The Wooden Servant's Necklace

Mok-in. Wooden people. Beings in which self-awareness has taken root within trees. A race that moves and thinks despite being plants. They were born long ago through the authority of the Beginning Dragon. Naturally, those born by borrowing the power of dragons have served the dragons—who are essentially their creators—generation after generation, obeying their commands.

The reason the Beginning Dragons granted self-awareness to trees was surprisingly simple. They needed a race they could command at ease, like servants. After all, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the lifespan of Mok-in is quite long. If supplied with sufficient water and nutrients, they could live as long as dragons. And above all, Mok-in would silently carry out any order from a dragon without the slightest complaint—even if it meant their own bodies being burned away.

Born to serve dragons from the very beginning. The Mok-in themselves proclaimed to be servants of the gods. In exchange for being granted life, they had sworn loyalty to the dragons. From the dragons' perspective, they were the most suitable race to exploit in every way—except for their slow movements and lack of delicacy.

Anyway, even after all this time, the Mok-in still served the dragons. At the academy, they continued their unpaid labor, dedicating their entire lives to it. Even if they weren't particularly skilled at their tasks, their loyalty and cost-effectiveness were unmatched, so the dragons kept them in the administrative office and put them to good use.

“Gogogo…? What’s this?”

Indrago, who had entered the night-duty room, showed interest in the Dragon Heart placed on the desk. As a Mok-in born from the power of the Beginning Dragon, it was only natural for him to be drawn to the source of his race. He had sensed the special aura of Sofia, who served the Beginning Dragon. Normally a curt and rude wooden trunk, the Mok-in became endlessly deferential in the presence of a dragon.

—Squirm, squirm, squirm…….

Indrago instinctively reached out toward the Dragon Heart.

“Ah, please don’t touch that—!!!”

When Indrago extended a thin vine from his fingertip, Breeder shouted and stopped him.

“You bastard—!!”

Breeder, who usually handled things with smooth composure, let out a rough curse and charged at Indrago, throwing a punch. He was trying to take it back by force. For the first time, he openly displayed hostility. The usually affable Breeder who laughed things off thought, ‘I can tolerate everything else, but not this. How dare a walking pile of firewood touch someone else’s belongings?!’

Normally, a Mok-in’s outer shell is covered in a hard, glove-like bark that makes it quite sturdy. However……

—Crunch!

Crack……!!!

When Breeder’s fist connected with Indrago’s outstretched tentacle-like arm, a bursting sound rang out. The dry, right wooden branch split cleanly in two like a plank.

‘What the—? It broke so easily, like rotten wood?’

The boiling anger felt almost hollow. He had expected his fist to hurt, but there was nothing. It felt like he had smashed through Styrofoam.

—Slither……!

“Huh? Even though it broke, the tentacle is still moving?!”

The severed tip of Indrago’s hand still twitched on the floor. It could still be controlled even after separation from the body. Moreover, Mok-in tentacles were quite fast. Though their usual work and movements were slow, their handiwork with tentacles was swift and precise.

The thin, long brown vine extending from Indrago’s fingertips eventually wrapped around the Dragon Heart and lifted it. Then……

—Slither……!

As the Dragon Heart connected with the black vine-like tentacle, it instantly transformed into the shape of a long necklace.

“What are you doing right now……?!”

“Gogogo…! Was this yours?”

Indrago held out the necklace-shaped Dragon Heart toward Breeder, blinking his knothole-like eyes. He didn’t seem bothered at all that his arm had broken. After all, he was a being without nerves to begin with. Far from getting angry, Indrago continued in his usual emotionless voice.

“Keep it safe. It’s something upon which the fate of the continent depends……. You mustn’t lose it so easily.”

Indrago recited the meaningful line in the same dry, wooden tone.

—Dangle, dangle…….

At the same time, Indrago accepted the necklace with his left hand and held it out to Breeder. It looked like a luxurious item set with a large golden pearl.

—Snap……!

“…Take it.”

Indrago casually severed the tentacle attached to his fingertip and handed it to Breeder. He had reshaped the Dragon Heart into a more convenient form to carry.

