"You know... I'm actually a little excited too..."
That was the last thing I remembered saying before sleep finally claimed me.
"Oi, Haruwiko-chan! Stop hugging the tip of my tail!"
Bakunawa tried pulling his tail away, but the sleeping child only tightened his grip.
The enormous dragon stared down at the sleeping boy.
"Seriously..."
A long sigh escaped him.
"He's completely asleep."
For a few moments, Bakunawa simply watched Haruwiko sleep peacefully.
"If you weren't this cute... and if you weren't my Guardian, I would've eaten you already."
Yet despite those harsh words, his claw gently patted the boy's head.
"That face of yours..."
His golden eyes softened.
"You really are too kind."
Bakunawa paused.
"...What am I even doing?"
Another sigh escaped him.
"Well, it doesn't matter."
A faint smile appeared on the dragon's face.
"Good night, Haruwiko-chan."
Three months had passed since Mother and my two sisters left home.
Honestly, I still didn't understand why Father and I weren't allowed to travel with them.
Maybe it was some strange tradition of this world.
After another two months, Lala also took leave.
When I asked where she was going, she smiled warmly.
"I'm visiting my parents in my hometown. I'll return soon."
Before she left, I gave her the sweetest goodbye I could manage.
Now Mother's letter had finally arrived.
She wrote that everyone had reached their destination safely.
That letter marked the beginning of our own journey.
Father and I began packing our clothes and important belongings.
Soon, the once lively house became quiet.
Only Father and I remained.
For some reason, seeing the empty halls made me feel lonely.
The house felt larger than before.
Too quiet.
Too empty.
As if it was waiting for everyone to return.
Before our departure, Father called me over.
"Haru, come sit down."
I obediently sat across from him.
Then he placed two small boxes on the table.
"Open them."
Curious, I opened both boxes.
Inside were two beautiful dragon statues.
Although their appearances were identical, their colors were completely different.
One was darker than a starless night.
The other was scarlet red, like a blood moon hanging in the sky.
"They're beautiful..."
Father smiled.
"Place them in your palms."
I carefully picked them up.
The moment I did—
The statues trembled.
"...Eh?"
The tiny dragons suddenly moved.
"...EH?!"
The statues crawled across my hands.
Like living creatures.
"W-WHAT?!"
I nearly threw them across the room.
"Haru."
Father calmly sipped his tea.
"Relax."
"THEY'RE MOVING!"
"Yes."
"THEY WEREN'T MOVING BEFORE!"
"That tends to happen."
"THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN ANYTHING!"
Father only smiled.
For some reason, that smile made me even more nervous.
Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself.
The black dragon crawled toward my left hand.
It stopped on my ring finger.
Then it wrapped its tiny tail around my finger.
A soft black glow appeared.
Moments later, the dragon transformed into a beautiful black ring.
I blinked.
"A ring?"
Suddenly—
"Ouch!"
Something bit my right ear.
I immediately reached for it.
The scarlet dragon was hanging from my ear.
"FATHER! IT'S EATING ME!"
"It isn't."
"THEN WHY IS IT BITING ME?!"
The dragon glowed crimson.
Moments later, it transformed into a beautiful dragon-shaped earring.
I quickly grabbed a mirror.
A black dragon ring.
A scarlet dragon earring.
"...I look surprisingly cool."
Father nodded proudly.
"Indeed."
The room suddenly spun.
"Huh?"
My vision blurred.
The mirror blurred.
Father blurred.
Everything blurred.
The last thing I saw was Father's amused smile.
Then darkness swallowed me.
Soul Paradise
"OI!"
Bakunawa's roar shook the endless white world.
"WHO ARE YOU TWO SCUMBAGS?!"
Two dragons trembled in fear.
"AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE SOUL PARADISE?!"
The poor dragons looked ready to faint.
"Bakunawa-san."
"What?!"
I handed him a cup.
"Tea?"
Bakunawa froze.
"...Tea?"
"Tea."
"..."
"...Fine."
He accepted the cup.
Sip.
