Chapter 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Who Are You?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Who are you?
I could say I'm a slave to society.
A slave working six days a week, nine hours a day.
Tap tap tap.
My fingers move swiftly.
Without taking my eyes off the screen, I hurriedly tap the POS machine to finish up the work.
'Time to wrap it up.'
As the tasks disappear, a good feeling follows.
Perfect. If things stay like this, it's a peaceful day guaranteed.
How long has it been?
A day returning home without running into a troublesome customer.
"Hey, kid."
Shit.
They say even tigers come when you mention them.
"Why's everything so damn expensive? A bowl of spicy beef stew over a thousand won? You call that right?"
What am I supposed to do about it?
I curse every time I see prices rise too.
"Sigh... Whatever. Once I pass the guild exam, I'll be rolling in cash."
"...?"
"Hey, part-timer."
"...?"
"Gimme a smoke. The red one."
"Which red—"
"Argh. Figure it out yourself. Use some common sense."
The blond-dyed troublesome customer scowled and threw a tantrum.
Should I just tell him to fuck off and kick him out?
Even if I swallow this insult, all I get is minimum wage.
Still, it's pathetic how my body reacts anyway.
Thinking of Seoul's brutal rent, my facial muscles force a smile.
"What kind of cigarettes would you like? Could you specify properly?"
+++++
'Great, my mood's ruined again today.'
The late-night subway.
One of the few perks of riding at this hour is how empty it is.
Compared to getting trapped in that hellish rush hour traffic... It's all just self-consolation.
Today turned out to be the worst.
But troublesome customers like that weren't what really wore me down.
'How many cup ramen do I have left?'
No one's waiting at home anyway.
I'm Seo Gi-hyeon, a guy in my mid-twenties.
The kind you see anywhere.
A cute girlfriend waiting eagerly for me?
A warm, simple homemade meal set out by her?
Sadly, none of that exists.
'Living like this, I'll really collapse someday.'
Lost in those thoughts, I arrived home.
The only place where no one's around, but I can relax.
Creeeak.
The door opened.
"Ah, welcome home, Master. I've been waiting."
"Hm?"
"You must be tired from working so late, Master."
Oh, right. This isn't my place.
I make this mistake sometimes. The long, narrow hallway doesn't help.
"Sorry."
I closed the door and scratched my head.
Guess I'm in bad shape.
Mistaking someone else's house now.
'Smells nice.'
A scent that could never come from my place.
And with someone greeting me with such a bright smile, it's definitely not mine.
What a joke.
A girlfriend in maid cosplay welcoming me? That'd never happen to me.
'Does she come out like that every day on command?'
Enviable, but seems kinda risky too.
'Better head to my place.'
I open my eyes properly and look for my apartment.
Let's see, 504... 504...
Here.
"Gonna scarf down dinner quick and crash—"
"Welcome home. You must be tired from working so late."
"Huh?"
I check the door again.
504.
My studio: 600k a month rent, 10 million deposit.
Not big, but not too small—perfect for one person.
And in my place is a maid.
"I've been waiting. I've prepared dinner. Would you like to eat?"
The dragon maid approaches me.
She had an overall mysterious aura.
Deep golden hair cascading like a waterfall, blue eyes like the sky itself.
Not huge, but an intimidating presence that kept you at bay.
And swaying from her waist: a reptilian tail.
Looking closer, it's no cosplay.
It's wagging side to side happily.
'Is there a mental hospital nearby?'
This is bewildering.
A stranger in maid cosplay cooking in my house?
[Trespassing]
[Stalker]
[Death Threat]
[False Accusation]
Crazy.
"Goodbye."
Bam!
"I didn't see nothing."
I shove the maid out and catch my breath.
"Overwork's making me hallucinate now."
It's a hallucination. That's what I decided.
"Gonna wash up and sleep. Forget dinner."
Yeah, I'm exhausted.
Right then, a voice came from beside me.
"You must be tired after all, Master."
"Gah!?"
I definitely locked the door?
"Broke the lock by hand?"
Guess I'm in deep shit.
"Physical enhancement Awakener?"
"Physical enhancement? I'm not so weak that I rely on something so frail."
The maid sets down the broken lock and enters.
She keeps staring at me.
"Master, you're not eating dinner?"
"Master? This isn't the time for that. Should I call the cops?"
"Cops?"
"Who the hell are you? How'd you get in my house?"
I'm not letting her off just 'cause she's a woman.
Gotta make sure this never happens again.
"Huh?"
My resolve melted in an instant.
"I see."
"...?"
"I put my heart into making it... But if Master doesn't need it."
The maid sniffles and steps inside.
She heads straight for the pot, not sparing me a glance.
Her hand grabs the pot, then turns toward the sink.
The pot was filled with steaming kimchi stew that smelled amazing.
"I'll throw it out. Suspicious food made by a strange woman—you wouldn't eat it, Master."
