Chapter 381 - Backyard of Stray Priest ⑮
This is the sequel to Chapter 13: Island Where Wyverns Live Arc.
This side story is a story I thought of based on an impression I received (you will know whose impression it is after reading). It wasn't in the plot at all, but I wrote it while thinking that such a way of thinking exists. In other words, it's a story I wouldn't have thought of if I hadn't received the impression. Thank you very much for your valuable impression.
The Black Dragon Child asked me to go to the island where the Wyverns live together. Apparently, the Wyverns have something to talk to me about.
It was when the monthly recovery work for the Northeastern Forest was finished, and after hunting with the Black Dragon Child, we all toasted.
"The Wyverns?"
"Yeah. They say they have something they want to ask."
"What do they want to ask?"
"I don't know. Meet them directly and ask."
He really doesn't seem to know, and after saying his piece, he is smiling and gnawing on boar meat on my lap.
"I wonder what it is?"
Even when I asked the spirits, they had no recollection. I was told that I might have no choice but to actually go. Even if I say go, I can't go easily. It involves crossing national borders, and I should also meet Gwyn-sama at the site. I contacted Mary, had her make adjustments, and decided to depart on the night of the next new moon.
On the day, I joined up with Henry-sama's group at the farm in the Flatlands. We went straight to the Northeastern Forest, had the now-larger Black Dragon Child hold the Wind Barrier orb in his hand, and departed.
The Black Dragon Child was given a canteen by Renata. Since his body is large, he has the canteen, placed in a net woven from grass strings, tied around his right knee. When he becomes small, he wraps it diagonally around his body.
"Jeanne, can I have a moment?"
Dune called out, beckoning with her right hand.
"What's wrong?"
"Actually..."
The content Dune spoke about was a matter regarding the Black Dragon Child's education.
"Is it alright?"
"When we arrive at the site, call me. I'll settle the talk."
"Understood. It's reassuring if Dune is there."
"Ufufu."
The journey should take about an hour and a half at full speed flight, but perhaps because he is full of curiosity, he is flying aimlessly. In short, it's a child's detour.
Since I have Eleanor-sama's map, I know the approximate location. First, we took a course toward the east. I thought we would come out to the coastline so as not to get lost, but he is flying slowly near the summit of the mountain. Suddenly, Mel flew over. We landed just like that at the place where we had previously boarded the air bubble. We had the bowl lowered to the ground and joined up.
"Oh? Jeanne and the others are here tonight too. Good evening."
"Good evening, Mel. Sorry for the sudden visit."
"It's fine. I told him to make a detour as if stopping by on the way to work. He's a good boy, so he always comes properly."
"Good boy, good boy," Mel praised the Black Dragon Child, and he looked happy.
After taking a sip of honey water and resting for a while, it was time for magic practice. As for wind magic, he only knows Wind Cutter, but he seems to have a particular attachment to it.
"This child is originally like a mass of magic power, so his power is higher than normal. Especially the shockwave, he's using the magic power inside his own body. Rather than that, he should learn the trick of gathering the surrounding magic power well."
I want to hear such a trick too. Looking at Eleanor-sama, the color of her eyes has changed.
"Could you please teach us that trick of gathering the surrounding magic power well?"
"You should know if you watch that child closely."
"Understood. Observation practice, then. Jeanne, you watch closely too."
"Yes!"
I don't even need to be told. I must definitely master it and add it to the magic textbook.
Looking at the Black Dragon Child, he is pointing his right palm upward, and after taking a breath, he releases the magic.
"Yes. You're good. It's a bit inconsistent, so it would be good if you could do it the same way no matter how many times you release it."
I release magic along with Eleanor-sama. I released Holy, and Eleanor-sama released Wind Cutter into the air. Of course, I don't forget to point my right palm upward and create an image of gathering magic power before releasing the magic.
"Both of you are no good at all. The Black Dragon Child is better."
Setting me aside, even Eleanor-sama was given a failing grade.
"W-What should we do?"
Eleanor-sama is completely shaken. It seems she never expected to be given a failing grade on basic magic.
"Magic is a moment's concentration. There's no point in doing it slowly."
Eleanor-sama, who was told it was even meaningless, is staggering. The woman said to be the greatest mage on the island is completely out of form.
"That's it for today. We have to go quickly or the Wyverns will worry."
On top of that, we ended up being put on hold.
As if clinging to her, Eleanor-sama decided to let us practice just one more time, and after receiving simple advice, she released the second one.
"That's better than before. But still not enough. Practice."
"Yes. Understood."
Having improved, Eleanor-sama also became energetic, and we decided to depart.
When Mel muttered something, a gust of wind wrapped around the Black Dragon Child's body.
It seems that when he comes to Mel's place, he can receive the blessing of the wind, and from here on, it will apparently become easier to fly to the island where the Wyverns live. The wind will lend its strength.
"Well then, good luck."
"Understood. I'll do my best. Bye-bye."
Since he is waving, we cover the bowl and everyone waves to Mel from inside. We had the Black Dragon Child hold us and restarted.
