n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
After I parted with Cortina, I ran at full speed. She most likely already switched her mind to thinking about us. Which means, it was clear that she would come here to ensure our safety. There was no telling if those Adventurers didnât have more comrades, or even some other group could show up too.
I had to return to Mikey before she did. That was my biggest priority right now. Fortunately, there were no signs of anyone sniffing out Mikey and Carbuncleâs location when I arrived.
Removing the branches and leaves I put on him, I saw the still fainted Mikey. The Carbuncle became momentarily alert when it saw the camouflage being disrupted, but it let go of its vigilance once it realized it was me and snuggled up to me.
âYou are quite a friendly fellow, arenât you?â
Rather than not fearing people, being used to them was perhaps a better way to describe it⦠As I was lost in my muttering, I heard a voice from behind.
I havenât eased my guard, so the only person who could slip through it yet held no animosity, was her.
âWell, thatâs because I trained him bit by bit.â âSo you finally decided to show yourself. I wish you did it a bit earlier.â
As expected, it was that white thing. In other words, the Goddess. My calm reply made her look quite bemused.
âYou werenât surprised?â âI mean, anyone would be surprised when someone suddenly calls out to them. But well, it all went according to my imagination up to this point.â
The way she pouted made her look like your average kid. Seeing her, the Carbuncle cried in delight and leaped at her.
âWoah! Think about our standings, will you? The only one who is allowed to push me down is my husband.â âWait, you were married!?â
I never imagined a god would be marriedâ¦but then, I remembered something. Wasnât the God of Destruction married to the Wind God according to the myths?
âAs if Iâd remember what happens in the myths.â âYou lack studying. I recommend you learn whatâs appropriate for your age.â âOh shaddap.â
True, reading myths and other tales was appropriate for my physical age. But I still couldnât agree to that. I was an adult on the inside. Well, I feel like Iâve started being tainted lately, but still.
After giving a pat to the Carbuncle, the God of Destruction smiled at me.
âYou have my thanks for finding it.â âIn that case, give your thanks a physical form.â âI did that beforehand, didnât I?â
She probably meant the bangle that she had me pass to Michelle. But that was for Michelle, not me.
âHey, I feel like your every reward goes to Michelle.â âWhoops, you found me out. Iâm actually quite weak to girls like her.â
Indeed, her heroic, earnest and lively nature attracted the favors from others. I couldnât disagree with her words, but I still felt some dissatisfaction as her primary descendant.
âAnd looks like you properly received your own equipment, didnât you?â âSo it was really youâ¦â
This dagger was too valuable. It could fetch as much as the Queen Blossomâs Seeds if you sold it. In hindsight, it was weird for people who had such a thing to act like some petty thieves and kidnappers. In other words, someone gave it to them.
âIâm actually managing an item shop. One customer asked me for an item that could deceive the monitoring eyes and for one that could work against sturdy foes, so I passed those over.â âGood job causing such a nuisance.â âWell, they left that personâs hand, so I planned to recover them later. But luckily they ended up in your hands, so I decided to let you have them.â
She gave me a smug look, but what would she have done if they were used by the enemy? Well, now that I have them, I donât feel like I would lose to anyone, though.
âWell then, I should probably go before your worrywart guardian shows up. Iâm quite bad at dealing with her types.â âRight. She isnât an idiot like me.â âYou donât have to depreciate yourself like that, you know? You are extremely lovely in your current state!â âIâm not the least bit happy about that!â
After having her fill of teasing me, she snapped her fingers overhead. Even that gesture started looking appropriate for her which frustrated me to no end.
A few seconds after that snap, only a few seconds later, a giant silhouette descended next to me.
âWha-, a Dragon!?â
Indeed, it was a Dragon. And not a normal Dragon. Its black, lustrous scales were shining in a mysterious light, its giant body full of elegance, extruding a ferocious aura that inspired awe in all who saw it.
It even looked like the Evil Dragon Colchis in appearance. But it didnât give off the same wild intimidating air as that one, but instead a sublime feeling that instilled fear in your being.
âItâs called Demonic Dragon Fafnir, and itâs actually my dependent.â âSo this is the rumored Superior Dragon, huh⦠Why didnât you send it to help exterminate the Evil Dragonâ¦â âIâve said it before, but we had stuff to deal with. Youâve been a great help back then.â
I couldnât even imagine what âstuffâ could the gods have to deal with. But seeing how the Carbuncle happily climbed atop the Dragonâs head, I could see that there were no problems in leaving it to these two.
âThis oneâs a dragon dependent too, and I feel like it would get along just fine with Yigg. Will you let me take it along?â âSure, I donât mind. It can mislead people just by being here.â
The value of the Dragon Ball on its forehead stirred the greed in people. I felt bad for Mikey who snuck from the town to see it, but it was better for it to stay away from the human settlements.
âIâm glad we could reach a peaceful solution. Well then, until we meet again!â
The white thing left those words behind and mounted Fafnir. With that, the Demonic Dragon soared up high into the skies, and disappeared beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.
âWa-, Yigg! Th-Thatâs too fast! You just broke the sound barrier, I can hear the sonic boom! Pugyaaaa!?â
Only leaving that unsightly shriek behind.
âIs that really my ancestorâ¦?â
Hearing her pathetic screams filled me with a sense of despair.