Reincarnated as a Dragon's Egg

Having won our battle against Miia, we're currently heading up the spiral staircase to leave the Ngai Forest and return to our original world.

This staircase is so long that it would take an incredibly long time to run up normally. I had put Aro and treant in my mouth, and used [Roll] to speed up our ascent… But right now we've stopped to take a break.

…While we were moving, treant-san collapsed from the constant motion, bubbles coming out of his mouth. As a walpurgis, Aro's ear canals seem to be abnormally strong, or perhaps the concept of motion sickness simply doesn't apply to her, but that's not the case for treant-san.

Next to the groggy treant-san, Aro has split with [Darkness Kaleidoscope], and the three of her are discussing what to do.

"W-we need to take a break for now. There's no way we can take treant-san when he's like that!" "No! We need to get moving as quickly as possible! Don't you know it could be an emergency out there!?"

We were unsure of how to proceed, so Aro split into three to multiply our wisdom. The three Aro sisters were helpful when I was deciding my evolution. They should help find an answer here too.

Aro A is insisting that we should wait for treant to recover, while Aro B is insisting we press on.

"Treant-san, how are you? Do you still feel sick?"

『Sorry for always being such a burden…』

Aro C is holding him and gently patting his back. All of the sisters' personalities are different. The first Aro, the original, seems to hold Aro's baseline thoughts, while the second Aro is strict and logical. The third Aro… Well, I guess she softens the atmosphere.

It's only a vague impression, but perhaps the second Aro represents the personality she's had to develop in order to survive the many life-threatening crises she's been in and deal with the rapid growth of her body, whereas the third Aro represents the innocence true to her age.

"I got it, let's do this. I'll use [Evil Demon Eye] to put you to sleep. That way we can keep moving.

Aro B suggests. [Evil Demon Eye] is a skill that delivers a severe mental shock to the target. I only know it from its description, but apparently a significant difference in stats is needed to be able to knock out the target. But as long as treant doesn't brace against it, it might be possible to safely put him to sleep.

I could certainly then carry him, so it is valid as an option, but…

"I-I think that's going too far…"

Aro A says falteringly.

"So scary… Are you really going to use a demon eye on treant-san?"

Aro C hold him protectively.

"It's fine! There's no problem with it! The longer we take, the worse things could be on the surface! Why don't you understand!?

Aro A and Aro C have formed a clique to protect treant, while Aro B has become indignant.

How can their opinions be so different when they're the same person?

"Fine! Then we'll ask him! Treant-san, would you rather keep holding us back, or be put to sleep for a while?"

"That way of asking is too cruel!"

"Oni! Demon! Witch! Undead!"

Aro B is on the receiving end of reproach from the other two. Although ‘witch' and ‘undead' apply to all of you, you know? It falls a bit flat as an insult, Aro C.

『Aro-dono… Please refrain from using [Evil Demon Eye].』

Treant weakly says.

Opposite the relieved Aro A and Aro C, Aro B glares at treant sullenly.

"How could you be so selfish, treant-san…?! Please stop causing trouble for dragon-god-sama and me!"

『My magic is quite strong too, so even if I don't resist, I think it'll take a lot of your mana to put me to sleep with [Evil Demon Eye]. There's also no telling when I'll wake up… What if something were to happen while I was asleep? I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you and master-dono were to be in peril while I was out cold. I've started to get used to the [Rolling] motion, so I should be able to hold back the nausea this time. I'll push through with endurance this time, so let's get going!』

Treant says, his expression resolute.

『Treant… Are you sure about this?』

I ask, and he nods strongly.

『A tree never goes back on his word, master-dono!』

O-oh? I don't think a normal tree would be able to speak though…

"Well said, treant-san.

Aro B softly strokes treant's head. He blinks his eyes in surprise, then spreads his wings wide.

『Of course, Aro-dono!』

Aro B is also a part of Aro. There's no way she'd want to needlessly hurt him. She must have wanted to encourage him in her own way.

『If I complain again, please ignore whatever I say!』

Treant has completely resolved himself. Apparently judging that it's no longer needed, Aro cancels [Darkness Kaleidoscope] and returns to one.

『Alright then, let's get going!』

I say to the two of them.

…It happens five minutes later.

『Master-donooo! Please stop after allll! Aro-dono, please use [Evil Demon Eye] after all! At this rate, I'll-I'll…』

Treant's pitiful moan resounds from my mouth.

"…Dragon-god-sama, please keep going. It was what he wanted."

Aro says coldly. H-has her personality switched with Aro B? It seems she's annoyed with how quickly he went back on his word.

『Rather than what the previous me wanted, please pay attention to the current me!』

Treant complains.

Where did that cool treant go? The degree of his about-face is almost enough to make me think he used [Darkness Kaleidoscope] himself. What was that about a tree never going back on his word? I continue to worry over whether or not to stop as I roll.