Kousuke gently patted Kouhi and Mitsuki, who were radiating a subtle tension, on the shoulder.
“Master?”
“Kousuke-sama?”
Kouhi and Mitsuki turned around simultaneously, but Kousuke didn’t answer them, instead looking at the dragon and asking,
“So, Asura’s familiar, going to all the trouble to summon us here, was there something?”
As Kousuke asked this, the dragon, perhaps intentionally, let out a single, loud snort. The gust of air didn’t reach Kousuke and the others, and Kousuke momentarily thought a trivial thought, wondering if it was being considerate.
Unaware of Kousuke’s thoughts, or perhaps not, the dragon turned its large eyes to Kousuke and replied,
“There’s no need to be so cautious. Just as our original objective, I wanted to express my gratitude for safely sheltering Igirid.”
“Igirid?”
As Kousuke tilted his head and asked, the dragon blinked its eyelids in agreement.
“Indeed. Igirid are those who live in the underground city I created.”
“If you created it… then that’s what it means.”
Kousuke finally understood the mystery of the underground city and nodded a few times.
The strange magic that led to the underground city, the vast space, and the never-before-seen artificial sun—who created them had been one of Kousuke’s questions. He had a reason to be convinced when he was told that the dragon before him had created them.
“Are you and Igirid a species that existed before Asura became a god, or perhaps right after?”
“Oh? Why do you think so?”
To the dragon, who asked this with narrowed eyes, Kousuke shook his head left and right before answering.
“No, it’s just written in the status. It says ‘Ancient Race.’ Well, for some reason, Igirid doesn’t have it… perhaps it’s because they are still recognized as a species?”
As Kousuke said this leisurely, the dragon suddenly burst into loud laughter.
Kousuke, wondering why, turned his gaze to Clara. She also had an amused expression and her hand was covering her mouth.
“Kousuke. Your perception that such things are normally invisible has completely vanished, hasn’t it?”
“Indeed. As expected of a god.”
The dragon continued, seemingly still amused, as if agreeing with Clara.
Hearing their words, Kousuke’s face showed a momentary look of surprise, and then he scratched his head with an “Ah.” He had forgotten, completely accustomed to viewing statuses and the fact that those around him accepted it so naturally. The ability to see others’ statuses without any assistance was something that could be called a divine work.
Kousuke could only feel humbled to be admired by Clara and the dragon, who felt like beings superior to him.
“Ah, no. It’s nothing to be praised for… Ah, no. I’m sorry. I spoke of your status so casually.”
Kousuke began to demur, but then thought it was strange and bowed his head. As he spoke, he recalled the saying that excessive humility becomes sarcasm.
“It’s fine. There’s no one here who would be troubled by it being known.”
“That’s right. Besides, even if it were known, it wouldn’t change anything.”
Following the dragon, Clara also said this.
Kousuke, who had assumed the dragon before him was a secret, looked puzzled.
“Huh? You don’t have to hide it?”
“If you can’t talk about Asura-sama, how would you talk about his familiars?”
“That’s true.”
Kousuke nodded in understanding when Clara asked him this question. Dragons existed in Asgard, so their presence itself wasn’t strange. However, the existence of a dragon with a lifespan comparable to a god was something unheard of. Yet, such dragons were commonly spoken of in mythology.
Thinking that the dragon before him was likely one of those beings, Kousuke continued,
“Well, I didn’t intend to say anything anyway… Is that really all you needed?”
Seeing Kousuke ask this with some caution, the dragon turned its gaze to Clara.
“You seem quite wary, but what do you usually do to this god?”
“How rude! We don’t do anything strange. Isn’t it just because you’re so enormous?”
Clara showed a hint of indignation at the dragon’s words.
Watching the interaction between the goddess and the dragon, Kousuke noticed a casual familiarity between them.
“You seem quite friendly. Have you known each other for a long time?”
“Hmm. It’s been since I was able to enter the divine realm, I suppose.”
Clara answered so casually that Kousuke gave her a look of exasperation.
“No, that means quite a long time ago, doesn’t it?”
“Mmm. Does that mean I’m old?”
Kousuke hurriedly shook his head left and right at Clara, who seemed to be pouting.
Before Kousuke could offer further explanations after that movement, the dragon interrupted with a laugh.
“Wahaha. Certainly, if we’re talking about simple age, it would be quite substantial. Whether you’ve aged, that’s debatable.”
“…Be quiet for a moment, you useless dragon.”
“…Hoh. Shall we do this after so long?”
Kousuke hastily stopped Clara and the dragon as they both began to speak in low voices.
“Hey, hey. While it might not cause any problems if you fight here, don’t forget that there are others who could get caught up in it.”
In this place created by Asura, he wasn’t sure if the fairies who usually assisted him in battle could fully exert their power. If a fight broke out between a goddess and a dragon in such a place, Kousuke could be blown away by the aftershocks. However, Kouhi and Mitsuki would probably protect him with all their might to prevent that.
Kousuke’s candid remark caused Clara and the dragon to stop abruptly.
“…You’re right. Perhaps I should stop.”
“…Let’s do that.”
Although they were clearly reluctant, Clara and the dragon did not end up fighting (or quarreling?). Kousuke inwardly breathed a sigh of relief upon confirming this.
Between Clara and the dragon, the dragon is older.
