The 5000-year-old Herbivorous Dragon

Chapter 81 - Encounter Again

“TRANSLATOR: Anargya”

“EDITOR: Ghost Ape”

It was convenient that Rēko abandoned her doubts on me in the usual way.

It seems that the current me is recognized by Rēko as the “Materialization of Evil Dragon-sama’s Sincerity”. No matter how you see it, my real body is waiting at the garrison.

And for that reason.

「Please look forward to it Evil Dragon-sama, I will show you what is expected of my role as your kin.」

「Don’t push yourself okay? How about you relax your shoulders?」

Rēko is on my back, talking normally while I go along the way.

Of course, I did not try such bold contact from the beginning. On the first day when we left the garrison, I kept a good distance behind Rēko and Sheina (along with spirit-san on her shoulders).

However, on the first night.

Sheina went and said, “This place is the frontier, so there are some monsters that are quite strong sometimes”. When I heard that, it started to make me anxious.

After all, Rēko does not regard the me right now as flesh and blood. If a monster were to attack me, she may not help me like usual.

As for Sheina, she wouldn’t think that the notorious evil dragon that is me requires assistance.

At worst, if a monster attacks me right now, I will become a Buddha while they pass through.

While I was worried about what to do, my legs moved to Rēko’s side at the bonfire without realizing it.

Impatiently, I start talking in desperation.

「Can you hear me Rēko… Right now, I am currently speaking to your heart directly from afar…the me right now is just an illusion… 」

Rēko believed in my lie and knelt down on the spot, but Sheina had an amazed look with her mouth half open. After that, I openly accompanied them like usual.

In that condition, the second day of the journey came.

「Even so, I feel like I’m really riding on Evil Dragon-sama like this. Of course, I understand that Evil Dragon-sama is using his psychokinetic power to lift me up.」

「That’s right. My real body is not here. The feeling like you’re really riding on me ーaside from psychokinetic power, just think of it as some kind of an illusion. 」

Then, a finger poked my side. It’s Sheina.

「Um, Evil Dragon-sama. Can I have a bit of your time? 」

「Mm. What is it? 」

At the same time as when I turned my head, Rēko turned to Sheina and nodded with satisfaction.

「Hou. So, you can see this Evil Dragon-sama’s figure… As expected of Evil Dragon-sama’s fan, that’s quite promising…」

「Whether or not I can see him, well, yeah, I could see him. 」

Just like that, Sheina entrusted spirit-san to Rēko, beckoned to me as a signal.

After hiding behind the rock, a little away from Rēko, she started speaking softly.

「I’m just confirming, but the current Evil Dragon-sama is the real thing, right?」

「Don’t touch me there that much. Because there’s complicated circumstances that are intertwined, let’s say no comment.」

「…? I don’t really understand, but if Evil Dragon-sama says so. Ah, that’s right. Can I count this as a loan? People being able to make a loan to Rēvendia-sama is very rare.」

「I don’t think it’s like that.」

「 Eh? 」

When Sheina asked, I rushed to stop my mouth. The chance is almost lost.

In order to avoid any unnecessary information leakage - and in order to pull the Evil Dragon power from Rēko - maintaining the Evil Dragon-like character is a must.

I make a serious expression and speak loudly.

「That’s right, I have already made a big loan to all humanity. Forgetting the responsibility as an Overlord, and leaving the Demon King to his own devices……uuh……」

On the way, the limit of the Rēko like illusion came, and I crouched while holding my head.

「 Eh? What’s the matter Evil Dragon-sama? What’s the matter with the Demon King? 」

「I’m sorry, Sheina. Forget what I’m doing just now. Wow, so Rēko can speak in that manner without being scared.」

Maybe that girl has nothing to fear. In fact, I feel that I would have a more equal battle when I fought against the Demon King.

「Well, I understand that there are circumstances, and I can see that Rēko believes in Evil Dragon-sama completely. But as expected the distance right now is too close.」

「Yeah, I think that I was a little too bold as well. 」

「If you are worried about Rēko, it’s okay because I’ll take good care of her. Even if you left her, I’ll still make a status report occasionally.」

「Uh, yeah……you’re right……If it’s like that, then I feel relieved……」

Actually, I don’t feel relieved. I will not be able to follow-up my weakness, which is my biggest concern.

Troubled, I looked down and cast my eyes on the shadow at my feet. The evening is approaching, and my shadow is growing long.

That’s it… Yesterday, I took the rejuvenation medicine about this time. If I don’t drink it soon, I will return to my original sizeー!

Then, I flashed an excellent idea.

「That’s right, yeah. Then I’ll leave in a bit. Report Rēko’s situation to a reasonable extent once in a while. 」

It’s a complete change from the previous plan. Sheina turned back cheerfully and kept her distance.

That’s right. Now that this place is not a human village, there’s no need to forcibly keep my size small.

If I grow to my original size and look like an Evil Dragon, beasts and monsters around will surely escape.

I’ve actually been spending 5000 years in a carefree way, and almost no monsters attacked me.

Most recently, Kuragari wolves attacked me in Rēko’s village, but that’s probably because the low-ranking monster in front of the village was in a state of excitement. In normal times, they would have never attacked me. If I looked back calmly, I think there’s almost no memory of being attacked by monsters after my figure got bigger.

If an opponent who is so powerful that it is not afraid of my original appearanceーin other words, when a big shot from the Demon King army arrives, Rēko will surely detect them and fly over here immediately. At that time, I can leave it to her.

「 Well, I’m completely blunt in the wild. After all, I have to protect myself. That’s the law of nature.」

After I keep distance from Rēko and wait a little, purple smoke burst out from my body and I returned to my original size. I feel a bit heavy when my size returns, but I got used to it recently.

Now, chasing the twoーI looked toward the path, and both my hand

and feet come to a halt.

While I turned back and waited for my body to return, they had disappeared completely beyond the horizon.

I stood up, and my face looked like a dead person.

I take it back. After all, I’m used to being relieved by having Rēko close by. When I imagine I can’t catch up being this size, I can feel my meagerness and my legs start to quiver.

It is also difficult to return to the garrison. After all, the further I go in the opposite direction, the more distance I’ll be from Rēko. The risk is way higher. There is no other choice but to catch up with them here.

A terrifying plain where strong monsters lurkーand just me alone.

「I, I’m an evil dragon, you knowー. A very strong evil dragon, you knowー. If you attack me, I’ll turn around and kill you, you knowー」

I decided to run through the field, appealing that I was an evil dragon.

Making up for the lack of a strong person’s aura with words. Surely the monsters will be afraid and say, “Uwaa, it’s an Evil Dragon.”

I wonder if my fear was transmitted correctly…

「ーEvil Dragon Rēvendia. I have something to ask you. 」

…to this tattered Ikemen-san, who I came across in the middle of the plain while chasing Rēko.