The history the elder recounted went like this.
Approximately three hundred years ago.
Humans and Dragon people lived together in the same land.
At that time, Dragon people occupied a position similar to that of the Cat-ear Tribe, the Wolf Fang Tribe, Elves, or Dwarves today.
Some Dragon people lived in human cities, while others resided in Dragon people villages, but in general, they maintained friendly relations with humans.
However, about three hundred years ago, the situation changed drastically.
It all began with the actions of a single Dragon person who lived in a human city.
One night, he “ate” a human woman within the city.
This was not in a sexual sense, but a literal one.
It was a cannibalistic act where he tore flesh from the human woman and devoured it, dripping blood.
The Dragon people already had a food culture of consuming prey raw, and this had caused some unease among humans in the past.
However, it had never extended to humans, and significant conflict between the two races had not occurred at least in that era.
But as the cannibalistic incident spread throughout human society, prejudice and discrimination against Dragon people grew among humans.
The truth was that the Dragon person who committed the incident was simply an anomaly—the elder explained.
For example, even among humans, most men have sexual desire, but they do not commit sexual crimes like assaulting women on the street.
Similarly, most “decent Dragon people,” even if they harbored a desire to eat humans when hungry, would not act upon it.
The desire for cannibalism and the act of cannibalism itself are separate issues—decent Dragon people appealed to humans.
But the logic explained by the Dragon people was not accepted by many humans.
The appeal was too honest.
The fear on the human side, of being devoured by their neighbors at any moment, could not be easily dispelled.
Eventually, fear and revulsion towards Dragon people spread strongly among humans—
At one point, a human king took action to alleviate his people’s anxiety.
It was a “Dragon hunt.”
The king used his soldiers to slaughter not only the Dragon people living in human cities but also those who had gathered in their own villages.
This movement also spread throughout the world.
Within about ten years, all Dragon people settlements near human habitations were eradicated.
It is said that eighty to ninety percent of the innocent Dragon people who were living peacefully at the time were massacred in these “Dragon hunts.”
Those Dragon people who managed to escape began to live quietly in places hidden from human eyes.
Severing all contact with humans, they cultivated and grew their hatred and animosity toward them.
For about three hundred years, they had been patiently plotting their rebellion.
The core of their plan was the resurrection of “Sephiroth, the Ten-headed Dragon King,” who was said to have rampaged in an era even older than three hundred years ago.
And the final key to executing the plan was the creation of the “Humanization Technique” several decades ago, which allowed them to change their appearance to resemble humans.
Some Dragon people who mastered the Humanization Technique began to infiltrate human society.
On the other hand, not all Dragon people agreed with the plan.
While cautious of humans, there were also Dragon people with more peaceful intentions.
These Dragon people were generally gathered in this village.
The Dragon people of this village did not actively oppose the plan, but they did not condone the resolution of matters through revenge and slaughter—
The elder let out a sigh after speaking that far.
“The history I know is largely this. …However, the residents of this village are not entirely content to continue living a life devoid of prosperity in such a remote place. Therefore, they do not actively condemn Ketel’s plan. If they succeed… it would be a lie to say I don’t have some expectation. —So, old man, was my story of any use?”
The elder concluded his tale.
Liese responded.
“Yes, it was very helpful. I had no idea something like that had happened…”
Liese stopped writing on her paper and looked apologetic.
But the elder spoke to Liese with gentle eyes.
“It’s not your fault, young lady. It’s merely a past mistake made by the human race. And now, we Dragon people are also about to make a mistake—or rather, I should say we have already made one. Still, I am not trying to stop them, so perhaps I am equally guilty.”
“…No, you are admirable.”
I shook my head and denied the elder’s words.
The Dragon people of this village are truly admirable.
To not actively endorse a solution through violence, even after suffering disadvantages due to humans, can only be described as admirable.
I had originally intended to remain silent, but I felt awakened.
I conveyed this to the elder.
“I don’t know if Biner has already told you, Elder, but allow me to make a confession. I have fought against many of the ‘Ten Dragons Divine Artifact Generals’ and defeated them all. And— I personally killed the staff user Kokuma and the war hammer user Ketsed. I wanted to inform you of this.”
At my words, the elder, his son Ain, and Liese’s eyes widened considerably.
I continued my confession without paying them any mind.
“I do not regret any of it, nor do I intend to be passively killed by those driven by vengeance. However, I wanted to convey the fact that I am this kind of person.”
“But—”
Biner interjected.
“But Douglas-san, you did not take everything from me after I lost the battle for my life. I believe Douglas-san is a trustworthy human.”
Biner looked directly at the elder.
Upon receiving her words, the elder took a deep breath and replied,
“…I see, I understand. I was an old acquaintance of Kokuma, the staff user. We never got along, but… I see, so it was you who dealt with him. But that cannot be helped. Resorting to violence is just as it is.”
The elder said this and shook his head as if lamenting.
Meanwhile, Tifereth presented a completely different perspective.
“You guys are still so indecisive and troublesome. In the end, this world is survival of the fittest, right? No matter what you say, the strong will take everything. I think that’s simpler and better.”
“…”
I had no intention of arguing against her, nor did the elder or Biner.
There was a sense of resignation towards Tifereth—
On the other hand, what Tifereth said was not entirely untrue as a form of truth.
What I was doing might not be much different.
However, I did not want to openly accept it.
Those with power doing as they please—
It would only lead to the powerless being perpetually oppressed.
Whether good or evil, or such things, exist in this world—I don’t have a clear answer.
At the very least, I could not bring myself to fully endorse Tifereth’s way of thinking.
After that, we thanked the elder and left.
However, as we exited the house, Ain, the elder’s son, chased after us.
And Ain suddenly said something outlandish to me.
“Um, Douglas-san…! I— I want to write your story!”
“…Huh?”
I let out a blank sound, which I believe was unavoidable.
