Without You (13)

A dragon this weak to alcohol, who would’ve thought?

I patted her back and laid her down on the ground again.

I completely misjudged her.

Dragons aren’t like dwarves who live soaked in alcohol; they’re a species that enjoys it with dignity.

That’s why I assumed dragons could handle their liquor. Big mistake.

“You…”

“What now? Just lie down. Stop stumbling around.”

Rurin stumbled and fell forward into my arms. I hadn’t meant for it, but I ended up hugging her from the front, and Rurin looked up at me gently.

There was no angry command telling me not to touch her.

Didn’t she say only her husband could touch her?

“Really…my husband? Truly…oh? My husband?”

Her words were slurred, her pronunciation a mess, but somehow I could still understand her.

“I’m on your side. I’ve told you that many times over the past two months, and you still don’t believe me?”

“My husband…my husband! You’re strange. But…my husband…really?”

How many times is she going to say “really”?

The classic trait of drunk people, repeating the same thing endlessly.

It’s clear she’s not just pretending to be drunk.

“It’s true, Rurin.”

“You won’t betray me? You won’t…?”

“Of course not.”

“Good…th-thanks…snore…”

The dragon, who had been worried about betrayal, was now sound asleep.

And when she woke up and remembered nothing, it was a scene all too familiar from drinking parties.

And so, a few more months passed. Life stayed the same. Wind, rain, eating together, sleeping together.

One day, it was so ordinary that it felt nice.

Once again, the dragons appeared. Black Dragons. It was Drin, the one who had been harassing Rurin from the start, and his companion.

Like local thugs who come back with more buddies after you beat them up, they appeared regularly.

This time, too, they were causing a racket, so I came out to see. Surprisingly, they hadn’t brought more dragons with them.

No, that wasn’t possible in this situation.

But still, I glared at them, wondering why they came with just two. They pointed at Rurin and sneered.

“Heheh, look at that arrogant expression.”

“Shut up! One day, I’ll kill you. One day! When I get stronger!”

“That day will never come, Rurin. Have you finally lost your mind?”

“Didn’t you hear from the Elder? He told you not to come here, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, we heard.”

“Oh, really? Then if I kill you this time, it’ll be in self-defense.”

I began flicking plasma, gathering powerful mana around me. The dragons started flapping their wings in panic.

“Wait, wait, we know your strength. We didn’t come here to fight. Right, Drin?”

“Yeah, exactly.”

The two dragons looked at each other, snickering, then ignored me and started running their mouths at Rurin the whole time.

“Rurin, do you think that guy next to you is really on your side?”

“Right. Where would someone like you have an ally? Even a pathetic human wouldn’t stick with you… No, Rurin! Hehe, do you get it, Rurin?”

One of the dragons started holding his stomach and laughing hysterically. I couldn’t stand the sight any longer. I figured it was about time to incinerate them and took a step forward.

“You didn’t come here to fight? Then you must’ve come to die.”

“Wait, human! We’re just talking to Rurin!”

“I don’t care! I have nothing to say to you!”

Rurin shouted back at them, glaring fiercely. Actually, from the start, her killing intent had been high, knowing they were the ones who destroyed the lair.

Of course, I wanted to kill them, but if I attacked first, it would cause a serious issue within the Black Dragon’s territory.

No matter how strong I am, I can’t take on their entire group. At best, I could handle about 10 at once.

Since the elder had requested my help, this was something for him to resolve. Just as I was thinking I’d drive these guys off and take it up with the elder later…

“Do you know what that human’s real goal is? From the start, he only approached a filthy dragon like you because of your mother’s disgrace. Before he even met you, he went straight to the Elder and asked about you. It’s probably all about the Dragon Orb. He’s just using you for that. He’s in cahoots with the Elder, with all the other dragons. You get it? You’ve been fooled by his sweet words… Hehe, look at you, Rurin. Isn’t that right, Drin?”

“Yeah, yeah. Sounds about right.”

“…?”

Rurin, who had been about to unleash her breath attack, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Then, the killing intent in her eyes shifted away from the dragons. Her gaze now turned towards me.

I decided to deal with those bastards first and began gathering mana.

Boom!

A huge explosion erupted where the dragons stood, sending them flying high into the air.

“Yikes! Well, the Lord’s power is certainly strong. Tch, but we’ve already opened Rurin’s eyes to her reality, so let’s go, shall we?”

“Sure, we’ll see you when Nies comes back, Rurin.”

Of course, I had no intention of letting them go easily. I sent plasma bursts along their escape route.

“Graaaah!”

“I told you we should’ve left faster!”

“My wings are burning! It’s so hot I’m gonna dieee!”

The two dragons roared as they fled.

Is tormenting Rurin their only source of joy in life? And they had to stir up trouble with their nonsense on top of that.

