Chapter 78

Translated by boilpoil Edited by boilpoil

At first, of course the people wouldn’t believe that so easily.

The big, black dragon demonstrated monumental power in his one casual attack that pinpointed exactly onto the King that was protected by layers of people dead in the centre, ploughing through all the protective shields on him in one fell stroke and severely injuring him. Over time, rumours have even exaggerated what actually occurred. It is the opinion of many that this dragon with such physical prowess would of course have ambition matching that, right?

Isn’t it his first step to establish his dominion by injuring the King before opening the tragic curtain on the evil dragon’s conquest which would sweep across the entire continent? That’s what all the mythical prophecies say, right?

Bai Lianhua “…” Uh, the people of this world sure are imaginative, especially when coming up with tales that are yet to come, though they all seem to be detailing nothing else but their demise.

Yet, their delusions are sure to be dashed this time around, as the dragon not only failed to initiate any hostile action, and is instead going around helping people… Whenever the weather takes a turn for the worse and storms rage on the seas, he would fly out of the island to have a stroll while saving all those whose boats were capsized or were drowning.

And of course, when doing so, there is always a silver-blue merman by his side.

So finally someone recalls that the dragon once asked all the people if they had seen his merman; it turns out that question was genuine… The dragon really went about asking only because he was really worried the merman might have encountered a danger. It’s neither the dragon going mad or making trouble. Now the merman is here and the dragon sees him safe, so he’s not angry anymore.

He sure is a good dragon when he’s not angry; he helps people too.

Gradually, people stopped seeing the dragon as the harbinger of evil. Instead, it is now a belief that if the dragon could be seen at sea it meant all is well. Even if something were to happen, the giant creature would allow them to rest by reliably protecting them in his shade.

When the King who’s finally recovered after several years decides to go for round two against the dragon, he is shocked to discover that the loudest opposition is coming from his citizens.

Unlike his first decree of subjugation, when the citizenry supported him due to the dragon’s inexplicable activities, this time, the people were keener on not making enemies of the dragon.

He is pretty nice staying out at sea, acting friendly to humans, no? There were even people who were saved by the dragon that tried to repay him in jewellery who got puffed at by the dragon who gestured with his claws to show he didn’t want any——There isn’t such thing as the dragon who was greedy for all the shinies, is there? The character setting was never true.

Even people that wanted to be dragonslayers or dragon riders perhaps had their close ones saved by the dragon and is no longer able to unreservedly go against him or their elders might have pinched them by the ears drilling ‘dragonic soup of the mind’ into their heads telling them he’s not an evil dragon, but a deity of the sea that saves people. Too many of them have had their ears talked off that they didn’t want to cross the dragon any longer.

So now even those that acted solo were unwilling——It’s already proven the last time ’round they had no chance. A swing of his claws and they could do nothing but scarper. Too embarrassing, too embarrassing.

The King could only reluctantly give up on his schemes.

Hearing that, Bai Lianhua, lazily lying by the pond turns to lock eyes with Sachston in front of him for a moment before both succumbing to laughter.

…

Bai Lianhua spends quite a long time in this world.

It’s been so long that Sachston’s former title as the evil dragon has long since been lost to the marching of time and no one remembers it. Instead, he is told in the bards’ tales as a friend of men and a protector of the Kingdom. Fishermen themselves now carve miniature dragons in wood to carry out to sea with them as a charm.

Nothing lasts forever, of course… Merfolk enjoy long lives, but, it’s still short compared to dragons. It is certain that Bai Lianhua would be leaving before him.

Though, when he, without sickness nor pain, finishes the long run of life typical of a merfolk, and is about to leave the world soon, Sachston couldn’t hold back, and the big, big droplets of tears start flowing out again uncontrollably——He is so sad, so sad that he couldn’t keep up his human appearance, and is just there being a dragon.

…This time, he will really lose his treasure.

Sachston was unwilling to turn his head away, too. He’s afraid if he did he would have one less moment in which he could still see Bai Lianhua. He could only try in vain to hold back his sniffles and his tears.

