Chapter 77
“Former human.”
Elibel pointed at me and said that.
Ah, right, I hadn’t mentioned that yet.
I didn’t particularly intend to hide it, but I guess I just missed the opportunity to say it and ended up keeping silent.
As I was scratching my head nonchalantly, Elibel, for some reason, became more serious and continued the conversation.。
She’s even closer than before.
「…I understand why you have been hiding the fact that you’re a human. After all, everyone around you is a monster. But isn’t it about time to come clean to everyone? No one will leave you just because you used to be a human.」
With that, Elibel moved closer to me.
「Puuu…」
Seemingly, even Pururu is twining her tentacles around me.
The air feels heavy.
What’s with this serious atmosphere?
I wasn’t particularly trying to hide it, okay?
「Even Ann, Una, Dossun, Tres, and the others, none of them would reject you just for that. Of course, I won’t either.」
With a thud, Elibel pushes her fist into my lizard-man-like chest.
「So, Earth. Stop keeping your feelings to yourself like that.」
With a radiant smile, Elibel laughs.
Uhh…
「The reason I called you here is to share my old stories. But more than that, I wanted to hear your thoughts. In this place, where none of your subordinates are present. In your own words… are you troubled by the fact that you were once human?」
Uhm, ehh…
No, I mean, I’m not troubled or suffering or anything…
I just… didn’t have the timing to say it…
I’m quite content with my life as an earth dragon now, I don’t want to go back to being a human…
『…………………』
This is… awkward.
Super awkward.
What’s this? How did it come to this?
Why am I being portrayed as troubled by my former human existence and keeping it all to myself?？
Sweat trickles down… well, this golem body doesn’t sweat, but it feels like my original body is really sweating…
When I timidly lift my face, I see Elibel.
She’s laughing.
She’s radiantly smiling.
What’s with that “you don’t have to keep it all to yourself” expression?
A saint-like face filled with compassion.
Is that your character?
Isn’t it different?
A wicked woman who would peel off the other’s skin or scales with a smile, isn’t that more like you?
Why are you acting like a nice person all of a sudden?
You won’t fool me.
After all, you’re going to peel off my skin, aren’t you?
Pururu too, is twining a tremendous amount of tentacles around me.
But, sorry, Pururu.
To tell the truth, it’s quite painful.
Can you loosen it a bit?
The blood is congesting.
Feeling this pain with this body means, probably my original body is also getting tied up.
「Alright, Earth? I won’t repeat it, so listen carefully. No matter what kind of guy you are, the fact that we are your subordinates will not change. Don’t forget that.」
Ah… Uhm… Ah…
…Should I say it?
Should I say it now?
Is this a good timing?
In this terribly heavy atmosphere?
No, think of it the other way.
To break this heavy atmosphere, it would be better to tell her the truthh.
Okay, let’s do so.
I take a deep breath to compose myself.
Alright. I can do it.
In as cheerful a tone as possible, I say,
『Oh, did I not mention it? Yeah, I was a human too. Hahaha…』
Laughing, I answer Elibel while scratching my head nonchalantly.
I mean, I wasn’t trying to hide it.
It’s just that no one asked.
Like for real.
「………………………………Ha?」
At the unexpected nonchalance, Elibel stares at me with a dumbfounded expression.
She looks like a Haniwa now.
Hey, what’s with that face?
『Well, I didn’t get the chance to mention it, but yes, I indeed used to be a human.』
「Eh? Wait, eh… Eh!?」
What a hilarious reaction she has.
Is it that surprising?
Well, I mean, I do sometimes forget that I used to be a human.
How should I put it?
Perhaps because my life as a human is so faded, and I had hardly any regrets, I was able to readily accept my current life as an earth dragon.
「Puu?」
Pururu looks at me as if asking, “what’s going on?”
So cute.
But, can you let go of your tentacles now?
Being squeezed to the limit, it feels like something that shouldn’t come out is about to come out.
『To be precise, I have memories of being a human and reincarnated as an earth dragon. I mean, I never intended to hide it.』
「Haaa!?」
Her eyes are wide open.
