It is now the night of the day that has passed since then.
Iris, dressed in a white nightie, is sitting on the floor, looking at me with a nervous face.
Since Iris is supposed to be my slave here, she's wearing the same pajamas as everyone else. It's similar to the yukata from the original world, where the cloths are joined in front of your body and fastened with an obi.
It looks good on Iris, who has a sleek figure. However, the obi is a bit loose, perhaps because she doesn't like to be forced to sit on the ground. That's probably why you can see the expansive area below the collarbone.
Now, Iris and I are going to interfere with the Heavenly Dragon's Egg and try to find out the cause of White's nightmares.
I touched the 'Heavenly Dragon's Egg' that I had placed on the bedside table.
''The method is just as I explained it to you earlier, okay?
Yes. Iris, big brother, kissing and hugging each other to sleep ...... and leave the rest to big brother to do all the rest, right?
Specifically, it uses Iris's 'Dragon Species Empathy Level 4' and my 'Shared Consciousness (Mindfulness) Gauge'.
'Too much clericalism in your expressions would make the damsel in Iris cry, wouldn't it?
Iris pinched the fingers of her hands together in frustration.
Then she retied the sash of her nightgown, adjusted the collar, and nodded that she was ready.
I pulled on Iris's slender arms and got her to stand.
I lay a nervous Iris down on the freshly washed and fluffy (a good job by Aine) sheets.
Iris stretched out her arms and legs, like she was already doing what she wanted to do, but she felt embarrassed that she was staring at me, so she grabbed the collar of her nightgown and turned to the side.
'...... This is the kind of work only Iris can do, right?'
Iris mumbled, turning red to her earlobes.
'Iris thought it was embarrassing ...... that she was the only one with dragon blood. But because of that, I was able to become my brother's. So, this power is also for my brother to use .......
Thanks, Iris.
It's a tad excessive, don't you think? There is a proverb in Ilgafa that says ...... is the closest thing to one who crosses the stormy seas in the same boat, and whose faith in each other is as good as ......'s in the family that loves each other... ...and'
Buh.
It was too much, and Iris turned her head to the other side and covered her face.
'Well, our parties are like a family.
'Ugh. Big brother: ......
So, I don't mean to push you. Don't be afraid to tell me if you feel like you're on the edge.
Iris nodded her head in response to my question.
From now on, we will use the dragon species empathy to link up with White in his egg state, and I will connect with Iris using the "dragon species empathy" to find out the cause of White's nightmares.
The procedure is that Iris and I will connect with him through 'mind linkage' to find out the cause of White's nightmare.
I explained the procedure to everyone yesterday.
And today, after dinner, I went to my room with Iris, but...
But first, I have to clean up!
Aine's stop was made.
'Atmosphere is so important. You never know what's going to happen. We have to make sure that Iris has a 'good memory' too! As everyone's 'big sister', it's my duty to make a good environment for my friends!
That's why my room has been cleaned by everyone, with Aine as the leader.
The sheets and pillows are freshly washed, and there is a magical lamp by the window that glows with a red light.
On the table there is warm milk and herbal tea to warm my body and help me sleep.
Aine washed and Cecil and Rafilia magically dried my nightgowns.
Iris had her hair done after she and Rita took a bath together.
The Tenryu no Eggs are by the bedside.
She was on the cushions behind a pillow that could hold two heads.
White didn't respond, but when I touched it, it was warm.
I'm sure he's alive.
...... This is White's body ...... in short, it's the same as Leggy the Magic Sword.
When you rewrote Reggie's skills, you could interfere if you touched her body (magic sword).
Again, linking to White's body (egg) might get us closer to sealing it.
I don't know if Iris and I can manage the mythical level problem with our skills, but we'll try.
'Then, Iris, try to see if you can link with White in this state.
Yes. Activate 'Dragon Seed Sympathy Lv 4'.
Iris touches the 'Heavenly Dragon's Egg' and activates the skill.
''Dragon Species Empathy Lv 4''
The unique skill of Iris-Hafeumea, who is of dragon's blood.
It allows her to communicate her will with sea dragons, flying dragons, and other dragons.
Its empathy ability becomes stronger the closer it is to its target.
It is also due to this ability that its scales change color when it comes into contact with the "Hero of the Sea Dragon" and that it can call the sea dragon Kerkator.
''I can feel it. White, I'm dreaming in here. You'll know it when you get this close. If we sleep together, I think we'll have the same dream.
Okay. Please 'share your consciousness' so that I can dream too.
