Chapter 90
Naturally, in the world of “Sword & Magic Chronicle,” monsters like dragons also exist. Their types are surprisingly diverse, and encountering a dragon every now and then has players sweating bullets.
Of course, I’m only talking about ordinary dragons.
But the Black Dragon in front of me is a different story.
“…A Black Dragon, this is my first time seeing one in person.”
Azar muttered, looking a bit flustered.
“It’s a dragon that’s only been passed down as a legend in the southern regions. A pitch-black dragon. The king of dragons. It lives outside the world and only descends to this realm to lay eggs, a godly being.”
“….”
Though, it certainly isn’t a godly being.
A dragon, a life form far superior to humans. The Black Dragon is an exceptionally outstanding sub-type that can even transcend dimensions.
In the game, I encountered a Black Dragon only once, right before entering the Demon King’s Castle. In the volcanic region of the continent’s northeast, at the Dragon’s Rest.
It wasn’t a boss meant to be fought. It was a boss designed to send players back with nothing ahead.
“Should I consider this good luck or bad luck?”
Why is the Black Dragon, which should be in its proper place, here on this deserted island?
And why, of all times, has it just hatched now?
Such questions slipping into my mind seemed trivial compared to the urgency of the situation.
I drew my Holy Sword, and Azar pulled out his axe.
“We’ve got no choice but to kill it.”
“Right.”
Now that the egg had hatched, the distortion surrounding us had lessened considerably.
Both mana and magic could be used, albeit faintly.
Fortunately, the Black Dragon before us was merely a newly hatched hatchling. Of course, even a hatchling has enough power to rip a human apart. But with this level of strength, we ought to be able to handle it.
I slowly advanced towards the Black Dragon, Holy Sword drawn. It glanced between me and my sword with a wary look, but perhaps due to its inexperience, it wasn’t using its breath or its special abilities.
[Ki, kiweeeeeek!]
It was only letting out these bird-like shrieks.
This was the moment to strike.
It’s a blink of an eye before a hatchling grows into an adult dragon. By then, the likelihood of us being the ones to get killed would be higher.
Thus, I held my sword upright.
I didn’t use the Mark. Using it might give Elgore a reason to suspect me.
I took a step forward and aimed my sword.
“Whoa….”
But….
“What is that?!”
Ophelia’s reaction was a bit off.
She was staring at the Black Dragon with her mouth covered.
“…Ophelia?”
As I asked, she approached me and then went straight to the Black Dragon.
Before I could stop her, she placed her hand on the hatchling’s horn.
Caught off guard, the hatchling didn’t even think to bite Ophelia.
“Ophelia, that’s dangerous, step back….”
“This is so damn cute….”
“…Huh?”
“It’s cute! What the heck is this!”
Ophelia’s eyes sparkled as she gently stroked the hatchling, like she was looking at a newborn baby.
I couldn’t fathom what was so damn cute about it, nor did I want to find out.
It seemed Ophelia’s sense of aesthetics was as twisted as her personality.
“Elliot, come touch it too. It has fluff here.”
[Kiieeeek.]
“Hey, open your mouth. Little guy, don’t be picky. Oh, it doesn’t even have teeth. Lucky you don’t have to brush your teeth.”
Here was Ophelia, not touching anything but the belly of a Black Dragon, a saintess opening its mouth.
If I took a screenshot, it would probably get a ton of likes.
“Umm….”
Even Black Water Elgore, who had been poised with a raised fist, was taken aback by the ridiculous sight of that dragon before us and gulped.
He soon relaxed his fist and crossed his arms.
“Remarkable. To think you could befriend the very Black Dragon.”
“It seems more like it’s being tortured.”
“Hmmm. It’s because it likes her that it’s being tortured, and because it’s tortured, it starts to like her.”
“…What kind of nonsense is that?”
“It’s my personal philosophy.”
Meaning it was the logic of a fool.
Anyway, Elgore appeared to have lost his desire to fight after witnessing Ophelia’s interaction with the hatchling. He dropped his clenched fist.
“I thought this was a chance to taste a Black Dragon, but it looks like I won’t even get a sample.”
“…You were thinking of eating it?”
