Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Request - [2]
"Mister."
The Saintess tapped on the rocking chair by the fireplace as she spoke.
Snowflakes were still pouring down outside the window like saucers, while the scent of burning firewood and coffee filled the cabin with cozy warmth.
"Have you ever heard of the Nest of the Sleeping Dragon?"
"...The dragon's nest?"
I set down my teacup and tilted my head.
"Sounds like something straight out of a novel. Like the opening of a fantasy story."
"Hehe, it does, doesn't it?"
Irsha folded her eyes into crescents, clearly amused.
"How about checking it out sometime? It's closer than you think. Not far from the Imperial Academy."
"You mean me?"
I couldn't help furrowing my brow. Was this some kind of fantasy adventure plot?
But if so, I didn't have any power to speak of.
"What's there? Treasure? Gold and jewels left by a dragon, or maybe a legendary sword?"
"Nope?"
Irsha shook her head.
"Nothing at all. It's completely empty."
"...?"
I froze.
"If there's nothing there, why send me? The name sounds so grand—dragon's nest and all."
"That's the key point."
Irsha pressed her index finger to her lips, putting on a mysterious expression.
(In retrospect, she just looked mysterious by nature. It was a perfectly ordinary gesture.)
"The fact that there's 'nothing'—that's the biggest mystery and treasure of all."
She rose from her seat and walked over to the fireplace. The firelight turned her white hair a warm orange hue.
"According to history books, that was the final resting place of an ancient dragon once called a 'Transcendent.'"
Her voice was low and solemn.
"The sanctuary where this great being, who once ruled the world, spent its last days. That's why countless powerhouses and grand archmages explored the ruins, convinced some tremendous power or secret technique was hidden there."
"From what you're saying, it sounds like they found absolutely nothing."
"Exactly. And they all testified to the same thing."
Irsha turned to look at me.
"'It's eerily devoid of any sensation... No flow of mana, no life energy from creatures, not even the air seems to move...'"
The Saintess tilted her head and added,
"Something like that. For the record, nothing bad happened. It was just... the absence of sensation. That's all. No one went mad or anything dramatic like that."
"That makes it even less reason for me to go. If all those experts searched and came up empty, what could I possibly do?"
I had no idea what she was getting at.
"That's why I thought..."
The Saintess stepped closer. Her golden eyes bored into me.
"Maybe they couldn't see it because they had too much?"
"Huh?"
"Powerful mana, keen senses, overflowing vitality... What if those very things were getting in the way? That's what occurred to me."
Irsha poked my chest with her finger.
"On the other hand, you—with no mana at all, posing no threat to anyone—might be able to perceive something in there."
"No threat? I mean, I'm still kinda..."
"Sorry, Mister... but you really don't feel threatening at all."
Irsha poked my chest again, her tone teasing.
"No lie, I could probably take you down with one finger. Nah, just my breath could blow you away."
"..."
I couldn't argue. It probably was true. This world was terrifying!
"One interesting fact about that ancient dragon is that it was surprisingly peaceful in nature. Who knows? Maybe your piano could stir some kind of ripple in that empty space...?"
So it was all just speculation, after all.
"Not going."
"Whaaat? Why not?"
"Why risk my life for some wild guess? I'm all about safety first."
"It's not some wasteland. Why would the dragon's nest be a wasteland? You're so weird, Mister."
Her words made me pause.
"It's a proper tourist spot, all developed. Carriages run right to the entrance, there's souvenir shops, great lodging. Pay a little extra, and you can even enjoy tours with illusion magic recreating the dragon from back then."
"...Huh?"
I gaped in disbelief. A Transcendent's sanctuary as a tourist trap?
Of course, on second thought, it made perfect sense. Places like that always turned into tourist attractions.
"If anything, that makes it less appealing. Tons of people must go there, including plenty weaker than me."
"I've never seen anyone as weak as you, Mister. You don't strike me as having potential. Like... potential to get stronger?"
Was she teasing me? Her face was so serious, it was hard to tell.
"Sigh... I'm just not feeling it anyway."
Irsha pouted her lips. She pondered for a moment, then pulled out her ace card.
"Fine. If you go there once... I'll give you a blessing."
"A blessing?"
"Yeah! A Saintess's blessing! Not just anyone gets this. It'll make you healthier, luckier, better skin. Pretty great, right?"
It was tempting. No—snap out of it. What if something actually happened there?
"Thanks, but."
"Then I'll specially call you 'Oppa.'"
Silence fell. I stared at her in astonishment.
"You're... serious right now?"
"Yep. One hundred percent serious."
"The 'Oppa' title feels more like the real bargaining chip than the blessing... or whatever you'd call it. You think that's the better deal?"
"Objectively, it is."
Irsha declared confidently.
"Who else in this world gets called 'Oppa' by a Saintess? Blessings? You can get those sometimes if you donate big to the Holy Kingdom... but 'Oppa'? No one hears that."
"Uh... yeah, fair point."
I found myself nodding. Still, that didn't mean I'd go.
"Doesn't change anything. I won't budge for a nickname."
"Ugh, you're so picky!"
Irsha flopped down in frustration.
"Anyway... my intuition's telling me something."
She whispered softly.
"If you go there, you'll find something you really need."
"Something I need?"
"Yes. Something you need... And if I had to guess, that dragon might have transcended beyond human reach. Following its traces could reveal... the will of our silent Goddess."
Irsha stood up.
"You're right—no immediate benefit for you now. I can't force you, so I'll head out for today."
She prepared to snap her fingers.
"You won't remember this dream anyway."
"...So we don't spoil the fun?"
"Bingo."
Irsha grinned mischievously.
"Next time, I'll come back with an offer you can't refuse. See you then. Bye!"
Snap!
A sharp pop echoed, and the cabin scene shattered.
The blizzard, the fireplace, Irsha's smile—all crumbled to pieces and vanished into the darkness.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ugh."
I opened my eyes. My head throbbed like it might split open. Had someone smashed it with a hammer?
"Ow, my head..."
Hangover? Vaguely recalled drinking after the party last night.
I'd had some weird dream too. A snowy cabin... talking to someone. But the details escaped me. Felt familiar, somehow.
"Here, water."
As I grimaced, someone handed me a glass. I took it gratefully and gulped it down.
The cold water sliding down my throat cleared my head a bit. I set the glass down and looked up.
And.
"...?"
I doubted my eyes at the figure before me. It was Haruna.
More precisely, Haruna in a white apron loaded with frills.
A short black skirt barely reaching her knees. A white lace headband. Even a ribbon tie around her neck.
"Wha... what the hell?"
Her curvaceous figure strained against the maid outfit, bursting with volume.
This was... way too stimulating!
Haruna stared at the floor, unsure where to look, fidgeting with the hem of her apron... and spoke.
"I never expected that from you while we were drinking last night, Iman."
"Me? What did I do?"
"Your tastes... are pretty unique."
She glanced at me, then looked down again.
"Never thought you'd ask me for something like that. I went along because you were drunk."
"Wait, what is this...?"
"But a promise is a promise. I'll do it."
Her eyes held a mix of shame and strange obedience, leaving me utterly flustered.
What the fuck did I do last night?!