“Interesting,” murmured Rei, the golden dragon, as he flipped through the Japanese books he’d ordered through a summoning magic online store.
He seemed to enjoy the selection, from magazines and animal photo collections, which he leafed through with keen interest, to the novel I had handed him on a whim. He began reading it with a serious expression.
Assuming modern Japanese stories, sci-fi, or historical novels might be difficult for him, I had chosen a fantasy novel instead.
“This is fascinating. Is there a sequel, Tohma ?”
“You read that fast!?”
“Well, I am a dragon.”
Possessing what might be a speed-reading skill, he breezed through a thick, high fantasy series.
“Do you actually understand it all?”
“Occasionally, there are words I don’t get.”
“Ah… Well then, I’ll lend you a dictionary.”
I tapped into the convenience store’s online store from the summoning magic platform and ordered a comprehensive adult dictionary. It was an impressive tome with over 3,000 pages, costing over 10,000 points. After recently making a major purchase—a house—the hit to my points was painful, but it was a worthwhile investment.
“What is a dictionary? Quite a hefty and impressive book.”
“It’s a book for looking up the meanings of unfamiliar words. Wait… do dictionaries not exist in this world?”
“I’m not well-versed in human realms, but I don’t think there are books this grand. For one, we don’t have paper of this quality.”
“That’s where the issue starts, huh…”
“I have seen books made of bound parchment a few times, though.”
“Fair enough… Maybe I should warn them to be cautious with casually reading manga too.”
Particularly Hal—he’s all about popular shonen manga. He eagerly awaits weekly magazines and collected volumes, diving into them the moment he gets his hands on them.
Akimi, who also enjoys reading, would probably be more discreet and read quietly in his room.
“Hal might even recommend it to his friends… that’s terrifying.”
Considering how outgoing my cousin is, it wouldn’t be surprising. If it’s a novel, it could be explained as a “rare and unusual book from the Hero’s world,” but manga? Who knows how that would be received in another world. I silently prayed that the [Universal Language Comprehension] skill was rare.
Rei quickly devoured Japanese fantasy novels as well as renowned overseas high fantasy classics. After a quick tutorial on using the dictionary, he skillfully mastered it, which surprised me.
“That was enjoyable, Tohma . Do you have more?”
“Hold on, wait a second. I’m out of noteworthy books for now… Should I let you try light novels?”
Light novels often have eccentric themes, so I felt a bit uncertain. But as soon as Rei heard there were new books to read, he eagerly sat in a formal seiza position, waiting like an overexcited large dog. His expectant gaze was impossible to resist.
“…Fine, here. These are some recommended fantasy light novels. They should be easier to read than the ones you just finished.”
“No problem. I look forward to it.”
The light novel series consisted of over 20 volumes. Surely, this would take him some time. Rei grabbed the first volume and happily sank into a beanbag chair.
Meanwhile, Ketsue, who’d lost his favorite spot to Rei, sulked, so I brought out his favorite blanket.
“Good boy. Keep an eye on Rei for me while I make dinner.”
“Meow.”
“Smart as ever, Ketsue.”
When I scratched behind his ears, he purred contentedly. What a genius—so cute and clever. Tasked with watching Rei, Ketsue proudly curled up on the blanket and kept a close eye on the majestic, golden-haired dragon.
“Alright, time to make dinner. Rei ate barbecue and steak for lunch, but he’ll probably want more.”
Well, considering his massive frame, his appetite must be equally enormous. Fortunately, I had a stockpile of meat from dungeon loot stored in my [Item Box].
(Though taming a dragon might be impossible, winning over his stomach seems achievable. He likes the bath and books, so I’ll use this momentum to deepen our bond.)
If we became friends, we might even party together and explore dungeons. He could secretly become an adventurer—how fun would that be? To enjoy delicious meals, you need to earn money. If I can get him to understand that, he might join me willingly.
(While adventuring, there’s even a chance we might accidentally wipe out a demon settlement or defeat mid-level bosses in a dungeon meant for a final boss…)
The high-level dungeon where the Evil Dragon resides is probably guarded by numerous demons and powerful monsters.
