Chapter 81

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"Shiki, w-what should I do? Dorachan just gave birth!"

It was a morning like any other.

In one of the rooms in the lord's mansion, Ruruka rushed in and said this.

"Birth... you mean that kind of birth?"

"Yeah. Since Dorachan is a dragon, it's an egg. I didn't realize it until now, but she's been pregnant for a while, and just now, Dorachan's egg was in the courtyard!"

So that dragon was pregnant.

Actually, was it even female?

Before, I used a slime jelly on that dragon.

...I see, now I understand why it reacted so strongly.

"Hey, Shiki, help me! I-I can't do anything about it! Shiki, please!"

Ruruka, who seemed to be in a real bind over the dragon's birth, was practically clinging to me.

But even if I helped, there's nothing much I could do since the egg has already been laid.

"Ruruka, calm down. Since it's a dragon's egg, a dragon will take care of it, right? If it was about to hatch, that would be different, but since the egg is already laid, there's no need to panic."

I can't imagine a normal dragon needing human help to raise its young.

I can understand why Ruruka would panic if her pet laid an egg, but this seems like an overreaction.

As I thought this, Ruruka responded.

"It's not that! Dragons have a habit where a strong male takes care of the egg! So, the female Dorachan just looks at the egg curiously and won't warm it up even if I tell her to!"

"What kind of habit is that?"

"Apparently, dragon eggs are super, super delicious, and many monsters target them. So, a strong male who can protect the egg is always the one who warms it up."

"Super, super delicious, huh?"

I almost said, "Then let's make it into an omelet," but Dorachan is Ruruka's pet.

If I said that, I'd probably be more than just despised.

Yuel, who was in the room, also seemed interested in the dragon's egg and was looking at me.

...There's no other choice.

"Then, let's at least go check on it."

In the courtyard of the lord's mansion.

When we arrived at the scene, there was indeed an egg.

It was placed alone in a pile of straw used as the dragon's bed.

...And the dragon was just looking at the egg, not warming it up.

It seems Ruruka was telling the truth.

Even though dragons can understand language, they are still monsters.

Their innate habits and instincts can't be changed.

"It's impossible to bring a male dragon here now, right?"

Dragons are very rare monsters.

I've heard they don't settle down unless they are tamed by humans, so it would be difficult to bring a male dragon here now.

"This egg is all alone..."

Yuel, seeing the dragon not warming the egg, whispered sadly.

"If it's not warmed, it won't hatch, and if it's left unattended, the egg will die..."

Ruruka's face showed her anxiety.

Then, she turned to me again, grabbed my hand tightly, and said,

"But I looked up literature on dragons! It says that if a male human is trusted by a dragon, the dragon will also trust him with the egg!"

...I see.

That's why you called me.

After the dragon slime jelly incident, I explained the situation and apologized, and the dragon forgave me.

It doesn't growl or bite when I get close.

This dragon, though it looks scary, is quite smart and a good guy.

"Do you really need me?"

"Because Dorachan has to trust the person..."

I understand what Ruruka is saying.

...But while I don't seem to be disliked by the dragon, I'm not sure if it trusts me.

Once, when I tried to pet it with my right hand, it flinched and backed away.

It let me pet it with my left hand, but it definitely won't let me touch it with my right hand, which held the slime jelly at the time.

Probably, it likes me rationally but finds me physically repulsive.

Maybe I gave this dragon a trauma.

"I think it's probably impossible..."

"But, but, Dorachan said no one else can touch it! Please! You're the only one I can ask! ...It's supposed to take about three weeks for the egg to hatch."

"No, that's not the issue... Also, three weeks is quite a long time, isn't it?"

When I showed a slight reluctance, Ruruka clung to me again, pleading.

But I don't think I can touch the dragon's egg.

And warming it for three weeks is even more impossible.

"Shiki, please! Please!"

But Ruruka doesn't seem to be giving up.

Her expression and voice convey her desperation.

...There's no other choice.

I think it's probably impossible, but I'll try touching the dragon's egg.

I expect it to growl or bite my hand and end there.

Then, I looked at the egg.

"It's warm... This is a dragon's egg, huh..."

—Yuel was touching the egg.

She was touching it curiously, and the dragon, for some reason, was making happy growling sounds.

...?

Yuel, a girl, is touching the egg?

"Yuel, did the dragon stop you from touching the egg?"

"...? No, it didn't do anything."

What's going on...?

—Dragons are raised by 'strong males.'

