If I were to pick just two things I like from this accursed power of blood, one would be the ability to heal wounds very quickly.
Even after my skin was torn off and my skeleton twisted, there wasn’t a single scar left on my body. However, that doesn’t mean there’s no pain.
When the skin is torn off, it feels like burning, and when the skeleton twists, the pain is so intense that it drives me insane. Above all, the sensation of the horns twisting is indescribable.
The other one? Strength. The driving force that allowed me, as a child, to survive in the wild. The power to manipulate the earth first manifested on that day I wish to forget when I was 15, and though I didn’t particularly like it for reasons unrelated to its utility.
My mind is extremely fatigued, yet my body feels energetic. Do you know that unpleasant refreshing sensation? I’ve never met anyone who knows the opposite, but probably no one knows this.
It’s the feeling of wanting to sleep but not being able to. At least in my knowledge, this discomfort felt similar. In reality, my body didn’t need much sleep.
There was a time when I decided not to sleep to see how long I could endure, and I lasted a whole week. Back then, I truly thought I had become some kind of god.
To avoid endlessly thinking about ‘it,’ I stumbled back to my dwelling while conjuring random thoughts.
As soon as I returned, I immediately threw off my cloak and collapsed onto a pile of leather I used as a bed in the corner. Even though tiny grains were moving and tickling my skin, I didn’t care.
Once I regained some peace of mind and thought about the current situation, I looked around the inside of the cave.
Meats laid out properly, stones piled up because I didn’t return them to the ground after using them, shiny objects, and fabrics I used as clothes — that was everything inside this cave.
I estimated how long it took to accumulate all these things. Roughly… yeah. I’ve been stacking them like this ever since I lived in the wild.
I vividly remembered how, after carving into the wall with my hands and making just enough space to lie down, I fell unconscious from sheer exhaustion.
On second thought, if there had been even one person to help me, I wouldn’t have ended up living like a wild child. I wouldn’t have slept on boiling leather or eaten meat that was either rotten or tasted bad without even knowing the difference.
The words I impulsively said to Myungho earlier made more sense the more I thought about it, giving me more reasons to leave.
Most importantly, the idea of not being harassed by humans trying to hunt me down today was an incredibly tempting offer. To me, their voices sounded like freedom from being controlled by this cursed blood.
Every time a hunting party came, I eventually lost my sanity and succumbed to my instincts. Though I’ve become numb to it now, I still vividly remember what I did the first time I was overtaken by the blood.
The blood covering my entire body, fragmented memories, and the head of someone in my hands…
…Just thinking about it now gives me goosebumps.
I abruptly got up, grabbed a sack, and tightly packed it with useful items.
I separately placed the things to settle accounts with the village into another sack. Although I had settled accounts recently, selling my collection would still yield a decent amount of money.
Gradually, I prepared to completely leave this cave. I put valuable things like jewels and gold coins into a small bundle and rewrapped bandages around my hands, feet, and chest.
Honestly, wrapping my hands and feet doesn’t have much significance anymore. Yet, it gave me a sense of relief, so I always wrapped them. Back in the day, I thought it might suppress the power of the dragon, but now it’s just a habit.
While tidying up systematically, I suddenly realized I didn’t know how to behave as their “comrade.” Still, I could tell they genuinely wanted me.
Their intention became clear because they restrained me but did nothing else. If they had any other purpose, they would have acted during that time.
Like ripping out my heart, taking my horns, gouging out my eyes…
…Thinking about it makes me uncomfortable, but also possibly plotting against me while keeping me tied up. Thus, I remained uncertain about how to deal with them. They were at least not the greedy type.
Still, you can never be too careful. There might be some sinister plan lurking. It would be best to keep an appropriate distance, especially from the magician. I could tell he wasn’t quite right despite meeting him only a few times.
The archer… I don’t know much about him. He seems strong, but he doesn’t appear overly greedy. Myungho, on the other hand, is relatively trustworthy.
Relatively speaking, I’ll remain cautious since he’s human, but if I had to choose one person among the three to trust, it would definitely be Myungho.
