Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid Side Story: Ilulu's Dilemma
A flame dragon's heart wavers between duty and doubt...
Ilulu was raised on one truth: humans are lesser beings, meant to be ruled. As a soldier of the Pure-Blood Flame, the Chaos Faction's most radical faction, she's never questioned the code—until the day she's ordered to deliver judgment on Tohru, the senior who once taught her how to fight, now living among humans as a maid.
Descending into a world of convenience stores, morning commutes, and gentle smiles, Ilulu watches Tohru serve a huma
Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid Side Story: Ilulu's Dilemma - Explosion at the supermarket!? The Flame Dragon's Jealousy and Swaying Heart
No, that's wrong—she thought.
She understood it in her head. Humans were an inferior species, meant to be ruled. The first article of the Chaos Faction's code. She'd had it drilled into her ears from the moment she was born a Flame Dragon, until she was sick of hearing it. And yet—why did her chest ache like this?
Ilulu sat on the living room sofa, staring blankly at the television. The morning news program was repeating that today's weather would be sunny. Outside the window, it certainly was sunny. A blue sky. In the scorched valleys of the Chaos Realm, you never saw a sky that color.
(Three days.)
The word echoed in her head.
A message from Gardo. The deadline was three days. If she didn't dispose of Tohru by then, she too would face the Flame's judgment.
(I can't do it.)
From the depths of her heart, a voice of refusal rose up. But the code was the code. Those tainted by humans had to be purified by fire. That was the Chaos Faction's righteousness. That was what she'd been taught from birth as a warrior of the Flame Dragon clan.
And yet.
Ilulu looked at her own hands. Small hands. Would these hands burn Tohru to ash? Gentle Tohru, who had taught her how to fight?
(I don't want to.)
But to acknowledge that feeling was nothing less than betrayal of the code.
"Ilulu! We're going shopping!"
A bright voice came flying at her. Ilulu turned, and there stood Tohru, blonde twin-tails swaying, wearing a white apron. Her flat-tipped forked horns caught the morning light and glinted. Her golden eyes were narrowed in delight.
"...Shopping?"
"Yes! Miss Kobayashi has the day off today, so let's all three of us go to the supermarket. Fresh Mart East Store. They have a great selection, and Miss Kobayashi's favorite beer is cheap there too!"
Fresh Mart East Store. A supermarket a ten-minute walk from Miss Kobayashi's apartment. Ilulu had never been. No—she'd never even properly seen a human supermarket before.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll go. Not like I've got anything better to do."
Miss Kobayashi, who'd been sprawled on the other end of the sofa, sat up sluggishly. Black short hair, sleepy sanpaku eyes. A worn-out T-shirt and track pants. Her chest was on the modest side, and overall she had very little in the way of feminine charm. This human woman was the one Tohru had devoted everything to.
(Why her?)
Ilulu glanced at Miss Kobayashi. Not strong. No special powers. A lifespan of just eighty years. And yet Tohru had broken the code and risked her life for this woman.
(I don't understand it.)
Deep in her chest, that small pang again.
"Ilulu, what's wrong? You look so gloomy."
Tohru peered at her with concern. So close. Her golden eyes were fixed on Ilulu's face.
"It's nothing. Nothing at all."
Ilulu turned her face away. She couldn't look Tohru straight in the eye.
(I have to dispose of this person.)
Tohru, knowing nothing of the turmoil inside Ilulu, just smiled cheerfully.
"Come on, let's go! I've invited Kanna too. The four of us are going out!"
"Kanna too?"
"Yes. Kanna can control lightning, you know? She seems interested in the supermarket's electrical systems, and she's been wanting to go for a while."
The power to control lightning. Kanna was another dragon Ilulu had never met. Tohru's little sister-figure, who apparently lived in the human world as Miss Kobayashi's relative.
(A human child and a dragon child.)
Ilulu let out a small breath.
—
Outside, the air was warm.
The four of them walked down the street in front of the apartment. Tohru led the way. Miss Kobayashi beside her. Ilulu walked a little behind them.
"Nice weather. Perfect laundry day, huh."
"It is! Let's wash the sheets when we get back. They'll dry wonderfully today."
"You really do love your housework."
