It Is A Symbol Of Strength

When he arrived at the Adventurers’ Guild, he could hear voices buzzing around him.

“So that is Kikori…”

“He really does have a fairy with him.”

“So, a lucky boy…”

“More importantly, what kind of name is Kikori? That is obviously a fake name.”

He could hear all sorts of things… but yes, there probably was some “luck” involved.

The fact that Kikori had most likely obtained Dragon Crown by chance.

That could be called the greatest stroke of luck in Kikori’s life.

“So it is a fake name?”

“Ah… the name my parents gave me was different.”

“Hm.”

“Interested?”

“No.”

“I see.”

Well, Kikori himself had already discarded his old name.

If he were called by “that name,” it would only feel wrong.

When he went down the stairs to the shop, Aria, who had been spacing out, saw Kikori and shot up from her chair with a clatter.

“Kikori!”

“I have returned, Aria-san.”

“Welcome back!”

As she hugged him tightly, Kikori’s feeling that he had truly come back grew stronger.

Yes, Aria was Kikori’s family now. He became keenly aware of that.

Someone very precious to him, like an older sister. That was what Aria was to Kikori.

“It sounds like they are making a huge fuss upstairs about a dragon showing up, but are you okay, Kikori?”

“Okay, or rather… I was directly involved.”

“Directly involved?”

“I am the one who brought back the dragon’s message.”

“Huh?”

And when he briefly explained the situation to Aria, she let out a thoughtful groan.

“…I think what you did was the best option available among the choices you had.”

“That is good.”

“But whether it will bring good results in the long run… I cannot really say.”

“It was the best option, right?”

What does that mean? Kikori wondered.

It was the best option, and yet there was no telling whether it would have a good effect in the long run.

That made it sound as though things would go in a bad direction no matter what.

“The word dragon… is simply too strong.”

“Ahh, I get that.”

Even Orphe nodded in agreement with Aria, but Kikori did not understand.

“The word is strong?”

“That is right. The moment the word ‘dragon’ gets mixed in, it gives power to whatever it is attached to.”

For example, Aria grabbed a sword that had been lying nearby.

“This is a Dragon Killer. What do you think? Sounds strong, does it not?”

“Um… yes. It means it is a sword that can kill dragons, right?”

“Exactly. Well, this is just an ordinary steel sword, though.”

As she said that, Aria lightly tapped the sword.

“Dragons are a symbol of strength. ‘Dragon’s so-and-so’… when it gets mixed in like that, the word itself becomes stronger. So then, what about conversation? Something like, ‘Out of consideration for the dragon, we will…’… do you really think people would feel like defying that?”