Shadows of Rejection and the Dragon's Bargain

Oh, so this is the dragon's lair? The woman stroked Freira's cheek.

Perhaps because that caressing touch was exactly like one from time immemorial, Freira's fingers slowly parted. A gap formed in the hand clamped over her ear.

"Why did you come."

"…."

"I never wanted you."

The woman twisted her lips. Pointing to her own belly, she continued.

"That day. The day my body was defiled by that worm. The day you parasitized my womb."

I should have erased you forever.

I should have frozen you solid like a winter night, keeping you from ever seeing the light of day.

"Don't look at me. I can't even stand the sight of you."

The woman denied her daughter's existence.

Freira silently endured those words cursing her very birth.

She had planned to scream and hurl curses if she ever met the one who abandoned her again. But now that she stood before her, no words came out.

Just an inexplicable sadness filled her.

Then, someone covered her eyes.

"My greatest regret is that I didn't—" "Be quiet!!"

A dull bursting sound rang out. The Frost Witch's voice fell silent.

"Rest assured. It's fine now."

A recorded voice spoke. As a sturdy body enveloped her, warmth spread through her.

"…Hamel."

There was no reply. Probably because there were too many people around to use his human voice.

Alsanna, having grasped the situation, rushed over and began her incantation.

"May the Lord God who illuminates all things drive out impurity and protect His children."

As a halo of light wrapped around her body, her frantically pounding heart gradually calmed.

Hamel draped his fallen coat over her shoulders. Freira hurried her trembling steps forward.

Behind them, the knights murmured softly. A newly appointed knight asked.

"Who was that just now?" "…The Duchess of Karstein. Or at least, that's the memory." "…She said that to the young lady?"

Their voices grew even lower.

"She's a witch. No way she has a human heart to begin with." "So she said that and vanished north? …All that's left is pity for the Duke and the young lady."

Freira said nothing.

She just pretended not to hear and kept walking ahead.

A few days had passed since I silenced my mother-in-law's yap.

Strictly speaking, she wasn't my mother-in-law. Just a remnant mimicking the Frost Witch.

Definitely a bad matchup.

I gazed at the frail back of the Grand Duke's daughter. Beyond a bad matchup, it was straight-up inducing mental collapse.

No matter how I think about it, that's not something a parent should say.

Alsanna was taking care of Freira like a proper priestess, but she was growing exhausted all the same.

With little field experience, constant camping was bound to wear her down.

"…Haa. Will this ever end?" "Quit grumbling and kill more."

The knights sliced through amnesiacs with weary faces. They were conserving mana rifle ammo just in case.

Our expedition's position was smack in the middle of barren plains—the shortest path from the kingdom's walls to the royal palace ruins.

"Stop. Swamp. We go around."

Skadi poked a few steps ahead with a stick and spoke.

A perennial permafrost swamp. Solid on the outside, mud within. Full of undecayed amnesiacs too.

Best to avoid becoming a chewy corpse cookie with a crispy exterior.

After hours more of slow marching, the sun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dipped below the horizon. People sluggishly set up camp. Exhaustion was plain on every ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠face.

Me? Fine as ever. As long as the core spins, that's it.

This night will be long too.

Automatons don't sleep.

Sitting blankly in the equipment storage tent, the flap lifted and someone entered.

"Iron man. Seen Sister Alsanna?"

It was Skadi.

"Thought I'd hear Northern Wall stories since I'm bored. She's not here." "…."

"Then you do it instead. You can talk, right?"

I'm not gonna.

As I kept my mouth shut with a blank expression, Skadi approached.

"You're pretty delicate-looking. Manly yet girly." "…."

"True? They say you killed Ragnor?"

Trouble, so I just nodded.

Thwack.

Skadi punched my chassis. Tiny fist.

"Fight me next. I'm gonna be a warrior later." "Response. Absolutely not."

"What do you mean no? I'll hit first." The barbarian little girl tilted her head. Red hair cascaded down.

"Dying to a manly warrior is romantic. Or become my wife otherwise."

No thanks. Act your age, kid.

While still in silent meditation, the tent flap opened again.

"Hamel. You here? …Oh." "What's the princess up to?"

Freira. Skadi called the hesitant girl "princess." Her pale skin and slender figure made her look like a sickly princess.

"Uh, no. I'll go." "Scared to sleep alone?" "What? I'm not a kid…"

Busted. Freira's more timid than you'd think.

Seeing her fidget, Skadi giggled. The kid poked Freira's waist and headed out.

"Grown woman more scared than me."

Somehow the roles felt reversed. Freira flushed deeply, clearly embarrassed.

Now alone, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time to talk.

"Having nightmares?" "…Yeah." "The usual one?" "…Uh-huh."

Aaah. No helping it.

Guess I gotta pat her to sleep? Stroke her all night? Sniff her hair deep?

"Wrap her limbs tight, hug her close, read her to sleep? Sniff that hair scent all night?"

"H-Hamel. …I can hear you." "Oopsie."

Freira twisted her hair, face red.

I entered the small tent prepared for the Grand Duke's daughter. Laying her down, she reached out both arms.

Burying her face in my chest, Freira asked.

"…Will you put me to sleep?" "Shall I read a picture book?" "…Uh-huh."

I didn't mock the grown woman asking for a bedtime story. Everyone has their weaknesses.

