The next morning, Kagari-san and I headed to the mountaintop to retrieve the bear house and check the ice dragon.
Kagari-san and I, riding Kumayuru and Kumakyu, looked around.
"It's a terrible situation." (Kagari)
I didn't notice it while I was fighting the Ice Dragon, and after the battle was over, the sun had set and it was dark, so I didn't notice it.
However, as the day dawned, the devastation of the battle became clear. Parts of the mountain had collapsed, trees had fallen, and areas where cold air had been released were in terrible condition.
"I'm glad there was no damage to the city." (Yuna)
"It's all thanks to that bear." (Kagari)
I looked down.
Three big bears were standing there.
These were the bears that were protected from the cold air of the ice dragon.
"I think that's also true. Kagari-san also protected it." (Yuna)
"Me?" (Kagari)
"You must have warmed up your body to protect yourself from the cold air. That's part of the reason." (Yuna)
Maybe Kagari-san weakened the cold air.
I didn't know what happened to the bear after it was exposed to the cold air for the second time.
Therefore, it was definitely not my power alone that protected the city.
We made our way to the top of the mountain, checking out the devastation surrounding us.
If there were people in town, they would have been in an uproar if they saw this devastation.
I was able to protect the city of Lise-san, and I didn't want to see anyone shattered, so I was glad I was able to protect it.
"Have you come?" (Ice Dragon)
When we arrive in front of the ice dragon, it opened its eyes and started talking to us.
"Just to confirm, that ice dragon really won’t come again, right?" (Yuna)
"Won't come" (Ice Dragon)
If so, didn't need to worry.
"Let me tell you. I will leave here as promised." (Ice Dragon)
"It looks like it was born." (Kagari)
Kagari-san looked below the ice dragon.
When the ice dragon moved its body a little, a small ice dragon popped out from its stomach.
Cute.
It's a baby ice dragon.
"It was born." (Yuna)
Good.
It's obvious, but it's still small. Even though it was small, it was about the size of regular size Kumayuru and Kumakyu.
The baby ice dragon was rubbing against the mother ice dragon.
Sometimes it looked at us with interest.
"Cute" (Yuna)
When I spoke, Kumayuru and Kumakyu came from both sides.
"Kumayuru and Kumakyu are cute too." (Yuna)
I stroke Kumayuru and Kumakyu's heads with both hands.
"Human child. I caused you trouble. Thank you for protecting my child." (Ice Dragon)
If I didn't protect them, I might have turned them into enemy.
"So, when are you leaving? When will the baby be able to fly?" (Kagari)
Kagari-san's words brought me back to my senses.
That's true.
Just because you're born didn't mean you could leave immediately.
The ice dragon's words about leaving may have come after the baby was able to fly.
Quite possible. Ice dragons were long-lived. It seemed possible that one day for them could be a month, a year, or even several years for us.
However, the ice dragon said something unexpected.
"Tomorrow, we'll leave" (Ice Dragon)
"So early? Babies can't fly yet." (Kagari)
I looked at a baby ice dragon.
I didn't think it could fly yet.
In response to my question, the ice dragon stretched its neck, picked up the baby at its feet by the neck area, and lifted it up.
In other words, it seemed to be holding it in its mouth and flying away.
When I understood, the ice dragon let go of the baby ice dragon in its mouth.
The baby ice dragon immediately went under the ice dragon's stomach.
"Then, before you leave, there's something I'd like to ask you. You said you missed me and Kagari-san's mana. I'd like you to tell me what you mean by that." (Yuna)
Now that we're friendly, I decided to ask.
There's a high chance we would never see each other again, and it's free if I just asked.
The ice dragon looked at Kagari-san.
"I felt the mana of that young child while flying in the sky. It was dazzling, beautiful mana. It may have been a natural birth." (Ice Dragon)
"When did you mean that?" (Yuna)
"It was a long time ago" (Ice Dragon)
Well, Kagari-san had been around for hundreds of years, so that's what happened.
Moreover, it seemed that the Ice Dragon didn't even have the concept of a year that people use.
"Where is it?" (Kagari)
"I don't remember" (Ice Dragon)
Kagari-san looked disappointed. Besides, I didn't think they knew the name of the human town, so it couldn't be helped.
"It’s not your concern." (Kagari)
Apparently it was showing on my face.
I was an expert at putting on a poker face, but lately I'd been letting it show.
