[Elmer]

Today, it’s raining heavily.

The rain violently slaps against the room’s window. Before, I would have been depressed in this kind of weather but right now I quite like this situation.

With this, water is full and overflowing. Since I don’t have to particularly gather them, in a day like this, the magic power I need is fewer and it’s easier to use.

That’s right, I’ll say this again, on a rainy day I don’t feel unwell.

Also, I had just noticed that I was placed under house arrest today.

I have practiced magic for five years. Every day, I continued on just resting and reading. I was already convinced that I’ll be able to open my coffe shop for 24-hours as I grow into adulthood.

With this, if everyone thought I am someone extraordinary, if something like that would be possible I should be able to do other work. I even thought of working as a barista in a restaurant if the cafe’s business is slow.

In my fifth year of being born, I finally had the resolve to go out. Though in reality, it took me one month of preparation after deciding it.

Summoning my courage, I placed a hand on the door.

The door… can’t be opened.

I didn’t notice it but, I was locked in.

Not going out voluntarily and not being able to go out, their implications are considerably different.

I, who was lost on what to do, went back to my usual place in the end.

Why was I locked in? That is, the only reason would be that they didn’t want me to get out. Was the one who thought of that my father? Was it my mother? Or could it be a different person?

I’ve been thinking of this for years but, my parents who never came to see me are probably dead. I didn’t felt sad about it because I grew up without seeing their faces. The family from my previous existence is still my family.

Even so, I was given meals everyday so someone must still be looking after me somehow. Even until this year, the people taking care of me still bring all the meals and spoon feed me, and even put me in the bath. For the two of them to still work, someone must be paying their salary in some way.

Aahh, somehow I seriously feel guilty. Can I just play like this everyday? The anger I felt awhile ago was blown off and vanished somewhere.

That person must be worried about me and locked me in here. Because it’s dangerous outside and a weakling will be killed easily, will I have to stay here until I become strong?

This is bad. It’s been five years, but I haven’t done anything at all! I haven’t trained how to be a cafe Master, yet. Instead, I was producing ice.

*Note: “Master” is what people call a coffee shop owner/barista in j.a.pan.

From now own, no… tomorrow, I’ll think about methods on how to oppose the frightening people outside. If I won’t be able to reach the point where I could defend my body by myself, I’ll surely die.

Today, I intend to play with the pitcher nearby so I pulled it to myself. I thrust my hand inside, and pulled out it out after it was dripping wet with water. After repeating it several times, I slowly clenched my hands again.

Here I go.

I suddenly fling the water that remained into the air.

Without a sound, my hand froze with a mere thought and a ma.s.s of ice floating in the air appeared. When I thought of it growing in a moment, no sooner after that, it became a dragon the size of the room.

Ice dragon.

It is my favorite. This guy is the one I skilfully made in my leisure time.

Collecting water from the air to make something of this size is incredibly hard. A lot of already visible water is absolutely necessary. Furthermore, I who have poor magical power, must fully wet my hand. I won’t be able to do anything if my hand isn’t frozen first. Besides, I can’t just do everything I want. My magic isn’t omnipotent at all. The only perfect forms I could create is a little bird and this dragon. Other than that, I can do it if it is something small.

Also, producing it without noise just like now was really a pain. The truth is, I was energetic when I was able to make it without producing sounds. However, when I realozed that what I was practicing was a low-level magic, I wasn’t able to utter anything except a wry smile and became depressed. That’s why, I do it while sneakily practicing.

I wonder if this guy can fight? I gently patted the face of the ice dragon as it comfortably closed its eyes.

… closed its eyes!?

Just now, did I just manipulated it like that!?

I was taken aback in surprise, the face I was patting suddenly had a too huge tongue.

“Y… you, could it be that, you’re alive!?”

I frantically whispered in a low voice, and the dragon nodded.

It’s alive. Rather than that, saying that it has a will is more proper. I was surprised.

No~ I was really, truly surprised.

Was it because I always admired it during my free time… in the old days, an important thing used for a long time is said to develop a life.

