Chapter 336: The Ruins of the Great Tree

336 – The Ruins of the Great Tree

Below the giant tree is a huge entrance to a building. The right-hand side of the door still stands, but the left side has crumbled away. Fragments of stone are visible mixed into the surrounding root.

I hesitate for a second, but then lose to my curiosity and approach the door. As I get closer, my partner and I bite through bits of root that clog the path.

I see what looks like a drawing carved into the collapsed door. Using my foreleg, I brush away dirt from the indentations, and clean it by rubbing it with my skin. Part way through I realise that what I’m looking at is writing rather than a drawing. The dirt isn’t completely cleared, and at first I don’t understand what it is I’m looking at.

But, as I look closer, I realise that I recognise the first character. The moment I notice, the inside of my head burns hot.

『あw／g／ntnzえ／ga』

It’s genuine hiragana and Latin letters. A lot of them are unreadable due to damage, and there are some that merely look like hiragana but are slightly different.

Wh-what is this? It looks pretty old, but… Long ago, were there others from Earth like me? It’s a weird arrangement of letters…

I wonder if I’ll understand if I continue through. I get the feeling that this building has something to do with who I am.

I don’t have any memories of before I was a dragon, so I don’t have much in the way of regrets about my previous world. Even if I were to think about it, it doesn’t feel like I’d arrive at any answers, so I haven’t tried to think too deeply about why I’m in this world. But now that I see something like this, I can’t exactly leave it alone. To put it simply, it’s piqued my curiosity.

As I stoop under the doorway, my partner glances at me dubiously.

『…We’re going in? I get a bad feeling about this place. 』

…I have the same bad feeling. But I might be able to find out about my roots in this place. If that’s possible, then I’d be willing to put my life on the line to unravel the mystery.

But it would be wrong to drag along Aro, the treant and petit nightmare, let alone my partner… But if I were to leave them behind, they might be attacked by monsters on this island and be wiped out…

『Do what you want. If you want to go, then I can only accompany you.』

After saying that, she shifts her eyes to our body.

『But find something tasty, okay? The one who’s moving our legs is you, after all, partner.』

P-partner…!

Aro jumps from my head and makes a clean landing with [Gale] wind magic, then puffs out her chest proudly. The petit nightmare lines up next to her.

Y-you guys…!

The treant races in front of them and stands just before the door and jerks its nose up… It might be dangerous for treant-san, and it wouldn’t look out of place for there to be a tree out here, so maybe you should stay back and try to blend in?

At any rate, it doesn’t look like I’ve got any reason to stay here. With equal parts anticipation and apprehension, I examine the area behind the door. The building looks ancient, with the ceiling full of holes that allow light to leak in, so the inside isn’t all that dark.

Feeling around with [Presence Perception], I take a step forward. It’s spacious. The way it’s constructed, I’d still be able to go through even if I were a bit bigger. Carved giant pillars support the roof, giving it the impression of a temple.

At the back of the vast hall, I see two human figures. The inside is slightly dark and I can’t see their faces very clearly. But I get the feeling they’ve been waiting all this time for me to come. Seeing me, they slowly walk toward me. I see something hopping by their side. Is it a pet?

I gulp.

As I try to take another step, I realise they aren’t wearing clothes. There’s nothing from their neck up, and faces are on their chests. In other words, they’re adams.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Species: Adam

Condition: Normal

Lv: 60/100HP: 729/729

MP: 374/374

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Species: Adam

Condition: Normal

Lv: 67/100

HP: 785/785

MP: 423/423

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The two people… No, the two adams walk towards me, their expressions frozen in place. I take a step back, and they speed up, hurtling toward me frantically.

Just as I think something is hopping next to them, I glance at it to see a grotesque monster. From the head down, it is composed of a single thick leg. Its hair is long, and there is a slight femininity to its lips and eyes, but it makes me want to say so what.

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Species: EveCondition: Normal

Lv: 70/100

HP: 476/476

MP: 598/660

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Nope nope nope nope! Absolutely nope! No way am I fighting them! Their levels are a bit lower than the one I hunted, but it’s still a bit unwinnable. Three A- ranks is no laughing matter.

Both the adams and the eve, what’s with their ridiculous appearance!? There’s a limit to name fraud!

Impossible, this is impossible. I’d thought to resolve myself, but this is absolutely impossible. With them lined up, it’s too surreal. Is this seriously the adams’ nest? They shouldn’t be monsters that can just pop up anywhere.

If I were to fight them, It’s clear I’d get surrounded and get beaten up. I quickly turn around, stuff Aro in my mouth and grab the treant as I dash toward the exit. At some point the petit nightmare got on my partner’s head.

I burst out the exit, then kick off the ground to jump into the air. But as long as I’m in the air, I’m a target for [Gravidon]. I fly around the giant tree.

If this could give them the slip, that’d be great. U-until I get a bit stronger, entering the ruins might be impossible. That, or if Aro and the others could work together to pin one down, I could imagine surviving…