The Progenitor was the first to back down.
“There’s no benefit for me in fighting you, so I’ll stop. Besides, you can’t defeat me anyway.”
“…Very well. I don’t wish to involve many humans either. However, I cannot let you continue with your schemes.”
“Oh dear. Dragons are supposed to be peaceful, yet you have the role of maintaining the world’s balance. That must be tough.”
“Thanks to that, I can’t kill you. Even though I possess the power to do so.”
“That’s your problem, not mine. But if I may say, that’s why dragons are called hypocrites.”
“…You certainly have a lot to say.”
Haru glared at the Progenitor with disgust. He was aware of being called a hypocrite. Dragons are the guardians of the world’s balance. Therefore, if someone appears intending to destroy humanity, they will cooperate with humans to defeat them. If humans appear intending to destroy various races, they will join hands with other races and fight.
Dragons have been continuously adjusting the balance in this manner. Because of it, they are often called indecisive or hypocrites. However, dragons have their own reasons for existence and action. No matter what others say, their way of life remains unchanged.
“If only you could say, ‘I don’t care about the role of a dragon,’ and destroy me, I would sincerely praise you. But as long as you are a dragon, you cannot do that. That’s why you have no choice but to leave it all to Jared.”
“Just so you know, I never intended to leave it all to him.”
“Oh really? You left a sixteen-year-old boy, distraught at losing his Fiancé, to his own devices? And you’re just standing by, as if it’s perfectly normal for him to fight me?”
“Look, I don’t want to be blamed by you, the very source of the problem.”
“Oops, my apologies.”
Haru was perplexed by the Progenitor’s elusive nature. He felt no hostility or malice from this monster in the guise of a girl, which somewhat dulled his resolve. When he was monitoring her, he had been tense, wondering when a fight to the death would break out.
“Let’s get back to it. What is your objective?”
“Now, what should I do? Should I tell you, or should I not?”
“Don’t mess with me. Your existence poses a danger to this continent. If a Human you perceive as such is planning something, I, as a Dragon, have a duty to know.”
“I have no obligation to tell you. Besides, calling me a danger is cruel. You know how much I’ve suffered for the sake of this continent, and yet you say such things.”
“Yes, I do. I have the right to.”
“…Well, you probably do. But I think I have the right to complain too. No one ever asked to be brought into a world like this.”
“…That’s true. You have reason to resent this world.”
Progenitor Yuna Miharasaki was forcibly summoned to this world. Haru, who knew her past, understood the arrogance of the humans in this world. Humans who forced a difficult choice upon one girl and tried to exploit her. While those humans’ kingdoms have already perished, what was done to the girl does not simply disappear.
Haru himself had nothing to do with Yuna’s summoning. However, he had fought her numerous times, as she had no choice but to fight and had no other options after being summoned to another world. They had taken each other’s companions and had companions taken from them.
“I do resent it. Honestly, the resentment wouldn’t disappear even if I died. But, I don’t resent you. You don’t resent me either, do you?”
“…That’s right. I don’t resent individuals. Because, back then, we had no other choice.”
“In a way, dragons are also pitiable beings. Well, our circumstances have nothing to do with the humans living in modern times.”
“Indeed.”
Haru offered a wry smile. As the Progenitor said, the circumstances of dragons have nothing to do with modern humans like Jared. Therefore, Haru’s heart was filled with guilt for being able to do nothing but watch his friend’s predicament.
“Alright.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll tell you my plan. If I think about it carefully, you are one of the few people who knows me, and it might be better if you knew.”
“And as a result, you didn’t expect me to interfere?”
“No. I think you’ll agree with me. Because I am—”
Haru was speechless at the words spoken by Progenitor Yuna Miharasaki. If what she said was true, then he had no choice but to continue watching.
“…It’s frustrating, but I promise. I, no, the Dragon Kingdom, will not interfere in the battle between you and Jared.”
“Heh, I thought you’d say that.”
The Progenitor’s smiling face was filled with anticipation and hope. In contrast, Haru’s face was filled with bitter regret, as if he had swallowed a bitter gourd.