If the heroes exhaust themselves before reaching the final floor, it defeats the purpose.
(If we raid the dungeon to earn money while the heroes attack, we could act as vanguards. Clearing the way might not be a bad idea, right?)
“As far as acting as an adventurer motivated solely by earnings, I shouldn’t be violating any divine beast’s code or anything.
Yeah, brushing off trouble that comes your way is justified, right? It’s self-defense, isn’t it?
It’s just instinct as a living being—can’t be helped!
It was a crude plan that popped into my head, inspired by how unexpectedly friendly and straightforward the golden dragon Rei was.
‘I’m the one feeding them and acting as their guardian. I have to make sure they return to their original world. I’ll do whatever it takes.’
Even as a high elf, I don’t have the power to seal an evil dragon as a mere side effect of a hero’s quest.
Still, I take pride in being a decent behind-the-scenes supporter.
(That’s why I’ll make sure to tame the golden dragon completely!)
To be honest, since this is my first otherworldly visitor—or rather, a dragon—it would have been more motivating if the gender had been different.
(He’s ridiculously gorgeous, sure, but he’s a guy…)
A beautiful and powerful dragon girl would have been the ideal.
Still, a handsome and strong dragon man with a natural and endearing personality isn’t so bad either.
I sighed as I cooked with practiced ease. The vegetables and fruits from the farm, tended to with the help of Ketsue and the spirits, were flourishing, providing a bountiful harvest. Meanwhile, the dungeon-sourced stockpile of magic beast meat was in the triple digits.
“Alright, let’s make some meat dishes that’ll satisfy a dragon’s appetite…!”
“Dinner’s ready! Clean up and get to the table!”
“Meow!”
“Good job, Ketsue. You’re such a good boy.”
Having used a cleansing spell on himself with my life magic, Ketsue eagerly jumped onto his chair. Since a normal chair was too low for him to reach the table, I’d prepared a special baby chair just for him.
“Hey, ! The book won’t run away; leave it for later. Your food will get cold.”
“…Ah. Sorry, I got carried away.”
Rei rose from the sofa cushions and carefully placed a bookmark in his half-read novel before coming over to the table.
“Hold up. Wash your hands properly first.”
“My hands?”
Rei looked at his hands curiously.
His long, elegant fingers ended in sharp claws. I made a mental note to trim them later for safety and began instructing him.
“Before eating, washing your hands is mandatory! Wait, can dragons not use life magic?”
“What’s that? If I need to wash, I’ll just summon water, won’t I?”
“Ah… I see. Fine, I’ll cast Cleansing Clean for you. Hold still.”
“…Hmm. You’re using light magic to remove dirt. Got it.”
Though he skipped straight to light magic instead of life magic, as long as it worked, I didn’t mind.
The three of us—Rei, Ketsue, and I—gathered around a four-person table, and a delightful dinner began.
For a dragon who loved meat, the main dish was naturally meat-based. I served roasted venison sandwiches filled with fresh vegetables as the staple dish.
Crisp lettuce, juicy tomato slices, and onions were layered between the bread. The gravy sauce I’d made was a masterpiece, and I was confident in it.
For Ketsue, who liked mayonnaise, I spread a bit between the lettuce layers.
“This is how you eat it—grab it with your hands and bite in. Mmm, so good!”
“Let me try.”
Rei’s large mouth revealed sharp teeth as he bit into the generously stuffed sandwich and slowly chewed.
His face lit up instantly.
“This is delicious! I thought thinly sliced meat would be unsatisfying, but eating it with the greens is incredible. And this sauce pairs perfectly with the meat.”
“Pretty good, right? Try the other sandwiches too. I used different types of meat for each.”
“Oh! That sounds exciting.”
The table was piled high with a variety of sandwiches made from pre-cooked meat dishes.
Rei held a sandwich in each hand, alternating bites with a blissful expression, while I watched with a smile.
