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“Hare is tasty, hm-hm-hmm.”
My end had already been decided.
Even if I did not know the road that led there, I already knew only the ending.
“Fishing little carp, hm-hm-hmm.”
At the very end, I would surely be sent off by a warm fire.
I would test people, be tested by people, debase people, kill people, and be destroyed by people.
“Ku, kaa.”
The warmth of your body on my back and your sleeping breaths were simply pleasant. With just this memory and this sensation, I would surely be able to endure eternal loneliness.
A magical formula connecting memories, devised by the Dragon of Human Knowledge, the All-Knowing Dragon, who was not me.
Which came first, the egg or the chicken? The instant that was created, every Dragon of Human Knowledge fell in love with you.
I was myself, and yet not only myself. I was an existence that inherited the memories of Dragons of Human Knowledge from every possible choice and every possible history.
“Tooyama-kun, Tooyama Naruhito-kun.”
Each time I called your name, I felt warmth that should not exist deep in my chest.
Even my self-identity was vague, but only this moment, only this sensation, was unmistakably mine alone.
“Even if I say so myself, I devised quite a strange magical formula.”
Even the laughter that unknowingly welled up felt pleasant.
The memories passed down in an unbroken chain scrambled the individual called me into a mess.
What exactly was the current me? Me, who had the memories of a Dragon of Human Knowledge who was not me. Me, who held these feelings toward Tooyama Naruhito because of those memories.
“Are these feelings of mine truly my own?”
My essence, which sought knowledge, slowly, slowly deepened its consideration.
Through the magical formula, I became an equivalent existence. These feelings, these emotions, these memories, if this were as it should be, would belong to the Dragon of Human Knowledge who was not me.
If so, then that, that was—
“How wonderful. Ah, I grow more and more curious about you, Tooyama-kun.”
That me. That I, that self of mine.
The fact that I chose a dangerous and foolish option like sharing memories, which could threaten the establishment of the self.
“Creating such an unfinished, no, sloppy magical formula that should never be completed. Supupu, ah, I cannot understand you, Dragon of Human Knowledge.”
The human that this all-knowing dragon desired to meet again so badly she would go that far, the human who made her choose to stay by his side even if she had to do that.
That was you.
I should not be able to understand it. And yet, I had already begun to be hopelessly drawn to you. Because the memories I inherited and the you I actually touched were far too similar, without a single interpretation being wrong.
You feared dragons.
You did not fear dragons.
You stood beside dragons.
You did not lean on dragons.
“Supupu, it is no wonder Alice took a liking to you. Ah, right.”
Snap. I snapped my fingers. The activation motion for a magical formula.
Walking through the forest like this while carrying you on my back was not bad, but I had just thought of something good.
“Hypothesis construction, theorem clarification.”
The scenery changed with a soft whoosh.
Teleportation by magical formula. From the rough forest path to a mansion filled with white marble.
“Hmm… That old man of the Empire really cannot be underestimated. To think he had such an irritatingly good eye. This body, made with lavish use of Geroon Silver, and this design that can only be called craftsmanship. Fukaka, not bad.”
There was a woman swaying her tail as she gazed at a silver cup on a large bed.
“Hmm? Old dragon? Whose permission did you get to enter my room? Also, Bernal was looking for you. For a freeloader, you are getting awfully carried away………………huh?”
The place I chose was the room of a certain young dragon.
There, on a bed far too large for a human form, one golden woman was sprawled in a sloppy posture.
Alice Dral Flaretail. The newest dragon, and a dragon who inherited the blood of that hateful incarnation of flame.
The dragon closest to humans, allowed every possibility.
How carefree, rolling around in only her underwear. Well, still, dragons like lazing around, so I suppose it could not be helped.
“Huh? Naru…hito? Huh? Eh?”
The golden dragon flailed around, grabbing nearby sheets at random and wrapping them around herself.
She probably did not want Tooyama-kun to see her sloppy appearance. Well, I could understand that.
“Supupu, isn’t his sleeping face cute? Ah, this is just me showing off. Bye-bye.”
“You— Wait!”
“I will not wait. Is it not fine, just a little? It is unfair for only you to have him.”
Snap.
