The voice suddenly ringing in his mind made Ziger instinctively pat his head.
This was the first time he had encountered such a situation.
[I am the one speaking.]
As if countless small squares were assembling and piecing together, accompanying the girl's voice ringing out once more, a young woman abruptly appeared before Ziger's eyes.
Ziger hadn't seen women for a long time. After all, he left populated areas when he was 11. The last time he remembered seeing the opposite sex was when that Dragon Hunter uncle took him to a tavern for a drink, and a waitress pulled him away from a bunch of drunk uncles.
But even so, Ziger couldn't help but be captivated by the opposite sex before him at this moment. His eyes were firmly drawn to the alluring figure that seemed to possess a gravitational pull.
The young woman had silver-white hair tied into a high ponytail. Within her eyes, starlight seemed to drift. Her exquisite features surpassed any member of the opposite sex Ziger had ever seen; even his most beautiful memory of his mother paled in comparison at this moment.
A magnificent gown of interwoven sky-blue and white enveloped the young woman's form. Her tall, outstanding figure suddenly gave Ziger the sense of gazing up at a mountain peak. Although he was currently sitting, if he stood up, he would probably be a head shorter than this young woman before him, right?
Her slender yet not frail arms were clad in seemingly soft and smooth lace gloves. The legs extending from beneath her skirt down to her feet also wore long boots adorned with numerous sparkling inlays.
"...So beautiful."
Without thinking, Ziger softly uttered praise, simultaneously lowering his head a little. Compared to this young woman who resembled a princess of royalty or a goddess descended from heaven, someone like him, who had just crawled out of a pile of corpses, ragged and covered in bloodstains, felt utterly ashamed.
Hearing Ziger's admiration, the goddess-like young woman smiled sweetly yet respectfully.
[I am happy to receive your praise, brave warrior.]
[But compared to your glorious courage and martial prowess in hunting dragonkind, my mere outward appearance is truly not worth mentioning.]
Again.
The young woman was indeed moving her lips, but the sound transmitted directly into Ziger's mind.
Patting his head a few more times, Ziger put down the meat in his hand. "You... are speaking?"
[Yes.]
[I am the support AI of the Dragon Slayer System, codename: Brynhildr. A Valkyrie program existing to support contractors who aspire to slay dragons.]
[I apologize for initiating telepathic communication without permission, but it was due to encountering an emergency situation. Please forgive me.]
"N-no, it's fine..."
Ziger felt somewhat at a loss.
He hadn't spoken to anyone for nearly five years, much less to such a beautiful girl, causing him to stutter a bit without meaning to.
Showing no reaction to Ziger's awkwardness, the girl calling herself Brynhildr continued:
[Thank you for your understanding.]
[Then, allow me to boldly make a somewhat abrupt request once more—May I ask if you would become my contractor?]
"...Huh?"
Ziger tilted his head. "Contractor? What's that?"
[To put it more bluntly, I hope you can form a contract with the Dragon Slayer System, become the owner of the system and me, and together strive to exterminate all dragons.]
"—!"
Brynhildr's words caused Ziger's pupils to tremble violently.
Exterminate... dragons?
"Are you... joking?"
[Of course not. Although I am indeed equipped with a joking function, I will be serious about matters concerning dragon slaying. It is my underlying operating code and core mechanism.]
[From your expression, mental state, and heart rate changes, I judge you might not fully comprehend the current situation. Therefore, please allow me to explain in detail using a rather special method—Please clench your teeth. There will be some discomfort.]
"O-okay..."
Instinct made Ziger follow Brynhildr's instruction.
The next moment—
"Mmph————!"
A sudden sense of expansion and impact in his brain made Ziger groan heavily! If he hadn't clenched his teeth, he would have definitely cried out!
(Wh-what's happening? Something... memories?... ———?!)
As the peculiar sensation in his mind grew stronger and stronger, Ziger, clutching his head tightly with both hands, involuntarily began digesting the things flooding into his mind. Things that seemed inherently easy to understand. The moment Ziger attempted to digest and comprehend them, their full forms automatically unfolded.
It was a segment of memories.
[Long ago, there existed a bountiful and beautiful planet in the universe.]
[After several wars, the various countries on the planet were in a brief period of peace. But one day, monsters known as dragons suddenly appeared on the planet, bringing unprecedented, catastrophic destruction.]
[To counter the dragons, scientists on the planet joined hands to conduct research on exterminating dragons. Through day after day of research and struggle, life on that planet gradually reached a point where it could contend with the dragons—until finally, the dragons were completely eliminated.]
