Atelier Tanaka

Book 4: Chapter 3 (6)

Territory Pioneering 3

Just as I expected, the loligon was still within the walls of my city.

She was hiding out in the slums of the north district. I spotted her sitting on the front steps of one of the many houses here. This one I had blown a huge hole in the front wall using my fireball. She was drawing some figures in the dirt with the stick in her hand.

Click for the illustration that goes here

Who replaced my annoying dragon with this lovely one?

Christina-san.

Her little shoulders trembled when she heard my voice. She kept her eyes locked on the picture she had drawn in the dirt before slowly, nervously glancing up at me.

I didnt believe what I was seeing at first, but theres no mistake, the loligon looks incredibly depressed. The expression on her face was a mixture of fear and immense sadness.

A-Are you here to kick me out!? Or are you here to k-k-kill me!?

Christina-san.

Fine, just try it! Youre nothing more than an ant when compared to my power! Ill be sure to completely obliterate you until the only thing left is a pile of dust so that youll never be able to revive again! Youll soon find out that anyone who dares pick a fight with an ancient dragon will have to pay the ultimate price!

I havent even had a chance to say much yet and shes already threatening me.

This is a dangerous start. Im glad Im the one that found her. Im not sure how things wouldve turned out if it was anyone else. I feel that at any moment I could be hit with the same punch that obliterated Nannuzzi-san. Ill need to calm her down before signaling for the others to come.

I dont plan on paying any price right now because I wont be making any purchase.

Wh. What does that even mean!?

I just came here to get you. Theres still a lot of work to be done on the town and its a waste of your talent to just be sitting here. Why dont you come back to work as mayor?

Mayor?

Thats right. Or do you not like that title? I thought I heard you mention it in the bathhouse.

It makes sense to give her a promotion after everything shes done.

Its the same with humans. We all grow and improve so that we can receive some form of compensation for that. If there was no incentive to improve oneself, why would anyone ever put in more work than what is required?

.

Is something wrong?

The loligon was silently staring at me.

Due to our difference in height, all I could see of her face was her bright gold eyes shining beneath her dark black bangs.

Christina-san?

Are yousaying that you want to be my mate?

Where did you get that idea from?

I wasnt suggesting that idea currently, but it is something I think about every time Im with the loligon.

Thank you for the offer.

As long as you still have a hymen.

Why else would you come chasing after me? What reason other than sex could a male have for chasing after a females butt? Are there other reasons that humans do this?

Because the loligon has had so little communication with other intelligent beings, she has no sense of delicacy. She will just casually blurt out something that would be a difficult or embarrassing question for most people.

The answer I have really isnt quite as straightforward as her question. Well my honest answer would be rather straightforward.

Assuming she still has her hymen, I want to shower her with my love.

Its natural for humans to want to look after their friends. Isnt it the same for other species?

Friends?

Thats right.

However, the noble mage still comes first. I will say that he has a refined taste in women.

Im looking forward to what the future holds for them.

And Ill do my best to support him.

Who are?

Me and you.

.

Christina suddenly fell silent. She remained looking up at me, but her golden eyes had hardened and her gaze began to frighten me. Her black sclera just added on to her intimidation factor. My biggest concern was if Id have enough time to react if she tried to attack me.

Fahren-san, Ester-san, and Sophia-san are all worried about you as well. Theyre all out looking for you just like I was. Gonzalez even offered to have his men search for you.

.

Without a single exception, they all feel the same as me.

I made sure to choose my words carefully.

The loligon looked down at the ground before turning on the spot and facing away from me. Without being able to see her face, I cant tell how upset shes getting, but I do have a nice view of her cute tail gently swishing back-and-forth just below the hem of her skirt.

Whats wrong?

W-Well, I can see how desperate you are to have someone as great as I ruling over your puny town! But y-y-you havent done enough yet! I-If youlower your head, thats it, if you bow your head to me and beg me Ill accept!

Her words may have been fitting for her usual haughty self, but there was something different this time.

Her nose sounded stuffy.

Is the loligon crying?

Others may look down on me for it, but after everything thats been happening recently, Ive become much less resistant to bowing to someone. And this doesnt seem like that steep a price to pay for making the loligon my friend.

I bowed to her with no hesitation.

Thank you for your continued assistance, Christina-san.

Wh !?

Once again Christinas shoulders trembled.

The loligon probably wasnt expecting me to bow my head so easily.

A-Are you sure? Wh-What if.

Itll be fine. I believe in you.

.

This could also have the added benefit of making her act more mature which Im sure the noble mage would appreciate as well.

Everyone will be happy.

Are you saying no?

do it.

What was that?

I-I said Ill do it! Ill be the town mayor!

Oh, right, I understand. Then, Ill be counting on you.

I was able to make up with Christina without having to say goodbye to her and now we can get back to building our town.

I wish I could see her face right now. I could be the cool guy that wipes away the girls tears.

Shes such a friendly dragon.

***

Having convinced the loligon to return with me, we both made our way back to the lounge.

I fired off a signal into the sky to tell everyone else to return as well. Ester-chan, Edita Sensei, Sophia-chan, the noble mage, Gon-chan, and Christina were now all gathered in the same room with me.

All that matters is that we found her!

Ester-chans cheerful words filled the room. Everyone else let the loligon know they were happy to see her as well.

Ester-chan is great at brightening the mood.

Yeah, I agree.

Lets keep this good mood going and tell everyone about the loligons new position.

From today on I would like Christina-san to take up the position of mayor. Im sure well both be needing a lot of help going forward and I would just like to thank you all for your continued cooperation.

eh?

The voice that raised a question was the same one that had cheered on Christinas return.

It seems that good mood is already coming to an end.

But Ive already made up my mind.

This will be the birth of Dragon City.

I am the mayor now! The mayor! Do you have a problem with that!?

The loligon announcing her new position angered the lolibitch further.

Umm, t-this is your territory though. What is the meaning of this!?

I would still be in control of the territory, but Ive decided to leave control of the town to Christina-san.

no way.

For the first time in what seems like a while, I saw Ester-chan completely stunned.

You may be mayor, Christina-san, but that doesnt mean you have complete control over everyone here. Youll still have to work alongside the Twilight Company and their leader Gonzalez. Theyve been here helping me build this town since before you arrived.

MuuI guess its true that they were here before me.

My men and I dont really mind how she wants to act.

You are the mayor of a human town, you cant forget that. Even if Gonzalez were to attack you with all of his strength, he wouldnt even be able to scratch you. You need to exercise patience when dealing with him and any other humans here. You cannot use any violence.

if those are the duties required of a mayor, I-Ill do my best!

Thank you.

Good to hear, loligon.

With her happy and satisfied with her new position, I can get back to working on my territory without needing to worry about her. I could even see myself being able to create a second or maybe even third town. Im definitely going to max out my Stone Wall.

Ill need to watch our finances closely if I go down that route. Well need a ledger to document everything carefully and Ill have to add everything up at the end of the month. This will be a decent amount of work on its own.

It will be impossible for me to manage everything on my own. I want to do enough to have a seat at the table when important decision are being made. Ill distribute work out to those I trust so that we can work together to succeed as one.

Christina is just the start and I believe she will do well as mayor.

***