Ch 264
『Title: What the heck? Why is this game’s treatment of Dragons like this?』
Content: No
It’s one thing to fear Dragons,
but they almost hate them like pests.
-: A ridiculously large lizard that flies in the sky < How can anyone like that?
-『Author』: It’s different from a lizard.
Don’t Dragons look somewhat cool?
-: No, it’s not that I think that,
but that’s how they’re perceived in the in-game worldview.
-: Do you know?
In this worldview, all snake-like creatures are treated as Demons and Monsters.
-『Author』: No;;; What’s that again?
-: Scaly skin, vertical eyes, forked tongue, hairless wings < According to this worldview's standards, these are truly aesthetically ruined elements,
so those who possess them are simply treated as monsters and demons.
-『Author』: No, that’s seriously unreasonable?
Is it right to treat something as an evil being just because it’s ugly?
-: （Nunchi… emoticon）
-: （Angry emoticon）
-: （Sobbing emoticon）
-『Author』: Ah…
-: Domestic Evil Being Bulletin Board
-: I almost got exterminated today at work by my female coworkers for being evil…
-: Someone made a metaphor that really hit home, yeah.
From the perspective of the people in this world, Dragons are
like a ridiculously large cockroach.
-: 『A picture of a huge cockroach flying in the sky』
This is how Dragons appear from the viewpoint of the people in that world.
-『Author』: No, sh t, it’s terrifying and disgusting.
✦✦✦
Dragon.
Contact with that legendary being.
And, the possibility of suddenly acquiring the ‘Star’s’ name.
It was a sudden situation for Lisir in many ways.
Perhaps because of that, Lisir only briefly paused the conversation before falling into deep thought.
“…Hm?”
Thus, Lisir, lost in thought, suddenly felt a sense of unease.
-…
The Dragon stared intently at himself, then took a step back.
Was it just a feeling?
Lisir felt a sense of consideration from the other’s movement.
Lisir couldn’t understand why he felt this way about the Dragon’s existence.
Just as Lisir’s expression was about to be further colored by deep thought.
“Whoa…!”
A gasp, somewhere between astonishment and admiration, escaped Lisir’s lips.
Dragon.
It spread its two wings as if to lift its massive body.
It was as if a typhoon had descended to the ground.
Flap!
Flap!
The strong wind wildly blew his blond hair.
Lisir literally bent forward to avoid being blown away, his eyes wide with astonishment.
If one witnessed such an unrealistic sight before their eyes, they couldn’t help but react that way.
It wasn’t the use of power accompanied by magical phenomena.
It was simply movement.
Just as a person moves their legs to take a step forward, the Dragon simply moved its wings to move its body.
Even just that alone, all the air in the area was being pushed down.
Like a river overflowing its banks.
It was truly a presence that disrupted the harmony of everyday life.
Soon, an unexpected darkness descended like a scythe.
The enormous body that rose into the sky eventually covered the entire sky.
Should I say thanks to that?
Lisir could clearly see the sharp eyes of the huge reptile looking down at him.
“…”
Lisir felt his expression stiffen involuntarily.
He felt his body tense.
‘What is this?’
Lisir considered that unfamiliar sensation ‘fear’.
That as a living being, he felt an instinctive fear of that higher-ranked being.
Thump! Thump!
His heart beat wildly.
Was it because of excitement at encountering a fantastical being? Or was it because he felt fear?
Lisir couldn’t easily distinguish.
As if the Dragon was very used to the awe of a weak being looking up at it, it cleverly withdrew its gaze.
Freed from the huge eyes like iron bars, Lisir unknowingly felt relieved.
Soon, the air in the area overflowed once more.
The huge shadow that had covered the entire ground gradually concentrated into a single point and disappeared.
The Dragon had moved to a higher altitude in the sky.
Just as he was finally escaping the Dragon’s domain-
-Divine power. I fully understand your confusion.
Lisir reflexively looked around.
It felt like the voice was coming from all directions.
Wouldn’t it feel like this if something swallowed you whole and spoke?
That presence, which would be unrealistic even if experienced in the World of Consciousness, repeatedly approached with substance.
-Star of the Flower Garden. I will entrust you with the guidance of the divine power.
With that enigmatic statement, the place was finally freed from the Dragon’s presence.
Afterwards.
Lunadien, the red-haired, beautiful Elf, Star of the Flower Garden, immediately approached Lisir.
The Elf’s expression as she looked at the young human clearly showed worry.
Dragon.
