We Were Able To Communicate

…Well, judging by its temperament, it did not seem very hostile to us.

Maybe it would be fine then?

And so I activated the magic.

‘Magic Transfer—Water Supply.’

I chanted. And then water shot out from the slime that was on the dragon’s head. It was aimed right at the dragon’s eye.

This seemed to shock the dragon, and its eyes opened.

The slime did not miss its opportunity. This time, it went right in front of the dragon’s eyeball and asked:

‘Can you hear me?’

‘…I can hear you.’

The dragon replied in a coarse voice.

It seemed like it finally accepted their existence.

Also…this meant that they were able to talk to each other.

‘What are you? And why are you able to use water magic?’

The dragon asked.

The weak and cowardly…Proud Wolf would have run away at the sound of its voice.

However, I didn’t sense any hostility in its voice at all.

What I did sense, was a surprise, and also—resignation.

As I mused on this, the slimes answered.

‘We’re Yuji’s slimes!’

‘That water was Yuji’s magic!’

Upon hearing these words, the dragon’s eyes widened.

And then it smiled slightly…it now looked at the slimes with deep interest.

‘Hmmm…slimes with a master, huh? ‘Magic Transfer.’ What a rare thing I have seen before my death.’

Apparently, this dragon knew about Magic Transfer.

I thought no one in this world knew about it… What did this mean?

Maybe it’s because this dragon had lived for a very long time.

It could talk, after all. So this might be a good chance to gain some information.

Thinking this…I activated Monster Mutual Understanding.

Up until now, I had been using Shared Senses to listen to the dragon and slimes’ conversation.

However, it would be better to talk to it directly if I wanted to ask for information.

It was the first time I would be using it at a long distance with a monster I’ve never tamed before…

So I wasn’t sure it would work.

Still, I tried… And then, I felt the sensation of being connected to the dragon.

Apparently, it had worked.

‘…Can you hear me?’

I started to talk to the dragon through Monster Mutual Understanding.

And then…I got an answer.

‘…Monster Mutual Understanding? So, you must be the master of the slimes?’

‘I am. The slimes don’t mean you any harm. So please don’t hurt them.’

First, I let the dragon know that we weren’t enemies.

Maybe it wasn’t too convincing since we had suddenly sprayed water into its eye… But it was the truth.

‘I thought I would die all alone, so I am happy to do so in a more cheerful atmosphere. I have no reason to attack you. …If anything, I should be thanking you.’

Apparently, it did not recognize the act of pouring water on someone during your first acquaintance as terrible manners.

This dragon had not only a big body, but a big heart.

But…we couldn’t just let it die.

This dragon was a valuable source of information.

After all, this dragon had been here for a long time, and saw what the Blue Moon of Salvation were doing.

What they did, what they would do. It likely knew much more than me.

‘Don’t you think it’s a little early to die?’

From what I could tell, the dragon was weakening…but it did not seem like it was dying.

But when I asked about this, the dragon shook its head.

‘No, it is only a matter of time now. I know myself better than anyone.’

‘But I can use healing magic as well. I don’t know how effective it will be on a dragon… But it might work?’

‘Please don’t do that. You may be able to extend my life… But what life would that be when I am chained here? No, dying early would be the best way to rebel against them.’

The dragon sounded calm… But when he said ‘them’ it seemed like its eyes flashed with anger and hate for a second.

Maybe Monster Mutual Understanding was making it easier for me to read its emotions.

Of course, I assumed it meant the Blue Moon of Salvation.

Who else could capture such a large dragon and keep it a prisoner?

And so I asked it:

‘By ‘them,’ do you mean the Blue Moon of Salvation?’

‘Yes. …But you know their name. Does that mean you are one of them?’

‘No, quite the opposite. I sent my slimes in here in order to stop them.’

‘…You are going to stop them?’

The dragon reacted to those words. It stared hard at the slimes.

It seemed very interested.

‘Yeah. That’s why I need to know what to do. What don’t they want me to do, what is their weakness… Do you know?’

From the dragon’s words, I got the impression that the hate towards the Blue Moon of Salvation was stronger than the desire to escape.

So I decided to be plain and honest.

And then…

‘Very well. I will tell you.’

The dragon replied without hesitation.

So I had made the right choice.

‘While I was shackled here all of this time, I did not see everything that they were doing… What I do know is that they are trying to use me for something. Is that alright?’

‘Of course. …The first thing I want to know is why they have you chained down here?’

Considering that there were human guards stationed down here, it was clear that the dragon wasn’t being used as a guard dog.

Even if they had wanted to do that, it seemed rather pointless, as this dragon would not obey them.

Not only that, but they had the dragon chained up so it couldn’t even move properly.

So there must be a different reason…

‘The reason that I was imprisoned here, was so they could draw out my magical energy.’

The dragon replied.

‘Draw out?’

‘Yes. They pour some strange water on me….and then the energy is drained from my body. They gather that energy and send it into that odd machine.’

The dragon looked at the long and thick cord that stretched out from its collar.

The metal cable went straight into the Universal Purification Device.

So, that was what they used to send power to the machine.