“Didn’t you know? They say the heart of a dragon gives immense power to whoever consumes it.”
“Hell no! I’m not giving you anything!”
Ophelia, who had been petting the Black Dragon, suddenly shouted angrily.
For some reason, the Black Dragon had already nestled in her arms, peacefully dozing. Well, it must be like a newborn in human terms, so it makes sense it would sleep a lot.
Even though the hatchling was quite large—about the size of a wolf—its resting position on Ophelia’s lap had its own charm.
I sighed deeply and asked.
“…What do you plan to do with that?”
“Hmm? I’m going to take it home.”
“And then…?”
“I’m going to raise it?”
“Ophelia, do you know what an animal hoarder is?”
“What’s that?”
“Raising animals that are too demanding for your own abilities is a form of abuse.”
“You can’t talk. You were trying to kill our Blackie.”
“…Blackie?”
Tilting my head in confusion, Ophelia shook the hatchling’s horn.
“This little guy, that’s his name. I just came up with it.”
“Are you saying Blackie because it’s a Black Dragon?”
“Oh, sharp! Elliot, you have a knack for naming beyond your looks.”
“…”
I massaged my aching temples, while Elgore placed a heavy hand on my shoulder in consolation.
That gesture made my head spin so much I couldn’t even feel disgust.
“Ophelia.”
“What?”
“You’re not in a position to raise someone. You should be the one getting raised instead.”
“…Shut up.”
Ophelia’s stubbornness seemed unwavering.
No matter how long I tried to persuade her, she wouldn’t budge.
*
“Alright, Blackie. Here’s a bed for you.”
“…Um.”
At Ophelia’s words, Wuzmund cautiously opened his mouth.
He pointed at the bed in the room.
“That’s… not my room, is it?”
“Yeah, but it’s spacious. You can live with Blackie. Just get to know each other from now on. He’s nice.”
“…You mean this monster?”
“Did you just call our Blackie a monster?”
Ophelia shot a glaring look at Wuzmund, who returned a pleading gaze towards me.
I shook my head vigorously. If I helped him, that monster might end up in my room too.
“No, no… what if it eats me!”
“Blackie doesn’t eat anyone!”
Well, that much might actually be true.
It seems dragons don’t eat people, after all.
Instead, baby dragons sometimes have a hobby of playing with and then accidentally killing people.
Ophelia promptly tossed Blackie into Wuzmund’s room, and he screamed.
“Pwahahahaha! You’ve completely tamed it! Just like a true human! The descendant of the Dragon Slayer!”
“…Descendant of the Dragon Slayer?”
“Didn’t you know? The origin of humans comes from the demons that fought against dragons.”
While Elgore, who had jumped onto our ship without permission, told tales that might be truth or mere fantasy, he mumbled as he watched Ophelia petting Blackie.
“Hmmm. It’s clear that girl has inherited blood further steeped in dragon-slaying. She must have been born with it. Surely, she might become a great hero someday. Hahaha.”
“…Huh.”
“Anyway, it’s a good thing.”
Elgore nodded repeatedly before turning to me.
More precisely, he was looking at the sword at my waist.
“I saw it earlier, but you have a pretty nice sword there.”
“…Um. I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You must be quite a skilled knight in human society.”
Elgore didn’t notice that I was a hero until the very end.
“If the Demon King descends later, I would like for you to fight him personally.”
“…I will take it as an honor.”
“Hmmm.”
Was that his way of saying goodbye? Elgore turned towards the sea.
If I plunged a knife into that back of his, could I win?
I don’t know.
And I have no intention of gambling.
If the ship were to sink from the aftermath of our fight, we would starve to death on this deserted island.
“…So, where is your ship, Elgore?”
“Hmm?”
Elgore pointed to the sea with a bright expression.
“This sea is my ship.”
With those words, he leaped into the sea and began to swim away from the island like a flying fish.
Watching that absurd scene almost made me choke, so I turned away.
And then.
“Hyiiii! A, a monster!”
“Blackie isn’t a monster!”
An even more suffocating scene unfolded on the ship.
My eyebrows twitched.
“…Elliot.”
Albrecht scratched his cheek, finally starting to speak.
“…Do you think we can catch the Demon King?”
“I don’t know.”
