Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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To use proper magic, I needed to significantly amplify my own presence. After all, wasn’t this place a den teeming with dragons? The massive presence emanating from the countless dragons made it one of the greatest obstacles to my ability to use magic.

If it were the Celestial Realm, I could have unleashed a magnificent breath from my mouth. I shook my head as I observed the pure white frost trickling out.

Kashpa, who had been staring at me blankly, slowly nodded her head. Judging from her reaction, I could tell she was quite flustered, yet her voice remained impossibly calm.

“You don’t need to worry too much. Time will take care of the rest.”

“Time will take care of it…?”

“The Mana of the Cradle will create your body and enhance your presence. If you spend some time here, you too could become magnificent.”

My small brain began to combine the limited information I had. The old man I had met with Kashpa had said that certain numbers do not change.

Kashpa stated that the Mana of the Cradle would create my body and enhance my presence. As the information from the two of them combined, a singular conclusion was drawn.

The birth of a dragon.

Dragons can also be born through means other than natural reproduction. Realizing this, the images of the numerous monsters I had encountered thus far flashed before my eyes.

From the gigantic monsters I had encountered in the Lower Realm among the clouds, to the monsters on Monster Island.

Even the lizard I had met in the Forest of Kalbain was such. The Crystal Stone Wyvern, which had its heart devoured by the Nightmare, bore a resemblance to dragons as well.

Why is it that these powerful monsters shared similar appearances to dragons? What made them evolve scales and wings as a means of adaptation?

It was the moment the secrets of the world were revealed.

I absorbed the dragon’s mana and even consumed fragments of its soul. It was only natural for the body of this little girl to transcend humanity and draw closer to dragons.

If time passes, will I too soar through the sky in the form of a colossal dragon?

I imagined this vaguely, but I couldn’t form a proper picture.

After that, Kashpa began to lead me around, teaching me various things. Having lived for a long time, Kashpa possessed histories and knowledge unknown to me.

I was not ignorant of the joys that come with learning. However, I could not find any delight in this situation. Many people were still waiting for me.

“Seris. Would you like to try this?”

“Um, yeah…”

Kashpa didn’t like to repeat herself. The feeble maternal instinct she held was merely an occurrence driven by curiosity. As she contained her own mana, she kept me close, watching over me while doing what she wanted.

The nature of dragons differed when facing each other or turning away. The savage instincts within Kashpa always kept me tense as if a knife was aimed at my throat, and her temperament was volatile, forcing me to sweat profusely.

Day one, day two, day three, day four. Time passes quickly. My anxiety peaked, forcing me into a precarious decision.

Should I flee?

Isn’t that what I’m good at? Leaving a note behind and disappearing without a trace.

However, this time, my opponent was none other than a dragon. I couldn’t predict what calamity might occur if I were to incur Kashpa’s wrath. She might very well capture me and confine me in ice.

Kashpa, who had brought winter for years because she wasn’t fond of the Empire. Although it was a phenomenon created by fragments of her soul rather than her true self, her essence likely wasn’t that different.

“Ugh…”

I sat alone in a large ice chair, spending time with the Nightmare. How long had it been? On a usual day, Kashpa should have shown up long ago, but her presence was nowhere to be seen.

At that moment, a black gleam sparkled between the distant clouds.

The being reflecting the flow of blue mana and the light emanating from the Cradle was Kaiman. The one who frequently visited Kashpa’s domain to see me.

Normally, I would have pushed him away with a grim expression, but right now, I couldn’t be more pleased.

“Kaiman!”

Kaiman didn’t approach recklessly. He circled the area, twisting his gigantic tail and massive wings. He was definitely checking if Kashpa was around.

As he flew cautiously, Kaiman showed no reaction at all and began to lower his altitude. His massive wings stirred up an enormous storm, conjuring a blinding white blizzard.

Boom-!

The colossal body landed, causing an earthquake. The white frozen statues trembled violently as if they would collapse, but the ice formed from Kashpa’s mana remained intact.

This ice was probably harder than most metal.

[Seris.]

