Chapter 153: The Sky for The Two
My first experience flying with Lyla was――
「――Woaaaaah.」
The stars are blinking in the night sky――
「Uwaaaaaa――」
More like shaking rather than blinking――
「Uuun――Waaaaa!!」
Well, it was I who was shaking!
The riding quality was awful!!!
I MEAN IT!!
「AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」I clung tightly to Lyla’s neck, desperately holding on as we ascended and descended with every frantic flap of her wings, trying not to be thrown off her back. The icy night wind howled violently in my ears――
「Ahahaha, ufufufufu.」
And through the wind, I could faintly hear Lyla’s cheerful voice. She must be really happy to be able to fly with me.
I mean… Didn't she get too carried away!?
「L――LYLA――――AAAAA!!」
Almost biting my tongue, I couldn’t help but scream out loud.
「Y-Yes!」
Lyla turned her head slightly and glanced back at me. Thanks to her spreading her wings and shifting to gliding, the shaking settled down for a moment.
「How do you feel about riding on my back!?」
In her eyes, filled with a hopeful, innocent gaze like a pure maiden’s, I was momentarily at a loss for words, stammering.
「W――Wait, the shaking is too much!」
I underestimated it. The White Dragon I rode during the assault plan was bad enough, but I thought Lyla would be more considerate and that the shaking would be a bit gentler.
But once I got on, it was far beyond a wild horse level. With every beat of her wings, the movements of her body were intense. Thrust upward only to be dragged down, testing my grip and strength to the limit.
「A… Sorry! Is the shaking unbearable…?」
「Y-Yeah… A bit…!」
Seeing Lyla's dragon head drop a bit. it was clear how downcast she felt. The guilt began to pile up inside me.
――Come to think of it, her flying style was in fact passed down from the proud Faravgis. Thus, it was only natural that she wouldn’t consider the rider’s comfort since that was how it was supposed to be.
Complaining about something passed down from her late father was… Well, It was akin to asking someone to carry you while running and then whining due to discomfort, "Can you make it less shaky?" That was just disrespectful!
「It seems that going unprepared is a fatal mistake―― Lyla, would it be okay if I made a loop with bones around your neck? I think that would make things more stable!」
During the assault plan, I was secured with sturdy ropes, but now, with no saddle or safety harness, I’m just clinging on to her with my bare hands. It was definitely getting a bit too dangerous.
「Of course! Feel free to do as you like…!」
Right after I had obtained her permission, I manipulated the bones to form a necklace around Lyla’s neck. I could almost hear an older soldier’s sigh, muttering, "Got no choice I guess…".
Now that my hands were secured, it felt more comfortable than before.
Lyla was being considerate, gliding instead of flapping her wings too much. I finally had the chance to enjoy the scenery.
「Oooh!」
I could see the city of Reijū’s territory illuminated by moonlight. Despite being the stronghold of the darklings, lanterns were placed everywhere, making it brighter than a poorly lit human city at night.
Far below, in an open space near the forest, I could see the night elf maids anxiously watching us from afar, appearing like tiny specks. Just thinking about falling from this height made me a bit nervous.
But more than that―― I was thrilled. Flying on a dragon's back wasn't a new experience to me, but the fact that I’m riding with Lyla was what truly made it special.
For the first time since my rebirth, I felt true freedom. Free from the watchful eyes of the dragon race and no darkling around me.――
「… Thank you, Lyla!」
I spontaneously thanked Lyla.
「I feel like I could fly to my heart's desire!」
How much easier life would be if I could just forget everything and travel freely…
「Ahahaha!」
Lyla was laughing carelessly. It might have been the first time I’d seen her smile so freely and without restraint.
「I――Actually feel the same way!」
If she wanted to, she could fly anywhere. Yet, Lyla kept circling around without straying too far from the Reiju capital.
「The shaking is the worst, though!」
「Got it!」
As the altitude decreased, Lyla flapped her wings again. I firmly gripped the bone handle and lowered my back to regain my balance.
Yeah, I’m starting to get used to it. But the recoil from the flapping of her wings causes Lyla’s body to descend, making my own body lift and almost shake loose. I really need something like a dragon saddle to securely anchor my body. I’ll look into it when we get back to the Demon King castle.
「… So beautiful.」
We were gliding smoothly as we climbed higher using an upward draft. Now, I could almost reach out and touch the cottony clouds.
At this altitude, nightbirds were rarely seen. Just the two of us, Lyla and I. The wind was freezing cold, and the world stretched out before us was clear and serene――
「… I've actually never flown this high before.」
Lyla's slightly pitched voice was being carried out by the wind.
「My father's memories… Included his experience of flying even higher than this.」
…
「Yup… Flying is so fun…!」
Lyla said those words with a heartfelt tone. And I admit that she was right. Even just riding along was already exhilarating.
Which reminds me again about the fact that Lyla was a dragon after all.
And then―― I couldn’t help but reflect on the unfortunate fate between me and Faravugi, Lyla’s circumstances, and the strange fate that binds us together.
「… I'm glad that I met you.」
I gently placed my hand on her silver scales. The heat and vitality of her powerful dragon body radiated through her scales and were transmitted to my hand.
The past, and the fact that I killed Faravugi with my own hand, wouldn't change, no matter what happened.
But bringing it up repeatedly was just self-indulgent and disrespectful to Lyla.
All I could express was gratitude and prayers.
「I feel the same…! I’m so glad I met you…!」
Lyla's voice seems to be shaking.
――And sneeze.
Suddenly, water dripped on my face..
Rain? … There were no clouds on top of us, though.
And then, I saw something glistening trailing down Lyla's cheek――
But in the cold, clear wind, it was quickly dispersed, vanishing in an instant.
Like diamond dust――
「…」
We didn’t speak any further, perhaps that was because words were no longer necessary.
Our hearts were one.
As we slowly descend in a spiral pattern, Lyla maintains her altitude. Feeling her passion, I gaze towards the far end of the horizon.
Far off, what once felt like a distant, separated world—the alliance territory—now felt just within reach, as if it were right next to us.
I finally ended up riding on Lyla's back. Since I acted on my own without consulting beforehand, Platy might give me a lot of scolding later.
However, my level of freedom will increase significantly. Thus, even when I return to the Demon King Castle, "what to do in my free time" now includes "a skywalk."
There are countless choices and possibilities now. It was exciting in a way, but also a bit terrifying stepping into the unknown.
Still, it must be done.
Regardless of what everyone said… I am here.
I am the hero destined to defeat the Demon King and save humanity!
I should choose a slow but steady path.
Regardless, once the skywalk with Lyla became a norm, Platy wouldn’t have much to say about it…
†††
Thus, I returned to the patriarch's mansion.――
And sat on a self-reflection chair.
「… So, what does this mean?」
Platy asked me with an irritated face as she tapped her folding fan on her hand.
I took back what I said before.
I'm definitely going to get an earful from her.
My first CN project, why waifu though? Well, coz the main heroine's job is buying soy sauce till the end of act 1
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Harem, Hero, Demon King, Seven Deadly Sin, Seven Virtue, Sacred Beast, Sword and Magic, Dystopian Future, DESTINY PROJECT HAD IT REALIZED!, Dungeon, Dragon, 72 Demons, Reincarnations
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