< Side story 4. Dream Drinking Bird (3) >
#A4
“It is a magic that polymorphs animals into humans.”
“Are you really planning on using that now?”
Varen spoke in a confident voice. Balus, who was standing behind, let out a sigh of confusion. Ronan, who had been staring at her in confusion, opened his mouth.
“Hmm… polymorphing an animal into a human isn’t a particularly great invention, is it?”
“Oh, how can you say that! This is the magic every ecologist dreams of. “It took a lot of hard work to make it!”
“No, those wizards who are already nasty can turn people into frogs. “Isn’t it similar to that?”
There wasn’t much more than I expected, so I felt relaxed. Magic that transforms the opponent into an animal or object was even included in the Phileon magic curriculum.
I had high expectations, but this is what happened. Varen, who read Ronan’s expression, waved his hand.
“no. It’s completely different from that. It would be convenient to think of the polymorphs that dragons enjoy being applied to animals. It’s not just about changing the appearance, it’s about rebuilding the body based on the subject’s ego. “You can even ‘speak’.”
“oh.”
Ronan curled his lips. This was definitely interesting news. It is impossible to believe that one can hear a sound other than the sound coming from Sita’s mouth.
“It will be easier to understand once you see it for yourself. “Can I try it right now?”
“Well, I think it’ll be fun.”
Ronan nodded. Anyway, it will return to its original state when the magic is lifted, so it seemed like it was worth a try. He turned to Sita and asked a question.
“Sita. “Are you okay?”
“Bwait!”
Sita flapped her wings as if responding. Her eyes were sparkling as if she was excited too. Varen, smiling kindly, opened her scroll.
“Then it is decided. Come on, Sita. “Don’t move from there.”
The situation unfolded quickly. Standing facing Sita, Varen muttered a few unintelligible sentences. Paaaa…! A halo of light bursting from the geometric magic circle covered Sita’s body.
“Bye?!”
Sita’s eyes widened. Her light grew stronger and stronger until it became difficult to even look at it.
“Ugh.”
Ronan and Balus covered their eyes. It was a much more noisy magic than I expected. Papers scattered around the office were flying around making frivolous noises due to the wind caused by the mana vortex.
“Damn, is this okay? “Isn’t it attack magic?”
“Now just a little more!”
Ronan, unable to bear it any longer, asked nervously. Varen was just about to answer. Quaaaang! A shock wave from the center of the flash hit the three people.
“Wow!”
“Ahh!”
Varen and Balus fell on their butts. The only one who didn’t fall was Ronan. At that time, the light that had been blocking my field of vision disappeared at once. Ronan’s brows narrowed.
“ok?”
Sita was nowhere to be seen. As if in his place, a little boy was standing in front of the wide open window. The top of his head did not even reach Ronan’s waist, and he looked like he was ten years old at most.
“Wow, wow…!”
The little boy was looking at his hands and feet alternately and making exclamations. His fern-like fingers were twitching. A harmless curse came out of Ronan’s mouth.
“Oh my god, fuck. Sita?”
There was no need for further explanation about the child’s identity. Although the race changed, its characteristics remained the same.
The fluffy feathers became black and abundant hair, and the four wings formed a strange-looking robe that was draped over the body. Ronan muttered unconsciously.
“···You look like Asher.”
It was impossible to tell the gender because the facial features were clear and the skin was pure white. If he were a man, he would have been a strong opponent for Asher. Varen jumped up and shouted in delight.
“Oh, success! “I never thought it would even work for dream birds!”
“Oh my god, really…!”
Balus also opened his mouth in admiration. Then Sita took her gaze from his palm and looked at Ronan. Her ruby-red eyes sparkled beneath her long, dark eyelashes.
“Uh…hello.”
Ronan, feeling embarrassed for no reason, waved his hand. I guess I should get the point out of the way first. He opened his mouth while scratching his head.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you… Do you remember how you were born? “I would appreciate it if you could tell me a little bit.”
But no answer came back. Sita said nothing and just stared at Ronan.
It was quite burdensome that the gaze was so intense. Why is it that I usually act like that? Just as Ronan was about to say something, the office door flew open.
“W-what’s going on?! “Has there been an explosion?”
“Miss Erzsebet? The person next to me…”
Varen shrugged his eyebrows at the familiar face. The first thing that caught my eye was the beautiful flowing black-purple hair.
It was Erzsebet who happened to be in the same building. Next to her, who had become more mature, stood a girl who looked very similar to Schlieffen.
“It’s a lion… it’s a lion…”
The girl who ran into Varen hid behind Erzsebet. Her small face turned pale. It was Schlieffen’s younger sister, Sion Siniban de Grancia.
He was holding Erzsebet’s hand tightly, as if their relationship was still good. It seemed like only yesterday that Adeshan was sitting on Erzsebet’s lap and eating snacks on the day of Adeshan’s graduation, but before I knew it, he had grown taller.
“Ah, Professor Varen…! I was introducing Phileon to Miss Sion here. “I’m entering school this year.”
“Ah, I see. I think the principal said it once. “She is the daughter of the Grancia family that I have only heard about.”
“yes. I finished my apprenticeship at the Dawn Magic Tower three years early. The owner of the tower, Aun Pilar, also recognized your talent. Hehehe, isn’t that amazing?”
Erzsebet smiled as she stroked Sion’s head. It was like a parent bragging about his daughter when he got scolded. When she suddenly saw her office in disarray, she spoke.
“that’s right. What was it anyway? Why is the office like this…”
“Hehe, it wasn’t a big deal, so you don’t have to worry about it. I did a simple experiment. “I’ve caused you unnecessary worry.”
Varen smiled kindly. Erzébet stroked her shocked chest. Suddenly, the eyes of Shion, who was hiding behind her, opened wide.
