She Came Back After All
No way she'd come back, right? "My sleep's all ruined now."
Five days had passed since that weird human showed up. I was still in polymorph form, arms crossed, lounging against the nest wall. My original plan had been to catch a solid five-year nap before heading to the Fairy Kingdom, but that oddball human had yanked me out of it. I could always go back to sleep, no big deal, but getting any real deep rest now would be tricky.
"Damn human."
If it hadn't been for that Haring or whatever her name was, I could've slept like a rock! Tap tap. I idly drummed my fingers on the nest wall and quietly shut my eyes.
"...Kinda impressive, though."
A human—no, a scrawny little newbie mercenary—climbing this towering Red Mountain. Even seasoned mercs or burly dwarves and barbarians would break a sweat trying that, but Haring pulled it off. Made me feel a twinge of respect, even as I thought, what a waste of grit on petty theft. Total nonsense.
"What was her real goal, anyway..."
Sure, it looked like theft, but her vibe and reactions didn't quite add up. Her face was weirdly blank for a merc, and yeah, she was shaking, but she didn't seem terrified of death or anything. More like uneasy than outright scared? Pros with years under their belt still bawl like babies facing the end.
Flap. Flap.
"Flame Dragon! Flame Dragon!"
"Tiria, huh."
"Yup! It's me, Tiria!"
Lost in my thoughts, I hadn't noticed the fairies trickling in around me one by one. Fairies a smidge bigger than my hand, elf-like with glowing butterfly wings sprouting from their backs.
Kyarrur~ "We didn't come by while you were sleeping~ We did good, right?"
"Yeah. But you guys had a visitor before you."
"Ehh~? Who? Who'd dare bug the Flame Dragon while she's napping?"
Maja maja. Bad kid. They gotta get punished!
The fairies spun circles around me, chiming in with their little quips. I giggled at the one tapping my shoulder like a woodpecker.
"Yup. So I gave her what-for."
"Nice one! But who was it?"
"A human."
"A human? How'd a human even reach the Flame Dragon's nest?"
"Maja! It's crazy high up here..."
"Dunno. Must be one persistent punk."
Otherwise, no way she'd make it up. I'd knocked her out cold and chucked her at the mountain entrance—no further fuss. She didn't die, did she? I'd cleared out all the real threats, but a few nasty wild beasts lurked around sometimes. Still, if she could climb up unscathed, she could handle herself.
As our chit-chat wound down, Tiria—their leader—clapped her hands and peered up at me.
"Oh, Flame Dragon. You hear about this?"
"Huh?"
"Lately, tons of outsiders have been flooding into the kingdom down below. From another continent or something."
"Outsiders?"
"Yup~"
"Humans?"
"Humans and other races too, looks like. Pretty wild, huh?"
"Hmm..."
Another continent, she says. After wandering every corner of the world, nothing felt truly "new" to me. Cultural quirks or racial differences didn't make anyone real foreigners. Plus, the Legion Kingdom at the foot of Red Mountain was one of the most trade-happy spots around, buzzing with humans and otherkin alike.
"...Nah."
"Huh?"
"When was the last time I swung by..."
I scratched my head. Roughly thirty years ago, I think. We'd had some back-and-forth since, but my last official visit was thirty years back. Things could've shifted in the meantime.
"Legion King kick the bucket? Didn't look that old."
"Nah? He's kicking fine."
"Totally~ Looks even spryer these days~."
"Huh. Guess not, then..."
Whatever—just more outsiders trickling in from the eastern continent, probably. That blank-faced merc Haring might even be one. No skin off my nose either way.
No way she'd come back, right?
Not unless she was nuts or had nine lives. No ignoring my warning.
"Flame Dragon, Flame Dragon~ When you headed to the Fairy Kingdom? The Fairy King misses you tons~."
"Five years. Kinda wanna sleep."
"For real? I'll pass that on!"
