***Arc 10 One Who Doesn't Acknowledge, Chapter 234 Selfishness***
At the time when the sun reaches its zenith――in the mountains of Arbyagel.
She took off her apron dress, exposing her voluptuous naked body.
She was a beautiful woman.
Her skin had no blemishes, and although she looked petite, she had a feminine body.
She washed her long reddish hair with river water and ran her hands between her ample breasts.
"Fufu, it's cold and feels good. As expected, at this temperature I'm sweating a little."
Dipping her lower legs into the gentle flow of the river, the Suiko besides her was drinking water with a yawn.
As usual, one person and one animal——while the silver girl only took off her coat.
She kept her eyes down, gripped the hem of her one-piece dress, and remained silent.
The red-haired woman——Bery Argan smiles as if troubled, saying ‘Krische-sama too’, and took off her clothes.
Krische obeyed without saying a word, exposing her naked body.
She kept her face down.
Bery stares at her, waving her fingertips like a conductor of an orchestra.
She grasps the magical power of the atmosphere, which is denser than that of the plains, and carves formulas in the air.
Like a snake being beckoned by the river, water extended towards the girl with her face lowered.
The water transforms into a kitten and kissed Krische on the lips.
Bery giggled as Krische widened her eyes.
"Meow"
In response to her giggle, its mouth opened, mimicking the sound of a cat.
The kitten then walked in the air and was cradled in Bery's arms.
Krische's eyes naturally followed this and reached Bery.
"It's good that we have a lot of magical power here. I've been secretly practicing it... It's easy to use, probably because it originates from the Ancient Dragon-sama's magical power."
"...Bery, using magic is..."
“If the problem is Ancient Dragon-sama’s magical power, maybe it would be better to use it as much as possible. Hehe, I don’t know though…”
Jumping from her chest, the water kitten landed on Krische’s head.
"Don't make such a gloomy face."
At the same time she spoke, it transformed back into mere water.
*Splash*, water dripped from Krische’s head, surprising the green tiger, who was watching the water kitten with curiosity.
Bery laughed happily and hugged Krische, who was soaked in the water.
“Shall we take a bath together, Krische-sama?”
Whispering lovingly.
In response to those words, Krische nodded quietly.
――Magic Crystal Quay.
A trail of melted earth, as if the earth had been gouged out.
In a wide depression, there was a huge mountain-like body, and when Krische and the others appeared in front of it, it lifted only its head and opened its eyes.
The rock-like scales that had fallen off were already covered with new scales, and the countless scars no longer existed.
An ancient dragon equal to a god――Regalave turns their attention to Bery before turning to Krische.
*“――It’s mixed.”*
And the magical power made the atmosphere shake.
Bery, perplexed by the enormous body and the voice echoing in her head, bowed, followed by Vinthril and Lira.
"……Long time no see"
Then Krische asked, jumping off of the Suiko.
“...um mixed is”
*“Literaly, the magical power that that little thing originally has is mixed with my magical power.”*
In response to those words, Regalave narrowed Their eyes.
*“This is a truly rare case. Many creatures have eaten our corpses and consumed our flesh, but either the compatibility was excellent, or... it's similar to mine.”*
Krische said with a frown on her face.
"...Umm, it's probably because of Regalave-san's magic that the inside of Bery's body is melting and reconstruct itself repeatedly, so Krische come here today to ask about that.”
“It probably judged her as food or a foreign object. Right now, that small one is tantamount to being inside My body. It is a wonder that she could maintain her form.”
Regalave continues speaking as if it was only natural.
“If you put My flesh and blood inside you, there will be more or less a backlash. Different magic powers don't mix. If the compatibility is bad, the flesh will burst and die, but if the compatibility is good, your body will drink it all up and turn it into your power. Many of you who possess magic are descendants of them...Therefore, I thought there would be no problem.''
Krische listened silently, and Bery and the others did the same.
“A body that has been imbued with magical power over generations. I thought it would be possible to accept the backlash and stimulate it if it was in the right amount but.''
Regalave brought his face closer to Bery.
"...However, this small one seems to have suppressed the resistance against my magical power and altered her own magical power and made it familiar with mine. Whether it was intentional or not, it is a rare case."
“Altering the magic power...”
Krische turn to Bery.
Bery nodded in confusion.
