episode_0118

“You’re saying it’s better not to go?”

“Yes. It’s better not to go there, Zeke.”

As Protega advised us not to go to the underground facility we were searching for, as if he knew what it was, I was perplexed. How did Protega-nim know about the underground facility we were looking for? And why is he telling us not to go…?

“That underground facility you’re talking about… Is it perhaps an underground facility that conjures a landscape completely different from this world?”

“Hm? How do you know that?”

Dio V Runner also seemed to wonder how Protega knew about the facility we were looking for, so when Protega accurately described the appearance of the underground facility we were searching for, he tilted his head and asked Protega. Protega then put a hand to his chin with a serious expression and explained, tracing back his past memories.

“I once went to find food for my pregnant wife with others, and at that time, I saw the state of the land from above. That underground facility is located in a giant pit dug deep within a forest. However, the size of that pit was enormous, as if an entire mountain had been uprooted.”

“…The underground facility is that enormous?! Dio V Runner-nim didn’t tell me about this…”

“…Look at those eyes, Aria. Whether I told him the scale or not… that guy definitely had his sights set on that facility.”

“…Ah.”

Aria, recalling that Dio V Runner hadn’t explained the scale of the underground facility to her before, glared at Dio V Runner and mumbled. When Dio V Runner told Aria to look at my eyes, Aria saw my sparkling eyes and realized that, just as Dio V Runner said, I intended to go regardless of the scale. She then let out a deep sigh. Ooooh… A huge underground facility…! And mysteriously, it’s in a pit?! I want to go! As I became more interested in the facility, Bivi saw my reaction, chuckled softly, and then spoke to Aria.

“Hohoho… Zeke-nim seems to be a very curious human. You must have a lot of trouble because of him, Aria-nim.”

“…But what can I do…? Since Zeke-nim is so interested… I’ll have no choice but to risk my life to protect Zeke-nim again…”

“My story isn’t finished. The underground facility isn’t the only danger.”

“…?”

Just as Aria gave up on trying to dissuade me again and was about to vow to protect me with her life, Protega drew everyone’s attention, saying his story wasn’t over yet. Everyone turned their heads towards Protega, and as they looked at him, Protega began to explain what he had seen again.

“The underground facility is located by going straight south. However… there was a human village along that path… and the atmosphere of that village was very unusual.”

“Unusual atmosphere?”

When Protega explained that the village he had seen was unusual, I asked him again. Protega nodded and then explained to us, recalling his memories once more.

“Yes… it’s a village located in a certain wilderness… It might just be my feeling… but I had a sense of something unacceptable. Moreover, there are many monsters on the way to the underground facility, so be careful…”

“Well… so far, we’ve encountered intermediate monsters… but Aria turned them all into meat and cooked them, so you don’t need to worry about monsters…”

“…Ah, right… With that strength, she’ll definitely overcome them… Was I worried for nothing?”

Protega, hearing my explanation that Aria had turned all the monsters she encountered into meat, recalled how all the dragons had been helpless against Aria earlier and thought his worries were unnecessary. Still, I’m grateful just for your concern… Hahaha…

“Still, please be careful, Zeke-nim. Aria-nim worries about you a lot too.”

“That’s right! How much do I worry about Zeke-nim?! You only use your body recklessly at times like these!!!”

“Ha… Haha…”

When Bivi said that the strong Aria worried about me a lot, Aria flapped her arms and shouted as if agreeing. At her words, I was speechless and let out an awkward laugh. Because it was true… That’s why curiosity is the scariest thing…

“Then… I’ll go to the facility first, Zeke. Even from Aria’s perspective, even if I remain in the sky, she’ll probably want to be alone with you comfortably without anyone’s eyes on her.”

“…! Hmm~ Still, you are a considerate person, Dio V Runner-nim. Then I’ll see you at the facility.”

“…Don’t make Zeke suffer too much. I’m going.”

“Huh?! When did I ever…!!”

When Dio V Runner said he would be considerate so that Aria and I could spend time comfortably alone, Aria told Dio V Runner that she would see him at the facility. Dio V Runner then looked serious and told Aria not to make me suffer, then, before Aria could get angry at his words, he shot fire from his shoes and flew into the sky. Protega, who was watching him, looked bewildered and spoke to me.

“What exactly is that person’s identity, Zeke? Even if he came from a distant place… is it really true that a human living in this world possesses such technology?”

“Hmm… it’s a bit long to explain… Anyway, if we stay here any longer, we might disturb your time together, so we’ll withdraw now.”

