Water Dragon and Goblin King
「Was it around here that they
said the water dragon could show up?」 (Izayoi)
We mounted Rigolo, and spent
several hours flying to our destination. We arrived at a village surrounded by wetlands.
Surveying the wetlands from
high in the sky, the dragon couldn't be seen because it was underwater. Looking
around, there was a conspicuously large lake at the edge of the wetlands.
Did the water dragon live
there originally, or did it travel there due to heavy rain?
Even if you found it, how
would you fight against it?
Fighting underwater is
impossible, and I don't think it's a good idea to attack it from the sky while
mounted on Rigolo. It would be good if it could be fought on land.
「Even if we find it while
looking from above, we can't fight it. Let's go down and fight on land.」 (Izayoi)
We disembarked on the
outskirts of the village. The ground is normally muddy. I need to be careful.
When we came to ground that
hadn't be submerged, several shadows could be seen.
「Someone's there! Is it Uri's
turn?」 (Uri)
「No, there's nothing to be
concerned about. They're most likely residents of the village.」 (Izayoi)
Several people could be seen
driving stakes into the muddy earth. They continued to pound stakes into the
ground.
They're most likely making a
fence.
「What are you doing, young
lady? You shouldn't come over here because it's dangerous.」 (Plump Man)
A rather plump man rushed
over.
「It's fine. We've come to
defeat the water dragon.」 (Izayoi)
「Defeat the water dragon?
Really? We submitted a request with the guild but nobody came and we've been
having a hard time.」 (Plump Man)
「They heard the scary rumors
about the dragon, or so... the people from the guild said.」 (Izayoi)
I feel like I'm forgetting
something, but it's probably nothing and I shouldn't worry about it.
「That's right. There was a
rumor that the dragon lived in a tall mountain before, but nobody's actually
seen that yet. Dragons are the strongest S-rank monsters. Only rash individuals
would live in the village near the mountain that the dragon was rumored to live
in.」 (Plump Man)
「I'm not particularly
interested.」 (Izayoi)
「...Troubled, so help.」 (Tear)
「Even though she's small,
she's an outstanding young lady. But, will it be alright?」 (Plump Man)
「...Will be fine. Rigolo is
here.」 (Tear)
「*Kuke!*」 (Rigolo)
「This is surprising. Is that a
gryphon? It seems very reliable.」 (Plump Man)
「You don't seem very surprised
though.」 (Izayoi)
「Well, I said it before didn't
I? Curious adventurers come to this village. An old man came to defeat the
dragon and climbed the mountain.」 (Plump Man)
「We came here strictly to do
work. Don't confuse us with other people.」 (Izayoi)
「Hahaha. Sorry about that.
Please defeat the water dragon. It's been appearing more frequently. We've been
building this fence, but is it unnecessary already?」 (Plump Man)
「More frequently? I'd be glad
if it showed itself right——」 (Izayoi)
An intense spray shot
skyward, and a shadow surrounded me.
「——What good timing.」 (Izayoi)
It's convenient that it
showed up over there. There's not much of a threat if it doesn't go to the edge
of the lake. The ground has good footing.
The villagers started
screaming, and began to run about.
「You should back up.」 (Izayoi)
「Will you be alright? How will
you beat the water dragon while it's in the lake?」 (Plump Man)
「Right. It might be impossible
if it retreats into the water. But it’s ready to attack us. Won't it be fine if
I defeat it by countering it when it attacks?」 (Izayoi)
The long, slender body
started to slither about. The body became transparent, and white patches
appeared on its blue body.
「*Shaaa—*」 (Water Dragon)
I can't tell if it's a snake
or a dragon, but whatever.
It probably can't come over
here because we're away from the edge of the lake.
「Alright. Tear, try defeating
it by yourself.」 (Izayoi)
「...By myself?」 (Tear)
Her expression immediately
change to unease, and her ears dropped.
「Ah, using your power to make
it your slav... friend is necessary. You aren't alone either, Tear.」 (Izayoi)
「*Kukeke!*」 (Rigolo)
Rigolo stuck out his chest as
if saying to depend on him.
「You have trained up until now
to raise your strength. However, that's the very minimum to start. You're
originally a monster tamer. There's no reason you can't win against the B-rank
water dragon. Believe Rigolo and everyone and fight.」 (Izayoi)
「...Rigolo, everyone?」 (Tear)
「You became friends with the
goblin king yesterday, right? Summon your battle slave... and fight together
with it.」 (Izayoi)
「...Ichayoi, fight? How to,
summon?」 (Tear)
「Right. "S, save me
goblin king—" should summon him.」 (Izayoi)
「...Save me, goblin king—」 (Tear)
Magic power flowed out from
Tear, white light converged, then burst outward.
