The Half-Dragon Companion
Banir is a nation founded by devotees of the Lake Goddess. Most of the nobles, and about half the commoners, are her followers. But the goddess is incredibly merciful. She doesn't drive the other half of the commoners—those of different faiths—beyond the borders. Instead, she established the City of All Gods right in the capital, ensuring all deities are comfortably housed. It's like turning her people's land into a religious neutral zone. Among the gods, she's something like the head of an international peace organization.
Thanks to that compassion, we had plenty of options. We could test which god's temple would purify our captured Succubus Queen the cleanest. Of course, it wasn't great news for the Succubus Queen herself.
[Hey, you crazy bastards! Let me out of this thing!]
"I know. Feels like being a lab rat, right? Like overhearing them debate whether to dunk you in hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. But hey."
Esen cheerfully mocked the monster tapping away inside the crystal orb.
"If it bugs you that much, you shouldn't have betrayed your goddess. This is the result of your choices. Suck it up."
[Kyaaak—!]
"Talking about lab rats reminds me of Bilena. Damn. Come to think of it, she's in Banir too."
Esen muttered as she covered the sealed crystal orb. Monica flinched while packing our travel bags. I tilted my head at her oddly hunched posture and mumbled,
"Bilena? Who's that? A party member I haven't met yet?"
"...You might not need to meet her?"
Monica said, still flinching. My curiosity deepened.
"Who the hell is she? What's her aptitude?"
"Bilena Umbrella Nitro. No aptitude. If you had to classify her job, 'scientist' comes close."
"What's a scientist?"
"Easy explanation: like a pharmacist, witch, or alchemist. Actually, it's a new term she coined herself. She spends all day cackling creepily while tinkering with stuff, bugging blacksmiths to make weird gadgets..."
"...If you ever run into Bilena, don't let her talk your ear off. Who knows what'll happen."
That's what the sisters had warned me about when I was a kid. Even if someone looks like a heaven-defying villain, judge their character after talking to them. For the sisters—who embrace universal love—not to tolerate her? My interest was piqued.
"Like a pharmacist or alchemist? So if I ask her to make medicine, she will?"
"She'll whip up something amazing, but I can't guarantee it'll be safe... No. Just stay away from Bilena. And don't even let word get out that you heard this."
"...You're not bullying a teammate, are you?"
It overlapped with the ostracism I'd faced in my last party. Felt like a punch to the gut. But Esen and Monica, warning me so sternly about Bilena, showed no malice—just pure fear.
"Bullying? Us, to Bilena?"
Esen shuddered like a wet animal, shaking her head vigorously.
"You have no idea what she might do to us. Unless she ditches the whole party."
—————
"Is that what you think, Esen Taiga?"
In the darkness, a pale silhouette stroked a cat and murmured.
"How tragic. At least I thought... we were friends."
—————
"Fuck, what was that?"
"Esen, no bad language."
"Yeah, sis. But seriously, what? Goosebumps hit me out of nowhere."
Sensing something, Esen tucked her head and scanned around. The 'twins'—who'd just finished packing—stared blankly at Esen, who looked possessed by a spy.
The elf Nenya and knight Reni asked in unison,
"What's she doing?"
"What game did you invent this time, Esen?"
"Feels like someone's watching and eavesdropping on me."
"...Professionally speaking, that's called paranoia."
"I thought that bitch just had anger issues. Maybe I should dump her at a vet to knock some sense into her."
"Whoa, listen to that mouth. Monica sis, Monica sis, tell this psycho elf off too. She glares at me like she wants to skin me alive!"
"...What can I say? She's older than me."
"Older? The more spiritually mature one should get respect. How many people are as deep as you sisters? I respect you."
Deep, sure... Monica smiled and accepted Nenya's greeting, while Esen grumbled.
"Thinks she's so mature. Hundreds of years old and picking fights with a twenty-year-old."
"If we ranked mental age in this party: 1st, the sisters. 2nd, Tena. 3rd, me or 'Nidroga.' Last place is obvious. The one who slicks her hair with spit instead of gel."
