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Volume 9 Chapter 242

Ryuushin’s Protection

Taking Hinata with me, I flew to her village.
It was a village with a population of about two hundred people.
In the centre of the village square, there were four shadow dragons, and the residents were gathered nearby.
「Oh, look! He has arrived!」
「It’s Ryuushin-sama!」
Voices rose from the residents who noticed me in the sky.
I landed a little away from the shadow dragons.
After landing and setting Hinata down, the residents approached me.
「We are truly grateful for saving our village」
The person who seemed to be the village chief kneeled in front of me, and following suit, everyone gathered also kneeled and bowed their heads.
Although I am in the form of a black dragon, the residents didn’t seem too frightened by me.
Perhaps they were accustomed to the sight of dragons because there had always been wicked dragon’s kins in this village?
「Master, all the wicked dragon’s kin have been defeated. Although they were causing some trouble when we arrived, there were no casualties among the villagers」
「I see, well done. Thank you」
「It’s too kind of you to say so」
As he said this, the leader of the shadow dragons disappeared into my shadow.
When the shadow dragon and my shadow touched, their thoughts flowed into me.
It seemed they were explaining to the residents that I had defeated the wicked dragon and saved the village.
「S-so, about the sacrifice—」
「Hm?」
A sacrifice?
Why would a sacrifice be necessary when the wicked dragon had been defeated?
「As for us, w-we do not intend to refuse offering…… Hinata as the sacrifice」
—What?
Hinata, as a sacrifice?
Why?
「Hey, what do you mean by that?」
「Huh!?」
Ah, damn it!
The village chief mentioned offering Hinata as a sacrifice, and I unintentionally leaked some hostility.
The village chief, feeling the aura of the black dragon, was trembling uncontrollably.
I feel a bit sorry.
……But, it can’t be helped, right?
I can’t allow Hinata, whom I just rescued from the wicked dragon, to be sacrificed.
「「Ryuushin-sama! Please, calm your anger!」」
The elderly men around the village chief were bowing their heads with great force.
「Ah, sorry. I let out some hostility. I’m not that angry, though……」
「D-does the sacrificial maiden displease you?」
There’s no way!
I just rescued her a moment ago!
How could I allow such a cute girl like Hinata to be sacrificed?!
—Huh?
Wait a minute.
「……Um」
「Y-yes, what is it?」
「Sacrificing Hinata— Who is it for?」
「Huh?」
「W-well, of course……」
「It’s for Ryuushin-sama」
「………..」
Oh, I see. That’s what it is.
I completely misunderstood.
……Huh?
But why is that?
『Master seemed to favour this girl, so as a reward for saving the village, we negotiated with the villagers to offer the girl』
The thoughts of the shadow dragon were conveyed to me.
It seems they acted on their own.
Wait, they negotiated?
Th-threatened, is more like it, isn’t it?
「The wicked dragon that ruled this village was defeated by our master, Ryuushin-sama. Ryuushin-sama, who is stronger than that wicked dragon, desires the female who was a sacrifice to the wicked dragon— I explained」
Uwaaahhh!
What did he do!?
This is definitely not negotiation!
Definitely not.
Am I the villain here!?
「Ah, sorry. I don’t really want a sacrifice. Besides, I’m not a monster-kind of dragon……」
I’m not a monster, so I don’t eat people.
「A sacrifice is unnecessary? If one won’t be enough—d-do you intend to destroy this village!?」
I-I don’t intend to do that!
Please don’t jump to conclusions.
「E-eek!」
「No, it’s over for us……」
「Pa, I’m scared」
「S-shut up. You’ll offend Ryuushin-sama!」
「Please, please, not my daughter!」
Fear spread rapidly throughout the entire village.
This is bad……
This wasn’t supposed to happen like this.
I just wanted to save Hinata’s village and be thanked by everyone—- like Haruto was when he saved the Kingdom of Alheim Elves……
I don’t want to rule the village with fear.
「Ryuushin-sama, I will be yours. So, could you please forgive everyone in the village?」
Hinata also kneeled before me.
No, no, no, this is all wrong!
I just want to enjoy a date with Hinata.
I don’t want to own her or anything!
What should I do?
What’s the right thing to do?
At a time like this, Haruto would—
Ah!
That’s it!
Haruto.
I should do it like he would.
「I don’t need a sacrifice. But, I will protect this village. In return, I have a favour to ask」
This village has long been ruled by the wicked dragon.
Even if I say the sacrifice is unnecessary and leave this village, the residents will still live in fear of my shadow.
So, instead of ruling, I decided to act as their protector.
As compensation—
「About once a month, let me come here and have a meal. And if possible, I’d be happy if Hinata could be by my side. You probably heard from my kin, but I’ve taken a liking to her」
Damn, that’s embarrassing.
But, I said it!
Wasn’t that a bit Haruto-ish?
He’s done such embarrassing things so many times, I’m actually impressed.
「That…… Is all?」
「Yeah. From today, this village will be under my protection. Hinata, about the meal…… Is that okay?」
「Y-yes. Um, if you don’t mind it being me……」
Blushing Hinata is so cute.
Her willingness to sacrifice herself for the villagers stirs up my protective instincts.
I’ve found a new joy.
I’ll eventually want to take Hinata on a date outside the village.