By the way, a long time ago, when I was still part of a group, a fellow dragon said,
"Regardless of the type of dragon, if you live for a thousand years, you can become a black dragon."
I thought it was just a fairy tale, but now I realize it was true...
I became a black dragon, inheriting the name, memories, and power from my former self, who was a blue dragon. I was still in a daze.
The memories were hazy, making me feel as if I were in a dream.
However, even in this daze, I could feel an incredible power coursing through my body.
Heh, amazing. The energy of a black dragon is so vast.
A black dragon is a disaster-level monster, an ancient species that inherits the power of old. It is a dragon that stands out among its kind, with a difference so overwhelming that it could be considered a different species altogether.
I have become such a dragon...
After that, a year passed.
I became an adult dragon.
The strength I felt as a juvenile was nothing compared to the strength of an adult.
With just a flick of my tail, I could scatter most monsters.
Overwhelming and absolute power. Because of this, I didn't need anyone else.
I could manage on my own and didn't need anyone else. I didn't need anyone but myself.
So, I made my lair in the deepest cave of the sacred peak, Black Peak, and spent most of my time there.
In the cave, I didn't feel the rain, and no reckless beings dared to approach the black dragon's lair.
For a thousand years, I didn't speak to anyone or interact with anyone.
I lived comfortably in the kingdom I created, a solitary ruler.
Then, the time of death came again... I was reborn as a small, weak black dragon.
Raising my lowered gaze, I saw the massive corpse of a black dragon lying there.
It was like a giant tree covered in moss.
A new, unchanging thousand years began...
At the beginning of life, memories and power had not yet settled. I would spend some time in a daze.
I curled up deep in the cave and wandered through the stillness of dreams.
After several weeks, I was awakened by sudden hostility.
--- Oh, what is this? I'm surrounded.
In the dark cave, several pairs of yellow eyes glowed brightly. One pair was red.
This is bad...
I slowly got up.
To prepare for unexpected situations, this cave has multiple exits. However, all the holes leading to those exits were blocked.
I really don't get along with Fenrir...
A sigh escaped from the depths of my heart.
At some point, the distribution of monsters on this continent began to center around three major monsters.
One of those three is me, the black dragon. Another is the black Fenrir, a higher form of Fenrir.
The group of Fenrir surrounding me now. The one with red eyes among them is undoubtedly a black Fenrir. It's the only one with a completely different level of energy.
...Trouble.
They must have targeted the period when I become weak once every thousand years...
I acted before the Fenrir could pounce.
"ROOOOOOOOO!"
I roared, and taking advantage of the moment when the Fenrir flinched, I broke through the encirclement. I headed 90 degrees west of the black Fenrir. Approaching the black Fenrir would be the worst move, and there would likely be traps on the diagonal as well.
To be precise, traps would be set in all directions, but I would try to break through a place that seemed slightly less guarded.
On my shoulders, legs, and wings, Fenrir after Fenrir clung to me, but I had no time to shake them off.
If I stopped for even a moment, I would be knocked down and wouldn't be released until I was dead.
I ran, dragging several Fenrir through the dark cave.
Along the way, several Fenrir bit into parts of my body with all their might, and the recoil made them roll and fall away.
Finally, when I reached the cave's exit, my body was covered in blood.
Still, I flapped my wings with the last of my strength.
Southwest.
I don't know why I thought of this direction.
But when I considered where I should go, a ray of light pierced the darkness, and I clearly saw the direction I should take.
I continued to flap my wings with the remaining strength, heading far, as far as possible, to the southwest, where the Fenrir couldn't find me.
One of my wings was severely torn, making it difficult to fly straight.
My legs, which had been dragging Fenrir, had lost all feeling, and my tail was severed at the base.
I had lost too much blood, and my consciousness was becoming hazy.
I nearly lost consciousness several times, and my flight altitude dropped, only to be brought back by the pain of hitting tree branches.
Finally, I fell straight into the forest, exhausted.
"...Ah, I was so close to reaching it."
