Chapter 9 : A Dragon’s Choice

Nature defies the laws of the world and follows only me.
The sight was more beautiful than anything I had ever seen.

Small droplets of water created by the waves did not return to the sea but floated in the air, roaming around me.
I felt that the water trapped in the ground or in the trees could not control their yearning and were jealous of the seawater.
I mentally soothed them and flew towards the sky.

I escaped the realm of land and sea and entered the realm of the sky.
Unlike the seawater that rose up and actively contacted me, the water in the sky was very shy.

In the clear sky without a single cloud, a group of clouds had gathered and surrounded me.

They changed their appearance as my will reached them.
Is this how Sun Wukong felt when he controlled the Geun Du-un cloud?

“Let’s try it.”

Since the clouds have gathered, it would be good to try to make it rain.
At my command, the water spread in the sky began to form a larger cloud.

“No, not too big. It’s the first time, so small.”

At those words, the clouds dispersed again.
A suitable cloud that would cover my entire body was completed.

If I told them to fall down as they were, the water in the clouds would gladly listen to me.

But I wanted to build a more defined system.
Because I can’t just go around doing this and that every time.
In fact, even in the process of gathering these clouds, some of the water collided with each other and bounced off, causing difficulties.

I needed a perfect system where, if I did something, the others would follow without doing anything else.

“Then I need a standard.”

To be precise, I needed accurate knowledge to control the water.

Probably the best thing would be to apply the principles of magic to suit the world where magic exists.

I’ve never controlled water on Earth, but I felt there was something special about the water in this world.
In a fantasy world, it’s called mana, or magical power.

The wizards of this world must have used this when performing magic that manipulates water.

The water would also move like that.

But I’m ignorant about magic.
If Jonan, or one of his acquaintances, were a wizard, I could find out somehow… but unfortunately, that’s not the case.

To find a wizard, I would have to travel to the center of the Arteria continent.

“If I’m going to fly that far, I’d rather just make a wish.”

For that reason, I had to give up on magic.
Then, what should I do?
I have something in mind about that.

Science.

21st century Earth has already sent people to the moon and even sent satellites to the end of the solar system.
Also, in everyday life, there are already many products created by numerous scientific technologies, and all children learn science from an early age through compulsory education.

“I’m going to use the principles of weather as a standard.”

Even I, who majored in liberal arts, remember the basic principles of weather.

Water on the ground evaporates and rises to the sky, where it gathers to form clouds.
And when the water held by those clouds becomes heavy and reaches its limit, it rains.

It moves according to the natural laws that nature should follow.
But now, at this moment, I, not the world, govern this law.

Faster, and heavier.

The weight of the gathered clouds began to sink heavily.
The cloud that had just been born turned into the shape of a dark cloud that seemed like it would pour rain at any moment.

Eventually, the cloud began to spew rainwater on one side of the forest.

Whoosh…

“Success.”

I succeeded in making it rain according to my will.
It seemed that the surrounding water was also reacting similarly, as if they liked my joy.

Phew.

When I exhaled, the cloud moved smoothly towards the village, as if sliding on ice.
After a while, I could see the raindrops hitting the roofs of the village.

It’s been a week since I last saw a person, since Jonan, and I wanted to share the joy of success like this.

I haven’t tried it, but I could probably make a storm too.
The water vapor was fluctuating as if it would condense at any moment.

I calmed them down and glided down to my nest, the cliff.

As I descended to the cliff, I had one thought.

Now, the dragon’s mind is dominating this body.
It was also me, thinking with this dragon’s mind, that created the weather.

Then, is it necessary to maintain the human mind?

Should I abandon the human perspective a little more?

Just now, when I thought completely with the dragon’s mind, I realized that moving this body according to human discipline and thoughts was quite inefficient.

The dragon’s thinking seemed to know how to judge and move the body thoroughly from the dragon’s perspective.

The reason I was able to control the weather, which I couldn’t do until recently, was because the mind properly grasped the dragon’s body and abilities.

So, I was thinking.

Do I really need to maintain a human mind?

Should I be more arrogant and cold-hearted, that is, treat everything else with the mind of a strong person who has surpassed humans?

But my contemplation was interrupted by a voice that suddenly sounded.

“Wow, that’s cool!!”

“…?”

A voice that is seriously frivolous.
The voice was a guest that was completely inappropriate for the current situation.

But I was familiar with that voice.
It was a welcome child.

I slowly closed my eyes and opened them, and I could see a girl.

