If I Stop Moving
As long as she kept moving, her loyal lesser dragons welcomed her. The beautiful structures she had cultivated stood proud. Everything greeted her with open arms. But the moment she stopped... it all vanished like a fleeting bubble, crumbling naturally yet pathetically into nothingness.
This was an experience from shortly after the Outer God known as the Dragon Slayer had been born.
# In a house without air conditioning, a single fan was enough to bring a smile. In a house without even that, just sitting in the shade was joy enough. Living beings don't strongly crave 'comfort' or 'happiness' they've never known. Even a newborn 'god' was no exception.
Born as a proud dragon, the Dragon Slayer was content with the world she had created—everything welcoming her. Her lesser dragons tended to her every move, and the stunning buildings brought joy with every glance. She lacked for nothing. Until she looked down upon the human world.
One day, while watching what her lesser dragons observed, the Dragon Slayer accidentally glimpsed human life—and found herself unwittingly awestruck. What captivated her most was a pair, male and female, laughing together, chatting, and sharing a kiss.
With her lofty stature, she couldn't grasp why they did it. But instinctively, she sensed it. Could this be the 'romance' those ancient lesser dragons occasionally mentioned?
I want to go down there. I want to experience that flow of time myself!
But she naturally realized a truth: A being like her couldn't simply descend on a whim. That fact felt like shackles tightening around her. Yet, on the other hand... Do I even need to go? I have my lesser dragons. It wasn't a big deal if she couldn't. Unaware that problems would soon arise.
# From that day on, her mind brimmed with thoughts of the human world. She tried ignoring it, chatting excessively with her lesser dragons, but she couldn't shake it. The intense stimulation from watching humans had lodged in her brain, awakening her first taste of 'longing'.
No matter how she fought it, curiosity toward this new sight—and the possessiveness of wanting it for herself—grew daily. During tea time with her lesser dragons, she finally flipped the table.
What a boring, endless routine. These lesser dragons are just my creations, after all.
Hearing that some beings of her rank had already descended only amplified it. I want to go down too. Why can't I?
So, for about ten human years, the Dragon Slayer shut herself in her chamber. Everything felt unfair. As an Outer God unbound by time, it was pure sulking. That long period was enough for her to accept her situation and reflect.
Rising from bed, she thought sheepishly of apologizing to her lesser dragons. Smiling, she opened the door—and faced despair for the first time.
The lesser dragons who should have been chatting and doing chores were gone. Venturing out in a panic, she was greeted by pitch-black void—'nothingness' itself.
She realized: Her creations were mere dust, vanishing without her sustenance.
Decades more passed. Lost in emptiness, despair and deep regret forged a profound anchor of deprivation. Thus, the Dragon Slayer descended to the human world as she wished.
But was this truly good? Was it what she desired? She wasn't sure. So she decided to start anew—with one iron rule in her heart: Never grow attached to anything she created. They would burst like soap bubbles and leave her side anyway.
Still, she had one goal: Now that she was down here, find the love she craved....
"Wh-what? When did I ever say 'love'? Don't twist my words!"
"Huh? Wasn't that it?"
"...Th-that's... Anyway, no!"
Since the person herself seems quite uncomfortable, let me correct it a bit. She decided to find a human who could stay by her side.
Descending into a place of endless blizzards, the Dragon Slayer saw similar beings cultivating domains—and followed suit. Her overwhelming power and intellect claimed a vast territory.
She created lesser dragons but destroyed any that misbehaved without mercy. It hurt at first, but she grew numb. They vanish anyway; just make new ones.
Then, someone entered her domain of lesser dragons. Others feared even approaching, detouring far away. But this woman wandered freely, unperturbed.
She would later be known in the human world as White Mask.
# White Mask roamed the Dragon Slayer's domain casually, inspecting things. Later, she brought strange objects and began installing them—clearing paths, as even the Dragon Slayer could tell.
Building in her domain without permission. Yet the Dragon Slayer wasn't angry. Quite the opposite; she liked the woman. Sharp, slit-like eyes gave a cool vibe; distinct features; a charismatic voice now and then. Above all, she didn't fear her.
Recalling humans' startled reactions to her form, the Dragon Slayer asked her lesser dragons to make her as human-like as possible.
Standing confidently before White Mask, who was hammering away, she approached.
"You!"
"...?"
Calling boldly, but White Mask just glanced, furrowed her brow, and glared.
The Dragon Slayer didn't realize: Her language, the horns atop her head—they marked her as inhuman.
"You've entered my domain! Now you must obey me..."
"Tch, another Outer God here too."
White Mask ignored her and retreated on the spot.
"W-wait!"
Even as the Dragon Slayer tried to grab her, she slipped away. Still, White Mask kept returning. The Dragon Slayer persisted. First times are hard; keep showing up, and we'll be friends. Simple as that.
One day, seeing White Mask laying train tracks, the Dragon Slayer brought a lesser dragon. The train she'd dragged in seemed so inefficient.
"Suffering over transport? Borrow this one from me instead. It'll serve as your loyal servant."
Puffing her chest proudly—but to White Mask, who couldn't understand, it looked like an attack with minions. She drew her sheathed sword.