According to Ruruka, a human male is also acceptable, but Yuel is definitely a girl.

Yet, Yuel can touch the egg.

"Why can Yuel touch it, but not Ruruka...?"

Then, I noticed the difference between Yuel and Ruruka.

The difference in their bodies.

Their chest sizes are completely different.

"Maybe..."

...The point where dragons distinguish between human males and females might be the body's contours.

Yuel, in a way, has no contours.

She's straight from top to bottom.

Given the difference in body structure between lizards and humans, it's unlikely they can distinguish faces in detail.

It's not surprising that dragons can't tell the difference between males and females.

Also, Yuel is undoubtedly strong.

She was the one who freed this dragon from the evil cultist's collar.

And Yuel, unaware of my thoughts,

"Master, Ruruka, this egg needs to be warmed, right? ...Can I warm it?"

She timidly asked.

—It seems female dragons don't care much about the eggs after entrusting them to males.

When Yuel said, "I want to wrap the egg in a towel to keep it warm" and took the egg inside the lord's mansion, the dragon didn't stop her.

Yuel, once in the room, started wrapping the egg in a towel.

Then, she took out a shoulder bag and put the egg inside.

She then hung the bag around her neck and secured it with a string.

"This way, it will stay warm."

Yuel then sat in a chair, holding the egg close to her stomach with both arms, like a pregnant woman.

With such a loving expression, she gently stroked the egg.

...Maybe Yuel is empathizing with the egg that was abandoned by its parents.

"A bit awkward, but this way, I can carry it all the time. It's supposed to take about three weeks to hatch, right?"

"Yes!"

Yuel answered enthusiastically.

Carrying the egg for three weeks seems quite challenging, but Yuel seems determined.

"But, doesn't it look bad?"

Ruruka muttered, looking at Yuel.

...I can understand why.

Yuel is wrapping the bag containing the egg around her body with a string.

From a fashion perspective, it's indeed terrible.

"Does it look bad?"

"Put another layer of clothing over it to hide it, it'll look cuter! I'll ask the maid!"

Then, Ruruka left the room.

One hour later.

Ruruka had the maid make a loose-fitting dress for Yuel to wear.

Yuel is now wearing it.

The maid even sewed it specially for Yuel.

"It's very comfortable and easy to wear."

But, this...

This might be a problem.

"The bag and the egg are all hidden now!"

Indeed, everything is hidden.

What was a "girl with a large, round bag attached to her stomach" is now a "girl with an unusually large stomach."

That's what Yuel looks like now.

If I had to describe Yuel's current appearance in one word:

A young pregnant woman in maternity wear.

Moreover, Yuel is stroking her stomach with a loving expression.

She's actually stroking the dragon's egg, but from the outside, it looks like a pregnant woman stroking her belly.

"Th-this is..."

Yuel is always with me.

Even if she needs to warm the egg, that probably won't change.

...But I need to imagine.

If a girl in this state serves me as I walk through the town or the mansion, how will people perceive the man called "Master" who is with her?

—"Master, does it suit me?" Yuel asked, looking at me with a very happy expression.

The dress was made by a maid for Yuel.

She might be happy that someone made a dress for her.

"A-ah... It suits you..."

I can't say it doesn't suit her.

I can't say it looks unnatural.

...But I don't need to criticize Yuel's dress.

I didn't suggest or bring this dress.

The person who brought it should point out the inappropriate parts.

I looked at Ruruka, who had a strained expression.

Ruruka looked at Yuel's stomach with a subtle expression, then at Yuel's happy face and held her head.

Ruruka seems to understand the current situation's issues.

Come on, Ruruka.

Say it clearly, "It doesn't suit you."

That's your responsibility for bringing this dress.

I kept the pressure on Ruruka with my gaze.

Then, Ruruka quickly looked away from me.

"Y-yeah! It suits you! Yuel, Shiki, it's good to shake the egg occasionally while warming it, so please take care of it!"

Ruruka spoke quickly and then rushed out of the room.

"..."

It seems Ruruka has decided to leave everything to me.

...Should I just smash that dragon's egg?

No, Yuel would cry, so I can't do that.

"I'll keep this up until the baby hatches!"

Are you really going to wear that for three weeks, Yuel?

But I can't say "No" to Yuel, who is so lovingly warming the egg.

"I'm looking forward to the baby being born."

While stroking her stomach, Yuel said.

...But, please remember to say "dragon's" baby.

I plan to make this a side story in a series.