102 - - The Riding Beast

"White, no, no, no. This is the dragon of the mountain range, not the cavalryman."

What's the difference? Well, let's not fluff it up.

The summoning time is over because we're talking about deciding who gets to be a cavalryman.

"Your summoner is a little out of touch if you treat Mr. Parthin as a cavalryman. ......"

Mr. Dragonet frowns between his eyebrows and mumbles. But no eyebrows.

"Hmm. But surely Mistiff ...... has longer hair than the Mistiffs I know, and is really white."

I thought that calling him a cavalryman might put him in a bad mood, but he can't seem to take his eyes off the white fluff.

"I won't do it!"

I know you have a dilemma about not getting closer, but just in case, I'll put a nail in your hand.

"Mmm ......, it's okay. In fact, I think it's time to consider moving to a safer place for the Mysphets here."

"Attributes are a hard thing to find, aren't they?"

Is this what a lonely smile looks like, when you want to take them back to your sleeping quarters and fluff them up as much as you can? If there were thirty of them sleeping together, they would not only be able to fluff you up as much as they wanted, but they would probably be able to fluff you up as much as they wanted.

"Bai, this Mistyph under Paltin's protection is going to be here. Wanna meet her?

What?

"Mistiff."

There are survivors!

"They say they're almost extinct, but they're out there in the middle of nowhere, in places guarded by spirits."

"The population would have been extinct if they had lived separately, but Master Parthin collected one or two, and now the population has finally exceeded 30.

Many of the surviving individuals have been selected or are strong, and fortunately, even though the number is small, they have managed to sustain the species.

"Well, human greed knows no bounds. When I had just become a full-grown dragon, had it not been for the rampage of Husfarn, a mutant of Myspheus, that destroyed our country, we might have been destroyed indeed. And now we humans are no longer so furry."

"......"

We also wave a silent white here and there.

Was it a mistake to choose human as a race? No, the essence remains the same no matter which race we choose. There are many good humans, Galahad and his friends, Luba and the boy Julius. But...

I can't say that they and I won't hunt them all down if we need their skins for production.

I can't say "don't hunt". Everything in this world is more or less killing others for food and comfort. But we can't just go against them without being prepared to suffer the same fate. It is ridiculous to think that only human beings will not perish. They have the right to kill too.

Perhaps reading my expression, Mr. Dragonewt speaks to me.

I don't deny that it is said that the gods sealed the beast because it destroyed many nations, but I somehow understood at the time of Bahamut that it is actually not true. The seal (that) is only because it broke the boundary. It is not because they killed many people and destroyed the country.

"Well, I may be a little sentimental, but I'm not going to change my way of life."

I wave a fluttering hand at Mr. Dragonute.

"I'm sure you'll be fine."

You're not making any sense.

You left some wild plants. That was for next year, wasn't it?

He laughs his head off.

"...... I just want to eat again next year."

When I mumble, something seeps into my vision like running water.

It grows and grows, until it takes on a definite color and shape.

"Short."

The short hair, aside from being brown, makes it look like a completely different creature from the white one. Round-cropped?　Is it round-cropped!　No, it's velvety and shiny and beautiful!

Not fluffy enough!

"Master Partin, it's been a long time."

"Faria, it's been a long time."

A fluffy individual with longer fur than the others and white chest hairs came forward.

Is it possible that the more fluffy, the stronger?

White is frozen at my shoulder in front of his compatriot.

Mistiff, called Faria, is being hugged by Paltin. She looks trusting as she rests her face on Paltin's cheek, and Paltin looks blissful.

And I am looking at Mistiff from a distance, something that is just barely not said in the least. The human tribe is a little on the small side.

"Faria is more powerful than the others and I have no problem touching her for a short time. He is the leader of this troop.

"I cannot say my name because of the presence of others, but my name is as Master Partin just called it."

Ah, I'd forgotten that things in the spirit world only tell their own names to those whom they have designated as their masters.

"M......, you too, introduce yourself to me."

He slapped me on the cheek. White is a pseudonym, so why not?　You told the Parthins your name.

Oh, the Hasferns?

"Hus ......"

I was about to say it, but he pecked me on the mouth. Fluff is good, but paw pads are good too.

The usual one.

White. And I'm Homura.

The other party doesn't seem to be interested in humans, or perhaps they don't need them, but I'll say my name anyway.

White, new friends are welcome. Homura also apologizes for the impolite glances from Mistiff and the others, but he was brought here by Mr. Partin and I'm sure he knows he's not going to do anything to us. ......"

"Don't worry about what humans are to Myspheus, I just asked Mr. Dragonut. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"Well, don't worry about this one, as usual."

With a clap of hands, Paltin's words caused the distant mystics to disappear.

"Why don't you come and join us, White?"

No, just seeing him is enough. No, it is enough that I have seen you. We have been so far apart that I do not know how to treat you. Besides, I am your summoned beast.

Cute little white, my boy is the prettiest. He'd bite me if I told you.

"It's going to get noisy here soon because of me. We'll have to find a place to settle before then."

"It's not your fault, Mr. Partin."

"It's going to be noisy?"

It seems as if players are rushing in to catch the cavalry, but that's not the mood I'm in.

"Next year is the year of the tree, and the next year is the year of fire.

"Yeah?"

"Master Parthin is being courted by a green dragon and a fire dragon. Pertin-sama is stronger than them, but in the years when their attributes are stronger, they always try to mess with him.

"The fighting is getting more and more intense, and I don't know when it's going to come to this place."

"Wait, does a dragon's approach to love mean fighting?"

That's a little disturbing, isn't it?

