Chapter 621: Nest
The creature stuck in here is a Demon Beast Dragon, probably a terrestrial type since I can’t see its wings. It seems unaware of my presence, leaving its back completely unguarded.
The Atmosphere Spirit is blocking detection, and my own Presence is diminished due to the recognition-inhibiting effect. If it were more spirit-like, it might have noticed me, but the Dragon’s body is physically heavy, and just a little Black Spirit won’t turn it into a spirit form.
Besides, even if it coexists with the Wind Spirit, it still has a strong Presence. It’s a fantastical being, but when faced with it, there’s nothing ethereal about it; I’m simply overwhelmed by its sheer presence. That’s what a Dragon is.
That aside, I can cut it with the Zanzenken, but I’m surrounded by rock walls on all sides. What should I do? I don’t want to risk collapsing the walls if I cut through them.
Using magic to blast through seems like a good idea, but if it starts thrashing around, it might still cause a collapse. I want to take it down in one strike.
“Hey, Wind Spirit, you want to help the Dragon inside, right?”
The Wind Spirit nods vigorously, its whole body bouncing up and down.
“Alright, I’ll use some wind magic. Can you give it your all since I’m boosting your Magic Power?”
Once again, the Wind Spirit nods enthusiastically. It’s adorable how hard the little spirit is trying.
“Then, let’s visualize it like this.” The Wind Spirit nods again.
That said, I’m not confident that I can pierce through the Dragon’s hide, so I’ll start with the Zanzenken.
Even though it’s just skin, it might be like a monster’s armor, thick enough to be over ten centimeters. It’s imbued with the Spirit’s Power, similar to Spirit Gold.
“Excuse me from behind.”
Slash!
“Wind Bullet!”
As I casually call out a fitting spell name, the Wind Spirit darts forward, spinning like a bullet.
A massive roar shakes the cave. The entire mountain probably trembles.
—What happened was anything but cute.
I confirm it has stopped moving and store it away. It would be nice if the Magic Stone was transparent.
Once I move the black Dragon’s massive body, I find a trove of Kingin treasures and a Dragon inside. Its scales are sunset-colored—
“Wait? Is that the Dragon that came to the Island?”
Did it come for the Dragon Jewel?
“Oh, a human, a human! You saved my child. You saved my child!”
The orange Dragon buried in treasure turns its gaze toward me.
It was a large Dragon, but seeing it here, it actually seems a bit smaller? No, it’s still huge.
“I gave you my scales, my scales. Yet, it is I who has been saved once more. How shall I repay you? How shall I repay you?”
“Don’t worry about it; it was just a coincidence.”
I respond while casting 【Healing】.
It seems it had been fighting the previous Demon Beast Dragon, as it has several bite wounds.
The back of the cave appears to be a nest, a wider space that dips down a level, filled with Kingin treasures. Whether it was destroyed by the Demon Beast Dragon or the orange Dragon’s counterattack, rocks are scattered about, and upon closer inspection, some gold coins are melted together.
“No. It is I and my child. You saved me and my child. Human, how shall I repay you? How shall I repay you?”
As the orange Dragon moves, it reveals an egg, colored similarly to its scales.
An egg. So, Dragons really do lay eggs? It seems small compared to the Dragon’s body, but it’s still over twice my height.
“This Wind Spirit came to call for you. It was this spirit that defeated the Demon Beast Dragon.”
So please, don’t worry about it.
When the Dragon focuses on me, it makes me uneasy, as it feels like a declaration of impending trouble.
The Wind Spirit flutters over to the Dragon’s egg, snuggling up to it. It might become a spirit that helps the newly born child, distancing itself from the orange Dragon.
“Did you manage to lay it safely? When will it hatch?”
With the Dragon Jewel, can they reproduce alone? No, I wonder if there was a mate when it laid the first egg?
“Soon. Soon. The color of the egg’s shell will change from white to all different colors before it hatches. It requires my power and the Spirit’s Power. It takes time to gather strength. The spirit that favors this child has grown stronger, but it takes time. The strength does not change quickly.”
It seems like the Dragon is infusing power into the egg rather than just keeping it warm. It’s not pouring it in all at once but rather blending it in gradually.
“When this child hatches, I will send it to you. It will be your mount. Wherever you wish to go, wherever you wish to go.”
Please stop! That’s too conspicuous! I don’t want it!
“No, I can move on my own, so don’t worry about it. Besides, shouldn’t you and your child stay together for a while longer?”
Please, give me a break. I don’t have space to keep it.
“I see. I see. I must teach it how to hunt. I must teach it. But—”
“Is there something I can take from that treasure over there? I’m looking for a gem that’s close to being transparent.”
I hurriedly interject before the Dragon suggests something completely off-topic.
“This? This nesting material? My child will soon hatch. Whether I am here or not, I will gather new nesting materials. Take as much as you like, as much as you like.”
“Thank you.”
I leap into the nest and start rummaging through the treasures. I hope it looks away; it’s hard to search when I’m being watched.
Transparent gems, transparent gems. —Oh no, I might start picking up the Dragon’s way of speaking.