Forbidden Knowledge
“Y-yeah. Turning into a woman is a bit much.”
I'm not a pervert or anything. Who'd think of turning into a woman and hitting the women's bathhouse? Okay, fine, I did. Honestly, I was curious. What would a woman's body feel like? But the moment I crossed that line, I had this ominous premonition that I'd be crossing a river of no return. I'll try it later when I'm mentally prepared. I steeled myself with those noble thoughts and pondered again.
Should I try turning into a dragon?
But I glanced up at the cramped junkyard ceiling and shook my head. Transforming into a full-on dragon here would shatter not just the shutter but the roof too. Can't risk my one and only asset like that. Plus, I'd never seen a real dragon, so imagining one was tough.
'Small, cute, and a creature I know really well.'
Only one thing came to mind. He'd crossed the rainbow bridge, but for so long, he'd been my sole comfort in this junkyard—my old pal, the mutt that looked like a mix of neighborhood stray and retriever, with dingy yellow fur and those round, dopey eyes. 'Golden.'
Luckily, I had a photo on my phone, so I pulled it up quick.
“Alright, image training complete.”
Heart pounding, I closed my eyes and circulated the mana surging from the Dragon Heart in my chest throughout my body.
'What the—'
The output was totally different from before. If last time was a faucet, this was a fire hose. Overwhelming pressure. I barely reined in the mana, vividly picturing Golden's adorable form from memory. Then I activated the Polymorph authority Jermad had imprinted on me.
“Polymorph!”
Oh, right—this isn't Dragon Words magic; I don't have to shout it.
Fwaaash—!!
A blinding light enveloped me. No bone-crushing pain or twisting guts this time. Instead, it felt like my body melted like cotton candy, then reformed into something entirely new in warm water—a pleasant sensation washing over me.
Swoosh— The light faded, and my vision cleared.
'Huh...?'
Something was off with my viewpoint. Moments ago, my eye level was above the workbench; now, it was level with the workbench leg's base, almost flush with the cement floor. I cocked my head and muttered.
'Did it actually work?'
But the sound from my mouth missed the mark entirely.
“Woof! Woof woof woof!!”
“...?!”
I jolted in shock, raising my paws to touch my face—no, instead, two stubby front paws covered in fluffy yellow fur with black jellybean pads rose before my eyes.
“Woof?! Grrr?!”
Freaking out, I scrambled on all fours to the full-length mirror in the corner of the junkyard. Staring back was that cute, dopey mutt I'd pictured—Golden—with his tail straight up, mimicking me perfectly.
A wave of nostalgia hit me.
'G-Golden!'
Like reuniting with lost family. But reason kicked in quick.
'What the hell!! I actually turned into a dog!!'
Human mind in a dog's body—what a insane setup. My size was exactly Welsh Corgi puppy-sized, and my golden tail was whirring like a propeller, reacting to my emotions. My ass felt weird.
The smartphone on the floor chimed.
I tried tapping the screen with my paw, but the jelly pad wasn't precise enough.
'Oh, right, I can use the system too.'
The system syncs with the phone. Paws being useless, I opened the system, snapped a pic of my ridiculous dog self, and sent it to Jermad.
“Woof! Woof!! Yap yap yap!!”
'No way!! You saying I'm really a dragon?!'
The junkyard echoed with my indignant barks. Outwardly a neighborhood mutt, but at my core, Earth's one-of-a-kind human-turned-dragon with an SSS-grade heart. My life was entering a bizarre new phase, utterly dogshit in appearance.
Jermad went offline, chuckling. That's when—
Screeech—
“Woof!?”
'What? Nobody's supposed to come.'
“Daesung, you here?”
Someone had lifted the junkyard shutter—Kim Taesoo, carrying something, looking around.
“Hmm, where'd that guy go? I brought some good beef.”
Then he spotted me at his feet.
“Huh...? Whoa!? Golden!?”
“Woof! Woof!”
'Ah, fuck, I'm screwed.'
Taesoo was one of the few who knew Golden. He'd looked out for me since I set up shop here—a neighborhood uncle type. He'd shared soju when Golden crossed the rainbow bridge, so no wonder he was shocked at my appearance.
