The 5000-year-old Herbivorous Dragon

I want to calmly reconfirm the situation here.

「The detailed examination will start now. This individual is very valuable, so please be careful.」

We parted with Yoro-san and immediately went to the research institute. I tried to find information about the festival as soon as I arrived.

But by the time I noticed it, I was already in the examination room.

Dazzling white light that illuminates the whole room, multiple researchers dressed in white robes with masks covering their mouth, and me, who is strapped to an examination table.

「Um, I am supposed to be a customer, right? I feel like I am being treated as a laboratory animal, though.」

「Laboratory animal? That is ridiculous. You are not some kind of disposable animal. We are doing this because it is our mission to investigate every corner of your body carefully.」

「Yes. We have never heard of a beast with scales that can be used as medicines. We need to clarify its ecology in order to quickly pave a way for effective use.」

Various appliances were then applied to my body, and I have never seen anything like them. A figure that looks like my skeleton is projected on a wall too.

「You can investigate as much as you like. I wonder if you will be able to grasp the whole picture of Evil Dragon-sama with your intelligence.」 𝐟𝘳𝑒𝗲𝘸e𝒃𝘯𝒐𝐯e𝚕.c𝒐𝒎

During this, Rēko was sipping tea while sitting upright in the corner of the room.

「Um, Rēko. Are you fine with your master being treated like this?」

「The passion that these people have for Evil Dragon-sama… I am not the only one who understands it.」

「I think the direction of their passion is different from the one you are thinking.」

These people see me in line with some sort of precious material, not with respect.

Well it doesn’t seem like I can resist this situation anymore. I wouldn’t be killed anyway, so I will just let them do what they want. And then a few hours passed.

The result?

「I don’t know anymore…I can’t understand at all… Honestly, what even is this creature?」

In contrast to being released from the laboratory and taking a rest at the lobby, the researchers were trembling with no expression in front of the test results. Like a corpse.

「Why. Why can’t we reproduce it? Beast owner lady, could you please show us the procedure once again?」

「Don’t make me repeat it over and over. Let Evil Dragon-sama’s scale go through the water this way. And…here, it’s a panacea, see?」

「Ah, the boiling water procedure has been simplified somehow, okay?」

I added that setting in perchance boiling water became a hassle. I want them to know the importance of spending time and effort without making it too easy for them.

「But when we put the scales through water, there is no effect…」

「It is because of a lack of understanding of the Evil Dragon-sama. If you can consider the feelings of Evil Dragon-sama and follow his will, Evil Dragon-sama will naturally give you his grace.」

「What? Then, does that mean that the scales are only effective when used by a specific person?」

「Of course. Evil Dragon-sama’s healing is given only for those who believe in his power.」

As soon as they heard that the researchers, who were just like burnt ashes seconds ago, gathered together and started talking.

「What does that even mean? Does it mean that the creature is making medicine through some kind of magical power, instead of it just being a medicinal creature?」

「But that creature doesn’t have any magical power at all.」

「Isn’t he just concealing it? Should we do the inspection again?」

In front of the mysterious creature that is me, their intellectual quest has increased considerably. No one seems to suspect that it is the little girl, not me, who produced that medicine in a mysterious way.

And actually, Rēko’s ecology is even more mysterious than mine.

Is this some kind of prejudice?

「Um, everyone, I am sure that there are many things that you guys want to find out about, but I came here to ask some questions as well, so can anyone come here to answer them?」

It doesn’t seem like they are going to stop soon, so I will just cut to the main goal I came here for.

I will take advantage of “Medicine is the grace of Evil Dragon-sama” that Rēko just said. If I make such a request, they probably won’t reject it.

「Questions? What kind of questions?」

Surely enough, a young researcher with round glasses rushed to my side.

「I have a lot of things to ask. First of all, I would like to ask about the festival in this country. It seems like a big deal, but what kind of event is it that you guys do?」

「Are you interested in festival?」

「Ah, I didn’t mean it in a strange way. I just would like to see it if it’s lively.」

It would be troublesome if they thought that I have some kind of strange scheme, so I quickly made up a reason.