It’s like they’re tattletales. What are they even hoping to achieve by telling her all this? Is their goal to torment her emotionally?

If that was their aim, then it seems they’ve succeeded, and that’s a problem.

Of course, the reason I first sought out Rurin was for the Lord’s task, to hear the details of that incident, since she was the one who knew it best.

Even now, I still need to hear about it.

But spending several months with her wasn’t something I’d do just for that.

However, Rurin ignored me. She turned her back and started walking silently towards the lair.

She glanced back at me, sending a gaze so cold it felt suffocating.

“Rurin… Rurin!”

I grabbed Rurin’s wrist as she walked away and called out.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Rurin, you’re not seriously believing what those guys said, are you?”

“Then, is it not true?”

Without turning her head towards me, Rurin coldly muttered. The chill in her voice felt like it pierced through to my bones, like drinking ice water in a freezer.

“I’m not stupid.”

“No, no, it’s not like that.”

“What isn’t?”

It seems the reason she’s been swayed by those dragons’ words is that I brought up her mother’s story too carelessly before. That seems to be the key issue here.

“What are you scheming with the Elder? Neither he nor my kind are on my side. So, there’s no way you, who are in league with them, are on my side. You deceived me. You said you wouldn’t betray me…but you’re the same as the others. No, you’re worse!”

“No, I haven’t schemed with the elder. I just asked a few questions out of curiosity…”

“You’re literally telling me about your connection with the Elder right now… So you came here because the Elder…the Elder sent you?”

“Uh, well, technically, that’s true…”

“So you’re also after the Dragon Orb? Is that why you cooked for me and did all those things – because of the Dragon Orb? My Mother told me that countless dragons died because of people’s greed for it. You, you’re also…”

“Wait, Rurin.”

I stepped in front of Rurin, blocking her path. Then, I looked straight into her eyes.

“Do you really think that? That I stayed by your side just to use you? If that were true, there would have been plenty of other ways. It’s just that you, you…”

“Me?”

I want to watch over and protect everything about Rurin.

It’s true that I feel all sorts of emotions.

It feels like we share a kind of kinship, like a little sister.

But I don’t even fully understand these feelings. Saying something vague like “you” wouldn’t get me anywhere. So, I changed the subject.

“Anyway, think it over carefully. Yeah, take your time and decide. Let’s make a bet. This will be the last one.”

“I refuse! You just said with your own mouth that the Elder sent you!”

“Just listen to me! I’ll be honest. It’s true that the reason I first sought you out was because of your mother.

“But it wasn’t for the reason you’re thinking. It was because of a request from Dragon Lord related to that incident. It’s also a way to restore your mother’s honor.

“I knew you wouldn’t trust me if I told you before, but please believe me.

“And even if that wasn’t the reason, I enjoyed being with you! Didn’t you? Was it just annoying for you? It wasn’t, right?

“If you had only annoyed me the whole time, I would’ve left long ago. I could’ve gotten that information from somewhere else!“

“……”

I found myself getting more emotional than I intended.

Rurin just blinked at me, not saying a word in response.

I took a deep breath and continued speaking.

“So let’s make a bet. Consider it our last one. I’ll wait for you by the lakeside until dawn. If you don’t come, you win, and I’ll leave. If you do come… I win, and I won’t leave.”

Rurin didn’t reply. She didn’t even nod.

But I’d said everything I needed to. There was nothing more to say. If she didn’t show up, it would mean all the time we spent together had meant nothing.

I went back to the lair, packed my things, and slung my backpack over my shoulder. Rurin stood still, saying nothing.

So I, too, said nothing and walked away.

To the lakeside.

I’d been here since the afternoon, and quite some time had passed.

The deadline was dawn.

Yeah, it’s dawn now.

The moon of this world is very similar to Earth’s Moon. Right now, it’s shining like a full moon.

No, it’s a bit bigger than a full moon.

It’s as if I’m witnessing a supermoon.

This unnamed planet’s satellite.

Earth’s satellite is the Moon.

The light of that similar satellite softly reflects on the lakeside. The shimmering light cuts through the darkness, dazzling my eyes.

Still, there’s no sign of the Black Dragon.

No sign of any human, either.

Nor any dragon.

That dragon who claimed not to have smiled for hundreds of years never smiled for me either.

I had a small wish to make her smile.

She’s such a stubborn creature.

Is she really planning not to show up?

I looked around.

Not even the presence of animals. The world before me is completely still.

As I stared at the calm lakeside, I felt as if I could be pulled in. I wasn’t sleepy.

Time continued to pass.

In this darkness, which wasn’t too dark thanks to the round moonlight hanging in the sky.

I quietly waited, killing time.

Dawn began to fade away. The sun rose, and morning came.

The still lakeside at dawn was finally broken by the chirping of birds.