"So what about me?" (Yuna)
The ice dragon looked at me.
"There was a Human Child who came to meet me in a place where it was difficult for the Human Child to come." (Ice Dragon)
"Does that mean that person's mana is similar to mine?" (Yuna)
"That's right" (Ice Dragon)
"Why did that person come to see you?" (Yuna)
"The Human Child said they wanted a part of my body." (Ice Dragon)
Partly, did that mean they wanted ice dragon materials?
"The Human Child and I entered into a battle" (Ice Dragon)
That's right. Even if someone asked for a part of their body, it's not something they could easily gave away.
"Then, they died?" (Yuna)
That's what it meant that the ice dragon was still alive.
"Not dead. That person was strong but did not try to kill me. If you listen to the story, they asked for my horn shavings, some of my scales, and my saliva." (Ice Dragon)
If that's the case, you could get it without killing it.
If they said they wanted a dragon's heart or eyes, they wouldn't be able to do it.
"Is that why you gave it?" (Yuna)
"I was offered a deal." (Ice Dragon)
"Deal?" (Yuna)
"The Human Child gave me a magic tool that played music. I live in a quiet place. I agreed while listening to the music." (Ice Dragon)
A magic tool that played music was cheap if you exchanged it for ice dragon materials.
If merchants heard this, they might be surprised.
However, I didn't think anyone would want to make a deal with an ice dragon.
"That’s why when I felt your mana, I remembered that time" (Ice Dragon)
That's why it's nostalgic mana.
"So, who is that person?" (Yuna)
"...The name, Kryuna Hulk" (Ice Dragon)
"...!?" (Yuna)
An unexpected name appeared.
I thought I wouldn't recognize even if I heard a name.
Kryna Hulk. I never thought I would hear that name here.
"That’s all I can say" (Ice Dragon)
No more information seemed to be available.
"Thank you for telling me" (Yuna)
The ice dragon wrapped its arms around its child and closed its eyes.
Maybe it was still tired from yesterday's battle.
So maybe it's not today that they leave, but tomorrow.
We decided not to disturb them any further, I retrieved the bear house, and left.
Kagari-san was silent the entire time.
"…………"
I took the plunge and asked.
"Kagari-san. Do you remember about the slime town?" (Yuna)
"I remember." (Kagari)
"At that time, when I heard the name Kruna Hulk, I felt like I knew it." (Yuna)
"...I've met before." (Kagari)
After all, there it was.
At that time, I didn't ask because I wasn't really interested, but now it's different.
"What kind of person was that?" (Yuna)
"It's cute, it's a girl." (Kagari)
"……girl!?" (Yuna)
Judging from a name, I thought it was a man.
"It's probably a fake name. She changed my name once. Even I don't know her real name." (Kagari)
"I see" (Yuna)
"We met a long time ago, just as the ice dragon said." (Kagari)
"What kind of girl was she?" (Yuna)
"She was a mysterious girl. She said she was traveling around the world. I was asked to go with her, but I declined." (Kagari)
"You mean, before the big snake appeared?" (Yuna)
"After that, I couldn't abandon my role as a seal guardian." (Kagari)
Kagari-san has guarded the serpent's seal.
I mean, she couldn't let it go.
"I wanted to take the hand that was offered to me, but I couldn't." (Kagari)
That happened.
"After that, I started hearing the name Kryuna Hulk. It's just that I didn't know about it because I was a shut-in. Therefore, I don't know much about Kryuna Hulk either." (Kagari)
The more I heard about it, the more mysterious Kryuna Hulk became.
Kryuna Hulk.
According to what I heard from Shia earlier, Kryuna Hulk was an adventurer. A person who fearlessly fights against ice dragons. Indeed, it might become the dream of the adventurers.
Did you also make magic tools?
Kryuna Hulk's name was also written in the researcher's diary that I saw in the slime town.
Targui still had the name.
Maybe they were traveling the world in a Targui like I was.
So maybe they stopped by Land of Harmoni or the slime town.
However, what was unexpected was that it was a woman.
Apparently, she was a girl when she met Kagari-san, so I guessed she was still young.
Well, after all, she's a person from the past.
I didn't really understand that mana was similar though. It might just be a coincidence, and we had never meet, so there's no point worrying about it.
Author's Note
A nostalgic name has appeared.
...
*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.