Anger, embarrassment, likely both. The golden dragon had gone red all the way to her ears.
After showing off Tooyama-kun on my back to her, I teleported again. While I was at it, I placed a simple seal on the Dragon Embassy, so she probably would not be able to follow right away.
Dragons were weak against the concept of sealing, you see.
Well, if enough time passed, that Familiar of Service would probably undo it. Or rather, why was that thing casually present in the human world?
“Ah, wha, whawawa.”
“Heh, heh, heh?”
“W-what?! What happened?”
“Eh, no way, is that…”
I was surrounded by clamor.
It was the tavern of the Adventurers’ Guild, the headquarters of the roughnecks.
The next teleportation destination was here. Tooyama-kun had properly fulfilled his role as an adventurer. In that case, he needed a reward for it.
“Eh, th-that color of magical power… Al—no, Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama…?”
The humans who noticed me suddenly appearing all began to murmur at once.
Among them was one beautiful woman with long flaxen hair, staring at me with her mouth open. I recognized that brown robe and the staff about as tall as she was.
It was outing attire from the Magic Academy.
“Hmm? You are… Ah, Redna. Redna Spark Laka-kun, is it? Supupu, ah, come to think of it, you were also an adventurer, were you not? If I recall, your magic rank is intermediate… Order Class, was it? Quite impressive at your age.”
“…Eh, wh-why do you know my name?”
“Supupu, is that not obvious? All who study at the Academy are my humans. Of course I remember them all. Redna Spark Laka-kun. I read your thesis before. That viewpoint of classifying magical power by recognizing it as color was quite interesting. The idea that differences in skill at formula construction come from compatibility between that color and the characteristics of the formula is fascinating.”
I knew the faces and names of all students who had ever attended the Magic Academy. She should have been one of the fairly excellent ones.
“Ah… U… Ah, ah… Our founder, the guardian dragon of magicians. An honor, the greatest honor… Not only do you remember my name, but even the contents of my thesis…”
Redna-kun knelt with enough force that she looked ready to crawl on the floor.
“H-hey, isn’t that a first-rank adventurer? The magician woman.”
“How did that silver-haired woman appear?”
“Eh, wait, that guy being carried on her back, could he be…”
Hmm, it seemed she had originally been someone who drew attention. The fact that such a woman was bowing her head to me had attracted even more attention.
“Supupu, ah, you were a first-rank adventurer, were you not? Sorry, but could you call a Guild staff member for me?”
“Y-y-y-y-yes!! Right away, immediately! Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama, please sit here while you wait!”
“Eh, Red, we’re sitting here right n—”
“If you complain even slightly about what I say right now, I will leave this party, kill all of you, and die too.”
“““…Yes, ma’am.”””
“Supu, sorry, adventurer-kuns. I will remember this.”
“Eh? N-no, no! Not at all… Damn, what’s with that beauty… Is she an elf or something?”
“M-my chest is somehow pounding.”
“You mediocre fools! Stand up! Quickly offer your seats to the Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama! Ah, D-Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama, is the person on your back asleep?”
“Ah, you do not need to worry about him. Thank you, Redna-kun.”
“Gyaah… Ufu, fufufufufu. The founder, whom only past headmasters have ever met, smiled at me. I can end here now.”
“Redna collapsed?! Her nose is bleeding…”
“I-I’m fine… The Guild, I will call a Guild staff member. Do as the Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama said!”
While causing a fuss, Redna-kun and the others disappeared into the back of the Guild. Yes, if I waited a little while, I would be able to speak with someone from the Guild. What one should have are cute students.
“W-what is this? What is happening…”
“H-hey, that noisy first-rank party over there, aren’t they the group with a ‘magician’? What are they doing?”
“Keh, I’m jealous. Having a magician join your party is pretty much like being allowed to succeed as an adventurer.”
“They panicked and headed toward the counter.”
“That silver-haired lady is too beautiful.”
“I-I wonder if I should talk to her.”
Human voices swirled. Thinking that they were the descendants of the humans who survived that Great War was deeply moving.
I realized that my heart was a little excited.
“This is a fun place.”
I sat Tooyama-kun down in the seat the Academy student had cleared, then sat beside him.
This place, filled with clamor and human vitality, was not something I disliked.
