The unsettling roar echoed through the Dragonkin Village.
Though such cries were to be expected in a forest inhabited by Dragonkin, this particular one carried a sinister edge that was hard to ignore.
「Simone, about that dragon just now—what kind of Dragonkin is it?」
「Let’s see… The best way to describe it would be as the chief of this forest.」
「The chief, huh?」
It seemed this dragon held a significant position among the Dragonkin.
However, Simone’s expression remained grim.
It was clear that something deeply troubling was tied to this chief.
「Is the source of your concern that dragon?」
「Yes… The chief is in great distress right now.」
「Just from that roar, you could tell the situation is dire.」
「It didn’t sound like a normal dragon’s cry.」
Having spent more time with Simone, Kiara and Martina seemed well-versed in dragon behavior.
The real question, however, was what had driven the chief to such a desperate state.
「What exactly happened? From what Kiara and Martina said, it’s clearly no small matter.」
「The truth is… it’s about food.」
「「「「「Food!? 」」」」」
The shock was unanimous—not just among the farm members, but even among fellow Dragonkin like Vinessa and Eselda.
「F-Food? How is that related to such a terrifying roar?」
「Wait. I’ve heard of this before.」
Vinessa said, regaining her composure before anyone else.
Her sharp expression hinted at familiarity with the situation. Considering her past and the apparent connection she had to the dragonkin responsible for the roar, she likely had a hunch about what was happening.
「If you know something, please tell us.」
Vinessa hesitated, her gaze flickering between Simone and Eselda. Picking up on her intent, the two nodded silently. After a deep breath, Vinessa began to explain.
「Among Dragonkin, there’s a taboo that sets us apart from ordinary dragons: we must never eat humans. It’s a strict code we follow.」
「A-a taboo against eating humans…」
This was news to me, and shocking at that. Simone admitted she had kept it from us due to the sensitive nature of the topic.
「I’m guessing that roar was an expression of their desire to consume humans.」
「W-What!? A Dragonkin who wants to eat humans!?」
「Apparently, there’s a time when some of us are overwhelmed by such urges. I’ve never experienced it myself, though—it’s more of a whispered rumor than anything else.」
Simone and Eselda confirmed they had never gone through such an ordeal, but the legend was a well-known one among their kind.
…Suddenly, moving forward felt much more daunting.
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