Hand Over Earth's Entertainment Right Now! [04]
Hand Over Earth's Entertainment Right Now! [04]
The black vehicle drove quietly along the road.
Blue particles spread and melted into the air.
It must be the trace of a magic-powered engine.
Only now did it feel real. That humanity is actively using magic.
Buildings passed by outside the window.
The lights of the streetlamps formed a line.
A landscape that was unfamiliar yet somehow familiar.
I stared at them blankly.
The bodyguard in the front seat turned around.
And looked toward me and Soyeon-eonni.
"Please let us know if you have any discomfort. The vehicle has perception-blocking techniques applied, so the inside cannot be seen from the outside. The hotel you will be staying at is also protected in the same way."
"You're working hard."
The bodyguard nodded and looked ahead.
Soyeon-eonni grabbed my arm and pulled me toward her. Close enough that our shoulders touched.
As the cool sensation touched my skin, a sweet scent stimulated my nose. I tried to move my body to the side, but it was useless.
"Stay still."
"It's uncomfortable. Isn't it okay to move away?"
"I am preparing for any unforeseen situations."
The conversation ended there.
I didn't bother to refute that.
She has far more experience and power than I do.
No matter what method I use, I will lose.
I've gotten used to Soyeon-eonni's overprotectiveness now.
I also know better than anyone that if I try to force her off, she'll cling even more persistently. I sighed slightly and silently looked out the window.
Cars flowed busily along the wide road. The traffic light on the opposite side blinked, signaling the moment it would change, and people were waiting for the signal at the crosswalk.
Things I had seen countless times in my past life.
But strangely, it was different from my memories.
One side of a building's exterior wall was crushed.
Some areas were just empty with fences around them. It looked like they had left the collapsed spots as they were.
It's like a battlefield.
A cruel scene buried within peace.
It wasn't the streets from the era I lived in.
A place that felt like I knew it, yet didn't.
That gap kept making me feel a sense of incongruity.
There were people who stood out among the crowd. Even just looking at their attire, they were different. Some wore various equipment on their bodies, or had patterns engraved on the backs of their hands.
One person was walking with a small flame lit on their palm. The citizens watching it also passed by without any particular reaction.
They are Hunters.
A world where magic is mixed into the atmosphere.
It entered people's bodies and changed their constitutions. Those people probably had fire come out of their hands suddenly one day. Without explanation or preparation.
Were they scared? Were they happy?
What would it have been like if it were me?
That thought crossed my mind for a moment.
Anyway. Too many things have changed.
The rules of the world have changed. Magic appeared where there was none, and monsters poured in through dimensional rifts. People came to live while fighting them, holding weapons.
It was like a world inside a novel.
It is indeed the Earth I lived on, but...
It felt like it was, but also like it wasn't.
I leaned my forehead slightly against the window.
The cold glass touched my forehead.
A place where I once lived as a man.
A place where people are desperately clinging to something. The hometown of my heart that I had always wanted to go to. Just looking at the scenery outside the window is satisfying.
Just then, I heard a siren in the distance.
It was different from the sound of an ambulance.
Either a Gate opened somewhere.
Or something related to that happened.
People passing by looked up at the sky for a moment, then continued their steps as if nothing had happened. There isn't a shred of tension.
So that has become daily life.
There wasn't even anyone confused.
How did everyone adapt?
Human adaptability is truly scary.
It feels like they would survive anywhere.
Like that, the sound faded away.
The car continued to drive without any trouble.
I watched like that for a long time.
Then, a street food stall caught my eye on one side of the road. White steam rose through the gaps in the pink tent. People were lining up.
I should think about what to eat once we arrive.
Soyeon-eonni was sitting next to me without moving. She was still in a position where she was stuck to me.
The car went underground.
Is this the place we'll be staying?
As for what will be waiting...
I couldn't know yet.
✦✦✦
The moment we got off in the underground parking lot.
A restaurant was visible right in front of my nose.
[Hansotmaru - Japanese and Korean Cuisine Specialty Restaurant]
An ordinary sign with nothing special.
For some reason, my eyes kept going toward it.
Is it because it's a familiar word?