“It is a place perfectly suited to you, Tooyama-kun.”
“Suu, pii, supyo.”
Leaning against the backrest, Tooyama-kun still did not wake. Aside from the magical formula I had applied to make him sleep deeply, he was probably that exhausted.
The humans watched from afar. I smiled back at some of their gazes, and their reactions varied.
Some blushed and looked away, some were plainly enchanted, and others were frightened of me instead.
“Supupu, humans really are cute.”
I liked humans. Humans, filled with possibility and certainly inheriting the traits of “them,” were interesting.
When I looked at them, a smile naturally spilled out. If I had children, perhaps I would feel something similar toward them.
“Supyo, gu, gumugu.”
“…Supupu.”
I compared the person before me with the humans around us.
Interesting, ah, interesting. As expected, the feelings I held toward you and the feelings I held toward humans were similar, yet different.
When I looked at you, the depths of my chest grew warm. But, you see, if I kept feeling that, the heat somehow melted into a sludge and spread throughout my body.
That sludge swelled more and more, making my brain go strange.
“…This feeling. Ah, I too am a dragon after all.”
I too was a dragon to the very end. Just as humans slept, ate, and mated, this body possessed instinctive desires toward violence and domination.
This dark feeling toward the thing I yearned for must be part of my nature.
“Supu, ah, this is fun. Watching you truly is fun, Tooyama-kun.”
The unknown, this emotion I still did not know, was nevertheless something that existed in the unbroken chain of memories.
I wanted to dominate Tooyama Naruhito. I wanted to trample his dreams, his desires, everything, so that he could see only me, so that he could rely only on me.
That malignancy existed firmly in my heart as my true feeling.
“Ah, good…”
I looked at you while suppressing those feelings. No, no, no no, if I did something like that, you would hate me.
I slowly, gradually suppressed my instincts as a dragon. You, who could make me feel this way, were truly an amusing existence.
“Alice… As expected, I envy you. It is unfair. Only you have experienced both being Tooyama Naruhito’s enemy and his ally.”
At the very least, surely I was allowed to show the sleeping Tooyama-kun off to that golden dragon and put my scent on him. Otherwise, would that not be unfair?
Tap, tap, tap.
Without realizing it, my fingertips beat out a rhythm, dancing over the simple wooden table.
I sank into thought while looking at Tooyama-kun’s sleeping face. Ah, what a luxurious time this was.
“E-ex, excuse me, All-Knowing Dragon.”
A trembling voice, yet one that somehow carried courage. When I turned my gaze toward it, there stood a slightly plump man with an obvious wig, his expression visibly stiffening.
Oh my, not merely a Guild staff member, but the master of this city had appeared.
“Margrave! The current All-Knowing Dragon-sama is not the All-Knowing Dragon-sama, but the Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama! To mistake her name—does the Kingdom intend to insult the Magic Academy?!”
Redna-kun, like a cat with its fur bristling, snapped at the Margrave, who had called my name incorrectly. Supupu, magicians all lacked common sense, you see.
“Redna, Redna-san, he is the lord. Seriously, stop. You will be hanged. You, a magician, may be fine, but we will die.”
“Seriously, stop. That person is the Margrave, the lord.”
“So what if he is the lord?! This is the Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama! The Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama, the legendary person who granted wisdom and magical formulas to us magicians, no, to the human race! Which side is lacking respect?! If this person had not existed, during the Great War, the human race would have—”
Redna-kun shouted, spittle flying. Yes, it did not feel bad, but I should have her calm down for now.
“…Supu. Ah, I do not mind. It has not been long since I changed my name, after all. Besides, it is a little dry here.”
“…!! Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama, please, it is only humble tea, but…”
Redna-kun regained her composure. Yes, a magician should be like that. The condition of a good magician is to possess both a heat hot enough to destroy oneself and the coldness to control it.
“Ah, thank you, Redna-kun. I see, this is an interesting hypothesis construction formula. Please teach me more about it another time.”
The black tea offered to me. When I shook the cup, steam wavered. Yes, it had a good scent. A rich fragrance filling the chest, carefully roasted.
When I gently sipped it, there was a faint bitterness, but immediately afterward, a gentle flavor with a pleasant texture spread over my tongue.
