Chapter 119
Breaking News.
I turn around, and there’s Elja.
Eh?
Why’s she here?
She’s supposed to be at Elibel’s lab, isn’t she?
Just as I wonder that, I get a thought transmission.
It’s from Berg.
『Earth! Is Elja over there with you?』
『Uh, yeah, she’s here. What the heck’s going on?』
『Well, you see―――』
Berg starts explaining the situation, and it’s an unexpected one.
Long story short―――Elibel lost herself to her desires.
Apparently, she initially had her impulses under control, but as she continued her “research” (which was more like harassment), she couldn’t contain herself any longer. Elibel went after Elja with a peculiar homemade tool.
Understandably, Elja was completely horrified.
Desperately resisting, screaming, and just as things were about to escalate, Berg and Pururu (a clone) intervened. They swiftly sent Elja away through a teleportation gate and restrained Elibel.
Given the urgency, they hadn’t set a specific location for the teleportation gate, so Elja was sent to a random location.
Which turns out to be right in front of me.
『So, that’s the deal. Pururu and I are currently too busy restraining Elibel. We’d appreciate it if you could watch over Elja for a bit. Uh-oh, no, Miss Elibel! Don’t—don’t bite! Let go!』
『Give me back the beautiful girl! I swear I have no ill intentions! Pururu, stop, don’t! Ack―――』
『Darn it! She’s still this powerful? Pururu, hold her down! I’ll coordinate with Gijie to set up a barrier! Just keep her restrained!』
『Puruu!』
『No, stop it!』
『Anyway, Earth, we’ll send backup your way soon. Please take care of Elja for now.』
Then, just like that, the thought transmission cuts off.
I feel like facepalming.
What should I do… One of my people is way weirder than I imagined.
I’m overwhelmed with guilt.
In retrospect, I should have stopped Elibel back at the surveillance room.
Yes, that’s right.
It’s like giving a lion a feast. When Elibel sees a beautiful girl, she can’t help but chase.
Isn’t that natural?
I should’ve seen it coming.
What was I thinking?
I was too accustomed to the daily antics that I overlooked it this time.
Maybe I should just apologize?
And it’s 100% our fault.
With that thought, I turn to Elja.
「―――!」
She immediately tenses up.
Is she wary of me?
『Um―――』
Before I can say anything, the ground cracks beneath me.
Eh?
「You, a mere lizardman, dare to look up at me and attempt to send me thought transmission without permission? Know your place.」
Elja’s voice is thick with anger and disdain as she looks at me with disgust. She’s also hastily adjusting her disheveled clothes.
Huh?
Wait, she doesn’t realize I’m Earth?
Right, she might not recognize this form of mine.
Should I just be honest about it?
But before I can speak, Elja tilts her head.
「Your magical power is unusual for a lizardman. A dragon? No, this is… And that body… Could it be? ‘Light, reveal the true form before me.’」
She murmurs some sort of incantation and holds out her hand.
A blinding light emanates from it and sweeps over me.
Hey, what’s this!?
Huh, it doesn’t hurt.
The light scans me from head to toe, much like a CT scan.
And as it does, Elja’s face turns pale.
When the light reaches the top of my head, she shakily speaks.
「Co-Could… could you possibly be… M-Master Earth?」
Elja hesitates before asking.
Could it be that the magic she used just now was meant to assess me?
『Ah, yes.』
In response, Elja drops to her knees and bows deeply before me.
「I am deeply, deeply sorry!」
Uh…
What should I do in this situation?
Fade to black.
For some time afterward, Elja continues her apologetic bowing and pleading. But eventually, she calms down, sitting across from me, her face flushed.
Awkward silence reigns between us.
The only sound breaking it is the sizzling of the fish over the fire.
I glance towards the teleportation gate.
Hey, Berg, where’s the backup?
Nobody’s coming.
Can someone please break this tension?
『Um… should we eat for now?』
I suggest, offering Elja the grilled fish I had prepared.
A curious mix resembling mackerel, squid, and turbo snail combined.
「……..Thank you.」
Eyes downcast. She takes a bite, and her eyes widen in surprise.
