Haruto had one goal—get the merchant's cargo, deal with the dragon, and finally earn some money.

Instead, he was now standing in the middle of a scorched battlefield, staring up at a massive, burning-gold dragon whose very existence radiated overwhelming dominance.

The Dragon Emperor

…And she looked pissed.

"You dare intrude upon my domain, human?" Her voice rumbled like thunder.

Haruto sighed. "Oh, great. She can talk. That means this is about to get complicated."

Lilia, standing beside him, grinned. "Ooooh, this is perfect! Haruto, slay the beast! Show me your overwhelming might!"

"I'd rather not, thanks."

Lilia pouted. "Why not? You've already wiped out goblin tribes and accidentally ruined ecosystems."

"First of all, those were accidents. Second, I'm not fighting a dragon for free."

The massive dragon's glowing golden eyes narrowed. "You refuse to battle me?"

Haruto crossed his arms. "Yeah, actually. I just came to grab some cargo and leave. So, uh, can you move?"

The ground shook as the dragon's aura intensified.

"You insult me," she growled. "I am not some lesser beast. I am Emberis, Dragon Emperor of the Eternal Flame. You will not simply walk away!"

Haruto sighed. "Of course she has a long, dramatic title."

The merchant who hired him was trembling behind a boulder. "P-Please! We just need the goods! I-I'll even pay extra!"

Haruto's ears perked up. "Extra, huh?"

Lilia raised an eyebrow. "Wait, now you're interested?"

"Hey, money is money."

The dragon let out a low, menacing laugh. "So, you do have some warrior's pride after all."

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Haruto scratched his head. "Nah, I just need rent money."

Emberis' massive tail slammed down, shaking the ground. "Enough talk. If you wish to take what is mine, you must prove your worth in battle!"

Haruto vs. The Dragon Emperor

Haruto let out a deep sigh.

"I really don't wanna do this," he muttered.

Lilia beamed. "Too late! The battle has begun!"

Emberis roared, her wings spreading wide as golden flames erupted around her. The sheer heat melted the ground around them.

Most adventurers would be terrified.

Haruto?

He just looked mildly annoyed.

"Can we not make a huge mess?" he muttered. "I don't wanna have to pay property damage fees."

Emberis snarled. "You underestimate me, human!"

Her massive claws came crashing down—only for Haruto to casually step aside, dodging effortlessly.

She swiped again.

Haruto yawned and ducked.

A blast of golden fire erupted toward him.

Haruto raised a hand and smacked it away like a baseball.

The flames dispersed into thin air.

Emberis froze.

Lilia clapped excitedly. "Oh! She realized!"

Haruto dusted off his sleeves. "Look, I keep telling people—I don't wanna fight."

The dragon's massive eyes trembled as she processed what had just happened.

"You…" Her voice shook. "You… punched away my flames."

"Yeah, that happens sometimes."

"You didn't even flinch."

"Didn't really feel it."

Her massive wings trembled. "T-Then what about this?!"

She charged her ultimate attack—a planet-scorching golden firestorm, the kind that could wipe out armies.

Haruto sighed and flicked a small pebble at her.

The moment it tapped her scales—

BOOOOOM.

A massive shockwave blasted through the entire canyon.

The sky split in half.

A nearby mountain crumbled to dust.

The golden firestorm vanished instantly.

And Emberis?

The Dragon Emperor of Eternal Flame was sent flying so fast she broke the sound barrier—crashing into a distant mountain with a deafening BOOM.

…Silence.

Even Lilia stared in shock. "Okay, even I wasn't expecting that."

Haruto let out a long, exhausted sigh. "See? This is why I didn't wanna fight. Things always get out of hand."

Lilia grinned. "I love that about you."

Haruto pinched the bridge of his nose. "That wasn't a compliment."

The Aftermath (Or So He Thought)

Just as he was about to walk away, the mountain rumbled.

Then—BOOM.

A massive golden blur shot through the air, landing right in front of him.

Emberis had transformed.

Now, instead of a massive dragon, she stood as a tall, curvy woman with glowing golden eyes and wild flame-colored hair. A tight black-and-gold outfit wrapped around her, exuding a regal, commanding presence.

And yet—

Her expression was completely different.

She was blushing.

Haruto blinked. "...What?"

Emberis stared at him with wide, starstruck eyes.

"You… you're the strongest being I've ever met."

Haruto frowned. "Uh… okay?"

Then she did something he wasn't expecting.

She dropped to one knee.

"Please, let me be yours!"

Silence.

Haruto's brain shut down.

Lilia gasped. "No way! Not another one!"

The merchant—who had witnessed everything—immediately passed out.

Haruto took a deep breath. "Okay. Let's rewind."

"Did I just accidentally recruit a Dragon Emperor into my harem?"

Lilia grinned. "Yes! Yes, you did!"

Emberis nodded firmly. "You have bested me. By dragon law, I am now your loyal mate."

Haruto felt his soul leave his body.

He rubbed his temples. This was getting out of control.

First, the Demon Lord. Then, a Princess. Now, a Dragon Emperor.

And all three of them had one thing in common: they were all insane.

"...Why do I only attract weirdos?"

Lilia smirked. "Because normal women can't handle you."

Haruto groaned.

He just wanted a job.

Instead, he was becoming the accidental ruler of all wierdos this fantasy world have...