Her voice falls endlessly.
Why is it?
I've never been one to give women a pass, and I know this is weird and dangerous.
Why does a puppy looking dejected after being denied a walk keep popping into my head?
"Fine. I'll eat. I'll eat, okay?"
"I see. I'm glad. Please rest a moment."
I couldn't bring myself to say throw it away.
"Sigh."
'No drugs, I guess.'
I watch the kitchen closely.
She's ladling stew and sides, tasting a bit—no drugs there.
'Well, she's the type who breaks locks.'
If she wanted, easier ways abound.
No need for drugs.
"Rice is instant. Sides from the fridge."
"Got it."
"Kimchi stew's an old recipe I learned."
"Sounds good. Thanks for the meal."
In the end, I'm sitting at the table eating.
'This is awkward.'
What's with her? Propping her chin, staring right at me.
It's not like she's never seen someone eat.
"Is it good?"
"Tastes good."
"Thank goodness. I worried if I followed the recipe right."
"Then you're good. Meat's tasty. What cut?"
"Three-Headed Dragon loin."
"You're kidding. That's an S-Rank monster."
"Just S-Rank, right?"
She's saying weird stuff. S-Rank monsters aren't toys. One alone can wipe a village.
"Me too then."
She picks up her spoon.
Digs into rice with kimchi and meat heartily.
"Delicious as ever. I missed this taste."
"...?"
"What's wrong? Too unladylike?"
"Nah. Nothing."
Come to think of it, how many years?
Coming home to warm food, chatting idly while sharing a meal.
Since leaving home, it's always been solo instant meals.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"Can't you tell me now?"
At this point, I'm purely curious.
Who is she to do this in my house? Her tone acts like she knows me.
"Sorry."
The maid bows her head at my question.
"Sorry for what?"
"You'd just think I'm weird if I told you now."
"Why think that?"
"Because you still see me as a weirdo."
She says I'd dismiss it as crazy talk from a crazy person.
Then stares at me.
"Right now, I want to hear about Master."
"About me?"
"Yes. Could you tell me about yourself, Master?"
I've felt it since earlier—her eyes make it hard to refuse.
Unnaturally familiar, drawing me in.
'Screw it.'
Won't see her again anyway. Time to vent.
"Where to start. I'm an Awakener."
"Awakener?"
"Yeah. Summoner type. Know the Seo family?"
She shakes her head.
"Top Summoner family since Awakeners appeared a century ago."
"Are you from that family?"
"A failure, though."
The Seo family's failure and disgrace.
A family where even the powerless hit at least A-Rank.
My least talented uncle still summoned an A-Rank Hellhound.
Until I came along.
"Hundreds of summons, and all I got were slimes."
"Slimes are... cute, aren't they?"
"Sure. Sell 'em at a pet shop, get chicken money."
I was the failure who only summoned slimes.
"Staying home felt awkward."
"Admirable resolve."
"Wanted to prove I could make it too."
"Of course. Nothing strange about that."
"But this month, even slimes stopped coming."
Summons once a month. Three years since leaving home.
Roughly 40 slimes, and at the end...
"Total failure. Couldn't summon at all."
Summoning failure—a regression.
Proof I was doomed from the start.
"This month's summon felt good, though."
"S-so..."
"Yeah?"
"What now?"
The maid looks at me.
She's pretty empathetic, it seems.
Getting anxious over a stranger's story.
"Time to accept it. Family was right."
"That you're...?"
"A failure. A loser who achieves nothing."
Her fist clenches tight at my words.
"Hey hey."
"Yes?"
"You bent the spoon."
Grip strength to bend a spoon. What is she?
"That's not important now."
"Then what?"
"How do I prove them wrong?"
"Live well, right in their faces."
Like the saying: best revenge is success.
"Next exam when?"
"Tomorrow."
"Of course you're prepared."
"Nope. No slimes even."
She stands abruptly.
"Guess no time to slack."
"Why the sudden—"
"Can't let my beloved Master go through this."
"B-beloved?"
"As your first partner and servant, I must step up."
The maid stands and opens the window.
"Hey! Mid-meal—what're you doing? Fifth floor!"
"It's fine. Just prepping briefly."
Cold wind blows, golden hair sways.
"Don't worry, my Master."
So many things to call out.
Her longing tone, sudden love confession.
Totally bizarre.
'Why?'
Why can't I speak up?
Probably because...
"My name is Elisian Dragonia."
"Your first partner from a world you don't remember, lady of the dragonkin."
⟨ Dragon Maid ⟩
I forgot how to even speak.
"I'll come fetch you tomorrow morning. I'll be your Summoned Beast again."
Leaving me, she spreads wings and flies into the night sky.
"Then I'll tell you everything. Why I followed you here. Why I fell in love with you."
Leaving those incomprehensible words.
"Because you are my pride... and my love."