Light leaked out from beyond the glass door.
A menu was attached to the entrance.
From simple snacks to complex dishes.
I thought about passing by and going somewhere else, but my feet eventually stopped at the smell of food wafting over. I immediately raised my finger and pointed there.
"Eonni, let's go there first."
"...Washing up comes first."
"You can do that later. I'm hungry."
Soyeon-eonni looked at me for a moment and then walked toward the restaurant without a word. I thought I would be dragged there forcibly, but is she being considerate?
The inside of the restaurant was cozy, but the lighting softly enveloped the space.
A bodyguard who was waiting nearby guided us to a seat in one corner. Soyeon-eonni took the lead, and I followed behind her and slumped into the chair.
"You seem to be in a good mood."
"Ah, no, I'm not."
"It's useless even if you try to hide it."
My tail hasn't stopped since earlier.
Left and right, left and right. It's swaying frantically.
"Th-this is tail exercise!"
"It's fine. You are an infant dragon, after all."
Even if I try to calm my heart...
It's not easy, so it's troublesome.
Woo-woo-woo. If this keeps up, the dignity of royalty...
"What would you like to order?"
A shop employee approached and handed over a menu.
It was one page, but it took a long time to read. If I could, I would want to try everything.
Things I hadn't been able to eat were written side by side. Rice bowl dishes. Noodle dishes. Even hot soup dishes.
What should I eat first? Something spicy? Something sweet?
After agonizing over it several times, I finally chose.
A food that is simple yet addictive.
"Give me the one that says Ramen."
"Understood. And for you?"
Soyeon-eonni put down the menu.
"I will have the same."
An answer without a moment's hesitation.
Honestly, I was slightly surprised by that firm statement.
Soyeon-eonni usually didn't eat unfamiliar food well. She is the type to be suspicious of food with ingredients she sees for the first time.
"It might not suit your taste, are you okay with that?"
"If it's something you are eating, Princess, I must check it first. An adult dragon would be one thing, but you are still a baby who has barely taken your first steps."
Soyeon-eonni sees me as too young.
Of course, by dragon standards, I'm no different from a chick, but isn't 'baby' too much? Where is there a baby who talks and walks as well as this?
I wanted to argue, but I stopped.
While waiting, I looked at the menu photos on the wall. A boiling sound came from the counter side.
Bugeul-bugeul.
Ah, I want to eat it quickly.
The smell got stronger and stronger.
The smell of noodles cooking.
The smell of broth brewing.
This is it.
This is what I was looking for.
My tail wagged bung-bung again.
Drool dripped from my mouth.
"Two bowls of Ramen are served."
Two bowls. Heat rose up. An egg was placed on top of the yellow-cooked noodles, and green onions were scattered sparsely.
I picked up the chopsticks.
It was too precious to eat right away, so I looked at it for a moment.
I couldn't remember when I last ate Ramen. I'm so moved I could cry. Then, shall I eat now?
I picked up the noodles and blew on them. Hu-hu.
I carefully put them in my mouth.
It was hot and salty, but it was a familiar taste.
It was a bit richer than what I used to buy at convenience stores, and the noodles were chewy. My hand, picking up the second bite, sped up without me realizing it.
Soyeon-eonni picked up the noodles.
She smelled them once and then put them in her mouth.
She chewed once, chewed twice, chewed three times.
Her expression changed slightly.
With a face that said it was better than expected.
She didn't stop and kept eating.
"How is it? It's edible, right?"
"...It is acceptable."
She drank a sip of the broth while holding the chopsticks. She frowned for a moment, perhaps because it was hot, then relaxed.
Fortunately, that was all.
It seems to suit her taste perfectly.
Wouldn't her perception of Earth as a planet of barbarians have changed a little? I wasn't the one who made it, but I shrugged my shoulders for no reason.
"Earth food is usually like this. Soup dishes are especially developed, and there are a huge variety of noodle dishes. The spice combinations are different from here, so it has a more stimulating taste."
Soyeon-eonni stopped her chopsticks.
"How do you know that in such detail?"
"...I looked into this and that."
It was an inquisitive look.
I couldn't tell her it was a memory from my past life.
