Pioneering the Apocalyptic World - Chapter 87

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Chapter 22: I Don’t Want To Be Just Protected

“Umm, that dragon, did it came out to attack you guys?”

“Fortunately, we just heard a roar and saw a shadow of one in the sky, but so far it hasn’t actually attacked us.”

… Could it be the Altair that we encountered in that thunderstorm? No, of course it’s possible that it’s just a different dragon, but I don’t want to think that there are two dragons so close…
Although I have almost no memory of being struck by lightning, as if the burns I had suffered all over my body had revived, my skin felt crispy.
But even more than that… The person next to me is emitting a scary aura. I guess she’s really holding a deep grudge… As I mentioned earlier, the person who almost died (me) don’t remember it, so I don’t really care. Regulus seemed to have realized that possibility from Uru’s state, he gulped loudly.
Tigar-san turned a dubious look at Uru, whose mood suddenly deteriorated, but when I waved my hand as though saying ‘It’s fine’ he continued the story.

“Anyway, all I know is that a dragon is living there.”

Hmm, I see.
But it’s a two-day ride on horseback… It seems like they have been wandering around this area and hunting for quite some time, why didn’t you guys noticed it before it turned into a such situation? That question popped in my mind, so when I asked, Tigar-san answered with a sour look.

“In that direction, there is an abandoned village that was said to have been burned by the wrath of the wind god. That’s why we tried to stay away from that place, but… I’m ashamed that I didn’t thought something like this could happen.”

It seems that he feel guilty because they were afraid and left it alone.
Hmm, I wonder if the wrath of the wind god has something to do with the dragon…?

“Do you know if there was anything else special about that village?”

When Tigar-san asked the executives around him, “Do you know anyone that knows?” everyone just shook their heads.
I have an image that it wouldn’t be strange for goblins and kobolds to live in an abandoned house, but would it be possible for a dragon to go out of its way and use a village where people used to live as a nest?
Dragons were generally treated as bosses in the game. They were guardians of ruins with important hints, and there were important items that can only be made with dragon materials.
Is it just a coincidence that such a dragon has settled in that place, or does it actually have some purpose in that, such as guarding a treasure that is sleeping there? Could it be that the abandoned village is just nearby, but the cause is different and the village is completely irrelevant.…… Well, just thinking about that without any proofs is useless.
If that dragon really is Altair, then a rematch is too harsh at this stage, but it would be better to at least check what that place’s situation is like. If it’s us, we’ll be fine even if we enter the miasma for a while.
Besides… Uru seems to be very motivated… If we can’t go is one thing, but avoiding it because I don’t want to go is a little…

“I understand the situation. Tomorrow…… No, the day after tomorrow we’ll go to see that place.”

“… I see, I’m counting on you. As for the Wind God-sama, we will search for something out of place when we go out hunting.”

“Yes, please.”

After the series of conversations ended, Uru started to feel sluggish, so I called a dissolution.
Normally, I would have stayed in the village as it is (I’m sorry for the other side who arranged an empty house with that in mind. Let’s use it at another time) I made a return stone, so today I decided to go back to the base and rest.…… It’s because Uru is irritated.
It’s late at night, so I postponed my visit to Grosso Village until tomorrow, and after greeting Regulus, who was yawning loudly with a “Good night”, we entered my room.

“Uru, it’s time for bed~.”

“… Umu…”

She’s pretty tired, I gently put down Uru who I ended carrying into the bed.

“Wait just a little more to sleep~. Let’s change clothes, okay~.”

Since It’s not good for her sleep in her clothes for outside, I managed to get her up and change into her sleepwear, I am also tired and sleepy today, so I quickly changed clothes and crawled into the bed.
Then, Uru clung to my arm as usual, so I turned my body sideways and patted her back.
…… I was forced to fight Eris, and just when I thought I had arrived in the village, the monsters started a raid, and thanks to Uru, the raid ended in no time, and then the competition for Uru began…… It was really a long day, huh.

“Sleep tight.”

“…”

“Uru?”

If it were normal, Uru would fall asleep at this time, but today she’s a bit fidgety.…… I wonder if she’s mentally tired and is having trouble falling asleep.
That would be a tiring for Uru, who doesn’t seem to be accustomed to talking to people. It’s a completely different level than being surrounded by the little kids in Grosso Village. Most of them are rugged men and they all approach with all their might.
Uru must have never thought that her popular period would come like this. If I were in her position, I’d really want to run away, I couldn’t help but look far away.

“Rion… I caused you a lot of trouble today…”

“Huh? That was not your fault okay.”

I was told that in a sour voice, but as expected, Uru wasn’t responsible for that, and those meatheads must be completely at fault. How do you get that way of thinking? It’s certainly that our Uru-san is definitely strong and cute though! …… Cough, but, that’s not the problem.
However, to make Uru feel like that, it might have been better to use attack items to thoroughly fight them, that thought passed my mind. …… No, my thought process is about to become like a meathead.
Shaking my head as if to throw away these violent ideas, I said to her, “Don’t care about it.”.

“… Rion.”

“Yup?”

“Thank you for protecting me.”

The words of gratitude that were spilled out made my back feel itchy, and a smile naturally welled up in my face.
Seriously… Just how much do you think I’m protected by you?
Even though it was just a small part of it (although I feel like I’d want to frown at that it took such a shape), I was happy that I was able to return it, that I was able to help Uru.

“You’re welcome…. But I did tell you, didn’t I?”

“… What?”

“When it’s not a battle, it’s my turn to protect you.”

…… Well, in a way, you could call that a battle, but it’s not a battle against monsters.
In Uru’s case, if she does something sloppy, she might literally turn the other part into minced meat, so it’s probably hard to her resist.…… In case something happens, I would rather have her give priority to herself.
Hmm…? Maybe it’s because of my request that ‘I don’t want to make enemies of the residents as much as possible’ and making her suffer…?

“… Umu, you said that…”

Uru mutters that to me who is groaning in my mind, and presses her forehead against my arm.
At the point that Uru was feeling like that, I feel like I haven’t been able to properly protect her… But, I have to give her an aftercare for it… Let’s make Uru’s favorite food for breakfast tomorrow.

“… Just in case, if you don’t feel like it, you can stay? I’ll call you before we go to the dragon.”

“… Then let me say it again. It’s mentally not good for me to leave Rion alone.”

Oh yes, that’s right. Sorry for the inconvenience….
“It’s unlikely that Regulus will be able to stop you alone.” And sparks are flying around…… I-I’m sorry for it, Regulus.
… However, I feel like there are almost no cases that it ended without any troubles…? Huh…?
As I was ruminating over everything I had done up until now and furrowing my brows, words that stuck in my heart were suddenly thrown at me.

“So… Don’t leave me behind…?”

It sounded like she was saying ‘Don’t leave me alone’.
…… I felt sorry that she was still dragging the fact that I was about to die
I have to become strong enough that she don’t have to worry about me…

“… Yeah, I’m going to have you come with me.”

Renewing my resolve, I patted her head saying “I promise.” and soon I heard her fall asleep.

…… Good night.