A girl with her hair tied in pigtails and twigs stuck in both hands, her whole body covered in dirt.

My thoughts were interrupted by Rachel’s sudden appearance, but thanks to her, I was able to reach a conclusion.

There is no reason to give up human thinking yet.

The feeling I felt the moment I saw Rachel played a big role in making that conclusion.
The feeling of joy that I had.
The feeling I felt for her, who is the weakest of the weak, and is incomprehensible to the dragon’s mind, was very good to me.

The bond with her was a focal point that would soon keep me from forgetting my past life.

Even if the human mind is inefficient right now, it must have its own advantages.
And above all, I didn’t like the feeling of missing out on something about my past self.

In the end, I greeted Rachel with human thinking, not dragon thinking.

Rachel came running to the cliff, waving the branches in her hands as if she were happy.

“Dragon! I’m here!!”

She was covered in dirt and dust, but I couldn’t see any wounds.
So I was rather curious.

It’s just starting to get light now.
And the number of red monsters was increasing as the Red Moon approached.

But Rachel, who is just a child, had no wounds.

Even Jonan took nearly two hours to return from this cliff to the village.

Then, she must have left the house around dawn and started, but can Rachel safely pass that path?

I looked at Rachel to see if there was something else, but Rachel just smiled brightly and greeted me.

“Dragon!”

[What is it.]

“I got out without getting caught this time! I did well, right!”

[…You did well.]

“Hehe.”

…Well, I guess she was lucky.
It didn’t seem necessary to think deeply.

“Dragon, eat this!”

Then, as if she had given me candy last time, she took something out and held it out to me.

“Wow! The candy floated in the air!!”

I threw it into my mouth through psychokinesis and tasted it.
Because it was small, I only felt something touching my tongue and there was no taste.

Come to think of it, the candy that Rachel had placed on the ground last time was picked up by the villagers, and I couldn’t eat it.

In fact, this candy was the first food I received from Rachel.

In a way, it’s correct to see it as a tribute.

[…Rachel.]

“Yes!”

[You said you wanted to see the sea.]

“…!”

Rachel’s eyes twinkled, and she stomped her feet.
The twigs that were loosely stuck in her black hair fell to the ground without strength.
Rachel nodded her head up and down greatly.

“Yes!!”

Dragons must keep their promises.
Especially if it’s a benefactor.

Since it wasn’t the dragon’s mind, I couldn’t directly control the water.
Instead, I used psychokinesis to make the water into a helmet shape and put it on Rachel’s head.
Rachel, who struggled for a moment thinking that only her face was submerged in water, quickly noticed my intention and flapped her arms.

I lifted Rachel, who had become a diver, with psychokinesis and jumped into the sea.

…!!! …!!!

[If you make a fuss, you might get swept away by the current.]

She didn’t seem to know what the current was, but Rachel’s body became quiet.
I controlled Rachel according to the course I had seen before to show her around.

Not only the turtles she wanted to see so much, but also creatures like whales and rays swam leisurely and unfolded the spectacle of the sea.

When I went out to the far sea and alternated between jumping into the sea and the sky with the flying fish, Rachel laughed and enjoyed it like she was on a roller coaster.

It was worth it to bring the school of flying fish from a little far sea on purpose.

After about 30 minutes of the sea tour, I took Rachel and came up to the cliff.

“Hehe. Hehe.”

The child made some strange noises, but I thought that good was good.

[Rachel.]

“…Yes!”

[Go home now. The forest is dangerous.]

“It wasn’t very dangerous…”

I could see that she wanted to play more, but I couldn’t help it.
I wish she could come anytime after the Red Moon is over.

[…It can’t be helped.]

If that’s the case, I have no choice.

“What?”

I lifted Rachel with psychokinesis again and headed towards the sky this time.
I couldn’t send this kid back to the forest alone.

I was going to take her home myself.

Fortunately, the area near the village was slightly foggy due to the rain and clouds I had spread.

If this is the case, they won’t be able to find me easily even if I arrive near the village.

“I’m flying!!”

I flew with Rachel, who was noisy near my back, and landed in the forest near the village.

As expected, there was no commotion in the village.

[Rachel.]

“Yes…”

[Go into the entrance you came out of. And if you see someone, act like you’re just about to go out.]

“Uh… Yes!”

[And don’t come to the cliff for a while. Someday the time will come.]

“But…”

[If you come before that, I will never see you again.]

“That’s not okay!”

Rachel, who shouted, bowed and went into the village.

What a bold child.

I left her cheerful figure behind and flew back to the cliff.