away by her brain.

Even hungrier.

"…Eh!?"

Valentina blinked, then widened her eyes in disbelief.

No way!

This!!?

"Ahhhhh!"

I was already so hungry!!?

Why am I still getting hungrier?

'Because you were thinking.'

Her stomach caved in a bit more.

Gurgle.

"Ah!!?"

This time, Valentina couldn't stay lying down; she sat up straight from the bed, looking sadly at her gradually deflating stomach.

Her eyes were filled with grief and anger, and she gritted her teeth tightly.

Damn it!

Is this the price of gaining wisdom!!?

'It is…'

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!!!"

Valentina covered her ears in pain, trying to block out that cold voice.

But she failed.

This voice, identical to her own, echoed directly in her mind.

Can't! Be! Stopped!

Gurgle gurgle gurgle…

Feeling the lament in her stomach, Valentina, after many days, turned back into a genuinely Hungry Dragon.

Feeling the emptiness in her belly, Valentina felt vulnerability anew.

"Wooo…"

With a shattered expression, she hugged her knees, wrapped in a small blanket engulfed in Herbert's scent, shrinking sadly into the corner of the bed.

"Herbert, where did you go? Hurry back!"

Never before had she so longed to see Herbert again… and the food he brought.

Hmm.

The person can come later, but can't the food come first!

I'm really so hungry!

Hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry…

Lost in thought for a while, Valentina's complaints turned into genuine sadness.

"…"

She curled up in the blanket, gripping the corners tightly, once again recalling how she felt before meeting Herbert.

Lonely, isolated, hungry.

Originally, she thought she had long since gotten used to it all.

When first imprisoned, Valentina was dissatisfied and tried many times to escape.

Though each attempt ended in failure, it cleared one thing up for her.

The old man didn't plan to do anything to her, just threw her in and ignored her.

She even felt that the old man actually encouraged her to escape.

Once she realized this, she stopped trying to break out by force and chose to lie low quietly.

Isn't it just being locked up?

What's the big deal!

Once I become stronger, I can certainly escape by myself!

The power of a Giant Dragon grows slowly over time, almost proportionately.

Endure for a while, then escape and seek revenge on the descendants of those who killed Wendy.

With this belief, Valentina silently endured—even though she spent most of the time sleeping.

But let's not mind the details, overall she was enduring!

Her strength gradually increased, reaching the Legendary Peak, just one step from Epic.

Valentina thought she had grown used to everything over these centuries of endurance.

She didn't need the burden of companionship, wouldn't feel lonely, and didn't crave food.

She was a strong one!

However, after meeting Herbert, she realized she might have been mistaken.

After meeting the man who changed her world, she suddenly realized she wasn't as strong as she thought.

She was actually quite vulnerable.

She really needed someone by her side, easily felt lonely, and quite enjoyed eating.

She could endure all the darkness, if only she hadn't met the man who brought light to her life.

"Herbert…"

Honestly, at first, she didn't give Herbert much thought.

Just another little guy coming to test his luck, who wouldn't last long before running away crying.

But later, the events took a big turn from her imagination.

Friend.

Then… companion.

Almost in a daze, in the time it took to take a nap, her life and thoughts underwent drastic changes.

Everything became different.

The cell that once seemed dark no longer felt so detestable, it even felt like her lair.

She started growing more and more like him, even started to desire more.

Greedy… just like him.

She wanted to be with Herbert forever and ever.

So, how should this feeling be defined?

Valentina fondled the Ring on her finger, the corners of her mouth curving slightly upwards.

Wanting to possess everything about him, wanting to be by his side forever…

Is this what's called "love"?

The legacy of the Dragon of Wisdom, the voice known as "Sage" in the legacy, remained silent.

'...'

Is it due to a lack of energy to answer?

Or is it a question that needs no answer?

"Hehe."

Valentina already knew the answer to this question long ago.

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