Now that I’d finished giving the samples to Akane-san, the only person left on my list was Flare-san. Just in case, I’d asked Kuro for a few extra samples so that Flare-san could give some to Magnawell-san’s other subordinates or to Magnawell-san himself.
I’d arranged to meet Flare-san in front of the same Gate we used when we went to the Dragon Carnival, and we were able to meet up right away.
“Welcome, my comrade. I heartily welcome your arrival.”
“Hello, Flare-san. As I mentioned via Hummingbird, here are the coffee samples. I’ve brought several so you can share them with Magnawell-sama or the other members of the Four Great Magic Dragons. Please distribute them as you see fit.”
“Understood. You have my gratitude for your thoughtfulness, comrade… Now then, since you've come all this way, I would like to show you to my dwelling. Would that be alright?”
“Yes, I’d love to, if you don't mind, Flare-san.”
Since she’d invited me with a smile, I had no reason to refuse and nodded. At my response, Flare-san nodded back and shifted into her original Dragon Form.
(Then, my comrade, climb onto my back.)
“Yes. Well then, excuse me.”
Just like when she took me to the Dragon Carnival, I climbed onto her back and we set off.
Just like before, she flew at a speed comfortable for me, so I felt safe enough to enjoy the view from the sky. However, I couldn't help but wonder what her home was like—specifically, which form it was designed for.
Flare-san’s true form was her current one, a Winged Dragon about five meters long. The human form I was used to seeing—wearing a sarashi and a gakuran—was a transformation achieved through Humanization Magic. In that case, her dwelling was likely built for a dragon, which made me wonder if it would be anything like a normal house.
“…By the way, Flare-san, what is your home like?”
(Hm? Ah, I think I understand what you're getting at, comrade. You are wondering if my home is built for my dragon form or my human form?)
“Yes, I was worried that if it was built for a dragon, it might be a bit too big for me…”
(There is no need to worry about that. I am taking you to a house suited for humans. To be precise, I have two dwellings right next to each other—one for my dragon form and one for my human form. Paperwork is difficult as a dragon, and that form can be restrictive for certain hobbies. So, I built them side-by-side so I can use whichever is best for the moment.)
“Ah, I see. So a dragon-sized building and a human-sized house are right next to each other?”
(That is correct.)
That made sense. Being able to use either form would be incredibly convenient. For someone as powerful as Flare-san, maintaining Humanization Magic constantly wasn't a problem, so having both options was simply efficient.
(To be more specific, I own several large mountains. My homes are built there. I also allow some of my subordinates to live on my land if they wish. In human terms, you could say they're my neighbors.)
“Wow, owning several mountains… that’s incredible.”
(Much of the Southern Region of the Demon Realm belongs to Magnawell-sama, and he has granted land to some of us. I didn't buy my mountains; they were a gift from him.)
“I see… the scale is truly on another level. I'm really looking forward to seeing it.”
(I hope it lives up to your expectations. At this speed, it will take about fifteen minutes. Please, relax and enjoy the ride.)
I hadn't visited the Southern Region of the Demon Realm very often. Since it was Magnawell-san's territory, it was teeming with monsters and had fewer cities than other areas. It also helped that Magnawell-san lived in a mountain range rather than a metropolitan area.
Actually, I hadn't really explored much of the Demon Realm outside of the areas governed by the Six Kings anyway. It was a vast world; it might be fun to see more of it.
Serious-senpai: "Now that you mention it, since Kaito lives in the Human Realm, he really hasn't spent that much time in the Demon Realm."