Dragons, Swimsuits, and a Suspicious Sea Breeze
A few days had passed since returning from the Busan Holy Kingdom. Back to the usual routine. While fiddling with the treasure orb I'd gotten from catching that Red Dragon punk, I finally spoke up.
"Terra."
"Yes!"
"Want this?"
"What... Gasp?! Y-you mean the treasure orb?!"
The ancient Red Dragon's treasure orb. A gem containing part of that punk's power, but honestly, it didn't seem useful to me at all. I'd checked it out every which way over the past few days, but there was nothing it could really help with. My level was already way above his, so absorbing the power was ridiculously inefficient. And it didn't even boost my treasure collection at all.
Better to give it to someone who could actually use it.
"J-just hold on a sec! Let me finish this raid quick...!"
Terra's tail started wagging furiously as she sat at the computer. Watching her like that brought back old memories for some reason. Back when I was human, I'd do the exact same thing for games. I don't touch 'em now 'cause they're boring, but man, I used to grind like crazy.
"Take your time."
"Y-yes, got it!"
So I decided to cut her some slack. She did help me out with gem processing, after all.
"All done, Goldie-nim!"
How long had I been lounging on the bed waiting? Here she came, scampering over with her tail swishing happily.
"...? What's up?"
"Nah, just... reminded me of the old days."
"The old days...?"
"Yeah. I had a little sister back then. We were total opposites, so we fought a lot."
She'd get pissed if I played games. Pissed if I ate. Pissed just for existing. Your standard siblings, really.
"Compared to her, you're way too obedient. Ha-eun's too shy, though."
"W-well..."
"Ah, not a bad thing. Just different. Popped into my head, that's all."
As I said that, I handed the Red Dragon's treasure orb to Terra. She took it like it was the most precious thing in the world and flashed the purest smile.
"Thank you...!"
"Hope it boosts your rank. Or at least expands your processing range."
"I'll do my best to live up to your expectations, Goldie-nim!"
Terra answered with her tail thrashing wildly.
Come to think of it, I hadn't had much to do lately. Guess I'd focus on raising Terra. Living expenses were covered after the Holy Kingdom trip, and I'd gotten a nice variety of treasures, so my hoarding itch had calmed down a bit. I'd basically switched to bed-rolling mode.
Would be nice if some treasure scent wafted in from somewhere.
"Oh yeah, Terra."
"Yes!"
"How's that claw processing going?"
"Uh... it'll take more time. It's such a... delicate item."
"Not delaying 'cause of games, right?"
She flinched, shoulders twitching slightly. Bingo?
"Games are fine and all. But you gotta do your work."
"S-sorry..."
"Hm... and."
*Grab!*
"Eek?!"
"What's with this tail? It's got dirt all over it."
Even if her original form was a dragon, she was human-shaped now. Time to teach her how humans live.
"Go to your room and wash it off with water first."
"Whaaat?!"
"No clean tail, no bed."
Earth Dragons technically "bathe" in dirt and sand. They hate water with a passion... But what're you gonna do? This is my lair. My rules.
"Got it?"
"Y-yes..."
We were in the middle of that little lecture when—
*Ring ring ring!*
My Hunter Watch started blaring.
"Hello? Ha-eun?"
"Ah! Unnie, you free by any chance?"
"What's up? Another spot to hit?"
"Kinda like that!"
Oh, another gate? Association assignment maybe.
"Which gate?"
"Huh? No, not a gate."
"Eh."
"Thanks to that Elf incident, I got some vacation time!"
Vacation? Then why call me...?
"Ha-eun."
"Yes!"
"You got no friends? Why me...?"
"Wha?! N-no, it's not like that... Uh, unnie too... No, you basically handled that whole thing solo. I just thought it'd be fun with you..."
What, backup duty? I was just rolling around in bed anyway, no real reason to say no.
"Fine fine. Where to?"
"How about the beach? Weather's warming up..."
"Bit early for beach, no?"
"W-well, too crowded might suck...?"
Ha-eun's voice turned cautious. Hm. I see.
"So I'm some embarrassing Goldie you'd hide away, huh... Guess I gotta force a contract on you...?"
"N-no, unnie!"
"Pfft— yeah, whatever. Beach sounds fine."
"Tomorrow then?"
"Huh? That soon?"
I figured vacation meant flexible timing, but then a bombshell hit over the watch.
"No? You don't have a swimsuit, unnie."
"...Huh?"
"Gotta have one for the beach. Let's go shopping!"