I hadn't sorted out how to explain it. If possible, I want to keep it a secret for the rest of my life.
Fortunately, she didn't ask further.
I should be careful from next time.
I've finished my meal, shall I go into the room?
✦✦✦
I opened the door and stepped forward.
The comic books stuck on the shelf next to the desk caught my eye. I didn't even look back and ran quickly toward the goal.
I sat in front of the shelf and scanned them one by one.
The titles were unfamiliar. They weren't works I had seen in my past life, but only things I was seeing for the first time.
But it didn't matter.
So what if I don't know them?
The fact that they exist is what's important.
I pulled out one volume and examined them one by one.
Is this a fantasy-style comic?
There was a character holding a sword on the cover.
Neat panel composition and interesting dialogue. The background depiction in the drawings was surprisingly detailed. As I turned a page, my eyes followed naturally.
This is it.
This is what I was looking for.
The rhythm of scenes connecting, cutting, and connecting again. That structure, which I couldn't implement in the end over there, was now in my grasp.
Soyeon-eonni picked up a comic book and sat on the sofa. I turned my eyes to see what book she had picked up. Just then, our eyes met.
"Is this kind of thing really fun?"
"Earthlings, if nothing else, are serious about this. They are a race that is truly serious about playing. Just try reading it, pretending you're being fooled."
Soyeon-eonni looked at the cover.
She hesitated, then soon opened the first page.
She started reading silently.
She didn't say anything.
One page, two pages. She kept turning them.
Will it be different this time?
The Soyeon-eonni I know...
She hasn't had any interest in things like this until now.
Even the things I made in this world.
"Did you enjoy your picture games?"
She would always just reply like that.
She only evaluated them, she didn't try to read them.
Quite a bit of time passed.
Soyeon-eonni closed the comic book.
For no reason, my heart kept pounding.
Will she take an interest in Earth's entertainment?
"It is certainly as you said, Princess."
"Right?"
"It's decent enough to read."
Thank goodness.
She feels interest in Earth's entertainment too.
If Soyeon-eonni has this level of reaction, I think it will be enough to work on other demi-humans too.
At this rate, I think I can properly spread Earth's culture. What would be good to take?
While I was holding my head and worrying.
Eonni spoke up again.
"However, compared to what you used to make in the past, this is much better in terms of story development and completeness. I can feel the touch of a professional."
I pouted my lips.
You don't have to bring up that dark history here.
Tsk. I was in a good mood just a moment ago.
"That was the best I could do at the time!"
"I know."
I turned my gaze back to the comic books.
The sound of paper turning was soft.
If I keep reading, this gloominess will get better, right?
"Princess."
"Yes."
"You must go to sleep."
I lifted my head. It was already dark outside the window.
The indoor lighting was faintly reflected in the window glass.
The night view was shining.
"Can't I read a little more?"
"To become an adult, you must sleep well. Don't whine and go lie down."
I pouted slightly, then eventually inserted a bookmark. Even without that, I had felt my eyes getting heavy on their own since earlier.
I moved quite a lot today.
I left the Dragon Palace and came to Earth.
I even had a meeting with the President of the United States.
If it were up to my heart, I would have wanted to play more, but.
My body was honest.
My head slowly tilted forward.
I must have used more stamina than I thought.
I tried to force my eyes open, then gave up.
I put the comic book on the shelf and changed into pajamas. A white, thin fabric with lace. They say it's a gift prepared by the hotel.
I approached the bed and pulled back the blanket.
And threw my body onto it with all my might.
What shall I do tomorrow?
I have to read the comic books I haven't been able to read yet.
I have to look for new games too.
They say virtual reality games are trendy...
I wanted to try that too.
There was a lot to do.
Footsteps passed by the bedside.
Click. When the switch was pressed, the light went out.
My eyes closed completely.
The taste of the Ramen I ate a little while ago.
It felt like it was still lingering on my tongue.
What shall I eat tomorrow?
Convenience store triangle gimbap?
Something like gukbap would be good too.
Ah, chicken too...
My thoughts stretched out slowly.
They came to mind one by one and then blurred.
At some moment, my consciousness cut off abruptly.
Sleep came.