Dragon Buster

"Well, you really liked the alcohol and snacks that much, huh? Anyway, looks like we can communicate with words, so let's get on with the negotiations, shall we?"

"The treats were super delicious!"

I almost pressed the fourth switch but stopped myself. Come to think of it, that response was fine. Yeah. If I remember right, the next trap is stone icicles that stab into her.

"Now then, let me help you understand the situation since you seem confused. First of all, you've been captured by me."

"Huh? Oh, should I escape now?"

"Wait. Look over here, see?"

I held up three fingers where only Igni could see. You get it, right? Situation Three. Number three.

Play along with me, alright?

"… Umm."

"Can you stay still and hear me out, little miss?"

"Okay!"

Great response. Now the question is whether Igni can actually read the room and act accordingly.

"So, why did you attack my village's field?"

"Well, I was just killing ti— I-I mean, it was a prank! I thought it'd be funny to surprise them…"

Yessss, I was about to hit the switch when she almost said "killing time." She caught on when I flashed her a nice sweet smile.

If I've captured Igni, the plan is to play up how childish she is. NO "killing time," YES "prank." That was all covered in our prior meeting.

But her eyes were darting around. Seems like she barely remembered in time.

"A prank, huh? But you see, that was our field. That was our food. If you burn it and ruin it, we can't eat and we go hungry."

"Being hungry is bad!"

"Exactly. So you won't do it again, right?"

"Right! I'm sorry!"

… Crap, she's too obedient. It's actually making her less convincing! Her expression is stiff too.

I turned to look at Wataru and Gozoh.

"… So what do you two think?"

"W-Well…"

"Y-Yeah."

Both Wataru and Gozoh gave halfhearted replies, clearly not convinced. Of course not. Even I thought it sounded like a lie.

"Looks like these two aren't convinced yet. Come on, apologize to them too."

"Huh? Why should I apologize to these lower crea—OW! Umm, I'm sorry."

The fourth switch went off right on cue. The cone-shaped projectile seemed to sting a bit more than the iron ball.

"Kehma-san is amazing."

"Hm? What brought that on all of a sudden? Come on, it was just a kid's prank. Let's let it slide, yeah?"

"I'm not a child!"

Craaaack! The birdlime that had been holding her suddenly developed cracks.

Team Bacchus with Wataru in the lead took battle formation. Niku and Ichika also moved between me and Igni, taking defensive stances. As if to protect me.

… Their movements were incredibly quick. They were on high alert. No doubt about it. They didn't trust her at all.

Maybe I should push the "child" angle a bit more.

"Only children get angry when called children."

"Oh! Then I won't get angry, because I'm not a child!"

"Ohhh, what a good girl."

I walked over to Igni and patted her on the head.

"Kehma-san, that's dangerous!?"

"Huh? … Oh, yeah, right. She is a flame dragon after all. But hey, she apologized and said she won't do it again, so it's fine, right? Isn't that right, Igni-chan?"

"Of course! I'm an adult, so I keep my promises!"

CRACK! The birdlime shattered. This brat probably tried to strike some kind of grown-up pose.

Everyone reflexively raised their weapons (except me). Even Ichika and Niku, who knew the situation… Yeah, regaining their trust at this point would be tough. Time for the ultimate weapon.

"Hey, Igni-chan. Sit."

"Okay."

Following my command, Igni sat down.

"See? She's so obedient. Why is everyone so scared of her?"

"No no no, Kehma, how are you so calm!? She's a dragon!"

Gozoh is terrified!

How can Gozoh, who casually drinks with a hero, be this scared? Is everyone in this world under some curse that makes them fear dragons?

No, but even Wataru's on guard…

"… But look at her. She's obviously just a little girl?"

"If something like that went wild, there's no way I could win!"

Hmm. Gozoh stubbornly won't let down his guard. Guess I really do have to bring out my ultimate weapon.

It's not that I particularly didn't want to use it. It was more of an ultimate weapon I didn't necessarily need to use, but…

"Haah, alright. Then I'll tell you my secret. You'll be convinced once you know."

"Huh? Your secret?"

I sighed deeply and clapped my hands.

"… Come out, Ittetsu."

When I said that with resolve, a whirlwind of fire erupted right beside me.

And within it, a single salamander appeared.

"Da—hubuh—"

"Oi, sit down, flame dragon missy."

Ittetsu slapped down Igni, who had started to rise.

