Chapter 127: Before Departure
With the Demon King Gremlin dismantling complete, plans for the journey to the Rus Kingdom began as scheduled.
Hiyori had traveled the world to resurrect me, receiving the resurrection magic from a witch in the former Russian territory of the Rus Kingdom. As compensation for that instruction, she had undertaken to have 0933 analyze the Rus Kingdom’s artifact, “the Quodentz.”
An abnormality had occurred in the Quodentz, which served as the cornerstone of the Rus Kingdom’s territorial defense, and investigation was needed to resolve it. No one but the legendary magic staff craftsman 0933 could examine the four-dimensional structure that surpassed human understanding.
That said, it wasn’t urgent work. It was a loose promise that he could come anytime within the next two years.
The looseness only applied to the grace period; skipping out on the promise was not an option.
It would be far too dishonorable to renege on compensation after receiving world-changing super-important magic, and apparently the user of the resurrection magic was a powerful witch that even Hiyori wouldn’t want as an enemy.
Probably on the same level as the legendary Conrad the Brave or Saint Luche, that sort of tier. Considering she’s one rank below Hiyori, the world’s strongest, that’s quite something.
Hiyori’s plan for the Rus Kingdom trip was: “Ride on the Dragon Witch’s back, zip there, zip back.”
My mana reserves had increased considerably through mana training, but I had only just reached 60K—far from the 140K needed for return magic. Having the Dragon Witch handle the round trip was fastest.
Even in modern times, excluding return magic, the fastest transportation method is the Dragon Witch. She easily breaks the sound barrier.
After dumping all the troublesome overseas travel procedures on her, Hiyori and I came to the Dragon’s Nest for the first time in a while to negotiate with the Dragon Witch.
By Lake Tama, the giant cave dug into the side of the collapsed dam had expanded considerably from what I remembered. Probably for collapse prevention, it was reinforced here and there with thick pillars of Abyss Gold.
The treasure the Dragon Witch had accumulated over many years of greedy hoarding was spread thickly across the entire wide nest, not just a carpet of treasure but layers reaching geological strata. On top of that strata, golden mountain ranges, silver mountain ranges, and colorful gremlin mountain ranges were piled high—an awe-inspiring sight. The glittering culmination of desire, increasing in depth alongside history, had sublimated into an unparalleled spectacle.
And seeing the group of craftsmen at the foot of the treasure mountains, diligently performing endless treasure maintenance with polishing powder and spray cans, I couldn’t help but feel sympathy.
That job must be boring and absolutely never-ending…
While hiding behind Hiyori’s back and waiting, a dragon with vivid crimson scales like flames lumbered over from beyond the treasure mountain range. On its back sat an old woman with long, rainbow-colored hair.
I had a bad feeling about this.
“I heard your request. International flights start at 100 million yen. Not a single yen discount even for you.”
“Jamie, long time no see.”
“Long time no see, Blue Witch-sama. International flights start at 3 million yen.”
“Hey, Jamie! Shhh! Squeeze what you can from those who look squeezable is the iron rule!”
“That’s no good, Drago. Didn’t you just receive a warning from the Transport Bureau?”
The old woman patted the Dragon Witch’s back, and the Dragon Witch drooped her tail dejectedly.
Apparently, the position formerly held by Zaizen-san had shifted to that old woman. Still outsourcing her brain as usual, I see.
“Well, fine. Rus is the Queen’s territory. She gets mad if you fly nearby, so I’ll drop you off a little ways away.”
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Two people round trip is 20 million. But if you give me life extension magic or longevity medicine, I’ll make it free.”
“…Oh?”
Hiyori seemed more surprised that such words came from the Dragon Witch’s mouth than by the word “free” itself.
I was a bit surprised too. This was the arithmetically-challenged woman who might say “20 million, but with discount it’s 30 million!” What was she plotting?
Suspicious, I peeked out from behind Hiyori to observe, and saw the old woman on the dragon’s back with her eyebrows furrowed in distress.
“…Drago, that’s—”
“Jamie, you are my treasure. Your job is to stay sparkling and beautiful forever and ever. Live long.”
The dragon twisted her neck greatly and gently nudged the old woman on her back with her tongue.
That gesture overlapped with Mokutan licking my face, and my chest tightened.
The Dragon Witch really loves Colorful Old Lady. I figured she just liked her shiny, vivid-colored hair, but it didn’t look like only that. So in 80 years, even the Dragon Witch has had one or two heartfelt stories…
But that aside, even watching this exchange, the bad feeling didn’t go away.
Seeing her like this right before me, it was clear.
I’m scared of the Dragon Witch.
Especially imagining entrusting myself to this woman and flying through the sky made my legs shake uncontrollably.
The fear from our first meeting—being kidnapped, carried hundreds of meters in the open sky without a lifeline, so carelessly—was hard to erase. It was straight-up trauma. Is there anyone who wouldn’t be traumatized?
I tugged Hiyori’s sleeve as she negotiated transportation terms, and whispered in her ear.
“Sorry, Hiyori. I don’t want to use the Dragon after all.”
“Don’t worry. For all her faults, this woman won’t pretend to drop cargo midway. She might embezzle it, though.”
“No, not that. I’m scared. Plain and simple.”
“I see…? Well, if you say so, Dairi.”
