I tossed and turned in my bed, but I couldn’t fall asleep peacefully.
It was because I had used much more magic than usual, which made my head throb, and also because I kept remembering the face of that guy who had come over and abruptly asked me to be his partner.
His calm demeanor when I had pressed a blade against his neck annoyed me. His overly confident expression, as if he was certain he was different from others, irritated me.
Although I didn’t see any immediate ill intent, I was sure that a lunatic with that much audacity must have some hidden agenda. He wouldn’t just want me as a companion for real.
No matter how much I ate or exercised, sleep wouldn’t come, so I got up from bed with frustration. It seemed like tonight was ruined.
I picked up a piece of jerky that had failed during preparation and walked out of the cave.
One of the few advantages of this cruel and merciless world is its night sky. The red moon orbiting around the blue one. The intersecting galaxies and the occasional shooting star.
When I look at the night sky, I think of my late mother.
When I was little, there was a time I couldn’t sleep, so I asked my mother to go outside and count the stars together. She always wore a troubled expression, but she would take me out to the field and lie down to count the stars.
For every star, I imagined the name of the father in my dreams, the apologies I owed to my original parents, and the warm embrace of my mother’s love for someone like me.
Naming them like that usually put me to sleep.
After putting aside the fur I was wearing, I lay down in the clearing where my mother’s house used to be and started counting the stars. It felt like my mother would soon approach and scold me for being here.
But that won’t happen. She passed away. The only trace of her left is the necklace she gave me.
I absentmindedly held the necklace close to the night sky. Through the large crystal, the light of the stars and the moon bent beautifully.
…I’m doing things I don’t usually do today. But it’s okay once in a while, right?
I chewed on the piece of jerky while reminiscing about old memories. It tasted terrible, but maybe because I used those memories as seasoning, it wasn’t completely inedible.
“…I’ll visit again next time, Mom. Someday. I will definitely bring the head of that brat and place it here, so please watch over me.”
I’m getting sleepy. After yawning widely and bidding farewell to my mother, I slowly returned to my dwelling.
Before leaving, I carefully erased my footprints by dragging my tail across the ground. Once back, I fell into a deep sleep for the first time in a long while.
However, deep sleep in the wild is a luxury. I woke up startled from the vibrations of humans I felt even in my dreams. Even in a half-awake state, checking the ground with my horns confirmed that there were only two people, just like yesterday.
…No, everything was exactly the same as yesterday. The rhythm of their footsteps too. I warned them they’d die if they came back, yet here they are.
Then they should die. Since they’re wandering around as if looking for my den, I felt an increased sense of danger. I’ve never revealed my den to humans before.
Maybe to wild animals, but not humans.
While washing my face with dirt to clear my mind, I prepared a broadsword in advance this time. My plan was to immediately throw the sword at them as soon as they appeared. If they ignore warnings, they deserve to die.
I sharpened the blade meticulously and infused it with magic so that it could cut through barriers easily.
With all preparations complete, I cautiously approached the source of the vibration. Soon, I began to hear sounds with my ears as well.
“Is it really here? I don’t see anything. We’re not chasing a phantom, are we?”
<"...Well, I don't know either. I vaguely saw something around here, so I thought it might be nearby.">
“Hey. Is that what you should say? You confidently said it would be here, and now you’re saying you don’t know? What am I supposed to tell you?”
<"Shit. First off, you dragged me here against my will, and now you're yelling? First off, even though it's a half-dragon, it's a dragon, right? Did you really think finding a dragon's nest would be so easy?">
“That’s… But. Aren’t you supposed to know everything as a grand mage? You act like you know everything about the world.”
<"Even if I don't know everything, I still know more than your pitiful and shy knowledge. First of all, dragons are like God's proxies. Isn't it strange that you're trying to compare yourself with the offspring of such beings?">
While watching them chat so casually, I wondered if they were really here to find me.
Would it be fine to just let them live? It seemed alright to leave these fools wandering around.
