The 5000-year-old Herbivorous Dragon

「Hah! That’s right, I was actually a really strong Evil Dragon! 」

One morning, I suddenly regained my memory.

The days when I once devoted my life to battle as a mighty Evil Dragon—I dreamed of that scene, and my sealed past was unsealed.

「So, it was like that…… I longed for peace and sealed my own power……」

「Evil Dragon-sama? What’s wrong? 」

Rēko, who was sleeping on my back, rubbed her eyes and asked.

I know why I regained my true memory. The reason why this child awakened to such power is because she became my kin all right.

Unconsciously, I have made this child my kin.

In order to push the role of subduing the Demon King on Rēko, while I keep my peace as a weak dragon.

「Fuu. I’m sure I am a terrible dragon……I wanted to keep my peaceful life, so I was trying to push the burden on Rēko. 」

「Evil Dragon-sama? 」

However, my pride as an Evil Dragon did not permit me to leave it to Rēko as it is.

That’s probably why my memory was revived.

「Rēko. I’m sorry for my behaviour until now. From today, it’s time to finally say that I, Evil Dragon Rēvendia, will be serious. 」

「Evil Dragon-sama……! Somehow, you look shining today! 」

While standing straight, I decided to subdue the Demon King, I grew my wings… and they didn’t grow.

Oh yeah. I regained my memory, but I haven’t regained my strength yet.

I wanted a peaceful life, so I had my powers sealed in a certain place.

The place where I sealed it is in the cave at the mountain where I lived for many years.

「 Rēko, I left a few things back in my cave. It is indispensable for subduing the Demon King. But can you fly me there? I’m a little sick today. 」

「With pleasure! 」

However, I am not in a hurry to regain my composure as an Evil Dragon.

Wings were grown by Rēko on my back, and even if my body is launched into the air, I did not feel disturbed at all. I could even afford to enjoy the clouds in the sky.

On the way to the mountain where my old lair is, I saw the city of Pēryudona below.

「Well then, Rēko. Go down to that city for a moment. I have something to do with Ariante. 」

「I understand. 」

I was indebted to Ariante in various ways.

I was actually an Evil Dragon, and I will defeat the Demon King, so be relieved—I want to tell her something like that.

Rēko landed in front of Ariante’s dojo.

When I knocked on the dojo’s gate with my front leg, Ariante came out.

「Rēvendia……? What happened? Wait no, get inside first. It won’t be good if other people saw you. 」

Guided into the dojo, I and Rēko sat on the threshold.

Ariante took a breath and,

「For the time being, I’m glad that little kid is out training. If he was here, it would be a hassle again. Well, so? You must have a very important business with me that you would take such a risk, right? What is it? 」

「Of course, ……」

I nod while I laugh confidently.

Then, Ariante suddenly has a suspicious face.

「What’s wrong with you? You seem kind of, strangely confident you know? 」

「Fufufu female knight. So, you noticed. Today, Evil Dragon-sama is shining at the highest level ever. 」

「Fu, don’t praise me so much Rēko. I am a sinful dragon……」

I turned my front leg to Rēko and ordered her.

Seeing this exchange, Ariante’s expression stiffened.

「Well, Rēko. I have to tell her about an important story for a little, so will you go to some other place for a bit? Ah yes, go sightseeing in the sky. 」

「Understood. 」

With her wings grown, Rēko flies out of the dojo.

As soon as she flew off, Ariante started glaring at me.

「……Well then you bastard, are you a fake? 」

「Oops, wait a second Ariante. It is no wonder that you are doubting me, but I’m the genuine, real Evil Dragon, Rēvendia. 」

When I looked at Ariante with a confident laugh, she looked terribly sad.

「Is that so……you, seems like you can’t stand the hard work anymore, huh……」

「Hm? What kind of imagination are you having right now? 」

「No, that’s right. You are the real Evil Dragon Rēvendia. Yeah, no doubt about it. Keep up with the good work, okay? 」

「Seems like you really don’t believe it, huh. It’s different. It’s not like I became delusional like Rēko. 」

Even though it was a genuine fact, Ariante didn’t believe me at all.

This filled me with indignation.

To think that she, in front of the great Evil Dragon Rēvendia, would mistake me with a poor herbivorous drago—

「I’m sure you are feeling tired. I will bring some vegetables from the kitchen, so wait a bit. 」

「Well, then it can’t be helped. 」

Well, I guess this is something that I, as an elder, should forgive, and I really like vegetables for some reason.

As I lay down on the floor waiting, Ariante came back with a colander with vegetables in it and a basin full with drinkable water.

「I kept you waiting—」

「It’s been a long time, lizard! 」

A figure popped out from the basin of drinkable water.

It was the Saintess that I haven’t met for a while.

「Eh? How did you get here? 」

「I told you before that my water is also drawn to Pēryudona, so I can show up where there’s water, duh! 」

「It seems like she has a lot of free time even though she is a Saintess. She’s annoying because she comes to my house all the time. 」

Ariante sighed, she seemed quite annoyed.

However, this is good timing. I have also benefited from Saintess-sama’s lecture in the past. I will have to tell her who I am and reassure her.