“What is this all of a sudden……?”

“Keep it more precious than your own life…….”

Indrago had never intended to covet the Dragon Heart in the first place. He simply couldn’t stand seeing it left carelessly unattended. That was why he had made it into a necklace like this.

“Ah, yes……. More importantly, y-your arm…?”

“It’s fine. If I drink sap, it’ll grow back.”

“Pardon? Sap?”

“That’s right. Saaap—!!”

Indrago uttered the word “sap” and showed emotion for the first time. The corners of his mouth were raised high, as if he couldn’t wait to drink it.

“Ah, anyway, I’m sorry. I never expected you to make a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠necklace like this……”

“I never expected my arm to break against a mere human either. More importantly, hurry up and give me some saaap—”

“You’re not going to ask where I got this?”

Before Indrago could start rambling about sap again, Breeder cut him off. He still couldn’t get used to the Mok-in’s crazed expression no matter how many times he saw it.

“…Saaap? I’m not interested in whose it is……. I’m not interested in who gave it either… There’s always a reason behind the will of the Dragon Lords.”

Contrary to Breeder’s worries, Indrago coolly handed over Sofia’s Dragon Heart. Even though Mok-in were cold and rigid toward other races, they were endlessly deferential toward the dragons they served.

“I see. Thank you anyway.”

Breeder accepted the necklace with relief. Because it was made of thin vines, it was perfect to wear around the neck. The Dragon Heart at the center was tightly gripped by what looked like fine roots, so there was no worry of it falling off.

‘If I wear it like this around my neck, I won’t have to worry about losing it. I can even hide it inside my clothes.’

Keeping it in his pocket had felt burdensome, but wearing it around his neck put him at ease. It was a fortunate outcome for Breeder. He had started this expecting punishment, but Indrago had let it slide without questioning any responsibility.

‘There was a story about the Mok-in in the history book I borrowed from Sofia last time, wasn’t there? But I didn’t expect him to be this generous in front of a Dragon Heart.’

Just as Breeder was examining the necklace and letting out a small sigh—

“More importantly… Breeder?”

“Yes, Chief.”

“We have to go to the pilgrimage activity right now━──!!!”

The moment Breeder put it on inside his clothes, Indrago shouted loudly. ‘Whoa, damn! You scared me……!’

Indrago pointed at the desk clock with his hand, indicating that the assembly time had already passed by five minutes.

“If everyone has gathered, I’ll begin a simple headcount before departure!”

—Murmur, murmur……!

The open area in front of the dormitory. The young ladies of each year stood in four lines. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sight reminded him of a military religious event departure scene.

“…If the class representatives have any exemptions to report, please let me know!”

He had been distracted earlier because of Indrago. The Mok-in had suddenly appeared and interrupted the headcount, then turned the Dragon Heart into a necklace……

—Attend the pilgrimage activity every first weekend from now on……! Vice Principal Benetric has allowed one day off per week! Be grateful every day……!

Those were the words Indrago had left before leaving the night-duty room with one arm missing. In exchange for participating in the pilgrimage activity, he had officially been permitted to take a break from managing the rest lounge. He had also been told that during the three days of remodeling the rest lounge, he only needed to focus on his dormitory supervisor duties. He had wondered if it was just empty words, but fortunately, it wasn’t a promise made only in words. Even if dragons were arrogant, they apparently couldn’t lie.

“No exemptions for 1st year…!”

“All 2nd years are present.”

“For 3rd year, only Raylin is exempt. She went training again since morning. She’ll probably return to the temple late.”

“For 4th year, everyone is present except Diora, who was sent for treatment, and Raili, who still hasn’t arrived.”

While mulling over the morning’s events, the class representatives reported one after another. There were no problems with the headcount. However, there seemed to be a problem with Sofia’s attitude.

—Tap, tap……!

After finishing her report, Sofia didn’t even look at Breeder’s face. She immediately turned her back and returned to her position. It seemed she was deliberately avoiding him because of what had happened at dawn. Like a shy girl.