Thud—
The black plastic bag dropped from his hand.
“No way... Golden died three years ago. I dug the grave myself with these hands!”
He rubbed his eyes, staring hard. I panted, tongue lolling in cold sweat, backing up.
Shit, missed the chance to turn back...
Luckily, his rational assumption saved me.
“Oh... I get it. Daesung couldn't let go of Golden, so he brought home a stray that looks just like him. The fur pattern, those eyes... uncanny.”
He gave a bittersweet smile and plopped onto the bench in the junkyard yard.
From the bag rolled out a glistening 1++ Hanwoo beef pack with perfect marbling and three bottles of soju.
“Where the hell did Daesung go, anyway? Shutter down and all... Was gonna treat him big today—splurged on beef and everything.”
He sprawled on the bench, muttering to himself.
'If you bought beef, you should've called first!!'
I smacked my lips inwardly. Even with a Dragon Heart, Koreans go weak for beef—instinct.
“C'mere, Golden. While your bro's out, let's grill some meat.”
He fired up the portable burner in the corner and started cooking.
Sizzle—
Being a dog amps the smell...? The insane aroma of fatty Hanwoo hit, and I ditched pride, tail wagging as I crept under the bench.
I can't resist!! Instinct overriding reason—this must be it!!
He tossed a perfectly done piece onto a plate; I scarfed it down.
“Good boy, eating well. You look just like Golden.”
Juices exploded in my mouth. Wait, why's it taste better as a dog? Thought dogs had fewer taste buds...? Oh, no bullshit flavors getting in the way?
Taesoo downed a paper cup full of soju in one go, staring blankly at the dark sky. His usual slouched shoulders looked even smaller, more pitiful.
“Haa... Your bro's got it good, y'know. Damn impressive kid.”
“Grr?”
“Young guy, total lone wolf. Thought he'd rot in this junkyard, but nah—awakens repair skill, fixes a broken sword. Holding his own in gates too? Bright future ahead... Me? Got kicked from the party again today. 'Too long a blank, too old, unreliable' they say.”
His voice trembled faintly. I swallowed my chew and looked up.
“Should've pushed harder... Back then, at that E-rank gate, sword breaks on a monster—got scared, should've stuck with hunting...”
Regret welled in his eyes.
“Losing one weapon and bailing... price was harsh, I thought...”
He sighed, continuing.
“Turned out it was the price of my cowardice. Once you run, you live cowardly forever. Now I wanna try, but no one's hiring. So much regret. Real regret...”
He chugged the rest, breathing ragged. Silently, I pawed his worn sneaker nose, offering what comfort I could.
“Haha... cheering me up? You're a good boy...”
“...”
This gate-opened world is brutal. Strong survive; the fallen scrape by forever, hauling others' baggage. Taesoo wasn't bad—just ordinary, family man, a bit cowardly.
“Anyway, where's Daesung? Phone's here too? Was gonna drink till blackout... Eh, better head out. Golden, tell your bro to grill this beef proper when he gets back. Uncle's off.”
He didn't touch the meat, drained a full soju bottle, neatly stacked the beef packs on the bench, and left looking lonely.
Once he was gone, I quietly gathered mana.
Fwaah—!
Back to human with the light, I stared at the cold beef on the bench.
'Guild... maybe join one?'
I hated being tied down. But as exclusive repairman for a big guild? Legit status, shield from hassle. Taesoo could handle paperwork, Association bullshit—as my proxy in that massive system.
He's a pain when broke, but grateful after years of care.
“Better to plant a trusted secretary of my own.”
I smirked, popping a cold beef slice in my mouth.
“Always crying poor, but buys premium beef.”
While he eats pork belly himself.
“Tch...”
Decision made. Chewing, I tilted my head, gathered mana again.
Fwaah—
Dog form once more, back to chowing down.
'Way better as a dog.'
Now I get why dogs go nuts for beef. Felt like forbidden knowledge I shouldn't know... but whatever? Tastes like honey. Mmm.