Chapter 27
You're awake!
I suddenly came to and gazed up at the ceiling I had recently become accustomed to. Oh, could this already be considered home? It certainly felt that way.
As I pondered such thoughts in a daze, I suddenly remembered the existence of the dragon. What had happened since then?
With that thought, I raised my upper body.
「... M-Master Lars?」
Irinya's voice suddenly reached me. Looking towards her, I found her engaged in some task at the corner of the room, our eyes meeting. Thank goodness. She looked well.
「Oh, good morning.」
As I greeted her, Irinya dashed towards me with tears in her eyes. Her upper arm fit perfectly around my neck, and I was impressively hit with a lariat, thrown down onto the bedding.
「Agh.」
I was going to die at the hands of Irinya, not a dragon.
「Master Lars! Thank goodness!」
Unaware I was nearly dying, Irinya trembled with joy. Please, adorn my tombstone with a bounty of blue flowers. Feel free to create a flower garden for me.
Joking aside, I truly felt like I was suffocating, so I inserted both hands between Irinya and me, forming a barrier to force some distance.
「Ahh.」
Finally able to breathe, I managed to catch my breath. Witnessing this, Irinya pulled away in a flurry of concern.
「Oh, I'm sorry! Are you alright...?」
「Yeah, I'm alright...」
Replying as I calmed my breathing, I examined teary-eyed Irinya once more. She didn't seem injured; she was safe, and that was crucial.
「Mikel and Rolf?」
I asked, and Irinya nodded repeatedly in response.
「Yes. Both of them are safe. After what happened, the dragon, which had fainted, stirred a bit, so we decided we should escape before it regained consciousness...」
「Ah, so you couldn't defeat it. That's a little concerning.」
Listening to Irinya's explanation, a slight tension returned. It felt like it was over, but danger still lingered.
However, Irinya quietly shook her head. When I tilted my head and met her gaze, she answered with a smile.
「Afterward, we went to investigate the dragon's whereabouts, and it seems it retreated back towards the mountains. Although we will remain vigilant, it's likely fine for now...」
「Was it Abel?」
「Yes.」
Hearing her response, I sighed in relief. It was fortunate I could utilize the skill of the Magitech Automaton, but I found I didn't have as much leeway as expected. Despite having thought I'd spent a lot of time leveling up, it appeared to still be insufficient.
Due to a lack of magical capacity, even if I summoned the Magitech Automaton, I could only move it for about a minute or two. If the dragon appeared again under these circumstances, we would need to run at full speed. If that happened, someone would surely die this time.
The village had no defensive capabilities, and the abilities of the beastmen remained undeveloped. In this state, no number of lives would be sufficient. The easiest method would be for me, myself, to become stronger and aim to be a Super Lars, but that would take time and couldn't be considered a definitive solution.
There was one practical and realistic approach that came to mind, but I wasn't sure if it was feasible.
「Hmm, what should I do...」
「Is something wrong?」
「Well, I think if we strengthen the village, we can handle at least a dragon, but no one listens to me, so I was wondering what I should do...」
I raised my face as I answered. Then, to the right of Irinya's face, slightly removed at the doorway, were four faces. They stood like a totem pole, one above the other.
「Wow, that's creepy!」
Startled, that thought slipped from my lips. Hearing that, the top two of the totem pole furrowed their brows.
「How rude.」
「We were worried about you, you know.」
Mikel and Rolf said. Then, the top and bottom of the totem pole spoke as well. The children.
「Everyone's worried about you.」
「Are you okay?」
Hearing their kind words made me want to apologize for treating them like a totem pole and also exclaim at the talking totem pole. But the totem pole didn't really matter.
「Everyone, thank you. First of all, is anyone hurt?」
I laughed as I said that, and Mikel and the others exchanged smiles, seemingly relieved. It warmed my heart, leaving me with a delightful feeling.
At that moment, Mikel seemed to remember something and turned around.
「Oh, by the way, didn't you talk about doing something about the village?」
「And saying you'd be troubled because we don't listen.」
「I didn't say troubled!」
Following Mikel, Rolf added an unnecessary word, prompting me to protest. With a sheepish grin, Mikel spoke, his expression complex.
「... Honestly, we were saved by Lars' skill. We don't know what kind of skill it was, but it repelled the dragon. Even we know Lars is the strongest among us.」
Mikel, a bit shy, admitted, with Rolf nodding firmly beside him.
「Yeah. So, I think everyone will listen to Lars' ideas. Go ahead and speak up!」
They both said that matter-of-factly. However, I had once tried proposing and was ignored. I couldn't trust their words so easily.
If you find yourself wanting to know what happens next, please press the ☆ button at the bottom of the page!
It encourages the author!・:*+.\(( °ω° ))/.:+
-------------= Author's Notes -------------=
If you found yourself curious about 'what happens next,' it would make me happy if you could press the ☆ button at the bottom of the page!
It motivates the author!・:*+.\(( °ω° ))/.:+
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌ )】
Well, you wouldn't listen to a 10-year-old kid willy-nilly, do you?
Especially since they don't know you were reincarnated.