TSMMT Ch 145

Strange Creature

Soaring into the sky, Tarascus circled several times above, unleashing a resonant roar. He moved leisurely, as if claiming the heavens as his domain.

Dianna gazed at his form. A serpentine creature stretching long, endowed with wings of pure, luminous white. Sparkling as though encrusted with gems, his body presented an enchanting spectacle.

The dragon looked down from above, clear silver-blue eyes beholding the insignificant mortals below.

[Taras] "Come fetch me later."

[Dianna] "Pardon?"

[Taras] "I can hardly return in the form of a dragon, can I?"

With that, he soared toward the distant forest.

Everyone stared blankly at the path the dragon had traversed, completely oblivious that the young child who had trailed behind them had vanished.

[Priest] "I-It is a dragon!"

[Priest] "Good heavens, it truly is a dragon!"

[Priest] "This is indeed a divine blessing!"

They uttered the words with bloodshot eyes. The Pope stood frozen as well, observing Dianna with a rigid expression.

Seeing his bewildered state, she composed her features. Though she had never intended to orchestrate this situation, she spoke with a confident smile.

[Dianna] "It appears the deity has answered me once more."

[Pope] "..."

[Dianna] "To refrain from petty schemes, and to beware of greed, arrogance, and distrust toward divine authority."

The Pope turned deathly pale at her words. The priests all shifted their gazes toward him.

The dragon's shed skin rested before them, and a dragon had soared into the sky before vanishing.

A dragon, unquestionably a dragon. No one could deny that magnificent creature was a dragon. The dragon's mere presence here sufficed to designate the ground a holy sanctuary.

Deeply devout individuals fell to their knees, offering solemn prayers to the deity.

[Dianna] "Should we not follow divine will?"

The Pope surveyed his surroundings. Though comprising a small number of priests and paladins, they were believers nonetheless.

Breaching his promise under these circumstances amounted to absurd obstinacy. Losing the respect of his remaining faction would prove far more costly. The dragon's emergence was beyond human control.

In a defeated voice, he surrendered.

[Pope] "Indeed... It is divine will."

---

Upon returning, the Pope immediately ordered grain to be prepared. Ignorant of the precise cause, the Lodbrog nobles rejoiced over Dianna's achievement.

Lady Eirick in particular grasped Dianna's hands, shaking them eagerly.

[L. Eirick] "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

[Dianna] "..."

[L. Eirick] "Our domain is covered in rocky mountains, making farming nearly impossible. Had this continued, a catastrophic famine would have struck...!"

Dianna offered a gentle smile. Tears welled in Lady Eirick's eyes, brimming with gratitude.

Dianna felt a sense of kinship toward her. Had she been in her position, she too would have suffered immensely over this burden. She couldn't dislike responsible people.

[Dianna] "I am relieved that matters concluded as desired."

She smiled brightly, a weight lifting from her shoulders. Luck had played its part, yet the outcome proved fortunate regardless.

Shortly after, they enjoyed dinner in a harmonious atmosphere, and Adelheit brought Tarascus to her quarters.

[Dianna] "Shall we converse?"

Offering Adelheit a silent nod of gratitude, Dianna waited until he departed before speaking softly.

[Dianna] "What were you doing after flying away?"

[Taras] "I was waiting until Adel arrived."

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "Why? Art thou preparing to offer gratitude?"

The young child's eyes seemed faintly tinged with anticipation. Yet Dianna lowered her gaze.

[Dianna] "Please... don't do this in the future."

She anticipated the dragon would fly into a rage, considering her words explicitly rejected his aid, brushing aside his goodwill.

[Taras] "Why?"

Yet Tarascus wore an expression of genuine bewilderment, unable to fathom why she uttered such words. She spoke softly.

[Dianna] "It was a matter I could resolve on my own."

[Taras] "Nay. Thou couldst not resolve it. Thou wert nearly dragged along according to that human's demands."

[Dianna] "Then being dragged along would have sufficed."

[Taras] "Art thou not pleased?"

A strange disappointment settled on his face, evoking the sight of a child who had failed to bring joy to a parent.

Releasing a quiet breath, she forced a faint smile.

[Dianna] "Naturally, I am glad. Of course I am. Receiving such colossal aid without lifting a finger, how could I not be glad?"

[Taras] "Then why?"

[Dianna] "When you first aided me during my prayer, I felt deeply grateful. Yet I am not pleased..."

[Taras] "..."

[Dianna] "It was a matter I ought to take responsibility for myself, yet I received salvation from a transcendent being like you."

[Dian Taras na] "..."

[Dianna] "Tarascus, I don't know how long you will remain, nor how long your aid will continue."

[Taras] "Dost thou dislike relying upon uncertain assistance?"

Dianna shook her head. While that formed a major reason, it was not the fundamental cause. Fear and shame toward herself. Those were her true emotions.

[Dianna] "I fear that in time, I will come to take your help for granted and crave it."

[Taras] "..."

[Dianna] "Ultimately, I fear that I will exploit you."

When receiving the dragon's aid, Dianna felt overwhelming, absolute power. Though not her own strength, the dragon held a sliver of goodwill toward her, allowing her to resolve the crisis effortlessly.

What if I could gain even more using this dragon as leverage?

