***Arc 7 One Who Bare Their Fang on Reason, Chapter 153 The Dragon Laughs at the Young Child Dancing Around***
Yagernaus is not a name, but a title once given by man.
A dragon's name is what humans call true name, and it was used only when a dragon made a pact with another dragon who was also their equal.
Naturally, it was never permitted for a human to call a dragon by its true name.
That's why all of them stared at the girl with astonishment.
The girl heard the words, but did not erase the bizarre spear.
Furrowing her brow, she looked up at the dragon.
Tension ran through them.
With this girl, any reaction was equally possible.
Even if it’s, pointing her spear to the Holy Spirit again even after hearing those words.
Human beings were like worms in front of the Holy Spirit.
That human being was thus forgiven for his rudeness and won the true name from the Holy Spirit.
This is the greatest honor, and choice shouldn’t have existed there.
But, precisely because even as she’s a human being, she’s outside the human realm, it was doubtful whether she could understand what should have been obvious.
It was impossible to measure her by the logic of common sense, and that was why the men were on high alert.
That this girl kills the Holy Spirit.
That the Holy Spirit kills this girl.
Whichever way it turns out, it was not what they desired.
Whatever the case may be, they now have the same reverence for the power of the Holy Spirit――and for the warrior who faced It.
That was why they hoped that those words would put an end to their hostility.
But the girl, contrary to their hope, kept a grim look on her face.
In her right hand, she held a spear like thunder, and she did not let her guard down.
The sight of the girl made sweat trickle down their chins.
Silence fell over the place.
After a while,
"Thank you for your polite self-introduction. But, you know, umm...."
Finally, she opened her mouth with a serious face,
"…What Krische wants is not the right to call Regalave-san by name. …Krische, Krische think Krische said it properly at the beginning but"
And such, she answered the dragon, appearing to not quite understand the dragon.
Then once again, silence reigned over the place.
An amused, intermittent wave of magic resounded for a while.
The one who broke the silence was the Chef Warrior, Vinthril, who knew the language of the plains.
He sheathed his curved sword and kneeled before the girl, who tilted her head in puzzlement.
"...Yagernaus-sama has recognized your power and has indicated wished to exchange friendship. Whatever your desires are, they will be granted as long as they are in moderation. That's what I heard what it means when the Holy Spirit allowed Mina (御名 = name of God)."
The warriors who saw Vinthril kneeled as if following suit.
"...? Even though you were fighting just now... have Regalave-san changed your mind?"
Krische looked up at the dragon without putting aside the spear.
*"Anymore and it will be until one of us dies, right? There is no benefit to you in death, and neither there is to me. Furthermore, I see no benefit in killing you."*
"...That's certainly true, isn't it."
She traced her cherry-red lips with her fingertips.
After a moment's thought, Krische let go of the spear in her right hand.
The thunder-like spear dissipates into magical power and disappears.
*"I had planned to kill the fool who didn't know the difference in power, but now that I know how difficult it will be, I'm just going to honestly let you threaten me, is what I’m saying."*
A wave of magical power shook and resounded as if laughing.
"…Rejoice, Krische, even if you look around the world, you are probably the first small creature to frighten a dragon and make it swallow its demands."
"Um... Thank you very much..."
Krische tilted her head troublingly.
"Suddenly being threatened, being pierced with a spear……Isn’t Regalave-san angry?"
"Compared to you, pain is a thing or nothing. It's a trivial thing, the first pain in a thousand years is rather pleasant, it reminded me of a life that I had almost forgotten."
Krische wondered idly if it was like having her cheek pulled and pinched, and nodded to herself that it was fine as long as it wasn't angry.
*"And that the one that gives that pain is not the same dragon but you, rather it was quite pleasant. I'm tired of most things, but now I'm intrigued. ......You say what you want is in my blood right?"*
"Yes. Depending on the situation, Krische also wanted the heart, but if Regalave-san will cooperate, then it’s fine."
Those who know the language of the Plains had chills down their spines at Krische’s absurd words.
However, at Krische’s words, the dragon only shook its magical power as if laughing again.
*"What do you desire with my blood?"*
"Krische wants to save someone...important to Krische. She was stabbed, her body was poisoned,...... and Krische saw in a book that the dragon's flesh and blood contains enormous magical power, so Krische thought that if Krische used it, maybe Krische could help Belly."
