The Spirit Herb (1)
Hmm.
He was surprised, but also a bit flustered.
What he'd hoped for was a contract with an adult dragon.
An egg, though?
Would you like to proceed with the Oath of the Dragon for this egg?
The system message glowed prominently again while he pondered.
Whew.
Now he had to decide.
Screw it. So what if it's a dragon egg?
Pass on this?
He might never get another chance in his lifetime.
They don't say "saving it turns to shit" for nothing.
He immediately formed the intent.
To proceed with the Oath of the Dragon.
User has agreed. Proceeding with the Oath of the Dragon.
Flash—!
Whoosh!
A single strand of pure white thread flowed out from the dragon egg.
The same happened from his heart.
The two threads raced toward each other like the N and S poles of magnets.
Soon, they intertwined.
The thread of fate has connected.
The Oath of the Dragon has been successfully completed.
With the system messages, his status window transformed before his eyes.
Forms a mental resonance with contracted beings.
Target is currently hatching.
Two skills had appeared under trait skills.
Summon was obviously unavailable since it was still an egg.
But what was Spiritual Communion?
"Does it mean I can talk to this guy?"
He chuckled at the absurd thought.
That was the moment.
『I'm hungry...』
"...!"
He jumped back in shock.
What, what was that?
Did the egg just speak?
『Kyuu... I'm hungry...』
The voice of a little girl, maybe four or five years old.
Her first words to him were a whiny complaint about hunger.
"W-Wait a sec. I get that you're hungry, but... how do I even feed you?"
『Kyuuu...』
The voice grew weaker.
This wasn't good. What if something went wrong?
"This is driving me crazy."
He wanted to feed it, but how?
Common sense said eggs don't eat...
No.
This was a dragon egg, after all.
Human logic didn't apply.
Anyway, the egg was hungry.
He needed to find something for it to eat.
But nothing around looked edible.
Let's check what's beyond those passages.
He dashed toward the tunnels carved into the walls.
Hoping for a clue to this mess.
But.
Thud!
Another transparent wall blocked his path.
This passage cannot be used due to low level.
Level restriction? This really felt like a dungeon.
Well, a Dragon's Lair was basically a dungeon, right?
Anyway, he checked every other passage.
This passage cannot be used due to low level.
This passage cannot be used due to low level.
This passage...
No way out anywhere.
My God!
This was a problem in itself.
Forget the egg—he was getting hungry and might starve first.
"...Should I eat that moss or something?"
A small spring pooled where water trickled from one cave wall, moss clinging to the surrounding rocks.
Unknown flowers bloomed thickly around it too.
"Is this water safe to drink?"
Up close, the spring water was crystal clear.
Perfectly transparent.
It looked drinkable, but dungeon water? Better not.
Common knowledge, even for a non-superhuman like him until recently.
『Kyuuu... I'm hungry...』
The egg's voice echoed again.
What to do?
In the end, he opened Superhuman Net.
Were there cases of eggs demanding food?
He searched egg, food.
Useless posts only.
He tweaked the keywords after a moment.
Familiar egg, food.
Dragons were like familiars, right?
Some superhumans handled familiars—maybe info there.
For summoner trait users who got a familiar egg early but worried about slow hatching...
It's because familiar eggs need energy to hatch. Their main source is mana. Usually, learn Mana Circulation Method... (excerpt) ... or pour Mana Potion on it—good method too.
It worked.
Relevant info!
Mana, huh?
Maybe that's what the egg needed.
"Buddy, is 'hungry' meaning you need mana?"
『Kyuiii... Mana... Maa...』
Ah. Mana for sure.
Why not say so earlier?
But problem.
Usually transfer via Mana Circulation Method.
He had no such method.
Only way now is Superhuman Net's Exchange.
Superhuman Net had an exchange system.
Superhumans traded via it.
F-rank Mana Circulation or mana potion—only through exchange.
But no money.
Tricky.
Nothing here to sell.
Sell those unknown flowers?
He headed to the flowers by the spring.
Flowers growing in a lair should count as items.
He squinted, carefully uprooting an outer flower.
Blue and white petals, half and half.
Items show system window on pickup.
Superhuman common sense.
Dungeon items reveal info in superhuman hands.
Lunadria
Lv???
"Whoa!"
Real item.
But Lv??? What?
Way above his level.
Well, he was level 1.
Search Lunadria.
Continuing from parts 1 and 2, this spiritual herb is Lunadria. Originates from moon-watching flowers infused with lunar energy. Only in mana-rich spots... (excerpt)... Holds tons of mana, sells for big bucks. Popular but rare. If you find Lunadria, dig it up—don't pass!
Oh!
Forget the level.
This flower packed mana—a spiritual herb.
Whoa. Lunadria everywhere here, but it's rare?
Over a hundred at a glance.
And bigger than usual.
Posts said hand-span size; this was forearm-thick.
『Kyu-ing...』
The egg's voice again.
He realized something, eyes sparkling.
Wait. Needs mana? Just give it this flower!
He acted fast.
Propped Lunadria by the egg.
Moments later.
Vrrr!
The dragon egg and Lunadria resonated.
Flash!
Blue particles streamed from Lunadria into the egg.
Vrrr!
The egg glowed blue, trembling finely.
『Kyuuuung—』
A faint, happy cry from within.
The egg absorbed mana from Lunadria for a while.
『Kyui... Full...』
No more mana flowed.
It ate its fill.
"Whoa. It worked."
He'd half-doubted, but it did—soft gasp of awe.
"Looks a bit bigger too?"
Not imagination.
He had sharp eyes.
Grows with mana, apparently.
Yeah. Grow big and hatch soon.
"This can be replanted."
Lunadria wilted slightly but still vibrant.
He replanted it.
"..."
Suddenly, he plucked a petal.
Can I eat this too?
Tension eased; hunger hit hard.
After skipping meals in despair before coming here.
Superhuman Net search.
Just got lucky with a Lunadria. Curious about consumption method.
Seems safe.
Cautiously, he popped the Lunadria petal in his mouth.
No taste expectations.
Just not bad.
But.
"...!"
First bite: mystical flavor enveloped his tongue.
Sweet, refreshing first taste.
Pure sweetness like honey infused with moonlight.
Insane.
Inner awe; he chewed faster.
Deeper flavors emerged.
Fruity tang with soft, juicy white peach nectar coating his tongue.
Harmony of sweet and tart.
Then, light citrus aroma filled his mouth, shimmering like starlight, leaving a mystical aftertaste.
How can a petal taste like this?
He shivered in thrill.
Smooth, sweet finish lingered, like waking from a fantastic dream.
"Ha!"
Insane.
Pure admiration burst as he swallowed the last petal.
Pluck!
His hand grabbed another unconsciously.
Crunch!
Another petal melted in his mouth.
He devoured every petal from one Lunadria ravenously.
As petals melted one by one, mystical aroma and sweetness intensified.
Last petal: warm energy surged, wrapping him softly like moonlight.
Not mere taste.
Like the universe danced in his mouth—stars exploding on his tongue, air sweet with fragrance.
Eyes closed: freedom and peace soaring endless skies welled from deep within.
This is heaven.
Lost in bliss, languid.
System messages popped up.
Mana greatly increased.
The level-up message floated up.
"...What."
Just ate one spiritual herb.
And leveled up?