「……」

───Tattatta…

Where is that voice coming from… ? Screaming and calling for help means that something is attacking them… right? Moreover, what I heard was the voice of a small child.

「… I hope the others are on the move too…」

I’m concerned about a problem. It’s…

───Bystander effect

Terrible things would happen if it were implemented in this game as well.

The bystander effect is a form of mob psychology. When there are other bystanders, people do not take the initiative to act. And the more bystanders there are, the more effective it becomes, resulting in no one helping. I actually see it in the real world. It starts with a small incident that happens at school, and ends up turning into a major incident when no one reports it because they thought someone would.

「…… Maybe I shouldn’t get my hopes up…」

What’s more, I’m on my way to a slum. Since it’s a game, there’s no way to report it, so it’s safe to assume that no one will take action.

「… I think it’s around here… Ouch!!」
「… Huh? Who the hell are you? A little dragon…」
「Hmm!! Hmmhmmm!!!」

I found the child flailing on the man’s shoulder. A cloth was wrapped around their mouth, so even if they screamed, they could only make a muffled sound.

「… Put the child down」

The man then threw the ball he was holding in his right hand to the ground.

───Baki… ! Shuuuuuuu………

「!? Smoke screen!?」
「Bye!」
「Hmmmm!!!!」

By the time I got through the smoke in the direction the man had run, he was already gone.

… He got away…

The boy’s crying face at that time… I will definitely help him.

「─── 《Dragon Power》」

My limbs become that of a dragon, and I grow large wings and a tail.

───Byun!!

I jumped forcefully and came to the height of the 3rd floor roof at once. From there, I spread my wings and ascended high into the sky.

───Basabbasa… !

「… Don’t think you can escape…」

I have good eyes. I look down on the entire streets of Farrell from 100 meters above. Then, I search for a suspicious man carrying a child around the slums within the town.

「… I found you」

The man was just about to leave from the southwest wall of the town.

───Hyuooooooo!!!!

I folded my wings slightly and glided at a tremendous speed. The man is carrying a child, but he easily descends a 20-meter high wall and is running at the same speed. I wonder if he’s strengthening his body or something.

The man was heading straight for the forest and was almost at the point of entering it. If he enters the forest, it will be difficult to search for him, so I need more speed… !

───Hyun……

「…… !」

There’s so much air resistance… ! But I’m almost there… !

「Give me back the boy!!!!」
「!?」

───Basa!! … Byuooo!!!!

「Kuu! My eyes… !!」
「Come on…」

I spread my wings as wide as I can and slow down. Then, with the extra momentum, I gently take the child that the man is carrying.

「Oh, shit!! My bounty!!」

───Hyuhyun!

───Gaki! Kin!

I don’t know where he hid the knives, but since I was holding the child with both hands, I was able to flick them with my feet. My dragon-like legs can handle it.

「Damn it … no payment… !」
「Aah! Whoa!」
「You won’t see me again, so no worries!!」

The man used the smoke screen again to escape.

「… What was that… ?」

Ayane tilted her head, unsure.

──────────────────────

Abductor’s side

「… What the hell is with that dragon girl… Damn it…」
「You seemed troubled」
「! … Just the client… You scared the hell out of me」
「I’m sorry about this… But」

───Gusa… !!

「!? Y… ou… !」

A bright red sword stabbed into my chest.

「My request is that you deliver a child to me by today」
「Kuu…」
「I wanted it now, and I can’t believe I missed it. It’s a shame」

The man in the robe gives me a sharp look.

「Don’t worry, I won’t let your corpse go to waste」
「! What… are you… going to… !」
「Fufufu… I’m just going to make a liiiittle alteration to your corpse. I really would have preferred a child, though, you know?」
「… An outsider…」
「Hahaha… It’s the same for me… Then…」
「Damn youuuuUUU!!!!!!」

I lost consciousness as he stabbed me again.