“—So this girl is Mariana Ocean?”
“That’s right.”
On a cliff overlooking the Brave Territory from the Yudaina Mountain Range, I introduced Mariana to Onyx.
Alicia had fainted the first time they met, so I half-expected Mariana to foam at the mouth and collapse the same way she did around high-ranking nobles. However...
“Fwahhhh! A-A dragon?! It’s my first time seeing one!”
She was practically panting with excitement, clicking her glasses up and down at high speed as she stared at Onyx with intense curiosity.
“...That’s unexpected. It’s actually a little frustrating.”
Alicia looked adorable as she puffed out her cheeks, clearly miffed that Mariana was handling the situation better than she had.
“I had a feeling she might react like this.”
When it came to anything other than nobility, Mariana was surprisingly fearless.
In magic class, she was always the first to raise her hand; she would use a trowel to dig up chunks of the Dungeon walls or soil to take home for samples; and she could discuss the market value of an Orc Lord’s testicles while staring right at the source.
When I considered that, it made sense that she would be more fascinated than terrified by a dragon.
“Wow, incredible! Is this a Dragon Scale?! It looks even harder than a Lizardman’s scale!!”
“...Do not compare me to such low-class monsters.”
Far from being scared, she was already touching him.
“Could I have one of these?”
“I think that’s pushing your luck. You should stop while you’re ahead.”
That was an incredibly dangerous request, so I cut her off immediately.
To put it in human terms, she was essentially asking if she could have a piece of his skin. I’d used that line of questioning often enough while interrogating enemy soldiers, but hearing it from her with such cheerful, natural energy made it hard to believe she was the Former Protagonist.
“...I suppose I shall grant you one.”
“Fwahhhh! Laguna-san, Alicia, look! He gave me one!”
Both Alicia and I stood there, utterly stunned.
“T-That’s nice, dear...”
“You gave it up surprisingly easily.”
Was he being generous because she was a Saint? I started to worry if Onyx would be angry with me later for introducing him to such an outrageous woman.
“Is this not why you brought her here, Laguna Ver Brave?”
“Well, yeah, I guess.”
But I hadn't expected him to be that accommodating.
“Could Alicia get one too?”
Since he was already handing them out, I figured I might as well ask for one for Alicia—and hopefully a third for myself so I could research dragon magic power.
“Your existence is joke enough.”
“Right. Moving on.”
He directed a sharp wave of bloodlust at me, so I decided to drop the subject for now.
Onyx lowered his massive head toward us and spoke.
“Did you not vow before me that you would protect that woman? If so, she has no need for my scales, does she?”
“Oh! How romantic! That’s so wonderful... Alicia, Laguna-san, you two really are perfect for each other...”
“No, well... I suppose...”
At Onyx's revelation and Mariana’s genuine envy, Alicia looked incredibly embarrassed. Her response was a bit vague, but given that she’d fainted during the actual vow, it was only natural she didn't remember it clearly.
“Laguna Ver Brave, listen well.”
“Yeah?”
“History has proven that a lowly human can only protect a single person in their lifetime, even if they wager their soul. If that is so, then who shall protect this blue-haired girl? Hmph. I shall lend her my power as a special favor. Keep it on your person at all times.”
“T-Thank you very much!”
Mariana bowed deeply, clutching the dragon’s gift.
He was being incredibly overprotective. I wondered what had brought on this sudden change of heart.
“You should be grateful you were brought here, Mariana Ocean. As you are now, the Creeping Shadow would have consumed you before the summer’s end.”
At those words, Mariana’s expression shifted instantly.
“The Creeping Shadow... Dragon-san, you can see it...?”
“It is Onyx.”
“Onyx-san, can you see the shadow behind me?”
“I am a dragon. The dimension I perceive is different from that of you humans.”
The Creeping Shadow? I wasn't sure what they were talking about. I could see Magic Insects with my own eyes, but I hadn't seen a single bug on Mariana. I’d assumed her Saintly magic power naturally repelled them, but apparently, there was something else at play.
“Onyx, Mariana. I want to hear the details.”
“Substitution Magic. I know not where the mark was placed, but the soul of the afflicted grows thin, and they lose sight of the path they were meant to walk.”
That sounded like a type of magic I’d heard of before.
“Onyx-san, is it different from the bugs...? I thought it was just a larger version of one of those.”
“They are similar but distinct. It takes the form of that which the victim fears most. However, to the Curse-Eating Onyx, magic of a human level is trivial.”
Onyx grew quite loquacious as he explained.
“Shuuuuuuuuu!”
“Wha—?!”
He took a massive, vacuum-like breath. A black, mist-like substance peeled away from Mariana’s body and was sucked directly into Onyx’s mouth.
Chomp!
Onyx began to chew, speaking even as he ate.
“There. I have consumed the Substitution Shadow. You are safe. As you can see, such things are a simple matter for me.”
He seemed rather proud of himself, but the turn of events was so sudden I could hardly keep up.
“I thought we’d follow some sort of procedure, like hearing the story from Mariana first.”
“Why cling to the past when the matter can be settled in an instant? Honestly, this is why humans with their short lifespans are so tiresome.”
“Right. My mistake.”
I suppose he had a point. When a higher being like a dragon tells you that’s how it works, there’s not much room for argument.
Something had been haunting Mariana, and now it was gone. It was almost certainly one of Patricia’s schemes, so I was just glad I’d managed to ruin her plans.
“With this, Mariana Ocean shall return to her original fate. It is a magic that takes a considerable amount of time to set, so I know not how far back things will revert, but so long as she has my protection, no one shall interfere.”
After all, I am a dragon, Onyx boasted with a booming laugh. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen now that her destiny had been restored at this late stage...