Dryad

Fifteen minutes earlier, as an experiment to see whether magic could be used successfully, he had created a level-83 Elf Dragon with the [High-Level Beast Creation] skill and successfully completed the task Aya had given him.

He had been terribly nervous when he first started using magic. What if it failed? What if the creature he summoned refused to obey him?

In the end, he had made all the necessary preparations and chosen to summon the relatively mild-mannered Elf Dragon. Thankfully, it had worked, and he had completed the little task assigned to him as well.

The summoned creature seemed more intelligent than the simple AI in the game. He had more or less confirmed that was the case.

"Until the time limit runs out, I will be responsible for protecting my mistress."

"Then I'll leave it to you," Aya said. "Next, please take me there as well."

Sitting sideways on the dragon's back, Aya pondered the matter. Even she, a specialist in summoning magic, could use High-Level Beast Creation only six times a day. How could she make the best use of it?

Aya didn't notice the dragon beneath her suddenly breathing more heavily, or how hard it was trying to suppress its trembling. She simply continued thinking to herself.

At the very least, I need to make sure I stay safe. Sighing, Aya wiggled her two delicate little feet and prayed that no one would come to hurt her.

"Her Ladyship is sitting on my back... Her bottom... touched me..." Aya had no idea what the Elf Dragon was thinking. In any case, it carried her steadily toward the Central Lake.

Author's note:

Build them up first, then kill them off. I wonder if I managed to capture a little of Maruyama's style ╮(╯▽╰)╭

Chapter 4: Dryad

Aya held out both hands in front of her and gazed at her pretty fingers, which looked much longer and fairer than they had in her previous life. She couldn't help feeling a little captivated by them.

[Lataib]

At her command, the illusion item's effect on her fingers faded, revealing rings on all ten of them, each gleaming with a different color.

In YGGDRASIL, players could normally wear only one ring on each hand. Aya, however, had used an expensive paid item to equip all ten fingers with rings, and could activate the abilities of every one of them.

She wasn't the only one. Any player who cared much about their abilities naturally spent the money.

Aya still remembered when extra ring slots had first become available. She'd immediately paid to unlock all ten fingers. Momonga, who had to wait for next month's paycheck before he could afford enough paid items, had shown rare envy and a hint of jealousy.

"That's great, Aya. You're rich."

"If you want, Momonga, I can give you some items."

After all, the price of these game items was barely even pocket money to her. Her illness had also become quite serious by then, and she wasn't sure how much longer she would live. There was no point in saving money she could spend.

If it could make her friends happy, wasn't that a good thing?

"I'd better not," Momonga had said, turning down Aya's offer.

"If money gets involved, I feel like things between us might get weird."

"You're surprisingly manly, Momonga!" Tachim had remarked from beside them.

"What do you mean, 'surprisingly'?" Momonga had sent an annoyed emoticon.

"Lady Aya?" Aya had been gazing at her rings, lost in memories, and only returned to the present when the Elf Dragon spoke up.

"Oh, it's nothing. I just remembered something from the past." A smile rested on her lips as Aya sighed inwardly. I probably won't see them again... my brother, Tachim, or Momonga.