The Attention Dragon
The first dormitory roll call. A yellow badge pinned to the chest with the words “Attention Dragon” written clearly on it. “What’s this? Attention Dragon?” Surely it’s not what I think it is. I can’t even muster a laugh at the absurdity. I just stare blankly at the badge. Looking at it reminds me of the “problem soldiers” from my military days. These days, the dragons call each other warriors, so maybe the concept is the same. Back in the army, new recruits were given smiley badges or yellow epaulets during their adjustment period. This badge probably carries a similar meaning.
“Derke? Did the other kids get this badge too, or just you?”
“N-no, desu-yong! The professor only gave it to me-desu-yong……”
Derke’s voice trails off weakly. A faint blush colors her cheeks. She might not know the exact meaning, but she clearly senses it’s something embarrassing. Her reaction confirms it. The badge is a mark labeling a student who needs extra attention because they’re expected to struggle with adapting. And it singles out one particular student, drawing unnecessary focus. Just who is this professor who would slap something like this on a brand-new student? Their qualifications as an educator are seriously in question.
“Tsk. Dragons really aren’t any different.”
“Are you… upset because I’m a descendant of the Death Dragon, desu-yong…?”
“Not at all. If I were, why would I have given you cookies and biscuits?”
“Hweeet……?”
“Don’t worry about that. You’re basically a lucky charm to me.”
“R-really, desu-yong?!”
Derke’s green eyes sparkle like stars at my reassurance. She seems a little more at ease and pulls another biscuit from the bag, munching away happily. She really does act her age—barely two hundred, a true hatchling. Simple reactions and all.
Look at that. My comfort and the biscuits raised her favorability again. She’s basically an elementary-school kid in human terms. Good thing she’s simple. It would’ve been a nightmare if she’d cried all night. And I meant it when I called her a lucky charm. If I hadn’t run into Derke yesterday, I never would’ve even considered taming a dragon with Beast Taming. I’d have spent the next fifty years just brewing coffee and growing old.
“Right, Derke? What brings you here so late?”
“I wanted to see you all day, desu-yong! When I smell you, it feels like Daddy’s right beside me-desu-yong!”
“Ah… I see.”
Being ostracized on her very first day must have been heartbreaking. She must have been desperate to come find me. To brand such a cute kid an Attention Dragon…
“If something like that happened, you should’ve come earlier.”
“I was too busy, desu-yong! I had to get my uniform and textbooks and do all sorts of things, desu-yong!”
Derke, already recovered, chatters away. Every time she waves her hands, wraith-like souls form shapes of uniforms and books in the air.
“…And most of all! I heard the lounge is a scary place only upperclassmen are allowed into, desu-yong!”
“Oh? Really?”
The lounge is reserved for upperclassmen? That’s news to me. Even lounge access follows seniority. How ridiculous. ‘No wonder only the fourth-years were coming and going…’ The more I see, the more this place feels like the military—only the worst habits bundled together.
“So I waited outside until all the seniors left, desu-yong!”
“If I’d known, I would’ve stepped out for a bit……”
“It’s okay, desu-yong! Seeing your face really does make me feel better, desu-yong!”
“Haha, glad to hear it. Anyway, Derke, we should head back to the dormitory soon. Roll call’s almost here.”
Our meeting was short, but I had no choice but to say goodbye. Evening roll call was fast approaching.
“Ugh…! I don’t wanna gooo……”
“If you’re missing, I’ll be the one in trouble. Be good, okay?”
“O-okay, desu-yong…!”
*
The dormitory, modeled after a barracks. It had felt eerie until yesterday, but now the entire building radiates energy. Every window that once seemed cold and dark now glows with light. Everyone must have unpacked on their own. ‘Come to think of it, there wasn’t even a room assignment chart. How did they all find their rooms?’ I have no idea. If anything had gone wrong, the staff would’ve come straight to me first.
“Alright, go on into your room.”
“Okay…! I don’t know what roll call is, but I’ll listen well, desu-yong!”
Ten minutes before roll call. With my escort, Derke gathers her courage and dashes into her room. I planned to wait a little longer before entering myself. Walking in hand-in-hand with a human would only make her the target of more teasing.
“Still, it’s pretty chaotic in here.”
