Chapter 21

It was a little past noon, inside the dragon den.

I was facing four dragons.

Louise, a Baraul species.

Colette, a Mushushu species.

Emma, a Smei species.

And Chris, a Phoenix species.

Three small species and one medium species.

The dragon den, which had felt spacious at first, now felt cramped.

I thought, maybe we’ll have to move to a bigger place soon.

“Um, so about the contract,” I said, bringing up the topic.

So far, I’ve only made a contract with Chris.

I was “full” from the contract with Chris, so I decided to do the other three on a different day.

Now, I brought up the topic again.

Hearing this, Chris was the first to respond.

*Hahaha, yes, ask me anything. I will answer anything.*

*He sounds so important.*

Colette reacted to Chris.

Colette glared at Chris with a displeased look.

I, as well as the three of them, were initially intimidated by the “children of the gods,” but as we interacted with Chris, we gradually became more at ease.

By the way, Louise and the other three sit in a typical four-legged animal posture, but Chris lies on her side like a human, using one hand as a pillow, and even scratches her belly.

It’s hard to take the intimidation seriously.

I asked Chris further.

“How can I make a contract with Louise and the others?”

*First, it depends on the “space.”*

“Space, huh. You mentioned that at first. What exactly does that mean?”

*Hahaha, it’s simple. Imagine a memo pad.*

“Huh?”

I tilted my head, wondering what he was getting at.

Chris continued.

*The amount you can write in the memo pad depends on the number of pages, right?*

“Sure.”

*That’s exactly it.*

“I see.”

It was a somewhat confusing explanation.

I thought for a moment and asked further.

“Does the space differ from person to person?”

*Of course. No two people are exactly the same. The same goes for their capacity.*

“I see. Can the space be increased?”

*Hahaha, don’t worry. It can certainly be increased. Unlike me, humans are living beings that can grow.*

“Do you not grow?”

For a moment, I was more curious about this than the contract.

*Gwahaha, of course! I am the one and only, immortal, and perfect supreme being. Growth is a word foreign to me.*

“I see, that’s how it is.”

*You should try to grow a bit in attitude.*

Colette interjected again.

*Hm? What do you mean by attitude?*

*Your attitude.*

*You should try to improve your attitude more than I should.*

*What are you talking about?*

*Hahaha, don’t hide it. I see everything. You are what humans call a tsundere—*

*Grr!!*

Colette suddenly bit Chris.

Given the size difference, it was like a puppy biting a lion.

*Gwaaaaa, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!!*

It seemed to hurt more than it looked, and Chris cried out.

Colette wouldn’t let go, even as Chris tried to shake her off.

*What are you doing?*

*Hmph, hph, hph, hph, hph, hph.*

*What are you saying? Stop biting me already! I’ll burn you with my flames to regenerate!*

“No….”

They have a good relationship.

Even though Colette bit Chris, Chris didn’t seem angry or even like he was about to get angry.

Colette seemed quite serious, but Chris treated it as if they were just playing around.

Compared to Colette, who was so forward, Louise and Emma didn’t seem as close.

Emma, in particular, seemed flustered due to her personality.

I waited for the right moment when Colette stopped biting and spoke to Chris again.

“So, is there a way to check this space?”

*Ouch… Yes, there is. Let’s start by checking the space of your heart.*

“Please, how do I do it?”

*First, prepare a glass of water.*

“Got it.”

I left the dragon den and went back into the house.

I fetched a glass of water from the kitchen as Chris had instructed and returned to the dragon den.

“Is this okay?”

*It’s enough. Hold the glass with both hands as if you’re cradling it.*

“Like this?”

*Close your eyes and imagine.*

“Close my eyes… and imagine…”

I did exactly as I was told.

I held the glass with both hands and gently closed my eyes.

*Your heart is alone in an empty room.*

“An empty room… is it completely empty?”

*Yes, the size is also up to you.*

“I see.”

I nodded and continued to imagine.

Since I had been thinking about the dragon den earlier, I imagined a slightly larger empty room than this one.

*Your heart grows in your imagination.*

“Grows?”

*Hahaha, imagine yourself as a slime that has drunk water. Imagine growing to fill the room.*

“I see.”

I imagined it.

I imagined myself, as I am, growing to just fit in a room slightly larger than this dragon den.

Then—

“Whoa!”

I opened my eyes in surprise.

The water in the glass I was holding overflowed profusely.

It was as if the glass had turned into a spring, and the water kept overflowing.

“What is this?”

*Hahaha, don’t worry. This is how you measure the space.*

“I see.”

Hearing Chris, I relaxed and gradually calmed down.

However, the water continued to overflow without any sign of stopping.

*Hey, is that okay?*

Colette asked Chris in a biting tone.

*What do you mean by okay?*

*You might get tired if you keep it up.*

*Hahaha, that’s an unnecessary worry. Do you think I would make my heart do such a thing?*

*Hmph, I don’t know.*

While Chris and Colette were having their usual banter, the water flooded the dragon den.

The water level rose to my ankles before it finally stopped.

“So, how much is this?”

*Hahaha, hahaha, hahaha.*

Chris looked up at the ceiling and laughed heartily.

It was the most joyful laugh I had ever heard from him.

“What’s so funny?”

*Indeed, my heart. This is the largest capacity, the most space, I have ever seen.*

“Really!?”

I was genuinely surprised by the result.

*Yes, with this, you could have as many women as an emperor’s harem.*

“The analogy is a bit off, but…”

It’s… actually, I’m glad and relieved.

The more dragons I can contract with, the better.

*Wow, amazing master.*

*As expected, Cyril.*

Louise and Emma were as happy as if it were their own achievement, but Colette had a complicated look on her face.