On the fourth day, they went to a history museum.
The goal was to learn about the history of dragonslayers. It was the one thing the girl truly wanted. She had stopped showing interest in just about every other place in the city, but this one was different.
If there was any hope…
Heat raced around the girl’s body. Her heart pounded in her chest.
…it could only be found in combat.
The blood of the dragon flowed in her veins. There was nothing to do but to use her inhuman power to take command of humans, just as in the old legends—from a time when dragons ruled the world.
Displayed in the history museum were tools and weapons that had been used to slay dragons. She was also able to get an understanding of the functionality of the latest weaponry. She observed this information with bloodshot eyes, drilling it into her head, and understood it.
“Ha-ha…” A laugh slipped from the girl’s lips. “Ha…ha-ha…”
She covered her mouth. The visitors going back and forth eyed her with suspicion.
Let them think what they want. How could I not laugh?
It was absurd.
“To think that human science has developed so much…”
The naval fleet that had attacked the dragon’s island had been no more than a diversion. It had served as reconnaissance, to see how powerful the dragon was—and as a way to dispose of a ship that was no longer in production.
The people who had been sent to attack Eden had not been regular, trained soldiers. They’d been death-row inmates and exiled criminals given weapons.
A movie projector played in black-and-white on the museum screen.
A dragon even larger than the silver dragon was engaged in combat with humans.
No…not humans, but a machine.
A vehicle made of iron. It was equipped with a large gun barrel.
It was apparently called a heavily armored tank.
The gun barrel on top of the tank aimed at the dragon.
The Balmung Cannon. That was the name of the armament.
The black-and-white footage had no audio.
For an instant, the screen went all white, and then a moment later, there was a great hole in the chest of the giant dragon.
When the giant dragon fell, the footage shuddered violently. There was a boom as a curtain of dust was swept up.
How could they hope to fight something like that?
The power of a dragon was so outdated.
✦ ✦ ✦
<Live with me, in human form. In some faraway village,> the girl said to the young man when they left the museum.
<I can’t do that. Please, try to understand.>
I can’t understand, the girl said. <So what about God? I don’t care about Him, or demons, or angels. I…> After a pause, the girl eventually steeled herself and opened her mouth again. <I love you.>
The man nodded as well. <I love you, too.>
That’s not what I mean, the girl said. <I love you as a father… But in another sense, as well…>
The man’s eyes opened wide, and he covered his face with a hand. <…Oh, what a disaster. Even in Eden, this is not allowed.>
<Because I’m human…and you’re a dragon?>
<You understand that’s not the reason, don’t you?>
There was no problem with a union between human and dragon. Since Eden was a place of freedom, even a human and wolf could be united.
The problem was that their relationship was that of parent and child. Even if they were not related by blood, romantic feelings between parent and child were one of the few taboos that existed in Eden.
Even the girl had to know of that taboo. But the words that flowed out of her could not be stopped. <It’s because I love you that I want you to live.>
The man’s faith kept him from answering.
<I see,> the girl muttered. <You’re content with dying, no matter what?> she asked the dragon.
<…Yes.>
<Then I will die with you.>
<But…>
<Being in this city has taught me something. Dragons have no allies anywhere in the world.>
So I will be the only one.
<I will be the only one to remain by your side, until the very end.>
Looking at the girl’s face, the man was surprised.
The anger that had just been burning with in her, the ugly hate, the forbidden love—it was all gone.
Humans might call that look understanding—or perhaps resignation.
The dragon could not tell the difference.
<I’ll go with you to the Kingdom of Eternity,> the girl said. <There…will I be allowed to love you?>
<Yes… If it’s in the Kingdom of Eternity, then surely…>
No rules or taboos existed in the Kingdom of Eternity. It was a place of true freedom.
When they left the lands of men, it was as if an evil spirit left the girl as well.
As she was now, God would surely save her.
With this belief in his heart, the dragon returned with the girl to the island, deciding they would welcome the destruction that would one day visit—together.
✦ ✦ ✦
The island was peaceful for a time.
In the unchanging paradise of animals, abundant fruit grew, and the temple was magnificent and beautiful.
Perhaps the four days they had spent in the lands of men had just been a bad dream. There couldn’t be any place in the world that was truly so horrible. Since returning to the island, they knew nothing but peace.
✦ ✦ ✦
Four years passed, and the girl turned sixteen.
Showered by the blood of the dragon and eating the fruit of knowledge that grew from the tree of life, plus having continuously slaked her thirst on nectar, she possessed near-perfect physical beauty. Her visage was incredibly close to that of the very first woman, created by God.
Her heart was open, her expressions abundant.
Every night, the girl sang songs of love to the dragon.
Her voice was so sweet that it just about melted the dragon’s mind away. At times, he felt that he might yield himself to her.
I like you.
The dragon replied that he liked her, too.
I love you.
The dragon replied that he loved her, too.
The dragon’s resolve remained firm. He made sure things never progressed any further.
It was because he loved the girl. So long as they committed no taboo and lived righteously, they would be united when they met in the Kingdom of Eternity.
Thinking of the destruction that would visit soon, nothing would be more foolish than to reciprocate the girl’s true feelings. To abandon their eternal lives in a paradise in exchange for a few years of pleasure…
✦ ✦ ✦
The day of destruction came without warning.
The dragon was asleep in the temple. The girl wore a crimson dress and cuddled up next to him, singing a song of love in his ear.
The sonorous melody stopped abruptly.
The girl had noticed something strange.
First came the stench. It was a faint smell that only the girl noticed.
Next, the sound.
A sound like bee’s buzzing lightly struck her ears. Next, there came the sound of something crumbling. She could hear it from the other side of the white dome.
Suddenly, there was a roar, and the temple shuddered. The dragon’s eyes opened, and he raised his head.
The girl and dragon left the temple.
The girl had thought that when their last day on the island finally came, she would be fighting a tank.
But what she and the dragon faced was none other than a fighter aircraft. There were countless hunks of metal flying through the night sky.
The attack was an air raid.
The dragon beat the air with his wings. Stirring up a violent wind, he leaped into the sky.
With his fangs, claws, and the fire from his mouth, he fought the fighter aircraft.
Having no wings, there was nothing at all the girl could do to help.
✦ ✦ ✦
The silver dragon was strong.
He brought down one, two, three fighter aircraft.
It was no wonder the girl’s heart was racing so hard.
Since his bravery, his boldness, and his great size were symbols of invincibility to her.
Since even knowing how high performance human weapons were, the girl had never seen the silver dragon lose even once.
The fighter aircraft fled.
The dragon pursued them.
The girl followed the dragon as he headed to the cove. All she could do was watch and wait.
…At first, she thought she was mistaken.
Even though there was no way he could be wounded, it looked as if the dragon was flying lower.