47. The Endless Tower
Is it really that significant?
I never knew that the mice and daughters-in-law were such precious beings.
After all, I thought they were just slightly larger in size and nothing more.
“Well, in a world where everything is different, there is no such thing as the same being.”
In Hane’s world, mice and daughters-in-law were nothing more than common creatures that could be seen anywhere, but here, things could be different.
Of course, it was a fact that could be understood just by looking at their enormous physique, but still.
This young dragon seemed to contrast with the elves in many ways.
He was as lively and talkative as he was noticeable.
Although Zion was also lively, he was not as much as Muamua.
He was, after all, more lively in character compared to elves.
“Oh? Should I… poke him once?”
Muamua seemed as curious as he was lively.
Looking at himself, he poked the whiskers of the mouse and lizard that were twitching and flailing.
[…!!]
Startled, the mouse and lizard, round like a ball, quickly hid.
“Oh oh oh! Ahahahahahat!”
Muamua, finding it amusing, repeatedly poked the round mouse and lizard, laughing heartily.
Watching this mischievous behavior, Han grew anxious and asked, “Um, won’t we be attacked? Like, if the mouse and lizard get mad and charge at us with their small bodies like a truck?”
[That is unlikely. No matter how small they may seem, a dragon is a dragon. Moreover, being a Green Dragon of the forest, Muamua will be perceived as a large and formidable creature by the mouse and lizard.]
“Is that so?”
Muamua’s excessive interest seemed like it wouldn’t end with just that.
If one were to listen to what followed next.
“By the way.”
“Yes, Muamua.”
“These creatures here. There seem to be many of them, but wouldn’t it be okay to eat one of them?”
Eating them?
“…….”
Han pondered for a moment upon hearing that.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he spoke up.
“System, did the dragons… invest in stocks?”
The system seemed to anticipate the question and replied.
[Dragons are primarily carnivorous. To sustain their massive physique, consuming other life forms is an inevitable outcome. Even the forest dragons, the Green Dragons, are no exception. Of course, they are closer to omnivores, so if there were ample herbivorous food sources available to fill their stomachs, who knows. However, such a situation is rare, hence it is a natural order of things.]
“Is that so? Well, it would be strange if dragons were herbivores. With such a physique, they wouldn’t be able to fill their stomachs by just eating grass.”
It seemed like a necessary trait for survival.
No wonder why Muamua had been eyeing the mouse and lizard with drool hanging, it was because they were carnivorous creatures.
Dragons, after all, were living, breathing beings.
Moreover, they had several large teeth.
While Eastern dragons were depicted as sacred beings who only breathed and absorbed energy, dragons were not exactly holy beings, and it didn’t make sense for them to sustain their large physique just by breathing or eating grass.
They were more akin to dinosaurs.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he asked, “Oh, they wouldn’t eat elves, would they?”
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[That will not happen.]
An immediate response.
Anyway, it was a relief.
***
Before they knew it, a week had passed since Muamua settled here.
Grrr-.
Beyond the World Tree.
There, with its tail curled, a green creature lay asleep, emitting soft breaths.
With each exhale, its body would swell and shrink without fail.
It was the Green Dragon, Muamuah.
Han watched quietly as the young dragon slumbered.
As the sight was magnified, Muamuah’s breathing became distinctly audible.
It resembled that of a large and fierce beast.
Difficult to describe, but if one had to compare, it might be akin to the sounds of lions or tigers seen at a zoo.
Unaware, it would surely startle anyone who heard it.
“By the way, a dragon’s breathing is quite fierce, isn’t it, more so than I had thought?”
Lately, Han had spent his days observing Muamuah.
It was his first encounter with a living dragon.
Naturally, it piqued his interest.
Even daily observations did not grow dull.
Muamuah’s routine was monotonous.
Laying belly-up on the warm grass, it stayed put all day.
Sometimes it woke up, but couldn’t manage to rise.
If hungry, it ate; if tired, it slept.
That was its daily life.
Unchanging throughout the day.
In the center of the plaza, by the World Tree, Muamuah lay guarding, yawning widely with its huge mouth, then curling up again to sleep.
This spot was Muamuah’s designated place.
Watching these scenes closely, Han had one thought.
‘…it’s really lazy.’
Was this what a dragon was like?
It could simply be due to its young age.
Isn’t it natural for children in their growth phase to sleep a lot?
Then Irina, who had picked apples, approached.
“Lord Muamuah. It’s mealtime.”
[Irina.]
Its thick tail swayed from side to side like a pillar.
Han observed for a few days to understand that this was Muamuah’s way of showing joy.
Perhaps it found its original form more comfortable than the human form.
Therefore, unless necessary, it often took on the shape of a dragon.
Muamuah whined as if a child.
[Seems like it would be nice to feed it here…]
Swishing its tail.
The creature, as large as a house, displayed a hint of affection.