Bai Lianhua is quietly leaning on the side of the pond the dragon dug out specifically——It’s been so many years already, yet the pond has remained bright and brilliant. Not that diamonds are truly forever, but the dragon has maintained it carefully. When any part of it looked to lose its lustre, he would hurriedly and clumsily replace it with new parts of his collection.

The dragon himself, however, as he was watching over Bai Lianhua without sleep all these days with a depressed mood, like that one time before, Sachston’s scales have again become dull, contrasting with the ever-shining pond.

The dragon doesn’t look handsome nor proud now… The dragon would even complain quietly before that the fishermen were no good as sculptors with all those unflattering imitations that retained none of his appeal, but he himself looks even more drained than the clumsily made little charms.

Bai Lianhua has certainly seen antagonists suffer in pain or wallow in their great grudges before. Among them perhaps the dragon’s experience would sound like a joke, even. Yet, it certainly makes one’s chest both bitter and soft when they see the dum-dum dragon like that.

He pats Sachston on his big, big claws, “don’t be like this. You’re also my treasure, you know. I want my treasure to look shiny and handsome too.”

The dragon, now a treasure, widens his eyes in response.

Bai Lianhua smiles, seemingly slightly embarrassed, “I’ve been with you for so long that you’ve also infected my tastes. I also like shiny things the best now.”

The dragon looks defeated, “but, I’m a black dragon. I don’t look shiny or bright.”

Bai Lianhua answers in a serious tone, “no. To me, each and every one of your scales shines brilliantly… What’s wrong with being a black dragon? You might not be vivid in colour, but your scales can glimmer under sunlight. It’s mesmerising to watch.”

“So… Will you keep shining on afterwards for me?”

The dragon couldn’t say anything. He could only nod as hard as he can.

Bai Lianhua then chuckles before saying, “I am so glad to have spent all this time with you… You’ve always protected me well.”

He tilts his head and seems to fall into thought. As the dragon looks on with a worried gaze, he slowly descends to the bottom of the pond. He surfaces not long afterwards, holding a round, glossy pearl in his hand. It is the same pure silver-blue colour as his pupils and his tail.

He hands it to the dragon, “look, because I couldn’t think of anything sad, I had a hard time trying to cry, and only this pearl fell out… This is my memento to you.”

The dragon looks really down staring at the small pearl. With a sniffle, he holds out his two trembling paws.

After the dragon carefully receives the pearl, Bai Lianhua goes back to leaning by the pond in the comfortable posture he’s used to, and laughs again, “I’m worried you’ll just stare dazed at the old scales I shed again. Those aren’t pretty anymore. If you really have to, you can just look at the pearl. It is much easier to remember my colour with it.”

As the dragon nods and nods, the voice is growing quieter and quieter. In the end, he closes his eyes with a peaceful expression.

Goodbye, antagonist of this world.

I wish for you to always be able to be the good dragon that can spend your time freely doing what you like on the island as always, and continue to be liked by everyone far, far into the future.

…

Back in the system space, the system is quite happy to see Bai Lianhua no longer looking as depressed as when he has completed his missions before.

Yay, it knew it had chosen the right world before. The host who’s a silly white sweetheart at heart can of course only be successfully healed by being thrown into a silly white sweetheart of a world.

It asks, “how long does host plan to rest in the system space this time?”

Bai Lianhua gives it a thought before saying, “one day, then, transmigrate me to the next world.”

The system nods and agrees. Look, the host is finally ready to face the mission again with his usual mentality. He doesn’t seem to find it so hard anymore.

…

In fact, besides the system, Bai Lianhua is of the same opinion. After spending time with the dragon, he feels much more peaceful. He will probably be able to face the next world with a much calmer mindset.

The moment he does enter the next world, though, Bai Lianhua immediately renounces his previous thought——Where’s the calmness gone?!

His body has just been materialised, and before he could take a look around, Bai Lianhua already realises something is in his hands. Taking a look reveals that it is merely a tough-looking branch.

Read only at Travis Translations