Labyrinth Renovation – 005 | Sousaku – 創作

Episode 05: The Difference in Their Senses

　After closing the door with a clang, Fiona let me down and slumped to the floor.
　She was gasping for air.

"That was amazing! "
"What?　The dragon?　Or perhaps it was me carrying you!? "
"Both!　Oh, and I took some photos. Look at this."

　I never thought I would see a dragon with my own eyes!
　Those magnificent shiny red scales. Big fangs. A body that even exudes pressure!
　I don't know how they maintain that huge body in such a place, but I am sure it is not due to food. There was nothing that looked like a turd.
　I'm guessing they're not cold-blooded animals, so what is it?　Is it some kind of god-like being, immortal, or something?　I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case. For a creature bigger than an elephant like that to be sleeping in such an enclosed space.

"I like this picture, too, don't you?　This is a close-up of the scales, the gloss is amazing. Look, you can even see my reflection."

　The pictures turned out well. I'm sure I can charge my phone at the Hardware Store, so I may as well use my digital camera.
　If I had reception, I would have sent this image to my dad to show off. Too bad.

"Maho ...... who are you……？　Aren't you afraid of that thing? "
"Afraid……?　Ah, that's scary, right?　But I figured if I were to die from being eaten by a dragon, I wouldn't mind it."

　My father, for example, told me that when he was to die, he wanted his body to be thrown into the sea or buried with birds.
　Well, I don't really care what happens after I die, but we are in such a paranormal situation, and if I am going to die, I would rather be devoured by a dragon.
　Oh, but that thing doesn't seem like the type to eat food or anything. Too bad.
　
"I'm not at all well…… But I don't want to die yet……"
"I don't want to die either. Well, I just got a little carried away, so next time I'll be more careful."
"Next time……How can you be so innocent?　If we don't beat that thing, we're not going to get out of here, don't you see!?　Ohhhh, I was actually considering the possibility that there might not be any monsters in the house…………"
"Well, he was a magnificent dragon, right? I've never seen anything like it before."
"Ah!　There was a door leading up, so why don't we just go up from there!? "
"If the dragon wakes up while you're up there, you won't be able to come back, will you?" "
"That's right!　I guess we have no choice but to beat him!　Ahhh～～～, I can't do this anymore. There is no way to beat that thing!　I'm going to die here! "

　Fiona, sitting weakly on the ground, grunted and pulled out what looked like a cigarette from her pouch.
　What about the fire?　As I watched, I noticed that a lighter-size fire was coming out of her fingertip and she was lighting the cigarette with it.
　Just like that, she started to smoke.

"Ah～…………"

　Fiona smoked her cigarette with a sunken face and tears in her eyes.
　It has a sweet aroma. I don’t know why, but that seems like some dangerous weed.
　I thought she was a princess knight, but she turned out to be a much rougher person than I had imagined.

"Waaaaaaaaaaahh. There's nothing I can do now…… I'm going to die trapped in this place～～～～"
"Fiona, I didn't think you smoked."
"Lucnuvius-sama, Great Spirit-sama, please help me. Lucnuvius-sama, Great Spirit-sama, please help me. Please slay that dragon that is in the way～～～!"

　Fiona ignored my words and started chanting words like an incantation.
　I feel like I'm tripping a little.

　No, she said something that bothered me more than that.

"……Hm?　Are you going to kill that dragon? "
"What～！?　You saw that dragon, didn't you!?　That's called a Dragon King variety. You can't beat that thing! "
"I think if you give him some food or something, it'll probably grow to like you.　Oh, but there's not much worth eating…… No, in the first place, it's more likely that it doesn't eat anything, so……Sunlight―― or like, or something like that?　To begin with, if it doesn't eat then there's no reason for it to attack―― ahh, I see. Is it territory? That might make it difficult…… but then again, this place――"
"What are you mumbling about? About food? ……Of course, we're going to be food……!"
"Well, if it happens, it happens."
"I don't want this."

　Fiona plopped down on the ground and cried, and occasionally smoked her forbidden cigarettes to get a kick.
　I just sighed.
　
"It can't be helped. If it's alive, I think we can kill it, right?　We'll have to prepare accordingly, though."
　
　I don't want to kill it, but apparently, we have to kill that dragon to get out of here, so I have no choice. If I had to choose between the dragon and Fiona, I don't think I'd be so crazy as to choose the dragon.
　Fiona looked up as I spoke.
　
"IS that so……?　We can beat it.……?　Are you actually strong, Maho? "
"No, I'm very weak."
"Then how?"
"I'm not sure. But we have all these tools. In game terms, it's like having an infinite number of items. Besides, no matter how strong it is, it's still a living thing, right?　In the first place, if they are designed to be defeated by humans, it should be a piece of cake with all the supplies we have. We can kill it, we can kill it! "

　Living things, you know. They die easier than you think, Fiona.