“It is delicious, Redna-kun.”
I wanted Tooyama-kun to drink it too. I had smiled without realizing it.
“Ah.”
“Redna collapsed! That cold-blooded woman with neither blood nor tears collapsed from the smile of a silver-haired super beauty!”
For some reason, Redna-kun had collapsed. But there was nothing abnormal with her body. There should be no problem.
“Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama, seeker of knowledge and pioneering, who spread knowledge of the human world and the arts by which humans resist magic. It is an honor to meet you. I am—”
The Margrave bowed his head, ignoring that commotion.
I knew him, the master of this adventure city.
“Sapan von Teach, Margrave, yes? I know. I have heard rumors of you for some time. A great noble feared by the Emperor in the Imperial Capital. Supupu, you are, let me see. Your atmosphere resembles the first head of the Teach family. You remind me of young Master Shipin.”
“…Shipin? Could that be Shipin Teach… my ancestor, before our Teach family was granted the name von?”
“Ah, that is right. When we burned down that country of beasts, Shipin cooperated with the Magic Academy. He was skilled, and above all, clever. A fine example of a mercenary. Supupu, I am relieved that he properly made something of himself.”
“…To hear the history of my ancestor directly from a living legend such as yourself is an honor. And, Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama, may I ask something, with the greatest fear and respect?”
“Yes, I do not mind, head of the adventure city. In respect for your work, I permit an audience… or something like that.”
As expected, humans were interesting. In a span of time that felt to me like a blink, they repeated unbelievable change, endings, and inheritance.
The intellect that had dwelled in Shipin’s eyes seemed to have been properly inherited through the work of human blood, without being lost over several hundred years.
“…Th-the person sleeping there, c-could it be, that black-haired man, no, that gentleman is…”
“Ah, right. As the head of the adventure city, of course you would know. Yes, just as you think, he is Tooyama Naruhito-kun, the ‘Dragon Slayer.’”
“………………Ahhh.”
After blinking repeatedly, the Margrave let out a drawn-out voice.
It seemed Tooyama-kun had caused him quite a bit of trouble. Amusing.
“Supupu, Margrave-san. It is fine to be perceptive, but come now, do your best. You are dazed.”
“…I have been terribly rude, great ancient dragon. If this place is too noisy for you and your companion, I can trouble you to—”
“No, that is not necessary, Margrave-san. I do not dislike this clamor. Dragons love being seen by the masses, since we are all show-offs. Besides—”
I glanced around. Ah, the gazes of everyone in the Guild were gathered here.
It seemed no Tower-Class Adventurer was nearby. No, below, underground perhaps. Good skills and the lingering scent of an angel were strongly fragrant.
Well, whatever. I would do a little appealing. Sorry, Tooyama-kun.
“I need to properly show everyone how he is together with the Dragon of Human Knowledge. Ah, you may spread rumors if you wish. Say that Tooyama Naruhito, the Dragon Slayer, is also very good friends with the founder of the Magic Academy, the Dragon of Human Knowledge.”
I nestled close to him as he lay on the desk and rested my head on the desk in the same way. Close enough to feel his sleeping breaths.
“…………………Oh.”
“Supu, rest assured. The existence you should worship, that greedy golden dragon, will not come here. Well, from your perspective, I suppose this is a headache-inducing problem?”
“I-I would never…”
“It is fine. Unlike that child, I do not burn humans on a whim.”
“Ha, haha, what a joke. …Then, Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama, wh-what business brings you to the Guild today?”
“Ah, as you can see, he is sleepy. I came to make a report to the Guild in his place.”
“Re…port…”
Ah, he made a reluctant face, but instantly restored his expression. Well done.
“Yes. The ancient species that appeared in the forest region, the endpoint of the Titanos Mare as a species. Let me see, if I were to take a name from an old story, I suppose I will call it Lamia. He killed it, as an adventurer.”
“………Ancient species?”
“Oh? Has the story not reached you yet? Hmm. To reduce trouble, I had sent that Tower-Class Adventurer-kun back ahead of us, but…”
…If the Tower-Class Adventurer-kun I sent back ahead had done something like steal Tooyama-kun’s achievement, then unfortunately, I suppose I would have him become an earthworm or something.