Yes, sir.
Iris squeezed the chest of her nightgown and closed her eyes.
The moment their faces separated, Iris, who had been holding her breath the whole time, held her chest and breathed.
''Here, now all you have to do is sleep with your brother, right?
Iris is the only one who sleeps. I'm supposed to watch him dream.
...... Huh?
Iris's eyes widened as she felt a popping.
Huh? Didn't I explain it to you?
Is your brother awake?
Yeah. I'm a dreamer.
Is Iris the only one who sleeps?
Do you feel uncomfortable with us?
It's not like that... Onii-chan!
Pow, pow, pow.
Iris taps the pillow with her little palms.
'So then, Iris is just going to have her brother see her sleeping face and all her dreams one way or the other?
Yes.
"Oh, it's not what I was expecting...!
Iris is getting teary-eyed, but...
If I fall asleep, there won't be anyone to interfere with White's dreams, right?
We can't all be in a state of unconsciousness, you know.
...... ugh.
I'm not gonna do anything weird.
'That's not the point, though: ...... big brother.
Iris woke up and grabbed me by the shoulders, groggily.
'Can you believe that whatever sleepy talk, whatever sleepy face, whatever dreams Iris had in front of her brother tonight had nothing to do with the actual Iris and was all fictional?
Don't be ridiculous.
But, well, I guess it can't be helped.
This 'Heavenly Dragon Larvae Rescue Quest' is my job.
I'll do my best to fulfill Iris's wishes.
Okay, Iris.
'I suppose it can't be helped. It would be easier for Iris to share her dreams with Mr. White if she slept too.
This time it's not about 'talking to the dragon' but 'dreaming with the dragon'.
So it seems that it would be easier for Iris to link her consciousness if she slept too. Iris's skills are for empathizing with the dragon, so that's why.
Iris agreed with me on that.
The fact that she turned her head to the other side, curled up in a ball and kept silent, seems to have caused some resistance.
'────── but what should I do?'
Iris squeezes the sheets tightly.
It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to find out what's wrong with you. When the scales come out of your sweat, you don't want to wear your nightgown because you don't want it to rub off. It's also possible that you may have named your pillow "Nagi Onii-chan" and are hugging it.
...... Yes, I knew it. I'm sure you've got some resistance.
I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about it. I've also found that I can sleep more calmly when I am patted on the head, just like my mother did for me when I was a child. ......
Yes, sir.
caressing
Oh, brother?
Strokes, strokes, strokes.
'Ha, shit! I was just 'sharing consciousness'. Nah, no, brother. Iris can't expose her embarrassing appearance in front of her brother...
Stroking, stroking, stroking, stroking. ......
No. No. ......
He stroked it.
............ soooo.
Iris fell asleep with a thud.
Okay, the first step is now complete.
Bring the Dragon's Egg close to Iris's body.
Now all we have to do is hold hands with Iris, just to be safe, and then I can lie down and close my eyes, and then I'm sure that Iris and Shiro will be able to see me in my dream.
"──── ggaaaaahhhh, ────────!
I could see it.
Images flowed directly into my head.
It was dark, dark, the depths of the earth.
A huge stake was stuck in a pure white dragon lying on the ground and struggling.
''Oh, brother!''
Iris, who entered the dream before me, hugs me.
The combination of "Dragon Seed Sympathy Level 4" and "Shared Consciousness" looks like a success.
Are you okay, Iris?
'Iris has her brother, so she's fine. But is this the dream the 'Heavenly Dragon's Egg' is having ......?
It was a pitch black world.
The sky was covered with black clouds and thunder was rumbling in the distance.
All around us was a basin covered with black rocks, and at the bottom of the basin a white dragon was lying on the ground.
It has a long neck, horns and huge wings.
The pearl-colored horns are the same color as the ones behind White's ears.
This is the "Celestial Dragon Blanchalka" - or is it the magic power of the previous Celestial Dragon?
I'm not a wizard, but even I can feel the powerful magic power rippling through me.
It's truly a transcendent existence.
...... Where's White?
There he is.
At the edge of the basin, sleeping on his knees.
Rocks seem to surround him, blocking out the dragon's voice and magic.
I'm sure Iris knows a lot about legends and such. What do you think this dream means to you?
Yes, sir.
Iris looked up as she hugged me to her chest.
'I have heard a similar legend before. It's about a person who connected with a god in a dream.
That person was connected to a transcendent being with magical power, and he was borrowing power from them. And the person had a dream about the transcendent being and negotiated with him to borrow his power.