"Some people like each other, but they're attracted to the stronger ones."

You're beastly in that way. You almost forget you're a dragon when you're talking to someone who looks like a person. Dragons are extreme, huh?　Does that mean Bahamut is popular in the dragon world?

I've never been that popular with my owners, and yet, look at me: ......!　At any rate, I'm going to shake the white one.

You'd better get your hands on a beast of prey

Oh, by the way...

I must warn you in advance.

"I am one of the Gentiles, and maybe one day more will come here to get the cavalry."

What, is that true?

"I think there's still a while, maybe."

I got the information about the cavalry from Galahad and the others. They tried to hide it, but I am sure that Percival and the others have one too, and it is only a matter of time before it spreads.

Once the word gets out, they will come looking for them, and since there is a bulletin board, it won't be long before someone posts something about them.

"Well, this is the only place on this continent where there are many cavalry beasts that can carry people and follow them.

"I hope they show some guts and go hunt a fire dragon or something."

I wonder if there are different cavaliers on different continents. And you, Mr. Dragonut, are you getting a little too frustrated with the fire dragon?

"Sorry to bother you."

I'm the one who came for the cavalry.

No, the cavalry's fine as long as you make the right connections. I'd rather encourage it."

"Hmm?　I thought the numbers would go down from here."

From here on.

"Generally speaking, a cavalier is said to be the reincarnation of a who was named after his master and became a . There are rare, strong individuals who are named by their surroundings, and who have a sense of self without a master."

"It is said that when an ordinary beast dies, it becomes one large, individualistic mass of souls of the same species, and when it is named, it becomes an individual with a budding ego, so that when it dies, its soul cannot return to it, nor does it want to. After a few rebirths, the ego disappears and the soul becomes a part of the mass again. Even if there are no memories, the thought of not wanting to disappear as an individual remains, doesn't it?

"The beasts here are different from beasts of the same species elsewhere, except in form and ability. You can bring a wild beast to its knees and give it a name, but I'd rather you choose one of the beasts here if you can."

If we don't give it a new name, it will revert to a mere beast. Ah, that's why Tasya led us here, saying that Bahamut can be made into a beast, but this is the only place where people can make a bond with a beast.

"What are you going to do with the cavalry beast when you get it?"

"It makes it easier to get around. I want to go and see. And if I find a nice place, I can buy a house."

!　Buy now, and take care of the Mistiffs here until we find a place to move them!"

White, who had been quiet, leaned his head back and shouted.

"No, no, White, it won't be decided so soon. Also, isn't it a little sensitive for the other (Mistiff) to be sheltered by a human?"

"No, that's better. No, that's better. A human being doesn't have enough bias to influence Mistiff. They would be useless in a human city, but if we build one in a remote place, we can talk to the spirits and dragons there.

Affirmative.

"The Frontier ......"

There are transfers, but they are difficult to get to. What about a home you can't go back to?

Let's see, should we build a hut for mystics somewhere in the middle of nowhere?

How about in the Elven Lost Forest?

"Oh, that sounds like a good environment!　I don't feel safe with the elves either, but that's the point, let's say a word to the old man of the world tree. There may be stragglers, but inside the house is a kind of ward, and it is much safer than here.

I thought Elf~ was by continent ......?　Where are you taking me?

"Then how about an isolated island?　If you build it on an island where people don't stop by in the first place!"

"No, then I'll talk to the sea dragons to make sure no ships come near the island, and I'll ask the spirits of the air to take care of the sky!　We couldn't do anything fancy here because of the proximity of human activity, but on an isolated island, there's no need to be shy!"

Isn't that a pussy that I won't be able to stop by too?

"Hey you two!　This is not your house. Homura-san looks very delicate."

Mr. Dragonut stopped me.

"No....... If it's your house, it's also my house, right?　Nah?"

"What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

He tilted his head and rubbed his face against me, then kissed me on the nose.

A nose kiss?

"d*mn, I can't help it. ......"

I replied, "It's not my fault.

But the way Mr. Dragonet looked at me hurt.

"Well, now that you've decided that, I'd like you to do me a favor before the next full moon."

"No, it's impossible to find an island and build one, isn't it?　How do you own the island in the first place?"

"Hmm, I don't understand the time sense of the human race or their rules and regulations.

"First of all, I don't even know if there are craftsmen who would come to build in such a remote area."

"Don't you have some kind of ball over there?　You know, store the whole house and build it wherever you want."

"Ah, <>. There is also a <> for the interior.

I heard that you can increase the number of rooms designed by an architect by using , and change the design of floors, walls, and pillars by using made by a carpenter.

However, it is only possible to make them with high-level skills and the blank balls are expensive.

"That looks expensive!"

At any rate, one room is all I need.

"Shall I bring some more dragon ore?　That's the kind of stone that will turn into the stuff around there if I stay long enough, so don't be shy, okay?"

"Let me think about it after we decide on a location. If I like it, it's my house and I'll pay for it. If I don't like the place, I'll come and get it. But first, how are we going to find an isolated island?　Are there any flying type of cavalrymen?"

Then I'll lend you Reno."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah!　Excuse me, Mr. Partin. ！！！！"

"I'd like to know how Mistiff is doing. Reno is fast on the ground and can fly for half a day or so."

Wait, sir, you can't!

Mr. Dragonet is in a hurry. I wonder if he is Mr. Dragoneut's cavalryman.

"What kind of a Reno is this?"

In response to my question, Paltin smiles and points at Mr. Dragonut.

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I am pleased to inform you that the first player belonging to on the Isle has just appeared. This information is now available to the public.

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