Chapter 39

Returning to the base at Perseron, I faced all the members in the dragon dormitory.

The human is Jeanne.

The dragons are Louise, Colette, Emma, Chris, and Yui.

This is the full lineup of the guild "Dragon First."

"First, I'll have Emma and Yui come with me. It's going to be rough, so I'm counting on you."

"Understood! I'll do my best!!"

"Hmm... I understand."

Emma and Yui responded at their respective levels of enthusiasm.

"Hey, what about me?"

Colette asked with a slightly dissatisfied tone.

"Colette, you'll stay behind. Help with the mining."

"Why do I have to do that?!"

Colette started to get angry.

"This time it's a rescue and a battle. That's why Emma and Yui are the best choices. Colette, you're not good at fighting."

"But I can do that much! I can swallow everyone whole and make sure no air gets in!"

"That's a bit extreme."

I smiled wryly at the thought of what Colette had said.

Swallowing someone whole and preventing air from entering means they would suffocate in the darkness.

It was even more extreme than a bad torture, and I could only smile wryly.

Anyway.

"Colette, I still need you to stay behind."

"But—"

"Guarding the house and continuing with daily tasks is an important job. We can't have everyone go out on a mission."

"Guard...?"

"Yes. Guard the place we return to."

"…Hmph. If that's the case, I can do it."

"Thank you. Oh, and there's an important preparation I need to do before I leave. Can you help me with that?"

"Alright."

Colette nodded in agreement.

It seems I successfully persuaded her.

"Jeanne, go to the town of Boval with Colette. As I said before."

"Understood. Come on, Colette."

Jeanne, who is well-behaved, left the dragon dormitory with Colette and headed to the town of Boval.

"Chris, guard this place."

"Do I not need to go with you?"

"Chris, you're our trump card. I want you to guard this important base."

"Hahaha, a trump card, then I have no choice."

"What about me, Master?"

"You can rest, Louise."

I smiled and said to Louise.

"Is it okay? To rest?"

"There's no need to force yourself to do something you can't. There will be times when your strength is needed, so you can work hard then."

"Okay, I understand."

Unlike Colette, Louise is well-behaved and readily agreed. (Chris is in a different category.)

Next... I turned to Yui.

"Let me see your ability, Yui. The mimicry ability."

"Hmm..."

"We might need to sneak in secretly. Can you make us invisible to the enemy?"

"Impossible for humans. Dragons—"

She glanced at Emma.

"—can do it."

"I see."

If I can't do it, sneaking in will be difficult.

"Hahaha, then how about taking the tsundere girl with you?"

"Why Colette?"

"Her heart friend can hide inside her stomach and make the tsundere girl invisible."

"That's an interesting idea."

...

"What's wrong, heart friend? What are you thinking?"

"I have an idea... I'm thinking."

I pondered.

I gathered the vague image that came to mind and tried to form it into a clear idea.

After a while, I turned to Yui.

"Yui, can you change the appearance of a human?"

"Yes, that's possible."

"Can you make them look like the surroundings?"

"Surroundings?"

Yui tilted her head.

"For example..."

I looked around.

I stood with my back against the wall of the dragon dormitory.

"Like this, the wall is invisible, right?"

"Yes."

"Can you make my appearance look like the wall?"

"Let me try."

Yui thought for a moment and then moved.

In the next instant, my appearance distorted.

After the distortion, I looked at myself.

I couldn't see my face, but my body had turned into a "wall."

It felt like a "wall" was painted over me.

"Ho ho... quite interesting."

"How does it look to Chris?"

"Yes, just as you intended. You are invisible against the background."

"This will make me practically invisible... but—"

"But what?"

Chris asked.

I moved a little.

The mimicry that made me invisible by painting a "wall" over me created a sense of inconsistency as soon as I moved.

"Hmm, I see."

"Can you adjust after I move, Yui?"

"Yes... but—"

"But?"

"It might be tiring..."

"I see."

It makes sense. You have to "rewrite" it every time. It would be tiring.

I thought for a moment and said:

"There's no need to push yourself. I'll rely on you when it's necessary."

"...Understood."

"Hahaha, you've shown me something interesting, heart friend."

"Interesting?"

"Using the dragon's power effectively and creatively. Impressive."

"It was necessary."

"I'll rely on your power too, someday."

"Sure."

I nodded with a wry smile.

Chris is probably much smarter than I am.

She is the child of a god and has lived for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

But that's something I don't need to say.

☆

About an hour later, Jeanne and Colette returned.

"Is this okay?"

"Yes."

I nodded.

Outside the dragon dormitory, on the ground covered with sheets, a large amount of food was placed.

Most of it was meat, meat, meat!

The quantity was enough for a full-blown feast, enough for about 50 people.

I had Jeanne buy the food and Colette carry it in her stomach.

"Thank you, Colette."

"It was easy."

"Still, thank you."

"...Hmph."

Colette turned her face away for some reason.

On the other hand, Jeanne asked with a curious look.

"Sir Cyril, what will you do with this?"

"I'll eat it."

"Sir Cyril will!?"

"Yes."

I nodded.

"With the skill I contracted, I can store the food I eat as pure energy."

"The amount you eat..."

"The more I eat, the more I can fight."

"Ah... I see."

Jeanne looked half impressed and half surprised.

I sat on the ground.

The amount of food was too much to fit inside the house, so I placed it outside and started to eat.

There will probably be a battle.

So I need to store as much energy as possible.

I ate, and I ate a lot.

I won't gain weight because the food turns into energy, but I gradually started to feel "full."

I asked Jeanne to buy more meat because I needed the energy, but it made me feel very full.

Still, I continued to eat.

Even though I felt sick from being full, I could feel the energy being stored in my body, so I kept eating.

☆

Jeanne and the dragons watched as Cyril continued to eat beyond his limits.

"Master, you look uncomfortable."

Louise muttered.

Cyril's face was clearly turning pale.

He was stuffing himself beyond his limits, like in a competitive eating contest, and his face was visibly deteriorating.

Still, storing energy for the battle was absolutely necessary, so Cyril continued, and no one tried to stop him.

"Strange person..."

"What do you mean, Yui?"

Emma reacted to Yui's mutter.

"He tells others not to overdo it, but he does it himself."

"That's Master for you."

"Yes..."

"You two, do your job properly. I won't tolerate any mistakes."

Colette said to Emma and Yui, who were going with Cyril.

"Of course! I'll do my best!"

"Hmm... I'll do my best."

Their responses had different levels of enthusiasm, but Emma, of course, and Yui had a slightly more serious look in their eyes.

"Hahaha"

Chris, who was watching, laughed heartily.

By leading by example and showing the results, he inspired his subordinates to be more serious and committed.

Chris was secretly impressed by Cyril's rare leadership qualities.