“what? “It’s Ronan.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Erzsebet frowned. It was a name I hadn’t heard in a long time since the graduation ceremony. She took two steps next to her and raised her eyebrows.
“Um, really? Why here…”
The real Ronan was standing there. She couldn’t see it because she was covered by Varen. It was her first meeting in a long time and she was about to greet him with her bright colors.
“huh? “What about that kid?”
Erzsebet’s eyes narrowed. Ronan was facing a child. Her raised eyebrows and jet black hair were noticeable. She was pretty, and the child somehow resembled Ronan in his clothes.
Are you a relative? Erzsebet was thinking about various things. Sita, who was quietly staring at Ronan, smiled brightly.
“dad!”
“···What?”
Ronan’s face crumpled. Ergé Bet covered her mouth with both hands. Sita rushed over and fell into Ronan’s arms.
“Ehehe, Dad.”
“Yumma. “Why am I your dad?”
Ronan shed his confusion. There was no lightning like this. She’s going to be a dad in a little while, but not like this. Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind.
“This…this beast….”
“Eh? Erzsebet?”
Ronan looked back. Ergé Bett was glaring at her with her ax eyes open. She spoke in a trembling voice, clearly revealing her hostility.
“I believed… I believed that he was the man chosen by Adeshan… but it wasn’t enough, even a child…!”
“Well, I think I’m completely misunderstanding something, but that’s definitely not the case, is it?”
“Don’t act like a fool! There’s no way they would be that similar unless they were children. Zion, don’t even look at a scoundrel like that!”
“Wow! “Oh, it hurts!”
Erzsebet covered Zion’s eyes and pulled him. Shion, who became blind, trembled with his arms and legs. Ronan, who had heard that she looked like him, looked down at her.
‘···They look alike.’
Ronan, who was examining his face, laughed as if he was dumbfounded. At this level, it was not unreasonable to misunderstand that she was a child.
His overall facial features, including the raised eyebrows, resembled his own. Is it because he was influenced by me when he was still an egg?
“dad. touch my head huh?”
Sita said in a charming voice. He was pressing his cheek against his chest like he always did. I wonder if this is what it would feel like to have a son… or a daughter. Ronan, who had been dumbfounded, stroked Sita’s head and opened her mouth.
“Hey, common sense tells me that I would have a child this big? Just calm down first…”
“Hehehe, my poor sister!”
However, there was no time left for Erzsebet, who was irreparably shocked, to hear an explanation. With tears in her eyes, she ran out of her office sobbing.
“Oh, hello!”
Even while being captured, Zion did not forget to say hello. Ronan, who had been silent, spoke as he placed his hand on Balus’ shoulder.
“···Valus. request.”
“Boo, are you asking me a favor?”
“I don’t have the confidence to persuade that woman without using my strength right now. “You’re still a gentleman, so go ahead and explain for me.”
“that···!”
“She may burn down entire mountains if she puts her mind to it, but she is fundamentally kind, so don’t be too scared. “Remuneration is definitely paid.”
Every time I heard the sound of going down the stairs, my head started pounding. Balus’ face turned pale. He looked back and forth between Ronan and the door before running out of the room.
“Eh, Erzebet. “It’s all a misunderstanding!”
“It’s noisy!”
The footsteps became increasingly distant. The thing I regret the most right now is that I announced yesterday that I would quit smoking. Even if it was just a day late, it would be great. Varen, who had been dumbfounded for a long time, opened her mouth.
“S-sorry. “I was so embarrassed… I should have told Miss Erzsebet that it was a misunderstanding.”
“No, Varen. That’s quite possible.”
First I had to calm down. He was in the process of taking deep breaths and trying to control his emotions. Suddenly, Sita, who was rubbing her cheek against him, raised her head.
“dad. “Let’s play tag with me.”
“hide and seek?”
“huh. I really wanted to do this when I became human. “I’m so big that I can’t hide… can’t I?”
The round eyes were shining brightly. What felt cute even when I was angry was truly destructive. Ronan, who was looking down at him, opened her mouth.
“Sita. Now is the time for that…”
“If you catch me instead, I’ll tell you what Dad and Varen were curious about. Are you curious about how we are born?”
“what?”
Ronan’s eyes widened. I never thought those words would come out of Sita’s own mouth.
“really?”
“huh. I remember everything without exception. “Are you going to play with me?”
Ronan and Varen exchanged glances at the same time. Originally, it would have been impossible to catch Theita, who could fly faster than sound, but now that he had turned into a human, there was a chance of victory.
On the contrary, since it would be my first time running on two legs, there was a possibility that things would turn out very easily. How far would you be able to run if you ran with those thin legs? Ronan, who was trying hard to suppress laughter, nodded.
“okay. “I’ll play with you.”
“really? really? wow!”
“That’s right. “I just need to count one minute and chase after it, right?”
“huh!”
Sita smiled brightly. For a moment, her inexplicable ominousness passed by Ronan’s back. He was just about to say something. Sita, running with her back to Ronan, leaped out of her window.
“Hey, there’s a window…!”
“Huh! Sita!”
There was no gap to close. It was a moment when Varen stood on end and was shocked. Hiss! Sita, who had disappeared from sight for a moment, reappeared.
“One minute! “You can’t cheat!”
He looked at Ronan and shouted. Before she knew it, four wings had sprouted and were fluttering behind Sita’s back. Its shape was so sharp that it seemed more specialized for flight than when it was an animal.
Sita smiled and turned her back. Paaaaang-! As soon as his wings moved, his body shot out.
Sita instantly turned into a black dot and disappeared into the blue sky. Ronan, who had just counted the fifteen seconds, muttered quietly.
“Fuck.”