Well, far from it being a scheme, it was because of Yoro-san who had done something ridiculous.

「Ah, I see. Unfortunately, it is not exactly a fun event to see. Most things are done quietly in the cathedral. The general public, like us, just pray for a longer time than usual.」

「Then why don’t you guys play music or have a banquet?」

「There are many areas where such an event is held, but it is said that the gods of our country prefer calmness. Therefore, foreign visitors are strictly restricted during this period.」

Apparently, it is not some kind of easy to understand festival like the one in the Saintess’s town.

I am in trouble then. If the festival is done quietly in the cathedral, then we won’t have a chance to participate in it.

「Do you know what kind of event is held at the cathedral? Can we see it later?」

「You can’t see it, it is a national secret you see. But the ritual that takes place is well known.」

The researcher looked at the cathedral through a large window.

「In our country, there is a person that can hear the voice of god, called “The Oracle Shrine Maiden”. The previous generation’s Shrine Maiden retired the other day, so this festival is to find a substitute.」

「The voice of god?」

I jumped at that topic. It is exactly the kind of information we were looking for.

「Yes. We gather young women with magical powers from among the people and wait for the oracle from god. “Appointing the next Shrine Maiden” or something like that. And the woman who received the oracle in person is the one who hears the voice of god. She will be responsible for the protection of this country.」

I see, as soon as I heard the story, Rēko moved near me.

「In other words, we will threaten the Shrine Maiden to give in, and then we will have secured a window to the god in this country.」 𝒇𝒓eewe𝒃𝑛𝒐𝘃𝒆𝚕.co𝘮

「Why would we bother to make her give in? If we ask normally and tell her the whole story it will be fine.」

I feel a little relieved after hearing the usual Rēko.

Then, let’s visit the new Shrine Maiden when the festival is over. I am treated like a panacea animal right now, so there is a chance if I negotiate well.

「Nn, I understand now. Thank you. I know what I want to know now, thanks to you.」

「it’s okay, it’s not that big of a deal.」

The young researcher said that with a smile. He looked like a madman with bloody eyes when he was looking at my skeleton earlier, but when I look at him now, he looks just like a very ordinary young man. If possible, please leave this industry.

Anyway, he doesn’t look like a bad person.

If I could hear stories about spirits, demons, and Rēko’s magical power in this condition—

「Everyone knows the contents of the festival anyway. People often gossip about who the next Shrine Maiden is in the city. There is also a daughter of a house who has all of her relatives’s support to be the next Shrine Maiden—」

The phrase ‘in the city’ caught my attention.

「In the city… Um, do people really talk about this topic a lot?」

「Yeah. After all, while the Shrine Maiden is not involved in politics, she is still the symbol of this country. When the new Shrine Maiden is decided, people don’t worry about it anymore. Whether it’s a church, a plaza, a store, or a bar, if two people or more are together, this is just what they would talk abou—ah, wait!?」

When I heard that, I was already on my way out of the laboratory.

I made a mistake. It will probably be easier to hear about this in a bar rather than a laboratory.

And when I ran to the front of the cathedral with Rēko, my prediction came true.

—right in front of the cathedral is Yoro-san, who is making an unreasonable request to the gatekeepers of the cathedral to let him in.

「Hey you! Didn’t I tell you to stay put!」

「Mu? Oh, I’m sorry. I heard about a good story, so I think this method will be the quickest.」

「It’s not quick. Not at all. Don’t you know that the Shrine Maiden hasn’t been decided yet? It seems like the previous Shrine Maiden has retired, so even if you go to the cathedral right now, you won’t be able to hear the voice of the god. 」

「What are you saying? I have no intention to wait for a new Shrine Maiden at all.」

Yoro-san hit his chest with a fearless smile.

「I will be the new Shrine Maiden. Isn’t that enough?」

Yoro-san, who is not qualified as a Shrine Maiden by any means, was full of unfounded confidence. And I, from the bottom of my heart, really want to pretend to be someone else.

And as expected, the gatekeeper told all three of us to leave.