Chapter 71

Chapter 71

“……That person I met in the alley said they’d help me! They were so cool!”

She was telling the dragon about the man she had met. It seemed like every single action of his had become glamorized in her mind.

“You must have found someone you like.”

As always, the dragon’s voice was gentle. But he didn’t seem to know exactly what kind of person she had run into. If he had, he wouldn’t have reacted so positively.

“Yeah. He’s the coolest person I’ve ever met.”

“I’m glad to see you’re growing fond of more humans. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to go down to the village now and create a place for yourself to stay?”

“A place to stay?”

“Once I die, I won’t be able to protect you from the nature of this forest, so you must return.”

“…….”

That was also a way of saying she should go to the village and live among people. But unlike when she was younger, she no longer said no. Instead, she silently tapped her fist against the dragon’s claw, as if playing a little game.

“……If you live in the village, you’ll be able to see that human you like all the time.”

The dragon added soon after. It seemed like an attempt to persuade her, who had given no answer.

“……That sounds good……. But I don’t want you to die…….”

“That I cannot help, little one.”

“Aren’t you a dragon? I heard dragons are some kind of incredible beings. All the storytellers in the village said so……. Can’t you at least delay dying?”

“I must not meddle with life carelessly. A dragon is born from the purity of the beginning—that is our nature.”

“What? That doesn’t mean anything at all.”

“Does it trouble you?”

“…….”

At that, she fell silent and squeezed her fists tighter, then struck the dragon’s claws hard. It was as if she was venting her hurt feelings with something close to violence.

“Instead, tell me if there’s anything else you wish for. Before I leave, I will grant what I can—except for anything that bends life.”

The dragon tried to soothe her as it spoke. She stopped what she was doing at once and looked up abruptly into the dragon’s face.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not just saying that, are you?”

“As I said before, dragons are born of purity. We cannot lie.”

“Hmph. Right now I don’t wish for anything except you not dying……”

“Then think of something else. I will grant it later, even if it takes time.”

“Okay. Got it.”

She nodded firmly, then spread both arms wide and hugged the dragon’s foot. She paused as if thinking something over, then opened her mouth again after a moment.

“Anyway, did any animals die today? Any more leather come in?”

* * *

On the wide clearing, two men were pitting their strength against each other. A crowd had gathered around them like spectators. Instead of breaking them up as they traded brutal punches, the crowd cheered and egged them on.

The owner of the memory was watching them from the second floor of a wooden building. A scene unfolded before her—dangerous enough that someone could die. It was a horrifying sight, yet she felt no stir of emotion at all.

“How does it look? With the money you brought me, I could gather this many people. It’s all thanks to you.”

Then the man she’d met in the alley stepped close to her side and spoke. At that, a bit of excitement finally crept into her heart.

“I’m glad I could help.”

“Of course you helped. You really did. Well, I can’t say it was a huge help, but this much is still something.”

“Don’t worry! I can bring you even more!”

At that, she looked up at him and called out urgently. It seemed she had been handing over money to him all this time, and intended to keep doing so.

“Really? Wow. You’re such a good girl, the more I see you. Thanks.”

Then he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gave a faint smile. In that instant, I felt my spirits soar. She seemed to treat his gentle reaction like a reward of sorts.

“By the way, we haven’t even introduced ourselves yet?”

The man leaned in, bringing his face close to hers. Right before her eyes, his golden pupils sparkled brilliantly. Her heart immediately began to pound—thump, thump, thump.

“Mmm… but what’s an introduction?”

“It’s when we tell each other our names. I’m Shion. Just Shion. It means ‘sun’ in the ancient tongue.”

Shion? Shion? That guy?

The word, suddenly dropped, was a bit unsettling. After all, wasn’t ‘Shion’ a name reserved for the Imperial House? Yet this thug-like man was introducing himself as Shion—it sparked a sense of unease before even confusion.

“Shion. Shion… Shion!”

But she, oblivious to all that, kept rolling the sound on her tongue and calling him.

“Sun—that’s a cool name. It really suits you!”

Then, as if moved to tears, she clasped her hands together and exclaimed.

“Thanks. Now will you tell me your name?”

“My name’s Preya. Means ‘forest’ in the ancient tongue, they say.”

