(Rudeus POV)
Things with Hiryū were easier than anyone had thought. As I had predicted, he stayed loyal and obedient towards every one of my commands.
To show the others that he won't be a threat to us anymore, I sat on his head on the way back.
I offered Soldat and the others to take a seat as well, but they refused, saying that my presence there would be enough.
As it was considered normal, the reaction of Timothy and the others had been no more than a little shock.
After a bit of explaining from both Susanne and Soldat, the other soon understood the situation.
We continued our way to Sharia, except for me still sitting on Hiryū who was walking far behind the horse-drawn carriage.
Those poor animals. Having to labor while trembling over the combustible winged creature walking behind them.
Weirdly enough, I had someone with me here, and I can't help but feel like this person is pushing themselves too much.
"You know you don't need to stay by my side, right?"
"N-No. That thing and you are already a bad combination." Sara replied, sitting behind me, fear still evident in her.
I don't know if she insisted on sitting on Hiryū's with me because she is worried, or because she and the others still don't trust me to be alone somewhere.
"I still can't believe you took it in. It nearly killed you."
"That's why I'm having this ready."
To ensure that ensure that he wouldn't dare to do something out of order, I kept my poison sword in my hand and held it tight on the hilt.
To be fair, I don't know if the level of poison I can conjure with it can even harm him enough. But, I sincerely hope that it will not come to this in the first place.
Whenever we would make a stop, I ordered Hiryū to take a rest further away from the road.
Instead of taking a rest, he kept looking out for incoming threats while standing at the ready.
The others were still skeptical about it, but as they saw that he will not do any more harm, they accepted his presence but still didn't approve it.
Meanwhile, as I continued with some of my training, I worked on making an eyepatch for Hiryū.
It was a black metal plate with my Great World Power symbol on it, marking him fully as my pet.
He didn't refuse me putting it on it with a few stitches to the flesh, taking it in as another marking of loyalty.
"Grrr."
"I know, buddy. I noticed them too."
Just like me, he seems to have detection capabilities too. It was obvious to me the moment he shot his [Fireball] at me in Rosenburg.
And right now, a horde of monsters is coming our way.
"Finally, I get to test out my sword against something that moves."
There are some effects from my Toxic Magic that I haven't tested out yet, so having some monsters in sight is beyond perfect.
"Alright, let's gooOOOH-"
Before I could get off Hiryū's head, he flew up in the sky, the area around his head getting heated. Seems like I wasn't the only one eager to fight again.
When I was about to call off Hiryū to stop, my passenger screamed and hugged my head from behind.
Although not in direct to skin, having my the back of my head get mushed between modest sized breasts was something the degenerate me couldn't resist.
I was in such a bliss that the world around me became completely silent.
As I was enjoying what I had dream off (literally), I was moved around while holding on to both my sword and Hiryū's feathers.
A few seconds later, the bubble I was in popped and my head was removed from the comforting space it was in.
"RUDEUS!"
"Huh? Wha… eh?"
Once Soldat's voice reached my ears, I looked around to see that I wasn't in a dream at all.
"Did she suffocate you or why haven't you answered me?"
"What? I don't even- oooohhh."
Now looking at the sight directly before Hiryū's snout, there lied remains of burned up monster corpses on the road with lined up trails of fire.
The carriage we were behind at was now behind us.
Hiryū must've flown above it before attacking the horde of monsters with his fire.
"Any explanation for this?" Soldat said, practically demanding it in his tone.
"Just a theory." I answered before turning my attention to the dragon I'm sitting on.
"Hey now, just because you're my loyal pet doesn't mean you can act on your own. Small threat or not, don't think you should spare me little threats because I shouldn't bother myself about it."
His reply to my was a disapproving huff. What a prideful menace.
"How hard were you enjoying this that you practically didn't notice him obliterating those small fries?" Soldat asked.
"Oh, shut up. Even I need some things to get a sense of comfort."
This guy. Doesn't even understand how tough it can be to shoulder a world renowned rank.
"I-I think I'll ride on the carriage for the rest of the way."
Scared of the incident, Sara decided to get off Hiryū and join the others.
"Sara, I'm sorry. I didn't-"
"No, no, it's okay. He only did what he thought was protecting you."
She wasn't looking at me and didn't sound like she was mad, but saying that Hiryū protected us was a sign that she started to see how he's redeeming himself for what he did. That or she is afraid that he can still do so much damage despite the state he was in recently.
Once I fixed the road, we proceeded on our trip with the same formation as before.
"Thank you." I said out loud to Hiryū while looking ahead.
He was confused as to what I was thanking him for but after a few seconds he just shrugged it off.
This experienced he has caused made two things obvious to me.
First, I need to give him proper rules to have for cases similar to that one. Before we arrive at Sharia, I should give him a signal should there be some kind of incident that requires his strength, like a signal flare for emergencies.
The second problem... is my pride as a man.
I know very well that I'm stressed out. But to go as far as becoming deaf? And to top of it all, right in front of everyone. I feel so embarrassed.
A part of me feels like it got its pride damaged, but the other more desperate part says only one thing.
'I wish it could've lasted longer. Wait, do I have that from Zenith? I remember her being the... hugging, type of person.'
While that last part made oddly enough sense, it also showed just how much Zenith has longed for her beloved son's attention more.
While that intrusive thought kicked in, another started forming.
Have I developed feelings of love towards Sara? If so, then... should I try it out?
It's not like we don't care for each other currently, so I should probably do the first step.
Just one thing was immediately clear.
'Let's ask anyone except Soldat for advice.'
I don't wanna turn into another Paul and just go after her body for a short-term relationship.
Let's make Zenith proud and keep it as a true gentleman.
Well, until the special night part starts. Obviously, I can drop the act there.
I felt a bit of saliva dropping off my mouth but knew, this was a foreseen reaction.
You will not be missed, virginity.
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