They’ll probably go back on their own if left alone. No, still…
“Ah, I found it. Was it on the tree?”
What are they hesitating about after already drawing blood? Thanks to that, they’ve discovered me. Did I watch them too closely? There’s no point in hiding anymore, so I descended from above.
“I clearly told you… that I’d kill you if you came back. That doesn’t sound like a proper warning?”
To replenish the lost venom, I overlaid my father’s face onto theirs. With that, the suppressed hatred surged back up.
<“You're probably the only person in the world who can talk so casually to a half-dragon.”>
The mage barked something and erected a thick barrier. This one seemed tough to cut through with my broadsword. If only I could deal with that damn mage…
“It’s fine, lower the barrier, Akashi. I didn’t come to fight. I brought you a gift. I’ll put it down here. Right… here.”
<“Hahaha, poor me. To endure such hardship following a foolish person.”>
The black-haired one stepped forward and placed a package down before retreating politely. Is this a trap? It’s possible. Humans have done similar things before.
…But considering their attitude yesterday, it might not be. Carefully keeping my sword pointed at them, I approached the package.
And then I slashed it open to let the contents spill out. A bomb or poison wouldn’t harm me, but what came out was entirely unexpected.
“…Bread?”
“I asked around the village to find out what you like. It might not be exactly what you prefer according to the villagers… but I hope you like it.”
It was the packaging from the bakery I often visited. Could it be poisoned? I sniffed it carefully but detected nothing unusual. Still, I couldn’t trust it.
“…Why should I trust you enough to eat this?”
Even subtle poisons that show no smell or taste could easily affect me. I’ve fallen victim to strong poisons before.
“In that case, give me any of the bread you have there. If it’s poisoned, I wouldn’t be fine, would I?”
Though it irked me to do what the guy wanted, it was better than falling to poison, so I rolled the one in my hand toward his feet.
He brushed off the dirt, peeled off the crust, and started eating.
Watching him chew calmly without any tension made me feel like the cautious one was the fool.
“…See? No problems. The cream is delicious too. But you should eat it quickly; this kind of thing usually spoils fast.”
Who do you think you’re fooling? As soon as I confirmed there were no issues, I grabbed it and started eating.
It’s delicious. Yet, I still felt uneasy. Could it be laced with poison that only affects half-dragons like me?
But looking at his tired face, it didn’t seem likely.
Since there were only six pieces, it didn’t take long before the wrapper was rolling on the ground. From halfway through, I stabbed the sword into the ground and just ate.
Of course, I stayed alert for any tricks.
By the time I wiped my mouth and drew my sword again to point at them, they hadn’t made any suspicious moves. The mage chattered annoyingly, but the most bothersome grimoire remained closed in the black-haired man’s hands.
It seems like the white-haired one follows whatever the black-haired one says without question.
“Did you enjoy it? That’s good to hear. My name is Myungho. Jin Myungho. So, can you tell me your name? It feels weird to keep calling you ‘you’ forever.”
Myungho. Jin Myungho. The name is distinctly Korean, not typical of this world. Or maybe such names exist here too.
I don’t know. It doesn’t matter anyway.
…Still, maybe I can share part of my name. Mother told me never to reveal my true name to anyone, but this much should be fine.
You return what you receive. I don’t owe debts. That’s my principle.
“……Altera.”
“Altera… Altera. What a pretty name. So…”
“Shut up. I didn’t share it to hear compliments. The bread payment is settled. And I still have no intention of becoming your ally. Go away.”
“Will you not warn me that you’ll kill me if I come back?”
As soon as I start thinking better of you, you ruin the mood. I directly conveyed my intentions despite thinking you had improved slightly.
“I realized it’s not worth it. Come or don’t come. But if you do, it’d be better to bring something worth talking about next time. Now, get lost.”
This way is much easier than going down there and having a tiresome mental battle. So, receiving regular bread offerings would become quite pleasant.
At least until they decide to move elsewhere.
Until then, I resolved to milk them for all they’re worth as I watched them leave.