As Kaiman settled on the ground, he still seemed uneasy, twisting his head here and there. Despite fearing Kashpa so much, he had come here for me.

“What brings you here today?”

[I happened to be passing through nearby… It seems Kashpa isn’t around.]

Kaiman answered while looking around, and I approached him to continue speaking.

“Hey, Kaiman, do you know what happens to dragon eggs that fail to hatch?”

I didn’t know when Kashpa would step out again. I instinctively understood that now was the time to quietly gather what I needed and slip away.

[Failed hatching eggs…? Why do you ask…?]

“Because I need one. Is it hard to obtain?”

[That’s a rather sensitive request. I have some failed eggs, but… ]

“Really?”

[Listen to everything I have to say first. This is something I can’t make decisions about hastily. It might be better to visit Lord…]

“Lord? You mean the old man with white hair?”

[It seems you’ve met him… He’s a great being who decides everything for our entire race.]

I recalled the old man I met with Kashpa. I had suspected he was an extraordinary being, but seeing Kaiman’s reaction made it clear that he managed the affairs of the entire dragon race.

That was probably why Kashpa had taken me there.

“What if he doesn’t allow it?”

[Of course, I can’t just give it away. His will is our race’s will.]

“What about just a simple look? Do I still need to seek the Lord’s permission for that?”

[That’s not necessary. If it’s just a look… ]

Good. I broke into a wide smile and climbed onto Kaiman’s back.

“Alright! Then let’s go see it together!”

[T-together… huh. That’s a good idea.]

To be precise, it wouldn’t just be the two of us. My Nightmare was hiding in my bag. Kaiman flared his massive nostrils, exhaling a rough breath.

[Ugh!]

It was obvious what he was thinking. I desperately tried to keep my lips curled upward as I spoke.

“Let’s leave before Kashpa arrives. If she comes, we won’t be able to play, Kaiman.”

At my words, Kaiman immediately began flapping his wings. The colossal beast, taking flight with a storm, started soaring towards the heart of the Dragon’s Cradle.

Dragons fly incredibly fast. No mount I had ever experienced could match the speed of a dragon in flight.

Even such a dragon took quite some time to cross the Dragon’s Cradle.

As I rode Kaiman, we were flying for a while when I caught sight of two massive dragons below, entwining each other’s tails.

It was a sight I had never seen before. Given the stillness of the surrounding mana, it didn’t seem like they were fighting.

“Kaiman.”

[… What is it?]

“What are they doing down there?”

Kaiman tilted his head slightly to look below. At that moment, his gigantic tail swished side to side.

[They are showcasing their friendship with each other.]

“Is that so?”

[Yes… if you’re okay with it… ]

Kaiman asked subtly while sneaking glances at me. I shook my head, waving the plump tail that had come down under my backside.

“Kaiman, your tail is too big.”

And Kaiman and I weren’t close enough to show each other our friendship. I looked away from the clueless gaze dripping with longing.

“When can we see the eggs that failed to hatch?”

[… We’ll be there soon.]

After saying that, Kaiman soon landed in front of a colossal lake.

[This is it.]

I jumped off Kaiman’s back to approach the lakeside.

“What’s this…”

I trailed off as I looked at the lakebed. The water was so clear that I could see its contents in one glance.

Intact eggs, fragments of broken shells, white dragon bones, and what seemed to be dragon scales lay deep within the lake.

[This is known as the Dragon’s Tomb.]

The blue mana flowing from the lake began to envelop my body. At that moment, I realized that the lake, called the Dragon’s Tomb, circulated life and death alongside the Dragon’s Cradle.

If human wizards discovered this lake, they would do whatever it took to pull the dragon carcasses that sank here to the surface to fabricate artifacts.

“Kaiman.”

[What is it?]

“Could you bring up just one egg from down there?”

[No.]

Kaiman was firm. His massive tail thumped against the lakebed nearby. I mirrored him, thumping my plump tail against the floor as well.

I hadn’t realized it before, but now I understood. A dragon’s tail was a window to its emotions. If something displeased them, they would express it by thumping the ground with their tail.

Like this.

Thud-thud—

Bang—! Bang—!