「Oh, Saintess-sama. Listen and be surprised. You see, I was actually a real Evil Dragon, that’s right, the real Evil Dragon Rēvendia…… 」

「Are? Lizard looks strange today somehow. Did you break your stomach? 」

「Don’t you think so too? Perhaps, he was inspired by that girl and went into the world of delusion. 」

「So, that’s it! No, Lizard-san, please come back to reality! Here, a delicious cabbage. 」

「Ah, this is a really good cabbage. 」

I started munching on the cabbage that the Saintess-sama stuck out.

While I was chewing, Ariante and Saintess-sama both smiled at me with a strange gentle face.

「As I thought, it is never good to overdo something, huh……」

「No, it’s all my fault. If only I could lead Lizard-san better as a monster……」

However, the two of them seem to be talking about something secretive, I can’t hear them.

After all, my image for them so far is too strong. It is probably unbelievable for them if I say that I am the real Evil Dragon.

If I was in the opposite position myself, I won’t believe it either.

「Fu, I am sorry for the sudden story. It is no wonder that you people did not believe it. I will quietly return back today. But the next time I come— will be when I have recovered my magical powers already. At that time, the two of you will look at me in awe. 」

I told them with a serious face while chewing the cabbage.

Ariante and Saintess-sama squint their eyes at the same time.

「Whenever it gets too hard, come visit us again. (Like, please come) 」

And then, I’m back at my old nesting cave with Rēko.

With disrespect, the two of them didn’t believe me at all.

The moment I come back there with all of my powers returned, it will surely surprise them. Thinking that, I started to get enthusiastic.

Regaining my true power as an Evil Dragon, I will grow stronger than Ariante, and will be able to raise a much more delicious land than Saintess-sama.

「So, it was back here……」

I put Rēko on my back, and started walking into the deepest part of the cave.

When I lived here without my memories, this deep cavern was too cold for me and I hardly stepped into it.

At the innermost part of this cave, my power as the Evil Dragon is sealed.

「Ah, right there. This is it. 」

Sleeping at the back of the cave is a huge pillar of crystal.

This is the crystal that materialized when I sealed my power. If I break this crystal, my original power will be regained.

「What a beautiful crystal. Is this the thing that you forgot about, Evil Dragon-sama? 」

「Yeah. Stand down, Rēko. It is dangerous for anyone other than me to approach. 」

I started approaching the crystal with ease.

However, at that moment.

「Ngyaaaaaaa! 」

A beam is fired from the crystal and blows me away.

Smoke raised from my body as I rolled around on the ground.

『Leave…… I am the Evil Dragon’s sealed power…… I will not let anyone touch me……』

「Ano, isn’t that my power? 」

『I will not let anyone touch me.』

What an inflexible seal.

It seems that it wants to keep my power sleeping no matter what.

「Evil Dragon-sama? It seems like you got blown away and smoke raised from your body but, are you okay? 」

「Ah, err. It’s static electricity you know. Static electricity. It’s a huge crystal, so a lot of electricity has accumulated. 」

「But that crystal seems to be speaking somehow. 」

「You are mishearing stuff. 」

「I see. So I was just mishearing stuff. 」

I tried to re-challenge it and charged at the crystal, but I was blown away by the beam again. f𝘳𝚎𝑒𝚠𝑒𝚋𝘯o𝘃eƖ.co𝓂

『Don’t get any closer…… If you ignore my warning again, I will release all of my magical power to fight back. 』

「You are releasing the seal in order to protect the seal from being released? That, isn’t that just going against the point? 」

『The action of ignoring the warning is confirmed. Releasing the seal. 』

「Err. Is talking to you also counted as ignoring the warning? 」

How disappointingly off-the-shelf you are.

Past me, would it not have been best to use a higher quality seal for this? Doesn’t that seal have a few screws loose somewhere?

Light emitted from the crystal, and tremendous magical power filled the space.

There is no doubting it. This is my—Evil Dragon Rēvendia’s torrent of enormous magical power.

A huge beam that burns everything it touched, which is incomparable to the warning shots so far, is released—

「I see, this is definitely some kind of static electricity. 」

The beam was stopped with one hand by Rēko who stepped in front of me.

『Impossible. My magical power is……? 』

The sealing crystal seems upset.

It kept firing beams at Rēko, but Rēko continued to receive it with one hand, while saying “What’s an interesting crystal”.

『Recognizing the enemy as a mighty opponent like never before. Proceed to eliminate with full magic power—! 』

The crystal shined with maximum brilliance.

There’s no doubt… this is the me back then — Evil Dragon Rēvendia’s strongest skill, “Evil Dragon’s Hell Flame.”

That is the deadly flame of the gods that burns down all beings without question.

「Oh. It tingled me a little bit. 」

However, even that was only equivalent as static electricity to Rēko.

The crystal soon loses its light in front of Rēko, who received its attack with one hand and without any damage.

『It’s my complete defeat……As I thought, there are those whose power exceed mine……』

Eventually, the crystal turned gray like a stone and shattered into pieces.

All of my magical power contained inside was already consumed by it.

「Evil Dragon-sama? The crystal has broken into pieces but, is this okay? 」

「U, un. That’s right……there is no problem with that…… Um, Rēko …let’s just go back……」

「Yes, understood. 」

—After that, I visited Pēryudona again to meet Ariante and the Saintess.

To the two of them who welcomed me with a strangely gentle smile, I also smiled gently at them.

「My apologies. I was not an Evil Dragon after all, but just a normal herbivorous dragon. 」

The cabbage I ate after that was very delicious.