Are you okay?　Stand up?
Uh, yeah...

　Tania held out her hand to the girl and gently made her stand.
　Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any injuries.
　It seems that she was just startled by the dragon's strong attack and fell down.

'Can you get away on your own?　Are you okay?
Umm, yeah but is your sister...?
I'm fine. Don't worry about it.

　Tania laughed softly, as if to reassure the child.
　Seemingly reassured by that smile, the child turned around a few times and ran away from the scene.

''Well....''

　After making sure that the child had retreated to a safe zone, Tania glared at the dragon.

　Its body was one size larger than Tania's in dragon form.
　The dragon race was an ever-growing entity, day by day, and their average lifespan was about two hundred years old.
　This dragon was probably about 100 years old.
　I can feel the power it has gained by aging.

　By the way, its scales are red, and it is a red dragon like Tania.

''There, Anta!

　Tania pointed at the dragon with a bishouche.

'What do you mean, you're going after a little kid like that!　I wonder where the pride of being a dragon race has gone!
It's what I do because I'm proud of it.
What?　I don't know what that means. I mean ... could it be that you're the phony one who was using my name as a phony?
....

　The dragon didn't answer.
　He just gave Tania a sharp look.

'Hey, answer me something. Are you going to ignore me?
... I've got nothing to say to a fool who is so comfortable with humans.
'I don't understand........wait a minute. I don't know where I've heard that saying before........oh!　Are you gossamer?
Well you don't remember me?
'It took me a while to remember because I'd completely forgotten about them before but I finally remembered. Gothas and Alsace, who are big misanthropists. They never doubted that they were the strongest of the strongest, and they looked down on humans as trivial. Why are they here?
Forgetting your dragon pride, we wanted to punish you for being so comfortable with humans.

　With that word, Tania understood, to a certain extent, what Gothas and the others were up to.

''Ah ... I see. So that's what it is. You are the one who has been doing whatever you want by deceiving me with my name, isn't it?
Yes.
The reason for this is to warn me about being with people, right?　Don't get involved with people any more than we do, we dragons and people don't get along with each other?
You know exactly what I mean.
Of course. That's not what you guys always said when we were in the village. It was so loud, I didn't hear it from the other side.

　Tania seemed to remember the old days, and she was bummed.

　She knew the dragon in front of her, Gossus...and her partner, Alsace, who was a familiar face.
　They had lived together in the home of the Red Dragon.

　However, both of them were extremely misanthropic.
　In addition, they never doubted that they were the strongest, and Tania only thought that they were a pain in the ass.

　And now they're meeting again in this place....
　Moreover, I can't believe that he was cheating on his own name and doing evil things.

　What a shameful thing to do, as the same dragon race.
　Tania couldn't help but let out a deep sigh.

''So........what do you mean by rioting in a place like this?''
Alsace screwed up and the humans took them.
Oh, man. Rayne and the others, you've done a good job.

　Tania looks happy to see him.

'Tania. I can't punish you anymore.
So why don't you just go back to your village?
'I can't do that. Because of you, the people of this city have forgotten their fear of the dragon race. You have hurt the pride of our people by thinking they are on our side. Therefore, I must show them strength and pride. The power and pride of the Dragon Tribe!

　Tania was taken aback.

　In short.........
　Tania's friendship with the humans made the humans feel closer to the dragon race.
　However, from a dragon race like Gothas, it was nothing more than an act that hurt their pride.
　Their pride would not allow them to be befriended by beings lower than themselves.
　If we were to compare it to a child talking to an adult, it would be like a child talking to an adult.

　Therefore, Gothas decided to show off his power.
　He decided to bare his fangs to the humans.
　By doing so, he would show them that the dragon race is different from humans and instill feelings of awe.

　However, from Tania's point of view, it was beyond ridiculous.

　It was true that the dragon race was called the strongest species, and they were powerful.
　But who decided that they were superior to humans?
　There is no such thing as one being better than the other.
　

'It's a headache...'

　Tania felt like she wanted to hold her head in the air as her compatriot's self-serving beliefs were shown to her.
　At the same time, she almost rolled over and writhed on the spot.

　The thoughts that Gossus spoke of were similar to her old self.
　Not as much as Gossus, but...
　The reason is that Tania, before she left the village, was thinking similarly.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say.

　I'm not going to be able to get away with it.
　It's not just strength, but the heart itself is strong.

　What's the use of being strong?
　Power without a heart is just empty.

　Tania had been taught that by spending time with Rain.

'Hey, can we stop being so boring?'

　Even though it's like this, it's still my people in one way or another.
　Tania tries to persuade him.

'I don't think this kind of thing is going to bring back the pride you speak of. It just looks like you're taking it out on me, angry that I'm not getting my way.
'You're too young to understand the pride of the dragon race.
I think I'm more aware of the reality than you are... I mean, are you seriously trying to pick a fight with a human being, rioting in the middle of a city like this?　They'll take you down, okay?
Stop laughing. I'm not going to let a human take me down.
'Uh....'

　Gothas had serious eyes.
　The possibility of losing to a human being was not even considered for a moment.

'I guess there's no point in saying anything, is there?

　Tania let out a deep sigh.

　What is this stone-headed dragon all about?
　It's as if they don't want to listen to us.
　He just pushes his own point of view and doesn't pay any attention to the people around him.

　Is this what the "old man" is all about?
　Tania had that impression.

'Well if that's the way it is, then I guess I'll have to do it.

　Tania holds her fist in the air.

'Gossus. What you're trying to do is outrageous and silly. You need to understand that.
I don't expect the little girl to understand.
They won't understand you, so I'll give you a fistful of answers.
A little girl who won't even live to be 20 years old is going to have to deal with me?
That's what he said. Are you deaf?
All right. I'll keep you company.

　Gothas spread his wings, opened his mouth, and let out a sharp roar.
　That signaled the start of the battle, and the two men collided.