She devours the rest with enthusiasm.
Seems she liked it.
After finishing, Elja finally looks up at me.
「Master Earth, I deeply regret my rudeness earlier. I had an inkling from Miss Elibel about you, but I didn’t expect our meeting to be like this, and I just…」
Elja lowers her head again.
Ah, I get it.
This wasn’t expected for me, either.
『You heard about me from Elibel?』
「Yes. She mentioned how you bravely confronted a formidable enemy to protect your beloved kin and the dungeon. In the process, you sustained serious injuries, and while they heal, you’ve adopted this temporary form.」
She says dreamily.
Hmm, is that partially correct?
The reality was that I got kidnapped and everyone came to my rescue.
And given how Elibel speaks, I would’ve expected a more embellished story. Or perhaps that was an accurate account?
「Always…」
『Hmm?』
Suddenly, Elja looks up, her eyes shining.
「I’ve always wanted to meet you, Master Earth! I traveled all this way to this remote place just to see you and talk to you!」
Ah, yes, I remember.
She declared her intentions over the monitor.
Wait, did she just call this place remote?
That’s a bit rude. I’ve actually grown quite fond of it here.
「Um, Master Earth?」
『Yes?』
「When you’re healed, would you… um… perhaps… consider becoming my… mate?」
『………』
Ah, right.
She came here to confess her feelings.
Elja’s face is now beet-red, matching a boiled octopus.
What is she thinking, proposing something like this to someone she’s practically just met?
I’m a two-year-old.
「If I use my ability as the Holy Dragon to “purify,” I can heal your injuries! Even Miss Elibel said so. So, once you’re healed, would you think about… becoming my… mate?」
『Hold on, that’s a lot to process all at once…』
Honestly, it’s overwhelming.
I appreciate that she’s willing to help heal me, but becoming mates?
It’s too much for a two-year-old like me.
「R-Right! Let’s be friends first! We should start by getting to know each other better. Thinking about becoming mates can wait.」
Elja stammers.
So… friends then?
Well, if it’s just that, then it’s fine.
After all, I’m in a position to ask for her cooperation.
And if my body heals and I can establish a connection with the Dragon King species, I see no reason to refuse.
But strictly as friends, as allies.
A business-like relationship would be best, but that should be no problem.
I start to reach out a hand to Elja.
But then I notice.
―――There’s fish residue on her chin.
It’s a leftover from the meal she just had.
Without thinking, I instinctively reach out to brush it off for her.
I did the same thing with Tres quite often.
Gently, I brush the food particle off her chin, and my fingers brush slightly against the nape of her neck.
The next instant.
「―――――!!!!!???」
The next instant, Elja recoils, shocked.
Her face flushes an even deeper shade of red, and she gasps for air, mouth gaping.
『Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just a habit…』
「H-habit!? Master Earth, you… you often do such things out of habit!?」
Well, I used to do that with Tres a lot.
She’d come and say, “Dad, get this off me.”
Couldn’t help it.
『It’s not like I do it for everyone. Usually, I ask before doing something like that.』
「Y-You usually ask?! I see… So if you don’t do it to everyone, that means… *blush*」
Elja almost collapses on the spot.
I can’t understand why she’s so flustered.
But never mind that for now.
I extend my hand again.
『So, Elja, let’s get along from now on. (As friends.)』
「Yes, yes! Let’s get along! (As if we’ve made a future promise.)」
I haven’t shaken hands like this in a while.
After that, Elja behaved unusually meek, almost like a borrowed cat.
The reason for that, I would discover, would come much later.
A few minutes later, Ann and Una come by for support.
I receive a communication from Berg, confirming the successful sealing of the evil Elibel.
Everything should calm down in a week or so.
During that time, Gijie took over Elibel’s tasks.
Elja, more enthusiastic than ever, offered her full cooperation.
Then, two weeks later…
Finally, the medicine to restore my body is complete.
A quick note:
For Holy Dragons, allowing a cherished individual to touch or lick the scales on their nape is seen as a sign of deep affection. It’s the thing Elja had been muttering about in her sleep.
Way to go!
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