chapter 5

Its been three months since the subjugation parties started coming, but different subjugation parties keep coming without tiring.

Since then Ive encountered five different subjugation squads, and until now the number of members in the squads have tripled, and their strategies have all been different. Yet Ive not had a problem handling them. It might be because of my thick scales that do not let swords through, or perhaps because Im getting used to handling these subjugation squads.

When they see me they all look surprised, but when I attack them they come to their senses and try to attack me. Is a white dragon that unusual?

Oh, thats right. Rau told me that Im really unusual. I completely forgot.

Anyway, Ive grown completely fed up with their attacks.

When they come I have to take Saus and company to a safe place in the mountain recesses, and since they come so often Im not even hungry so I dont even think about eating. As a result, Ive been leaving the corpses as they are. I eat the humans who can use magic, though. Its about time I seriously thought about moving. Rau and Whitey are thinking about continuing their travels anyway.

[Weve completely stayed here too long, and we were originally headed for the southern lands anyway.]

Since before Ive said that Id get lonely without them around, and I was expecting to part with them at some point. In addition, if they stayed at this mountain any longer it would probably be dangerous. I think its a wise decision. However, with them here it would be fine somehow, but when they leave it could instead become dangerous for Saus to live here.

When humans enter the mountains, they might cause harm to the other animals living here. I often encounter the corpses of deer killed for food and bears with only their claws removed.

And not only animals, there have been humans attacking lost girls, too. Since it irritated me I turned all of them into charcoal.

A rabbit is probably the best thing a human can catch for food. It seems they use the pelt to make clothes and accessories too. Even though that fluffiness only have meaning when they are alive.

That night, I thought. I thought and thought.

As long as those subjugation squads dont defeat me, they will probably keep coming. So far they have been nothing but miscellaneous collections of mercenaries, but as their numbers increase they might be replaced with a squad of knights under the direct command of the kingdom. Even more horrible would be if they decided to burn down the mountain, which is something humans might decide to do.

Either way I feel that I cant stay much longer in this mountain.

I must find some other safe place to live, but I who have lived my entire life in this mountain have never been out in the world. If I meet something more terrifying than myself out there, I might die.

Let think. Where is the most safe place?

If I want to fool my enemies, start with my allies.

If I want to hide a tree, within a forest.

In that case, if I want to hide a dragon, it should be with other dragons? No! Dragons are ferocious is what I heard. A dragon that you can reach through speech like me is quite rare according to Rau.

Thats right! I forgot the most fundamental important matter.

That is, to hide me

There is only one answer.

If one wants to hide me, then place me among humans.

Before I became a dragon, I was a lone human.

That night, I left my cot and went to the not very far away stream. Saus and the others are probably soundly asleep. The reason I left now was to make sure of that. I sat down in a deep pool in the stream. A white dragons face was reflected upon the waters surface. I never got tired of watching my splendid scales. Im no narcissist, but Im fond of them.

But if Im to hide among humans, then I cant keep the form of a dragon. However, I wonder if I can take the form of a human. Other animals dont have magical power so they cant use magic, but I live by eating magical power so maybe I can use it, is what I thought.

But I dont know how to use it.

I sighed.

I dont remember how I looked when I still was a human, so whos shape should I take and such.

Now that I think of it, that village girl sure was cute. Was she her chestnut colored, ending in two buns? Her face was ordinary, but her skin was a healthy suntanned color, and her pupils were slightly quiet but a blue clear color about the same as this spring which gave a good impression. Wait, thats not something I who ate her should say, huh.

Okay, lets try becoming her.

If I dont try, nothing will happen. I closed my eyes and brought her physical appearance to mind.

I imagined myself wrapped in a high and slim deep crimson dress.

Chestnut hair with two buns with healthy suntanned skin, quiet blue eyes. Voice is cute but a slightly boyish soprano alto.

And lastly, a human who has received the protection of all kinds of spirits.

Even though it was a year ago, I still clearly remember her. As expected, its probably because shes the first human I ate.

When I slowly opened my eyelids, the shape of a smiling girl was reflected on the water in front of me. The next moment it changed to a surprised expression, but I realized that it was my own reflection.

The hands in the pool were without questions the hands of a human. They were the hands of a still growing young woman. When I touched my face it was not covered with a single scale, and the skin was smooth. I looked once more at the shape on the waters surface to make sure.

[Wow. I really became a human.]

The voice was also that of a human.

I was still unused to the voice so it felt itchy. Standing up and walking also seemed like itd be difficult, but because of my memories as a human I got used to it after a few minutes.

[Ah-, ah-, yup. Which reminds me, this is how it feels to talk, huh.]

My words were as expected translated into j.a.panese in my brain, but it proved no hurdle for speaking.

Since I became happy upon turning into a human, I began running around in the stream, and since I got a new lower viewpoint, it felt fresh.