In a daze, I thought something in a dreamlike state.
As I fell, I could feel my body shrinking. I was reverting to a juvenile form.
I couldn't even maintain my own body anymore.
With a pain as if my body was being torn apart, I was thrown onto the ground.
Warm rain fell on my body.
Look, it's raining again tonight. Bad things always happen on rainy days, even at the end...
The instinct of a monster to survive tried its best.
By reverting to a juvenile form, I reduced my activity to a minimum and focused on recovery, but the life energy flowing out was greater.
This is impossible...
I regretted in my fading consciousness.
I was injured too much.
...How frustrating. For a black dragon like me to be killed by an enemy is the most humiliating and shameful way to die as a monster.
I became a black dragon, but it was the same as when I was a blue dragon.
In the end, I would die alone...
There, I lost consciousness. I didn't have the strength to maintain it.
When I opened my eyes again, a human was looking down at me.
A girl with deep red hair and golden eyes.
As I gazed at her dazedly, the girl said, "It's okay," and gave me something to drink.
...What did she make me drink?
I thought with a muddled mind. The liquid circulated through my body.
Suddenly, intense pain swept through my entire body.
--- It's poison. I was made to drink poison!
In response to the clear attack, I used the last of my strength to return to my original size.
A black dragon like me can't be killed by a cowardly method like poison!
I roared and bit into the girl's shoulder. Then, her side.
The girl didn't resist and let me bite her all over.
How easy. Did she come to kill me in a desperate attempt...?
The moment I felt this question, the girl suddenly started laughing.
As if it was too funny.
Then, in the next moment, the girl lightly moved her hand, and light overflowed--- my body was restored to a state without a single injury.
"...What?"
My torn wing was restored, my tail regenerated, and all the injuries on my body disappeared.
In front of me, not understanding what had happened, the girl began to explain using her own body.
In other words... slowly, she healed her own injuries.
Her shoulder and side regenerated, and the injuries on her body disappeared.
...Ah, she is a saint. She saved me.
I was amazed.
I was on the verge of death, about to lose everything.
The future, emotions, and two thousand years of knowledge and skills.
It's truly amazing. This girl can overturn "death," which comes to everyone and cannot be avoided once it arrives...
It was a shock that made my body tremble.
I truly wanted that power.
I want to be subservient to her.
I want to be by her side.
I want to benefit from her power.
--- If I do, I will be freed from "absolute death."
I clearly realized why I aimed for the southwest when I was attacked by the Fenrir and faced death.
On the verge of death, I searched with all my being for a way to survive.
And the only way to save myself was through her.
In the end, I am a black dragon. I only want to be subservient to someone stronger than me.
Yet, I instantly wanted to be subservient to her from the bottom of my heart... The power of this girl, the saint, is so overwhelming.
Without noticing my thoughts at all, the girl easily allowed the subservience contract.
She is such a careless girl, with such great power. By allowing subservience, she and I would be connected.
Isn't it too risky to do this without properly confirming who I am?
That night, monsters kept appearing one after another.
Monsters that were drawn by the smell of Fia's blood, wandering alone. They were no match for me.
But after more than thirty, I started to feel a bit exasperated.
...Fia, aren't you a bit too popular with monsters?
The last one I defeated was an A-rank monster.
It should only exist in the abyss, yet how far did Fia's scent reach...
Yet, the saint with unmatched power, who no one else could possess, asked worriedly,
"Can you keep it a secret that I'm a saint?"
If Fia announced that she is a saint, the world would kneel to her power. Why does she want to keep it a secret...?
I was puzzled, but Fia started to tremble.
"...I was killed in my past life because I was a saint. It was a pretty brutal death. ...If I announce that I'm a saint, I'm afraid I'll be killed again."
Through our connection, I could see the scenes she was thinking of.
They were so gruesome, I couldn't imagine a young girl enduring them.
...This is terrible.
I answered sincerely.
"Of course, I'll keep it a secret that Fia is a saint. My role is to help Fia do what she wants. But remember, I will protect Fia with all my might."
