Chapter 2

The battle is still ahead.

After taking several short breaks during the four-hour flight, Real landed the dragon at the foot of a mountain range they had just crossed.

"Thank you. I couldn't have made it without you. Take a good rest."

Real scratched the dragon's jaw and offered words of gratitude, then took a few steps back. The dragon let out a chirping sound that seemed to be a farewell greeting, and was enveloped by light that appeared from an array on the ground. As the light covered the dragon's entire body and it disappeared, the light gradually faded and vanished, along with the array on the ground. This was the reverse of the process when Real summoned the dragon. The first time he saw it, he was completely taken aback.

It's a summoning magic that allows one to call a contracted being to their side.

Indeed, in this fantasy world, as expected, 'magic' exists as a symbol of fantasy. And the driving force of magic, 'mana,' is as common to the people of this world as 'electricity' is to us.

"Haaachoo!"

I sneezed, hugging my arms around my body, which was frozen stiff. The altitude of the mountain we just crossed was incredibly high. The upper part was even piercing through the clouds? We crossed such a high altitude in our school uniforms? It wasn't just cold; it was bone-chilling. The only fortunate thing was that my uniform was a long-sleeved gakuran, but it was only a small comfort.

"Sorry about that."

Real lightly drew a symbol in the air, and a flame appeared at her fingertips. She held it out in front of her, and the flame separated from her fingers, growing into a fire in the air.

"Ah... I feel better."

The physical warmth almost made me tear up.

"In such high altitudes, we usually wear cold-weather gear, but this time it was an emergency, so I used fire-element magic as a substitute... It seems it wasn't enough, huh?"

As the dragon gradually ascended, Real used fire-element magic to keep us warm, but it wasn't entirely effective. The wind blew through everywhere, making it unbearably cold. She looked apologetic, acknowledging her lack of power.

"I only have basic proficiency in elemental magic. I'm sorry for making you suffer from the cold."

"If it weren't for that, I would have definitely frozen to death."

If I had lost consciousness, I might have ascended to heaven. I wonder what kind of heaven I would be summoned to in this different world.

By the way, Real doesn't seem to be cold at all?

"I'm not good with elemental magic, but I'm skilled with enhancement magic. I cast a cold-resistance spell on myself. I'm good with defensive magic."

I see.

"From here, we should be fine for a few days. It would take at least three days, even if we estimate lightly, to cross this mountain from the castle."

"Wouldn't the pursuers come on dragons too?"

"Even if they did, there aren't many dragons that can cross this mountain. To be a bit boastful, the dragon I contracted is among the top tier of dragon species. It has a high flight ceiling and speed."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. As I said, that dragon is a species that doesn't easily get attached to humans. It's rare for anyone, regardless of race, to contract with it."

In other words, Real, who managed to contract with such a rare dragon, must be quite remarkable. Impressed, I noticed Real blushing slightly under my gaze.

"Well, even if it's rare, it's not impossible. There are those who have contracted with even greater beings, making me seem insignificant."

Perhaps to hide her embarrassment, she tried to downplay her achievement. Her unusually fidgety gestures made the usually dignified Real look cute.

"Let's get back to the topic. Even if there are pursuers, we should be fine if we stay in a nearby village for the night. Dragons can fly fast, but they aren't good at sustained flight with passengers. Four hours is the limit, as we did this time."

It's like the gears of an engine. Low speed provides power but not speed, while high speed provides speed but not power.

"Besides, it's getting dark. We need to stay somewhere anyway."

We can see a small village of houses after crossing the mountain, so we know the location. We didn't land the dragon near the village to avoid drawing attention. While magic itself is common, summoning magic is quite rare. Dragons, in particular, are rare, so they inevitably attract attention.

"......If it's attention, wouldn't your ears also attract attention?"

I pointed to her long, twitching ears.

"That's not a problem. The shape of these ears is the same as those of elves. My mother is an elf, so I'm a half-elf."

The elf comment came up. The second symbol of fantasy. For someone who loves two-dimensional worlds, it's irresistible. I'm a bit of a fan and have a thing for cute things. Seeing her ears twitch, I can't help but want to touch them.

"Elves are far fewer in number compared to humans, but they do exist. You can find them in the town below the castle if you look. It's not uncommon for elf travelers to visit remote villages."

"Like bards?"

The elves in the works I know are often associated with playing the harp or flute.

"You know a lot. Yes, elves have sharp fingertips and are skilled with instruments, often singing in the streets for both fun and to earn travel expenses. I can't play, though."

"So, we should act like traveling mercenaries and their attendant, right?"

"That would be the safest. I'm sorry to treat you as an attendant, but—"

"It's fine, really. I'm the one who's been a burden."

"Being saved by you is a lifelong debt for me. This is the least I can do."

Although I was forcibly summoned to this world, meeting this woman was undoubtedly a stroke of luck for me. While she said this, I wished to repay her in my own way.

......At this moment, both Real and I had completely forgotten, or perhaps we couldn't have realized:

The mountain we crossed on the dragon had a special spiritual significance for the country.

The simple warmth from Real's less proficient magic allowed me to cross the pass.

Finally, the 'conditions' under which I was summoned to this world.

"Haaachoo! Ugh... I want to take a bath as soon as possible. Is there even a bath? Maybe it's a luxury?"

"There's usually one in every three houses. It's a given in inns."

"Awesome! If there's good food and a bath, I can survive anywhere!"

The healing dragon won't appear for a while. It's a reliable partner for Real, so it will reappear later. Chirp chirp.

The detailed explanation of magic will come later.