6. Charge! Bahamut Next Door!
Ah, this cool, chilling sensation. Finally, the long-awaited visitor arrives.
At the first visitor's appearance, I instinctively strike a victory pose, but I make no rash moves. If I screw up and scare off this hard-earned guest, all my efforts so far go down the drain.
Calm down. Stay calm. This is your chance. Your chance to prove your worth.
So, with the serene mindset of a master angler waiting for the fish to bite the bait. I slowly stage the temple's mystique, guiding the curious guest inside.
"Guh... hold on, my heart...!"
If this visitor bolts, it's game over! Without you, my house is toast! More desperately focused than when I built the temple, I stare at the visitor's movements. Seizing the moment when they pause at the entrance, entranced by the statue, I light the fires inside the temple.
Through the mystical flames, I put on a dazzling fire show to welcome them and illuminate the path to the temple.
"Perfect!"
The girl who came here steps inside with a face full of curiosity, and I clench my fist at how everything's going according to plan.
Time passes, and the awaited visitor stands before the stairs, letting out a big sigh at the towering steps.
Hmm. Should I install an escalator for the elderly later?
To make use of the surrounding terrain, I built tall stairs leading to the altar, but they seem awfully inconvenient for anyone climbing them. Seeing her expression, I consider adding an escalator for convenience, but I shake my head.
Shame on you! How dare you bring modern contraptions into this sacred temple! As a fantasy fanatic, it's an insult I can't tolerate!
Wait... what if it's not electric machinery, but magitech blending magic and engineering? Then it's fine, right?
It... makes sense!
I'll design a magic-powered escalator later. The moment pity swells for the frail girl—no, young woman—struggling up the stairs, vowing to improve her comfort...
She reaches the top and stands awestruck before the seven dragon statues I crafted. Heh, I made them as massive and grand as possible to inspire awe in anyone who climbs this far.
"Ahahaha... it's just statues. No problem... yeah, no problem."
It cramped my living space, but seeing her overwhelmed fills me with secret pride.
But this isn't the end. Clearing my throat, I address the girl fixated on the statues in a deep, refined, gentlemanly voice.
"To think a visitor would grace this place."
"Eh? A voice? Where? Who's there!?"
The girl with hair like bleached white, cute as can be in her startled glance around, but if I leave it like this, my mystique fades. I speak again.
"Down here."
Once I reveal my home, she looks down in panic, spots me beyond the wall, and collapses as if her legs gave out.
Proof I've imprinted my majestic presence on her! Convinced I've made a strong impression, I speak to her slowly in my most suave voice.
"I welcome the rare visitor to this place after so long."
Our family business lives on! With the first guest after ages of waiting, I want to roll out the red carpet—maybe even belt out a song!
"Visitor... you mean I'm the visitor here?"
"Indeed. Or perhaps 'guest to my temple' is the fittest term?"
To convince the trembling girl I'm a benevolent dragon friendly to humans, I toss in a half-joking line. But as she shakes harder, bewilderment creeps in, and I open my mouth to calm her...
"Cast aside the fear in your heart. I am..."
Hold up. I set this character's profile and nickname back then—Tteol-u-dwa-i-u-dwa......
Wait. Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait!
Stop. Seriously, hold on. That nickname flashing in my head... what was my name again? Tteol-u-dwa-i-u-dwa...? If I introduce myself to this girl without hesitation...?
"My name is Tteol-u-dwa-i-u-dwa."
"Oh? Planning to be some kind of master or something?"
"Gah!?"
"How cute..."
No! Not this future! I can't handle it. Stop right now!
Realizing the brutal truth, I glimpse that icy future in my mind. The cruel delusion stabs my heart like a dagger.
Danger! Extreme danger. I need a plan now.
Dangerous. Way too dangerous. Unintentionally, I've stumbled into a massive crisis.
Brainstorm a name that fits my look right now! Cerebrum! Left brain! Right brain! Full throttle!
If this magnificent dragon's name is Tteol-u-dwa-i-u-dwa, it's an insult to dragons everywhere! I can't stand for that! More importantly, using that name forever would ruin me!
I must escape this lifetime of black history right now.
"Bahamut. The benevolent dragon who guards humanity."
I pull out Bahamut, the motif for this character. Pathetic that I'm borrowing a famous subculture name, but...
Better than Tteol-u-dwa-i-u-dwa!
If I'd stuck with that and gotten a disappointed, cold stare, my heart would've shattered. Mythic leviathan and all you Bahamuts in subculture! I'll borrow your awesome name! At least cooler than Tteol-u-dwa-i-u-dwa!
"I protect the weak and uphold justice. Fear not. To me, you are one who must be guarded."
"Wow..."
After the name drop, I unleash my killer line! Kyaa... jackpot! I built this temple for this dream alone—no regrets!
But... what do I say next?
Reality crashes in. Yeah... what now?
Huh? Cold analysis: with the temple built and killer line dropped, I've got nothing left. I focused only on getting a visitor, not what to do with them.
Especially without rehearsal—can I even chat normally with a human?
It's been ages since I talked to anyone! Don't expect a shut-in like me to chat like a social butterfly!
...Anyway, start by asking why she's here?
"Visitor, why have you come to this place?"
"W-well... I was fleeing a monster and stumbled here by chance."
"Monster?"
What? Monsters in the modern world?
Oh right, that's me!
The denial crumbles as I realize my 50-meter dragon self fits the monster bill perfectly. Case closed.
"Th-that green monster... uh, ever heard of goblins?"
...Sorry, no clue. Since waking, I've been cave-digging in secret for my delusion, no outside time. Total shut-in dragon NEET here.
"Ah, I see. Understood."
To preserve my initial dignity, I nod knowingly, as if I get it all. Of course, I don't. Just bluffing—I know zilch about the outside.
But unfounded confidence says it'll be fine.
Stay flexible, improvise!
That's my only thought.
"This is a sacred temple for contracting with me. Built by my power. Contract here, gain my strength."
And our temple's still open for business! Treat it like home—no fear!
"P-power? I can get your strength?"
"Of course. But nothing's free. Through your contract and power, I manifest in this world. In exchange, I lend you my strength—a symbiotic pact."
But at "cost," her face pales; she glances around in confusion. Too much to ask for payment! I lament inwardly, but can't take it back.
So, to the bewildered girl, I offer confidence-boosting words.
"Reaching this place means you hold potential to wield vast influence over the world someday."
Lie. Zero visitors till now—this was a doomed, abandoned temple. No entry conditions; just street-cultist sales pitch.
"Whether you better or destroy it, I know not."
But without you, the temple folds! If she leaves uninterested, endless waiting resumes!
Like shoving freebies at a granny, I craft uplifting lines to boost her ego.
"Yet if you prove your justice and convictions, I vow on my name to lend you my power."
Final name drop! Freshly minted minutes ago, but still!
"I... I want to live! Normalize this cursed world and live again!"
Bullseye. She cries out her desire to live, accepting the contract. Relieved, I reply.
"...Very well."
Temple survives by a miracle! Yes!
Time for the finale I prepped before she arrived!
"If that's your wish, I swear to lend you my power. In the name of... Bahamut..."
I cast the prepared magic on her and launch the clincher line—
"Yep."
She collapses, exhausted, passed out.
Hey, this was the big moment! Fainting now? Super awkward!
"It's fine. No problem."
Fine. It'll be okay. At least the temple's saved.