If we defeated that newly arrived ice dragon, everything would be over.
But we had to fight against it.
"So, will that ice dragon come back?" (Yuna)
If it didn't come back, there's no way to defeat it.
"That guy is coming back because he's aiming for my position. And the one who attacked him will not be spared either." (Ice Dragon)
It meant it was angry at me for using fire magic.
It's easy to run away, but I didn't want anyone to be attacked indiscriminately because of me.
"I will return" (Ice Dragon)
I wanted to hear more details, but the ice dragon spread its wings and flew away toward the mountaintop.
I turned to Kagari-san.
"You really like getting into trouble yourself." (Kagari)
Kagari-san looked shocked.
"I don't particularly like it." (Yuna)
"You're probably fighting giant snakes and slimes that have nothing to do with you. This time it's an ice dragon." (Kagari)
"It just happened because of the flow of the story." (Yuna)
"Normally, you would just avoid it and move on. Only you would choose to fight the ice dragon however you like." (Kagari)
"That's the best choice." (Yuna)
"Then, if you look at the whole thing, the best choice is for you to defeat the Ice Dragon. Everyone will be happy. However, it will only be difficult for you, and you probably will not gain anything." (Kagari)
I had no advantage in fighting against giant snakes, slimes, or even ice dragons.
But it's also for me to fight.
"My heart will be saved" (Yuna)
"Your heart?" (Kagari)
"It was the same with the giant snake, but if I abandoned Sakura and ran away, and the Land of Harmony was destroyed and Sakura died, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself, and I think I'd have a dream about abandoning Sakura and running away." (Yuna)
Maybe I would regret it.
The reason I thought so was because I had bear equipment.
Since I had the bear equipment that God gave me, I thought there must have been something I could do.
However, even with bear equipment, if the enemy was no match for me, maybe I would run away.
"That doesn't mean there aren't that many idiots who would risk their lives." (Kagari)
Being an idiot was terrible.
"But thanks to that idiot's actions, we were saved." (Kagari)
I guess I'm being praised, am I?
"So, it's fine to defeat that ice dragon, but what should we do?" (Kagari)
It's alright.
"For now, I guess I'll report to Lise-san and the others. After that, I guess I'll go to the ice dragon on the mountaintop?" (Yuna)
Before I could have a detailed conversation with the ice dragon, she moved.
I guessed she wanted to go back right away because she was worried about the eggs, so I couldn't help it.
I summoned Kumayuru and Kumakyu and returned to Lise-san and the others.
"Yuna-san, Kagari-chan" (Lise)
When we returned to the mine, Lise-san and the others who had been watching from the mine entrance came out.
"Are you both okay?" (Lise)
"Yeah, we're okay." (Yuna)
"You made me worry."
"I'm glad"
"So, what happened?"
I explained my conversation with the ice dragon.
"So, does that mean the ice dragon on the mountaintop is a great ice dragon?"
"Are you saying he's aiming for the title of Ice Dragon King?"
"She laid an egg, so she's the queen, right?" (Kagari)
"Either one would be fine."
The old men proceed with the story.
"So, I decided to help the ice dragon that was on the mountaintop." (Yuna)
Lise-san and the others had complicated expressions upon hearing my words.
"I don't know how you feel. You're saying you're going to help your families, your city, and the ice dragon that froze you. You must have mixed feelings. But this is the best solution." (Kagari)
Even though it was my decision, Kagari-san explained it on my behalf.
"Also, it seems that the new ice dragon has hostility toward humans, so if the new ice dragon wins, the ice dragon may start attacking humans."
"Do you think we are hoping that the ice dragon in the mountains will lose?"
"If the ice dragon that came to defeat the ice dragon that froze your family appears, wouldn't you support the new ice dragon?"
There was also the idea that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Well, I couldn't say that either of them were allies this time, but maybe the ice dragon at the top of the mountain was better.
"I'd be lying if I said there wasn't. But after three years, I realized that the ice dragon on the mountain didn't freeze us because they wanted to kill us. They just settled in there. And our city just froze over."
"It's unreasonable, but the Ice Dragon is that kind of opponent."
"So, right now we have no desire to defeat the Ice Dragon."
Everyone nodded at Lise-san's words.
"If the newly arrived ice dragon defeats the ice dragon in the mountains, settles here, and tries to kill people, the situation will be the worst."
"I thought I could die at any time, but if the city is freed from the ice, I want to see it. To do that, we have to defeat the ice dragon in the mountain."