Hearing this, Fia blushed and looked away.
I have always lived alone and am not particularly good at dealing with people.
Even I am worried.
...What is this saint? She has no sense of the world. If she is let loose, she will only be taken advantage of, won't she?
After that, I watched Fia from a distance or acted alongside her, but her words and actions always exceeded my worst expectations.
I was amazed that she hadn't been recognized as a saint.
This is because Fia's abilities are so superior.
Her abilities are so incredible that they exceed everyone's expectations, so no one can figure it out.
No one can even imagine such an option exists.
The life of a monster has almost no connection to that of a human, but sometimes rumors reach me.
--- As far as I know, the title "Great Saint" has been used only once in the past two thousand years.
A title used for only one person in two thousand years.
...Fia should understand the meaning of this.
Just the other day, she turned all the water in a pond into healing potions, but to her, it felt like playing in a puddle.
In a playful manner, she restored ancient, high-quality healing potions that no longer exist and created a system for their semi-permanent use.
That red-haired, golden-eyed girl is, without a doubt, the most valuable person in the world.
The problem is that no one, not even Fia herself, realizes this.
"Zabiria's special transformation gear---yes!!"
The saint of supreme value uses her time for me.
"Zabiria, you are so cute!"
She smiles and pats my head.
Because Fia allows it, I always sleep next to her.
Fia is warm, so I sleep well when I'm close to her.
Sometimes, I have dreams of the past, of the two thousand years I spent alone.
"Fufu, Zabiria. You had a dream about the past... but when is the past for a 0-year-old?"
Fia laughs, looking at me and giggling.
...I suddenly understood.
Ah, I was protecting the wrong thing.
The blue dragon companions were not important to me.
So, when I was betrayed, I wasn't hurt much, and I could easily leave the blue dragons behind.
Meeting Fia made me realize this. This feeling is completely different.
Life can be easily risked.
No matter what, I can't abandon Fia.
Because Fia accepts me completely.
She gets angry for me, fights for me, and laughs with me.
With Fia, I am always happy, warm, and at ease.
So, I am reminded of how different my past was... the long time I spent alone.
I am reminded of how valueless that time was.
And paradoxically, I am reminded of the importance of the time I spend with Fia. It is irreplaceable.
So, --- when two blue dragons dived at Fia, I was overwhelmed by a boiling rage.
◇◇◇
I immediately stood in front of Fia and transformed into a black dragon.
With an explosion, dust and earth flew up.
I roared at the approaching blue dragons.
The blue dragons stopped their descent and rose into the air.
However, they didn't leave the area, circling in the sky.
Even though they should see the clear difference in power, they can't bring themselves to leave.
--- Fia, it's you again.
I sigh, thinking about Fia, who attracts monsters so easily.
Looking back, Fia was indeed casting healing magic on her familiars all morning.
Fia is strong against pain and doesn't notice, but she must be injured somewhere.
And from there, the sweet scent of a saint's blood is spreading.
Otherwise, the abnormal appearance rate of monsters can't be explained.
Everyone thinks the monsters' habitat has gone mad because a black dragon appeared, but that alone can't explain why dangerous monsters are appearing one after another near the entrance of the forest.
The cause is undoubtedly the scent of the saint's blood that Fia is spreading.
As evidence, the blue dragons targeted Fia specifically.
Even though they know the difference in power, they can't bring themselves to leave.
Yet, Fia reached out and touched me, patting my body.
"Thank you for protecting me. And thank you for intimidating them. From now on, please leave it to me and the knights."
She is trying to accommodate my selfish request not to fight the blue dragons and is thinking of a way to handle it.
I couldn't help but laugh.
What a funny, foolish, and adorable saint.
...Fia's essence is always that of a saint.
Even though she says she wants to hide being a saint, when the knights' lives are at stake, she uses her power without hesitation.
She focuses on protecting the knights and forgets about her own safety.
The most valuable Fia in the world easily risks her life for replaceable knights.
Yet, she is so fragile and weak that it's not even worth talking about.