Heroes and Their Qualifications (7)
Suddenly, such a thought crossed my mind.
What does it mean to search for someone? What’s the difference between desperately seeking a long-lost family member or lover and moving aimlessly with a simple purpose, without any thought? It was an out-of-the-blue thought. Nonsense that could be let go without trying to find an answer. Yet, the reason such thoughts wouldn’t leave my mind was surely because the end was nearing.
It’s just idle thoughts popping up because there’s spare time. It’s an unavoidable human condition.
Normally, I would have dismissed it without a second thought, but this time, for some reason, I couldn’t. It might be because there’s spare time, but that’s not really it. All the people I’ve sought out have either had a falling out with me or are similar cases. The connections I’ve made have all been in a similar state, and even the one guy I got along with is now surrounded by a strange atmosphere.
In other words, I can’t answer the question.
I wish I could at least come up with a half-baked answer.
If only I had ever built a proper relationship in the first place.
I’ve never desperately searched for someone. There couldn’t possibly be someone whose face lingers in my mind just waiting for someone like me… Ah, maybe not.
Anyway.
It’s a situation where it’s hard to come up with any answer.
Wasting time on useless thoughts is a sickness. But so is putting off thoughts you don’t want to have. Because people shouldn’t forget what they’ve done. Not remembering the past isn’t exactly healthy either.
I think this, but there’s no proper answer. Trying to think of something when I know nothing, I can’t find a clue.
Damn it.
To solve it, I have to go back to the original world.
Going back to the original world means going to find my family.
All my relatives are dead, but there should still be at least one person connected by blood.
In the process of going to meet that person, I might find the answer to my current question.
Since I can no longer find anything precious in this world, I have no choice but to choose. I have to go to the other world and build new relationships.
Even there, normal relationships might be difficult, but I still have to try.
Once I go back, I’ll try to live a brighter life.
Forget what needs to be forgotten.
Start a new life.
So for now, I’ll live as I always have, going with the flow.
Of course, my actions might change a bit once Troka’s letter is opened, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Sigh… Looking back, I really rushed here quickly.
Without properly resolving anything.
I ran like a madman, chased by something, only looking ahead. That’s why I’ve become a pretentious bastard who can’t solve anything.
What kind of ending will I face?
No matter how much I ponder, I know nothing. No one knows how the end of their life will turn out. I’d like to close my eyes peacefully surrounded by loved ones, but… that’s now an unattainable dream.
Well, if I don’t want to die a pointless death here, I guess I should start by opening that letter.
Alright, then. Time to stop sitting next to this crumbling shop, wallowing in useless, miserable thoughts.
Let’s go find Bella.
I stand up, stretching my sore back. The sun is still high in the sky. It’s a leisurely time when there’s no need to hurry unless I’m meeting Nicola or the sparrow dragon. But that doesn’t mean I have time to waste.
What was all that thinking just now?
Let’s chalk it up to future planning. It’s always best to be thoroughly prepared to avoid any mishaps.
I step out onto the street and start walking.
There’s no clear destination yet. I don’t have a specific location for Bella.
First, the Western District has been quiet without any incidents, so I can rule out the west. The East is close to the border and draws crowds, but with no significant events, I can exclude the east as well. That leaves the North and the South.
The North is out of the question with its barren mountain ranges, and it would be unreasonable to head out in my current state. Besides, Bella can’t take on her dragon form, so it’s safe to assume she’s not in the North.
That leaves the South.
Since Troka and I originally recruited Bella in the South, it’s a safe bet she’s operating around there. Of course, she could unexpectedly be found in the Dragon Lord’s territory… but the current Grand Dragon King is a radical who despises half-dragons and humans, so that’s unlikely.
So, it’s the South then.
I turn my steps southward.
Normally, I wouldn’t have continued my activities today, but with the variable that is Nicola, I need to wrap everything up as soon as possible.
So let’s go find information about Bella.
I’ve decided to do just that.
Somehow, I have this ominous feeling that I shouldn’t stay here too long.
Perhaps that’s why my steps feel a bit quicker.
*
It had only been about 5 minutes since I left the Dragon Lord’s territory.
Just as I resolved my recent troubles and was about to move forward, an obstacle appeared.
“Why are you here?”
It’s Valkvogel.
