"So, Refi. How far is the dragon village?

　Flapping a pair of wings that appear on his back, he asks Reffi, "Is that far away?

"Hmm, it's so far away. I think we'll be flying for nearly four days.

"Four days. ...... That's a long way.

　I have enough food and clothes for a month, so I don't have any problems with that at all, but flying for four days straight is going to be very tiring.

That's at the end of the continent. It's a good thing we can fly, but it's a tough place for someone without wings to get to. We lived in the forest of the demon world, and the village of the dragon is one of those places.

That sounds like a harsh place. Are the demons strong after all?

"Mm, strong. It's also rich in magic, so naturally its inhabitants become stronger.

"So it's the same environment as the magical forest. ...... What's going on inside the village of the dragon and so on?　It's kind of like a city for the dragons, right?

"Nothing, nothing interesting, just a boring place

　Huffing and puffing, Leffy.

　I have some doubts about her and ask her.

I know you don't like the place, but what's so bad about it?　Do you hate the other dragons so much?　I know it was depressing, but ......

　Leffi paused and then replied with a grin.

"...... that place, everything is stagnant.

"Stagnation ......?

　My wife nodded at my mutterings.

"Change is almost non-existent for the dragon race. Nothing happens, nothing happens, they don't change with the length of time like the human species, everything is stagnant. I didn't like it, and I didn't want to be asked to become the Dragon King, so I left ...... so that I too could be a dragon. It was the same as when I was in the village when I left, and everything was just a pale, boring day until I met you.

"The ...... culture doesn't exist, you mean?

Culture: ...... That's right. We dragons don't have a culture like the human race. We don't have the bodies that are suited for creating things. They are just strong, but they can't create anything but destruction. A species that is nothing more than a blight on the world.

　As if to spit, as if to disgust, Leffi said so.

　...... I see.
　Isn't Leffi hating the dragon race for what it is?

　I'm not able to say anything, but I just crunch my mouth like an idiot to say something, she saw through my inner thoughts and changed her tone to a slightly lighter one and continued.

Anyway, the dragon village is not that kind of place. Especially the old dragons, the village leaders, are a bunch of dummies who are very reluctant to do anything. It's not that I don't like taking it easy either, but I just can't stand the thought of sitting still in the same place for a hundred or two hundred years without doing anything.

...... That's pretty big and laid back.

　I would definitely go crazy if I were you, sitting still for a hundred years or something.

　Boldagaen also said that he likes to take it easy.
　I'm not sure if it's because of the fact that it's a long-lived species, but it's ...... much worse than I thought it would be.

It's a species that lives for thousands of years. A year or two is to a species what a day or two is to a human being. Well, I never knew that days could be so long before I lived with you.

I'm with you on that one. I didn't know it was going to be this long until I met you and your friends. It was just inertia, living with the passage of time.

It was a story from your previous life. ...... It's really interesting. This world is full of wonder.

Absolutely. I'd like to count your boundless stomach as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Then I'll have to count the riddle of why you have a baby girl in your life.

　We looked at each other and both laughed.

　Then, after a few moments of comfortable silence, I open my mouth again.

"Hey, Refi. Let's get back to the subject at hand.

"Mm?

　When Reffi turns to me, I think for a moment before continuing.

"Maybe that ...... you don't like your own dragon race.

　I know that you sometimes thought your powers were abominable (・・・・).
　I know that you think that's all you can do, even when you say, 'I'll protect you,' with a sneer and a smile.

But you know what. It is only because you are the dragon tribe and the strongest dragon in the world that I was able to meet you. It was because you were the strongest and lived in the magical forest. If any of those elements that make up the current you were missing, I would not be able to meet you. That's why I'm glad from the bottom of my heart ...... that you are who you are. I'm glad you're a dragon.

　I'm not sure how to put it into words,...... but Leffi rolled her eyes, stared at my face for a moment and then chuckled.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier and more enjoyable. I shall be thankful that I have met you because I am a dragon.

　Carrying a soft smile, she then seemed to regain her composure and continued, "Now let's get fired up and fly.

"Now kick it up a notch and let's jump. We're not even a tenth of the way to the village.

Okay, it's a long shot. I'll enjoy flying as much as I can.




　　　* * *


"On the wings, one has horns and a tail ......!　You are demons!　From this point forward, it's our territory, and if you invade, we will shoot you down!

"Oh, ...... cavalry

　In the previous life there was a family called the dragon horseman, that was a soldier on a horse with a firearm, but in this world the horsemen are just like that, flying on a dragon.

　You will be able to find out the best way to get the most out of them. They don't speak any language.

　Honestly, it's just plain cool.
　Looking at the armor, it's not like the Arythian soldiers I've seen many times ....... The armor is completely different.
　The fort can be seen about three kilometers away, so they probably jumped out of there.

　But the wyvern seems spooked by Lephi.
　I'm sure you'll be able to see that the soldier on top of him is trying his best to quiet him down.

　Hmm ...... what to do.

"Refi, what's the direction of the Dragon Village?

"Beyond the territory of this guy,

　It's a good idea to be able to have a look at the following: ......
　It's a good idea to have a good job of warning them that you're not going to be attacking them without question because they are demons, but they are doing a decent job of warning you once.

　You're going to be able to find out what's going on, and you're going to be able to find out what's going on.

"Hey, you. Do you know whose flight you're interfering with?

"Hey, lassie, howdy!　Da, Dandai, what happened?

　At that moment, the wyvern that was flying alongside us stopped moving and the soldier was hurriedly maneuvering the reins to get him to listen to her.

　It wasn't the soldier Reffi was talking to, but the wyvern below him.
　It was the wyvern beneath him.

　The wyvern, stared at by its overwhelming superior, seems to have decided that Leffi's instructions have higher priority than the soldier riding him, and when spoken to, it jumps with a jerk and freezes as if to say, "Come on through, please .......
　You may not have understood what Reffi said, but she understood that the anger was directed at her.

　It's a bit sad to see. Stay strong.

Okay, now. Let's go, Yuki.

Oh, boy. ...... It's really nice to have you here.

"Hey, hey, hey, fly with Dandy!　Well, wait you guys!

　Overcoming the soldier's desperate restraint, we flew straight away.