Green Life

Akemi started looking around the moment we got out of the cave.

She must have been wondering how the world would look like after 100,000 years.

But there is one other thing that was bothering me.

Will the guards permit Akemi to enter the city?

Maybe I could tell them she is one of the lost people who I found in the forest.

As I started floating, I directed my eyes to Akemi who was still on the ground.

[ Follow me. ] ( Hatsuko )

I said to her.

She tilted her head to the side and looked at me.

[ I can't... ] ( Akemi )

She said as if she was an innocent girl.

[ What do you mean you can't? ] ( Hatsuko )

I asked.

Isn't she a dragon?

[ Most of my powers have been weakened and sealed so I can't use all of them. ] ( Akemi )

She casually said.

So she basically is useless...

Other than knowing the location of the crystal, she does nothing useful.

I don't know the exact time when the city's gate closes so I need to hurry.

Do I leave her here and get her back tomorrow?

[ Hey, why don't you carry me? ] ( Akemi )

She suggested. I could tell from her voice that she was excited about this suggestion.

[ And since when do you order me around? ] ( Hatsuko )

I responded to her. I don't like the fact of having other people order me around.

[ I'm not giving orders, but a proposition! ] ( Akemi )

[ ... ] ( Hatsuko )

I started thinking for a bit as I was floating in the air.

Shiro was looking around with her head out of my hood.

I didn't need to worry about Shiro falling off because I had made a seatbelt attached to my hood with "Materialization" so she would be safe. Of course, she could move around as much as she wanted without worrying.

The sun was also setting as I was thinking.

[ Fine. ] ( Hatsuko )

Akemi showed signs of joy the moment she heard my response.

I landed on the ground near Akemi.

She had her arms opened and eyes closed as if she was expecting me to princess carry her.

[ ... ] ( Hatsuko )

I grabbed her body from the front and placed it over my shoulders.

Her head was hanging from my back and her legs from the front.

{ Authors note: Google "fireman's carry" to understand this situation! }

I grabbed her legs so she wouldn't fall off.

[ You know... This feels so wrong... I'm a dragon you know... ] ( Akemi )

She started sulking as she was being in that position.

[ Even that weak creature is having better treatment than a dragon like me! ] ( Akemi )

She looked at Shiro as she said that.

I started flying in the air while looking around.

There weren't that many monsters around as I thought there would be.

Akemi didn't seem to be bothered by heights.

Well, of course, she is a dragon.

She must have gotten used to flying all the time.

...

.

.

I've been flying for a while and surprisingly Akemi hasn't said a word.

I wonder if she is actually asleep.

I still can't believe that this girl was that massive dragon,

"Hey, how long until we reach the city?" ( Akemi )

As I was on my way to the city, I heard Akemi's voice in my head.

Is she talking to me using "Telepathy"?

I also have that skill but I have never used it before. Do I just think about using it?

"We're almost there" ( Hatsuko )

I responded to her with the same method. It was surprisingly easy.

She could have talked to me directly but it seems it would have been hard because I was flying fast.

Shiro was enjoying the view from up here without having to worry about the air pressure.

Now that I think about it, I only have one bedroom and a kitchen.

Where is Akemi going to sleep?

Sleeping with me is a no!

I don't know what she might do to me while I'm sleeping.

She could do another contract!

Be she did say she was weakened and couldn't use all of her powers.

But still, I can't trust her!

She can go sleep on the floor or with Hina for all I care.

I didn't realize it before but Akemi's body is surprisingly soft and light from what I expected.

Since I thought she was a dragon, I expected her skin to be hard and heavy.

Well, that doesn't matter right now.

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.

.

After some minutes we were reaching the entrance of the city.

As I noticed the entrance hill, I landed on the ground.

[ Are we there yet? ] ( Akemi )

She asked as she was getting off from my shoulder.

[ Yes. ] ( Hatsuko )

She started looking around.

[ But there is nothing here? ] ( Akemi )

I placed my head over the switch to the elevator as she said that.

At first, she weirdly looked at me as I was trying to find the switch.

[ This is the elevator to the entrance! ] ( Hatsuko )

I pointed towards the doors which were opening,

[ Ela...vator? ] ( Akemi )

She started wondering what I was talking about.

As I thought, she doesn't know about elevators.

She also doesn't know at all about humans technology.

[ Just get in here. ] ( Hatsuko )

She started looking all around as if she was watching something impressive.

After she got inside the elevator, I pressed the button to go down.

At first, Akemi looked surprised by the movement of the elevator.

[ H-Hatsuko! The room is moving!! ] ( Akemi )

I ignored her as she was freaking out.

Isn't she a dragon?

How can she be scared of something like this?

[ Calm down! This is an elevator, of course, this room will move. ] ( Hatsuko )

[ R-right... ] ( Akemi )

As the elevator finally reached the lowest level, the doors were opening.

[ Let's go. ] ( Hatsuko )

The moment the doors were opening she started looking all around with an amazed look.

[ This... This is amazing! ] ( Akemi )

We started walking towards the gate of this place.

The guards were still there.

[ I can't believe that Human's houses have changed this much! ] ( Akemi )

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.

.

.

As I explained to the guards about Akemi being a lost person, they finally let us in.

Of course, I didn't tell them the truth about the fact that Akemi was a massive dragon.

Even if I did, I don't think they would believe me.

We started walking towards my apartment while Akemi was looking all over the place as if she was seeing something unbelievable,