Chapter 4: The Unexpected Visitor

The two of them followed the old man. Inside the village, Reika noticed familiar details that reminded her of Japan. The place kind of resembled an older era of Japan. She saw women wearing ragged clothes that had some similarities to kimonos, along with accessories like hairpins and pottery.

"This is..."

"All of these strange materials came from my son's vision," the old man explained. "Thanks to him, life in the village became easier."

After a few minutes, the old man stopped in front of a large house. Unlike the other houses in the village, this one stood out.

It resembled a Minka, a traditional Japanese house. While not particularly beautiful or well-crafted, its architecture had a striking resemblance to that style.

The old man slowly opened the gate.

"Come inside."

Reika paused for a moment. Seeing the resemblance around her, her memories of Japan suddenly resurfaced.

Sigh... Eating ramen after school, hanging out with my friends, working those night shifts to earn extra money... even my grandparents.

She looked outside the gate and saw the bustling village ahead, then she turned back and continued to walk inside.

Reika sat on the floor beside Soru. The old man stepped out of the room for a moment.

I wonder what they're doing right now, especially Grandpa and Grandma...

She stopped reminiscing when she noticed something on a bookshelf, not far behind Soru. Reika stood up and crouched down to inspect it.

Among the small collection of books, one in particular caught her attention.

Hm?

She saw a handmade book with a title written in kanji at the center. Reika picked it up and began to read the front title of it.

"Great Forest of Drys's Records of Monster Beasts..."

So, that's what the forest is called...?

Just then, the old man entered the room, carrying a wooden plate with several cups. He set it on the table and sat down across from them.

He noticed the book in Reika's hands.

"Ah, you've taken an interest in that book?"

"Uh... Yes."

"Well, have some tea first, before it cools down."

Reika set the book aside and picked up one of the cups. She sipped carefully, while Soru followed in silence.

After she finished her tea, Reika placed the cup back on the table and picked up the book again.

"You want to read it?" the old man asked with a smile.

"Mhm," Reika replied, then flipped open the cover of the handmade book.

On the first page, a note was neatly written in kanji at the center:

These records are intended to help understand the species in the Great Forest of Drys. Handle with care. —Fumeirō

Reika turned the page and found herself drawn into the book's contents.

Each page revealed simple yet astonishing illustrations of various monster beasts, their features brought to life with remarkable detail. Alongside the sketches were descriptions detailing their appearances, known strengths, weaknesses, and even their hunting seasons.

"Amazing, huh?"

Reika glanced at the old man. "Fumeirō... is this your son's work?"

The old man smiled warmly.

"Yes," he replied. "My son, Fumeirō, gathered this information with the help of the villagers. He asked them about the monsters they've seen in the Great Forest of Drys—their appearances, behaviors, and traits. Some of these creatures, even our ancestors never knew existed. Yet, Fumeirō managed to document them."

"To some extent, hee would sneak into the forest himself to observe these beasts up close, drawing them with his own eyes so we might all be better prepared for what lies within that untamed wilderness."

"At first, I scolded him countless times," he added with a weary chuckle. "I told him it was dangerous, that going in alone would only bring him harm. But no matter how much I warned him, he kept disobeying me. He always insisted he was careful, that he kept his distance and made sure not to be seen. I kept scolding him again and again... until one day, I just got tired and let him do what he wanted."

He glanced at the book in Reika's hands.

"In the end, what he did turned out to be invaluable for the villagers. That book became a guide. It helps them decide when to enter the forest, what dangers to avoid, and which beasts are edible or poisonous to humans. His work saved lives."

While the old man spoke, Reika kept flipping through the pages. When she turned to the next one, her eyes widened.

This...

She studied the detailed illustration of a snarling creature. Beneath it, written in neat kanji, was the name: Rabid Wolf.

The wolf we saw earlier... it's called a Rabid Wolf?

Curiosity pushed her to turn another page. This time, an image sent a chill down her spine—a creature with two powerful hind legs and a massive pair of wings. The caption below read: Wyvern.

There’s no mistaking it... That flying lizard that spat flames at us—it was a Wyvern.

She flipped to the next page and paused at another familiar image. A lizard-like creature with menacing eyes stared back at her. Below it, the word Basilisk was written.

Reika’s pace quickened as she searched through more pages, hoping to find anything else she might recognized. One after another, the illustrations passed until her hands stopped on a single page.

"Hm..."

The illustration stood out—more detailed and vivid than the others she just saw in the records. Reika leaned in, drawn to the care put into capturing the monster’s form.

It had huge claws and leathery, bat-like wings. Its lizard-like body looked similar to a Wyvern, but it had four strong legs. Jagged scales covered its frame, tough enough to deflect blades.

"Oho... the Wildfire Dragon Veylir," the old man said with a nostalgic smile. "He drew it exactly as I described it!"

Reika looked at the text below. The old man guessed it right.

"Did he... actually see this dragon with his own eyes?" Reika asked, her voice quiet but full of curiosity.

The old man burst into laughter.

"HAHAHA! If that were true, it’d be nothing short of a miracle!"

Reika stared at him with a serious expression. The old man noticed her gaze and stopped laughing further.

"Ahem... He didn’t see the dragon. Like I said, he only drew it based on what I told him years ago."

"When I was young, I sneaked into the forest out of curiosity. Somehow, I got lost, not realizing how deep I’d gone. Like any child, I panicked and cried out in fear."

"Miraculously, none of the monsters noticed me. I wandered without direction, unaware I was moving deeper into the forest..."

He paused and glanced outside the room.