How can I draw him to my side?

How can I spark greater curiosity within him?

How can I exploit him?

A sudden flash of dark temptation had terrified her. The moment she caught herself indulging such thoughts, Dianna recognized the necessity of severing this dependence.

[Taras] "Thou art strange."

He spoke after a prolonged silence, his voice subdued. His eyes rolled slightly, assuming a distant expression as if recalling the past.

[Taras] "Another dragon I once knew stated as much."

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "That bestowal of favors upon creatures merely increased their demands, prompting the dragon to reclaim everything."

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "That humans possess far greater greed than dragons."

Stepping closer to her, Tarascus gazed into her eyes, as if seeking to pierce through truth and falsehood.

[Taras] "Yet if such is thy way, I understand."

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "I shall not aid thee."

She nodded with a considerably relieved expression.

[Dianna] "Thank you."

She offered a faint smile, causing the dragon to stare blankly at her face.

I merely smiled once, so why does he look at me with such fascination?

[Taras] "For what art thou thankful?"

[Dianna] "For listening to my words and understanding without flying into a rage."

[Taras] "Thou art not thankful for my devotion, yet grateful merely for listening to thy words?"

[Dianna] "I am grateful for that as well."

Reaching out her hand, she touched his forehead gently.

[Dianna] "I am grateful for your intention to help. That much is sincere."

Tarascus silently observed her hand resting on his forehead. Lowering his head slightly, a blush touched his chubby cheeks.

[Dianna] "By the way, Tarascus, I have a question."

[Taras] "What is it?"

[Dianna] "Are you acquainted with the deity? Are you a messenger of the gods?"

At her inquiry, his face contorted peculiarly. Speechless, his eyes darted back and forth before he snorted softly.

[Taras] "Who can say?"

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "It is both true and false."

[Dianna] "Then how did a response descend when I prayed? Did you request it?"

[Taras] "Something like that. Due to divine whim, I suppose."

Staring intently at her face, a playful smirk spread across his lips. Spotting the mischievous expression of a young boy, she felt startled.

[Taras] "Then I shall ask as well. When didst thou begin commanding spirits?"

[Dianna] "Since I was twelve..."

[Taras] "Before time repeated itself? Or after?"

[Dianna] "After."

Stroking his chin, Tarascus nodded.

[Taras] "Indeed... I wondered why thou couldst handle them so well despite possessing atrocious talent as a spirit summoner."

Wait, atrocious talent? Her face hardened.

[Dianna] "Pardon? I have atrocious talent?"

[Taras] "Quite literally. Thou possesseth absolutely no talent whatsoever."

Why? What on earth for?

Observing her aggrieved expression, he continued.

[Taras] "The sole reason thou canst perceive and command spirits properly is that thou didst perish once."

Because I died?

Indeed, she had died once.

[Taras] "A living entity's soul shares similar properties with spirits. Thou must have spent a prolonged duration as a soul..."

A prolonged duration as a soul...?

[Taras] "Thus, thy soul grew attuned to spirits. That is why communication comes easily and commanding them consumes negligible mana."

[Dianna] "Does that mean I can't even dream of summoning intermediate spirits? Sasha told me I had talent."

[Taras] "Affinity stemming from shared nature differs from affinity suited for 'perceiving and employing spirits.' Precisely speaking, what thou possesseth is literal 'affinity,' whereas true spirit communicators possess 'attunement.' When thou speakest, spirits grant thy requests with minimal mana. Yet ordinary spirit communicators must expend substantial mana to employ them. That is the distinction."

[Dianna] "Ah..."

No wonder I couldn't summon intermediate spirits no matter how much I practiced. I was exerting effort in vain.

She felt utterly crestfallen.

[Taras] "Well, is it not acceptable nonetheless? Thou became capable of summoning them precisely because thy natures aligned. Though incapable of summoning higher beings, lower spirits—sharing similar energy—can be summoned with negligible effort."

[Dianna] "Ah..."

[Taras] "Infinite summoning of Sylph. That alone proves immensely useful."

Her usually serene face turned thoroughly gloomy. Observing her, Tarascus tilted his head.

[Taras] "Ordinary humans struggle to summon even one. Acquiring spirit affinity by virtue of dying once, from a certain perspective, that too is a talent and a stroke of fortune."

Fated to remain a low-tier spirit summoner forever…

The one useful talent she thought she possessed after rebirth. It felt entirely pathetic.

[Taras] "Low-tier spirit communicators are quite useful."

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "There is much one can accomplish with low-tier spirits alone."

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "While incapable of unleashing powerful attacks like intermediate or high-tier spirits, low-tier spirits offer vast utility. Art thou listening? Lacking talent, though it was, is it not a blessing? Express gratitude."

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "Why art thou making such a face? Hmm?"

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "I said being a low-tier spirit summoner is fine!"

He pattered alongside her, gauging her mood.

[Dianna] "Can you stop repeating 'low-tier, low-tier'! Honestly!"

She glared at him.

[Taras] "A moment ago, thou didst act like an ancient, venerable sage, yet now thou resemblest a human child. Good grief..."

[Dianna] "A low-tier spirit summoner for the rest of my life..."

[Taras] "Thou art truly an unfathomable creature."

He grumbled as he observed her.

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