Reincarnation
“When exactly are you going to reincarnate?” I asked as I poured slime liquid over the dragon egg that had completely taken over my table.
The dragon egg flickered with light but showed no other signs of change.
Next, I placed my hand on the egg and transferred my mana. As usual, about one-third of it was absorbed before the egg stopped.
It’s been two weeks since I got the message. Isn’t it about time for something to happen?
While I was dozing off on the sofa, Atre suddenly dove onto my stomach.
“Whoa!” I shouted as I bolted upright.
“Atre, that was mean…” I complained, but Atre quickly pointed out that the dragon egg was shaking.
When I looked, the egg was indeed trembling, and it was glowing brighter than usual.
I called Georges and asked him to summon the rest of the family.
Once everyone was gathered, the shaking grew more intense, and cracks began to spread across the surface of the egg.
We all held our breath as we watched, and soon enough, it looked like something was gnawing away at the shell from the inside.
A large hole opened at the top of the egg, and a White Dragon poked its head out, but it kept munching away at the shell.
Once it had eaten about two-thirds of the shell, it turned to me and spoke:
“Oh! You’re the blessed one. Thanks to you, I managed to reincarnate safely. I’m grateful.”
Once it finished eating the entire shell, I could see the White Dragon properly. It was about 40 centimeters long, plump, with round, bright eyes and a short tail—looking exactly like a stuffed animal dragon.
Despite having reincarnated, the White Dragon apparently didn’t yet have full control over its powers due to its still-low mana levels. So, just like before, it wanted me to continue providing my mana and the slime liquid.
“Are you saying you’ll live here?”
“That’s right. If the blessed one resides here, then so shall I.”
“My name is Reinhardt, so please call me by my name, not ‘blessed one.’”
“Understood, Reinhardt. I used up my strength reincarnating, so I’ll need your mana and the usual liquid.”
I took the slime liquid from Georges, and the White Dragon opened its mouth wide, waiting. It looked… cute. Like a baby bird waiting to be fed.
When I poured the slime liquid into its mouth, it gulped it down eagerly. Then I placed my hand on its head to transfer mana, and again, it absorbed about one-third of my total.
“I’m tired now. That looks like a fine bed over there,” it said, flying over to my bed and promptly falling asleep.
“Isn’t its laid-back attitude just like Hardt’s?”
“Brother, I thought the same. It feels different from before its reincarnation. Maybe it’s because it’s been receiving Hardt’s mana?”
Brother Gerald… I may act recklessly sometimes, but I do try to be considerate of those around me. I’m not that laid-back.
“Hardt, you need to convince the White Dragon. We have to go to the royal palace.”
Ah, right. His Majesty wanted to see the dragon.
“I always thought the egg would just crack in half and the dragon would pop out, but I didn’t expect it to eat its way out. That was surprising.”
“It’s such a rare scene, witnessing a dragon’s reincarnation for the first time.”
“Indeed. It seems the dragon will be staying with us for a while. Things are going to get lively around here.”
Everyone was chatting so casually, but I’m the one who has to look after it.
I didn’t want to give up my bed, so I hurried to prepare a proper sleeping area for the White Dragon.
By its own request, the White Dragon’s bed was placed on the bay window. It said it was the perfect spot for napping, but for some reason, at night, it still sneaked into my bed.
When I told it to sleep in its own bed, it just replied, “Atre sleeps in your bed, so why can’t I?”
Is it… lonely?
When I asked Atre if he was okay with it, he said the bed was big enough, and the two of them slept near my feet, with me sandwiched between them.
“Today’s breakfast is delicious too,” the White Dragon said at the special table for the fluffy ones, munching on its meal.
The morning after reincarnation, as I was about to leave the room saying, “Atre, let’s go eat breakfast together,” the White Dragon immediately declared, “I’m coming too,” and followed us.
When we got to the dining hall, seeing all the fluffy ones enjoying their breakfast, the dragon demanded, “I want some too.”
I pointed out that it shouldn’t need food since I’d given it mana, but apparently, watching everyone eat made it curious.
An urgent breakfast was prepared, and as the White Dragon devoured its food, it declared,
“Delicious! From now on, I’m eating with everyone,” its face a sticky mess from salad dressing, looking for all the world like a little child.
Later, when the fluffy ones said they were going to the hot spring, the White Dragon perked up, “There’s a hot spring here? I’m coming too,” and tagged along.
“So it’s free-flowing and you can bathe anytime… Plus, there’s even a private bath… I’m satisfied,” it said contentedly. That much I understood, since it liked the purification effect of the hot spring.
Another time, it saw the fluffy ones playing with magic and insisted on joining. Dodging the spells aimed at it, the dragon puffed up proudly,
“Even freshly reincarnated, I can dodge this easily!”
But Atre nailed it with an ice ball, sending it rolling across the ground.
Watching all the fluffy ones playing together, my brothers and I commented,
“Even though it talks like an adult, its actions are totally childish.”
“It really doesn’t like being left out, huh? Are dragons always this friendly?”
Even if you ask me… I have no idea.
What do you think about this chapter?