「...*Gura?*」 (Goblin King)
The goblin king who had been
relaxing comfortably appeared.
「...Please. Fight, together.」 (Tear)
「*Gu, gura...*」 (Goblin King)
It didn't seem to understand
what was happening, but it went along with it.
As the water dragon kept
watch at the edge of the water, Rigolo and the goblin king went out.
「*Shaaaa*」 (Water Dragon)
「*Kukeei!*」 (Rigolo)
「*Guraa?*」 (Goblin King)
The fight between monsters
began.
The enemy is B-rank. We have
the A-rank Rigolo and B-rank goblin king.
I hadn't gotten particularly
close to the water's edge when I prepared to counter, and the water dragon
immediately ran away.
「It ran away! No fair!」 (Uri)
The water dragon determined
it couldn't win and escaped somewhere.
I won't let it go.
「...Fiere and Reri, can you
get off of me?」 (Izayoi)
I tore away the two people
who had been clinging to me the whole time.
「Fiere hasn't recovered all of
her magic power yet! Just a bit more oniichan.」 (Fiere)
「...Reri doesn't want to let
go. We'll be together for life. I'll become your bride.」 (Reri)
「Just let go already. You'll
drown if you don't.」 (Izayoi)
Getting the two off, I
removed my equipment and my shirt.
「You aren't planning on
jumping in are you? That's reckless!」 (Plump Man)
The plump man tried to stop
me.
「It's fine. I'm not exactly
going to fight it.」 (Izayoi)
「You're not going to fight it?
What are you...」 (Plump Man)
Without waiting for the man's
words, I placed my foot onto the surface of the water.
Leaning my body forward, I
took another step.
「Wah! Master is running on the
water!」 (Uri)
「Running on the water? What is
he doing? He disappeared in an instant?」 (Plump Man)
Although I heard voices
behind me, I ran without paying any attention to them.
To be more precise, I wasn't
running on the water, but rather jumping off of it. I appeared to glide across
the water, repeatedly kicking off of the surface before my foot broke through.
The water dragon isn't
particularly fast. I caught up to it immediately.
Is it right below me?
It was meandering about deep
below the surface.
Bracing my legs on the water,
a large spray came up as I slowed down.
I dove into the water. I can
see it.
Grabbing its body, I raced
back to the surface using a dolphin kick. (TN: It's a swimming reference, not
some martial art reference.)
「*Shaaa*」 (Water Dragon)
Flying out of the water like
a fish, I let go of the water dragon.
「Alright. Now demonstrate your
friendship.」 (Izayoi)
「...Ok.」 (Tear)
I suppressed the rampaging water
dragon, waiting for the contract to end.
「...Became friends.」 (Tear)
「Friends? What do you mean...
Eh?」 (Plump Man)
The plump man looked at me as
if I was a monster.
「Rest easy. The water dragon
won't harm anyone any more.」 (Izayoi)
「...Apologizes, to everyone,
says.」 (Tear)
「*Sha, shaaah...*」 (Water Dragon)
With some wiggling, it lifted
its head and bowed in apology.
「From now on, will behave
itself, says.」 (Tear)
「Is, is that so. Let's get
along well from now on.」 (Plump Man)
The water dragon and the
goblin king have about the same level of battle strength.
And so, we safely became
friends with the water dragon.
A happy ending.
「Ok, should we return now?」 (Izayoi)
「*Guraa...*」 (Goblin King)
「...Ichayoi.」 (Tear)
「What?」 (Izayoi)
「King, how to send back?」 (Tear)
「Because he was summoned,
can't he return?」 (Izayoi)
「...Can't.」 (Tear)
I tried various things, but
the magic to send him back didn't work.
「——Please walk back.」 (Izayoi)
「*Guraa?*」 (Goblin King)
「Although it's about 300
kilometers to Geruna Valley, please walk back.」 (Izayoi)
「*G, guraaaa!*」 (Goblin King)
「And so...」 (Tear)
「*Guguraa...*」 (Goblin King)
「...Bye bye.」 (Tear)
「See you again! You were cool
king!」 (Uri)
「...Later.」 (Reri)
「Fiere wants to play! Don't
you have anything oniichan?」 (Fiere)
「Play? There are ghosts when
we get back aren't there? Go play with those.」 (Izayoi)
「Okay!」 (Fiere)
「*Guraaaaa...*」 (Goblin King)
「See you later king. Don't go
hunting any adventurers on the way back.」 (Izayoi)
「*GURAAAAAAAAAAA!*」 (Goblin King)