Opening its jaws wide enough for a person to fit, it waited patiently.
“……”
One more real parasite had appeared.
But the kind-hearted Irina obediently granted such a request from the parasite without even a sigh, as if effortlessly putting an apple into the wide-open, gigantic mouth without exhaling.
Inside the dragon’s mouth, filled with teeth larger than a human palm.
Nonchalantly placing the apple on the parasite’s broad tongue, without any sign of fear.
After taking a step back, she spoke.
“You can close your mouth now.”
[Hmm.]
With the response, the large jaw gradually closed.
Soon, a gulp sound followed by a gurgling noise echoed.
Maybe due to her large physique, the sound of swallowing was exceptionally distinct.
Yet, given her size, there was no need for concern.
Perhaps, it would be fortunate if there was any taste or sensation.
Nonetheless, the parasite seemed content with just this much.
Swoosh.
As she licked her lips, the parasite flashed a smile.
“This apple is really sweet and delicious.”
“Isn’t it?”
[Hmm. Very good. Though a bit small in size.]
However, this very parasite only raised its massive body on rare occasions.
Probably, close to the end of lunchtime.
It was the sluggish afternoon hours.
The elves’ lunch break.
Beside the gushing fountain.
Elves gathered around a table set up there.
The parasite was among them.
“Food! It’s food!”
In no time, the parasite transformed back into the human girl shape using polymorph magic.
But there was a difference in the way the parasite was seated compared to the elves who happily started eating mushrooms from the table.
The parasite sat casually on the grass, looking up at the sky as if it were the most natural thing.
“Come on, you must be eager to receive it!”
Soon, there was a response.
Thud.
Something appeared in the sky.
In no time, it fell right in front of the parasite with a loud thud.
It was a huge potato.
“It’s here!”
The parasite’s eyes lit up.
Tap tap.
Muahmuah, who roughly brushed off the dirt on the potato with his hand.
After staring at it for a moment, the lad casually picked it up as if it were nothing.
That was the beginning.
He continued to gobble up the potatoes in his palm.
He even stuffed them into his mouth one after another without a break, not stopping even with both hands when one was not enough.
Crunch! Crunch!
The potatoes crunched in his mouth.
“Mm! Very delicious! Truly the grace of the gods!”
Watching him, Hahn let out a chuckle.
In truth, even though Hahn was cautious at first,
he thought that it couldn’t be eaten just like that because it was covered in dirt.
But now, it was fine.
It was because he knew Muahmuah was eating without a care.
It was a whole potato sack.
However, he saw the sack that once weighed over 100kg steadily and rapidly decreasing.
In fact, this could be considered the result of Hahn’s long contemplation.
“Since I can’t pack lunch for every meal.”
Initially, he gave a potato just to test.
But surprisingly, it was eaten very well.
And this was the result.
Anyway, it was fortunate for Hahn as well.
It was true that the consumption of points was still significant, but at least the rate of point consumption was significantly lower than when giving lunch, that was for sure.
“Still, it’s fortunate that I don’t insist on eating meat. It seems I can live on just potatoes.”
[Eating meat was a selective act for dragons for the sake of survival. This is the same reason why elves, who couldn’t eat meat, ate it for survival.]
***
Now, Muahmuah’s life had become a kind of routine.
It was the end of the adaptation period.
The elves were naturally accepting the girl’s life, and the timid elf, Yumina, was no exception.
At that time, Hahn could finally see that it was the right time.
“Is it time to start now?”
The system’s question appeared before his eyes.
[Would you like to purchase the facility ‘Endless Tower’ for 1,000 points?]
“Yes.”
[Please select the installation location for the facility.]
Soon, a translucent blueprint mode appeared before Hahn’s eyes.
The building’s area was roughly the size of a large mushroom house where elves resided.
It was a suitable size, not too big or too small.
“Install.”
Thud!
With the selection, the tower was soon erected, revealing its form.
A large structure emerged in the center of the square.
The sudden vibration that shook the ground naturally drew the attention of the elves who were deeply focused on farming.
As a massive building partially obscured the sun, everyone looked up.
Muamuamua was taken aback and stammered, “Wh-What on earth is happening? A building appearing out of nowhere like a ghost!”
But Muamuamua was the only one visibly flustered.
For the elves, such developments were not uncommon.
Soon, as if understanding it all in an instant, Irina nodded her head.
“Ah. It seems like this is something summoned by the gods.”
“Is that really the case?”
“Yes.”
She added, “The bright light in the sky, the light illuminating the night here, and even the fountains, they’re all things brought forth by them.”
“Even the sun and the light illuminating the night? Remarkable.”
And marveling at the sight, he too was the same.
“Oh… So, this is the tower.”
He gazed up at the tower silently.
“It’s incredibly tall. How many floors is this?”
[Facility, ‘Endless Tower,’ consists of 200 floors at present.]
“Wow… Is that even possible?”