“Whoa. Really? You’ve got an ancient-tongue name too. Looks like we’ve got something else in common? I mean, ancient-tongue names aren’t exactly common.”

The man’s voice sounded almost sweet. His tone was exactly like how you’d treat a woman you love. But I could tell easily enough—he was feigning love for her because she was the one paying him.

“Really? Honestly, I don’t know much about ancient tongues. The dragon I live with gave it to me. He’s been around so long, I guess he knows the ancient tongue pretty well.”

She replied shyly.

“A dragon?”

“Yeah. The dragon came up with it. Though he just calls me ‘kid.’”

“So… you live with a dragon?”

A flicker of bewilderment crossed the man’s face. She cautiously read his reaction.

“…Shion. You don’t believe me, do you?”

“Well… I’ve never seen a dragon…”

“Right. People usually don’t believe me. Aunt Jina just laughed it off too. But it’s true… Actually, it’s the dragon who brings me animal hides, horns, and meat. He really dotes on me!”

She added in a somewhat dramatic tone. But the man didn’t respond; he seemed to mull things over, falling silent. Then, suddenly, he shifted his gaze to her, watching him. And he let out a short laugh.

“…No. I believe you. I’ll believe.”

“Really?!”

That reaction seemed to catch even her off guard. She flinched, letting out a short gasp.

“I’m so glad you believe me!”

“Of course I believe you… But in return…”

“Hm?”

“In return, ask the dragon for way more money than before. We still don’t have nearly enough. If you’re not lying, you can do that, right?”

“I’m not lying…”

“I know. I believe you. But if you were lying… I’d be really, really disappointed. Right?”

There was a subtle pressure in his voice. I wanted to punch him square in the face. But her memories were flowing in the opposite direction of that impulse.

“Don’t worry. The dragon said it would grant me any wish I want. I’ll ask!”

“Wow. Really? There’s no one else like you.”

It looked like their twisted relationship would go on just as it was.

* * *

The clearing had grown much larger. This time, people holding sharpened swords were sparring in neat rows and columns. And she was watching them from atop a building that had risen even higher.

“Pre!”

A voice called out from behind her. She turned to see a man in expensive clothes standing there, beaming.

“Shion!”

She called out happily and scurried over to him.

“So? Thanks to that gold mine the dragon told you about, we gathered this many people.”

He tilted his chin toward the clearing she’d been watching.

“Yeah. There are a lot of people.”

“With them, I was able to unify all those scattered little tribes. Good. It’s way better to have one wise leader than a bunch of stupid ones.”

“Hmm… I don’t really get it, but it’s a good thing, right?”

“Haha. Of course it is.”

The man looked down at her, his gaze warm. But then he turned his eyes away sharply and walked toward the side facing the clearing.

“…And this is all thanks to you, too.”

He spoke slowly, almost to himself. Then he turned around and leaned back against the wall.

“By the way, how did the dragon know about the gold mine?”

“It said it found the mine when it came down from the sky to rest.”

“Good. That should help with organizing the nation from now on. But…”

The man trailed off as if something had suddenly occurred to him. The look on his face was insufferable. But Pre only seemed worried for him, fidgeting nervously.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem? Want me to help?”

“Now that we’ve founded a nation, we need to expand the borders. It’d be best to take the south, where the big river flows. That means war is inevitable again.”

“You’ve done well so far. Can’t you just do it again?”

“Attacking a country that big is dangerous. I might even die.”

“What? No, you can’t.”

“That’s why, Pre… ask the dragon to help me.”

The pattern was painfully obvious. He kept trying to use Pre and the dragon to satisfy his own greed.

“But war means killing the enemy, doesn’t it? You said the dragon can’t take a life recklessly.”

Her reply came in a carefully measured tone. For an instant, the man’s expression hardened. But he loosened his face just as quickly and went on speaking.

“Hmm… is that so? Then just showing itself would be enough. That’s possible, right?”

“Show itself?”

“Yeah. During the war, at just the right moment behind me—let it show itself.”

“That’s enough? Then you’ll win the war and won’t die either?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright. You’ve always been smart, so I’ll trust your word. I’ll ask the dragon, then.”