The Reincarnated Young Girl Is Adored by the Spirits She Helped in Her Previous Life
The Water Dragon Lord, now my friend, happily pressed its massive head against me.
As I petted its head together with Sara, I asked,
“Why were you all slimy, Water Dragon Lord?”
“It’s a long story… will you listen?”
“Of course! Tell me.”
The Water Dragon Lord slowly began to speak.
“It was five hundred years ago… no, a thousand… maybe even two thousand years ago.”
“Wow, that’s a really long time ago!”
A long time ago, an incredibly powerful sorcerer appeared and spread a terrible curse across this land.
The previous Water Dragon Lord, who ruled these lands, defeated the sorcerer alongside a saint, but they were unable to completely dispel the curse.
“That’s why I took the curse into my own body and had the saint seal me away at the bottom of the lake along with it.”
The Water Dragon Lord had only just inherited its position from its father when it sacrificed itself.
Thanks to the saint’s seal, the land flourished with spiritual energy.
However, at the same time, the curse continued to eat away at the Water Dragon Lord.
“It was… far more painful than I had ever imagined. It hurt so much… it was unbearable…”
For decades, even a hundred years, it was possible to endure the pain for the sake of the land and its inhabitants.
But it never ended. Two hundred years, three hundred years… an unfathomable amount of time passed.
The once-young Water Dragon Lord grew over the centuries.
Yet, the pain, suffering, and agony never faded.
“I began to wonder… why do I have to suffer like this…?”
“That must have been so hard,” I said.
“Good dragon, good dragon,” Sara soothed.
“Woof,” Daru added as he licked the Water Dragon Lord.
The Water Dragon Lord’s tears began to fall, one after another.
“Hic… sniff… thank you.”
At that moment, the Water Dragon Lord looked just like a small child.
Perhaps it was because it had been sealed away when it was still young, left to endure all alone.
“But then, suddenly, the seal began to weaken… and soon after, the curse disappeared.”
‘Ahh, both of those were Lady Luria’s doing,’ Kuro said.
Since my mother was present, I couldn’t exactly respond to Kuro out loud, so I just looked at him in silence.
‘You see, after Lady Luria removed the rocks from the waterway, she also broke the barrier.’
Kuro explained everything carefully.
‘Someone had misused the ancient saint’s barrier to create a ward that repelled spirits.’
When that spirit-repelling barrier was destroyed, the saint’s ancient seal also cracked.
‘And the reason the Water Dragon Lord’s curse vanished… was because the curse on Lord Loa was broken.’
A wicked person had used the Water Dragon Lord’s curse to transform Loa into a sorcerer.
So, when Loa’s curse was lifted, the Water Dragon Lord’s curse, which was magically connected, was undone as well.
‘Turning Lord Loa, a guardian beast, into a sorcerer wasn’t something that could be done easily. It required a special kind of power.’
That special power had been the curse spat out in agony by the once-proud and noble Water Dragon Lord.
A curse born from pure suffering—one of immense power.
‘I have no doubt… my curse was used to turn Loa into a sorcerer. I’m truly sorry.’
The Water Dragon Lord lowered its head once more.
‘I myself was on the verge of becoming a sorcerer because of my own curse.’
If that had happened, all of its father’s great achievements and the centuries of endurance would have been for nothing.
For the Water Dragon Lord, that fate was worse than death.
“Lady Luria, no matter how many times I express my gratitude, it will never be enough,” it said in a dignified tone before bowing its head deeply.
“It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re safe, Water Dragon Lord.”
“Sara… and everyone. I apologize for the lightning I unleashed last night. I must have startled you.”
The Water Dragon Lord bowed deeply to Sara, my mother, and everyone present.
“Even though the seal was already weakened, it was still an ancient saint’s barrier… I had no choice but to strike it with lightning over and over to break it.”
“I see… that must’ve been tough.”
“You did your best. Good dragon, good dragon.”
“Woof, woof!”
“Yeah… hic… sniff…!”
Once again, the Water Dragon Lord shed tears.
It was clear now—when it had shouted at my mother earlier, it was because it had been so desperate.
Terrified of being alone, it clung to its bond with me.
And when it thought that bond was being denied, it lashed out.
“You endured for so long… there, there.”
“Ryaaah~”
If I had been in its place, I would have cried too.
Gently, I hugged the Water Dragon Lord.
And Loa joined in, embracing it tightly as well.
The Water Dragon Lord was comforted as Daru licked it affectionately.
After some time had passed and the Water Dragon Lord seemed more cheerful, I spoke up.
“Water Dragon Lord, are you hungry? Do you want to have breakfast with us?”
“Hehehe. Thank you, I’m happy… but I’m too big, so I’ll pass.”
“I see.”
“Besides, I need to purify the filth I spread around.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well… last night, after I was freed from the seal—”
Apparently, after emerging from the seal, the Water Dragon Lord had wandered around the area.
During that time, its decayed skin had been falling off in pieces.
“I see… that sounds like a lot of work. Luria will help too!”
“It’s okay. It’s not difficult. But thank you, Lady Luria.”
Saying this, the Water Dragon Lord chuckled, “Ehehe.”
“…Lady Luria, if I behave well, may I come visit again soon?”
“Of course! Oh, but we’ll only be here until tomorrow!”
Immediately, the Water Dragon Lord’s tail drooped in disappointment.
“Well, we usually live in the royal capital.”
“…Would it be okay if I came to visit there instead?”
“Of course! We’re friends!”
As I said this, my mother spoke up with a troubled expression.
“Water Dragon Lord, as Luria’s parent, I don’t wish for her to attract too much attention.”
“Hmm?”
“Your presence is very grand, so if you were to visit our estate in the royal capital, it would cause quite a commotion.”
“…I see?”
“We will think of a way to avoid causing a stir, so could you wait a little before visiting the royal capital?”
“Understood! Amalia, you are very reliable!”
The Water Dragon Lord wagged its tail happily.
Its massive tail thumped against the ground, making loud, booming noises.
“Sara is also your friend, Water Dragon Lord!”
“Woof woof!”
“Ryaa!”
“Kyu!”
“Ko!”
“Thank you, Sara, Daru, Loa, Carro, and Kolko!”
Then, looking a little embarrassed, it asked,
“Could you… hug me again?”
“Of course! Come here.”
Sara and I hugged the Water Dragon Lord tightly once more.
After that, the Water Dragon Lord walked away, glancing back at us multiple times.
“Please wait, Lord Water Dragon!”
A retainer hurried after the Water Dragon Lord.
“What is it, servant of Lady Luria?”
“Some people may be frightened upon seeing your form, so allow us to provide an explanation.”
‘Ah, Kuro has something to discuss too!’
It seemed Kuro would be accompanying the Water Dragon Lord.
With Kuro there, I was sure he would explain everything thoroughly on my behalf.
