Fleeting
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🕑 Added 2025-04-09 18:25:09 +0000 UTCBear-san Barges In
As we got closer to where the Ice Dragons were, a cold wind flew to us.
"Are you okay, Kagali-san?" (Yuna)
"I'm fine. It seems like they're enemies." (Kagali)
Kagali-san and I looked down on the Ice Dragons from high ground.
The Ice Dragons were spitting out something like a blizzard from their mouths, creating a terrible situation in the surrounding area.
However, I wondered if such attacks would be effective since both parties were ice-elements.
It was the worst environment for the creatures around.
The Ice Dragons growled and roared threateningly.
Even I couldn't help but think that it didn't look like a friendly relationship.
With this, the possibility of the two Ice Dragons living together on the mountaintop had disappeared.
But that didn't mean things had gotten better.
The Ice Dragons' battle caused the ground to tremble, trees to fall. If the battle moved towards the town, the town would be damaged.
"If you look closely, it's obvious which Ice Dragon is the one we know." (Kagali)
Kagali-san muttered as she watched the fighting Ice Dragons.
Even I could tell.
The Ice Dragon at the top of the mountain was paler and prettier.
The new dragon was a size larger and more robust.
Even though their colors were similar, it was clear that they were different.
"The Ice Dragon we know is being pushed back." (Yuna)
The Ice Dragon we knew was slower and more defensive.
The new Ice Dragon twisted its body and swung its tail around, hitting the body of the other Ice Dragon.
The other Ice Dragon fought back, but was slow to respond.
"Was it a difference in physique?" (Yuna)
"That's part of it, but the main reason is the difference in magic power. The new Ice Dragon was full magic power while the other Ice Dragon had little magic power left." (Kagali)
"Little magic power? Even though it emits cold air like a blizzard?" (Yuna)
For that reason, the town was in trouble, and even the mines had to shovel snow, which was a big problem.
"That same cold air is leaking from the egg." (Kagali)
Egg?
"The Ice Dragon was probably pouring magic power into the egg to hatch it. I don't know if this is the case because I've never touched that Ice Dragon, but the Ice Dragon's body is most likely cold. Dragons most likely don't hatch their eggs the same way as an ordinary bird." (Kagali)
When she said that, I couldn't say anything.
Even I didn't know about the ecology of dragons.
There was a good chance that Kagali-san, who could sense magic power in detail, was right.
"So the Mother Ice Dragon has been using her magic to hatch the egg for three years, so it can't use its original power?" (Yuna)
"Furthermore, it's fighting without running away." (Kagali)
...That was probably to protect its precious child that would be born soon.
"Well, you said you were going to defeat the Ice Dragons, but what are you going to do? Will you join forces with one of them and defeat the other? Or will you defeat the one who won among them after the battle is over to reap all the benefits?" (Kagali)
Just as Kagali-san said, it was less dangerous to try to reap the benefits after the battle between Ice Dragons was over.
But after seeing the Ice Dragons battle and hearing Kagali-san's words, I remembered the families I'd met in this world, so my feelings leaned towards the Mother Ice Dragon.
Like with Fina and Tirumina-san.
Or Noa and Ellelaura-san.
As well as Morin-san and Karin-san.
And even the mother and child bear who were living near the honey tree.
A close relationship that I did not have even in my previous life.
"...I will help the Mother Ice Dragon." (Yuna)
"If that's what you want, I don't mind." (Kagali)
"You don't want to hear the reason?" (Yuna)
"Because you want to protect the egg. You would never abandon the weak." (Kagali)
"N-No, that's not true." (Yuna)
It was embarrassing to be told that to my face.
"Besides… that Ice Dragon promised us that it will leave this place once the baby is born." (Yuna)
There was also a possibility that the new Ice Dragon would stay here. It might attack Lize-san and the others.
It was better to help an Ice Dragon whose intentions were known than an Ice Dragon whose intentions were not known.
"But you mustn't forget that that Ice Dragon froze the city and killed Lize's family." (Kagali)
"I know." (Yuna)
If Lize-san and the others were here, they might support the new Ice Dragon.
It could defeat the one who killed their family.
After all, If it was a battle between two evils, the evil that did terrible things to us was the enemy.
My actions may go against Lize-san and the others' feelings.
But if I think about the future, helping the Mother Ice Dragon would open up a better future.
I patted the worried Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear on the head, reassuring them, and then unsummoned them.
I watched the Ice Dragons' battle.
The Mother Ice Dragon spit a blizzard. The new Ice Dragon flapped its wings to dodge it and went behind the Mother Ice Dragon. The Mother Ice Dragon swung its tail, but couldn't reach the new Ice Dragon.