Who's Nidroga? Some name from an obscure culture. ...And Esen? Uses spit on her hair? Like a cat? With no one backing her up, Esen pouted, then clung to my back like a cicada and cackled.
"Our porter's on my side, right? Yeah?"
I sighed with Esen hanging off me. In the party, I was fully seen as Esen's lackey. Some pitied the newbie for dealing with her pampered ass; others tried some nasty hazing but backed off when they heard Tena scouted me and Esen claimed me.
Never worked an all-women office, but politics exist everywhere. Can't be all warm fuzzies. Felt uneasy being calculating, but having Esen as my pillar made it easier. Even if we weren't tight from the start, I'd probably have cozied up first. Her shadow warded off trouble too.
...And I'd pay protection tax in semen. Suddenly terrifying. Worth the investment?
"What side? Don't bully the newbie."
As Nenya snapped and reached to pry Esen off, Esen twisted away. I ended up like a pack mule under her reins.
"Giddyup. Hey, porter. Know what?"
"What? That I just became your personal horse?"
"Nah. That flat-chested elf over there?"
Isn't this crossing a line? As I backed away, Nenya flushed red and drew her staff.
"What'd you say?"
"Dunno. Hundreds of years old and never even dated, let alone felt butterflies. Why? Obvious reason. Look at that stunted growth. Think guys'll line up? Ah, the pitiful fairy who pines for love but can't even sigh properly with those mosquito bites..."
"...Not many elves have bigger tits than mine."
"Congrats. Queen of tree-bark chests."
"Get down here! Fight me! One of us is dying today—!"
Passing party members freaked, rushed in, and restrained the staff-swinging Nenya. Scared of splash damage, I bolted backward—with Esen riding piggyback, howling to cut the wind.
...Is this party okay?
—————
I figured we'd take the train, but there was faster transport. Something called a 'comrade.'
"What does that mean? Don't tell me like Esen on my back right now..."
"...No, no. Not everyone piling on Tan's back."
Esen had taken a real liking to riding my back lately. My lap too, day or night. Relentless energy vampire.
The transport's name? 'Nidroga.' The party member I'd just wondered about.
Nidroga's true form? Oh. My. God. Never saw it coming.
The wyvern landing pad seemed oversized. Thought it was just for easy landings. Didn't realize it was built for that size.
I tried not to blurt it out dumbly. Might be rude. Failed.
"D-dragon...?"
"Precisely, a Draconian. Half-human, half-dragon. A race with both draconic and human essence."
Shrinking from house-sized to human in seconds, Nidroga dusted off her red scales and said. Then extended a hand, exuding senior vibes.
"New face. Rookie? Aptitude?"
"Ah, yes. Name's Ran. Porter—"
As I went to shake, Nidroga yanked back. Stared shocked, then shook her head and gripped again.
"Sorry for the prejudice. Bad memories with porters..."
...My worry about rudeness was for nothing. But we'd both slipped once, so less awkward now.
"Not all male porters are criminals, but I'm not even male."
"Can't relax just 'cause you're a woman. Know how my last party fell apart?"
"How?"
"Embarrassing to say. A girl-crazy female porter pulled all kinds of nasty shit, got caught in her escapades, and dragged to jail."
Ah, porters. This damn oversexed aptitude. Gender irrelevant—what a disgrace. Stop hunting for dick warmers. Channel that surplus libido into fast, safe hauling.
...Not my place to say. Seething at my own hypocrisy, I squeezed my eyes shut. Also to avoid staring at Nidroga.
Her body was stunning—no slouch next to Esen or the sisters. Slim, flawless. She bared it brazenly, scales barely covering privates like skimpy armor. Traces of transformation lingered, but model-worthy beauty.
Nidroga shivered off lingering scale bits on her skin. I shut my eyes tighter.
"Lucky I transferred here before that woman's claws reached out. Now step back. Gotta transform again. I'll deliver us to the City of All Gods in half a day."