She had run all the way here from her distant lodging to meet me. She seemed to be asleep when I left, so when did she get here? Being a dragon, it probably wasn’t too hard for her, but still, considering the time and her ability to find my exact location, she’s done well.
Well, with the leash, it must have been easy to track me down.
But why did she follow me here?
It’s only a hindrance to my activities, and I would have preferred to act separately if possible.
………Ah, the leash.
As long as the leash is attached, Valkvogel experiences physical shock whenever she’s separated from me. It’s a feature designed to prevent a leashed dragon from running away, to keep them from being apart from their master.
Suddenly, I felt a pain from the leash and realized she must have tracked me down because of it… and that’s why she followed me all the way here.
Hmm.
My bad.
“Ah, hey, uh. Sorry? I totally forgot you were wearing that leash.”
Before she could say anything, I hastily spoke up. A quick apology can prevent an inevitable fight.
Truth be told, I just didn’t want to be lectured by Valkvogel.
It feels like it’s been too long since we’ve had any light-hearted banter. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older. Though, I’m only in my twenties.
“Ah… um. Yeah. So don’t leave without telling me next time.”
Valkvogel didn’t add anything more.
Is she just letting it slide?
Her tone feels like she’s hiding something suspicious… She looked downcast because of the incident at the border, so maybe that’s it. There’s no point in pressing her right now. With the leash, she can’t entertain any strange thoughts anyway.
“……So, well, I guess I’m heading south, what about you?”
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
The exchange was brief.
And so, we set off south to gather information about Bella.
…Or at least, that would have been nice.
As I walked with Valkvogel, a thought suddenly struck me.
This time it wasn’t some bizarre fantasy, but rather a constructive one.
It was about the issue of Valkvogel’s treatment.
The condition I had set when we first met was to accompany me to the Dragon Kingdom. So, it wouldn’t be strange if Valkvogel asked me to remove the leash now that we’re here. Enough time has passed that she might have forgotten. Valkvogel doesn’t concern herself with such trivial matters.
If I don’t bring it up, she might not even remember.
Of course, if that were the case, the leash would remain until I return to my original world.
But that’s hardly my problem.
Whether she suffers or not is none of my business. Once I return to my original world, that’s the end of it.
I thought about letting it go with that.
There’s no immediate benefit to parting ways with Valkvogel.
Having her by my side could give me an advantage in battle. We’ve never fought together, but just having a reliable vanguard to watch my back is reassuring enough.
And it guarantees my safety in the Dragon Kingdom.
Though that seems meaningless now for some reason.
There are other benefits as well.
Being with a dragon is more likely to be helpful than not.
So I was going to let it slide.
If it weren’t for those damned horns swaying beside me.
The brutally cut surface of the horn flickered in my vision. Valkvogel, regardless of her intentions, cut off her own horn to help me. Thanks to her, I regained my health, and she lost her status as a dragon.
I didn’t feel sorry.
It was because I believed in the principle that what comes around, goes around.
I did take a petty revenge because of the incident at the detention center, but that was the end of it. I have no lingering feelings about it.
I don’t know what Valkvogel thinks, but she doesn’t seem like she’s going to kill me right away.
But then again, once the leash is off, she might come at me with a vengeance… But that’s a problem I can run away from if it comes to it.
So it wouldn’t matter if I took off the leash.
After all, having Valkvogel by my side naturally restricts my actions, so it would be right to free her from the leash for that reason alone.
But I had no intention of doing it right away.
There’s still a mountain of things to do in the Dragon Kingdom. Freeing her now would be a risk I’m not willing to take.
So, for the time being, I decided to test the waters.
If I see any signs of trouble, I’ll postpone taking off the leash as long as possible.
“What would you do first if you were free?”
At that, Valkvogel nervously grabbed the leash with both hands.
She looked angry, as if something was bothering her.
“I’m not planning on that yet.”
…Does she still want to kill me?
If I release her now, it’ll be a disaster.
So, let’s put off removing the leash again.
If I do it now, she seems like she might kill me right away.
There’s a give and take in everything, but if it’s my life on the line, I’m not too keen on handing it over just like that.
After her brief reply, Valkvogel started to walk ahead of me at a brisk pace.
Is she angry because I thought about the leash?
What is she thinking?
I matched her stride, feeling slightly out of breath for some reason, but it was only a slight feeling.
After that, we arrived in the southern district without any further incidents.
Now it was time to look for Bella.
I think one chapter is missing