Epilogue: Even a cicada becomes a dragon if reborn

I was surrounded by darkness.

It was like an eternity in the darkness.

The darkness was similar to the earth.

Where was this, who was I, I didn’t know.

The things left to do, I felt like a very important thing was left to do, but I didn’t understand it well.

Humans regard darkness as death and light as life, so this should be death.

I could neither feel gravity nor see the horizon. It was just black.

But why was it? I could only feel temperature here.

In this darkness of death I only felt warmth.

In the eternal darkness I thought was the end, in the world of darkness that was closed off, something warm was transmitted.

From near and far, voices were transmitted.

「 . . . nee nee, when will ryuu-sama be born?」

「Soon, he will be born soon」

「Can I touch it?」

「D-d-don’t. I-i-it would be bad if the egg broke.」

「Hey Minmi! Behave yourself!」

「Muu . . . ryuu-sama is inside right? He might wake up if I touch it?」

「You shouldn’t. We should just keep watching until the time ryuu-sama intends to wake up by himself.」

「He’s such a sleepyhead. He sleeps all the time.」

「So. It’s been seven years already. He has been sleeping all the time since Minmi was born.」

「He sleeps too much. Why does he do that? Nee, Harpy oneechan.」

「Minmi! I said that you should behave yourself!」

「 . . . Miko-sama. Will ryuu-san remember us?」

「That . . ., I think will be difficult. The knowledge and memories dwelled in the body of the dragon. After losing his blood and meat . . ., already.」

「 . . . The dragon is nearly as big as me.」

「The egg is what was left behind by a miracle. At that time, if Yggdrasil’s sap wasn’t flowing inside his head after he died, then this egg might have never existed.」

「You were so great and took me to the top of the clouds . . . . All those things . . . . Have you forgotten them . . . 」

「If he forgot them we only have to tell him it once again! The unknown has just to be known! . . . Because I, because ryuu-san had taught me a lot, so now it is my turn to teach him this time!」

「Nyuju-chan . . .」

「That’s right. Teaching him various things he doesn’t know, what greater joy is there in the world?」

「Geeko geko geko geko!」

「Hmm. Music and sculpting, we will teach it to him once again.」

「M-m-making totem poles, I-I will teach him.」

「Nee, Harpy oneechan. Did ryuu-sama make that huge totem pole?」

「That’s right. Everyone’s favorite totem pole was made by him. Minmi do you like the totem pole?」

「Un, love! Because everyone is smiling!」

「 . . . Minmi, your name. I got it from ryuu-sama’s cry.」

「Eh, ryuu-sama cries? Mother is a liar. A dragon’s cry is a scary voice. Nee? Nyuju oneechan.」

「No, only ryuu-san who made the totem pole cried MinMin.」

「Really? Then, why does ryuu-sama cry MinMin?」

「That . . ., I don’t know.」

「Even Nyuju oneechan doesn’t know.」

「 . . . but, I always think that he should cry like that.」

「Yes. I want to hear it again. Ryuu-san’s song.」

「Geeko geko geko geko . . .」

「Then, if I sing MinMin, will the sleepyhead ryuu-sama wake up? He shouldn’t be able to understand our words right?」

「Ara. That’s a great idea. It’s there for prenatal care too.」

「Yes. When Minmi was in my belly, he should have heard that song every day.」

「Yes. You can start singing anytime. But you mustn’t touch it, only sing okay?」

「Yes. To ryuu-sama who never wakes up, I will sing with a loud voice.」

「Jaja, jaja. T-t-together now 「Se~ no」 l-l-let’s sing.」
(TLN: se~ no is like ready set go)

「Yosh. Everyone . . ., see~ noo!」

「「「「「「「Miin min min min！」」」」」」」

「Geeko geko geko geko!」

The outside world, was noisy but somewhat warm.

My body continued getting warmer. It felt comfortable. Because it’s comfortable, should I sleep a little more? I thought so.

– We are waiting –

And I heard a voice.

– For you to sing again –

It was like a sound wave but the voice didn’t reach my ears.

– For us to meet once again –

To my heart, to my soul, the voice was speaking directly to it.

– We believe –

It was a gentle, soft and clear voice.

– Because you –

Ah, who are you?

– Because you promised me –

I remember.

– Because you promised me to sing for me once again –

I remember only you.

– This time, we will sing together –

Though I forgot her name, I remember her.

– With a loud voice like you –

I remember your voice.

– Like this –

My soul remembered.

– Miin min min min Miin min min min –

My soul danced.

I didn’t know her. However, I knew that she was someone more important than anyone else.

I shouldn’t keep her waiting. It wasn’t the time to forever stay in this dark world.

Because I wanted to meet you for a long time. Because I had searched for you for a long time.

I broke through the black world.

And the shell that covered this world of darkness was broken.

It’s light.

and

it’s you

What should I do, my soul told me.

『Let’s sing』

Ah, let’s sing.

Miin min min min Miin min min min

(THE END)