Chapter 239: Ryuushin’s Patronage

I flew to Hinata’s village with her.

There’s around 200 people living there.

Four Shadow Dragons stood at the plaza at the village’s central place, and the villagers gathered nearby.

“Oh, hey! He’s here!”

“Ryuushin-sama!”

The villagers cried out when they noticed me in the sky.

We descended at a spot from where the Shadow Dragons were.

The villagers came swarming towards us as I put Hinata down.

“We are so grateful that you deigned to save our village.”

A human who looked like the chief kneeled down before me, and the rest of the people copied him and lowered their heads.

I was still in my Kokuryuu form, but they didn’t look like they’re afraid of me.

Was it because they’re used to seeing dragons because of those evil dragon’s underlings that had always been in this village?

“Master, we have annihilated the Evil Dragon’s minions. They acted violently for a while, but there are no casualties among the villagers.”

“Really, that’s great, good job. Thanks.”

“We are unworthy of such words.”

The shadow dragon leader melted into my shadow while saying that.

The moment he did, his thoughts flowed into my mind.

He already explained to the villagers that I saved their village from that scum dragon, it seemed.

“T-Then, regarding the living sacrifice —”

“Hm?”

Sacrifice?

That trash dragon was already dead, so what’s this talk about sacrifice?

“W-we do not hold any objections to…o-offer Hinata.”

—What?

Hinata, as the sacrifice?

W-What the heck!?

“Hey, what do you mean by that?”

“—Hiii!!!”

Ugh, I screwed up!

The village chief said that they’re offering Hinata, so I couldn’t help but release my bloodlust aura on them.

The village chief who received that bloodlust was shivering more than usual.

It’s making me feel a bit guilty.

…But it can’t be helped, right?

I rescued Hinata, and yet they’re going to sacrifice her — as if I’d allow that.

“Ryuushin-sama!! Please quell your fury!!”

The elders standing around the village chief hurriedly bowed their heads with great gusto.

“Yeah, sorry. I got a bit too heavy with the bloodlust. It’s not like I’m really angry to that extent, though…”

“I-is the sacrificial maiden n-not to your liking?”

There’s no way I’d be happy with that, right!

I rescued her just moments ago, you know?!

And there’s no way I’ll let Hinata, such an adorable girl,become a sacrificial maiden!!

—Hm?

Eh?

Wait a sec.

“...Hey.”

“Y-Yes. What might it be?”

“Hinata as sacrifice — who do you plan to give her to?”

“Eh?”

“T-That’s naturally —”

“She’s the sacrifice to Ryuushin-sama.”

“.......................”

Oh, so that’s how it is.

What a huge misunderstanding.

…Eh?

W-Wait, w-why did it turned out this way?

“Master seems to have taken a liking to this maiden, so we negotiated with the villagers to offer her as the reward for saving their village.”

I could telepathically hear the Shadow Dragons’ thoughts.

It seemed that they did stuff arbitrarily.

But wait, negotiated, right?

N-Not a threat, right?

‘We told them that our Master, Ryuushin-sama, had defeated the Evil Dragon that had dominated this village. Our Master, the stronger one, desired the sacrifice that had been offered to the Evil Dragon — that was how we explained it to them.’

HeeeeeEEEYYYYY!!!!

What the heck were you thinkingggg!!!!

That’s totally not a negotiation!!!

It’s that.

I completely turned into the villain, didn’t I!?

“Ah, sorry. I’m not requesting a sacrifice, really. Actually, I’m not even a dragon (monster)...”

I’m not a monster, so I don’t eat people.

“A sacrifice is not needed? Th-then, just one person isn’t sufficient — a-are you perhaps saying that you plan to annihilate this village!?”

T-There’s no way I’d do that, hey!

Don’t just go jumping to your own conclusions.

“H-Hiiiiiii!!!”

“It’s no use. It’s the e-end for us all….”

“Daddy, I’m scared!”

“H-Hush. You might anger Ryuushin-sama!!”

“P-Please, please save our daughter…”

Oh, shocks….

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Just like how it was when Halt saved Alheim, the Kingdom of the Elves — well, not really that grand, but… I just wanted everyone to thank me after saving Hinata’s village.

I don’t plan to rule here in fear.

“Ryuushin-sama, I will become your thing. So please, will you spare this village?”

Hinata was also prostrating herself in front of me.

Stop, it’s not like this, it’s a huge mistake!!!!

I just wanted to enjoy a date with Hinata.

I never thought of making you my thing!!

Urk, what should I do about this?

How could I fix this situation?

If it’s Halt, then, at a time like this, he’ll —

Huh! Y-Yeah!

Halt.

I could do it just the way Halt would.

“I don’t need a sacrifice. But yeah, I’m going to protect this village. In return, there’s something I want to request.”

This village had been under the thumb of that scum dragon for a long time.

Even if I insisted that I don’t need a sacrifice and left this village, they will probably live in fear of my shadow.

That’s why instead of dominating this place, I’d just protect it.

In return —

“I’ll come here once a month, so let me have a meal when I do. It’ll be great if Hinata is with me during that time. You already heard this from my retainers but yeah, I’m quite fond of her.”

#%@#$, this is so embarrassing.

Ah, but I said it!

Were I a bit like Halt?

That guy always spouts embarrassing things, so I think he’s cool.

“A-are you satisfied with just those conditions?”

“Yeah. Starting today, this village will be under my protection. Hinata, that condition about the meals… is that alright with you?”

“Y-Yes. I-it’s my h-honor…”

Hinata looked really cute while blushing like that.

The fact that she’s willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of the villagers really made me want to protect her.

I have something new to look forward to.

It’d be great if I can also go on dates outside the village with Hinata while we’re at it.