Half a day later, Tania, panting for breath, dragged a piece of whale meat back from the Red Dragon's Lair, a chunk even larger than her own head.
The journey was long, and she had to overcome an endless stream of negative thoughts urging her to give up. This was the absolute limit of what she could carry.
Based on her estimation of her own appetite, she figured two or three more trips like this would provide enough food for her brother to survive his first deep sleep and grow a bit.
However, what she didn't notice was that almost immediately after she left, the snoozing David's nostrils twitched. His tongue shot out, latched onto the meat, and dislocating his jaws like a python, forcibly pulled the chunk into his stomach.
The entire process was as quick as taking a sip of water.
After swallowing the meat, Dragon Kiss automatically closed. His tongue licked the remaining scraps from the tip of his nose and dragon horns, and only then did he smack his lips, still wanting more.
If he had been awake, he probably would have complained, "That's it?"
It wasn't even enough to get stuck between his teeth.
So, when Tania returned with the second piece of meat, she found the first piece gone and David's belly unchanged. Confused, she wondered if some other animal had stolen it or if the Dragon Nest had been discovered!
But after a thorough check revealed no issues, Tania hesitantly placed the meat down and went back for the third piece.
When she returned this time, she discovered the meat was missing yet again!
This naturally sparked a mix of feelings in Tania—frustration, anger, and a strong sense of curiosity and competitiveness.
This time, after placing the whale meat in front of David, she carefully retreated a few steps, hid herself, and slowly lay down, determined to fight off the waves of drowsiness and watch for a while.
She refused to believe it could disappear right in front of her again.
And then, the piece of meat vanished before her very eyes.
"..." Tania blinked, bewildered.
If I didn't see wrong, did my brother just swallow that huge piece of meat in one bite?
Even if Mom already cooked it, does he really not need to chew at all?
Well, at least this answer is easier to accept than theft.
It's just that this messy, stinky little brother of mine is a bit more of a glutton than I am!
A few more trips should do it!
「Days later,」
Tania, acting under the influence of Sloth, collapsed in exhaustion in front of David.
Wow, I'm actually impressed!
Even after scouring the entire Dragon heritage, she hadn't come across many who could eat like this!
Even she, with her steely will, began to respect his draconic destiny and considered abandoning her urge to help her fellow dragon.
Yet, her inherently righteous and kind nature overruled that thought time and time again.
After all, he's my only brother, sharing the same bloodline.
And since he was just born, isn't there a possibility that during his long growth period, I could influence him to change through my own example?
Then, I'll find an opportunity to go against Mom and get my brother to worship the great King of the North Wind, Bahamut, with me. That way, we can break free from our evil nature and its troubles.
Little did she know that she had unwittingly awakened a peculiar habit often indulged in by ancient Metal Dragon sages in their idle moments:
Convincing dragons to turn to good...
Especially convincing Evil Dragons to do so.
However, those most fond of this pastime were not the Silver Dragons, but the Brass Dragons.
Because of their incredibly strong desire to converse, when travelers could no longer satisfy this need, they would resort to the same tactics as Blue Dragons: venturing out to collect abandoned Dragon Eggs to hatch.
Unlike Blue Dragons, who did it to strengthen their clan's forces by cultivating enforcers and tax collectors, Brass Dragons did it purely out of boredom, simply wanting other dragons to chat with.
The hatchlings they raised themselves, surely they wouldn't refuse to chat for a bit, right? they probably thought.
Thus, any unfortunate dragon that had been raised by a Brass Dragon for a period, whether Metal Dragons or the even more unfortunate Chromatic Dragons, was guaranteed to develop some mental issues, the mildest being severe introversion.
At the same time, they would also develop a very distinct characteristic: an extreme dislike of listening to others speak, and an even greater loathing for incessant chatter.
They would often snap their mouths shut mid-sentence or resort to draconic threats.
All for a moment of peace, a chance to sleep quietly, even if just for a little while.
Tania, still oblivious to this, focused all her thoughts on her younger brother, her heart full of beautiful wishes for the future.
Tania, earnestly researching the Dragon Heritage, felt a jolt in her heart. No, could he be sick?
This sign made her recall a terrifying disease she had previously read about, one that made all Dragons turn pale at its mere mention.
Endless Gluttony Syndrome!
The more she observed, the more it seemed to fit, and Tania grew increasingly worried.
To save her 'critically ill' brother, Tania felt she had to find a way to change things.
Returning to the volcanic lair for what felt like the umpteenth time, she gazed at the whale—even larger than her mother—and sank into troubled thought.
There's so much food readily available, yet I only bring back a little each time! It's so frustrating!
But just then, her mind wandering, she saw an albatross flying back from the sea to its cliffside nest, regurgitating food to feed its young.
Tania immediately conceived a somewhat bold idea.
I'm limited by my current strength... so why not do what those pelicans do? Eat as much as I can first, and then vomit it out once I get there?
I'm even astounded by my own idea!
She mused, Just thinking about it, isn't this just like... that thing humans do?
Tania! What are you thinking? That's your brother!
Having successfully convinced herself, the Silver Hatchling managed to eat until she was stuffed, then, after a bumbling flight, arrived in front of David.
Even though I'm much slower this time, at least the quantity is large!
She looked at David hesitantly, making sure several times that he was in a deep sleep. Then, she shook her somewhat uncertain tail, bent over, lowered her head, and opened her mouth.
However, Dragons are not ruminants, and this process caused Tania considerable distress.
Her movements were clumsy; before any food could come out, saliva dripped onto the ground in front of David, exuding a faint chill.
Little did she know, her actions had plunged David into a nightmare...
In the nightmare, David once again saw that terrifying crimson figure descending before him, its mouth gaping like an abyss.
In reality, her belly convulsing, Tania's face filled with both agony and determination as she finally succeeded:
"RETCH..."
"BLEEEECCHHH!"
A pile of censored, indescribable flesh and blood was thus heaped in front of David.
Unsure whether it was because she felt David's situation was urgent or if she feared being discovered at the crime scene, no sooner had she emptied her stomach than she turned to leave for a second load, not even looking back.
Out of the meticulous nature of a Silver Dragon, she even erased her footprints with her tail and resealed the 'dirty' entrance to David's den before departing.
Not long after Tania left, David, still in the throes of the nightmare, kicked himself awake.
He looked around warily, reassuring himself it was just a nightmare. At the same time, he recalled a new entry in his mind: the Authority named "Sloth" had been unlocked. Only then did he relax his guard and exhale a long sigh of relief.
He had already witnessed the powers of "Arrogance," "Rage," "Lust," and "Gluttony," so this "Sloth" would surely be no less impressive.
Although he still didn't understand the specific manifestations of "Sloth," he could guess some aspects from its name.
However, as the hunger from tossing in his sleep drew his attention to the unidentifiable, vomit-like mass before him, his still-foggy, just-awakened brain completely shut down.
"What is this stuff?"