“Eek… I-I will confirm at once.”
The Margrave’s face turned pale. Ah, I did something bad. But I would not allow anyone to touch Tooyama-kun’s reward.
“P-please wait! E-excuse me, my lord. We have just finished questioning Tower-Class Adventurer Yuto Wetral, who returned earlier. The cause of the disappearances in the forest was a monster equivalent to an ancient species. And from Yuto Wetral’s testimony, we have also confirmed that the one who subjugated it was Tooyama Naruhito!”
A sharp-looking woman with spectacles rushed out from behind the counter. Good timing. The Adventurers’ Guild had many excellent people.
“…Supu, ah, I am glad he was an honest person. Truly.”
“I-I-I am terribly sorry. Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama, for troubling your own hand, I sincerely—”
I see. This glasses girl had a good brain. It was unfortunate that her brain was not structured like a magician’s. No magical organ either. Hmm. What a pity.
“Mmm-mm, it is fine. I only wanted to confirm that area. Ah, right, here, I also have conclusive evidence.”
“This is…”
“The monster’s scales and hair. If other parts are needed as evidence, please feel free to visit the Dragon Embassy.”
Well, after I had arranged this much with the Guild, Tooyama-kun’s reward should be secure. This should be enough warning.
“D-Dragon of Human Knowledge-sama?”
“Yes, my business here is finished. Redna’s companions, when that child wakes up, please tell her thank you. Tell her I was satisfied to see my student living happily. And thank you to all of you too, for getting along with her.”
“Ah, eh, y-y-yes!!”
“Ah, please wait, Dragon of Human Knowledge-sa—”
“Supupu, see you.”
Snap. Magical formula, hypothesis construction, theorem proof complete.
I lifted Tooyama-kun and carried him on my back again. The feeling of his slender body, firmly muscled, was pleasant.
…He seemed like he would be satisfying to bite.
While thinking such things, the teleportation completed immediately. My opened field of view revealed an old, weathered door and the interior of a poor building where the smell of food and the scent of dust mingled.
Oh, I could hear voices from beyond the door, from the far side of the room. Supupu, somehow, yes, I had a feeling a hymn to humanity was coming.
I should erase my presence and eavesdrop.
I ran a formula and made both myself and Tooyama-kun invisible. I touched the door with my index finger.
From inside the room, voices came.
“W-wait, Stolu… It is too dangerous… No matter how strong you are, I cannot let you go there alone again.”
“Lazaar, your body is in a worse state than you think. What I just made you drink was a Church secret medicine called Angel’s Tear, the last drop of what I had. If you sleep slowly, your body should heal too. Stay still.”
“Stolu! That monster is far more terrifying than you think. Alone, you cannot—gu, ugh… If you must go no matter what, then take me with you.”
“Are you an idiot, Lazaar? No, you are an idiot. Right now, you would be baggage. Niko-chan, everyone, please take care of that foolish Lizardonian over there.”
“S-Stolu-chan, a-are you really going to be okay? I-I’m… worried. It feels very, very bad. I’m scared. Big Brother and Stolu-chan will both come back, right?”
“It will be fine. There is no problem. I am only going to help someone even more foolish than Lazaar there. I am strong, after all.”
“Stolu… I am sorry… Naruhito…”
“Hmph, if you understand, sleep properly. …Every single one of them, trying to act cool. As if I would let him die alone.”
Ah, Tooyama-kun. You chose and saved good companions, good humans.
They were all truly worried about you, and that made them very fragile. If just one person, you, were missing, this group would easily collapse from that alone.
“…Hmm?”
A relaxed voice came from the other side of the door.
Oh, I had been noticed. Children were sharp, after all.
“Shiro, what is—!”
“Who are you?!”
The door opened.
A sharp sword point flashed and was directed at my neck. I could barely follow it with my eyes.
“Whoa there. Supupu, impressive, wielder of justice. I see. Even though Justice is asleep, you can move that well.”
“Who are you?! Name yourself! …This feeling, a dragon…?!”
Light-blue hair and light-blue eyes. I see, she had an appearance like the fairy species that perished during the Great War. Perhaps she was a throwback.
