Chapter 105: Inside the Egg
The Return Journey.
We were on our way back to the town of Midford.
And once again, we ended up camping out…
Our route followed the Promelos River, a major river in this area.
Why, you ask?
Because without water, we’d die.
Especially the horses…
Horses drink a lot of water, you know…
People drink it too, and it’s needed for cooking… Besides, water is heavy and bulky to carry.
So, basically, you can’t travel without considering water sources, like rivers, watering places, or supply points. That’s how it is in this world.
And what’s more…
This Promelos River, especially the parts outside the towns, doesn’t have proper flood control. So, in a few years, the route we’re using this year might be unusable.
River flows change quickly if left to nature.
People familiar with ancient China probably know this well. Flood control is incredibly difficult and demanding.
That’s why our sense of direction is also vague. There are no landmarks, you see. We don’t have compasses, so we either look at the stars at night… or follow the river flow like this.
And so, “Blue Comet,” walking through pathless lands, was full of scars…
“…There, all done! Try not to scratch, even if it itches!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
…One reason why female Striders aren’t popular is probably because they have so many scars.
Marriage in this world isn’t based on love, but on the interests of the family.
A woman’s appearance isn’t considered unless it’s really something… but the concept of “beauty” still exists.
Having sewing scars on your skin is considered “ugly.”
From the perspective of a modern person like me, I might say, “But that’s what makes it great!” but well, that’s just the general opinion of the world.
“Here, ointment. It’ll make your skin beautiful.”
“Ahaha! What’s the point of becoming beautiful? Are you telling me to start practicing for marriage again?”
“It’s not that. It’s not that, but… wanting to be beautiful is something all women think about, right?”
“…Well, yeah, but…”
“Not for someone else, but for yourself. To be proud of yourself, to like yourself… it’s good to become beautiful.”
“Ah… Sensei, you’re really kind. I’m not used to this, my face is hot…!”
While watching the retreating figure of the halfling female member with flushed cheeks…
I was compiling medical records.
“Love is fallin’ everywhere~, hum hum hum hum…”
Humming, in a good mood.
Because my work is already done~!
I’m glad it ended without any problems~!
Once this camping is over, we should be able to return to Midford in two or three days!
Now, time to cook rice…
“Andrews… I’m sorry, but could you come here…?”
Hmm.
“…What is it this time, Katrina?”
“This…”
“Pee-kyuu!”
“Whoaaa!!! It’s bornnn?!!!”
Problem.
A Fire Drake has been born.
The egg broke, and it came out…
“What do we do with this?”
“Andrews, I’m sorry, but could you be present when we report to the Lord?”
“That’s fine, but…”
“And also…”
“Don’t say it.”
“No, this…”
“I told you not to say it!”
“This Drake! Doesn’t it have wings?!!!”
“Stop it…! Really…! Stop it…!”
Katrina is holding her head.
Katrina, of all people.
That’s the level of the situation.
“This… isn’t this a ‘Dragon’…?”
“…Let’s stop, Andrews. Everything depends on the Lord’s judgment. We saw nothing, let’s go with that.”
Katrina is unusually flustered…
But it’s understandable.
‘Dragon’ is the king of Monsters, said to be no longer in this world.
What’s so bad about that king of Monsters? Well… everything?
It’s an existence that’s too strong, equal to a god, and in fact, there are religions that worship Dragons as gods. Also, it’s a semi-divine, semi-spiritual being on par with ‘Demons’ and ‘Fairies’… and so on.
Politically, religiously, militarily… it’s a feeling of “it’s all bad.”
“Pee-kyuu!”
“Whoa!”
The Dragon, about the size of a large dog, clung to me.
What…?
“…It seems it’s taken a liking to you. I’ll leave it to you.”
“Wait! Wait! Don’t leave it to me! Don’t leave it to me!”
“I’ve left it to you.”
“You just wait and see?! It’ll be terrible later, you know?!”
“Seriously, okay? Really, okay? If all I have to do is offer my body to you, I’ll let you use it as much as you want, really… I’ve left it to you. Please, really.”
Well, I understand how she feels?
A Dragon isn’t something a nobody like a Strider can handle. Rather, you’ll be obliterated if you get involved.
Or rather, even Count Missgancia wouldn’t be able to handle it. The advent of a ‘Dragon’ is a problem on the level of a nation or a continent.
If we get caught up in such a problem, there’s a chance that when things move… ‘Blue Comet’ might be disbanded.
‘Blue Comet’ is certainly a high-ranking Clan with some of the best military power in the North, but it’s an organization that’s like a piece of paper in the face of a continental-level problem.
Probably, Katrina’s mind is now filled with “how to keep the organization alive?” I don’t blame her for wanting to pass the buck to me. After all, even people who don’t know the inside story can see that I’m the Lord’s favorite.
Katrina probably wants to pass the Dragon to me as is, report it to Count Missgancia in my name, and push everything about the Dragon and the future onto Count Missgancia. Rather, if she doesn’t do that, ‘Blue Comet’ will be caught up in a big political? or something wave and explode and scatter.
Ugh… no, really, what do I do with this…?