I Was a Small Fish When I Reincarnated, but It Seems That I Can Become a Dragon, so I Will Do My Best - Extra Chapter 108
[Collapse] -> [Rupture]
4-28. Release the Seal
Inside the cave, it’s different from outside, cold and chilly. The cold creeping up from underground seems to chill the entire cave. As we walk, the sound of dripping water becomes audible.
A strong wind passes through us. Amariaz shivers involuntarily from its coldness. The fact that the wind is blowing and fluttering their clothes suggests there might be another exit somewhere.
The footsteps of the three of them echo in the cave. Uchikage and Karna, who are holding torches, walk quietly in the cave, their footsteps unheard. It feels strange that even though there should be an echo, there’s no sound.
“I can understand Uchikage-Ojiichan, but… why can’t I hear Mom’s footsteps?”
“It’s a secret~”
“Eh…”
Why keep it a secret there…?
Oh, right!
There’s something I have to ask Mom!
“Hey, Mom. Is it true that Mom and I were humans from four hundred years ago?”
“Who did you hear that from?”
“Um, well, from what Abyss-san and Dacia-san said, I kind of… guessed.”
Dacia is on guard outside, so she’s not here. But since she talked about it when we met, I shouldn’t be lying. It would be a huge hassle if I found it out from Amariaz. So, this reason is safer.
Mom thinks for a while and looks at Uchikage-Ojiichan. Though it seems like they’re in agreement, they both nod soon after.
“That’s right. We were brought to this era by someone named Ouren.”
“Why…?”
“Because it was dangerous. It’s still dangerous now, in the end.”
“It was dangerous back then too…?”
“There was a high chance that you were discovered as that person’s child. So, to escape from that era, we were helped by Ouren.”
“That person… Reizen?”
“Yeah. Your father.”
Dacia also mentioned this. I’ve heard it several times, so I already remembered the name.
If Mom admitted it… then what Amariaz said was really true. Suddenly, I look at Amariaz, who is looking at me with a smug expression. I feel annoyed as if I’ve been tricked, but there’s no choice but to admit it now.
My father is one of the four beings currently considered evil gods. And Amariaz being a former god… it seems more likely now.
Mom and Uchikage-Ojiichan wouldn’t say it. Since nobody taught me, I knew it anyway.
It’s… a strange feeling. If I was born four hundred years ago… Wait.
Hold on.
“Ojiichan,… is my father-?”
“Hahahaha! That might actually be true! It’s been four hundred years after all. What do you think, Uchikage? Is he as feeble as you?”
“You’ll understand when you see Ouren.”
“Yeah, that might be true.”
I have no idea what they’re talking about, but they seem satisfied with that conversation and quicken their pace. Can you please not leave me behind…? Both conversationally and in terms of walking.
GROOOOOOH… ZHooo…
As the conversation ends and the cave becomes quiet, vibrating sounds are heard. I involuntarily stop and become alert. Amariaz also seemed somewhat surprised, but he quickly regained his composure and followed the two ahead. I also run to keep up so I won’t be left behind.
Gradually, the sound grows louder. Apparently, it was the sound of that person called Ouren… snoring.
“So, speaking of which…”
“What is it?”
“What does Ouren look like?”
“Hmm? A dragon.”
Um… a dragon… what?
Since Abyss said ‘four beings’ or ‘that person,’ I thought they were referring to someone in human form…
Judging from this sound, Ouren must be of enormous size.
He must be incredibly huge if he’s making this much noise!
But since he’s sealed, it should be safe to approach him.
It took a bit of courage, but I reassured myself and walked on.
Suddenly, we came out into a large space.
A subterranean lake stretches out in the distance, and we need a boat to cross to the other side from where we are. But in the meantime, he was there.
An entity shrouded in a semi-transparent red barrier.
It’s hard to see, but the barrier was incredibly large.
It might be as big as the previous Oni’s castle.
While this underground cavern, accommodating such a massive entity, must be incredibly vast, the oppressive aura emanating from the sealed entity was overwhelming, causing me to take a step back involuntarily.
White scales, white horns branching slightly backward from just behind the eyes.
The massive body, not fully illuminated by the torchlight, was partially submerged in the subterranean lake.
A long face with thick beards growing from behind, even underwater.
Long hair growing along the neck like a collar, also white, running along the spine.
Though I couldn’t see the tail coiled up, it would likely stretch to about there.
A white dragon.
The cave slightly vibrates with each breath he takes.
Though too shocked to make a sound, both Uchikage-Ojiichan, Karna, and Amariaz were clearly taken aback. It was the first time anyone had seen him like this.
Uchikage, holding the torch, exhales slowly.
Though he knew what kind of being it was, he hadn’t expected it to be this enormous.
“S-So this is… Ouren-sama…”
“This is a bit unexpected… it’s amazing.”
“Alright, Yuuzen! We’re counting on you!”
“Are you really going to leave it all to me!?”
Well, I’m the only one who can do it!
Oh, but how should I activate the skill?
I keep the magic tool bag with mana stones gripped tightly in my hand… and then?
Do I just think about it?
While pondering, Mom pushes my back and guides my hand to touch the semi-transparent red barrier.
You’ll figure it out, she murmurs softly, then immediately steps back.
Come to think of it, when I used ‘Rupture’ before, I had to touch Abyss’s restraints.
It seems like I have to touch it to activate the skill.
“R-Right…!”
Unlock the seal.
As I thought that, I felt a slight drain of mana from my body.
In the magic bag, it seems the mana stones shattered, making a sound like glass breaking.
I flip the magic bag over, and all the mana stones have turned to powder.
Was the mana in the mana stones insufficient?
Or was there too much mana used for the ‘Sealing Barrier’?
Either way, all my efforts from last night seem to have gone to waste in one shot.
However, the seal… was broken.
The semi-transparent red barrier had vanished, and the white color of the being, presumably Ouren, became clear.
Though he had been breathing heavily for a while, he slowly lifted his large eyelids.
Yellow, snake-like sharp eyes.
Though they seemed somewhat hazy, he suddenly raised his head.
“Woah, he really moved…”
Amariaz takes a few steps back.
I also felt the urge to step back, but I was pinned to the spot.
As he continues to raise his head, I look up at Ouren.
The hairs submerged in the subterranean lake rise with moisture, and as they rise, water drops down with a splash.
Though he resembles a giant snake, his face is angular and even longer, making him unlike a snake.
Given the amount of hair and the presence of horns, it’s safe to say he’s a completely different being.
In response to Amariaz’s voice, his eyeballs turn towards us.
Glancing at each of us one by one, his focus finally lands on me.
He tilts his head slowly and opens his mouth slightly.
“Who… are you?”
A voice that’s low yet resonating hits me.
Perhaps due to tension, I almost reflexively respond to his question.
“I’m Yuuzen.”