"...I was trying a lot of things to get used to it quickly...that might be the reason."
After accepting the dragon's blood, her body felt strange due to the magical power inside.
Bery vaguely understood that it was the dragon's magic power, but she did not know whether the "unnatural feeling" was due to suppressing toxin or not and Bery chose to adapt her own magic power to the rebelling magic power.
At least her body started to heal and she haven't had any problems so far.
Once she got used to it, she didn’t feel any discomfort and the amount of magical power only increased--but――that's probably the reason.
Will you dye the resisting foreign magic power and turn it into your own magic power?
Or will you alter your own magical power to match the foreign magical power so that it doesn't resist?
In short, it's a difference in approach.
In short, it's a difference in approach.
"...Did I do it wrong?"
*“It’s a matter of hindsight. A body that was on the verge of death――I also don’t fully know how much My blood would affect that small body. I don't know if you were able to survive this long because you were good at using magic, or something else.”*
Regalave looked at Bery and said ‘But there’s one thing I know’.
*“Your magic power is mixed with Mine, and is already closer to My magic power than those of small one. And since that's the case, your body can't handle it. As I said, your abnormality is the same as the principle of melting what I eat and turning it into flesh and blood.”*
Although They hadn't eaten anything for a long time, the magical power trembled intermittently.
It was similar to how people laugh, and Krische frowned and glared at Regalave.
*“What are you angry about? You little one live in the blink of an eye. Death is something common in your world.”*
‘Krische-sama’, Bery called out, approaching her and taking his her.
Krische look up at Bery, and lowered her eyes.
*“If it's a friend's wish, I'll grant it. ...However, there is nothing I can do about that small one. If I give more blood than this, it will actually have the opposite effect――that small one might dissolve into magical power and disappear.”*
"...Is there any way to solve it? If it’s Regalave-san, maybe you can drain only Regalave-san’s magic power."
*“What a strange thing to say. You who with that small body fight on an equal footing with me using only your wisdom”*
Regalave craned his neck and brought Their large face closer to her.
*“You're the one who's good with that kind of thing, Krische. There’s no reason I could do what you couldn’t. It's not like I don't know any dragons who are clever with magic, but none can surpass you in precision and delicate work.”*
Krische clutched the hem of her dress.
As if wanting to say something, but saying nothing.
Regalave just looked at her.
*“How strange. With that much power you have, why do you care about the small one? It's not hard to understand if it's that Kreschenta, but I'm sure there are plenty of alternatives to that small one.”*
"There's no substitute for Berry. ...Being strong or weak, it’s not about something stupid like that."
‘Krische-sama’, Bery said, looking next to her.
Krische tightened her grip on the arm and looked back at the dragon with her purple eyes.
*“Is it something called the habit of small one to live in groups? I think Our lifestyle suits you better than living in a group with the small ones.”*
*‘I don't understand’*, said Regalave, shaking his magic.
Krische looked at Them and said.
"...Regalave-san is such a pitiful dragon."
*“Pitifu?l”*
“Krische’s sure Regalave-san thinks so because Regalave-san has nothing more important than yourself. Just like how Krische used to be.'
Intertwining her fingers with Bery's.
“To Krische, Bery is more important than Krische. That's why Krische is so much happier together than alone, and that's why Krische wants to be together forever.''
Krische tightened her grip.
“Regalave-san just doesn’t understand that Regalave-san is lonely. Even though the reason Regalave-san is stalking to Krische like this is because Regalave-san is lonely.”
Regalave-san’s huge red-purple eyes widened slightly.
Then They flickered his magic intermittently.
“...To point out that I feel lonely. You're really a pleasant one, Krische.''
Just as Thet said, the waves swayed and the magic crystal made a sound that resonated.
"If Regalave-san really want to be alone, Regalave-san don't need a means of communication. Regalave-san just doesn't realize it."
“――Hmm?”
Krische didn't say anything more.
Even though she had just arrived, she bowed to Regalave as if she had finished her business.
"...Thank you for talking to me. Krische'll come back if anything happens."
Krische called out to Lira.
Lira, who was staring at Regalave, nodded in a panic and bowed.
Vinthril and Bery also bow their heads.
Regalave narrowed Their reddish-purple eyes and just looked at the girls from behind.