*"...it's trifling. It should be possible."*
Krische’s eyes widened as the dragon spoke.
"Really?"
*"Aah. But... it's too much for you guys. There are some who can’t bear it. It's too much power to dwell within that small body."*
"... um, that's"
*"If they are the descendants of those who once ate our flesh and blood, then perhaps. Does that person, like you and these people, have learned to handle magic to some extent?"*
The dragon's words――probing its intentions, Krische nodded.
"In that case, yes. Regardless of whether she is a descendant or not, Bery is a person who is good at handling magic!"
*"...then there shouldn't be a big problem."*
"Ehehe…what a relief."
Her silver hair shook and she smiled happily.
Then she bowed her head politely and looked up.
"Then let's go right away. If you're going to fly, then directly to the royal capital, Krische also wants to ride together. It's quite a distance if you go down, so it's hard――"
The people around her were taken aback by his fearless words, but Krische's body shook.
Vinthril immediately supported that body.
"Ah...sorry, Krische, strength relaxed."
Clothes soaked in sweat and blood.
The girl was full of scars and her gaze was hollow.
Her fatigue must have come all at once because she was relieved.
The battle that had just happened was just that intense
From the corner of the hollow, the Suiko rushed to jump down from the top of what used to be a hill with a large horse with a load on it.
Then it snuggled up to her side.
*"...... you should rest a little. Treat her. It is not well to let the one to whom I gave my name to, die without fulfilling our pact."*
"Ha, Yagernaus-sama..."
Vinthril called for Lira from the sky, and Lira descended with a grim expression straddling Larnell.
As she descended from Larnell, she bowed her head against the dragon.
"....Thank you, Yagernaus-sama. I have resolved myself. As soon as this one is treated...this rudeness, with my life――'
*"No need. Do you think it will please me to destroy a life like yours?"*
"... no, that is"
*"Both then and now. I have no interest in how you little ones live and die. If you are concerned about the contract we made in the past, then this time it's good entertainment... I won't take it as disrespect and I'll forgive you."*
A promise once sworn by the people of Kreisharana was to not disturb the Dragon’s peace.
Dragons had no interest in their activities in this world, and it was like insect repellent to avoid troubles.
This was also the reason why Alberan's founding king accepted the Holy Spirit Conference, the Holy Spirit Covenant, and for this reason, the first that was written on the Holy Spirit Pact was somewhere along the lines of "never point your blade at the dragon".
What the people of Kreisharana feared more than anything else was breaking that covenant.
*"Passage of time is such a funny thing. Even among small ones like you, something like this that could threaten our lives appeared. Thousands of years ago, it was unimaginable."*
The magic power shook intermittently, and those who were there looked at Krische.
Krische, who was listening, separated from Vinthril and sat down with her back leaning against Gururun reluctantly.
As the dragon said, she was too physically drained to leave, at least right now.
And if she went home in this dizzy state, Bery would be worried when she woke up.
She didn’t want to worry Bery too much.
She didn't want her to think that she had pushed herself too hard to help her.
"...Krische thinks it's normal to get angry if you get stabbed like that all of a sudden... but somehow Regalave-san seems to be having fun."
*"That would be normal because you are so frail and live such a short time, like a blink of an eye, this feeling would not be understood by the likes of you."*
Krische pondered this for a moment.
This dragon seemed to be quite happy even though Krische had thrown a spear at it and almost killed it.
‘Onee-sama, it's perverted to be happy when someone pulls your cheeks or hurts you. I don't know what Argan-sama said, but please understand a little more that it's obviously strange――’
She recalled Kreschenta’s words.
Pinching cheek is a form of affection.
Krische didn’t think it's strange to be happy about it, but this dragon's statement is clearly different.
Krische had malicious intent and threw the spear with intent to kill.
On top of that, this dragon was happy.
She felt something click, and clapped her hands together.
"I see, Krische’s little sister said it. Regalave-san is the so-called pervert. That's what you call someone who is happy when they’re pain."
Dragon's Roar——a battleground where the heat never cools down.
Those who understood the content of the words froze at Krische’s words.
*‘kukuku’* Only intermittent waves of magical energy echoed through the place.
What she uttered went beyond a joke and was merely an abuse.