A mutually beneficial relationship. That would be ideal. Once I made up my mind, I was able to pack up my belongings in a somewhat relaxed state.
I was sure there was a lot of stuff in the cave, but once I finished organizing, most of it turned out to be useless or things I wouldn’t use. The only practical thing here is this small sack. Moreover, since everything comes from the village, I felt a little disheartened.
It proved that everything I made over such a long time was utterly useless. Despite knowing my craftsmanship isn’t great, I thought I might have created something decent.
Well, let’s think positively. Now, I don’t have to waste time making trash under the pretense of creating something.
Although I didn’t have high expectations for this world, stepping into the unknown is still thrilling.
…I didn’t expect it to happen so suddenly, but it’ll probably be fine.
After stepping outside the cave, I focused mana on my horns and collapsed the cave I had dug, signaling my resolve not to return until I achieve my purpose.
Wandering aimlessly like weeds without any goals isn’t necessarily bad, but having a grand goal would be better.
For instance…
Taking my father’s head and offering it on my mother’s grave.
Since it will be a long journey, I decided to visit my mother’s burial place again. I rarely visited unless there was something particularly special because it always made me feel melancholic.
“Mother… Please watch over me. Your child wishes to explore the world and return. And upon returning, I will surely bring the head of our enemy.”
I swore while embracing the tombstone, vowing to smash his smug face into the ground.
“…I’m leaving. Take care.”
After straightening the crooked gravestone and inserting it firmly, I headed toward the lower realm. It was still dark, but my eyes could easily navigate through the darkness as they always had.
I stopped myself from descending via rock climbing as usual. There was no need to rush like other days. Most importantly, after rampaging just hours ago, it was impossible to delicately control the mana.
It’s easy to break things, but maintaining control is difficult.
Considering all of that, I decided to simply walk down. Walking at night felt different than when I was younger.
Back then, I trembled at the slightest vibration and ran away. Now, I can sense the beasts of the mountain avoiding my presence.
Farewell to this mountain today. Although it was a novel experience, the feeling of departure was unique. Even though I’ve lived in this world for about 20 years, my life mostly revolved around this mountain.
By the time I reached the village, the eastern sky was already tinged with a subtle light.
While fierce battles and bloodshed unfolded in the mountains, this village was waking up to a peaceful morning, unaffected by those events.
“…Huh, Ah. Did I fall asleep? Yawn… This wretched guard duty is exhausting me to death. That horned woman won’t come anyway, so why do we need enhanced security? …Hmm. Am I hallucinating because I’m tired? I see a horned woman over there…”
The contrast between the alert guards I usually encountered and the slouching, drowsy guard highlighted the reality.
“…What the hell. It’s really her! Chief, Chief! A dragon has arrived! No, I’m not hallucinating! Yes, I admit I was sleepy! But she’s really there! Yes! That horned woman provoked by the extermination team is here!!!”
That tranquility shattered the moment I appeared. In an instant, loud commotions echoed from within the walls.
Soon, far more guards than usual swarmed the entrance like bees from a disturbed hive, desperately blocking it with spears drawn menacingly.
At times like this, knowing a few words would have been helpful. I was puzzled about how to express that I hadn’t come to fight, so I created a stone pillar heading towards the wall.
Archers scrambled awkwardly to avoid the sudden rise of the massive rock, but the ones still standing fired arrows haphazardly.
And, naturally, those weapons couldn’t even scratch me. Watching them futilely struggle made me scatter dust into the air by pulverizing rocks from beneath the ground.
As their vision was obscured by the sudden thick dust, I bypassed the bewildered archers and jumped directly into the city.
There, I saw citizens who hadn’t evacuated yet everywhere.
I passed by each trembling individual, effortlessly knocking away any guards who attacked me, and headed straight for the guild.
Apparently, the hive wasn’t just at the wall; the front of the guild was also filled with armed men. However, upon seeing me, Myungho rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache but seemed pleased.
He dropped the sack he was carrying on his shoulder and declared with vigor,
“As promised, I’ve come. Myungho, accept me as your comrade.”
