Chapter 19

"Well then—moo. Mortal child, what is your name?"

When asked by the divine child, I answered honestly.

"My name is Cyril, Cyril Laroux."

"I see."

"What about you?"

"Me?"

"Yes."

I nodded slightly.

A name is an important thing; there's a big difference in conversation when you know someone's name versus when you don't.

"There is no such thing."

"Really?"

"Hahaha, I am the one and only. When I am called the divine child Phoenix, it refers only to me. Therefore, a proper name is unnecessary."

"That's inconvenient... Can I give you one?"

"Give? A name?"

"Yes."

"Mine?"

"That's what I mean."

"..."

The divine child stared at me for a moment.

Being stared at in silence made me uneasy, wondering what was going on.

Eventually, the divine child looked up to the sky and started laughing.

"Hahaha, hahaha."

He laughed heartily.

Although he was just laughing, the temple—no, the entire mountain began to shake.

A rumbling sound came from the distance.

"Kyaa!"

"What was that sound just now?"

"Oops, sorry. I guess my loud voice caused a landslide."

"Loud voice?"

Is that something that can cause a landslide?

"Sir Cyril?"

"It's fine, don't worry. It seems the landslide was caused by this guy's loud voice."

"Is that so? Truly, the divine child..."

The princess showed a mix of astonishment and acceptance.

"Your Highness! —Huh?"

"It's dangerous here—Eh?"

The guards protecting the temple rushed in due to the loud noise and the landslide.

They froze when they saw the divine child.

"Hey, don't ignore me. You were going to give me a name, right?"

"Ah, sorry, sorry. Got carried away."

I turned around and patted the divine child.

Somehow... I know he's the divine child, but he's so easy-going.

It's because we can understand each other's language.

Because we can understand each other, I realized he has a rather cheerful personality, and I couldn't help but feel neither respectful nor afraid.

"Right... a name, huh?"

I pinched my chin and thought.

"Before that... are you male or female?"

"Gender? I don't have such a thing."

"Really?"

"Yes, I am the one and only immortal being. Unlike ordinary mortals, I have no need to reproduce, so I have no gender."

"I see."

Taking that into account, I thought a bit more.

"How about Chris?"

"Hahaha, that's fine! I'll go by Chris from now on."

"No need to laugh so much. You'll cause another landslide."

I patted Chris, the newly named divine child.

"Yes, my apologies."

He seemed to have a pretty understanding personality and accepted it easily.

"Um... Sir Cyril?"

"Yes?"

I turned around when called.

The princess was looking at me, surprised and frightened.

"About what just happened..."

"I was giving him a name."

"A name!?"

"Yes."

I nodded clearly.

"It's inconvenient not to have a name."

"A name..."

The princess was stunned.

This isn't good; she revered Chris as the divine child.

She might get angry at me for giving him a name without permission.

But then,

"Hahaha, don't worry. I approve. I won't let a mere mortal complain."

Chris laughed heartily again.

"Okay, that's good."

I was relieved.

Indeed, if Chris himself approves, there shouldn't be any problem even if others object.

"Well then... Cyril, do you have any free time?"

"Free time?"

"Yes. Since we're here, why don't we make a contract?"

"Contract?"

What kind of contract is this?

"Hmm? You don't know?"

"No, what kind of contract?"

"Are you not a dragon knight?"

"Well, I am, but..."

I tilted my head and turned to the princess for help.

"Princess, do you know about the contract between dragons and humans?"

"Eh? No, I haven't heard of it..."

"I see. Louise, Colette, Emma, do you know?"

"No."

"Never heard of it."

"I've never heard of it either."

The princess and the three dragons all said they had never heard of it.

"Is it true that in just a few hundred years, the contract between humans and us has been forgotten?"

Chris showed a different emotion for the first time, a slightly exasperated look and tone.

"What is this contract?"

"Words are not enough. Give me a drop of blood."

"Like this?"

I lightly cut my finger and squeezed out a drop of blood.

It fell and stopped in mid-air.

"What are you going to do with it?"

"Just watch."

Chris did the same, cutting his skin and squeezing out a drop of blood.

It floated up.

Chris's blood and my blood mixed in the air.

A magic circle appeared on the ground below.

The mixed blood was absorbed into the magic circle, which then turned into light and was absorbed into my body.

"This is..."

I looked at my hands and my body.

After the light was absorbed into my body, I glowed softly.

"Hahaha, now our contract is complete."

"What happens when the contract is formed?"

"You can use some of the power derived from the dragon you contracted with."

"Dragon's power?"

"Yes. In my case, it completely nullifies fire."

"Nullify?"

"Try setting yourself on fire."

"Alright."

I was a bit scared to set myself on fire, but since Chris said it was okay, I approached the flame still smoldering in the center of the temple.

"Sir Cyril!?"

I turned my head to smile at the surprised princess.

"It's fine."

I said and entered the flame.

"It's not hot."

I immediately noticed the difference.

Normally, you can't stay in a flame for even a second.

Even if you can "endure" it, it's still "enduring."

But there was no pain at all.

The flame enveloped me and burned, but it wasn't hot or painful.

"Fire is really nullified."

"Hahaha, well, I'm the only one. It's a unique skill."

"Got it. Thanks, Chris."

"Sure, sure. It's a return for giving me a name."

Chris and I laughed together like old friends.

The princess, seeing this, said:

"One after another... You're really amazing..."

She was impressed, standing slightly outside my field of vision.

"...I've decided."

She made a decision.

"Sir Cyril!!"

"Oops, sorry, Princess."

I apologized reflexively.

I had been so caught up in what Chris was doing and the surprises that I had neglected the princess. When she called me, I realized it was rude.

"Sir Cyril, I have a request."

"A request?"

The word "again" almost slipped out.

After all, Chris's revival originally came from the princess's "request."

"Yes."

"I understand. If it's something I can do."

"Please let me invest in your guild, Sir Cyril."

"Invest... become a patron?"

"Yes! Please."

The princess pleaded with me.

It's quite common for nobles and wealthy merchants to become sponsors or patrons of guilds.

The sponsors secure convenient forces this way, and the guilds gain prestige and status from the patrons.

In that sense, the princess is the best possible patron.

"Is that okay?"

"Please!"

The princess repeated the same words, continuing to plead with me.

I had no reason to refuse.

I bowed to the princess and said:

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

"—! Yes!"

Thus, my guild, "Dragon First," welcomed the divine child Chris and gained the princess as a patron.

The unprecedented achievements of this small guild, consisting of just one person and four dragons, shook the industry.

"Dragon First" became an instant sensation.

This concludes the first chapter. How was it?

If you found it:

- Interesting!

- Want to know what happens next!

- Can't wait for the second chapter!

Please rate it with the stars below the ad. It will be a great encouragement for the author.