Slash!
She mercilessly beheaded the lesser dragon first.
"Y-you! Rejecting my kindness and killing it?!"
Naturally disappointed, the Dragon Slayer vented by breathing fire on the train.
"...Aaaah!"
Seeing it burn, White Mask screamed in agony, pacing helplessly. The Dragon Slayer felt vindicated—until White Mask turned, her face full of rage and resentment. Pure malice aimed at her. Heart sinking.
White Mask left that day. The Dragon Slayer brooded in her lair. I didn't attack first. Why that hateful look?
"I just want to be friends."
Deciding to apologize first—after all, she'd failed to consider human feelings—she waited. Seeing White Mask return, she brightened—then despaired. An even fiercer, venomous glare, sword drawn.
"N-no, wait. I-I'm... sorry. I didn't mean to fight..."
But White Mask couldn't understand, swinging mercilessly. Dodging while pleading, the Dragon Slayer grew furious as her clothes tore. Why must I always understand? Why won't you get my intent?
In anger, on a whim, she bit White Mask's face.
But the response...
"...G-gaaah! M-my face...!"
"R-retreat! Retreat now!!"
White Mask clutched her face, screaming wretchedly. The Dragon Slayer hadn't realized: Assuming her strength was normal, she didn't know how to approach the weak.
Watching White Mask's face distort grotesquely, she felt despair. She could do nothing. Her rash act had caused fatal harm.
"This isn't... I didn't want you hurt this bad..."
Legs giving out, she collapsed. Ah. Maybe I don't deserve the human world's beauty after all.
# A sad tale with no victim or villain. I hate tragic developments like this.
"That's why I couldn't trust humans. I'd eliminate every one that came. But..."
She might have wondered what friendship with them could've been like. Her first goal, first curiosity.
No Outer God starts evil. Even among those slain, some had stories like this.
I glanced at White Mask. She was watching my actions intently. Probably worry behind that mask.
Humans aren't guilty either. They have to eliminate threats to survive. How could they view kindly those leading them to ruin?
"You're the first human to understand and listen to me."
Seeing the Dragon Slayer's softened demeanor, White Mask might finally relax a bit.
"Subordinate."
"Yes."
"Why keep listening to that damned thing?"
White Mask finally spoke. She'd heard the whole tale—told quite objectively by the Dragon Slayer—and couldn't help her anger.
"Teacher. She says she wanted to befriend you."
"...That damned nonsense..."
"You have every reason to think so. But Teacher, will you at least believe me?"
White Mask lifted her lowered head, fixing on me.
"...You believed in my power, letting us reach here. Not all Outer Gods are evil, or I couldn't have shone with my abilities."
"You're naive. Judging from a few Outer Gods..."
"True, but at least this Dragon Slayer doesn't seem that bad."
Right. If hating all Outer Gods from the start, she should've filtered me out first.
White Mask fell silent, listening. ...Talking on the train, she struck me as pretty cool.
"She brought the lesser dragon to give to you. Showing off before you was to impress and start talking. Burning the train... a misunderstanding from clashing views. She tried apologizing that day, but..."
"..."
White Mask pondered, head slightly bowed—acknowledging it wasn't baseless.
Of course. Instantly forgiving a hated foe after hearing their side? That'd make her a saint.
Minutes passed. White Mask looked up, sorted.
"Then... if true, show some apology. For all the trouble you've caused me!"
Her voice thick with pent-up fury. The Dragon Slayer startled, then stood slowly, face full of regret, approaching. She curtsied deeply, gripping her dress's hem—one leg back.
A noble lady's sincere apology, I'd heard.
Seeing that...
"...Urk."
White Mask rasped, head down, shoulders shaking. The moment old misunderstandings unraveled, lingering grudges churning in confusion.
I gave them time. Deep wounds take time to heal.
# "...If true, I'd have to apologize too."
Hearing White Mask, the Dragon Slayer floundered, glancing between us. Come on, this is what you wanted.
"Then, could I borrow a lesser dragon soon? Train exploded... Need rest."
"O-of course! As many as you need!"
The Dragon Slayer stammered enthusiastically. Thumbs-up to White Mask, who couldn't understand but nodded.
Leaning against the wall, White Mask relaxed, slumping. She'd been injured too; rest made sense.
"...Thanks. Cleared up the misunderstanding."
"Nosy me. No need to thank."
Silence fell. Sigh. Post-resolution awkwardness sucks.
Anyway, how to remove the Dragon Slayer's anchor? Thought it was about 'human bonds,' but it lingered post-reconciliation.
Meaning...
Suddenly, a 'scraaatch' echoed from the wall behind us. We whipped around. There,
Hello~ This time, talking about 'How to Seize Love'.
Seizing love isn't as easy as it sounds (T_T). Approaching carelessly can be a nuisance, and sitting back doesn't solve it either.
But here's a tip! When the mood ripens, kiss them then—super effective for winning hearts!
That's all on how to seize love!
The Dragon Slayer's face flushed crimson. I panicked too.
This damned Recorder—what the hell is she babbling?!