Even if it’s a different world, does the same pretext apply in this situation? It can’t be helped if I got exhausted while thinking about it. Now that it has reached this point, this fact was accepted.

In the mean time…

“Do you want a name?”

It nodded again. Since a while ago the dragon always wags its tail while nodding, hitting me. It hurts…

“I know~ I don’t like Ice Dragon so how about… Dora-chan the Dragon!”

I know you don’t want to be called by that name. So please stop jabbing me with your talons.

Ice-chan, Dragon-chan, those names were completely refused.

I became fed up with it, and keep saying the names carelessly.

“Kioran!”

When I called out, he nodded while letting out clattering sound.

It must mean he’s fine with it. Even though he’s was created by magic, he appears to be able to communicate his thoughts.

“A dragon made of pure water. This high-cla.s.s appearance is the symbol of luxury and beauty!”

If I say so myself, it’s a terrible symbol. How should I put it… to be frank it’s supplementing. Did I overdo it? For the time being, I praised myself for achieving this result.

However, when I look at Kioran, I actually brushed my imaginary mustache in satisfaction. If the one in question is good himself, it doesn’t really matter anyway.

“Kioran, can you fight?”

Kioran nodded again. You, can you really fight!? At least say whether it’s by magic or not.

If you can fight I don’t need to absolutely become strong just for the sake of going out to the world.

“Will we become stronger together?”

… At that moment, those hands joined forces out of mutual envy…

In reality, though, it isn’t really like that because there’s something different… Kioran isn’t human. But well, it gives off that kind of impression.

Then, let’s do a special training immediately, I started to say something like that but I realized it was impossible. The room is fully occupied by Kioran. Even if he moved just a little, I’ll be blown off.

“If I changed him once again, can I alter Kioran’s size?”

Isn’t that so, Kioran? I started to ask. When I looked at his way, his eyes seemed to say something like ‘how troublesome.’ Something like that, at least realize your selfishness! How shameless!

Well, it’s fine.

“Alright! Well then, become small!”

There and then, before my eyes Kioran steadily became smaller until he was the size of my palm.

So cute! A hand-riding dragon. His mini-size cuteness made me pat him more than necessary, and I was. .h.i.t by his tail. Don’t hit me! I initially thought his small build isn’t strong enough, but he bent his entire body and kicked me. He’s not even serious, but it hurts!

“Well, that’s fine. With this size, it would be safe no matter how much he moves around. For the time being… let’s make this guy the enemy!”

I clambered up the bookshelf, and took out the [Basic Economics and its Practical Application] book near the written dictionary with average thickness. Among them, this is the book I dislike the most. The book is too long, and I don’t understand it!

I set it up in front Kioran and myself.

“Our objective is to be able to get away from the enemy. It’s still better if we can protect the coffee shop– don’t look at me by those disagreeing eyes!! I’m sorry if enemy is low rank. But guys who appear like that are unexpectedly strong. At least… in this level! Anyway! First is, Formation A! Get ready!”

The way I said it was cool, but Kioran didn’t move at all.

“Kioran… at least read the atmosphere and take a stance… Haven’t you heard me say ‘Formation A’? You didn’t even respond.”

Kioran wasn’t able to bear the atmosphere full of accusation, and turned his head away.

“Formation A is when the opponent is the same size as me, a human being. I’ll launch icicles to the other party, let’s do our best, you and me! Here I go!”

Together with an enthusiastic shout (until now, all the conversations were said in a low voice), countless icicles were formed.

The aim is… the Economics book!!

Suddenly, it was easily knocked down by Kioran. I slowly lowered the hand which I had pointed to the book and hang my head. The book that was knocked down was gently returned.

“Then, Formation B is… if we come across a situation where the opponent is bigger. I’ll make an ice lance…”

As I explained this in a weak voice, I heard a sound of something hitting hard.

When I raised my eyes which was lowered, Kioran lifted his tail which was pierced through the book’s cover.

Panicking, I hurriedly pulled out the tail from the supposed-to-be-enemy just a while ago and quietly patted the hole in the book.