Chapter 25: Sylgaria's Girl (First Part)
***
The weather was perfect, with the sun shining brightly.
In the remote, dilapidated village, restoration work was being carried out in an orderly manner. n were busy moving back and forth, using carts to transport logs or rocks to the hired craftsn, who processed them into usable stone materials or wooden beams. Won and children were mostly kneading clay or weaving thatch for roofing.
Except for the occasional sorrowful expressions on people's faces, everything seed to have returned to its forr peaceful state.
Only the population had notably decreased.
Not far from the village, in the open field, stood two rows of irregularly shaped tombstones and crosses... though they could hardly be called tombstones, at best they were just large stones stood upright.
They looked hastily erected, barely recognizable as a cetery.
By the western village path, a fierce enormous beast lay curled up, quietly sleeping among the ruins of collapsed walls and broken trenches.
At first, it truly terrified the villagers.
"What... what kind of monster is this?"
"Don't be silly, this is the Dragon God... the Dragon God has manifested."
Fortunately, this giant beast only rested there, not moving from its spot since the villagers discovered it.
So young n, driven by curiosity, gathered their courage to try approaching it. It rely lifted its eyelids slightly, scanning them once with its lantern-like pupils before paying them no more attention.
Gradually, the villagers understood that the beast was friendly and wouldn't harm them. They grew bolder, and so even ca forward to gently stroke its snow-white fur.
There were terrible scars on it.
"The Dragon God must have fought a battle to the death with that monster... It saved us."
Soone said, only to be imdiately slapped on the head with a "pak" by a companion beside them.
"Idiot, Little Syl saved us."
"...Oh right."
Soon, they saw the girl wrapped in the beast's fur, eyes closed, covered in blood.
The beast would occasionally raise its massive head, pressing it against the girl to sniff, sotis giving her a lick, as if watching over its small, weak child.
"Isn't that Little Syl? Is the Dragon God protecting her?"
"Quick, go notify Grandma Claire, Little Syl is here!"
"What happened to her? Is she... just sleeping?"
"She's covered in blood... could she be seriously injured..."
"Don't talk nonsense! It must be that monster's blood."
"But... Little Syl isn't moving at all!"
"Could she be..."
"If you dare say another unlucky word, I'll sew your mouth shut! Little Syl is our savior, I pray for her every day, the deities will bless her."
"I'm just worried about her."
"...Look, look, she turned over! She's fine, Little Syl is fine! Thank goodness!"
............
Days passed.
At so point, the girl opened her eyes slowly in the warm, furry embrace.
"Mmm——"
I was sowhat dazed, stiffly moving my rigid body.
My eyes felt painfully dry. I rubbed them hard and patted my cheeks, taking quite a while to finally co to my senses.
How long had I been sleeping?
There was still a slight pain in my body, but more than that was an itchy sensation. The tightness in my chest was gone, and it seed I could move my waist and legs freely again.
What terrifying recovery ability.
I looked at my dirty body, where the bloodstains had dried into hard, dark brown crusts.
I lowered my head and sniffed my dress, deeply furrowing my brows.
...Such a strong sll of blood, it stinks.
Dabai felt the movent on its body, understanding that I had awakened, and gently nuzzled its huge head over.
Then it nudged into a squatting position.
"Dabai, thank you."
I patted my bottom and stood up, stroking its rough jaw.
"Purr purr."
Dabai let out a soft moan, its bell-like eyes staring deeply at .
There was a light in them that I couldn't understand.
"...Dabai?"
I asked questioningly.
The next mont, Dabai's enormous body began to fade gradually.
It felt like an old painting severely fading on ancient canvas. Then it beca transparent, transford into points of dazzling golden light, and finally disappeared.
"Dabai——!"
I called out in panic.
"Don't worry." Soone spoke to .
I turned around to see the bearded swordsman walking towards .
At this mont, he had removed his cape and armor, wearing only a simple black formal suit, chewing on a straw, his gray-white short hair simply tied back, carrying quite an English gentleman's air with a hint of raffish charm.
The feeling he gave was quite different from our previous two etings. Perhaps because we were no longer enemies, his eyes had lost that heart-stopping sharpness, replaced by a trace of sleepy weariness.
The only thing that hadn't changed was the sword at his waist.
"It's not dead, just returned to its holand."
"...Holand?"
"Yeah." The bearded swordsman perfunctorily responded, then glanced at . Seeing that I had no intention of ending the topic, he clicked his tongue impatiently.
"Tch, how to put this... Well, many years ago, humans had a dispute with the giant dragons. But because the power difference between the two sides was too great, a deity who couldn't bear to watch stepped out to warn those fellows, saying stop fighting, I'll open up a new world for you called the Land of Dragons. Um, that's how it is. So your big guy went back there."
"Really?"
"That's how the legend goes, yeah."
"You can't, lie to ."
I clenched my small fists, sowhat persistent.
The bearded swordsman's gaze grew serious.
"Mm, I'm not lying to you, it's still alive."
"You swear."
"...I swear."
The bearded swordsman raised his hand to swear, looking serious yet still sohow unreliable, quite an amusing sight, then suddenly extended his right hand to .
"Let's get reacquainted, my na is Carlos. Silver Flash — Carlos Gonzalez."
"Pfft."
Sorry, forgive for breaking character.
Silver Flash? What's that, a nickna? Are people in this world all this chuunibyou? Do they have to announce their nas together with their nicknas? When people fight, do they also have to announce their special moves like listing nu items...
Sohow feeling a bit expectant?
"What are you laughing at?"
"No, nothing... You no longer, want to kill ?"
"...Want to guess?"
"I won't guess."
"Co on, take a guess."
"..."
Indeed, my previous judgnt wasn't wrong, this person is very boring. But never mind, I'll reluctantly give him face.
"Sylvia Labishrs."
Extended my small hand to shake his lightly.
Then the bearded swordsman, right in front of , slowly pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the hand that had shaken mine again and again. Throughout the process, he kept his eyes straight ahead, expression indifferent.
"...So dirty."
Hey, what do you an!!
I quickly looked at my small hands, covered in congealed blood and dust.
Uh... they are a bit dirty.
My little face suddenly turned red.
"Little Syl..."
"Sylvia." I glared at him.
"Alright, Little Syl."
My eyebrows raised in anger, but then I saw him suddenly change from his previous casual manner, right hand clenched in a fist placed over his heart, bowing to .
"I, Carlos Gonzalez, hereby on behalf of the Holy Church, on behalf of the countless citizens of Sylgaria whom you have saved, solemnly thank you for everything you have done. Your sacrifice and dedication will be forever rembered in our hearts."
His attitude was solemn, his words sincere.
The noon sunlight cast a crimson glow over the ruined village.
The warm wind swept across the green lawn, stirring up glittering ripples, carrying curious glances from passersby, gently brushing my ink-black long hair.
Revealing a delicate yet dirty, bewildered little face.
This sudden gesture left at a loss.
"Um... rise?"
Should I say that? That's what I should say, right?
"What did you say?"
After completing his bow, the bearded swordsman returned to his lazy deanor.
"...Nothing, I'm hungry."
I said, rubbing my stomach.
"Let's go."
"What for? What do you, want to do, to ?"
I looked wary.
"Didn't you say you were hungry?"
"...Oh."
"Also, you're too dirty."
"...Oh."
"At tis like this, girls should first let out a cry of surprise, then show an embarrassed expression, learn from that."
"No way."
"Tch, no fun at all."
"..."
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