Considering the similarity, Shiro-sama is also connected to the magic power of the previous heavenly dragon in reality, and this dream is a kind of residual thought ...... of the consciousness of the previous magic power that is connected to him, which is flowing in.
I agree with Iris, too.
Raizika the Mummy Flying Dragon said. The Heavenly Dragon absorbs the magical power from heaven and earth and hatches. They're most compatible with the place where they die.
That must have been referring to the magic power of the previous generation of Heavenly Dragons.
And since we brought the Heavenly Dragon Egg to the designated place, we connected with the magic power of the previous generation's Heavenly Dragon.
It must have come out in a clear dream.
''But then again, it's ......, right?''
The Heavenly Dragon was supposed to be the protector of people and dragons, so how did it get to this state?
It's as if the ...... evil dragon is sealed in this, isn't it?
''I'm pretty sure the Heavenly Dragon is on the side of the humans, right?
Yes. That's what all the legends say, and it's in the history books.
I can tell by looking at White that Tenryu is a good person.
If that's the case, does that mean it's bad to have this seal on him?
I can hear the voices.
It's coming from the stake that's stuck in Tenryu.
"You are the dragon.
human side
"Then you'll have to work more efficiently.
"I don't need a will or a body.
"No more uncertainties.
"Just be a tool.
"Give me everything.
"so that you can work more efficiently
...... wow.
That's a line that makes me want to cover my ears .......
I'm connected to Iris and Iris is connected to White, so the too-black thoughts come directly to me.
Iris is hugging me.
You'll feel a "squeezing" sensation, because the real Iris is also hugging you.
I put my hand on Iris' back and rubbed it.
If I think that's impossible, I'm prepared to use the "Heart Healing Hug, Level 1" to "put her out of her sleep state".
But Iris said, "It's fine. As a sea dragon priestess, I can't leave a celestial dragon in trouble.
''I'm telling the Heavenly Dragon Blanchalka!
So I shouted at the fallen celestial dragon.
''This is the sea dragon's hero and the sea dragon's descendant, the priestess! I have been entrusted with the 'Heavenly Dragon's Egg' from the Flying Dragon Raizika!
A line that sounds like a chosen hero.
Gigi, and at the bottom of the basin, the Tenryu opened his eyes.
Purple eyes. The same as White's.
''And I heard about this nightmare from the larval body and entered the dream for salvation. I need you to tell me a story!''
'............ sea dragon ............ that little snake's relation... Is it .........?
He noticed.
I mean, Kerkator, the sea dragon, is a little snake.
From the Heavenly Dragon's perspective at the time, though, it might be so.
''...... My child was taken care of ...... by the ............ old bloods. What is ......?
Are you sure you're Tian Long Blanc Charka?
''...... I am only a residual thought in the magic of the Heavenly Dragon. The celestial dragon has long since dissolved and returned to the earth.''
'But your wings are still on the ground.
''At the moment of his death, the Heavenly Dragon left some residual thoughts in his wings as well. To call for help.
"White - it wasn't, the larval body of the Heavenly Dragon said that the previous Heavenly Dragon's magic power was sealed. It said that the magic power of the previous Heavenly Dragon had been sealed away.
"After I died, someone put a seal on the ground that held my magic.
That seems to be the identity of the stake stuck in his body.
Heavenly dragons are transcendent beings, but after they die, there will be an opening.
Taking advantage of this opening, someone put a seal on the Tenryu's magical power.
That's what fixed the "magic power of the previous celestial dragon" that was supposed to flow into Shiro, and prevented it from moving.
In reality, it should be a monolith or an object.
The magic power that was sealed in it was probably being used by someone else without permission.
What's that someone ......?
I don't know.
That's understandable, isn't it? Tenryu is dead, right?
''The Heavenly Dragon died in a different place than we had planned. I remember that his ...... wings were cut off after he entrusted the egg to his confidant Raizika and took off for the final destination. After that, I don't ...... know what happened next.
What can I do about it: ...... big brother.
Iris took my hand in hers.
'Iris doesn't want to see her dragon friends used like this.
I agree.
Don't try to make other people work after you die.
In the first place, Heavenly Dragon is trying to take the side of the humans, so why do you have to think about efficiency as well?
...... Why is this happening? I was only saving people because they were cute. ......''
Tenryu blurted out.
I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's not. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for and what you want to do with it. I'm not sure if it's a good idea to use it as a spell or a compulsion.