…A cute girl. Hmm.
“Your nose works well too. Ah, what a good scent. This room is filled with Tooyama-kun’s lingering scent…”
Yes, I would calm myself with Tooyama-kun’s lingering scent. But this child also had Tooyama-kun’s scent on her. How irritating.
“Huh? Tooyama? Wait, eh? The one on your back is…”
“Supyo, sukuu, zzz.”
“Ah, by the Great Tooth… Naruhito…”
From the bed deeper inside came a deep voice, one that sounded truly relieved and loosened.
“Hello, Lizardonian Lazaar-kun. Rest assured, your friend is safe. Oh, adorable little ones, excuse me while I use that bed. I will let him sleep there.”
“Y-you, c-could you be…”
I dodged the sword thrust at me and stepped into the room. It was a cheap room. An inn, probably.
I laid Tooyama-kun down on the empty bed.
“Hello, the Angel Church’s finest knight, the immune system who hosts ‘Justice.’ It is my first time meeting this generation’s Justice.”
“—!”
“Oh, I am surprised. You are not slashing at me? The previous, and previous, and previous wielders of Justice attacked me just by seeing my face.”
Unexpected. Just being a Church Knight should give her a thousand reasons to strike me down.
And in addition, she was also the larva of “Justice.” I thought she would react to me by instinct.
“…Everything inside me is whispering for me to cut you down. However, before that, there is something I must ask you.”
“…You may ask, larva of Justice.”
Stiffness of the body, sweating, trembling. Was she suppressing bodily reflexes with reason? Hmm, interesting.
“Dragon, are you Tooyama Naruhito’s enemy? Or his ally?”
—I was surprised. This one could endure.
“Su, pu. Pupupupu, ah, I see, I see. Tooyama-kun, you truly… did it again…”
It was you again, supupu. You even infected the star’s immune system.
“Do you have no intention of answering my question?”
“…I am his ally. Even if he made the entire world his enemy, I alone would be his ally.”
She stared fixedly at me. Her eyes were like the surface of a lake. A water surface that would never waver. Those were not eyes humans should have.
“That is not a lie.”
“Understood. Then you are not an existence I should cut down.”
“Is that all right? You realize what kind of dragon I am, do you not? To the Church, I should be an irreconcilable enemy, one they should wager all their history to defeat.”
The shaking of her body vanished. Hey, hey, she really suppressed the instincts of Justice. Tooyama-kun, what did you do to this child—
“…Right now, I am the sword of the Church, and at the same time, his sword.”
…………You womanizer. Tooyama-kun, you idiot.
“……………………I see. Hmm. I see. Supupu, what is your name?”
“Stolu Pula. A glorious Church Knight, an inquisitor, and Tooyama Naruhito’s sword.”
“………………Who said that?”
“Tooyama Naruhito himself. He told me, ‘You are my sword.’”
“………………Hmmm.”
Idiot, stupid stupid idiot. Tooyama-kun, you really… honestly.
What, what, what is this? Tooyama-kun, you really are kind of getting into it. I like you when you get carried away, but do not go around seducing everyone, honestly.
I gazed at the larva of the world’s immune system before me, who had begun to change.
It was clearly strange. The seven star immune systems, one of them, “Justice.” Every wielder of it should have been a puppet who blindly obeyed only their own justice.
And yet, the light-blue-haired female cat before me was different.
“…Opening her eyes, is it? Tooyama-kun, as expected of you. Even I, the Dragon of Human Knowledge, even I, who love you, am honestly a little put off.”
“What are you talking about?”
“…I mean you have become the most terrifying existence among all the historical ‘Justices.’ Supu. Oh, the children. I like children, because they are symbols of possibility and the unknown.”
The larva of Justice should be infected by Justice and become a puppet that does nothing but enact it. The older she grew, the more so.
At her age, it would not have been strange if she had already lost her humanity and turned into a puppet that did nothing but enact justice.
“Are… are you Big Brother’s friend?”
A small voice came from my feet.
Timidly. I felt curiosity, fear, and resolve.
A small girl was looking up at me.
“Oh my, what cute braids. Sniff sniff, oh, oh my, oh my, oh my, supupu. What is your name?”