Not wanting to take up any more of Protega and Bivi’s time, I stood up and said we would leave now. Bivi then looked somewhat regretful and spoke to me. Oh… I forgot… She was sad about us leaving…

“Are you leaving already? I was a little excited to be able to talk with a human after so long… It’s regrettable, but we can’t ignore your consideration for us…”

“Hahaha… Still, we were happy to be able to talk with a dragon like this. As promised, we’ll visit you again later…”

As Bivi expressed regret about us leaving, I was about to say that we would visit this place again later. However, at that moment, a *crack* and *shatter* sound came from beside us, startling everyone present, who turned their heads towards the source of the sound. Uh… Uh-oh?!

“Oh, Zeke-nim. That… that looks like an egg about to crack open?”

“Th-That’s right…!!! So, can we witness the moment a dragon hatches?! Protega-nim, Bivi-nim!! May we…?”

“Quickly, hide behind the rocks, Zeke-nim! Aria-nim!!”

“…?!”

Just as I was about to ask Protega and Bivi for permission to watch the baby dragon hatch, Bivi urgently told us to hide behind the rocks, then she and Protega emitted light from their bodies and returned to their dragon forms. Why are they suddenly doing that…?

“You suddenly returned to your dragon forms without explanation! Didn’t that surprise Zeke-nim?! Why are you suddenly doing this?!”

“I apologize, Aria. But dragons have something called imprinting! It’s a phenomenon where the hatchlings, upon breaking out of their eggs, recognize the first living creature they see as their parent! If my and Bivi’s children were to hatch and see you…”

“Aaaah! Let’s go, Ariaaaah!”

As I listened to Protega’s explanation, as soon as I realized what imprinting was, I grabbed Aria’s arm and immediately hid behind the rocks. Aaaah! I don’t want to be a crazy human who takes someone else’s child!!! Aria and I, hidden behind the rocks to avoid being recognized as parents by Protega and Bivi’s child, peeked our faces out and watched the egg hatch. Then, as the cracks in the egg grew larger, Aria muttered, watching the egg.

“Hehehe… If I were to have Zeke-nim’s child… Watching the birth of life might not be so bad, as it could be a learning experience… Hehehehehe…”

“…Aren’t you getting too far ahead of yourself…! Oh! A head is starting to emerge!”

Aria was drooling while imagining herself having my child, and seeing that, I made a serious face. Then, as the baby dragon’s head poked through the eggshell, my heart began to pound. Ooooh…!! Seeing its white skin, it seems to have inherited Bivi-nim’s blood…!! More than that… even though it’s a hatchling, it’s already the size of us… My curiosity is starting to explode…!!

“You’ve worked hard, my dear. Taking care of the egg for a year.”

“Oh, it was nothing… Thank you for bringing me food every day when I couldn’t move from here. This child will be our precious treasure.”

“Hehehehe… A child born between Zeke-nim and me would also be my treasure, right…? Those words somehow resonate with me…”

“No, you’re really getting too far ahead of yourself…!!”

Aria, seeing Protega and Bivi expressing gratitude to each other, began imagining the distant future again, and I made a serious face. Then, as I watched the baby dragon begin to push its wings, tail, and limbs out of the eggshell, I cheered when the white-skinned baby dragon finally emerged from the shell.

“Ooooh…!! It’s finally born!!! That… that beautiful sight…”

“Tch. monopolizing Zeke-nim’s attention… How annoying…”

As I was thoroughly captivated by the newly hatched baby dragon, Aria, perhaps feeling jealous of the baby dragon monopolizing my attention, started getting so annoyed that she crushed a part of the rock she was holding in her hand. What is this… I feel like she’s reverting to her old self…

“Uh… Anyway, since this is a rare sight, just bear with it… Bivi-nim!! Protega-nim!! Thank goodness…?”

As I tried to persuade Aria, I was about to shout to Protega and Bivi that it was a relief the baby dragon had safely emerged. However, when I saw Protega and Bivi looking flustered at the baby dragon that had just emerged, I was enveloped by an unknown ominous feeling. Wh-What is this? This ominous feeling…!!!

“…N-No… My… my baby…”

“M-My dear… Calm down… We don’t know yet…!”

“Pr-Protega-nim!!! Bivi-nim!!!”

As Bivi started shedding tears, I finally realized the nature of the ominous feeling I had just felt. The b-baby dragon… something is wrong with it…!! Realizing that something had happened to the baby dragon, I grabbed Aria and rushed towards the baby dragon. Bivi then burst into tears, and Protega hugged Bivi while speaking to me.

“Ugh… sob…”

“Zeke… It seems something went wrong with my and Bivi’s child… All dragons cry when they hatch from their eggs… but it’s not crying…”

“…Th-That can’t be… A-Aria!! Can you take a look?!”