The Black Dragon Child, having gained the power of the wind, ascended rapidly, and from there, he spread his wings wide and began to glide as if lowering his altitude little by little. He isn't flapping at all. It truly feels like being carried by the wind.
Occasionally, he moves his wings just a little, and with his body orientation as it is, he meanders as if sliding to the right and left. Turning is also smooth.
"As expected of a wind spirit. He is likely flying at a considerable speed, but it feels as if we are floating in the sky."
On the way, he dived and landed in a forest.
When I had Eleanor-sama check the map, it was in the mountains between Former Septanaquila and Old Gram. It's a place far removed from facilities where people come and go, and it seems to be the kind of place where it's meaningless to even build the secret bases that Eleanor-sama and the other illegal entrants are so fond of.
When the cover of the bowl is deactivated, there is a roaring sound. When illuminated with Light, there was a magnificent waterfall. In terms of height, the waterfall at Nakanohara Lake is higher, but this one is wider. The water volume is sufficient, making it easy to imagine that there is a lake or something above.
"This is another magnificent waterfall."
"Yeah. It's my favorite resting place."
He is replying proudly to Henry-sama's words.
In short, he wanted to show it.
"I'm going to bathe for a bit, so stay around there. Ah, don't make loud noises."
When he pointed to a rocky area near the basin, he went into the basin with a splash, soaking up to his solar plexus and splashing around. The instruction not to make loud noises might mean there are monsters in the vicinity.
"Shall we rest too?"
At Eleanor-sama's suggestion, we decided to rest at the midnight waterfall basin. The place the Black Dragon Child is pointing to would require swimming across the basin unless we go by bowl. He probably becomes small and climbs onto the rocks after bathing. He seems to be thinking properly about safety.
When we actually went there, the rocks were stepped, so we could enter and exit the water as if using stairs. The water is pure and cold. It feels good to dip the edge of a hand towel in the water and wipe my face.
I beckoned him, and he made his body small and climbed onto the rock. I wiped his body with a hand towel, and when I gave him the honey water Renata had put in the canteen, he drank it deliciously.
"I always drink the honey water Renata gave me here."
"It's a good place."
"Yeah. It's cold in winter, so I don't bathe then."
Summer only, huh. Well, that makes sense.
"Isn't it cold flying in winter?"
"In winter, Mel carries me with a warm wind. So it's not cold until I reach the island. On the way back, I'm flapping, so it's fine."
That's amazing. She even controls the temperature of the wind? As expected of the wind spirit.
"Are you not going to make a campfire?"
"I haven't been taught fire magic yet."
Eleanor-sama looks at me. She's asking if it's okay to give him a flint. I haven't received any specific restrictions from Renata, but he is a five-year-old child. The elf probably thought about that when they didn't teach him fire magic. I lightly shook my head.
"It would be good if you could be taught soon."
"Yeah. Right now it's wind, lightning, and earth. Next I'll be taught water."
"You can already use three. That's amazing."
"I'm strong, after all."
He is proud. Eleanor-sama, who successfully diverted the talk from the campfire, is also smiling. However, teaching water before teaching fire—as expected, the elf understands.
When we were about to depart, there was a rustling sound from the thicket.
"Is it a monster?"
If so, it will be a battle.
When I deactivated the Fireflies and began the incantation for Over Flow, the Black Dragon Child stopped me, saying, "It's okay."
"Whenever I come here, an Orc always leaves a beehive. He asks me not to make loud noises here."
It's obvious that if he roars in his large form, the surroundings will fall into great chaos. As an Orc, he probably wants to live quietly while arguing only among his own kind.
As expected of the strongest dragon. At five years old, he is already receiving tributes.
After squeezing the honey into the canteen and adding water from the basin, we departed.
When we ascended again, the next place we landed was the shore of the lake where the Water Dragon lives. It's the southern end where there are no people. It's Dune's request. I heard that dragons have a strong sense of hostility if they are of different species. Before it becomes a fight with the Water Dragon, I call out Dune.
"We've arrived."
"Yeah. I wonder if it's okay."
"I think it'll be fine. The Water Dragon is broad-minded."
Apparently, the most quick-tempered is the Fire Dragon, followed by the Wyvern. The third is the Water Dragon, and as for the last one, the Earth Dragon, she apparently wonders if there are ever times when he gets angry, as he is so easygoing.
First, I call the Water Dragon. I produce two Fireflies and give one to the now-small Black Dragon Child. I hold the other in my hand and make it flash toward the lake.
"What are you doing?"
Eleanor-sama is asking. Even though Dune is here, it's a meeting between a Water Dragon and a Wyvern. She seems worried it might turn into a fight, as there is tension in her eyes.
Dragons have a strong sense of kin and territory. It is said that if those of different affiliations appear in their territory, they will fight fiercely and kill each other.
"According to Dune, it's part of the Black Dragon Child's education."
"A meeting with the Water Dragon is?"
"So it seems. Even if the Black Dragon Child was originally a Wyvern, he is now the strongest Black Dragon. If the de facto pinnacle of living beings becomes arrogant toward others, Mel or Dune would have to take action. It's apparently an education to avoid that."
