Chapter 1-33 : The Dragon’s Past
Heading back to Erst Town, I had to pass through the western forest again, and as a matter of course, I encountered Erst Wolves and Erst Bears on the way.
However, I’m not alone now. I have a new partner, Levy. I think it’s a good opportunity to see how strong Levy is.
「Levy, will you help me fight these beasts?」(Alice)
「Kyu!」(Levy)
「Alright, let’s do it!」(Alice)
I drew my wakizashi and dashed toward the huge pack of Erst Wolves blocking our way.
There were about ten wolves noticing my presence. They were growling at me while showing their sharp teeth.
Ignoring their intimidation, I dashed straight toward the biggest one, which seemed to be the leader of the pack, but naturally, the other wolves were trying to stop me.
Two wolves came at me from two different directions.
「Levy, the right one is yours! I’ll do the left one!」(Alice)
「Kyu!」(Levy)
Levy jumped off my shoulders and shot a water bullet at the wolf coming from the right.
Bwoosh!
The water bullet was ten times smaller than the ones Levy shot while they were in their original dragon form. However, it was enough to kill the wolf.
The water bullet blasted the wolf away, resulting in it crashing into a tree, and then it died instantly.
Meanwhile, I activated my【Sever】skill and cut off the head of the wolf coming from the left.
「Good job, Levy! Seems like Erst Wolves are too weak for you. Let’s defeat the remaining ones!」(Alice)
「Kyuu!」(Levy)
Levy might have been nerfed badly. Not only did they become much smaller than their original size, but they also became much weaker. Even so, these low-level monsters are no match for Levy.
After killing all the Erst Wolves in the pack, we continued heading to the town while killing all the monsters on our way.
It took us about eight hours to reach the Erst Town safely.
「Phew… We got a lot of monster corpses. But, Levy, you can’t have them all. I need to make money too, so I’m going to sell some of them to the butcher. You understand?」(Alice)
「Kyu.」(Levy)
Levy nodded. Cute.
「But before going to the butcher, I think I’ll go visit Nansa obaa-chan first. It’s already dark, but I hope she’s still awake.」(Alice)
Nansa obaa-chan was the one who told me about Lake Clar and the Squidspiders, so I think she has the right to know what happened there.
After passing through the western gate, I headed to the residential area.
While walking the main street, I felt gazes from the surrounding people, especially players.
Are they looking at me? …No, they’re not. I think they’re looking at Levy, who was chilling on my shoulders.
「Hey, do you see that girl? What’s on her shoulders?」
「Hm? A blue snake? Is that a pet?」
「I’ve never seen a creature like that before.」
「I wonder where she found it.」
「Do you think it’s a mythical beast?」
「Nah, it can’t be. It’s small and looks weak.」
「How cute! I want a pet too!」
「Snakes look nice, but I prefer a dog or a wolf.」(passerbys)
Ugh… It feels so awkward…
I know they’re not looking at me, but still…
Levy draws too much attention. Well, I understand. After all, there are still not many players who have pets.
「Umm, Levy, do you mind if I put you in the summoning stone?」(Alice)
「Kyu.」(Levy)
Levy nodded. What an obedient pet.
I took out the summoning stone and held it close to Levy. Soon after, Levy’s body was wrapped in light and then was sucked into the summoning stone.
「Sorry, Levy. I hope you’re comfortable inside.」(Alice)
I then continued walking and arrived at Nansa obaa-chan’s house.
「Nansa obaa-chan, it’s me, Alice. Are you still awake?」(Alice)
I knocked on the door softly and called her name.
I was thinking of coming back tomorrow if she wasn’t responding, but then the door was opened.
「What are you doing here? It’s already late.」(Nansa)
「I’m sorry. Did I wake you up?」(Alice)
「No, it’s still not bedtime for me. I was just relaxing. Come in.」(Nansa)
「Thank you.」(Alice)
She let me in, and then we sat on the sofa.
She has always been nice to me, but her stern face still makes me a bit nervous.
「So? You need something from me?」(Nansa)
「No, I just want to tell you something. It’s about the lake you mentioned the other day.」(Alice)
「Lake?」(Nansa)
「Yes, the one that’s deep in the western forest.」(Alice)
「Ah, that mysterious lake, huh? You can forget about it. I heard about it from the guards, but in the end, it’s just a rumor. Did you look for that lake? I’m sorry you wasted your time because of that.」(Nansa)
「Rumor? Well, I did look for that lake, and I found it.」(Alice)
「…What?」(Nansa)
「I met the friendly Squidspiders there too.」(Alice)
「Ho… Hold on… Alice, did you really… find it…?」(Nansa)
I nodded.
For some reason, Nansa obaa-chan looked shocked. She couldn’t believe what I said.
It seemed that she found out that the information about the lake was nothing but a false rumor. That’s why she was shocked that I really found it.
