The 5000-year-old Herbivorous Dragon Chapter 5

Translator: Luk2048

After defeating the monsters mages devoted themselves to extinguis.h.i.+ng fire with water magic, so the whole process went smoothly. Everyone was trying to save at least a portion of their belongings from the burning houses, while fretting how to make ends meet from now on.

On the other hand, we were made to wait at the artillery spot on the wall. The adventurers' perspective was that, "Until we hear your full story and goals, we can't let you wander around". Personally, I think it's a very reasonable claim. If we loitered around and got attacked we couldn't even complain, so I ordered Rēko to keep still.

However.

"It's fine, I don't mind… Oh, could you borrow me a blanket or something though? You might think it's thoughtless of me saying such a thing when the town is in trouble, but this child has been going at it since morning. I want to let her settle down and sleep a bit."

Rēko, who just finished her air battle, was drowsily shaking her head while rubbing her eyes. Although she might seem composed, her burden must've been substantial. Instead of a nap while dozing off, I want to let her have a proper rest.

The watch-keeping soldiers —— several dozen of adventurers exchanged glances, and in the end one of them went down to the guardroom. From the air they emitted, each and every one of them was a first-cla.s.s warrior. Just by showing any sign of hostility, a herbivorous dragon like me would probably be killed in a few seconds. I've absolutely no intention of going against them though.
Then, the soldier who just went down came back with a blanket.

"Here, a blanket. However, worrying about the kin girl's physical condition is different from the stories I heard, quite compa.s.sionate indeed."

"Just out of curiosity, what stories spread around?"

"Scorching towns for fun, when starved you make rivers of flesh and blood run just to satiate your hunger."

"I've never done such a thing, really. My staple food is gra.s.s or trees. Bamboo shoots are my favourite."

Everyone got nervous, with their faces saying they won't get deceived. I secretly expected somebody would believe me and give me some bamboo shoots, but it seems unlikely.

"Rēko, town's people have lent us a blanket. Sleep for now and let your body recover."

"But — leaving the Evil Dragon Lord unattended and sleeping soundly is…"

"I don't mind. You have to be tired. Now it's your task to rest."

"… As you wish."

Rēko who properly wrapped her body in a blanket jumped on my back with a light leap.

"Well then, pardon me for having a rest before you."

"You dislike going to sleep first, but you absolutely don't mind jumping on my back. Not that I mind though."

Without a reply, I already felt a soft lump lying on my back.

"Rēvendia, are you fine like that? If it's necessary, I'll prepare even a hundred blankets."

"I'm not really sleepy."

My body and spirit couldn't be more tired. However, I'm not that thick skinned to sleep in the middle of this hostility coming towards me. Supposedly even if we both were to go to sleep, we might suffer an all-out attack and die. Since I felt like I was suffocating, I raised the main issue in a small voice so as not to wake up Rēko.

"Look, I've got an earnest question for you guys, could I leave this child in your care? As a matter of fact, this child isn't my kin or anything; she's just an ordinary human. If you guys raise her properly, I think she'll become a helpful and splendid sorceress."

"… What's your aim?" An archer took a deep breath and answered.

"No, I've no hidden motives, it's literally as I said."

"That story is utterly unbelievable. The magical power that girl emits isn't human, it's of a devil's nature. What's more, it's especially nefarious. You who gave her that power should understand it the most, shouldn't you?"

"It might be unbelievable, but in fact it's true."

"Stop lying."

"This is troubling…"

I'm at a loss.

The route of acting as a respectable tamer's dragon has already disappeared; regaining my peaceful life doesn't seem likely. If it goes on like this I'll forever be a babysitter, with a straight line for subjugating the Devil King. And then midway I'll probably get killed by a stray bullet.

"I kept you waiting."

When I was brooding over my situation, from behind the soldiers keeping watch appeared the female knight Ariante, who not long ago was commanding them. It seems she was finis.h.i.+ng off the remnants until now.

"You guys may stand down. It'll be easier to talk with fewer people, for both of us."

"Elder sister, are you sure you're going to be okay?"

"Yes, I don't mind. Anyway if that thing starts to rampage, whether it's me alone or all of the town's warriors gathered together, probably everyone will be annihilated. In that case setting up the grounds for dialogue even a little bit seems like the best plan."

I don't have the strength. I don't know about Rēko though. Still, Ariante seems like she might be more understanding than those guys openly releasing bloodl.u.s.t. That alone brought me some relief. When soldiers went down, the one who broke the ice was Ariante.

