Chapter 35

"Right, since we're becoming comrades, there's something you need to know."

"What is it?"

Jeanne tilted her head in a curious manner as if she had just remembered something.

"I can understand what dragons say."

"You can... understand them?"

"Yeah, I can understand what dragons say. I can converse with them just like with humans."

"Really!?"

Jeanne was thoroughly surprised.

"Yeah."

"I've never heard of such a thing..."

"Let's try it out."

"How do we try it?"

☆

Half a day later, in the town of Boarsel, at my mansion.

At the entrance of the dragon stable, in the garden, Louise returned with Jeanne on her back.

"Welcome back."

I extended my hand to help Jeanne down from Louise's back. Jeanne, standing in front of me, had a curious expression.

"Welcome back... um, what will this show?"

"Just wait a moment."

I shifted my gaze from Jeanne to Louise.

"How about it, Louise? Please stay as you are."

『...』

"What's wrong, Louise?"

『Sorry, Master, I don't know if I should tell you this.』

"You don't know if you should tell me?"

『Yeah. She was muttering to herself, but I think it's something she shouldn't tell you. It's fine if she says it herself.』

"What do you mean...?"

I was puzzled.

My plan was this:

I would have Jeanne ride Louise around the town. During this time, Jeanne would mutter something to herself, which Louise would hear and repeat to me. This would prove that I can understand dragon speech.

It was a perfect plan; there was no way it wouldn't be believed. However, Louise seemed hesitant.

I thought for a moment and turned to Jeanne.

"Jeanne."

"Yes?"

"Louise says you muttered something that you shouldn't tell me."

"Something I shouldn't tell Sir Cyril?"

"Yeah, something you said while riding Louise."

"......!!"

At first, she looked bewildered, but then she seemed to realize something and her eyes widened in shock.

Not only that, her face turned bright red.

"No, no! You can't say it!!"

Jeanne hurriedly tried to stop Louise.

『I said I wouldn't say it.』

"It's okay, it's just that you can't tell me, right?"

"Oh... right..."

Jeanne relaxed.

"What did you mutter? Louise says it's fine if you say it yourself."

"No, no! I can't say it!"

"Why not?"

"If I say it... it would be a confession."

"Huh? What would be a confession?"

Her voice was so low that I couldn't hear the most important part.

"It's nothing!"

"But—"

"Instead, can you really understand what dragons say?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah."

I nodded slightly and turned to Louise. Although I wasn't entirely satisfied, I had achieved my goal of proving that I can understand dragon speech.

"That's amazing... So that's why you know so much about dragons..."

"Well, it's easier to ask them for favors since I can understand them."

"Then, you were talking to the Child of God as well?"

"That's right."

"That wasn't the power of the Child of God, but your own power, Sir Cyril. That's amazing!"

Jeanne looked at me with awe. She had been there when Chris was revived and had seen Chris and me talking.

I see, she thought it was because Chris is the Child of God, the Phoenix.

"Um?"

"What is it?"

"Sir Cyril, did the previous guild not know about your power?"

"Yeah."

I smiled wryly.

"Well, I did mention it."

"But they still exiled you?"

"Yeah."

"......They lack the ability to recognize talent. I've heard that Lintvurm is a top-notch guild, but they are shallow."

Jeanne said this with a mix of displeasure and disdain.

Well, I'm grateful they exiled me now. I don't care about those who look down on me. Instead, I want to work with those who recognize me.

"Jeanne."

"Y-Yes, what is it?"

"Let's have fun together. For a long time."

"For a long time..."

I said this and extended my hand for a handshake. Jeanne, for some reason, blushed and hesitated a bit before saying,

"Yes... please take care of me."

And she took my hand.

☆

About a month after Jeanne joined, the land she gave me on the outskirts of town is now being developed by contractors to build the minimum necessary structures.

I have the money from the previous shipment of Dragon Tears, so I'm using it for this. Once the full-scale cultivation of Galian begins, it will be difficult to ask the contractors, so I'm doing this now.

During this time, I brought Colette to Manno War again. We easily passed through the checkpoint and returned to Gigu's shop.

Entering the shop with the familiar emblem—

"Who the hell are you—oh, it's you."

I was greeted with the same rough tone as before.

"What brings you here today?"

"I have something I want you to see."

"Hmm, what is it?"

His eyes sparkled. From this short exchange, he seemed to understand.

"Colette."

『Okay, just a moment.』

Colette said this and spat out the Dragon Tears from her stomach. It's not for digestion but for storage. She, along with Louise, Emma, and Yui, spat out the Dragon Tears made by the Dragon-First dragons.

As a test, she spat out a small amount, about the size of a palm. I picked it up and offered it.

"I made it first."

"Hmm?"

"It's a trial. If you can buy this, I'll consider making more."

"Alright. Show me then."

"Sure."

I nodded and handed over the Dragon Tears. He took it, licked it, and sniffed it.

"This... this is..."

He was greatly surprised.

"What's wrong?"

"Dragon Tears of this purity are rare. How did you make it?"

"Yeah. I had them keep it in their stomachs for a while after it was made."

This is what Chris taught me. It's better to let it "age" in the stomach for a while after it's made. I followed this advice.

"Are all of them like this?"

"Yeah—what's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"No, I'm impressed. It's not easy to train dragons to keep it in their stomachs until it's aged. Dragons try to spit it out at any chance they get."

"I see."

I nodded and patted Colette.

"Our dragons are excellent."

『Hmph. Don't expect any rewards for praise.』

Colette turned her face away, embarrassed. I've noticed recently that she gets embarrassed in such situations.

I don't do it, but Chris points it out, and Colette bites her as a routine.

Anyway.

"To be able to train dragons to this extent..."

The man in front of me looked half-surprised and half-impressed.

"So, what do you think? Will you buy it?"

"Can you maintain this purity?"

"Colette?"

『Well, if you say so, I'll do it.』

"I think it's not a problem."

"I'll buy it at 1.5 times... no, double the price."

"Double? Why?"

"High purity means even people with weak imagination can freely control their dreams."

"I see..."

I understood completely. Sometimes, even when I realize it's a dream and try to control it, it works well sometimes and not so well other times.

If the difference in controlling dreams with Dragon Tears is due to purity, it makes sense that higher purity would work better.

"Wait a moment."

He said this and went to the back of the shop. When he returned, he handed me a piece of paper. It was a church note, recognizable at a glance.

"This is..."

"It's worth ten thousand reals. Since it's a church note, you can exchange it for cash at any church."

"This is?"

"It's a down payment."

He looked at me straight in the eye. After a moment of thought, I understood.

He wants to buy the high-quality Dragon Tears I brought, even if it costs a lot of money. He wants to secure them in advance. In other words, it's a huge success.