The 5000-year-old Herbivorous Dragon

「Going to the hot springs and eating at stalls? Wait a minute. What kind of code is that…?」

「No no, there’s no code, it means what it is. Mr. Revendia has the hobby of going to various hot springs while looking for a good hibernation spot. Sometimes he likes to go deep into the mountains and search for natural hot springs. Also, if he goes to eat at stalls, it’s mainly for sweet food. He especially aims for forests in colder climates in areas where snow piles up high, it’s easy for trees to store sweet sap and if you nibble the roots bit by bit, it’s really delicious.」

「Are you still talking about Revendia? That Evil Dragon with extremely high infamy?」

「Right right, the truth is that he’s often misunderstood, in fact, he’s actually very kind. He’s not the evil kind of dragon everyone thinks he is.」

Raiotto put his hands on my shoulders with a *pon*.

「How pitiful… Even the pack-dragon was brainwashed. Having yourself think that you’re just an ordinary animal, just what is the Evil Dragon plotting…」

「I think there’s something wrong with you always using the excuse of brainwashing, even if reality is harsh, please face it head on.」

「Now that I think about it, I haven’t really doubted Revendia but could I have possibly been brainwashed too…?」

「Wait Sheina, don’t get caught up in his pace, if you go any further it’ll only get more complicated.」

As I said so, Sheina then whispered in my ear.

「I’m just joking, judging by the way you act as the Lord Evil Dragon’s body double and how he employed Rēko as a kin, the real Revendia… I can guess what he’s like.」

「I’m not a body double but the real deal, though. Well anyway, those guesses can’t be too far from the truth.」

Even if there was a real Evil Dragon that would employ me as a body double then that would make him a bit clumsy. It’ll probably be a person(dragon) on the level of someone who has immeasurable magic power, who then uses that power to sprint through the forests while uprooting all the grass.

As I was feeling troubled, Raiotto seemed to convince himself of his theory.

「It’ll be alright Mr. Dragon. Someday I’ll be able to defeat the Evil Dragon and unravel his brainwashing, so just wait until that day comes.」

「What should I do, it seems like there’s no getting off this brainwashing theory track.」

「Yeah, then taking this chance, I’ll act as if I’m brainwashed too. Doesn’t seem like we can convince him anyway.」

「That sister over there, just hold on for now…」

「Okay, then Mr. Brainwash, what are you going to do in this barrier.」

Being called Mr. Brainwash, Raiotto didn’t even deny it and just replied normally.

「Firstly, I need to convince Rēko. If that proves to be too hard, I’ll have to find clues of how to get out.」

「I see, ah that’s right! The state guesthouse that we’re staying at probably has some. Underground in that place there’s a very suspicious room, although I couldn’t find anything there. Just in case why doesn’t Mr. Brainwash go investigate it?」

「I understand, there could be some clues there.」

I pulled on Sheina’s clothes and asked in a low whisper.

「What do you intend to do?」 f𝐫𝑒𝗲𝙬𝒆𝚋𝐧૦𝘃𝗲l.c𝚘𝘮

「It’s going to be a problem if he needlessly stimulates Rēko, I thought we can lock him up. Wasn’t there a random food storage room back at the state guesthouse?」

The state guesthouse we were staying at was not made hollow, probably because it was intended for our use, so it was properly made.

Although Sheina hasn’t been to the real state guesthouse and couldn’t tell how close to the real thing it was, it was at least made to have no discomfort compared to the real deal.

However other than where we stay and the banquet hall, everywhere else was left bare. The space underneath, meant to be the wine cellar, was just another empty room.

Certainly, if Raiotto stepped in there to investigate, we can shut him up there in one shot.

「But if we do that, the aftermath will be scary.」

「It’s okay, because we’re meant to be brainwashed right? All our crimes will be pinned onto Revendia.」

「Though this won’t really work for making a scapegoat…」

All the hate will just land straight onto my back.

Everyone just ignored my melancholy while Sheina happily walked towards Raiotto.

「Well Mr. Brainwash, shall we head to the guest statehouse? It’s almost time for lunch, I think Rēko will also return to eat. To convince or to investigate, you’ll have to head over either way right?」

「Oh, Ohh…?」

Raiotto seemed to have slightly raised his guard up towards the over passionate Sheina. Due to that caution, his hands touched his steel sword for just a second.

At that moment, the smile from Sheinas eyes disappeared for just an instant but it returned as if it was just an illusion.

「Well, I’ll show you the way so come with me. Lord Evi- no, Mr. Pack-dragon, is that fine?」

「It’s already come to this point, I don’t even have the right to refuse right?」

「I’ll take that as an okay. But before that, Lord Evil Dragon, that sword… is pretty dangerous. I don’t know why such an ordinary boy would be holding onto such a thing but… it holds a magic power that makes me shudder.」

「Eh, that’s troubling.」

That’s why before shutting him in there, we should confiscate it. That was the simple plan that Sheina proposed.

「Lord Evil Dragon, please head over to the state guesthouse first and pour sleeping medicine into his lunch. In my luggage, there’s a tool box with a set of herbs used for making medicine inside. You know which one is for putting someone to sleep is right?」

「Yes, the one where you feel like sleeping after eating it right? I know almost all types of grass.」

「In any case, the people who make the lunches are just responseless extras just like in the other buildings, no one will notice you if you boldly walk in and hurriedly mix it into the soup.」

「Roger that, can I leave Raiotto and Rēko to you?」

「Of course, I’ll use my sound magic so that anything Mr. Brainwash says won’t be able to reach Rēko’s ears.」

Although I’m thankful, I feel very sorry for Raiotto.

If one day Rēko regains her senses and clears my false charges, I’ll formally apologize.

Cutting off my sense of guilt, I ran toward the state guesthouse.

At any rate… like kin, like master, we both had to mix in things into Raiotto’s food. This may be some kind of fate.

If there were any lima beans among the ingredients, at the very least, I could take them out.

And so as I came to the kitchen ahead, I saw something unbelievable.

「Fufu, Revendia was so easily fooled. But staged before this perfect fake capital, it’s no surprise. Now, to finish up. If I grasp their stomachs, they won’t even have the will to leave anymore…」

The vegetables were cut rhythmically with smooth knife handling.

There, on top of the kitchen table, was the figure of a rabbit doll working busily to cook lunch.