"Evil Dragon Rēvendia, why are you rebelling against the Devil King? The existence like you, even Devil King won't treat you discourteously. Or is it that your pride doesn't allow you to be below someone?"

"As expected, you've also misunderstood…. Listen, I'm not any evil dragon. I'm just like a huge lizard that has been eating nothing but gra.s.s. To put things bluntly, if we fought I'd die in a second."

"Yet I don't think that a mere big lizard is knowledgeable about devils."

"It's just accidentally, by chance. I've been living quite long and while secretly running away from various devils I picked up some things, but it's not like my knowledge covers all information on the Devil King's army. Probably there's by far more devils I don't know about."

"Then, how are you going to explain that kin girl of yours?"

"Regarding that it's difficult to explain even for me. She's the one who made this so complicated."

The same way as I've explained to Raiotto, I told from the very start how Rēko was offered as a sacrifice.

The result.

"Unbelievable."

What came out was practically the same response as with Raiotto. That's obvious, I guess. Even I still wonder if this whole situation isn't just a bad dream.

"If she's a regular sorceress this story is impossible. The same way an infant just can't get up and start walking suddenly, there's an order to release magic. There would be no hards.h.i.+p if it could be released limitlessly with just wrong a.s.sumptions."

"Is there no possibility that this child is an amazing genius or something?"

"I can't say there were no such instances in the past, but… those are all just legends. Among the recorded in history high-raking mages, there seemed to be one capable of wielding enormous magic from the moment he gained self-awareness, but it's without a doubt an exaggeration."

"Here she is though."

"I can't believe it."

Ughh, I groaned. Perhaps the reason why you can't find prodigious children is because you treat them like monsters and drive them away from towns. Even if there are other children like that, they might have a screw loose, being no different than monsters.

"Even if, for argument's sake, I were to believe this story, there's a bigger problem then. The magic power that child wields is already not human's. If she handles her art crudely, there's no telling when she breaks the balance and becomes uncontrollable. Particularly, there exists a small chance of her being swallowed by her own magic power and transforming into a real evil dragon."

"Eee… She'll become a dragon herself?"

"Of course generally it's impossible. It's purely a hypothesis in the case your story is true."

"For you it might be a hypothetical talk, but for me it's a shocking reality. What to do, if that child becomes a dragon will her sense of self remain? Will it be possible to reason with her?"

"It'd be better to not expect too much."

Once I was told that, I felt like I've a terrible bomb on my back. It just might be that she's more troublesome and dreadful than the Devil King, being so close to me just sleeping soundly and making sweet noises.

"Listen here, I've come up with a good idea, won't you let her ama.s.s a sorceress' training? Look, as long as she learns how to handle her magic powers, she won't become a devil, right?"

"It's not possible. Everyone in this town bears distrust towards you, including me. If this child becomes able to control her powers, her strength would increase even further. There isn't anyone who would want to provide Evil Dragon's kin with more power."

I sighed deeply. Those are some grim prospects. In the worst case, I might have to think about dragging this child with me into the mountains and confining ourselves there. Although it's a shame I can't send her back to the village…

"Supposing your story is true, if I were to give you a piece of advice it's not to say lightly the fact that you're weak. The reason that girl is able to control her powers despite her crude skills, is that there exists a foothold called the Evil Dragon Rēvendia for her to rely on. Losing that illusion carries a high risk of her going out of control. On top of that the Guild put a prize on your head. Knowing that you're weak, those mercenaries looking for gold will unanimously hunt you down."

"Eh, there's a reward for my head?"

"Second only to the Devil King."

"What kind of standard is that… Even though I've only been eating plants…"

What an inconceivably false charge. From now on I can't even open my mouth saying I'm weak, or I'll get killed for money. As I was spilling tears of sorrow in my heart, Ariante slowly drew her sword.

"I've went along with your story. Come, now it's your turn to answer my questions — Evil Dragon Rēvendia. Why are you rebelling against the Devil King?"

I couldn't answer anything. The reason being bloodl.u.s.t, which I couldn't feel even once from Ariante, was released fiercely all at once. My skin covered with scales started s.h.i.+vering.

"You won't answer? What foolishness. Even though the Devil King also acknowledged your superiority, to suddenly use his kindness because of your pride…"

The tip of the broadsword was pointed at my nose.

"My name is Ariante Sorudo s.h.i.+ruvie, a devoted sword of the Devil King. Although my life will end here, be prepared to not escape without a wound, old dragon."