Because she knew what it was like to encounter that ‘terrible’ being for the first time.
“I’m sorry. For forcing this sudden meeting. Are you alright? Can you calm down a bit?”
Lunadien carefully placed her hand on Lisir’s shoulder.
And, as she went in front of him and carefully checked his expression-
“…Huh?”
Lunadien tilted her head.
Because the young human’s reaction was quite different from what she expected.
“…”
A slightly raised corner of his mouth.
A chuckle that repeatedly leaked out.
He looked almost elated.
Lunadien stared blankly at him for a moment, then shook her head.
No way.
There was no way he could feel elated after encountering that terrible being.
It must be her own feeling.
“Lisir.”
“Yes? Ah! Yes! Master Lunadien. Please speak.”
“First, I apologize. I’m sorry for forcing this sudden meeting. I had to resort to this method because if I had told you the truth from the beginning, you might have felt averse and things could have gone wrong.”
The Star of the Flower Garden took an unusually apologetic stance.
Because she knew that even with Lisir’s easygoing personality, it wouldn’t be easy to laugh this off.
“Ah, yes. Well. Since Master Lunadien judged it so, I also believe it was the right thing to do.”
“…?”
Lisir laughed it off.
This time, Lunadien felt a sense of unease and stared intently at his face.
“You…”
“Yes?”
“Are you alright?”
“Alright? …What do you mean?”
“That earlier.”
“That earlier? Ah. Are you referring to the encounter with the Dragon?”
“Yes, that.”
“Hm?”
Now, it wasn’t only Lunadien who felt a sense of unease about the other’s appearance.
Lisir sensed a strange anomaly in Lunadien’s behavior.
Ugh.
Lips twisted as if in disgust.
A furrowed brow, tense with effort.
Above all, the strong colors of fear and contempt in her eyes.
Lisir was momentarily horrified.
Thinking that the beautiful Elf was directing those emotions at him.
However, on closer inspection, those emotions were directed further away.
“It was your first time seeing a Dragon, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
“It’s unbelievable, right?”
Lunadien artificially raised both hands and shrugged.
She looked like a character in a play trying to build rapport with the other person.
“I thought I’d lose my mind when I first saw it… Lisir?”
Lunadien, who had been acting somewhat exaggeratedly to cheer Lisir up, stopped mid-sentence.
He was looking at her strangely.
Scratch.
He awkwardly scratched the back of his head and said.
“Dragon… isn’t it magnificent?”
“…What? Magnificent…? A Dragon…? Which part…?”
“Well… isn’t the overall atmosphere like that…? Majestic… dignified… magnificent… especially that, the sight of it spreading its wings…”
“…”
Lunadien’s mouth fell open.
She shook her head, looking at Lisir.
Lunadien felt a distance from Lisir.
Perhaps, even more so than when she heard that he had become the World Tree’s Mother.
“No…”
Lisir was simply bewildered.
Is saying a Dragon is magnificent something that warrants this kind of treatment?
✦✦✦
-Indeed, Master embraces even that terrible being!!! Kuaaaak!!! What an extreme act of benevolence!!!
Afterwards.
After having a conversation with Dangaleon, Lisir was able to understand Lunadien’s reaction.
‘Dragons… are objects of fear and disgust?’
It was something he never imagined.
That Dragons, a magnificent fantasy being to him, are perceived by others as objects of terrible fear and disgust.
‘Once, they called a cat a monster… Ah, now that I think about it-‘
Lisir recalled.
The violent throbbing in his chest when the Dragon spread its wings.
At the time, he thought it was because he was overwhelmed by the Dragon-
but looking back calmly now, he could clearly understand.
A feeling like a multi-legged insect crawling on his skin.
It was an instinctive revulsion.
‘Master… I felt this way when I first encountered a Dark Elf.’
The cognitive dissonance accompanying the awakening of his past life.
It was a sensation he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
‘I see. That’s why Master Lunadien was so surprised.’
Lisir, having understood the situation and organized his thoughts.
He spoke to Lunadien, who had been away for a moment.
“I… would like to ask about what the Dragon said just now…”
“Ah.”
Lunadien closed her eyes and repeatedly snapped her fingers.
Look at my state of mind.
This isn’t the time for this.
“It’s as the Dragon said. Recently, it seems like the Council of Stars has been watching you. As a new Owner of a Star.”
“Is that how Star names are given?”
Lisir was quite surprised.
Until now, he thought that Star names were like honorary titles that naturally came with continental fame.