The dragon showed no anger at Krische’s words, which were no joke, and Lira and the others who knew the language of the plains were relieved.
‘f-for the time being, the treatment’, Lira begins to treat her in order to seal her mouth while her voice almost cracked.
Krische, who was reluctant to take off her clothes in front of others, uses the body of the great Holy Spirit as a partition, cleanses her body with the water she brought, and asks her to wrap her in bandages.
Vinthril and others who saw the girl's condition thought it was dangerous to leave her by the Holy Spirit's side and suggested to Regalave that it would be better to take her back to the village for medical attention, but Krische told him that it would be better here, where the magic was stronger, and Regalave himself agreed.
As a result, only Alkierence, Vinthril, Lira, Vervas, and others who knew the language of the plains, the leading figure of Kreisharana, remained to take care of Krische——to monitor her words and actions.
They feared that the disaster, which had seemed to be under control for the time being, would be shattered by the girl's unprovoked remarks.
After a while she fell asleep, but if left alone,
‘Do all dragons look like lizards like Regalave-san?’
She was an abnormal person who repeated remarks that go beyond slips of words against the Holy Spirit.
At first glance she looks like a pretty, polite, quiet girl, but she's crazy.
Was she trying to get the world caught up in this test of courage, she's originally a madman who points her blade at the Holy Spirit.
They couldn't let her run wild.
It was after evening when Krische, who had fallen asleep, woke up.
The heat of the molten earth had subsided, and the warriors had already done their miscellaneous tasks such as making campfires and fetching water.
After waking up, Krische bites the smoked meat of a Suikp and pulls out a piece of spear stuck in the body of Regalave.
Perhaps due to the concentration of magic power, her body had begun to heal considerably after a short sleep, and new flesh was already rising from the small wound.
At least there was no problem in moving, and among the warriors of Kreisharana, Alkierence, Vinthril, and the few who remained here timidly rode the dragon to help.
"... Alberan's first princess, is it?"
"Yes, Krische suppose that's the way it's supposed to be in a manner of speaking. Since Krische’s younger sister, Kreschenta, is the queen, it might be correct to call Krische the royal sister, but... Krische doesn’t really know what's going on in that area. Krische is not really interested in it either."
During that time, Lira had a random conversation about small talk so that Krische wouldn't blurt out strange things about the Holy Spirit, but there was a lot of strangeness in what she said.
It was the name of her sister, a person named Kreschenta.
It seems that the person named Kreschenta was this girl's younger sister, but she seemed to be in charge of national affairs at a young age, and she was Queen Alberan, when asked in detail, Krische naturally explained that.
Then who is this girl——the words that naturally come up were that.
She sounded as if she did not have any interest in it, but it was true that she was a member of the royal family of Alberan.
In short, even though she was a member of the royal family of the great country of Alberan, she took her own sword and came to slay a dragon for her servant.
Here lies madness at its peak.
They were puzzled when they heard about what kind of country Alberan was.
*"…Alberan, a descendant of Bazariche?"*
"If Regalave-san -san is referring to the Founding King Bazariche, then that is probably the case? Regardless of the fact, it seems that we are related to each other by blood according to the record."
*"Those purple eyes and silver hair――the atmosphere is very similar. …Compared to you, she was a little clever, but"*
Regalave narrowed its eyes happily.
"If you're a descendant of that, then I understand. Even though it was small, it was arrogant, much like you. It was a pleasant thing, wanting to trade with me."
――It's too much to support only Kreisharana. You should make a deal with us as well.Then, unlike these barbarians, I can promise you in the name of Bazariche that you will not be bothered with such matters for hundreds of years to come.
Regalave remembered that figure and Its magic waved as It laughed.
"Hm... is it about the Holy Spirit Covenant?"
*"Is that what you call it? It's about that silly arrangement."*
The little ones, who afterwards came to claim the earth as their own, after every dragon got bored of fighting each other.
They were one of the beasts that came to gather the carrion of dragons, but at some point they acquired wisdom and formed a herd, and Bazariche was, among such a race――the slyest individual among humans.
Humans didn't get involved with dragons, and dragons didn't get involved with humans.
That's all she proposed, and that's all she asked of Regalave.
In any case, it wouldn't be a bad thing for Regalave to not have its sleep bothered with such a beast for the next few hundred years, and Bazariche used such Regalave to make a rule for the surrounding world.