...That was the goal all along.
***
A few days later.
I was yawning in the passenger seat of Ha-eun's car heading to Busan.
"How much longer?"
"Almost there."
"Haa... this for real...?"
"Why! It was cute!"
She caught on immediately, beaming proudly.
That's the problem.
She just didn't get it. Swimsuit? I'd lived my whole life without even thinking about something so lame.
...Should I just drop the polymorph when we hit Haeundae? Say I prefer my true form for fun, and Ha-eun would underst—no way she would.
"Haa..."
"Hey, human. Turn this carriage around. Can't you see Goldie-nim sighing like that?"
"Terra's gotta come too?"
"Wh-what kinda talk is that?!"
Oh right, she hates water too. How'd dragons end up like this? Humans used to tremble just looking at us...
"Any fishing spots nearby while we're here?"
"Pardon?"
"I love fishing. Used to do it with my tail back in the day."
"T-tail...? Isn't that super sensitive...?"
Ha-eun shot me a wary glance.
Her reaction's funnier than expected.
"Yup. Feels the nibbles better."
"..."
"I've caught earthworms myself."
"Terra, you too...?"
"What's the issue, human?"
They stared at each other like they couldn't comprehend. I chuckled.
"Anyway, Terra."
"Yes, Goldie-nim."
"What's with calling Ha-eun 'human'? Call her properly."
"...Pardon?"
Dragons are arrogant creatures. I'm a bit like that, and that Red Dragon punk wouldn't spill on Black Dragons 'cause of his pride. Terra's no different.
But we're assimilating into human society. Time to dial back the arrogance a notch.
"Try 'unnie' like she calls me. Treat her equal."
"H-how could I to a hu—"
"She calls me unnie, doesn't she? Even footing."
"Haha... it's fine, unnie. I'm used to it."
"Doesn't look fine from outside. 'Human this, human that' draws eyes."
We went back and forth, but eventually I gave up. Her stubbornness is no joke.
*Click.*
"Yaaawn~ Finally here."
We pulled up to the lodging, and I hopped out yawning. Flying would've been way faster, honestly. But now it was too late in the day for beach fun.
"Rest today, swim tomorrow!"
"That damn swimming..."
"Let's at least check out the sea. First time since returning, right?"
"I-I'm fine—"
"Terra, you're coming too!"
Ha-eun grabbed Terra's hand and bolted toward the visible ocean. I followed at a leisurely pace, unable to resist. That's when I noticed hunters scattered around. People openly carrying swords and guns in the middle of the city. Totally different vibe from Seoul.
No matter how chaotic the world is, Seoul doesn't let you strut weapons like that.
"Ah! Unnie, look over there! Hm? Unnie?"
"Yeah, Ha-eun. Those folks... hunters?"
"Yep! Didn't you know? That's normal in Busan."
"Huh?"
"Monsters can come from the sea anytime. So they stay geared up for deployment."
What? Then how do beaches even exist...?
"See, unnie? Hunters guard the main beaches."
"Where...?"
I looked where she pointed—armed hunters instead of regular security. Wild.
Apparently, local waters teem with monsters, way riskier than land. Makes sense, harder to manage. But humans can't give up the ocean... Greed? Water's still vital these days.
"For somewhere so dangerous, tons of people."
"It's the beach! Romantic, pretty. Great food..."
"Hm... Dunno about that."
Never really lived thinking about romance. Oh, but I collected romantic treasures—like that heart-shaped ruby that turned into a gem for its lover. Stuff like that?
"...Terra, what're you doing?"
Lost in thought, Ha-eun's baffled voice pulled me back. I could guess without looking. Earth Dragon and all.
"I like it here."
Yup. She'd flopped right onto the beach.
"Earth Dragons do that, right? Especially nice and warm in the sun—heaven for her."
Ha-eun clutched her forehead, shaking her head.
Meanwhile, I scanned around and my eyes locked on a shop.
"Tons of seafood spots. Grilled shellfish and a drink?"
"Booze...?"
"Gotta have one when you're out here. You drag me along just to bail?"
"Ugh..."
She brought me for bad reasons—time for payback. Shame dragons start at a truckload for tolerance.
"C'mon~ Let's booze it up~"
I slung an arm around Ha-eun's shoulders. As I turned toward the grill joint—
[....]
"Hm?"
A weird mana pulse from the sea. And then... a faint, fishy stench wafting in.
"Unnie, you okay?"
"Yeah... nothing. Let's go."
Do... things like that live in Earth's oceans?