“N-Niko.”
“I see. Is that not a good name? I see, you are a rare human. And the child with the hat over there. Yes, you, the one most wary of me.”
Ah, good.
These children had spoken to me because they were worried about this larva of Justice.
Supupu, good. From the perspective of you little ones, I was certainly a frightening existence.
“…………What… is it?”
I see. Good. In this room, he feared me most correctly. In terms of pure senses, this child was sharper than even this Justice.
“What is your name?”
“Lu-Luca.”
“Luca. Do you not have a family name? You have black hair. Could you perhaps be from the Kingdom?”
“I-I do not know…”
“Hmm. Tooyama-kun, truly now. You keep company with rather interesting children. The remaining children are ordinary. But precisely because they are ordinary, they are wonderful. I, supupu, what should I do? I already like all of you a little.”
“Dragon. Please do not go near these children.”
“Oh my, how cold. Hmph, fine, fine. Dragons are hated by small children—”
“Thank you very much!!”
A loud, energetic voice.
The oldest-looking boy among them, with sunburned skin, bent at the waist before I knew it.
“Hmm?”
“I-I don’t know who you are! B-but you brought Bro, Tooyama Naruhito, back with you, so thank you very much! Niko, Luca, Shiro, Pero! You guys bow your heads too! She’s the benefactor who brought Bro back alive!”
Fear, but stronger than that, resolve and determination.
Ah, good. He was properly being human.
“…Ah, you. Supu, I see. You are the one who resembles Tooyama-kun the most. I feel like I somehow understand why Tooyama-kun saved all of you.”
Each of them was trying to do what they could.
Just like Tooyama-kun.
“Yes, I want to get along with you all. Feel free to call me Big Sister Ai. If Tooyama-kun chose you and stays with you, then you are already important existences to me as well.”
I should get along with them. Perhaps I should fill the outer moat first.
“Dragon, why are you with Naruhito…”
“Oh my, Lazaar-kun. You were beaten quite badly. Right shoulder joint shattered, ribs crushed and fractured, and to make matters worse, the broken bones damaged your organs. You are forcibly keeping your body active and enduring through the medicinal effects of Angel’s Tear, are you?”
“Lazaar!”
The child of Justice raised her voice. Hmm, she was wary of me.
“Do not worry, Justice. I am not Tooyama-kun’s enemy. That means—”
Magical formula, begin hypothesis construction.
Recognizing world laws through visual information.
Target: organic matter, flesh.
Hypothesis foundation: “Bone healing law caused by hematoma coagulation,” and “tissue regeneration through cellular activity.”
Search for pseudo-phenomena: “Saint’s authority,” “Healing Light.”
Hypothesis: “And those shall be performed instantly before my eyes.”
Magical formula hypothesis construction complete. To the world laws—
“Begin erosion. Transformation-type magical formula structure complete, ‘Healing Hand.’”
“Eh?”
“Supupu, Lazaar-kun, does any pain remain in your body?”
The magical formula activated without issue and violated the laws of the world.
Because I could not let you die.
“No… My wounds, my bones healed…”
“Then that is good. Now then, I have done everything I needed to do, so I should return soon. When Tooyama-kun wakes, please give him my regards.”
“W-wait, Dragon of Human Knowledge-dono. Wh-why?”
“Why I healed you? There is only one reason, is there not?”
“…………”
“To earn points. You see, I like him when he continues forward dangerously, mercilessly, and cruelly, but I also like Tooyama-kun just as much when he does what he likes carefree and laughs.”
I looked at Tooyama-kun sleeping carefree.
He was sleeping wonderfully.
“You are the humans Tooyama Naruhito chose. The scenery he should reach likely already includes all of you. You see, this time, I want to stay with him until the very end. So, I intend to win him over together with all of you, and I look forward to that.”
“Wh-what are you…”
“What I am saying should be simple. Justice, I will also, well, do my best to get along with you. I would prefer to be as friendly as possible.”
“I do not understand what you mean.”
“You are simply not trying to understand. Well, from my perspective, it would be easier if you stayed that way, but…”
You were certainly an existence on our side.
An existence that surpassed others and deviated from the frame of humans. An existence given a role by the world.
