Chapter 8: Age of Dragons (3)

Chapter 8: Age of Dragons (3)

How long had it been since the children acquired the body of a dragon?

Once again, a new change was approaching the evolution of life.

"Kraaaak!"

"Krrrk! Kyahak!"

The fight between dinosaurs. No, the fight between a dinosaur and a pack of dinosaurs.

Several smaller dinosaurs began to hunt a large dinosaur together.

The strength of each individual was weak, but by increasing their numbers, they were overcoming the disadvantage.

"Grrrrr...."

Thus, the large dinosaur, struggling alone, fell to the ground covered in wounds, and the small dinosaurs were able to obtain a large piece of meat without any sacrifices.

"Mother. What are you watching?"

"Hm? Ah, Erebus."

Erebus, quietly revealing himself from the shadows. It's fascinating that he can appear anywhere the darkness touches.

"I was watching other life forms. Look there. The small dinosaurs have started to form a group."

"The small dinosaurs... are banding together to survive."

"That's right. That too is a choice for survival."

While some of the small dinosaurs guard the prey they hunted, others bring small offspring from somewhere.

Hiding the offspring in a safe place and feeding them the hunted prey. They are trying various methods for survival.

"Is this what the family in the stories you told me about looks like?"

"Un. A proper form of family hasn't appeared yet, but for now, it would seem so."

Neither a definite intelligent being has appeared nor has a form of society been created yet.

It could be considered a primitive form of family.

"Mother... Do you wish for such a family?"

"Hm? Me? Well... I'm not sure yet."

After having this dragon's body... I'm not sure.

I don't particularly feel lonely. The faint feeling of loneliness I had felt disappeared thanks to meeting the children.

They are not my own children... but thanks to these children, I feel like I can endure my current existence.

I stroked Erebus's head with my front paw while looking at the small dinosaurs filling their stomachs with the large dinosaur.

"There's still time, so let's keep watching. The concept of family is still vague in this world."

Although these children call me mother, it's ambiguous to say they are a real family.

"By the way, do you know what the other children are doing?"

"The other children... are probably playing, doing whatever they want."

Doing whatever they want...

If it were me, just traveling around the world would be enjoyable.

"They seem to be having fun traveling around."

"Yes. We didn't have bodies to travel around before."

I smiled at Erebus. It was worth it to have my scales plucked, seeing how happy these children are.

The place where the scales were plucked feels slightly prickly and ticklish. But I can endure this much.

A blue dragon was poking its head out of the lake where I was looking at my reflection.

"Thetis. What's the matter?"

"Ah, Mother? Why do you look like that?"

"This appearance? Hmm... It's the appearance of beings from another world."

Since there are no humans in this world yet. It would be easier to explain it this way.

"Another world... Now that you mention it, Mother, you could see other worlds!"

"Yes. That's right."

It's roughly that setting. Well, it's true that I can see through the internet of another world.

The stories I told the children were also about events from other worlds, so it wouldn't be an awkward explanation.

"By the way... You look incredibly cute. So very small too."

"Though I've only changed the appearance, the body itself remains the same."

I looked up at the large head of Thetis. From this angle, it's as big as a decent-sized van.

"Anyway, what brings you here?"

"Oh, it's nothing much. I was just curious about the dinosaurs."

"Curious?"

I tilted my head slightly, and Thetis looked at me with a deep smile.

"Oh my! Mother in that form is really cute! To think that the great Mother could transform into something so adorable! My goodness! My goodness!"

"Ah, it's a bit embarrassing. You rascal. Continue with what you were saying."

"Ah, yes. So... where did I leave off?"

"You said you became curious."

When I pointed it out, Thetis seemed to remember and said,

"I became curious. Just by receiving your scales, we were given bodies, so what would happen if we shared our scales with those dinosaurs? That's the curiosity."

Hmm, the children's scales?

"Well, I haven't really thought about it. Sharing my scales with you all was also the result of Erebus's various considerations."

"Ah, I see. Hmm... Actually, when I was swimming in the ocean, a few dinosaurs would swim around and play near me."

"Near you? I guess they're not afraid of you"

At my words, Thetis laughed softly.

"They are indeed fearless. Since they are so large, they don't have any natural predators."

"Large dinosaurs, huh. Well, if it's in the ocean, being large wouldn't pose a problem."

"Yes. I was curious about what would happen if I shared my scales with those creatures, just like how you shared your scales with us."

Hmm. Sharing their scales with the dinosaurs. That does pique my curiosity.

"But would it be alright? Sharing your scales means giving away a part of your body."

"Even if you say that, it's something you did, Mother. You also shared a part of your body with us."

Ah, that's true.

It seems Thetis wants to imitate what I did.

Just like a child mimicking their parent's actions.