216: The Most Basic of Basics

They didn’t get it. Not a single one of them.

This was child’s play—the absolute basic of basics. Still, I figured I might as well take the credit for it. Maintaining my dignity was a vital part of my survival strategy, after all.

"As I said, we aren't your enemies," I told them. "The nearby villagers are terrified. I’d appreciate it if you could move somewhere else—preferably a place far from any human settlements."

"Phew... That was quite the feast," the Earth Dragon sighed, looking satisfied. "Very well. Considering you went to the trouble of preparing such exquisite souvenirs, I shall grant your request."

The moment the Earth Dragon spoke, Olynn and Lilith let out cheers of relief.

But we weren't out of the woods yet.

"That’s a huge help. Now, I have a question for the Water Dragon. Who attacked you? You said it was a human, but what did they look like?"

"Hey! Fire Dragon, that one’s mine!"

"Water Dragon, that's your second melon petit cake already!"

Could you two just eat and listen for a second?

"Uh, let's see... the one who attacked me was a woman with long, white hair," the Water Dragon said between bites.

"Did she have horns on her head? If so, she wasn't a human. She was of the Demon Race."

"I wonder... Ah, actually, she might have."

Just as I thought.

It was likely the other Eva. Even for members of the Demon Race, those girls emitted a bizarre, alien Mana. It made sense that the dragons would mistake them for humans.

But there was no way they were doing this to "protect the village." What were they actually after?

"When did this happen?" I asked.

"About a week ago, I think."

The Wind Dragon chimed in to supplement the story. "We all attacked her together. She was incredibly strong. Though, the moment we started getting serious, she vanished."

"...I see."

She faced all four of these monsters at once and managed to escape? Dammit, she better not be putting in as much effort as I am! That’s just not fair.

It was too perfect to be a coincidence. They had known about the Four Dragons beforehand. Most likely, the Demon King was behind it. He’d dispatched a subordinate to plot... something.

Was it an attempted massacre? An attempt at persuasion? Or something else entirely?

I can’t figure it out just by standing here.

However, it was becoming increasingly likely that they knew more about Noblesse Oblige than I did—especially since they'd successfully revived a Pseudo-Demon and had Nell, the Eva look-alike, on their side.

Just then, the Fire Dragon stepped forward, a piece of Melo-Melon fruit still stuck to her cheek.

"Fine, I’ll trust you guys. I’ll believe those other guys were Demon Race, and I’ll admit that you humans are... alright."

Olynn seized the opportunity immediately.

"In that case, I think our interests are aligned. The Demon Race will keep targeting people indiscriminately. When that happens, we're going to need your help."

Honestly, only Olynn could say something like that without a hint of hesitation. Well, Allen probably would too.

The Earth Dragon was the one who responded.

"We are neutral. We do not take sides. However... since the Water Dragon was harmed, I will consider lending you some assistance. But—"

The Earth Dragon turned her gaze toward me. I knew that look. Her eyes were practically screaming her demands.

"Leave it to me," I sighed. "I’ll make sure the Melo-Melon offerings are properly prepared."

"...Very well. We are not unwilling to accept the loyalty of such admirable humans as yourselves."

"...Well, I guess I’m okay with that too," the Water Dragon added.

"I don't mind either!" the Wind Dragon chirped.

The Fire Dragon huffed. "I still won't forgive the one who slapped my butt, though!"

In any case, that was that.

It was a convoluted, headache-inducing mess—exactly the kind of episode the Noblesse dev team would have cooked up.

Afterword

The Four Dragons arc concludes in the next chapter.

And finally, the long Summer Vacation (Estarm) is coming to an end.

I wonder how everyone is doing? It's been a while since we've seen the rest of the cast. Also, will there be an exam?

I’ve recently started a new serialization!

It’s a story about a protagonist who gains a skill called Otherworld Guide Map and travels using Reviews and various other skills. I’m hoping to bring out all the fun elements I’ve cultivated in my writing so far.

I’d love it if you could take a look! Even just a follow would be great! Or maybe just a ☆ rating?! Every bit of support helps a ton! (^^)/

I’m currently participating in Kakuyomu Contest 9.

Last year was a total defeat for me. I really want to win an award this year!

Thank you for your continued support! m(__)m

[Since I obtained 【Otherworld Guide Map】 5.0 ★★★★★ (57,894 Reviews), I will enjoy a carefree trip to another world by relying on 【Reviews】]