This one.

The tale of burning a witch who tormented humans. Ironically, the witch felt warmth for the first time as she burned to death.

Reading this crap isn't cruel?

It's Freira's favorite.

I read line by line in a gentle voice. The Grand Duke's daughter just clung silently.

"And so, the witch died, and the people lived happily ever after."

"…."

Asleep?

"…Yeah. Good story."

Not yet. Sleep already.

"Another one?" "…No. Same one, one more time." "Yes, miss."

That night was long. Only after several more readings did Freira finally fall asleep.

She kept groaning—same nightmare? Symptoms worsening since entering the palace ruins.

"…Mo… …too much… …shining… …name…"

Freira mumbled, clutching my hand. The necklace around her neck glowed darker.

Getting close to the source of memories, I guess.

I stroked her, thinking.

Tomorrow, we'll face the Forgetting Dragon for the first time.

Seeing the palace outer walls, Freira swallowed dryly. The knights' reactions were much the same.

Less a castle, more a mountain of ruins. Some melted-and-resolidified walls gleamed like glass. Amnesiacs occasionally tumbled from torn towers.

Amnesiacs scattered in the northern fringes were packed here. Dragging feet without purpose or meaning, wandering the land.

"In service to the Holy Kingdom." "We'll clear the path."

Good thing two paladins came along.

Untiring, they swung maces, carving a way ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠through crumbled walls.

"Alright. This is as far as I go. Come back alive."

Skadi said flatly. No one minded. No expectations for a kid—guide or not—to fight a dragon.

"You can get back alone?" "Obviously. Sister Alsanna would die quick solo." "Ah, no! True, but!! I'm worried!!"

Alsanna had grown fond; she shoved extra bread into Skadi's hands. Bread lover, as expected.

Skadi gave final advice.

"Fall behind, you die. Dodge the flames."

The knights formed ranks, loading mana rifles. Tension thick.

The knight captain quietly reminded them.

"You know the iron rule. If the dragon opens its maw, plug your ears and hide. It'll use Dragon Word."

Dragon Word. Power that rends reality and enforces phenomena. Same as sorcery in mechanism.

Total cheat.

Way too unfair.

But life is inherently incomprehensible.

Like right now.

"Guests from afar."

Clear human speech echoed. The chanting holy knights froze.

"I'd offer lavish welcome, but I have little to give, so a few words must suffice. Bear with me."

Shadow fell overhead. Someone slowly looked up.

Scarlet vertical pupils flashed. Seemed amused, mouth curved like a smile. Body house-sized, clawed wings neatly folded.

"Pleased to meet you. I am Malgras. If you'll allow, I'd propose a deal."

The Forgetting Dragon. Memory-eater Malgras.

Unlike expectations of savage devouring, it spoke most intellectually and politely.

Caught off-guard, many froze in place.

Yeah. I fell for that in my first playthrough too.

I tugged Freira's waist, pulling her to a stop.

Alsanna… paladins surged forward, so she's fine. Holy Kingdom elites indeed.

Malgras eyed Freira, letting out eerie laughter.

"You there. You resemble a woman I know. Euterpe's blood, perhaps? …Pity. Born daughter to that witch. Must have been a suffering life."

Freira's breathing roughened. Her slender hand gripped me tight.

"Yes. Life is full of suffering. Let me help. Forget it all, and find peace."

I clamped Freira's mouth as she tried to reply, hurling us both behind a crumbled wall.

Even Aegis can't block Dragon Word head-on.

Don't trust the listed time. At best, 0.5 seconds.

Those snapping to looked at me and hurriedly plugged ears, diving for cover. Some still stood dazed.

Malgras opened its maw.

"Forget."

Words turned to breath, flames erupted. Fire scoured everything in its path.

Intent on reducing all to memory's ashes.

The core spun fiercely, near overload. The translucent veil around me and Freira flickered and vanished.

"H-Hamel." "We survived. For now."

Malgras roared, taking flight. It cried joyfully overhead.

"Blocked Dragon Word? Impressive. Ripen further. Heighten emotions and memories, then come. I'll wait in the nest."

The dragon flew to the palace. Ashes trailed from its maw—memories singed by the flames.

Direct hits melted victims formless. The lucky ones.

"Ah. Mouth opened. Hide. Hide." "I won't fall. Got someone to marry. Marriage."

Knights in ducal armor shuffled nearby, muttering reasonlessly.

People turned amnesiac before my eyes. Alsanna shoved off her guarding paladin, looking around.

"H-How many got hit?" "Bishop. Dangerous." "But the people…"

Alsanna's words stopped. On a low hill, a little girl staggered.

"Fall behind… die. Dodge… the flames…"

Red hair half-burned to a bob. Eyes unfocused.

Alsanna sniffled. Raising teary eyes, she asked anyone.

"Who's that kid? Too, too young."

Surviving knights shook heads.

"Barbarian girl." "Why here? …Did we bring her as guide?" "A kid that young? No way."

Freira staggered to me, barely composed.

"Hamel. You okay?" "Response. Yes, miss." "We almost died. Thanks."

Freira leaned on me, catching breath. Feeling eyes, she pointed at the blankly staring girl.

"That redhead girl. Know her?"

Yeah. I know.

Probably the only one in this world who does.