Unicorn Horns

Thud—

The shock was so completely unexpected that I toppled straight over backward.

What…?

Why on earth?

"Uh…?"

"Unnie, are you okay…?"

This body was unmistakably human. A dragon's polymorph changed the species itself, so it was a proper human form. And this flesh was just as unmistakably a woman's body… and there was no way I had ever messed around with some human!

So why? Seriously, why?

Hiiiiiiing—!

I clenched my fist as another one came charging in, trying to trample me flat.

Bang—!

In a single instant, I blew the unicorn's head clean off.

Only then did Na Ha-rin, who had been sprinting this way, arrive.

"Goldy-nim, don't tell me…"

"No!"

She asked it playfully, barely holding back a laugh. I shouted back like I was genuinely wronged.

And the biggest problem of all…

…was that I had left the stream running.

"No, guys, I'm telling you it's not true? I swear on my own horn, for real…"

"Hey, quit saying weird stuff! You maniacs!"

They seemed to be taking my side… but in completely the wrong direction.

"…."

My eyes started to sting at the edges from the sheer injustice of it all.

My reputation was tanking this hard? Over some stupid unicorn cub? And of all things, a virginity scandal??

I hadn't even cried, but just from my expression the chat completely flipped.

"U-Unnie! Unnie is just so strong that it sensed that and got scared and charged, that's all!"

"…Yeah?"

"Y-Yes!"

Watching Ha-eun desperately try to soothe me, I closed my eyes for a moment and let out a sigh. Then I stood up, brushed the dirt off, and started walking with heavy steps.

Work first.

"…Every last unicorn cub is dead."

And this was just an extension of the job.

The reason the unicorns had charged was simple.

Terror of a dragon's overwhelming presence. And a faint male scent etched into the soul. Put simply, the scent left over from when I had still been human, before becoming a dragon.

Normally no one could ever sense it, but the unicorns' special organs let them pick that smell up. If it had only been fear, they never would have charged so readily. But a male scent was something those creatures simply could not endure… so even though the body was a clear virgin, the two factors stacked and drove them into a violent frenzy. That was the reason.

Of course, I only learned that much later.

And… I had already been sensing it a little myself. Looking at Terra in his child form and feeling that strange urge to protect him made me wonder if this dragon body still had more secrets left inside it.

"…."

Soaked head to toe in unicorn blood, I dumped the horns I had collected in front of Na Ha-rin like I was tossing them away.

"Is this enough?"

"Uh, uh… more than enough. Way too many, even. Originally we only needed about five…"

There had to be close to a hundred horns. Some of them still had the whole head attached, since ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I had blown a few clean off. The whole area was, put simply, a wasteland now. The three people watching looked pretty thoroughly intimidated and kept sneaking glances at my face.

"Man… I thought I was going to be the one doing all the hard work. Looking at it again, you really are incredible."

Lee Ho-jin said it with a hollow laugh. In practice not a single unicorn had even gotten near him. I had killed them all before they could even register what was happening.

Hmm… then I'd set a few aside for TotallyNotSuspicious. And maybe bring a couple for Terra too? He might be able to snack on them.

"How were you planning to use these horns?"

"Turns out they're better for energy storage than I expected. Gonna slice 'em thin and use 'em as energy cubes."

"Yeah? Then I'll give you more of these, so make a few of them into cube shapes for me."

"Hm? Sure thing. What're you gonna use 'em for, though?"

"I want to make some gear for Ha-eun."

At that, Ha-eun jolted and repeated it back.

"M-Me…?"

"Yeah, you. Remember those scales I gave you last time? I figure if we use them together we can make something fun."

"Huk! Scales? Could I maybe get some too?"

"No. Keep pushing your luck?"

"Hing."

I had agonized over it even just giving one to Ha-eun. Like I was going to hand them out to random people.

"Hmm…"

"What's up?"

"Just a weird feeling."

Saying that, I glanced sideways at Ha-eun, who was holding her sword and keeping watch on the surroundings. Come to think of it, how had I met her of all people the moment I returned to Earth? How had it turned into this kind of bond?

Was this that "destiny" thing too?

The black hunter outfit ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she always insisted on wearing in that short-skirt style, plus the casual white jacket. Shoulder-length red hair, and eyes of nearly the same color. I had seen the look a thousand times, but in Korea it was pretty one-of-a-kind.

And the reason a girl like that had come looking for me was to surpass her family. The Association had apparently given her a tip for that goal—word that I was returning to Earth. And they had told her months before I even arrived.

Terra had said it once. That it felt almost like a prophecy.

Destiny and prophecy… way too difficult a topic. The kind of thing a guy like Zehar would love.

Anyway.

Where did prophecy end and destiny begin? I was curious.

"Ha-eun."

"Yes?"

"Come to think of it, how has your training been going lately?"

Between the two of us being busy with work for days, I hadn't properly looked after her.

"If nothing special comes up… I keep going until I go to sleep."

"The way I taught you?"

"Yes. Exactly the way Unnie taught me."

As she said it, Ha-eun put a little strength into her grip on the hilt.

Fwoosh—

Fire ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bloomed at the tip of the blade.

For the record, all I had done was spar with her, knock out the sword techniques that didn't fit her body, and show her a few of the stances I used. She had also picked up a few fortuitous encounters while hanging around me. But everything else, she had built herself.

Put another way…

Just a little more and it should start opening up, right?

Just like Zehar had said, Ha-eun's power was blocked right now—not weak in total capacity. Being the daughter of a prestigious family probably helped. Her foundational base was really solid. As long as she steadily stripped away the unnecessary methods and kept training in ways that suited her, she would be able to draw out the rest of that power soon enough.

"I'll watch you a bit this evening."

"Ah, yes!"

After that, Na Ha-rin finished her rough preparations and spoke up while gathering the horns.

"All set! These should be plenty!"

Especially the ones that were still intact and gleaming. Time to head back.

"I-Is this really okay…?"

"I keep telling you it's fine. I'll be watching the whole time anyway."

Terra, lying on the temporary operating table, kept asking me the same thing in a tense voice. He looked exactly like a little kid at the dentist.

"Haha! It won't hurt a bit. My tech is the best, so no need to worry!"

"…That just makes me more worried, Goldy-nim."

"They're professionals. And I'll be helping too."

Even I had been a little surprised when Na Ha-rin showed up carrying something like a bag with six robotic arms attached. Kind of a "come forth, Na Ha-rin All-Purpose Arms" vibe.

"Then let's begin! Scalpel!"

"S-Scalpel…?"

"Ha-rin-ssi, please don't joke at times like this."

"Aww, Da-jeong-nim, this is all to help the kid relax."

"He's even more scared now!"

Two of the arms lightly pinned Terra's shoulders.

And then—

"Terra, can you do it?"

"I-I'll try."

He focused and drew up his mana. The broken horn slowly began to change, turning sand-like. One of Na Ha-rin's robotic arms fixed a horn fragment into position, and Kim Da-jeong and I both pulled up recovery mana.

…Please stick properly.