Chapter 463: Western Dragon (竜) and Eastern Dragon (龍)
「Well, with the amount you’re serving, the effects will wear off after a while so I guess it’s not a big deal. But seriously, be more aware of what you’re putting out there, will you. If you start handing out sweets to random kids and it happens to catch the eye of some noble, it’s not gonna be you they come after ー it’ll be the kid. Trust me, people will do anything for beauty, so much that it’s terrifying. 」
Retze glanced at me pointedly before biting down on the linzer torte.
Come to think of it, there was someone in my previous world who rumoredly bathed in women’s blood for beauty… I guess the obsession with looks is the same here. Most of the snacks and sweets I’ve made were related to beauty, too.
I’ve been pretty lax thinking that folks won’t recognize me anyway and I’d fly under the radar, but I didn’t consider the risk. Yeah, it’s possible that the kids who got my treats could attract unwanted attention. I gave some snacks to Tina’s friends in Canum once. Although they ate it on the spot, things could’ve gotten a dangerous turn if they had taken it home to share with their families.
… I’m sorry, I should be more careful. Alright, setting aside the island, from now on I’ll only serve dishes that I make to folks I personally know in Canum, and I’ll only give them food that the spirits didn’t help me prepare.
「… 」
Retze lightly patted my shoulder while sipping his coffee.
I’ve been careful not to use any ingredients that aren’t mainstream here, so from now on let’s be mindful of involving the spirits when cooking too. Maybe it’s time to ban the spirits out of the kitchen on the first floor of the Canum house again.
As for Khan, I can just give him food from my『House』. Besides, the first floor is too cramped, plus we usually gather in the second floor’s dining room or in the card room, after all, so I don’t really have to cook here.
「Speaking of creating stuff, there’s also that Noth’s doppelganger spirit, right ー I totally get how and why it was born. 」
Hauron had been chortling without a word, but now he changed the subject.
「Really? 」
「Although there’s nothing about a notebook crammed with names, I’ve heard a few other stories, such as one about a spirit being born out of a gem that had been crafted over three generations, and also from statues of deities that had amassed the faith of many. The theory is the same. It’s just that it’s impossible for a single person to do that in such a short period of time, alright? There’s simply not enough mana to do that, alright? Even if you told me to do the same thing, I can’t, okay? 」
You better be aware of that, got it? I could practically hear what he was implying.
I get it now. Hauron didn’t fuss too much about Noth’s look-alike spirit because it’s still within his ‘purview’. I see, I see.
「So? What sort of spirit are you gonna make? 」
Retze asked.
「…Hey, aren’t you taking things too well? 」
Hauron seemed to be taken aback as he stared at Retze.
「Well, he did mention earlier that it would keep things under wraps if he has some sort of spirit. Besides, I’m also a fan of dragon type ones. 」
Retze seemed to be excited? That’s quite rare for him.
「That said, I don’t need one, alright? Ivy is already plenty enough for me. 」
I was about to suggest getting him one too, but he already blocked me before I could say anything.
「This other dragon is bright orange, the kind that looks like molten ore. It’s got wings and a long tail. The『Particles』seem like they have a memory of what they possessed, so they’re probably form something that looked like that dragon? Ahh, but if I have a clearer image of the dragon I wanted, then they might follow that instead. 」
I do have an ideal in mind, but trying to actually manifest it feels tricky.
I tried sketching one, but gave up halfway. I imagine it having smaller front legs while flying, but those legs become thicker when I imagine it on the ground, making me realize that I can’t even be consistent with such a simple detail like that.
「Seems like I have to look at more dragon-chans, huh. 」
Hmm.
I don’t have the skills to copy Dinosso’s spirit to a tee, and I bet he won’t be thrilled being matchy-matchy with me either.
If I request something else without having a solid image in mind, I might accidentally create Retze or Dinosso doppelgangers, since my gut is telling me that the particles will be drawn to the images of the folks who advise me or stop me from making blunders.
If I try to change it halfway true, I might end up with a Hauron or Soleil-like spirit who would shriek and faint first before it could calmly stop me.
「It’d be a problem if I end up with another Khan too. 」
「Please don’t duplicate my King! 」
Hauron yelled.
Dean and Chris also worry about me, but they usually cheer me on when they should be stopping me. I already have Butler, and I’d be a pervert if I make Ash.
「Retze, any suggestions on what sort of dragon is good? A sketch or a sculpture reference would help. 」
The illustrations in the books of the spirit library look a bit off.
Then again, I’ve been looking up biology, dissection and efficacy. Maybe I should look for books that are focused on how cool dragons are?
「Hmm. I realized that most of the dragon sketches I’ve seen are really abstract after seeing that black dragon in person. As for the sacred guardian dragons, as well as the massive ones that we humans aren’t a match with ー I’ve only read about them. 」
「How about a peculiar dragon that looks like a mix of a snake and a bird and is said to live on the continent beyond the southwestern misty seas? Or maybe a rumored dragon from a mythical island in the far east, rumored to fly despite not having any wings? 」
Retze and Hauron suggested.
「There’s an island in the far East? 」
And a wingless dragon that can fly? Is that maybe a ‘龍’, an eastern dragon?
「Never heard of it. 」
「It’s a legend from ancient alchemists. 」
Ooohh, a Japanese Island flag*, huh!
「Whatever it is, it’s said to be the Sacred Beasts’ territory, uninhabited by any humans. 」
Hauron shrugged.
Ack, the flag’s started to waver!
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
I Got Transferred in the Middle of a Mountain
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 80 hours
Thanks. 👍