Eleanor-sama—no, Henry-sama, Wilson-san, and Will all became serious. They must have been surprised by the resolve of the spirits to kill even a friend they live happily with if necessary to maintain balance. And that judgment might, of course, be directed toward humans.
"What on earth are you going to do here?"
Henry-sama, who had been listening silently until now, asked. He must have understood the seriousness of the situation.
"Swimming."
"S-Swimming?"
It's Dune's idea.
During the three-bout match, he was dropped into the river by Mel and Dune... in Dune's case, he was wrapped in water that rose from the river and was just pulled under... at that time, he was almost completely neutralized. He managed to learn to relax and float, but for the strongest dragon, it's insufficient. Apparently. Dune is not one to let it go by saying the opponent was just bad. Setting aside Mel, who is like the boss, she apparently wanted him to resist a bit more against herself, a water spirit. She is a demon.
Oops, the sharp spirit splashed water. Since it was an expected development, I dodged it gracefully, but I ended up stepping on some kind of dung with my right foot. When I showed the sole of my shoe to Dune with teary eyes, she washed it with water while grimacing. She is kind in these sorts of ways.
Once the sole of the shoe was clean, the Water Dragon appeared. It had been crying "Kuon, Kuon," but it must have noticed the Black Dragon Child's presence. It is submerged in the water with only its head out. Since it is facing sideways, it seems to have taken a posture to dive into the water at any time.
Dune, riding on a pillar of water, approached and is talking. It's likely a request for a swimming coach.
The talk seems to have been settled, and the Water Dragon approached.
Looking at the Black Dragon Child, it let out a single cry, "Kuon."
"Now, give your greetings. He is your teacher."
"Teacher? Is the teacher strong?"
"You might be stronger, but he is great because he is the teacher."
"I see. Understood. Good evening, teacher."
"Good boy, good boy," I stroked his head. The Water Dragon also seemed satisfied and brought its neck close with a "Kuon, Kuon."
"Now, you can float, right? Today you're going to study the basics of how to swim."
Told by Dune, he timidly enters the water. The Water Dragon, unable to bear watching, extended its long neck, and he is clinging tightly to it.
"If you're on your back, it's fine. You can float in the water."
It likely said something like that. When Dune said something, the Black Dragon Child is moving his long neck to be on his back relative to the water surface.
"Now, don't cling forever; let go and float by yourself."
Dune-sensei is quite strict.
Finally, when he let go, the Water Dragon, unable to bear watching, is supporting his upper body with its front flippers so he doesn't sink.
When it said "Kuon, Kuon," the Black Dragon Child began to move his legs like a frog.
Furthermore, he took a deep breath and spread both arms wide.
When the Water Dragon gently submerged its flippers, he began to move forward slowly while floating in the water.
"I did it! I did it!"
"Amazing! Amazing!"
When everyone clapped, he smiled and made a victory pose. Naturally, he sank from his head.
Water Dragon-sensei hurriedly thrust its neck into the water and rescued him, and all was well.
In the end, in the first swimming lesson by Dune-sensei and Water Dragon-sensei, he learned to float on his back with both arms spread wide and move forward slowly with frog kicks.
"This will be the practice for a while. If you can enjoy swimming, you pass the first stage."
According to Dune-sensei, the second stage is on-the-back frog kicks after diving into the water, on-the-back frog kicks in a state with some waves, and furthermore, on-the-back frog kicks where he doesn't sink even if he makes a victory pose. After all, the practice time is a thirty-minute course once a month. After that, he has no choice but to practice in the pond in the Northeastern Forest.
"Now, say thank you to the teacher."
"Teacher, thank you."
When he said thank you properly, it rubbed its neck with a "Kuon, Kuon." They seem to have become completely close.
"Well then, that's it for today. I'll participate in the banquet with the Wyverns too."
When Dune flicked her right hand, there was a splash, and a large trout floated up. It's likely the tuition fee.
Riding in the bowl, everyone waved "Bye-bye, teacher" and departed.
On the fourth landing, we finally arrived at the destination.
"Oh! Jeanne came too. Ah, Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama, it's been a long time."
It's Gwyn-sama.
"Oh! Gwyn-dono, it has been a while."
"Gwyn-dono, have you been well?"
"Thanks to you. I am glad to see you both are also unchanged."
He seems not to have been informed at all, but he is responding grandly without being surprised by the sudden arrival on the island; as expected of a regular illegal entrant. Gwyn-sama has also likely become used to it by now.
"By the way, what's the matter today?"
"Apparently, the Wyverns have something to talk to me about."
"Hmm, the Wyverns. Then, Dune is the interpreter."
"That's right."
When we went to meet the Wyverns just like that, we were called into the shade of the trees as if to say, "This way, this way."
Dune interpreted for me what they were saying in low voices, "Gyaon, Gyaon."
"It's something like, compared to the beginning, it's taking the Black Dragon Child quite a long time to come here. They're worried about that."
I see. As parents, they're worried about their child's detours. He's five years old, so it's no wonder. However, I think there's no need to worry. Children are surprisingly reliable in their own way. Well, he should be fine in the places he detoured to this time. I'll at least tell them where he's been and what he's been doing.