The new Ice Dragon dodged the attack, then descended and jumped onto the Mother Ice Dragon.
The Mother Ice Dragon moved its body in a resisting manner, biting into the new Ice Dragon's neck.
But in turn, the new Ice Dragon's claws dug into the Mother Ice Dragon's body.
Neither of them backed down.
I finally made a move.
The distance between me and the Ice Dragons closed.
I ran through the cold air filled with the Ice Dragons' mana.
I jumped up towards the new Ice Dragon. At the same time, a large bear flame appeared in front of me.
"Bear flame!" (Yuna)
I unleashed a large bear flame at the new Ice Dragon. When it hit its body, the new Ice Dragon's claws that had dug into the Mother Ice Dragon's body finally loosened. It moved away from the Mother Ice Dragon.
The new Ice Dragon moved its neck.
It looked at me. Our eyes met.
The new Ice Dragon roared.
The air trembled.
...I'll kill you.
It felt like that was what was conveyed by the new Ice Dragon's eyes as it roared.
When the Mother Ice Dragon tried to attack, the new Ice Dragon flapped its wings to dodge and flew away.
The new Ice Dragon circled in the sky before disappearing into the sea.
"Did it run away?" (Yuna)
"That seems to be the case." (Kagali)
Kagali-san and I approached the Mother Ice Dragon.
"Human child. Why did you help me?" (Ice Dragon)
"It's a process of elimination. You said you'd leave this place after you had your child. But we had no such agreement with that new Ice Dragon." (Yuna)
It may even continue to live here.
"That one has recognized you as an enemy. Even if I'm dead, it will still target you." (Ice Dragon)
"...I expected so." (Yuna)
There was murderous intent in those eyes.
I didn't know how strong it was, but there was definitely murderous intent in them.
"We hate fire." (Ice Dragon)
That's why it was looking at me like that.
"It will not forgive you for getting in the way of killing me and for pointing fire at it." (Ice Dragon)
"So, what's the deal with that Ice Dragon?" (Yuna)
"The one who wants to take my position." (Ice Dragon)
"Your position?" (Yuna)
"I control the Ice Dragons." (Ice Dragon)
So, was she like the leader of the Ice Dragons? Was she a queen since she laid an egg?
"That one took advantage of my weakness" (Ice Dragon)
As Kagali-san mentioned, was it because her magic power was decreasing due to hatching the egg?
"Isn't that unfair?" (Yuna)
If one wanted to be at the top, didn't you have to win fair and square.
"That's a human way of thinking. Beasts show no mercy to the weak. Of course, there are those who need to be protected. Even humans protect those they care about, but if an enemy is sick or injured, it's an opportunity to attack them." (Kagali)
"That's true, but..." (Yuna)
I understood what Kagali-san was saying, but I would like to mention that attacking someone who was weak was cowardly.
"Way of the warrior, fair and square... These are pleasant words. But that's a naive way of thinking. So, I'd like to ask you, when you fought the giant serpent, did you consider fighting fair and square? Did you think about fighting after the giant serpent had fully revived?" (Kagali)
I didn't.
I just thought it was an opportunity because it was weak from being sealed.
Again, I understood those words, but my heart didn't agree with that thought.
"But they are both Ice Dragons." (Yuna)
"That one is a stray. He attacks his kin to show his strength." (Ice Dragon)
"What will happen if you lose?" (Yuna)
"I don't normally mess with humans. But if that one gets power, he will likely harass humans."
I think that would be pretty dangerous.
"Is that Ice Dragon really that strong?" (Yuna)
"If I'm in top condition, I can win against that one." (Ice Dragon)
My question was bad.
When I mentioned being strong, I didn’t mean how strong she was, and when I mentioned being weak, I didn't mean how weak she was.
"That's why that one attacked me when I was weak." (Ice Dragon)
Even among humans there were people who would attack weak spots, or rather most people attacked weak spots.
Even in games, you would normally fight in places where your opponent would be weak, and even attack their weak spots.
Water against fire.
Wind or Earth against water.
Fire against Wind or Earth.
Light against darkness.
Darkness against light.
I think attacking weak spots or when they were weakened was unfair, though. I didn't feel well doing so. And I think it was cowardly to attack in such a situation.
If the opponent was fully prepared, it was okay to attack cowardly. But if the opponent was already weak, what even the point would be in attacking.
I was also thinking selfishly.
"Then I'll defeat that Ice Dragon." (Yuna)
"You'll do it?" (Ice Dragon)
"In exchange, when the baby is born, you have to leave here. Go somewhere where there are no people." (Yuna)
"I promise." (Ice Dragon)
The deal was done.
If we didn't defeat the Ice Dragon, human lives would be in danger.