I lingered outside for about three minutes before stepping in. The dormitory atmosphere was lively and disorganized. Little kids no bigger than Derke were running up and down the first-floor hallway. Laughter and giggles echoed everywhere. They were all barely two hundred years old, so it really felt like walking into a kindergarten. The moment I entered, children Derke’s size darted through the corridor. What stood out even more was how many of them already had horns and tails compared to the upperclassmen. Some even had tiny wings sprouting from their backs, flapping softly. It was like standing at the boundary between human and dragon. Well, except for Derke—every other student carried some visible trace of their draconic heritage.
‘Kids really are kids. Aren’t they tired?’
They paid no attention to me as they raced noisily through the halls.
—Creak, click!
I stepped into the dorm supervisor’s office for roll call. A modest five-pyeong space—just a bed and a desk. “Huh? What’s this?”
A sheet of paper lay on the desk. 「Student Dormitory Room Assignment Chart」 The administrative office must have dropped by while I was sweating it out at the lounge. I’d noticed something posted on the bulletin board in the hallway earlier too. The other students had probably used this to find their rooms.
‘Hah, handing out the chart on the actual day…’ I almost wanted to explain in detail to those stone-faced staff how paper is made. But I still had work to do. It was exactly 8:30 in the evening. Time to begin roll call—me, a mere human, overseeing dragons.
“Let’s get started.”
—Click!
[Drrrrrrrring—!!!]
When I pressed the red button on the wall, a loud bell rang from the magical speakers installed in every hallway. The bell only sounded twice a day: wake-up and evening roll call. Nothing else.
……
At the same time, the once-noisy first floor fell silent. Everyone must have returned to their rooms. Finally, some peace and quiet.
‘No need to get nervous. Nothing’s going to go wrong.’
The basic duties of a dorm supervisor came with a manual, so it didn’t feel too awkward. I’d practiced simulations in my spare time, after all. The real issue was having to personally check attendance on each floor.
—Gulp!
I swallowed dryly. I couldn’t help feeling tense. A human managing dragons? It was absurd. It made no sense. I just needed to finish this without offending any of them. It was only an attendance check—how hard could it be?
—Step, step…!
I composed myself and stepped into the central hallway, shoes clicking against the floor. That’s when it happened.
“F-first-year reporting—!”
“……?”
A black-haired hatchling in full uniform snapped a salute and reported in a loud, disciplined voice. Two small horns protruded from her forehead. Behind her, first-year students stood one step outside their doors.
“Ah, report.”
Old military habits kicked in. I returned the salute lightly and spoke casually.
“First-year evening roll call report…! Total of ten students! No absences or exceptions!”
The tiny student shouted with perfect military bearing. This was straight out of the army. ‘Was this academy always like this?’ I tilted my head. Maybe it was more like a military academy. There was that massive arena instead of a regular field, and I’d heard there was an armory full of weapons somewhere. Thinking about those facilities, it really might have been built for military purposes.
“Hm? What’s this……?”
The hatchling who had just reported wore a small badge on her shoulder strap, just like Derke’s—except hers was green. 「Grade Representative Dragon」 was written on it. Like a squad leader, probably. They must have given it to the smartest kid. Still, did a human like me really need this level of formality? Well, it made things easier, so I wasn’t complaining.
“Any other special matters?”
“None! And also……”
“Hm?”
“I’m sorry for not recognizing you, Dorm Supervisor!”
The grade representative suddenly bowed and apologized.
“…The professor told us! The dorm supervisor has authority over conduct scores, so we should listen well……!”
Ah, so that’s why. No wonder everyone was acting so formal. There really were conduct scores. Of course, I doubted the upperclassmen would listen to me so easily……
“It’s fine. By the way, Grade Representative? What’s your name?”
“First-year representative, Tina!!”
Her voice rang so loudly it echoed down the corridor. I couldn’t help the corner of my mouth twitching upward. These kids were freshmen—completely clueless, just like raw recruits. In that sense, I was in the position of a strict, stern drill instructor.
“Very well, Tina. Is that all for today’s special matters?”
“Yes! Everything is normal!”
No matter what, she was still a dragon. I couldn’t speak down to her outright. I’d use polite speech and try to win over the grade representative, Tina. After all……
“Good. By the way, is there anyone here sharing a room with Derke?”
“Derke’s roommate is… me, Tina!”
Her roommate matched the assignment chart. Perfect timing. If Derke’s roommate was the first-year representative, I could probably prevent her from being bullied by getting Tina on my side.