The strongest creature, who had apparently never once felt fear toward a dragon, tilted her head curiously, but didn’t press deeply on my flight phobia confession and declined the Dragon Witch for me.
Confronted with the sudden negotiation breakdown, the Dragon Witch spewed sparks from her mouth and exploded.
“Hah!? Just browsing? Taking me for a fool? I won’t forgive this. Consultation fee: 1 million yen!”
“My bad. I’ll give you something you like later.”
“Then bring me long-life magic. Kyanos would work too.”
“Don’t push your luck.”
We said our goodbyes to the noisy, clamoring Dragon Witch, and I was pushed on my back by Hiyori to head home.
Sorry. I thought it would be fine, but once the Dragon Witch was right in front of me, memories of being grabbed by those huge claws and flown through the air flashed back and I just couldn’t.
“Thought the Dragon Witch hadn’t changed at all, but she had changed a bit, huh?”
“You thought so?”
Walking beside me, Hiyori snorted through her nose.
“She wanted longevity medicine that would make her colorful person’s life stretch on and on. That woman could actually do something for someone else.”
“Ah, well.”
“Should we secretly give her a drop of Fuyou’s nectar?”
“No. Absolutely not.”
When I showed compassion, Hiyori cut me off decisively before I even finished speaking.
I-is it really that immediate? I understand it’s valuable, but she gave me a spoonful, and if I asked Fuyou, she might give a drop or so.
My “how stingy” impression must have shown on my face, as Hiyori sighed deeply and explained the reason.
“Dairi, you lack crisis awareness. Listen: long ago, when her aide Zaizen grew old and became bedridden, the Dragon Witch was sold rejuvenating elixir.”
“T-that kind of elixir exists!?”
“It doesn’t. It was a scam.”
Hiyori cut off my surprised, honest question and continued sadly.
“The Dragon Witch didn’t pay for the elixir; instead, she raided the elixir manufacturer and looted all the medicine. Of course, since it was a scam, even making him drink all the stolen elixir did nothing. The enraged Dragon Witch massacred the scam group. That’s the kind of woman with that kind of record. If the Dragon Witch knew the Flower Witch clan’s secret nectar, she wouldn’t hesitate to start a war. To steal all the nectar. To keep her treasures by her side forever, she’d rush to plunder without considering consequences.”
“…”
Hearing the concrete example, I zipped my lips again.
Right. There’s no way the Dragon Witch would be satisfied with just one or two drops.
Why had the Flower Witch and her daughter given me longevity medicine while trying to keep even its effects secret from me, the person drinking it? Because if word spread, it would undoubtedly become the cause of a bloody, violent uproar.
The dying fire witch was given a drop because, despite being a perverted arsonist, she was otherwise a sensible witch. Because she was Mokutan, Sekitan, and Tsubaki’s mother. Because it would indebt the Blue Witch. Various factors made that possible. It’s better not to consider exceptional treatment as normal.
It’s better to keep even the existence of life-extending medicine hidden. I’m drinking it, and so are the inheritance fire and the salamanders, so my surroundings are full of long-lived beings and my senses are skewed, but originally, it’s something not strange for countries to fall over fighting for a single drop. Heaven forbid.
The Gremlin disaster destroyed the concept of lifespan, which should have visited all humans equally.
Whether that is good or bad will be told by history hereafter.
Returning home in a somehow somber mood, Mokutan, who had been staring at a wall lizard on the garden wall, broke into a bright smile and ran over.
Cute. You’re always a healing presence.
“Dairi, welcome back!”
“Yo, I’m home. We said we’d zip to the Rus Kingdom and back, but that’s probably not happening anymore.”
“Mimimi?”
“Dragon transport is a bit impossible. We’ll probably have to take our time going by land and sea—ships, trains, that sort of thing. You’re not coming, right, Mokutan?”
When I asked, Mokutan looked back and forth between me and Hiyori, hesitated a bit, but answered with some hesitation.
“Yeah. My territory, Okutama. Tsubaki and Sekitan said it’s okay for me to stay here since I’m the smallest. Can’t leave my territory empty for too long.”
“Hmm…?”
I’d heard she wasn’t coming to the Rus Kingdom, but this was the first time I heard the specific reason.
Was it like the youngest sister being given a stable life at the family home?
Certainly, Mokutan had been the smallest of the three since we met. She’s friendly and cute, and seemed to be doted on by Tsubaki and Sekitan. As expected of Kawaina. Truly adorable.
“Ah. When I told Sekitan earlier that Dairi was going on a trip, she said to bring souvenirs.”
“Souvenirs? What’s this about?”
“The vegetable oil assortment in the shoe cabinet by the entrance, take it with you. Sekitan said if you meet Tsubaki on the way, give it to her. She said she bought it with her first paycheck.”
“Oh…! Sekitan’s amazing.”
“Mimi. Sekitan is Erizo. I got delicious binchotan charcoal too.”
Mokutan puffed out her chest proudly, as if she herself had been praised.
Using your first paycheck for your family is too admirable. Sekitan Erizo!
We don’t know where Tsubaki went—the first to emerge from her cocoon, who left to find the best territory.
We only know she left the country, so searching for information about Tsubaki along the way to the Rus Kingdom might be worthwhile.
It seems like it’ll be a journey with more to look forward to than I thought.