But, it turned out that they were actually bestowed by the secret society to which the Dragon belonged.
“No. That’s not always the case. Usually, people gain fame and get a Star name, and then the Council takes notice.”
“Ah.”
Lisir nodded in understanding.
And then, he was once again captivated by the unreal feeling evoked by the Star’s name.
“Will I really be recognized by them and become the Owner of a Star…? Can I handle that Star’s name?”
Lunadien smiled gently at Lisir.
“You don’t need to feel burdened just because the Council of Stars is watching you.”
“Master Lunadien!…?”
Lunadien had been the Owner of a Star for a long time.
Lisir expected her to give him some amazing advice as a senior.
“Judging by what you’re doing, it seems inevitable that you’ll get a Star name no matter which path you take.”
“…”
Lunadien’s voice was full of conviction.
✦✦✦
Information about the Stars provided by Lunadien.
Lisir interpreted it in the most favorable way possible for himself.
“So it’s this. The Council of Stars. Regardless of their recognition, those who are worthy of becoming the Owner of a Star will naturally have a Star name attached to them━”
“That’s right. The Council of Stars doesn’t go around spreading the fame of those people.”
“And, the Council of Stars isn’t a coercive organization.”
Good.
Lisir nodded, having made up his mind.
“Then I don’t need to worry about it!”
“…Is that how it is?”
“Yes! I covet the social status that a Star name brings, but I’m not interested in the responsibilities or duties that come with it! So! I’ll think about anything related to the Council of Stars later when I have the time! Thank you for your concern, Master Lunadien!”
Wow.
Lunadien unknowingly let out a gasp as she watched Lisir’s confident declaration.
✦✦✦
World Tree. Dark Sword. Hero Party.
Divine Magic. Nature Magic. Dark Magic Swordsmanship.
What should I have for lunch today.
Lisir’s head was already full of various things.
On top of that, Dragons, Owners of Stars, the Council of Stars-
adding more things on top of that?
‘My head is going to explode.’
Lisir neatly forgot about his encounter with the Dragon and returned to his daily life.
After telling Master Labella about what had happened, he officially began to receive instruction in Nature Magic.
He also didn’t neglect his training in Divine Magic and Dark Magic Swordsmanship, and spent his remaining time preparing for the ‘Expedition’.
Lisir enjoyed the peaceful and ordinary daily life he had finally regained.
✦✦✦
A week had passed since the encounter with the Dragon.
“Lisir! Please take this!!!”
“Oh? Ms. Ratsil giving me a book…? What kind of book is this?”
“It’s not a book!”
“Not a book… Then is it a grimoire or something?”
“It’s a list of things I want to do with you on this trip, no, expedition!!!”
“Hu, Huuuh…!”
The expedition team was ready.
It was time to leave for Bondales.
✦✦✦
Elves.
That mysterious race seeks coexistence with nature for various reasons that other races cannot fully understand.
There were even jokes circulating among the public.
That even if the entire Great Forest burned down, the Elves wouldn’t come out.
“The Elves launched a large-scale expedition!?”
Those Elves left the forest.
Their unprecedented actions caused a great stir in the world outside the forest.
“And, High Elves are also included in the expedition!?”
“The High Elves leaving the World Tree’s side, isn’t that unprecedented!?”
“What on earth is going on!?”
“Everyone calm down! What if the Elves are leaving to find a new nature!”
Their expedition out of the forest quickly got on track, and their destination was easily guessed.
The heart of the continent where numerous human cities are concentrated.
It was the Central region.
“Good heavens, are they planning to start a war!?”
Their anxieties became reality.
“What the hell, why is the wheat price like this!?”
“Haven’t you heard!?”
The nobles hoarded supplies, and the merchants engaged in panic buying.
“What’s the sudden meaning of that!? You want to cancel the contract!?”
“No, it’s like this, suddenly many people are looking for us. And they’re paying a high price.”
Mercenaries and adventurers each sought their own way to survive for greater money or safety.
“War!?”
Tension filled the air.
“War!?”
Many interpreted it as a prelude to war.
“It’s war!!!”
None of the cities leading to the Central region were free from that tension.
“…Lisir?”
Except for one city.
While most trading companies were gathering wheat, weapons, magic stones, and other special supplies in preparation for war, there was one trading company that went against the flow and massively released its stock.
It was the Golden Barley Trading Company.
The merchants spoke of the company’s owner.
“Gus, that guy has been shut up in his mansion lately, he’s lost his touch.”
✦✦✦
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