The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

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Author Notes:

  I've also updated the character introductions in the previous section.

  Please enjoy Act II as well.

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I like humans.

"Princess, tonight's dinner is your favorite: Bloody Bear steak."

Humans are interesting.

Especially when it comes to food, they're truly fascinating.

They can take a single ingredient and create many different dishes from it. Moreover, just by changing the seasoning of the same dish, it becomes something completely different.

"Now then, this way please, Princess. How about a board game after dinner? I've called for a skilled player from the capital to be your opponent tonight."

Human games are fun.

Just by processing wood, they can create countless types of toys.

There are so many ways to play, it's never boring.

My favorite is the board games that require thinking. Just when I think I've become fairly strong, the humans bring in an opponent who's just slightly better than me. Sometimes I lose, but the next time I don't. The feeling of gradually getting stronger like this is truly enjoyable.

"It's almost time for your bath, Princess. Please relax and take your time."

Humans are warm.

Baths are the best. It's already a heavenly space, and humans even drink alcohol in the bath, apparently. Someday when I'm an adult, I'd like to make close friends and spend elegant time like that.

On the other hand, my homeland was really boring.

Day after day, just looking at the same unchanging scenery and talking with others of my kind. Even when we went hunting in the forest for food, it was just a routine task without any danger at all.

That's why I left.

Wondering if there was anything interesting out there—I came to this human city following my curiosity, and every day has been so stimulating.

"Good morning, Princess. How shall we proceed today?"

That's why I... no, that is why we answer like this:

"Fufu, I am the descendant of the progenitor dragon, whose arms should embrace the profound darkness..."

"...Princess. Could you please say it in a way we can understand a little better?"

"Hmph, foolish humans... Very well. What these hidden mystical eyes have determined is the path to the underground..."

"Ah, your eye patch is slipping, Princess."

"Eh? Ah... Ahem! And my sealed arm throbs, urging me to venture to the depths of that land... Ugh, be still, my right hand... Resist the whispers of eternity...!"

"I see. Princess, do you want to go to a dungeon?"

The human smiles.

Hmph. Ignorant human, have you finally understood my intentions?

"My shadow has sensed the winds of the lower world... In the lower world, explorers seeking the abyss sparkle like stars..."

"You've heard the rumors, haven't you? Indeed, adventurers often go exploring in dungeons."

"My sealed right hand thirsts for blood... Yet it also laments. How fleeting are the stars that sparkle and fade..."

"Yes, indeed. Our dragon city's dungeon is vast, and adventurers do sometimes fall victim. Are you interested in dungeons, Princess?"

"Hmph, darkness calls to darkness, it's the law of nature... It's not my will, but a fate woven from eternity. Before this seal is broken, I must venture into the abyss..."

"I understand. Then shall we go dungeon exploring once preparations are complete?"

The human nods and starts calling out to other humans waiting nearby.

Fufu. Ignorant humans, behold the power of my progenitor dragon. Let us annihilate the yet unexplored abyss in an instant with this overwhelming power.

"However, Princess. There are rumors of monsters in the lower levels of the dungeon that even adult dragons struggle against."

The human's expression clouds over.

I answered immediately.

"Ah, then maybe we can just play in the upper levels..."