Aino stood at a distance, observing the man who had intruded into her territory.
Over the past few days, she had been wandering the outer edges of the forest, honing the magic her body possessed by channeling mana and mentally simulating various scenarios.
Tananoen, the dragon whose body she now inhabited, had been a fervent scholar of magic, its memories a vast repository of spells—some plundered, others self-discovered over thousands of years. Though Aino was still adapting to this new form, she quickly realized her strength was far beyond anything in this region. The outer forest posed no challenge, and even the inner depths and core areas showed no threats under her mana detection.
During her explorations, she stumbled upon a nearly mature spiritual herb, guarded by a magical beast. After turning the beast into her dinner, Aino took its place, guarding the herb herself. She lingered nearby, never lacking food, as the herb’s allure drew countless magical beasts to the area. As the days passed and the herb approached full maturity, an unexpected visitor arrived—a human.
Thanks to Tananoen’s memories, Aino was fluent in dozens of racial languages, including those of humans. From a distance, she called out, “Stop.”
The man froze in place, his muscles tensing, sweat beading on the hand clutching his dagger. He seemed nervous. Though he had been cautious while approaching, his demeanor shifted to fear upon noticing her. To him, shouldn’t she appear as merely a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl? Even with her horns and tail, this world was teeming with diverse races—surely that wouldn’t be so shocking.
Unbeknownst to Aino, the situation was far more perilous from his perspective. As a seasoned adventurer, failing to detect someone nearby despite his full focus suggested her power vastly exceeded his own. In the wild, encountering a being so superior meant his fate hung entirely on her whims—whether she’d toy with him or crush him outright. Treasure-driven murder, racial enmity, or even simple hunger could turn such meetings deadly.
Carter, as the man was called, abandoned any hope of claiming the Nine-Striped Manfruit. With survival now his priority, he slowly loosened his grip on his weapon and spoke in a measured tone, “I’m willing to leave immediately and pretend I saw nothing.”
“I don’t believe you,” Aino replied.
She couldn’t simply let him walk away, yet killing him for merely stumbling into her domain felt unjustifiable. Carter hadn’t anticipated this response, and an uneasy silence settled between them.
“My family is sick and desperately needs money,” he ventured, his mind racing for the right words as Aino’s piercing gaze bore into him. “I mean no harm. Since this fruit is yours, I’ll search for spiritual herbs elsewhere.” Seeing her skepticism persist, he continued to plead his case. To his surprise, she listened intently. Though her expression remained impassive, her internal struggle was palpable.
After a prolonged pause, Aino reached a decision. “Alright, I’ll choose to believe you for now. But if you deceive me, the consequences will be dire.” Her words carried the weight of both a threat and a solemn warning.
As Carter turned to leave, Aino suddenly called him back, handing him a strange red flower. “Take this. Now go.”
“…Thank you,” he murmured.
After his departure, Aino approached the spiritual herb, uncertainty lingering in her mind. Racial tensions often bred hostility, yet this man had communicated calmly and given her no cause for offense, making it impossible for her to harm him. If he spread word of her presence, she wouldn’t regret her choice—she lived by her heart’s guidance, accepting outcomes without remorse. Besides, if it came to that, he’d be the one facing regret.
The Nine-Striped Manfruit’s aura grew stronger, filling Aino with a quiet joy. Sensing its energy, her mana seemed to awaken, like parched skin kissed by water. Her anticipation swelled, her tail wagging unconsciously.
Days later, Aino resolved to enter human territory. She had lost track of how long she’d been in this world, measuring time only by the countless cycles of sunlight and darkness.
For so long, she had survived alone in the forest. Her brief exchange with Carter had been her first conversation since arriving here. She’d glimpsed other humans before but kept her distance, not out of fear of attack, but concern that they might summon reinforcements.
Escalation could draw powerful foes—a hassle she’d rather avoid. Another factor was her social anxiety. How could anyone so effortlessly greet strangers? Had the Nine-Striped Manfruit not been so enticing, she might have surrendered it to avoid interaction altogether.
Yet, while she shied from initiating awkward encounters, she couldn’t endure perpetual solitude. Since inheriting this body, her mindset had shifted. In her past life, she couldn’t have tolerated wandering the wilds without entertainment or companionship.
Now, she strolled calmly through the forest, crossed meadows, studied her mana, and tested the spells in her memory—time slipped by effortlessly. Were she less powerful, she might have opted to “retire” in seclusion for years, as time held little meaning for a dragon. But her current strength, though not yet matching Tananoen’s legendary might, was formidable.
In Tananoen’s estimation, she’d be “decent”—a level where she could raze a dozen cities without meeting an equal. With such power and a low profile minimizing risks, she craved connection. Like mastering a game to invincibility, who could resist testing their skill against others?
Soon, Aino reached the intermediary zone between the city and the forest, a bustling hub where adventurers from various towns gathered before venturing into the woods. Ahead lay the dense, shadowy forest; behind, the city flickered with distant figures. For many, leaving the city was a grim march toward death, while returning with spoils was a triumphant relief.
Aino headed toward the city, noting the somber faces of those she passed. Concealing her horns and tail, she resembled an ordinary girl—delicate and refined. She’d worried about identity checks or being seized as an outsider, but the guards barely glanced her way, their diligence a mere formality. Thus, Miss Black Dragon slipped effortlessly into the human town.
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