The Holy Spirit Covenant was born that way, and we remember well how Bazariche even used dragons for her own benefit.
*"Although it is a powerless beast, it is a clever one with a good head. ……Someday our era will end, and it may be yours. That's what I think when I see someone like you."*
"Yagernaus-sama..."
Chieftain Alkierence shook his head in bewilderment at Regalave’s cheerful words, and Krische jumped off the dragon's back and thought a little.
"...After all, Regalave-san is a strange person... a dragon, isn't he? Do you enjoy being killed?"
*"I told you right. The way we perceive things is different from yours. If you live a few thousand years, you will understand our hearts.*
Regalave turned to Krische.
*"Things that cannot be seen when living in a moment become visible. Your horizons will expand, and you will gradually be able to enjoy the changes in the world."*
"Haa..."
*"When we were young, we lived in the moment like you. Showing off our power and getting land. Repeat that kind of silly play."*
Krische stands up and takes a chunk of smoked meat out of Bururun's luggage.
She dangled it in front of the Regalave and waved it from side to side, but the dragon only laughed.
Lira and the others were terrified of Krische, who treated the Holy Spirit as a pet, but Regalave had no anger, and seeing how happy the Holy Spirit was, they couldn't stop her.
She was free.
*"As time passed, everyone got tired of it and began to spend their time looking at the world like I did. Most dragons probably feel the same as I do."*
"... Krische doesn’t really understand."
*"If everything is temporary, you will eventually get tired of it. You are just young and don't know it."*
"Hmm... isn't that just because Regalave-san doesn't know what fun rally is?"
Krische smiled and waved the smoked meat.
"The feeling of having fun probably comes from growing up, progressing, and that kind of change. Ehehe, in that regard, cooking is a lot of fun. Krische wants to eat something different every day, and every day Krische makes something different and delicious."
*"...Fumu"*
"Bery said that", said Krische, holding up her finger.
"It would be nice if Krische could teach Regalave-san the joy of cooking, but…it seems a little difficult with such a big body."
*"In the first place, we don't even have to eat anything like you guys do. anyway I don't think I'll ever understand the pleasure you're talking about."*
"...But I don't think it's very healthy to have such a perverted hobby just because it's boring and painful."
"K-Krische-sama..."
"...? Aah, Of course, Krische is happy that Regalave-san has forgiven Krische, but...from Krische’s standpoint, it might be better for Krische to be glad that Regalave-san is perverted."
While completely misunderstanding Lila's desperate voice, she made a supplement that didn't serve as any follow-up.
It was as if she was probing the dragon's reverse scale.
Everyone was afraid that this dragon, which happily shakes its magic, might actually be angry, but she was the only one who ignored that atmosphere.
She may have no malice, but there was only malice within her words.
If it were possible, they would have gagged this girl long ago.
"...but still, Alberan."
Chief guardian Vervas put his hand to his chin to bring the subject back on topic and looked at Alkierence and Vinthril.
Vinthril also looks thoughtfully at Alkierence, the old man with a pure white beard.
The royal family of Alberan itself broke the inviolability and turned its blade against the Holy Spirit.
Considering the history of Alberan, what she had done was never forgivable. However, she had won the true name of the Holy Spirit, whom they believed in, with her power, and they had exchanged friendship.
It is impossible to accuse her of the sin, and if they look at her as a single individual, she should be treated as a friend of the Holy Spirit, a guest of honor next to the Holy Spirit.
If they were to look at her simply as an individual, that would have been fine.
When it was all said and done, there was little or no damage, including to Kreisharana’s warriors, at best burns and broken bones――at least none of them had life-threatening injuries.
There were some who were caught in the wind, or who they were not sure if they would be able to return as Griffin riders due to the outburst of the griffin, but they were only wounds of honor sustained in battle.
It was force majeure.
They targeted her, but she did not take theirs.
Looking at that fight, they couldn’t criticize her.
In spite of her tremendous skill, she went to great lengths and displayed unquestionable loyalty to fulfill the personal promises she had apparently made to Lira.
As a warrior recognized even by the Holy Spirit, it was perfectly natural that she should be treated as a respected guest, and they have no objection to that.
But if the opponent was royalty, then it was now political.
