You Are A Kind Boy

“D-d-d-d… a dragon!?”

“Yes.”

Even Defense Count Seims, perhaps unsurprisingly, could not remain composed at the word dragon, and he became visibly unsettled.

“So, well. A dragon… is there one? Nearby?”

“It said that if anyone enters its domain, it will kill them. I was entrusted with that message.”

As he spoke, Kikori explained the route to Volcanion’s dwelling.

If you enter, you die. Faced with both that far-too-clear message from Volcanion and the route that had been relayed along with it, Defense Count Seims swallowed hard.

“…I see. Then entry to that area will be forbidden immediately.”

“Thank you very much.”

So I really was right to tell Defense Count Seims, Kikori thought, when the count continued, “By the way.”

“Kikori. Will you… be able to continue speaking with that dragon called Volcanion in the future?”

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

“Well. If it understands human speech and can converse… I thought perhaps it might be something like the matter with that fairy.”

“I think that would be difficult.”

“Oh?”

“It said not to try to negotiate with it through me.”

At Kikori’s answer, Defense Count Seims made a troubled face, and before long let out a sigh.

“…I see. Well, I suppose it saw through even that much.”

Defense Count Seims said that was truly regrettable, but… if Volcanion had not said those words to him, there was a chance Kikori might have been used as a human envoy.

Thinking about that, Kikori felt an unpleasant sweat break out.

“Mm… mm. I understand well enough. As for the matter of the dragon, I will issue a proclamation at once. I see no need to provoke it meaninglessly.”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

“Hm?”

“Huh?”

When Kikori responded to the sound Defense Count Seims made, the count stared at him intently.

“…No. You are a kind boy.”

“R-right…”

“Good. Then let the proclamations begin at once in every quarter!”

“Yes, sir!”

Leaving only the bare minimum of guards behind, personnel scattered in all directions… and Defense Count Seims himself walked away as he was.

After seeing him off, Kikori turned to Orphe beside him and asked, “What did he mean by that?”

He had not understood what Defense Count Seims had caught on, or what he meant by kind.

“How should I put it? He probably could not tell what your position was.”

“Sorry, I do not follow.”

“You thanked him for agreeing to the dragon’s demand. But looked at another way, it could also sound like you were thanking him for acting quickly to prevent harm to the human side. And you are the dragon’s messenger. So?”

“Ahh… so it could make me sound like I am some kind of dragon’s subordinate.”

“Exactly.”

Words are difficult.

But it was also true that Kikori felt something close to respect toward Volcanion.

Things really never went simply.

Thinking about that, Kikori headed for the Adventurers’ Guild to go see Aria.