My ultimate weapon, Ittetsu. A close acquaintance of mine who can easily suppress a flame dragon. Because he's her father.

"Wataru, Gozoh. This is my secret… Allow me to introduce him. My friend, the salamander Ittetsu."

"Yo, you're Kehma's friends? Nice to meetcha."

Ittetsu grinned, baring his fangs on his reptilian face.

He's strictly a friend. A very close friend.

"… What… You've tamed a salamander… a great fire spirit…?"

"Hah!? I ain't been tamed! Shut yer mouth, dwarf!"

"Hey, don't roar at him, Ittetsu. Your face is scary enough as it is. You'll startle them."

I patted him on the shoulder. Everything up to this point was going according to plan. We were playing up the image of "a temperamental being who can't just be bossed around."

Meanwhile, Ittetsu was keeping Igni pinned under his foreleg. Just like a parent making their kid bow in apology… which is exactly what it was.

"Oh, sorry about that… Now then! You apologize too! Properly!"

"Eh, s-sorry! Hyah!? I'm sorry!?"

"You're not gonna burn any more fields, RIGHT!?"

"Right! I won't!"

"Gooood. Next time you do, I'll snap off your horn and use it to pay for the damages!"

"Hyaah! I'm sorry! Not the horn, please, I'm sorrryyy!"

Igni apologized frantically as Ittetsu pressed her. As expected of Ittetsu, he's got this down pat.

By the way, her horns apparently take about ten years to grow back. Would recovery magic work on them? Could we mass produce them…?

"And that's how it is. Well, glad it all worked out!"

"I-I see. So it was a salamander. Indeed, for a salamander—a great fire spirit—a flame dragon would be nothing more than an ordinary dragon, but…"

"Team Bacchus can relax too, right? We've got someone here who can keep a flame dragon in line."

The effectiveness was obvious. No one had any complaints.

"And I guarantee this guy's trustworthy."

"Oi, Kehma's guaranteeing me, yeah? So you there, dwarfy, can you trust me on his word?"

"Of course I can! Village Chief Kehma's word is more than enough, and there's no dwarf alive who wouldn't trust a salamander, the great fire spirit!"

"Is that sooo!? Kahahaha!"

He couldn't trust a dragon, but a salamander is fine? I'd been worried about that, but he accepted it surprisingly easily… Is it really just dragons that are the problem?

"So Ittetsu, I'm leaving Igni to you. Make sure you discipline her properly."

"Yeah, leave it to me. I'll set this brat straight."

The strategy of dumping the Igni situation onto Ittetsu. The drawback is that it exposes Ittetsu's existence to outsiders. The advantage is that Igni gets to continue her visit home.

It didn't particularly matter to me either way, so I was all for it the moment Ittetsu said "Well, sure."

"Oh, here's some alcohol as payment. Well, it's just what was left over from what I brought."

"Ohhh! Much obliged!"

And the moment I mentioned giving him alcohol, Ittetsu said "actually, definitely call me for this." So there was no reason not to.

Ichika, Gozoh, and Roppu too. I told you guys I've already got the same alcohol ready for a party when we get back. Stop drooling.

"Kehma-san. Could you come here for a moment?"

"Hm? What is it, Wataru?"

"Where on earth did you meet such an important figure!?"

"Ah… parents are amazing, don't you think?"

"… Wait, Kehma-san, are you a second-generation?"

Of course, I was talking about how Ittetsu, as a parent, could keep the flame dragon in check. Not that my parents back in Japan introduced me to a salamander. (If he wants to misunderstand in a way that suits me, I'm not going to correct him.)

"Oh, and please keep the fact that I know Ittetsu a secret. I don't want people asking questions."

"Understood… But still, to think you're friends with such a powerful spirit…"

"… What, is Ittetsu really that amazing?"

"Of course! Salamanders are great fire spirits! They say all fire bows before a salamander!"

Where does fire even have a head to bow?

"Kehma-san, have you never heard of the Four Great Spirits? Gnome of earth, Undine of water, Sylph of wind, and Salamander of fire. They're famous, you know? … You don't happen to be friends with any of the others, do you?"

Famous, huh. I've definitely heard those names in games before.

… Wait, but Ittetsu isn't really a salamander. He's a salamander-type core. I think "salamander" is his species name, but is it really the same thing?

Well, anyway, by having Ittetsu hold down Igni, I managed to force a resolution using my last resort.

We did it.

… Right?