I wonder if I can become other humans too? I attempted becoming different humans, but it seems like I can only turn into those Ive eaten. And if I dont clearly remember their appearance it seems it wont work.

However, only turning into her is already a great harvest. Like this I wont stick out when I try to blend in among humans.

Who would think that this village girl is a dragon?

Feeling slightly eccentric I began to giggle, whereupon I noticed that the sun was about to rise.

The morning sure came quickly today. I havent slept a wink but Im not the least bit tired.

I thought to wake Saus and the others, but they were already up.

They had noticed that I was gone and kept calling my name. Im thankful that I could still understand them even under my human guise.

[Saus.]

When I called his name, he turned to face me. I hugged the rabbit who hardened in surprise upon seeing me, cowering my face with his fluffy fur.

No good, this fluffiness becoming a habit!

The smell of gra.s.s and the warmth of the sun tickled my nose. Saus was still frozen and was looking up at me.

[Saus, youre cruel, its me.

[Vito?]

[Thats right.]

I brought his soft fur to my face one more time, rubbing our cheeks together.

[Eh? Vito? Why have you turned into a huuman?]

[When I thought I wanted to become one, I became one.]

While we were talking, Rau and Whitey came rus.h.i.+ng over. They were cautious when they saw my appearance , but when they understood it was me they both of them stared at me slack jawed, which looked hilarious.

[I thought since I live on magical power that I could use magic aswell. This is the result. What do you think, isnt it awesome?]

[Its awesome butwere you always female?]

Rau looked so suspicious that it was funny.

[Well, this is the shape of one of the humans I ate. But in any case, even when I was a dragon I was still a female. Huh, could it be that you didnt know?]

[Rau didnt know!?]

[As if I know how to determine the gender of dragons!]

[Even though youre both female!!]

Whitey threw an earthshattering bomb. Eh? Rau is female? A woman? A girl?I was certain she was a man though

[I dont want to hear that from a useless male!]

Rau also threw a bomb.

Whitey is a male? A man? He was a boy?

In short, Ive been thinking of them as the opposite gender. I dont get animals.

Incidentally, Im a.s.sured that Saus is a boy. What a relief.

Before those two start their lovers quarrel again I should divert the conversation.

But Saus is so fluffy. Ive never seen him at so close a distance before, but his pink nose is always twitching which is so cute.

[Lets leave that aside, Ive got a favor I want to ask you two.]

Their look when they tilt their head, saying Favor? is also too cute.

[Youll resume your travels in the near future, right? I wish you to take Saus with you if you can.]

[And why is that?]

The most surprised is Saus. His drooping ears with a start, straightened out.

[The reason why I tried to become a human, is because I want to try blending in with the human world. I think that as it is now Im causing problems for the animals living here and for the mountain itself. I thought about searching for a different place to live, but I think Ill fit just fine in human society. Even with me gone the subjugation squads will probably keep coming, and Saus will be in danger. Thats why I want you to take him with you.]

[If youre exposed it will get dangerous!]

This rabbit is more worried about me than where hes going himself. I gently stroked my small friend. The truth is that the best for Saus would be to return to his rabbit flock. But if he did that he would stay on this mountain. Id like to avoid that as long as it is dangerous here. I thought about taking him with me, but that would be difficult.

I thought about traveling with them, but since I eat humans, I think itd cause problems for them. Thats why I decided that Im not going with them.

[Will you allow my selfish request?]

Cute red eyes looked at me. My precious friend who shared my red and white colors. If he didnt live in this mountain, Id probably not have handled living here.

[Because Im sure well meet again, someday.]

I did not say Id go to meet them. Because I cant guarantee that I will be able to. But Im sure that someday well meet again. I believe that.

Saus was silent for a while, before opening his small pink mouth and in his familiar voice purring.

[That is what Vito thought, yesIf so then I am fine with that. I also do not want to become a burden to Vito Also, also visiting many places sounds like it would be fun!]

[Saus Thank you.]

I buried my face in his soft fur, gently hugging him. I could feel his somewhat fast heartbeat which made me happy.

[Oi, oi, arent you forgetting us?]

I forgot about the both of them.

[Isnt it fine? Saus is so tiny that you wouldnt even notice if he rode on your back!]

[Its been decided that Im gonna carry him, huh.]

Rau sighed, but saying [It cant be helped, huh.] she seemed to agree. I dont need to mention that Whitey was eager about it having Saus joining them from the start.

Yet, a raven, a wolf and a rabbit What an unbalanced combination.

[Rau, Whitey, thank you. Thank you too Saus, for listening to my selfishness.]

I am selfish.

Even though there are lots of other animals on this mountain, I wont save anyone but the precious life in front of me.

Im fine with being called unfair. Im also fine with others talking badly about me.

Because Im a base and ferocious dragon.