I Couldn't Become a Knight, But for Some Reason, I'm Beloved by Dragons - Chapter 01: Dragon Handler

Chapter 01: Dragon Handler

“Is it about time? I’m off, old man.”

“Alright. Do your best today, as well.”

“Got it!”

In the morning, I left the boarding house where I’ve been staying for years to go to work. 

My name is Xeno Passis, and I’m just an ordinary person you can find anywhere… It’s a bit sad to describe myself as ordinary, but it’s true, so I can’t help it.

“They’re flying again today…”

When I looked up at the sky, countless black shadows were flying around, which was a symbol of the beings that protected this country. 

The country I was born in, the Kingdom of Dragonis, was a country deeply connected to dragons, which were mythical creatures. Not only in battles but also in everyday life, coexisting with dragons was normal here in Dragonis.

“I’ve always wanted to ride a dragon and fight in battles since I was a kid, but…well, I don’t have the aptitude for it, so it can’t be helped.”

I’ve always admired fighting for the country or for someone else since I was a child. 

However, I’ve never had any useful skills for fighting born in me, even now at the age of nineteen. I often sigh and think that I just have bad luck.

“Sigh…”

No, no, I shouldn’t do that. It’s said that happiness runs away when you sigh, and above all, I can’t let my personal feelings interfere with the job I’m responsible for. 

I couldn’t become a knight to protect the country, but I’m satisfied with having a job that pays decently.

“Let’s do our best at work today!”

And so, I put aside my gloomy thoughts and headed towards the royal palace. Generally, the royal palace is where the king who governs the country resides, so it’s common sense that an ordinary person like me can’t just enter it freely. However, my title allows me to enter the castle.

“Oh, Xeno!”

“Good morning!”

“Hey there!”

My colleagues who always work with me return greetings. 

Those who wear cheap clothes like those worn by commoners like me throw friendly glances at me, but knights in armor or officials in fancy clothes from the castle look down on me.

“A dirty person like you calling yourself a dragon handler…”

A large knight who crossed in front of me straightforwardly said so and spat. 

Even though I couldn’t help but think that it was inappropriate to spit inside the castle grounds, I didn’t react particularly because it would be troublesome to argue back.

(…Will there ever be a way to stop dragon handlers from being looked down upon?)

As the knight just told me, my title is called a “dragon handler.” Dragon handlers are not uncommon in this country and refer to humans who can take care of dragons, as the name suggests. It is a similar term to animal handlers who deal with livestock, but since dragons are overwhelmingly superior to humans, the recognition that we are the ones being taken care of is much stronger.

“Well, we’re not like them, fighting for the country and earning money.”

We earn money by taking care of dragons within our capabilities without necessarily risking our lives in battles.

However, Dragon Knights value cooperation with dragons, so the King also recognizes dragon handlers as important figures who act as a bridge between humans and dragons. 

Well, even so, knights with power and high-ranking officials have a high pride, so they don’t like the fact that people with lower status like us are considered valuable… Well, there’re not many of them though.

“By the way, I might be a little late. Will it be alright?”

I decided to hurry a little because I might have been a little late than usual.

The dragons, which are larger than humans, are inside the castle, but a slightly special mechanism is applied to that. 

The place I headed to was a certain room, but behind that door was a vast natural world. 

This door is connected to the world where dragons live, and this mechanism was made possible by creating a magic door that connects the castle to another world.

“Ah, Xeno?”

“Morning, Rito. I’m in a hurry, so I’ll go ahead.”

“Hahaha, yeah, you’re a little later than usual. Do your best.”

“Got it~”

I exchanged some words with my colleague Rito and immediately ran to a certain place. 

The place was built like a temple, and within it, a single dragon closed its eyes and curled up.

“It’s sleeping… okay, this should be easy—”

Just as I said that and approached, the sleeping dragon’s eyelids lifted. Its bright red eyes glared at me, exuding an intimidating aura that shook my body… It was so large that a small human like me could easily be swallowed up, so it wouldn’t be strange to faint from fear… 

“…”

“… Um, sorry! Really sorry!”

I didn’t understand what she, the dragon, was saying. 

However, having been together for a while, I have gradually come to understand what she is thinking and feeling.

That was why I could understand that she was sulking now.

“Uh, you woke up already… Well, that might sound like an excuse. Anyway, sorry? I’ll be more careful next time.”

“…”

I thought I just heard a voice saying, “It can’t be helped.”

Normally, a dragon handler takes care of one or two dragons, and at most three dragons. However, strangely enough, I am only in charge of her. I originally had two other dragons to take care of, but I was ordered to take care of her at some point.

(But… Why did this happen? I have no idea.)

Yes, no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand it. 

With her beautiful silver scales, sharp fangs, and two huge horns that looked like proof of her strength and blood-red eyes, she was the queen and mother of the dragons, commanding them all.

“…”

I’m tired of even making fun of myself. 

I knew there was a dragon queen who ruled over the dragons, and I studied that she was a presence like a queen or mother… but I never thought I would end up taking care of such a dragon, normally.

“She has a difficult personality, but I’m counting on you, Xeno, as a dragon trainer.”

“Yes, understood.”

I can recall even now the exchange we had. 

Even today, it remains a mystery to me why she took a liking to me and chose me as her dragon handler. Every day, I take care of her while still pondering these questions.

It’s said that high-level dragons can turn into humans, but that’s probably just a fairy tale and not possible in reality.

“Good morning— Luna.”

“…”

Her tail lightly hit the ground, urging me to hurry up.

“Yes-yes, I understand,” I quickly approached her.

▽▼

This is a story about a young man who couldn’t become a knight. 

Instead, he deepened his bond with the dragons, which are also a force for protecting the country.

“Hey Luna, you haven’t pooped yet, right?”

“!!”

“Oh, sorry…”

However, this young man lacked a little delicacy toward the dragons.