Kyarrur~
Tiria babbled on for a good while before flitting off with the rest. Alone again, I yawned huge and shifted back to my true form. Polymorph wasn't uncomfortable or anything, but dragon mode felt cozier for crashing—like pajamas versus day clothes. Day wear's fine, but for real Z's, you need the sleep gear.
Just seal my eyes for a month like this, and I'd be...
Knock knock.
"Anyone home...?"
"...?"
Again?
＊
"Ehehe... Hi there!"
"......"
She actually came back. Five days on the dot—must've bolted straight up the mountain the second she woke.
Not a climb any human knocks out in a day or two.
Why, though? The height was insane enough, but I couldn't wrap my head around a return trip. Dragons were thin on the ground these days, sure, but no newbie merc should be waltzing in fearless...
I shot her my sourest glare, and she winced, scratching her head sheepishly.
"Well, see..."
"Didn't get the memo?"
"N-no! I swear I wasn't here to steal!"
"Liar."
"For real! I mean... uh! You're just so amazing and cool and mighty and... super OP, y'know!"
"Mm."
True enough.
"So?"
"Y'know those legends? Like, train under a great dragon and boom, mega-knight or whatever...?"
"Yeah."
I nodded at her starry-eyed face. A few non-dragons had pulled that off for real. That ice elf princess up north under the frost dragon, the ogre warlord mentored by an earth dragon down south... even the retired ex-emperor of Legion got some dragon wisdom.
More like got schooled half to death, but yeah.
Me? I'd done it way back—too ancient to recall the details.
"So. Teach me?"
"Yup! If you'd─"
"Nah. Too much hassle."
Hwaaaah...Flump.
I stretched my jaws in a massive yawn and melted deeper into the ultra-plush nest. Moving sucked, let alone playing teacher. Everything was a drag now; all I craved was sleep.
"Too late... Way too slow..."
Should've shown up a century ago at least. I was half-hibernating then too, but I might've sized up her potential and mulled it over.
Sleepy...
Living thousands of years was exhausting. I waved off the flustered Haring.
Whoosh~
My gesture sent her tumbling like a candle in the wind.
Too lazy to haul her all the way to the base...
"Beat it while I'm nice... And spend your life grateful for this."
"Or what."
"Tch."
"Ah, n-no! I'm going! Totally going! But... mind if I ask one teensy thing? Like, permission to ask?"
"Spit it out."
Wordy much? Headache to listen to. I'd hear her out anyway—what's it matter?—but if she dragged this on, it'd be continent-hopping time, not just the entrance.
"Th-that transform mode... just once...?"
"Huh?"
"Y'know. Your human look. The one that flicked my forehead."
"...?"
Why that? Just polymorph—nothing special. Weaker than dragon form, all soft meaty bits, not super tough.
Not human-fragile, mind you.
Most folks begged for the dragon view. Humans craving the girl form? Rare as hen's teeth.
"Just wanna see it once. Pretty please?"
"......"
"Real deal, just once! Scout's honor."
"...Fiiine."
Bothersome, but a quick shift? No sweat. Tossing her down was convenience store run; transforming was swapping to day clothes. Latter's easier—do it, boot her out. If she stuck around after? Restaurant distance be damned, straight to the other continent.
Fwaaah...!!
My body shifted again, shrinking endlessly as my wings stretched skyward. No dress this time—just casual red PJs, pinkish tint, some gift or other. Fancy getup was for scaring the soul outta her last time; no need now.
Lazy...
Comfiest option, that's all. Shift complete, Haring shuddered like she'd been zapped.
What's her deal?
"There. Happy? Now scram. Sleepy time."
"...No pic? Only way..."
"?"
Haring gritted her teeth like she'd steeled herself and charged. How'd that mana-less weakling move so fast? I just watched. No harm possible—sharpest blade or not, she'd just trip on her own swing before nicking me.
She barreled right up, noses almost bumping...
"Hya!"
"?"
Click. Click. Click!
She struck a few poses by my side, then bolted for the nest exit.
"Huh?"