Therefore, you were troublesome. Too close to Tooyama-kun. Justice was already changing. His ego would spread into humans and grow larger.
Someday, you too would surely be captivated by Tooyama Naruhito’s ego.
“U-uhh, mnya, mnya.”
“Oh, Tooyama-kun is going to wake up. Well then, I will be going. See you again soon.”
“W-wait, Dragon of Human Knowledge-dono!”
I turned back at Lazaar-kun’s voice. The first companion and friend Tooyama-kun chose in this world.
You were very fortunate.
“My gratitude… Thank you for bringing Naruhito back safely.”
“…Supupu, it was no trouble.”
Ah, Tooyama-kun, you were right to choose Lazaar-kun too.
Snap. I snapped my fingers, and the scenery instantly switched. I was alone in the forest.
I had returned once again to the place where I picked up Tooyama-kun.
Yes, I felt good. I looked over the swarm of monsters Tooyama-kun had disposed of.
A great white snake, an ancient species, the corpse I had named Lamia. I touched it, and in the cold sensation of its scales, I no longer felt any sign of life.
“I envy you a little. He was strong, was he not? Tooyama Naruhito.”
My end, my ending, had already been decided.
At the very final end, I would be sent off by that warm fire.
At the end of eternal exploration, I would lose to a terrifying ordinary human. That was how it had been decided.
I was now the beginning, the middle, and also the end.
“So this is all my selfishness, something that will only be a comfort. Tooyama-kun, the time I spend with you will never be long, but…”
I could not be with him forever. But forgive me.
“At the very least, I want to take my memories with you with me. …I will make an effort so that when I am gone, you will be sad for me.”
I imagined that final moment.
The moment when I would surely no longer be able to remember Tooyama-kun, touch him, speak to him, or think of him.
My chest tightened, and my breathing grew shallow.
“Question. What exactly is this feeling?”
“The answer is simple.”
“Ah, what a pleasant unknown this is.”
I wanted to know. I wanted to know. I wanted to know you more and more. I wanted more and more time with you.
I wondered how I should invite him to the Dragon Festival.
…Come to think of it, those children in that room. I felt like I had seen one of them somewhere before.
~Tooyama Naruhito’s dream, or a world that was nowhere, in the Bread Archive filled with a fragrant aroma~
Flip.
The sound of a page slowly turning echoed as though melting into the orange light.
Crackle.
The fire licked the logs placed in the fireplace.
“Hah, you really are an idiot, Ai.”
In that place, she was alone. She watched the strange time between her current master and her past retainer.
She would never admit it, that her state looked as though she were watching over the two of them.
“It can’t be helped that you fell for Tooyama Naruhito. He is the master of my dream, after all. If he can’t even captivate a dragon or two, I’d be in trouble. But still…”
She would never admit it, that her state looked as though she were watching over the two of them.
“After touching his body that much, you should have noticed this change. …Seriously, unbelievable. This is exactly what that rotten old geezer Kiri wanted. Not funny.”
She let out a great sigh and pouted.
“Handling the power of a concept that no longer exists, a symbiote of the star and an advanced information conceptual body, a god? Of course there would be a price. It’s not like Tooyama Naruhito is a chosen hero.”
Harvey did not trust Kiri, the existence who shared her dwelling and had lent power to Tooyama Naruhito.
A troublesome existence, cunning and sly, yet at the same time possessing a human quality. That thing correctly understood Tooyama Naruhito’s fearsome nature, which was also troublesome.
“Honestly, what an idiot. This is why great beings who complicate things despite being virgins are fools.”
Harvey thought of how much that dragon had changed, the dragon she had once considered making the successor to her own seat.
“You don’t understand that feeling? You want to know that emotion? You want to keep watching Tooyama Naruhito forever? Hmph, the name of that feeling of yours is already decided.”
The gray-haired girl rested her chin in her hand, looking somehow displeased, and shook her head in exasperation.
She sank deeply into the back of the easy chair. The chair legs creaked.
“They really weren’t kidding when they said something-or-other is blind.”
Harvey looked up at the ceiling.
A message from the Quest Marker, the being that placed her here, something beyond the understanding even of Harvey, who in this world was called an angel, was floating carefree there.
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