When I awoke, it was into a pitch-black void, perfectly still. No matter how I twitched my fingers or tossed and turned to get up, I couldn’t hear a thing.
This is so strange. At first, I thought I had woken up, but I wasn’t even sure if I was standing or not. I couldn’t tell whether I was falling or floating upwards.
The one certainty was that there was nothing tangible beneath me. And despite this bizarre situation, my mind was crystal clear.
Could this be a lucid dream? Where you know you’re dreaming and can manipulate the dream’s contents… something like that.
I’d only heard rumors of such things, but here I was, floating in the void, thinking that if this were true, I should be able to do whatever I wanted.
“Earth, rise forth.” My voice didn’t echo, but I disliked the sensation of floating without knowing whether I was falling or rising, so I tried to create some ground beneath me.
Nothing happened.
Still suspended in endless darkness, with no sensation of anything touching my body, I simply floated.
…Was this just a random dream? Turning onto my back, I laced my hands behind my head and closed my eyes. Though I questioned whether I could sleep again while already asleep, what else was there to do?
No matter how much I flailed, there was no sense of movement, and apart from the beating of my heart, I could hear nothing. I saw nothing, and felt nothing except for my own body.
Come to think of it, before I passed out, my entire body was almost completely covered in scales, but now they’re all gone. Did Myungho remove them? Or did they fall off for some unknown reason?
I don’t know. Perhaps my current state is what my consciousness truly considers “me.” By now, I’ve grown accustomed to this form.
Though I lived as a man for 25 years, people usually forget old memories quickly and adapt to the present. Even if my body or species changes… humans always find a way.
But I’m already half-dragon; can I still call myself human? Laughing silently at this absurd question, I lost myself in deep thought for the first time in a long while.
After quite some time—or perhaps very little—I couldn’t tell—but I still found no answers. If only my father had been normal, I might have embraced the power of the dragon within me more confidently…
But that’s just a hypothetical. Still, whenever I see my claws or scales, I feel revulsion, separate from any practical concerns.
Suddenly, I sensed something odd and opened my eyes to see light.
Far away, there was a faint glimmer weaker than a candle. Wondering what it was, I instinctively felt I could move toward it now. Flailing my arms and legs like a dog paddling through water, I approached the light, which grew larger and brighter until it swallowed the darkness, eventually filling the void—
“…Didn’t know you could speak so well… and give speeches too… ugh, I’m so dizzy… anyway, congratulations, Alterra. Now you can proudly call yourself a beast hunter wherever you go…”
A speech? Mine? I remember being on the city wall, but when I emerged from the light, I was on the road back to Corbo.
Myungho seemed in bad shape, leaning heavily on his brush as if it were a cane. When I offered him my shoulder for support, I noticed the scales still covering my body.
So instead of offering my shoulder, I started tearing the scales off by handfuls. It was more urgent to deal with this than figure out what had happened.
Even though I’d cut off the flow of magic, the scales crumbled easily after being attached for so long. Nearby, people gave me strange looks as I ripped them off wildly.
Had I really given a congratulatory speech looking like this? I don’t know how it happened. There’s no way I would—or could—appear before people looking this grotesque.
That doesn’t make sense. While I enjoy speaking in front of crowds, not like this. Not possible. This couldn’t have happened.
I’ll ask later about what exactly went down, but for now, I kept pulling off the scales, ignoring others’ gazes.
When I finally stopped and looked at Myungho to ask, he was barely walking—more like a living corpse. So I caught him as he fell, supported him with my shoulder, and we returned to Corbo together, an unsettling feeling lingering.
At the banquet, Myungho continued to stagger, unable to maintain sobriety. Whether due to drained mana or something else, after nibbling on a few dishes, he slumped in a corner and dozed off.
Yuna was having a drinking contest with someone, their glasses clinking.
Naturally, I headed over to sit beside him. Being alone, various annoying thoughts came unbidden, asking questions I didn’t understand. It became too bothersome to answer each one by claiming I didn’t know the language.
“Hey, Myungho. How are you feeling now? Any better?”
“…I feel like I’m going to throw up, but nothing comes out. Have you ever experienced that? That’s where I am right now. I feel like I’m dying…”
Ah. It seems Myungho won’t recover until tomorrow. But at least he seemed coherent enough to answer, so I decided to ask about what happened after I collapsed.
“After I passed out… you said I gave a congratulatory speech? I don’t remember any of that. Can you tell me what I was like then?”
