Chapter 42: This Looks Just Like Japan During Cherry Blossom Season

The morning dawned as peacefully as ever.

The gentle snow of mana fell slowly among the white trees, covering the garden with tiny silver sparkles that seemed to float in the air.

The little black dragon got up from the bed where he had been sleeping all this time.

With a big yawn, he stretched his body like a fat, lazy cat. Noir looked around, and everything didn’t seem quite as unfamiliar as it had on the first day.

The books still didn’t understand, but he already knew some simple words; his vocal cords weren’t fully developed yet, so he had to wait a little longer.

’That’s right, in all this time since I left the cave, I haven’t looked at the status window.’

And with a single thought, the status window appeared before him.

[Devourer System]

Host: Noir Nocturnus

Race: True Dragon

Title: Beloved by the Golden Dragon, Beloved by Nature, Revered by the goblins (New).

Energy Source: Mana

Unique Skill: [Devourer]

Magic: [Dragon Language]

Racial Skills: [Dragon Breath], [Draconic Claws], [Draconic Senses], [Night Vision]

Skills: [Stone Hide], [Black Smoke Flash (New)], [Crushing Bite (New)]

Resistors: Minor Poison Resistance, Resistance to paralysis, Cold Resistance (New), Electricity Resistance (New).

Encyclopedia. (New).

Glancing over it, he saw that it contained much more than it had a few months ago; as he looked at the titles, a bitter expression crossed his face.

Memories of the green creatures came flooding back to his mind: of the old woman giving him more food, and of the question they had asked him before the disaster: "The Great Dragon Will Protect Us, Won’t He?"

’Ahh, now I feel like crap.’

The little black dragon closed the status window, his spirits at rock bottom as he thought about the goblins.

Noir stood in front of the door leading to the living room. For a few seconds, he didn’t say a word.

He looked at this place, which, in one way or another, had become his home over the past two months.

’...’

’Goodbyes still seem like crap to me.’

The little dragon slowly lowered his head.

He had always thought that saying goodbye was a graceful way of admitting that something was coming to an end.

And, for some reason... that always left him with an uneasy feeling in his chest.

’But...’

He slowly wagged his tail.

’I guess some things are just inevitable.’

The golden sphere descended until it rested on one of his horns.

Noir let out a long sigh and, with one of his claws, opened the door—which let out a metallic screech as it swung open—revealing the room.

From the doorway, he could see Amanises. She was wearing the same elegant black dress she always wore. Her long hair fell gently to her waist as a soft breeze ruffled it.

In one hand, she was holding a small porcelain cup. In the other... a book.

Noir smiled with a touch of resignation.

’Of course. I couldn’t say goodbye without a book showing up.’

The woman looked up from her book, her beautiful gray eyes meeting the little dragon’s emerald-green eyes, and she smiled gently.

"So you’ve made a decision."

He glanced at the white forest stretching out behind the house for a moment, and Noir nodded slowly.

"Yes. I’ve learned a lot here, but... if I keep staying, I’ll never get to know the rest of the world."

Amanises’s gray eyes remained fixed on him. There was no surprise in them, only a faint sense of satisfaction, as if she had expected to hear exactly those words.

"You can’t learn about the whole ocean by staying on the same shore."

Noir let out a little laugh.

"I knew you were going to say something like that."

The woman let out a faint smile.

"And you knew I was right."

The little dragon didn’t answer. Because, unfortunately... she had it.

He took a deep breath as he cast one last glance at the house. That place had taught him human magic, even if only the basics.

And, without even realizing it himself... he had found people who made the journey a little less lonely.

However... Every journey must go on.

After all, he wanted to explore that world and experience everything he had never experienced in his previous life.

Noir pushed his thoughts aside; after all, this house was the place where he had spent the most time.

He swallowed hard and said:

"Thanks for everything... and... and... Damn it! I can’t find the words—thanks for everything. I hope to see you again someday and tell you all about my adventures."

Amanises stood up and walked over to the little dragon; she picked him up. It was the first time she’d ever done that, unless Noir had been unconscious. She smiled calmly.

"Don’t forget to bring me some interesting books."

Noir nodded, tears welling up in his eyes.

He thanked her again for everything, but he had to continue on his journey.

***

Amanises’s house slowly faded from view among the white trees.

Noir didn’t turn his head. Not because he didn’t want to... but because he knew that if he kept looking back, it would be even harder for him to take the next step.

The little dragon took a deep breath and kept walking.

The golden sphere floated peacefully atop one of his horns, while the white cub trotted a few steps ahead, exploring the path with his usual curiosity.

’Wait...’

Then, Noir remembered something very important that he had completely forgotten.

’Your little bastard doesn’t have a name. Do you want me to give him one?’

The little white wolf turned and tilted his head; one of his ears twitched.

’How about Shiro? It shows up in a lot of the anime I know; it’s a bit cliché, but it’ll do.’

The puppy snorted indignantly, as if to say, "Do I look like some cliché...?" Well, maybe that was just the little dragon’s imagination.

’Hey! It’s not like you need to get so upset.’

The next few minutes were absolute hell for Noir; every single name was rejected, even though they were all great.

It even rejected the name Krypto! Krypto! The name of the dog belonging to a certain superhero in a blue suit and red cape who, in the movies, was so handsome that he wouldn’t hesitate to give him a kiss.

’Cough... cough... well, what should I name this little bastard?’

The little black dragon let out a sigh and said the last name that came to mind.

’How about Uki?’

The puppy perked up both ears and wagged its tail happily; at the sound of its name, it approached Noir and covered his face in slobber.

’Stop, don’t lick my face... with the same tongue you use to lick your private parts.’

The little white wolf, now named Uki, didn’t seem to understand, so he licked his face again.

Noir let out a sigh, shook his head, and kept walking.

’We’d better keep going.’

During the first few hours, the landscape hardly changed.

The crystalline trees remained covered by that eternal snow of manna that fell with an almost hypnotic calm.

The air retained the same fresh scent that Noir had come to recognize over the past few months.

That place no longer felt unfamiliar to him. It had become part of his memories.

But, little by little... something began to change.

The manna snow began to fall less frequently.

The white tree trunks gradually took on darker and darker hues. The crystalline leaves slowly disappeared, replaced by much more lush foliage.

Noir slowed down. Everything was completely different.

A few meters ahead, the first pink petals began to fall from the treetops.

The little dragon raised his head.

Thousands of flowers covered the forest. The trees stretched as far as the eye could see, forming a vast pink ocean.

A gentle breeze swept across the path. The petals began to dance around the group like a silent rain.

Noir stood motionless.

’This looks just like Japan during cherry blossom season.’