I look away from the Manticore since it’s already run a formidable distance.
Although I’m a bit annoyed, I can’t bother myself with something I can’t reach anymore.

I turn back and see all the damage in the village left behind by that thing.
The hostage child should still be under the pile of rubble. I can only hope he hasn’t been crushed yet……

I carefully scrape the bricks with my claw.

“Gru~ooo”

“U, uu……”

When I growled, I heard a groan.
Oh good, he’s still alive.
Is he somewhere around here?
I steadily push the rubble away. I see a skin tone in the gap under the debris.
I then glance at Partner.

“Gra~a”

Partner roars, and light surrounds the pile of rubble where the child is under.
The child’s injury is getting healed. And, his painful expression is showing relief.
I carry the child with my front claw (careful now) and let him lay on the ground.

The child slowly opens his eyes.
Tears run down its cheek, and his face turn red.
It kinda looks like he’s making a face of admiration.

“T-T-Thank you for saving me…… Ryujin-sama……”

The tears flowed down all the way to my claw.
When I wiped the tears from his cheek, my claw got wet.

“O-Our beloved Ryujin-sama drove away the Manticore that disguised itself as a human!”

“Did you see that Manticore run? As expected of Ryujinsama!” [T.N: Sasuga Ryujin-sama! XD]

The villagers who were spectating it all started to gather.
The patients who were being evacuated before came running here as soon as they overheard the news.

S-Stop that.
When you’re looking at me with those eyes brimming with praise and enlightenment, I can’t help but feel embarrassed.
How much adoration do you people have for your Dragon God, anyway?
Is it really all right if I just become their Dragon God like this? Well, is it?
Uwaaa~, seriously, what now? If the real Dragon God comes back, what then?

Hibi comes close to me.
Then, she raised her staff, closed her eyes, and chanted again in a soft voice.
〖Mind Speak〗? I’m fine if you were to just say it normally though……

【“I would have never expected that the traveler was actually a monster. I humbly apologize for my negligence. If it weren’t for you, Ryujin-sama, who knows what would’ve happened……”】

However, the fact that I was unable to kill it still worries me.
That Manticore will surely go back to attacking humans again……

【“You do not have to worry about your own mistake, oh great one. That Manticore was undoubtedly scared of you. It is wary about your presence, so I’m sure it won’t come back again any time soon. And besides, the direction it ran to…… I know I shouldn’t be saying this, but perhaps it’s for the best.”】

For the best?
And, why is that……

【”…… It is better if you do not know, Ryujin-sama. In any case, we can breathe a sigh of relief for the time being.”】

…… Not telling me about it only makes me wonder, you know.
Well, I guess I’ll worry about that in another day. For now, there’s still the Lithuvar Tribe to think about.
Besides, it doesn’t look like Hibi wants to talk about that now.

Still though, about that destroyed building…… I feel like even I can build it.
And yes, I know that my claws aren’t really suited for craftsmanship, but I can still probably work it out.
I was even able to make something out of clay.
I think I also injured my head, should I check it out…… no, no, no, I should worry more about the villagers instead.

I still touched my forehead with my claw nonetheless.
Then, Partner shot healing magic at me without a moment to waste.
Well, thank you for that, but it’s not really that serious, you know.

Come to think of it, I left Wight and Treant all alone in the forest.
I shouldn’t be thinking about fixing their buildings for them right now. I have to get back soon.
Quite a length of time has passed since I left them there.

“Prepare gifts for Ryujin-sama!”

“R-Right away! How much food should we……”

“Everything! You have my approval, gather everything!”

All the villagers are running around all over the place.

Wait a second! I’m going home!
Sorry, but I still have something to take care of! Your feelings are more than enough!
Hibi-san, listen to me! Tell them I’m going home!

“O, ohh! R-Ryujin-sama just looked at me!”

Everyone is making a big deal of every little move I make.
They’re not calming down at all. This is getting more awkward for me.
Left, right, front, back, they’re staring at me in all directions.

“Gra~aa……”

Partner curled herself from all the pressure.
She’s usually the easygoing type full of curiosity, but this is the first time I’ve seen her like this.

…… There was one woman, however, whose eyes held a similar hostility like the Manticore.
She looks to be…… around her 30’s, I think.
Her face shows a dark expression. She looks angry. I think she may be younger than I first perceived of her.

Everyone else had eyes of excitement, so it was easy to spot her.
I unknowingly stared at her the entire time.
When I realized that, I divert my eyes elsewhere and look at the inside of a nearby building.

Everyone else is avoiding the woman and are casting suspicious glares at her.

W-What is it?
Did I do something wrong?

【”…… Please, do not let her get to you. I will tell her as well. Please let this go just this once.”】

Seems like Hibi read my mind again and spoke to me using〖Mind Speak〗.
I think she thought that I was upset since her voice in〖Mind Speak〗was rather low, I can somehow feel her anxiety.

No, nevermind that…… anyway, did I do something out of the line?

【“No, not really. She is just… well… how do I say this…… tired. Yes, she is just tired. Please think nothing more of this.”】

…… Does it have something to do with me?
I kind of want to hear more about it.

【”…… That… is something that should be better off not being told to you.”】

…… That same excuse.
You guys are leaving me out of this, I worry for the future……
From her response, I don’t want to think about it, but I can’t help but wonder that it really does have something to do with me.

Although I was just casually thinking to myself, Hibi’s expression turned pale.
Not good. Did she pick up on my thoughts again?
It wasn’t really a deep thought, so she probably did sense something from me.

You know what, just forget it…… if you don’t want to tell me, then I won’t force you.

【”…… Her name is Aino. She lost her only daughter…… by the Manticore.”】

…… Depending on how you see it, you could say that the Dragon God, who suddenly left you all without warning, then suddenly came back all of a sudden.
During that time, the Manticore started taking away children to the Dragon God’s shrine…… and, by pure chance, I just happened to stumble across it, and you all thought that your Dragon God finally returned to you.
Well, at least I now see why some people aren’t as happy when seeing me.
Meanwhile, the other villagers are welcoming me back with open arms, wait, aren’t you worried that I might leave you again like your previous Dragon God?!

I look at the sky.
Ryujin-senpai…… where the fuck are you?!
If you spent years letting them build a fucking shrine for you just so you can leave it alone like that, at least tell them before leaving!

Didn’t you also decide to help them because you were offered tributes like me?
If memory serves, maybe other dragons in this world are just humans like me, and their species might be different since they chose a different evolution line.

…… Wait, this isn’t the time for me to be deep in thought.
I should hurry up and leave this village soon.
If I don’t hurry, Wight might…… hm?
Hold on… don’t tell me… is Wight Aino’s daughter?! [T.N GASPU!!!]

N-Not possible, I mean, the Manticore ate a ton of children…… and, if that was true, then it might become problematic for me.
I look at Hibi.
Hibi can tell that I want to say something, so she closed her eyes again.

What’s the name of Aino’s daughter?

【“The name of Aino’s daughter is… Alo. She had not reached 10, yet she died so young.”】

Alo…… huh.
I think that skeleton was at the average height of someone her age.

【“Ryujin-sama?”】

I-It’s nothing. Thanks for telling me.
Well then, there’s still something left for me to do, so I’ll be on my way now.
Give my regards to everyone in the village.

【“Are you really planning to go right now? After coming all this way……”】

I shake my head and face my back towards Hibi.
The path leading to the village gate was blocked by many people, but they soon stepped back as I walked.
They all seem kinda down.
Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to come back again. And, when that time comes, that’ll be when Wight becomes a little bit more stronger.