Lira and Vinthril left after being told they didn’t need to saw them off, the two alone there
Immersed up to her waist in the river, Bery carefully cleansed Krische’s body as usual.
Northeast of Kreisharana――in a deserted forest.
With her back to her, Krische simply lowered her eyes, deep in thought.
"ah……"
Bery grabbed her around the waist, pulled her close, and hugged her.
"You've been making faces like that lately. ... Hehe, I'm becoming a bit more lonelier than Elder Dragon-sama."
"...After all"
Krische was about to say something but hesitated.
Turning around, she hugged Bery in return and buried her face in her ample breasts.
“Krische doesn’t understand why Bery is the same as always.”
Her voice was trembling and filled with tears.
"...Does Bery think it's okay to die like the Ojii-sama and Skeleton? Does Bery think it's okay to be separated from Krische?"
A young voice that sounded like throwing a tantrum.
She stroked her wet hair lovingly and kissed her head.
Bery smiled, her eyes narrowing as she smells her scent.
"No way. I don't even want to think about being separated from Krische-sama."
"...Then why is Bery smiling like that?"
"Because, right now, I'm with Krische-sama."
‘Kusu kusu’, She giggled happily and slowly moved backwards.
Sitting down and narrowing her eyes at the cool flow, she said.
“I'm traveling with Krische-sama, all to myself, so why would I be sad? Well, I do feel a little bad for Ojou-sama and Kreschenta-sama, but I am very happy.”
“But――”
“Krische-sama is speaking as if I’m already dead.”
Bery said while listening to her heartbeat.
*Thump, thump*, a certain sound――Krische looked up and shook her head.
"...That's not the problem."
"That's the problem. No one knows what the future holds. Tomorrow, Krische-sama may suddenly die of some illness. Or Ojou-sama or Kreschenta-sama."
She looked at the purple color shaking with tears and kissed it.
Slowly, slowly, as if savoring it.
"...The only thing that's certain is the scenery and the feeling we're seeing right now."
Krische looked back at Bery and told her.
"Even Krische can tell, that’s just sophistry. ...Bery is cunning."
“Hehe, when Krische-sama says that to me, it really makes me think that I’m a cunning person.…I wonder if Krische-sama’ll hate me.”
"...Krische, is not a childlike before. Even if Bery try to change the topic, Krische won't be fooled."
Krische pressed her lips to hers as she smiled her usual smile.
It was a kiss that seemed to crush her soft lips.
Just like that, Bery fell backwards onto the river's edge.
She looked up at Krische and said.
“Krische-sama, would you like to take a little detour and continue to Arna?”
"...Arna?"
"Yes, there is a very beautiful capital. I wanted to see it with Krische-sama...and also the sea. I wanted to see it once, the horizon as far as the eye can see..."
Squinting her eyes at the bright sun in the sky and smiled.
“Then we also can stop by at Gargain and visited Gallen-sama’s grave in Kalka.…If possible, I would like to go around the kingdom as it is, but it would take too much time and we would get scolded.”
‘Just a little selfishness’, she said with a chuckle.
Krische grabbed her shoulder tightly and called ‘Bery’.
"...Krische will definitely do something about Bery's body. That's why Krische can't listen to Berry's selfishness right now."
Bery looked up at Krische troubledly, and Krische just looks down at Bery seriously.
"When Bery gets better, Krische'll listen to Bery's selfishness. Krische, will do anything. But not now."
She could vaguely understood what the meaning of what Bery said.
From the beginning, Bery called this journey a trip, and it looked like it was going to be fun from start to finish.
So she thought she shouldn't respond to it.
If it was Bery's wish, Krische'd like to grant it whatever it is, as long as Bery's happy.
But if she did that now, Bery would really disappear.
She was smiling happily, just like her grandfather and Eluga.
"Bery said Bery'll always be with Krische. Brry doesn't break her promises, and Krische doesn't break her promises either. ... So even if it's not now, there's still plenty of time."
Bery stared at Krische, then smiled bitterly.
"How troubling...I can't believe that I can’t persuade Krische-sama."
She smiled happily and intertwines the fingers of both of her hands with Krische’s.
Raising her body slightly, her breasts were crushed between them, and Bery put her lips to her ear.
“…Please at least listen to my other selfishness until we get home.”
A whisper tickled her ear.
Krische said nothing, and put her weight on her.
And the two bodies overlapped.