"Therefore, I would be more than happy if the baby ice dragon in the mountains was born and left here."
"So, don't worry about it."
"I'll leave the Ice Dragon to Yuna-san and Kagari-chan."
Even if they said so, I didn't know what they really mean.
However, I was grateful for the words of Lise-san and others. It became easier to take action.
"Thank you. Well then, I'll take action by protecting the ice dragon in the mountain and defeating the new ice dragon." (Yuna)
Since we didn't know what will happen, we asked Lise-san and the others not to leave here, and if something unusual happens, to hide inside the mine.
Kagari-san and I headed to the top of the mountain.
"I guess we'll be climbing the mountain again." (Kagari)
"We don't know when a new ice dragon will attack, so we have to be near the ice dragon at the top of the mountain." (Yuna)
"That's right." (Kagari)
"Also, I want to hear about the new ice dragon." (Yuna)
Information was important.
There was a saying that those who control information control the world.
That's why Kagari-san and I, riding Kumayuru and Kumakyu, arrived at the summit.
"Have you come?" (Ice Dragon)
The ice dragon was sitting in the same place as the last time we came.
Maybe there's an egg under that body.
"I'd like to hear your story." (Yuna)
"What do you want to hear" (Ice Dragon)
"Can that ice dragon understand the language? In the first place, can an ice dragon even speak human language?" (Yuna)
"I am the only one who can speak your language" (Ice Dragon)
Is that so?
Then other ice dragons couldn't talk.
"Let me confirm too. Did you run away from that ice dragon and come here?" (Kagari)
"That ice dragon was waiting for me to lay my eggs. I came here looking for a place to hide." (Ice Dragon)
As a result, this city was frozen in ice.
That's a nuisance.
However, people also built houses and developed without worrying about the animals, birds, and insects that lived there.
"So, do you know when that ice dragon will arrive?" (Yuna)
"He is not going to let go of me. He is coming soon." (Ice Dragon)
If it didn't, we would be in trouble.
It was scary because it seemed possible that it would happen a year later.
"Human child. Are you really going to fight?" (Ice Dragon)
"I don't want to fight. But it seems like they've earned a grudge against me too, I don't like it when people we attacked indiscriminately." (Yuna)
That new ice dragon attacked people. If it was against someone, you had no choice but to fight.
"Will you fight?" (Yuna)
"I have no intention of leaving until the baby is born." (Ice Dragon)
Does that mean she'll fight until the child is born?
Kagari-san and I decided to rest in the bear house until the ice dragon appeared.
Just in case, I got the Ice Dragon's permission to use the bear house.
"I do not mind" (Ice Dragon)
After receiving permission, I took out the bear house and went inside.
"Phew, this house is warm." (Kagari)
"Is it still cold even if you use magic?" (Yuna)
"The warmth of magic and the warmth inside a house are different." (Kagari)
That's right.
Fireplace, heating air conditioner, kerosene stove, kotatsu.
Indeed, it might be that way because each one had a different warmth.
I gave Kagari-san some green tea that I bought at Land of Harmoni.
"It's hot. But it warms you from the core of your body." (Kagari)
I also prepared my own portion and drank it.
It would definitely warm you from the core of your body.
"Kagari-san, are you going home?" (Yuna)
I checked again.
"What, all of a sudden?" (Kagari)
"Kagari-san probably has nothing to do with this time." (Yuna)
"If you say that, you won’t have anything to do with it." (Kagari)
"I’m just self-satisfied." (Yuna)
There was also the problem of dreams.
Even though I had the bear equipment given to me by God, if I abandoned Lise-san and the others, I would have a dream.
"Then, the same goes for me. However, if you say that having me is a nuisance, then I'll leave this matter to you..." (Kagari)
"That's not true. It would be helpful if Kagari-san is with me." (Yuna)
She helped not only with knowledge, but she also helped in combat.
"But if you think it's dangerous, run away." (Yuna)
"That's true for you too. If something happens to you, Sakura will be sad." (Kagari)
"Yeah" (Yuna)
"Above all, if something happens to you, I won’t be able to return home." (Kagari)
Certainly, if something were to happen to me, Kagari-san would not be able to return home.
For me too, life was important.
My motto was to relax and relax.
That's why I didn't intend to fight until I died.
Author's Note
Happy new year
Sorry for being late.
I'm hoping to be able to post on Wednesdays and Sundays this year as well, so I'd appreciate your help.
...
*Thank you to everyone who reports typos.
Please note that some kanji have been revised to match the book, so some may not have been revised.