"While searching for a way out, I saw a shadow in the sky. It was massive—far larger than any bird or beast I’d ever seen. I dove into the nearest bush, afraid the creature would spot me."

"It was a dragon—the Calamity Dragon, to be exact."

"It was enormous—far bigger than any wyvern I’d seen. Its body was long and serpentine, with wings wide enough to block out the sun. Sharp crests lined its head, and its claws looked strong enough to tear through anything. Its scales were deep maroon, like crimson fire mixed with the dark wood of a burning forest."

"This dragon that you speak of—how did you know it was one you saw years ago?" Reika asked.

"Because my great-grandmother also saw it with her own eyes, too."

The old man sighed, took a sip from his cup before he continued.

"I remember my late mother once told me that a dragon lives in the Great Forest of Drys and serves as its guardian. Not just any dragon, but a named one."

"She said my great-grandmother told my grandmother, who passed it on to her—that the same dragon once went on a rampage and set part of the forest ablaze. A sea of fire swallowed everything. Plants, beasts, all of it consumed by flames!"

"My mother pointed out that its senses are sharper than any ordinary monsters. She said I was lucky it didn’t see me, but I always believed it did. Although, it probably spared me because I wasn’t a threat… or maybe it just wasn’t hungry at that time, hahaha."

"When the dragon finally vanished from view, I ran as fast as I could. I didn’t stop until I found my father, who’d been searching for me for hours. He was furious... and gave me a beating of a lifetime..."

The old man drank from his cup again and emptied it.

"My mother also told me there are other Calamity Dragons besides the Wildfire Dragon," the old man said. "But I don’t know what they look like. Even my great-grandmother never saw them—only the Wildfire Dragon."

"Though I’d love to see the others in my lifetime... I doubt I’ll get the chance, given my age."

Reika listened quietly as he lowered his head.

"Well, being one of the oldest races on the continent, they live far longer than humans. A century to us is like a decade to them. I've also heard that they rarely leave their dens, so seeing one is a once-in-a-lifetime event..."

"I see..." Reika murmured.

The old man glanced at the empty cups. Just then, a thought lit up his face.

"Oh! I forgot to ask your names..." he said, lifting his head and bowing slightly.

Reika and Soru bowed in return.

"I am Silas, the current chief of Signas Village."

Reika straightened up. "I am... Mi-Reika Mitsuha. And he’s—"

"Shin Soru."

Reika's cheek suddenly twitched for a moment.

Not only he didn’t greet on a proper manner, he even said his last name first!

"So you're Miss Reika, and he's... Mister Shin."

"A-Ah, no, no. His actual name is Soru. Shin is just his family name..."

"Oh..."

Silas watched them, eyeing their strange clothes—clear signs they came from somewhere unfamiliar.

They must be nobles, judging by those clothes and the use of a second name. But why are they speaking Japanese? I didn’t expect anyone outside this region to use it, especially not on this continent...

While he wondered, Reika secretly leaned on Soru and whispered something in his ear.

“H-Hey! You know we’re not from here, and you still gave your family name first—”

Her words were cut short when a loud scream rang out from outside. The scream quickly grabbed their attention.

"AHHHHHHHH!"

Silas snapped back when he heard a loud scream outside his house. Without hesitation, he ran out the door. Just then, the old man stopped trembled. His eyes widened in disbelief at the sight in the sky.

I-Isn't that... T-The Wildfire Dragon, V-Veylir...?

Reika and Soru quickly followed the old man. When they reached him, they saw the scene unfold right before their eyes.

What had once been a peaceful, bustling place was now engulfed in flames. The flames spread rapidly, devouring everything in their path. Even the intense heat managed to reach them. Screams, cries, and desperate shouts for help filled the air.

Everything was in chaos.

Soru noticed the enormous monster rampaging through the village from a distance. He pointed toward the sky. "Mitsuha-san, look over there."

Reika turned and followed the direction his finger pointed.

"That creature... Is that...?"

The creature’s colossal form hovered in the sky. Its wings stretched wide, spanning several meters. A crested head and formidable claws crowned its serpent-like body. Thick, bulky scales covered it, glowing ominously in deep maroon.

There was no mistaking it... That was the Wildfire Dragon Veylir the old man mentioned earlier...!

Reika glanced at Silas, who was already running toward the gate. She understood his intent and decided to follow him.

"Shin-kun, come with me! We must help the village people!"

Without a word, Soru followed Reika.

Surrounded by frantic voices and the deafening sounds of crying and shouting, they reached the center of the village. There, Reika saw Silas helping people escape from the burning houses. On her right, she spotted a child struggling to keep up with her family. Reika quickly ran to the child and offered her help.

Meanwhile, Soru noticed several men desperately trying to douse the flames consuming their homes. He walked toward them calmly. As he moved, he heard Silas shouting in the distance.

"Those who can walk properly, help the other villagers still trapped in their houses! Those who are injured, gather them at the center of the village!"

Although Soru didn’t understand the language, the message was somehow clear to him. He approached one of the men and tapped him on the shoulder. The man turned around and was annoyed by his actions.

"Hey! What are you—"

Without a word, Soru raised his right hand. In an instant, the flames that were about to consume the house in front of them vanished. Not just one, but every fire that raged throughout the village disappeared in the blink of an eye.

The village men who witnessed the miracle stood speechless. Even Reika, who had been watching him closely, realized that Soru was the one who did it. The truth struck her like a bolt of lightning.

Shin-kun... Don’t tell me...?!

“H-He’s the one who saved me back then?!”