「That can’t be… No one has ever found it…」(Nansa)
「Nansa obaa-chan, I’m telling the truth. Lake Clar does exist.」(Alice)
「…I see. I believe you. A good girl like you won’t lie to me. So… It really exists, I see… What did you find there?」(Nansa)
「Well, you’ll be surprised.」(Alice)
I told her all that happened at Lake Clar. I told her about the Squidspiders’ problem, about the nest in the lake, and about Levy.
She listened to me silently but with a somewhat complex expression.
「No way… There was a dragon in that lake and… you made a contract with it…? Unbelievable…」(Nansa)
「I can introduce them to you. Their name’s Levy.」(Alice)
Saying that, I took out the summoning stone, but then Nansa obaa-chan stopped me.
「Wa-wait! Are you going to summon a dragon here!? You will destroy my house!」(Nansa)
「No, it’s alright. Umm, how should I put it… Levy shrank. They’re not bigger than a normal snake now.」(Alice)
「Shrank…? So, that dragon has become as small as a snake now?」(Nansa)
「Yup. Levy, come out.」(Alice)
As soon as I called Levy’s name, the summoning stone glowed, and then Levy appeared on my shoulder.
「Kyu!」(Levy)
「Nansa obaa-chan, this is Levy, my new partner.」(Alice)
「…….」(Nansa)
I summoned Levy and introduced them to Nansa obaa-chan, but when she saw Levy, her face turned a bit pale for some reason, as if she was scared of Levy.
「Those beautiful blue scales… They look like… No, that can’t be…」(Nansa)
「Nansa obaa-chan? What’s wrong?」(Alice)
「Alice, you call it Levy, but… do you know what its true name…?」(Nansa)
「Umm, yeah… Levy is a sea monster called Leviathan.」(Alice)
「…!!」(Nansa)
Suddenly, Nansa obaa-chan drew her body backward and opened her eyes wider. She looked at Levy in shock.
「Umm… Nansa obaa-chan…?」(Alice)
「Alice… Do you even know what it is…?」(Nansa)
「…Eh…?」(Alice)
「Long ago, a giant dragon was rampaging in the sea. It attacked many ships, killed hundreds of fishermen, and destroyed the port town. The people who witnessed that disaster said that the dragon had beautiful blue scales, and that dragon was none other than… Leviathan… The very creature sitting on your shoulders right now!」(Nansa)
「What!? No way…」(Alice)
Now I know why she looks afraid.
It seemed that Levy was a monster who had killed many people in the past.
It’s hard to believe that the little creature chilling on my shoulders has done such things.
I turned my head and shifted my gaze to Levy.
「Levy, have you really done that? You killed many people?」(Alice)
「Kyu! Kyu! Kyuu!」(Levy)
Levy shook their head, denying it firmly.
「…Really?」(Alice)
「Kyuu!!」(Levy)
Levy shook their head again. They didn’t seem to lie. Well, I doubt a pet can lie to their master.
「Levy doesn’t seem to know anything about that.」(Alice)
「That’s weird… Has it lost its memories? In the first place, why did the legendary Leviathan end up in a lake far away from the sea?」(Nansa)
「Actually, I have the same exact question in my head.」(Alice)
I thought that the game development team spawned Levy in that lake on purpose at first, but honestly, I don’t exactly know. It might be a bug or another unknown reason.
I wanted to tell Nansa obaa-chan about it, but she’s an NPC. There’s no way she knows what ‘game development team’ is.
「Anyway, this… Levy, was it? They don’t look harmful. They are completely obeying you as their master, right?」(Nansa)
「Yes. Levy is an obedient pet and a reliable partner to me.」(Alice)
「I see… Then I have no reason to be afraid of them. But, Alice, you shouldn’t reveal their true name to other people, especially while you’re in the port town.」(Nansa)
「Un… I understand. Anyway, that’s all I want to tell you.」(Alice)
「Thank you for telling me. Before you go, here, have some potions.」(Nansa)
Nansa obaa-chan took out a few bottles of potion from the drawer next to her and handed them to me.
「Consider it a reward for telling me about that lake.」(Nansa)
「Thank you, Nansa obaa-chan! Levy, you should thank her too.」(Alice)
「Kyuu!」(Levy)
Levy extended her body toward Nansa obaa-chan and nodded.
Nansa obaa-chan then responded with a smile.
「I still can’t believe this cute little fella was once a ruthless sea monster… Please take good care of Alice for me, will you?」(Nansa)
「Kyu!」(Levy)
「Well then, I don’t want to disturb your resting time any longer. I’m going now.」(Alice)
「Alright. You can visit me anytime.」(Nansa)
「Un! Good night, Nansa obaa-chan!」(Alice)
I bowed to her and left her house.
I just wanted to tell her about what happened at the lake, turns out, I got unexpected information about Levy’s past.
I hope Levy will never return to their old self. To prevent that from happening, I should take good care of them with love.
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