A satisfied expression immediately appeared on his face.
"Damn."
Another sip.
"My throat hurts."
A third sip.
"I probably shouted too much."
I pretended not to hear that.
"Bakunawa-san, let me handle this."
The dragon reluctantly nodded.
I turned toward the two frightened dragons.
Both looked as though they had seen death itself.
"Hello."
No answer.
"Who are you?"
Nothing.
The two dragons continued shaking.
I smiled gently.
"If you don't answer..."
The dragons stiffened.
"...I'll assume you're enemies."
Their faces turned pale.
"And then I'll ask Bakunawa-san to eat both of you."
"WHAT?!"
Bakunawa nearly spat out his tea.
The dragons almost cried.
"A-Ah! I'm Dark Dragon!"
The black dragon hurriedly introduced herself.
"M-Me Scarlet Dragon!"
The scarlet dragon followed.
"We were summoned here!"
I tilted my head.
"Summoned?"
Both dragons nodded rapidly.
Suddenly, I remembered the ornaments.
"Wait."
I pointed at them.
"You two are the spirits from the ring and earring?"
Nod.
Nod.
"I see."
I looked toward Bakunawa.
"Bakunawa-san, I think these are our new companions."
"EHHHH?!"
Bakunawa nearly choked.
"So these are the ones His Highness mentioned?"
"Maybe."
I shrugged.
Then smiled.
"Bakunawa-san, let's all be friends."
"No."
"Eh?"
"No."
"I refuse."
Then he flew away.
"Oi! Bakunawa-san! Come back!"
I watched him disappear into the distance.
"...What's Bakunawa-san problem?"
The two dragons looked equally confused.
I sighed.
"Anyway, do you need anything?"
The scarlet dragon nudged the black dragon.
"Nee-chan, you tell him."
The black dragon awkwardly stepped forward.
"Ah... we're hungry."
"...That's all?"
The dragons nodded.
"Then imagine whatever food you want."
"Huh?"
"It'll appear."
The scarlet dragon blinked.
"Are you joking?"
"Of course not."
The two dragons exchanged doubtful looks.
Then they closed their eyes.
Moments later—
Mountains of food appeared.
Roasted meat.
Fresh fish.
Fruit.
Bread.
Cakes.
Countless dishes filled the area.
The dragons stared in shock.
"NEE-CHAN!"
"LOOK AT ALL THIS FOOD!"
The scarlet dragon was already drooling.
The black dragon clapped excitedly.
"Let's eat!"
The two immediately attacked the food.
Hours later...
"I'm full..."
The scarlet dragon collapsed.
"I can't eat anymore..."
The black dragon lay beside her.
"Me too..."
Then she looked toward me.
"Master... where did all this food come from?"
"My mana."
"...Eh?"
"My mana."
"...EH?!"
I sighed.
"I really hate explaining things."
The dragons stared at me as if I were a monster.
Then the black dragon smiled.
"Thank you for the meal, Master."
My face instantly became warm.
"T-That's nothing."
Then I shook my head.
"Also, please don't call me Master."
"Hm?"
"Just call me Haruwiko."
The scarlet dragon smiled.
"Then... Haruwiko-dono?"
I buried my face in my hands.
"Why is that somehow more embarrassing?"
The dragons giggled.
Then the black dragon stood.
"As thanks, Haruwiko-dono, Scarlet and I shall teach you our original sword and magic techniques."
My smile disappeared.
"...More studying?"
The dragons proudly nodded.
I wanted to cry.
Suddenly, my body began fading.
"Huh?"
The black dragon looked alarmed.
"Haruwiko-dono! You're becoming transparent!"
I looked down.
My body was slowly disappearing.
"I think Father is waking me up."
The Soul Paradise began dissolving around me.
"So goodbye for now."
I smiled at them.
"Let's meet again later, okay?"
The black dragon nodded.
"Okay."
The scarlet dragon waved enthusiastically.
"Goodbye, Haruwiko-dono!"
The last thing I saw was the two dragons smiling.
Then the Soul Paradise vanished.