The White Dragon's Precious Friend ①

It was by chance that I met him.

I came to Baldia Mountain out of curiosity—the same place where humans met five hundred years ago—and of course I never expected to find a human there.

After all, according to the people I heard from five hundred years ago, this mountain is far too treacherous for humans to make it to the summit, and yet there he was.

“GROOOOAAAAR!”

“…!? Eek!?”

Oh—can’t do that. If I make such a loud noise, the human will be scared of me.

As proof, the human sat down on his butt with a face of utter surprise.

“Um… sorry for scaring you, okay?”

“Eeeeek… huh…?”

Maybe because I spoke into his head. The human who had been screaming now wore a dazed expression.

“I’m really sorry! I just got excited since it’s been five hundred years since I’ve met a human…”

“Ah… o-oh, I see…”

He seemed convinced I was remorseful, stood up, and instead bowed politely.

But… yeah. Just like five hundred years ago, he seems like a kind human. That’s a relief.

“S-so, how did you end up all the way out here? I thought humans couldn’t easily come to a place like this…”

“Ah, ah—yes. Actually…”

He still seemed a little afraid of me, but the human explained politely.

Apparently this mountain had medicinal herbs that cure illnesses. He’d originally been searching down at the foothills but couldn’t find them, and after searching on foot he realized he’d come all the way up here.

I thought it odd he’d climb to a mountain summit for a single herb, but it turned out his child had contracted the illness, and he desperately needed it.

“…I came here single-mindedly, but couldn’t find it and was in despair when, well… Sir White Dragon came by…”

“I-I see…”

His humble attitude gave me pause, but humans care about family too, after all.

I have a dear kin named Fafnir, so I would hate it if she¹ suffered from illness the same way; I’d want to help no matter what.

“Leave it to me! I’ll find that herb for you!”

“…! R-really!?”

The human looked up, his eyes shining.

Knowing how much he cared for his son made me even more determined.

“Okay! So, what does this herb look like?”

“Y-yes! It’s a small plant characterized by yellow corollas and white petals…”

“Mm… mm…”

The herb he described did indeed grow on this mountain.

I also knew exactly where it grew.

“Then wait right here a moment.”

“Please, thank you!”

Bidden farewell by the human, I flew to the back side of the mountain… to a cliff humans could never reach, and picked the white-flowered herb growing there.

“Here, I brought it… uh—”

Because my hand was too big, the herb got completely crushed.

“S-sorry! I’ll go pick it again!”

“I-It’s okay! The herb is meant to be ground up and decocted anyway!”

“Decoction…?”

“Yes!”

According to the human, the ground herb is simmered in hot water to make a decoction, so it being crushed wasn’t a problem.

Hearing that, I breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed my chest.

Then.

“Pfft… hahahahaha! Sir White Dragon is such a kind being!”

“R-really?”

Whoa… I’ve been called ‘kind’ for the first time. I’m so happy.

“I-I have nothing to repay you with after you even picked the herb… If there’s anything I can do, please tell me.”

“Eh…?”

He said that, but I didn’t really want anything from him, so I was confused. …Ah, but.

“W-well, if that’s the case, there’s just one thing I’d like to ask…”

“W-what is it…?”

The human peered at my face a little anxiously.

Maybe he thought I’d impose some unreasonable demand…?

But… from a human’s perspective, he might refuse.

To become that thing I’d secretly admired since seeing the humans five hundred years ago.

Because I’m a dragon.

I’m different from humans.

I agonized over whether I should ask or not.

But… I desperately wanted to become it.

So.

“Um… will you be my friend?”