“Hmm… It’s still alive. But it looks like it’ll die soon. It seems to be a weak dragon that got exhausted trying to break through the hard shell.”

“Uwaaah…”

“…! My dear! Bivi! Snap out of it!!”

When Aria, who had examined the baby dragon’s condition with her detection ability, said their child would die soon, Bivi was so shocked she nearly fainted on the spot. Protega then frantically shook Bivi, trying to keep her from losing consciousness. It’ll die this easily…? That’s… that’s absolutely unacceptable…!!

“Aria, tell me honestly. You… you can save this dragon, right?”

“…!!”

When I asked Aria if she could save the dying baby dragon, Bivi, who had been about to lose consciousness, snapped back to reality and looked at us. Protega also looked surprised and gazed at us. Aria then nodded and spoke to me.

“Yes.”

“I know you don’t like healing anyone but me… But still…”

“You need my power, don’t you? You need my help. Hehe…”

“…That’s right. You’ll help, won’t you?”

“Of course!”

Aria spoke as if she knew exactly what I wanted, so I asked her if she would help. Aria then stretched out her hand towards the baby dragon, and a yellow light began to emanate from her palm. As Aria began to save their child, Protega and Bivi’s hearts pounded with anxiety, wondering if their child might get worse.

“How is it? Can you do it?”

“Of course! Since Zeke-nim asked, I must succeed!”

“Good… Then I can’t just stand by…! Iruvan, I need your power too.”

When Aria said she could certainly heal it, I, unable to stand idly by, reached out my hand near the baby dragon and emitted a small amount of Iruvan’s fire from it, allowing the baby dragon to feel warmth. Dragon skin doesn’t get burned thanks to its scales. But the baby dragon I’m seeing now doesn’t have scales to protect it from fire. So… if I make even the slightest mistake, it’s over…!!

“Oh? It seems the baby dragon has calmed down because Zeke-nim warmed it with fire. Its racing heart has started to stabilize a bit. The healing is also going better.”

“Really?! Phew… Thank goodness… Did I perhaps help you?”

“Ugh… I wanted to do everything myself… This hurts my pride, gnah…”

“…But it wouldn’t have worked at all without you, would it…?”

When Aria said she wanted to do everything for me by herself, I retorted that it would have been meaningless without her anyway. At that moment, Bivi and Protega poked their faces towards us and asked Aria.

“…A-Are you really going to save my and Protega’s child…?”

“Because Zeke-nim told me to. I’m just doing it because Zeke-nim asked me to.”

“…This is truly a rare sight… To think that humans who were so hostile to us are helping us…”

Protega, seeing Aria telling Bivi that she was doing it because I asked her to, and then looking at us saving his child, remarked that humans working hard for a dragon was truly a rare sight. It was truly a moment where each side was showing the other a rare sight. In the midst of this, Aria, who was checking the baby dragon’s condition, noticed something and spoke to me.

“Hmm… Zeke-nim, we should hide behind the rocks again.”

“Huh? Uh… Okay.”

When Aria suddenly told me to hide behind the rocks, I trusted Aria and hid with her. At that moment, the baby dragon slowly opened its eyes and began to lift its head. And then…!!

“Chirp?”

“…!!”

“Oh… baby!! Thank goodness you’re safe, my baby…!!”

As if Aria’s healing had worked well, the baby dragon, having regained its strength, let out a cry and looked at Protega and Bivi. Bivi then, greatly surprised, placed her child in her hands and held it close, while Protega, who had been watching, turned his head to us and spoke.

“Our precious benefactors, who saved our dying child, mine and Bivi’s. Thanks to you, we did not collapse, and we can now hold the healthy child we so desperately wanted in our arms. We express our deepest gratitude to you for reviving our fading hope like this.”

“Thank you very much, Zeke-nim… Aria-nim… Thank you so much…”

As Protega and Bivi bowed their heads, sincerely expressing their gratitude to us, I chuckled and gently patted Aria’s arm. Honestly, I did almost nothing here. All of this was…

“Aria, you saved a life. You should be proud of that.”

“…Still… hearing others’ gratitude doesn’t make me feel anything yet. But… since Zeke-nim praises me so much… I’m happy… Hehe…”

…Aria still doesn’t feel emotions for anyone other than me. She feels a little emotion for people who saved me or helped save me, but not as much as she feels for me. So… I’ll have to keep watching over her so Aria can learn to feel emotions for others, won’t I? Just as the dying baby dragon was revived by Aria’s hand… if only I could also revive Aria’s emotions…