I think so.
It's not that I'm not a good person, I'm just a residual thought, so I try not to get too angry. But as expected, after such a long period of time ...... I'm sure a bit of anger has leaked out into reality as well. ...... I hope it hasn't affected the people around me... ...
What happens when it affects you?
"Demons gone berserk.
...... going berserk.
''A demon that has gone berserk will act in a way that it doesn't usually do. Specifically, they can attack and occupy people's forts. ......''
Go to ......
It sounded somewhat familiar.
''I myself might lose my ...... sanity if this state of affairs continues for a long time, and if it transfers to the next generation of Heavenly Dragons as well, I could become a demonic dragon that attacks people...'' ...If you're on the dragon's side, please help me ............ ......'
Tenryu's eyes, looking up, were very kind.
It looked like he looked like he was about to cry somehow, too.
I don't know who created the 'seal', but if he did this even after he died, it's only natural for the Heavenly Dragon to get mad. If it was the anger of a transcendent being, it would affect the people around it. At worst, it's possible that Shirou could be affected by that anger, right?
I don't like .......
I don't like the idea of White being so close to Rita and Aine. I don't want to see it turn violent and attack people. I mean, why do we have to go through that kind of trouble right after birth?
''Seal'' - someone had applied it. What's inside the Heavenly Dragon's residual magical power.
And the one that is also connected to White: .......
...... means.
''You know, Tenryu. I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind.
I asked him.
'Any number of ...... if that's a clue to redeem my child.'
The one in the shape of a celestial dragon looked at me and slowly nodded.
''First question. You - the 'Heavenly Dragon's Residual Magic Power' is connected to the egg, right?
"Yes.
Leaning his head back, the Heavenly Dragon nodded lightly.
''By getting closer to the land where I died, my connection to the egg has become stronger. If it were true, magic power should have flowed through it.''
All right, first condition's up.
''Second question. If you and the Heavenly Dragon's larval body are connected to each other, can we assume that the 'seal' is also connected to the larval body?
'I would say yes to that question as well. Otherwise, the egg would not be affected.'
'Third question. The seal that is stuck in you is something that interferes with your magic. So it's like a 'lock skill'?
"I'm not sure exactly what it is, but if you ask me, ......, it's something close to that.
I thought so.
Rita also received the Sacred Power Seal before.
And the bad luck charm that Rafilia had on her was the same kind of thing.
"Then do you think we can manage it?
''Um, you're a sea dragon hero ...... right? You are related to the sea dragon, right?''
Though he's also a visitor.
'...... I can see how it's believable if Raizika, the believer, entrusted you with an egg. Besides, ......'
The Heavenly Dragon's magic power saw White sleeping beside him.
''I feel the larval body is at ease. Beside you. ......''
It just happens. I'll do what I can.
'It seems that even your sea dragon blood relatives believe in you.
"Yes. Of course!
Iris raised her hand, shooing it up.
'This Iris-Hapheumea has been given a life by her brother. All Iris wants is to be with her brother for the rest of her life. If that brother wants to help, then Iris will do everything in his power to save Mr. White.
"White ...... is that the name of the larval body ......?
Tenryu flapped lightly with his wings, which were now only on one side.
''Alright. Tianlong Blanchalka's residual thoughts fully trust you. Is there anything else you want to ask?''
"Is there a 'dragon ship' in this world?
"What about ............?
Tianlong opened his mouth as if he was gasping.
It's the first time I've ever seen a dragon go boom. I think it's the first time in another world.
''No, there's no such thing, but ...... so what?''
'I'm sorry. This is just a 'I wouldn't want you to have it' thing.
"The celestial dragon has sometimes taken on the form of a man and lived among men.
The sealed Heavenly Dragon moved his mouth in a small way and said.
''It was because the little creatures were cute and wanted to help. Sometimes they would turn their blades at us, but I was able to understand most people and demi-humans. Just like you. I've collected things to learn more about such people, but I've also collected things to learn more about the dragon ship, which is ......'
'Never mind. I'm just asking this one thing just in case: ...... I just want to hear one more thing.
This is the last question.
Don't be nervous ...... because if you're not good, you might even offend the magic of the heavenly dragon.
I'm going to give an earful to Iris.
I'm not going to be the only one who can do that.
I also put my hand on Iris's back and make sure that I can activate 'Saving Heart Embrace Lv 1' immediately.
Take a deep breath and ...... okay.
'Questioning the Remaining Thoughts of the Heavenly Dragon'