‘Well, time will take care of it.’

—Rustle, rustle……!

Breeder wrote down the attendance status as if it were nothing. Total of 80 including exemptions. It was almost the size of a single company. By the way, when would that young lady Raili return? Well, it would be nice if she never came back.

“If everyone has gathered, let’s depart!”

—Step, step, step……!

The pilgrimage activity was conducted on foot. With the 4th years in the lead, the lower years followed. They left the academy grounds with quite orderly footsteps. But a weekend pilgrimage activity…… Just as Sofia had said, was there a temple within the academy to honor the Beginning Dragon?

“Lady Sofia? How far is it from here to the temple? Is it close enough to walk?”

Breeder naturally walked alongside Sofia. Since this was his first pilgrimage, he needed guidance. Sofia had also told him at dawn to just follow her.

“……”

But Sofia had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been avoiding him since earlier.

“Um… Lady Sofia?”

She had turned her head in the opposite direction, her face flushed as if she had been drinking. She was deliberately avoiding eye contact with him. The aftereffects of yesterday’s events still hadn’t faded. He could roughly understand how she felt. After actually doing it, she must feel embarrassed. But even so, this was going too far. She had kissed him while saying she would give him the Dragon Heart, and now she was keeping her mouth completely shut.

“……”

Sofia remained silent. She only led the students with her head turned away. She didn’t even glance at him on purpose. This wouldn’t do. He had planned to bring it up later, but if she was going to act like this, he had no choice but to get straight to the point.

“Lady Sofia?”

“……”

“You said something yesterday, didn’t you? About your ideal type—”

“Breeder? What are you suddenly saying……?”

The moment he mentioned “ideal type,” Sofia reacted. She responded with a rather surprised expression. There were many listening ears around, so she was probably wondering what he was talking about. Breeder had deliberately aimed for this. If he didn’t do this, she wouldn’t pay attention to him. He was determined to start a conversation even if it meant bringing up something awkward.

“I’ve been thinking about it all night, and I also think that you—”

“B-Breeder?! Please stop…! What are you trying to say in a place with so many people……?!”

When Breeder whispered quietly into Sofia’s ear, she flinched in surprise. Her face flushed bright red all the way to her ears as she placed her index finger on his lips. She was begging him to please be quiet. A dragon was earnestly pleading with a human. As if asking for mercy from him. The bold appearance she had shown yesterday was nowhere to be seen; only a girl flushed with shyness stood beside him now.

But the more someone told him not to do something, the more he wanted to do it. Seeing her like this made her look so cute that he felt like teasing her even more.

—Rustle……!

“My lady? Do you see this? I made it with the feeling that I always want to be with you, Lady Sofia.”

“……?!”

“Doesn’t it look pretty good?”

Breeder took out the necklace he had been wearing inside his clothes and gently shook it. The necklace Indrago had made for him.

“W-When did you……?”

“It’s a precious part of you, so I want to always keep it with me.”

“D-Don’t tell me you made this overnight…? While thinking of me……?”

Breeder deliberately didn’t answer the question. There was no need to lie. Look at that—Sofia’s face was already as red as a beet. Her dragon blood seemed to be flowing in reverse quite severely. At this rate, she might start bleeding from her nose like Raylin.

‘Sofia’s flustered appearance…… She’s quite cute, just like yesterday.’

He had never been able to move a muscle in front of a dragon before, but now that the situation had reversed, it was quite fun to tease her. More precisely, Sofia’s embarrassed reactions made him want to be mischievous.

“But… I guess I shouldn’t have made it like this after all.”

“W-What do you mean……?”

“You know it well. If we’re going to form a love pact soon, this collar won’t be necessary—mmph…?”

—Smack!

But Breeder’s teasing ended there. His mouth was forcibly covered. Unable to endure any longer, Sofia had covered his mouth with her hand. And that wasn’t all.

“…Breeder? If you’re teasing me, please stop. Before I give you the Dragon Heart along with a mint chocolate chip cake.”

“……!”

Breeder had no choice but to quietly shut his mouth at the terrifying threat.