"Taking care of you is my happiness, Miss Kobayashi!"
Tohru clung to Miss Kobayashi's arm. Miss Kobayashi grimaced and said "It's hot," but didn't shake her off. The sight stirred something restless in Ilulu's chest.
(Why does she look so happy?)
Was walking with a human really that joyful? Lining up shoulder to shoulder with an inferior species, laughing together?
(I don't understand it.)
But the more her head denied it, the more her eyes chased Tohru's back.
"Oh."
Suddenly, a small voice.
Ilulu turned, and there stood a girl with long white hair. Her big purple eyes were wide open. Small white wings on her back. Tiny horns on her head. The corners of her mouth turned up just slightly.
"Kanna, you came. Did we keep you waiting?"
"Nope. Just got here."
Kanna said that and walked toward Ilulu. An unhesitating stride. Not a shred of caution.
"Oh. The new person. You're Ilulu, right?"
"...You know me?"
"Tohru told me. A flame dragon, and cute."
Cute. The word left Ilulu momentarily speechless.
"...I'm not cute."
Her voice cracked a little. Kanna looked at her and giggled.
"You're embarrassed."
"I am not!"
Ilulu's voice came out sharper than she meant it to. But Kanna wasn't scared at all. If anything, she peered up at Ilulu's face with amusement.
(What is with this kid?)
Ilulu was thrown off. In the Chaos Realm, nothing ever approached her so defenselessly. Getting close meant fighting. That was just how things were.
"Come on, let's go. Kanna, would you hold hands with Ilulu and walk with her?"
"Okay."
Kanna held out a small hand. White and soft-looking. Ilulu stared at it.
(A human child's hand.)
No—Kanna wasn't human. She was a dragon. But a dragon raised in the human world. Innocent and defenseless and warm, just like a human child.
"...I don't need to hold hands. I won't get lost."
Ilulu said it bluntly.
"Oh..."
Kanna pulled her hand back, looking a little lonely. The moment Ilulu saw that expression, her chest tightened with pain.
(Why do you make a face like that?)
Ilulu clicked her tongue softly.
"...Fine. I guess I can hold hands."
She said it and held out her hand. Kanna's face lit up.
"Oh!"
Kanna grabbed Ilulu's hand. The small palm was warm.
(Why am I doing this?)
Bewildered by feelings she didn't understand herself, Ilulu squeezed Kanna's hand back.
—
Fresh Mart East Store was a big building.
White outer walls, a red sign. Cold air flowed out from beyond the automatic doors. Several cars were parked in the lot.
(So this is a supermarket.)
Ilulu stopped in front of the automatic doors. Beyond the glass, there were so many humans. People pushing carts, people picking up products, people lining up at the registers. All of them shopping here as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"What's wrong, Ilulu? Aren't you coming in?"
Kanna tugged at Ilulu's hand.
"...It's nothing. I'm coming."
Ilulu stepped through the automatic doors.
The instant she did, she was wrapped in a strange atmosphere.
Bright. Overwhelmingly bright. White light poured down from the ceiling. Colorful products lined the shelves in neat rows. Vegetables, meat, fish, sweets, drinks, household goods. Everything a human needed to live was packed in here.
(So this is a human marketplace.)
The Chaos Realm had places for bartering too. But nothing this orderly. Nothing this bright. Nothing this quiet.
Light, cheerful music played through the store. A song she didn't know. But it was pleasant to the ear.
"Here, Ilulu. Take a basket."
Tohru held out a silver basket.
"A basket?"
"You put what you're buying in it. Here, like this."
Tohru picked up her own basket and gave it a little shake to demonstrate.
"...Got it."
Ilulu took the basket. It was cool to the touch.
"Alright, I'm gonna go hit the beer aisle. Catch up with you later."
"No, you don't! You always buy nothing but beer, Miss Kobayashi. Today we're going to pick out proper ingredients too."
Tohru grabbed Miss Kobayashi's arm firmly.
"Yeah, yeah. Fine."
Miss Kobayashi laughed, looking put-upon.
—
The first place they headed was the meat section.
Red cuts of meat lay arranged in glass cases. Pork, chicken, beef. Thin-sliced, thick-cut, ground. Price stickers with rows of numbers.
