Chapter 54

That night, we camped by Lake Garred.

We made a bonfire and sat around it.

I sat across from Jeanne by the bonfire, while Colette and Jeanne's horse sat a little further away.

I was eating the wild boar I had roasted over the fire.

"How is it, Sir Cyril?"

"It's good, this Lark en Ciel. I think I can eat twice as much as before with this."

"Really!?"

Perhaps because she had recommended it, Jeanne was delighted when I said I liked the Lark en Ciel.

"Yeah, the taste changes with each bite, which is amazing. It might not be suitable for restaurants, but it fits me perfectly now."

"That's great..."

"I had expected that the changing taste would help with overeating, but the way Lark en Ciel changes is really good. I can definitely eat twice as much."

I nodded and devoured the wild boar.

Jeanne and Colette ate a little, but Jeanne is a small eater, and Colette doesn't need to store energy, so she ate her usual amount.

As for the horse, it eats grass, not meat, so it didn't touch it.

As a result, I ate two-thirds of the wild boar by myself.

"Still..."

I said while gnawing on the ribs of the wild boar, which would be served as spare ribs in a restaurant, sprinkled with Lark en Ciel.

"Indeed, my physical abilities have improved. Compared to the dragon form, it's a negligible difference, but they have definitely improved."

"How much has it improved?"

Colette asked, clearly interested.

"Well... it's like the difference between a child and an adult."

"?? I don't get it."

"Perhaps it means it hasn't exceeded the human framework."

"Right, that's it. Nice explanation, as expected from Jeanne."

"Thank you..."

Jeanne blushed and looked pleased.

"Hmm, I see."

"Still, it's a nice bonus. The fact that my abilities have improved without increasing energy consumption is appreciated."

"Then why don't you just increase the power of the dragon form? It would add up, right?"

"It seems that's not possible."

"Why not?"

"After that, I got some skin and claws from Louise and Emma, but I couldn't incorporate them into the dragon form."

"Why not?"

"Based on my guess... the claws of Baraul Origin are like a corpse, and the Phoenix Horn is the crystal of immortality. I think it involves life, soul, and other intricate considerations."

"Hmm... so even mine wouldn't work?"

"I think so."

"...I see."

Colette nodded but seemed disappointed.

Just as I was wondering why, Jeanne spoke up.

"Um, Sir Cyril. I only understood about half of the conversation between you and Colette, but do you need dragon relics?"

"Based on my current guess, yes."

"Then, shall I prepare a few?"

"Huh?"

"We have a lot of them."

Jeanne said this matter-of-factly.

"...Oh, right. Jeanne is a princess."

"Yes, they are in the treasure vault. More than that—"

"Huh?"

"Like this one."

Jeanne said, took off the pendant she was wearing, and showed it to me.

The pendant seemed to be made of silver, and only the pendant top was different.

"What is it... it looks like a gem, but it's not."

"It's a scale from a Mizuchi species."

"Mizuchi species... I've never heard of it."

I tilted my head and searched my memory, but found nothing.

"It's a very rare species, sometimes called a type of幻龙."

"I see."

"It's processed to enhance protection."

"Wow."

"It was used on carriages before."

"...Oh, that one!"

I was taken aback.

The first time I met Jeanne—Princess—she was protected in a carriage.

Even though it fell, all the guards died, and the carriage was destroyed, the princess inside was unharmed.

"Yes! When I met Sir Cyril."

Jeanne said excitedly.

"I'm wearing the same thing as a pendant."

"I see."

"Please, use it."

"Huh? But it's meant to protect you."

"It's fine."

Jeanne said with a serious face.

"Since I'm with Sir Cyril now, I'm absolutely safe even without this."

"...I see, got it. I'll take it."

I was grateful for her trust.

I resolved to protect her no matter what, and took the pendant from Jeanne.

I took a deep breath and touched the pendant top—the Mizuchi scale.

The same phenomenon occurred.

The Mizuchi scale was absorbed into my chest.

In just a few seconds, only the chain remained.

"How is it?"

"How is it, Sir Cyril?"

Colette and Jeanne asked simultaneously.

"...Huh?"

"What's wrong?"

"...The smell is gone."

"Smell?"

"This is probably—"

I said and stood up.

I took a few steps back from them.

Then, I got into position and muttered.

"Transform."

In the next moment, I transformed into the dragon form.

A circular trench formed in the ground, surrounding me, the two of them, and the horses.

I transformed back into human form after a brief moment.

"Ugh."

It didn't work.

The "increase" caused me to use up energy, even for this brief transformation, to the point of dizziness.

"Sir Cyril!?"

"I'm fine, it's just an energy drain."

"Is that so?"

"More importantly, what just happened?"

"Yeah... a shield, barrier, or barrier—there are different names, but it's something like that."

I looked at the trench in the ground.

The shield was large enough to protect all of them easily.

I thought the smell disappeared because, even in human form, it could block the air to some extent.

"Probably, if I deploy it in dragon form, it can protect everyone from everything."

"Of course, Sir Cyril!"

When I said this, Jeanne, who had experienced the effect of the Mizuchi scale, was the first to get excited and exclaim.