The next morning.
With plenty of rest, yesterday's fatigue was gone.
Everyone's complexion is good, and there is no appearance of fatigue remaining.
"Well, let's just look for the dragon. Sola, Luna. I asked for it."
"Okay."
"You should leave it to us!
The two of you cast magic...
A wave of light spreads around.
First, I decided to have them magically look for a dragon.
The magic of exploring the magical reactions of the surrounding area, which I used in the Lords' Hall before.
If there's a dragon, there's got to be a high-powered magic reaction...
"Mmm."
Luna made a difficult face.
Then Sora shakes her neck small and sideways.
"You can't. No response."
"Apparently, there's no dragons around here."
"What's the range of detection?
"Is there a 300 meter radius around Sola?"
It's so big.
However, the mountain is bigger than that.
When it comes to covering the whole area, we have to use magic over and over again.
"Want to try again? I don't mind. There's still plenty of magic."
"I got my stomach out and I was asleep. Sleep like that and you'll be replenished with plenty of magic."
"That's what I'm talking about!?
"Ah, my cliché was taken!?
He is a healthy companion.
I'll do it next time.
You can't just let the two of us work.
Besides, I'd be better suited for exploration.
He invited a bird to stop at a tree branch and exchanged a tentative contract.
Get a buddy, get a tentative contract with them, too.
So, using a dozen birds...
I gave him an order to let him know when I found the dragon and let him fly in all directions.
Birds can explore from above.
It may be difficult to find a smaller goal, but this time, the target is a dragon.
Because of its large body, there is no problem with exploration from above.
Besides, I can fly through the sky at quite a speed, so I can cover a wide range.
This would allow us to find the dragon.
That's what I was thinking...
"... nya. You're not responding."
"None."
Half an hour later.
Canade and Tina snapped, feeling tired of waiting.
"... failure?
That's what Nina said as she tilted her little neck.
Hard to forgive.
But... that's crazy?
With all that number of birds, we should be able to cover this mountain if we have enough.
Birds fly fast, and this mountain isn't that big...
And yet there's no report of the discovery, what do you mean?
It's that giant.
Hiding among the trees, how impossible.
It's possible that he's hiding in a giant cave...
Even in that case, there are traces of what is around them.
For example, if the trees have been knocked down or if there are footprints on the ground?
That means you can't even find it...
"... ah"
I accidentally raised my voice when I realized I had lost track of a certain possibility.
"Nha? What's the matter with you?
"If you think about it, you might have misunderstood."
"A misunderstanding?"
"The other guy's a dragon, right? Same dragon clan as Tania, right?
"Yeah, you are."
"Then, just like Tania, it's not weird to be human."
"... ah"
She understood what I was trying to say, and Canade raised her voice.
I mean...
We've been looking for a dragon, but it doesn't mean they'll be like that forever.
It's not strange to be looking like a person.
In that case, the method of using birds to find them from the sky would be futile.
I wouldn't say zero, but it would be limitless less likely to find it.
Shit.
Because I saw the dragon form at first glance, I had a strong impression of it and always thought it was what it looked like.
Usually, there's a chance that you're turning into a person, like Tania.
Alternatively, there is the possibility that you are transforming into a person and hiding yourself in order to hide from the chase.
Either way, it's hard to find using birds.
I terminated my tentative contract with the bird.
"Hmm. When you do, does that mean our magic depends on you?
"Even if you were transforming into a person, you can't hide that magic until you do. With the magic of Sora and the others, you can be sure to capture the dragon."
"It's just too broad a range..."
Though not that big of a mountain, nevertheless, it takes a lot of time when it comes to treading.
Even if you ask Sola and Luna to use magic and look for it in a smudge, it's inefficient.
Besides, it doesn't necessarily mean they're standing still.
There is also the possibility that we are constantly traveling…
If we go wrong, the likelihood of being found drops even further.
"Do you have any good hands?
"Ho."
Over Nina's head, Tina raised her hand.
... You've been on Nina's head a lot since you started living in dolls.
Is that your favorite?
"If that's the case, we have an idea."
"Can you let me hear it?
"In that case, if you want a trap. Yeah!
――――――――――
……
There was a woman walking in the mountains to the north.
Carry your luggage on your back and slowly continue down a path that is only slightly rough.
Is the destination a city beyond the mountains?
Hold your breath, occasionally, stop for a break...
Step by step, take the mountain.
If anyone else is there, I might look at her and say that a woman's solo journey is dangerous.
Sometimes bandits attack you, and sometimes you meet demons.
It's just...
This mountain now had more dangerous presence than bandits and demons.
"Gruaaaaaaa!!!
"Huh!?
There shouldn't have been as much as just now...
Suddenly, a dragon flew in from nowhere.
Stand down in front of the woman, spraying her huge wings.
"Duh, dragon!?
"... foolish man, let him die for us. If you resent me, you resent yourself for walking out of here alone!
The dragon shook up his huge forelegs as he growled.
Keep up the momentum and slap it on the woman.
You will not be allowed to defy, and the woman's body will be crushed.
... didn't mean.
"What!?
The dragon gave a startling voice.
That should be it, too.
The woman was taking a dragon blow with her thin arm.
"Stupid!? My blow to such a person... who are you!?
A woman laughs niggly.
"Hmm. Who am I? The answer is... the Cat Spirit Clan!
I heard a noise, and the woman's body was engulfed in smoke.
Slightly, the smoke clears...
Canade showed up.