Elibel now appears as a beautiful woman.
And yet, her face is full of disappointment.
Enough to cool down a hundred years of love.
It’s funny in a way.
「You… Why did you keep such important information to yourself!? Wait, reincarnation!? What’s that, explain in detail… No, don’t you realize how prepared I was to ask you… No, that’s not the point!」
The sage is at the pinnacle of confusion.
Good, the heavy atmosphere is dissipated.
Now, we’re ready.
I went on to explain how I became an earth dragon.
Having discussions is important.
―――――And so, having finished the explanation, Elibel finally regained her composure.
I basically told her everything.
Literally everything.
About myself before I became an earth dragon.
I told her about the place I was born and raised, about earth, about Japan, and that I woke up as an earth dragon. Pretty much everything.。
Well, it got quite long when I started talking about Japan.
The sun visible from the canopy has tilted quite a lot.
「Haah… I knew you were out of the ordinary―――――but this is far beyond my expectations.」
Elibel seems somewhat tired.
It may be my imagination, but I see a shadow on her face.
「Memories of a previous life… from another world. Reincarnation. To think such a thing truly exists… And what’s this about Earth? Japan? Salaryman? You were born in a strange country too.」
Elibel mutters that she’d like to visit.
No, I wouldn’t want to hear that from someone of this world.
There are two suns here, that’s impossible from my perspective.
And on top of that, there are huge flying dragons and crows.
「Puuu…?」
Pururu is shaking as if saying, “I don’t understand.”
Apparently, my explanation exceeded Pururu’s understanding.
She shakes her body, and bubbles are popping out from within.
She does this when she’s confused.
But even when Pururu is confused and worried, she’s still cute.
Lovely.
So, I would appreciate it if you could loosen your tentacles soon.
『Well, whether you believe it or not is up to you. It might just be something I’ve deluded myself into believing.』
In reality, there might not be a past life, and it might just be something I’ve convinced myself to believe.
Or maybe, the reality I’m seeing now is not reality, and it’s just a dream I’m having while living in Japan.。
A butterfly dream, was it?
Whether it’s a dream or reality, whether my current state is real or just a delusion.
Perhaps, the next moment, I might wake up from the dream and be back in that shabby apartment.。
Well, that doesn’t really matter.
What’s important is now.
Right now, I’m here, living as an earth dragon.
That’s good enough for me.
At least, that’s what I think.
I don’t want to work.
「―――――I believe you.」
Unexpectedly readily, Elibel accepted my words.
「I did wonder if for some reason――you were a human turned into an earth dragon by a curse or a magical experiment, but this explanation makes more sense in many ways. It clears up a lot of things I was wondering about.」
『Is, is that so?』
You’re too understanding, sage.
Even though what I said could be considered a delusion, she accepted everything about past lives, different worlds, and so on. I was once again amazed at Elibel’s vast capacity.
If only her personality wasn’t so awful, she’d be perfect.
If her personality was decent, my past self would’ve fallen for her immediately.
Not that it exists.
Elibel looks at me.
「I’ve never believed that you were a dragon, no, to begin with, I’ve never believed you were a monster.」
『Is that so?』
「Isn’t it obvious? There’s no dragon like you in this world. I’ve seen many intelligent dragons and monsters, but no matter how I looked at you, you were “different”. Well, I didn’t expect you to be from another world.」
『Well, I didn’t expect you to believe such a story so easily either.』
「But there’s one thing I just can’t accept. No, rather, there’s one thing I just can’t believe…」
Resting her chin on her hand, Elibel grumbles and twists her head.
『What is it?』
Is there something that even she, who so readily accepted the rest, can’t believe?
「You said you were “working” in a country called Japan, right?」
『Yeah, I did say that.』
Though just as a humble office worker.
「……But, how?」
With an incredibly serious face, Elibel asks.
Looking at me as if she’s seeing something unbelievable, she’s even breaking into a cold sweat.
――――It’s impossible. There’s no way you could work.
Her expression indirectly conveyed that.
Eh!? Out of all things, that’s what you can’t believe the most!?