Isekai Nonbiri Nouka - Chapter 1025: Great Rananon
My name is Rananon.
Fufufu. Normally, I only tell my name to those who challenge me, but muttering it to myself is allowed.
……
Though honestly, I placed quite an annoying restriction on myself.
It makes proper communication impossible.
How is anyone supposed to trust someone who refuses to give their name?
Really now.
If I could, I would punch my past self…… though that would hurt.
I’d rather scold her instead.
Oh, I’ve gone off topic.
Let me start again.
I am Rananon, an Ancient Dragon.
The wife of the Dragon King Gigurant.
Do not lump me together with ordinary dragons.
I am a rare Divine Dragon type.
Those with loose tongues say I look like a snake with limbs, but I am a dragon of a venerable lineage.
……
Well, to be fair, every dragon of the Ancient Dragon Race has a venerable lineage.
-0-
Now then.
The lifespan of the Ancient Dragons is eternal.
However, we can still die.
Not from the weakening of the body, but from the weakening of the mind…… the loss of vitality.
Our sleeping periods grow longer, and in the end, the body turns to stone and we die.
My own death was approaching.
I had begun the long process of sleeping my way toward the end.
I was not afraid.
After all, my husband, who passed away before me, is waiting for me.
Still, parting with the living world is a lonely thing.
That is all.
So, I had fallen into sleep thinking that…… when suddenly, I was violently awakened.
-0-
What?
What happened?
This is bad.
I can’t open my eyelids.
My eyelids have turned to stone.
Still, I can tell that my dragon body and mind are being forcibly awakened.
What did they do to my petrified body?
Damn it, there isn’t enough information!
I’ll force my eyelids open through sheer will!
……
It’s dark.
Come to think of it, I fell asleep deep inside a cave where no light reaches.
C-calm down.
I am an Ancient Dragon.
If I concentrate, I can see even through the darkness of night.
……
Small lights here and there, and something moving near them.
Little ones?
Tch, I can’t focus.
N-no, this isn’t farsightedness.
It’s just because I just woke up.
C-calm down, calm down.
I remember hearing that looking at green things helps…… though maybe that was for looking far away.
In any case, there’s no greenery in a cave where light cannot reach.
S-so what.
I possess overflowing magic power!
I’ll enhance my vision with magic!
Good, I can see!
I can see!
Let’s see…… the little one is……standing on my nose?
How rude!
And then that little one is……toward my eye—
Gyaaaaaaaaaa!
My eye!
My eyeeeee!
The little one rubbed something into my eye!
No, she twisted it in!
What is this creature!?
A devil!?
Did the devils come for revenge!?
Holding grudges over ancient matters!
That’s exactly why everyone dislikes you!
Hmm……
What?
My vision is becoming strangely clear.
The pain is gone too.
Huh.
The little one in front of me isn’t a devil but a human.
And the thing she twisted into my eye……
Something that was boiled down?
But that magic power…… could it be the leaves of the World Tree?
And judging by the amount in that hand……
She used dozens of leaves!
If it weren’t for the fact that I’m an Ancient Dragon, it would have caused corruption!
W-what a dangerous way to use it.
But who is she?
World Tree leaves are supposed to be strictly controlled, not something that can be taken out so easily.
And to use dozens of them……
Does that mean my power is needed?
So much that she woke me from my sleep?
What are the other Ancient Dragons doing?
Don’t tell me they’ve perished?
The human is shouting something……
I can’t hear it.
My ears are clogged.
Wait a moment.
With magic……
Good, the blockage in my ears is gone.
Alright, I can hear now.
Then let me ask.
What is it that you want from me!?
「Could you shift your body a little to the side?」
……
Sorry, could you say that again?
「Your body is blocking the town’s water source! Please move your body to the side!」
…………………..
Um, like this?
Since I’ve turned to stone, it’s hard to move……
Huh?
When I sleep, I’m pretty sure I curl up more than this. Was my sleeping posture really this bad?
Anyway, I somehow managed to shift my body to the side.
Then water started gushing up from the ground.
The little ones were delighted.
Ah…… did my sleeping posture cause them trouble?
Sorry about that.
Still, I don’t remember there being a water source nearby when I went to sleep.
Did things change over the long years?
If you could explain that to me….wait a minute!
Why are you leaving as if your business is finished?
What about me, the one who was forcibly awakened?
Good night? I’m completely awake now!
Grr……
How much time has passed since I fell asleep?
What has happened to the world?
Give me more information.
Information!
Hmm?
My name?
If you want to know it, challenge me!
……Wait.
I don’t think suddenly punching me is the right approach.
Sure, I did say to challenge me, but……
I just woke up.
I’m barely awake.
So, I still can’t move properly.
Charging at me like that seems a bit unfair, don’t you think?
Come on, there should be a bit more…… exchange.
Being lazy about it isn’t good.
Don’t give me that annoyed look!
Conversation.
Conversation is important.
Yes, I’m the one who said to challenge me, but still.
And show a little more respect to dragons.
Ancient Dragons are not beings that humans can casually speak to.
……
Your parent is an Ancient Dragon?
Don’t lie.
Ah, an adoptive parent.
That could happen.
What is that dragon’s name?
Hakuren?
I don’t recognize that name.
But…… the power I feel from that name……
Could she perhaps be Raimeiren’s daughter?
Oh!
Raimeiren is my granddaughter.
I see, I see.
……hmm, wait a minute.
If Raimeiren has a daughter…… then her partner must be Dors-boy.
Raimeiren was always quite obsessed with him.
What?
Dors-boy is the current Dragon King?
That boy?
Oh, don’t misunderstand. I’m not worried.
Dors-boy is serious, so he must be handling things properly.
And if he ever started slacking off, Raimeiren would surely kick him into shape.
-0-
Hakuren has other children besides you?
As an adoptive parent?
Ah, the ones she gave birth to.
Hiichirou, Hikaru, and Himiko, huh.
Hmm.
Having many children is a good thing.
Rananon?
Oh?
Oh, I see.
That’s a fine name.
I see, I see.
Is she also Hakuren’s daughter?
Rasutisumoon’s daughter?
Rasutisumoon is the daughter of Doraim, the son of Dors and Raimeiren.
I see.
Yes.
Then I must go meet her and give my blessing.
You know where she is, don’t you?
I request that you guide me there.
Hmm?
My name?
You say that since you challenged me earlier, I should tell you?
That’s not really how challenging works……
Fine, fine.
Then listen closely.
My name is Rananon.
Ancient Dragon Rananon.
A fine name, isn’t it?
And your name?
Ursa, you say.
That’s also a fine name.
Now then, please guide me.
Of course, I will give you a reward.
……
Areh?
Where did the treasures I gathered before going to sleep go?
They’re gone?
Were they stolen?
N-no, now that I look around carefully…… this isn’t the place where I slept?
D-did I move somewhere strange because of my sleeping posture?
In any case, I have nothing to give Ursa as a reward.
I’d rather not rely on Raimeiren or Dors-boy.
You say the reward for guiding me can be helping with some work?
What are you saying to an ancient dragon?
Ancient Dragons are demi-gods.
Half gods, you know.
Show a little more respect……
There’s an Ancient Dragon who cultivates radish?
What?
Huh?
Farm work?
An Ancient Dragon?
W-what happened to the Ancient Dragons while I was asleep?