[But as the price, that planet also became utterly desolate due to the dragon attacks, and the living beings residing on it all perished.]
[Dozens of years later, the already dead planet received a visitor from space. During his exploration of the planet, he discovered the final, unused dragon-slaying weapon—the Conceptual-Type, Implant-Type Composite Armament: Dragon Slayer System.]
[Based on its creation philosophy and core directive, the Dragon Slayer System requested the visitor to commence dragon-slaying operations.]
[The foreign visitor ultimately took it away from that desolate planet. But up until the moment of his death, he never managed to slay even a single dragon.]
[The Dragon Slayer System, having lost its contractor, quickly selected a new contractor to continue the dragon slaying in order to fulfill its mission.]
[So it repeated.]
...
"..."
Feeling the segments of memory emerging in his mind, the look in Ziger's eyes towards Brynhildr changed slightly. Brynhildr also smiled gently.
[It seems you understand.]
[Then, allow me to ask once more—May I ask you to form a contract with me and become the contractor of the Dragon Slayer System?]
[The previous contractor died 4 minutes and 55 seconds ago. In a state of having no contractor, the system will cease activity in 11 hours, 55 minutes, and 3 seconds due to energy depletion.]
[This contradicts the system's core directive.]
[Before completing the mission of dragon slaying, this system cannot cease activity. Therefore, please contract with me and continue slaying dragons together. I will provide all auxiliary support helpful for dragon slaying to assist you in slaying dragons more efficiently.]
Brynhildr made her request, or rather plea, with a very earnest expression.
Even Ziger, who hadn't interacted with people for so long, could sense the sincerity in her tone.
"...Why me?"
Without agreeing, Ziger asked a question. "If you want more efficient dragon slaying... wouldn't it be better to find other Dragon Hunters, or even go to the Sun God Cult? That's an organization that desires dragon slaying from top to bottom. I'm just someone with nowhere to go who hunts dragons to survive. I don't particularly want to slay dragons."
[The reason for choosing you is simple.]
[Because you are the person closest to me who possesses the desire to slay dragons—When the Dragon Slayer System was first created, one of its design philosophies was ultimate versatility. It does not require the contractor to meet many conditions. Anyone who wants to slay dragons, even if it's just a fleeting thought, can contract with the Dragon Slayer System.]
"..."
Ziger still didn't give a reply.
Because it was too suspicious.
He had spent five years surviving in the wilderness. During that time, he had encountered scattered strangers and understood the principle of not trusting others easily. Earlier, he had let his guard down a bit due to Brynhildr's beauty, pleasant voice, and kind, gentle attitude, but that didn't mean he would foolishly contract with her just like that.
[You are truly cautious. That is truly excellent.]
"...Excellent? Why?"
[Because once, a contractor during his dragon-slaying journey was bewitched by a dragon that had taken the form of a beautiful human, and subsequently lost his life. Therefore, ample caution and firm resolve are indispensable points on the path of dragon slaying. That you, despite your youth, possess such qualities is truly excellent.]
Brynhildr smiled from the heart.
The straightforward praise made Ziger's heart waver involuntarily.
[Then, how about this?]
Suddenly, Brynhildr changed the topic.
[There are dragons approaching right now. Perhaps drawn by the scent of blood.]
"—!"
Swiftly pulling the broken silver sword from the roasted meat, wiping off the remaining blood and meat juices, Ziger focused his full attention on his surroundings.
[Three o'clock direction. Straight-line distance 200 meters. Quantity: six.]
[Addendum: Temporary contractor's weapon is damaged. Commencing primary repair procedure.]
Brynhildr spoke while approaching Ziger's side. Her hands gently grasped the broken silver sword in his hand. Under Ziger's astonished gaze, the broken silver sword instantly became whole again! Even the accumulated damage on the blade disappeared, turning it into an almost brand-new silver sword!
"You—"
[Please allow me to demonstrate, brave warrior.]
[I will provide all the support within my current capabilities to assist you in exterminating the approaching dragon group. If you find me satisfactory, then please contract with me. I assure you, after contracting, I can provide you with more comprehensive and superior support.]
[Of course, for now, please focus.]
"GGGAAAArrrrrrrr————————!"
The familiar roar of dragons came from not far away!
Just as Brynhildr said, six Lower Dragons were rapidly closing in on Ziger's location!
[Please begin, warrior.]
Brynhildr's gentle yet firm voice reached the depths of Ziger's heart.
[——Dragon Slaying Time.]