(Meat.)
Ilulu stared at the glass case. They ate meat in the Chaos Realm too. But she'd never seen meat so neatly cut and priced.
"What should we make today? Miss Kobayashi, is there anything you'd like?"
"Hmm, not really. Anything you make is good."
"Oh, Miss Kobayashi, honestly...!"
Tohru wriggled happily. The sight pricked at Ilulu's chest.
(You're the only one who gets that. It's not fair.)
The words surfaced in her mind.
Ilulu silently picked up a package of meat. Premium wagyu. The label read "Special Select Black Wagyu Sirloin." She couldn't really tell what the price meant. But the numbers were big.
(This is the best meat.)
Ilulu put the package in her basket. Another one. And another. One after another, she tossed premium wagyu packages into her basket.
"Wait, Ilulu! What are you doing?!"
Tohru's voice rose in surprise.
"What do you mean, what? I'm picking meat. The most expensive stuff."
"No! If you buy nothing but premium meat like that, my salary will vanish! And besides, Miss Kobayashi prefers light chicken over fatty cuts!"
Tohru pulled the premium wagyu packages out of Ilulu's basket and put them back on the shelf.
"Why? Good food is good food."
"It's not just about whether something tastes good. If you're thinking of Miss Kobayashi, you need to learn more about ingredients. When it comes to cooking, the cook's feelings matter most of all."
Tohru's golden eyes looked at Ilulu seriously. In them was a gentleness like an older sister admonishing a younger one.
(If you're thinking of Miss Kobayashi.)
The words sank deep into Ilulu's chest.
"...I'm not thinking about Miss Kobayashi or anyone."
Ilulu turned her face away.
"You really aren't honest, are you, Ilulu?"
Tohru giggled.
"Shut up."
Ilulu gripped her basket tight.
(That's not it. I'm just, on a mission...)
She lined up excuses in her mind. But every one of them rang hollow.
—
After that, Tohru unhesitatingly put Miss Kobayashi's favorites into the basket.
Beer. Edamame. Chicken thighs for karaage. Every one of them something Miss Kobayashi loved.
"Oh, you know your stuff."
"Of course! I have every single thing you like memorized!"
Miss Kobayashi patted Tohru's head. Tohru narrowed her eyes happily.
Ilulu watched the natural exchange from a little distance.
(You're the only one who gets that. It's not fair.)
The same words surfaced again.
Tohru's smile. The soft smile directed at Miss Kobayashi. An expression Ilulu had never once been given.
(Why am I so irritated?)
Ilulu was confused by her own feelings. Was this anger? Sadness? Or something else entirely?
"You're the only one who gets that. It's not fair."
Before she knew it, the words had slipped from her mouth.
Tohru turned around. Her golden eyes went wide with surprise.
"Ilulu?"
"...It's nothing. Never mind."
Ilulu turned on her heel.
"Wait, Ilulu. You pick something too. Here, how about this? You like spicy food too, don't you?"
Tohru chased after her and held out a seasoning containing chili peppers.
"...Don't want it."
Ilulu brushed her hand away.
(I can't be honest.)
She knew. Tohru meant no harm. If anything, she was being considerate of Ilulu. But that kindness hurt right now.
Ilulu hurried away from the aisle.
—
Ilulu stopped in front of the sweets section.
Colorful bags lined the shelves in rows. Chocolate, snacks, candy. All things she'd never seen before.
(Is this what human children eat?)
Ilulu picked up one bag. Colorful wrapping. Inside were little star-shaped sugar candies.
"Oh, those are good."
At some point, Kanna had appeared beside her.
"...Kanna."
"Kanna likes those. Sweet, and they pop in your mouth."
Kanna said it with an innocent smile.
"I'm not interested in human sweets."
Ilulu started to put the bag back on the shelf.
"Then here, I'll give you this."
Kanna pulled a small cheap candy from her pocket. Ramune candy in a long, thin packet.
"...Why me?"
"You've been looking bored this whole time,
Novelia is an AI-powered platform to read original light novels and fan fiction, create your own in just a few taps, and chat with the characters. New, illustrated episodes arrive daily — free to start.