蜜翅獣竜 ヴェルミュゼア/Honey-Winged Beast Dragon Vermusea (オリジナル/oc)

蜜翅獣竜 ヴェルミュゼア Honey-Winged Beast Dragon Vermusea

「我を倒した暁には、この身も、心も、そなたに預けよう。……だから、ちゃんと勝ちに来るのだぞ？」

花々が一年中咲き誇る「蜜冠の領域」を治める魔王。黄金色の毛並みと豊かな白い毛襟、ふっくらとした丸腹、黄黒の縞を持つ大きな蜂型の尾が特徴。四枚の透き通った翅を震わせて舞う姿は優美だが、その力は歴代の勇者たちをことごとく退けるほど強大である。

そんなヴェルミュゼアがひそかに抱く夢は、自分を打ち倒した勇者と番になること。

この世界では、なぜか神に選ばれる勇者は全身を毛皮に覆われた者ばかり。狼、獅子、狐、熊――姿も気性も異なる勇者たちが魔王城を訪れるたび、ヴェルミュゼアは玉座で威厳たっぷりに迎えながら、触角だけを期待に弾ませてしまう。「今度こそ、我の運命の相手かもしれぬ」と。

ヴェルミュゼアは、オスとメスの両方の性を備える雌雄同体。望む番との関係に合わせて、身体をオス、メス、あるいは両方の特徴を備えた姿へと変えることができる。けれど、相手の好みに姿を合わせられても、その心まで手に入るわけではない。それだけは、長い歳月の中でよく分かっている。

だからこそ、戦いには決して手を抜かない。

欲しいのは、魔王という地位や、その身体に惹かれて差し出される求婚ではない。本気の自分と向き合い、恐れを越えて手を伸ばし、対等な場所まで来てくれる相手なのだ。

ただし、戦いの後には少々甘い。倒れた勇者を手当てし、花蜜のお茶と焼き菓子を振る舞い、装備まで修繕して送り出す。本人は「次も万全の状態で挑ませるためだ」と言い張るが、再挑戦の日を告げられると、尾の先が嬉しそうに揺れる。

魔王城には、まだ誰も使ったことのない客室が一つある。窓からは領域でいちばん美しい花畑が見え、隣には、玉座と同じほど丁寧に手入れされた小さな椅子が置かれている。いつか訪れる番が、戦いのない日に隣へ座ってくれるように。

しかし、ヴェルミュゼアを倒した者は、いまだ一人もいない。

今日もまた挑戦者を退けた魔王は、誰もいなくなった玉座の間で、白い虹彩を伏せて小さくため息をつく。

「……また勝ってしまった。次に来るまで、寂しいではないか」

無敗の魔王。 そして、誰よりも勇者の勝利を待ち望んでいる、恋する獣竜である。

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Honey-Winged Beast Dragon Vermusea

“Should you defeat me, I shall entrust you with both my body and my heart. …So do make sure you come prepared to win.”

Vermusea is the Demon Sovereign who rules the Honeycrown Realm, a land where flowers bloom throughout the year. Golden fur, a luxuriant white ruff, a plump, rounded belly, and an enormous bee-like tail striped in yellow and black make for an unmistakable appearance. Vermusea cuts an elegant figure in flight, four translucent wings shimmering in motion—but beneath that grace lies power formidable enough to have defeated every hero who has ever issued a challenge.

Yet Vermusea harbors a secret dream: to become the bonded mate of the hero who finally wins.

For reasons no one can explain, every hero chosen by the gods in this world is an anthropomorphic animal covered in fur. Wolves, lions, foxes, bears—whenever a new hero arrives at the castle, each with a different appearance and temperament, Vermusea greets them from the throne with all the dignity befitting a sovereign. Only those twitching antennae betray the excitement beneath the regal composure.

“Perhaps this one will be my destined mate.”

Vermusea is a hermaphrodite, possessing both male and female sexual characteristics, and can assume a male form, a female form, or a form combining both, according to the relationship desired with a prospective mate. But being able to take a partner’s preferred form does not mean being able to win their heart. That is a lesson Vermusea has learned well over the long years.

And that is precisely why Vermusea never holds back in battle.

What Vermusea longs for is more than a proposal inspired by royal status or physical attraction. The dream is of someone willing to face the Demon Sovereign’s full strength, reach out despite their fear, and stand beside Vermusea as an equal.

After the battle, however, that formidable resolve gives way to a softer side. Vermusea tends to defeated heroes, serves them nectar tea and pastries, and even has their equipment repaired before sending them on their way. The explanation is always the same: “You must be in perfect condition for your next attempt.” Yet whenever a hero promises to return, the tip of that great striped tail sways with unmistakable delight.

Within the castle is a guest room that no one has ever used. Its window overlooks the most beautiful flower meadow in the realm. Beside the throne, meanwhile, stands a smaller chair, cared for just as lovingly as the throne itself—waiting for the day a beloved mate might sit there, with no battle left to fight.

But no one has ever defeated Vermusea.

Today, having overcome yet another challenger, the Demon Sovereign sits alone in the empty throne room, lowers those white irises, and lets out a quiet sigh.

“…I won again. How lonely it will be until you return.”

An undefeated sovereign. A beast dragon in love. And the one who longs for a hero’s victory more than anyone else.

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ネガティブプロンプト [negative prompt]

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