Regardless of her own perception, she should be treated as Alberan royalty.
To pay her the kind of respect that one would pay to the Holy Spirit, even privately, would be politically tinged, no matter what one thought.
If she's someone of the Imperial State it's still fine, but, Alberan.
It was a country that Kreisharana had been hostile to for hundreds of years.
How to handle it was left to the will of the chieftain.
"I will talk to the elders later. Whatever they think of it, it is someone that Yagernaus-sama has approved of. Then we will follow that will."
Krische tilted her head and the dragon shook the waves of magic.
*"You people are always worried about trivial things. Even though there are no individuals left who were alive back then."*
"…Unlike Yagernaus-sama, we are weak and we are one in a flock. Kreisharana and Alberan are still living like this, just like Yagernaus-sama spoke of in the old days."
*"I see, so there is such a view."*
Krische made a more and more puzzled face, and Lira, who was next to her, answered the question.
"As I said the other day, diplomatic relations between Kreisharana and Alberan have been severed due to an old grudge…if Krische-sama is treated as an individual guest, we must decide what to do about that as well."
"I see... it's hard."
Spoken like someone else's problem.
*"One who I have allowed my name to is Krische——only for this small one. What you do with it is none of my business."*
"Ha, Thank you for your kind words... However, as Yagernaus-sama acknowledged, no matter what, Krische-sama is a warrior we should respect. Should that name be crowned with Alberan, I thought we should forget about the trivial things just as Yagernaus-sama said and just prioritize her as warriors. From now on, I will decide the future of the village with that in mind."
*"Do as you please. In the first place, there is no one to force you to do anything."*
"... Thank you."
Alkierence kneeled and bowed his head, and everyone present followed suit.
The only one who should be in the center of the topic, Krische, was petting the horse and green tiger, saying something like, ‘It seems a lot of work,’ and Alkierence looked at her, astonished.
"…There has been a rift between the kingdom and the kingdom for a long time. Even though we have maintained peace without interfering with each other for a long time, if you who has formed a friendship with Yagernaus-sama is a member of the Alberan royal family, the current relationship cannot be said to be fine."
"Hmm...Is that so? If it's been peaceful up until now, then that's fine――well, if we can get along well, even Krische thinks that’s better."
Cliché looked troubledly at Alkierence.
"It kinda gets unsettled, but aren't you guys angry too? Krische has become friends with Regalave-san, so it might be hard to say, but Krische kicked you guys and did a lot of terrible things... like, those people over there."
Then she looked at Vinthril and Vervas.
Vinthril laughed and shook his head.
"It's a battle. We're also aiming to kill you. Now that it's over... there's no one to hate you for having fought such a battle and for being recognized by Yagernaus-sama for your ability. All we have in our hearts right now is respect as a warrior."
Vinthril pointed to his chest and then to the side where Cliche had kicked him.
There was a bruise.
"Of course it hurts, but that's just my lack of training. It's not your fault."
Watching the men agreeing with him, Krische pondered.
After a while, she bowed her head politely and turned her gaze back to Alkierence.
"Krische'll let Kreschenta know. Anyway, making up isn't a bad thing."
"Thank you. We will officially send a messenger at a later date."
"Hmm, then it might be better to do it as soon as possible. Or maybe in a few years... The kingdom is in a dangerous period right now, it's likely to attack the surrounding country, so as not to get caught up in it."
"Attacked?"
"The civil war has just ended and it's unstable. It would be a disaster if Kreisharana were involved even though you guys are living peacefully, so Krische thinks it would be better to send a messenger from the kingdom after things calmed down."
Alkierence played with his white beard and looked at Vinthril and the others.
Seeing them nod, Alkierence replied.
"...we'll take that into consideration, including how to conduct ourselves in the future."
"Yes. Though it’s not Krische’s place to say something like this since Krische herself made trouble for Kreisharana, but peace is something that should be cherished."
Hearing those words from Krische, the waves of magic shook happily.
The dragon narrowed his eyes.
*"I don't know if you're smart or bad, Krische."*
"...? Krische is very clever though"
She furrowed her brows dissatisfied, put both hands on her waist, and stared at the dragon.
The girl behaved like a child through and through.
*"But, I guess it's only because you’re like that. …...What a pleasant one."*
Only the voice of the laughing dragon continued to echo in that place.
