Chapter 82

"Alright, it's about time to go outside."

After completing the contract and checking the new abilities, I thought it was time to retrieve the Dragon Tree and head back to Persolon.

"Ah..."

Suddenly, Jeanne let out a voice as if she had noticed something.

"What's wrong, Jeanne?"

"Um... I'm sorry if I'm wrong, Patricia, but can't you get out of here? Because of your size, you know..."

Jeanne said this and glanced at the small Chris.

"Ah..."

I snapped my fingers.

That's right.

The reason the small Chris appeared was because of this.

The entrance was too narrow for a medium-sized Chris to enter, so I sent out the small Chris as a clone.

And Patricia, who is even larger than the medium-sized Phoenix type, by one or two sizes, the Yormungand type.

It was certain that she couldn't get out like this.

"Hehehehe, that's a problem, isn't it?"

"Right."

I nodded slightly.

Seeing the exchange between me and the small Chris, Jeanne said:

"Maybe you were given a solution?"

"I wasn't given a solution, but I was told it's a problem in a casual way."

"Oh, so there is a solution?"

"That's what it seems."

I smiled at Jeanne.

Jeanne, who usually (including the small one) couldn't understand Chris's words and had to infer what Chris was saying from my words and reactions, seemed to quickly grasp what Chris was hinting at.

At this moment, the small Chris saying "That's a problem" in a casual way, as if it were someone else's problem, actually meant it wasn't a problem at all.

"What should we do?"

"Hehehehe, dragon equipment can be unequipped."

"I see? ...I see."

After a moment of thought, I understood.

I turned to Patricia, who seemed to be struggling to follow the conversation.

"Patricia, can you unequip that—dragon equipment?"

"Ah, yes, I understand."

Patricia nodded, closed her eyes, and made a gesture as if she was concentrating on something. Her body faintly glowed and then faded away. A wooden dragon object fell to the ground where Patricia had been.

I picked it up and called to Jeanne and the small Chris.

"Let's go out."

"Yes!"

"Understood, indeed."

"Patricia, come with us."

"Understood."

I led the three of them back the way we came and went outside.

At the last moment, having gotten used to the darkness of the cave, the sudden brightness outside made me turn away and close my eyes tightly.

"Hehehehe, how was it, my dear friend? Did you have a good harvest?"

Outside, Chris was waiting. She was lying on her side in a human-like pose, as usual.

"Yes, thanks to you."

"Hehehehe, that's great."

"Hehehehe, I'll take my leave now."

The small Chris said this, went up to Chris, and dissolved into light, being absorbed into Chris's body.

Although it was a short time, the small Chris was a fun guy, and I thought I'd like to explore another cave with him sometime.

Thinking this, I held up the wooden dragon.

"Patricia, come out."

As soon as I called, the wooden dragon emitted light. I let go, and it floated in the air.

Just like in the cave, the Yormungand type dragon appeared.

"I kept you waiting."

"Good, you're safe."

"Hehehehe, I see, so that's how it turned out."

"Is that how it turned out? Did you have other predictions?"

I tilted my head and looked at Chris.

"Yes, based on my dear friend's potential, I had a few predictions."

"Scary, some of your predictions sound pretty wild."

"Hehehehe, not at all. My imagination is far inferior to humans in terms of productivity."

"Oh, so that's a weakness."

"Yes, my lack of productivity is a weakness."

Chris puffed out her chest and declared proudly.

Indeed, she had said similar things before.

Because she is immortal, creating something new is difficult for her.

Remembering this, I nodded.

"By the way, what other predictions did you have?"

"Yes, for example, my dear friend absorbing the Dragon Tree and becoming a fully armed human."

"Really?"

"Mastering all weapons that have ever existed in history and becoming the strongest in the world."

"Wow."

"Not only that, but having the power to transform parts of your body into dragon equipment and lending that power to subordinate dragons to make them stronger. The keyword is 'fusion,' which complements your 'transformation.'"

"No, no, you have quite an imagination, and you're actually being productive."

Moreover, it's an idea I wouldn't have come up with.

"...Huh?"

"What's wrong, my dear friend?"

"Can I... absorb the Dragon Tree?"

"Yes, it's possible."

"Can I take a part of my body and make it into dragon equipment?"

"Yes, it's possible."

"I see. Well, that's good, but the original purpose was to produce dragon equipment and sell it."

I smiled wryly.

It's good to be able to make dragon equipment for the dragons of Dragon First, but that's not the original goal.

"Hmm? I don't know much about this."

"Huh?"

"Do humans sometimes sell parts of their bodies?"

"What are you talking about—"

"Look, there's a beautiful story about a woman selling her hair to help her husband."

"—!"

I was taken aback.

Not selling the body, but selling a part of the body.

A part of the body—hair.

Maybe... it could work.