Myungho pressed his fingers to his temple as if dealing with a hangover, then recounted everything.
“So, after you suddenly stood up, you climbed onto the podium… or cannon? Something like that, and declared victory, saying the dragon stands with you… or something like that. Anyway, your words carried weight unlike usual… Ah, don’t misunderstand. I didn’t mean you’re usually weak. Please don’t take it that way.”
Weak words are usually mine. Deep down, I realized that person wasn’t me. I wouldn’t flaunt my dragon form like that.
Then who or what possessed my body and acted in my place?
Who?
No matter how much I thought, I couldn’t come up with an answer. The necklace still emitted its soft blue glow.
Staring at it wouldn’t bring answers. My worries and the festival only deepened.
If only he were in better shape, I could share a drink with him. But in this state, he’d likely vomit everything inside the moment alcohol touched his lips. Guess I’ll pass on that.
—
Where am I? Who am I? Rising from the bed with these foolish questions, I remembered what had happened.
Oh, right. After forcibly canceling Alterra’s berserk mode, I suffered from magical exhaustion and blacked out repeatedly.
Recalling those moments, I remembered Alterra helping me return to the dormitory.
Though I still had a mild headache from the aftermath, it wasn’t severe. Putting on my shoes and looking around, I saw Alterra sound asleep in her bed.
Her cloak was neatly folded aside, and she lay face-down, seemingly reacting immediately upon sensing my movement.
“Yawn… Are you awake?”
With her usual stretch, she greeted me casually.
“Yeah. Yesterday was… incredible. You practically caught the beast all by yourself. And thank you for supporting me around everywhere.”
“Hmm. Sure, I helped, but without your idea, I wouldn’t have succeeded either. Thanks to you. Appreciate it.”
Alterra basked in pride for a moment before acknowledging my contribution with gratitude.
Phew. Lucky she didn’t notice anything unusual. With morning reminding me of certain matters, I hastily recalled my academic projects and philosophical books to calm myself.
As I fidgeted, Alterra approached, concerned.
Please, it hasn’t subsided yet. Trying to buy time by inching away quietly, I soon hit the wall, leaving no escape.
“Wait a sec, come here. Let me check your forehead. Your face is bright red, maybe you have a fever.”
“No, I’m fine, really!”
I only wore shorts and a shirt, and exposure would reveal everything. Attempting to cover up by leaning backward, she came closer regardless.
Her approach felt like a condemned man facing his executioner. In that moment, my posture betrayed me.
“Huh?”
Ah. It’s over. Time to cut this off. As Alterra tilted her head in confusion, she noticed the protrusion in my pants.
“It’s morning… forgive me.”
I couldn’t say it was because of seeing her. That sounds less like a man and more like a deranged sex offender.
“Uh, yeah… sure… um… you seem fine, right?”
Alterra also appeared disconcerted, her face turning red as she stumbled backward.
Should we start using separate rooms from now on?
Without anything else to say, Alterra sat on the bed, wrapping herself in her cloak and gazing out the window.
“Well… you’re… a guy, huh.”
Her attempt to ease the awkwardness only deepened the silence. I want to die.
“You’re awake? Good. What’s wrong? Did you two fight? It happens sometimes between men and women. Set emotions aside, your clothes are ready. That brat lacks perseverance.”
Fortunately—or unfortunately—Akashi arrived with young Akashi just as the tension peaked.
“Lack perseverance?! How can you expect me to make clothes assuming they’ll get torn and ruined?! If that’s the case, why not just walk around like this?! Argh, never mind! Here, take your clothes!”
Young Akashi, visibly upset, angrily threw the clothes at Alterra.
“Here! Comfortable! Durable! No sleeves! And here’s your change! Fabric cost deducted, 14 gold left!”
It was unclear what exactly made her so angry, but Alterra seemed overwhelmed by her intensity.
“Why are you so mad, Akashi…?”
“Are you kidding me?! I put effort into making this, and you plan to destroy it?! Of course I’m mad! Even if it’s unintentional, if the clothes will get destroyed every time you fight, why bother wearing them at all?! Just wander around like a savage!”
She hates seeing her hard work destroyed. I understood instantly, imagining someone tearing apart a book I worked hard on.
“What? Do you even know how to wear this?! For heaven’s sake! Put on the pants first! Remove the bandages and insert them here! Wear the top and tie the straps like this!”
Young Akashi undressed Alterra without hesitation and dressed her in the new outfit.
Since she faced away, I only heard the sounds until she asked me to take a look.
And the sight was…
