A Sweet Snack and Future Dreams
Sharing the snack that evoked only his past memories drew him into a strange sentiment.
'Can't be helped. It's not something I can take back now.'
Rune watched the group chattering noisily as they ate, a faint smile on his lips.
He left them with a gentle reminder.
"Take your time. I made plenty."
Rune bit into a tarale cookie himself.
Crunch!
The well-fried dough shell shattered with a crisp sound.
Followed by the rich honey sweetness.
The addictive sugar lingered sweetly in his mouth.
'Turned out better than expected. Honey's great for recovering energy, too.'
Rare honey from giant hornet monster dungeons or fields filled his mouth.
And with royal jelly mixed in, it offered top-tier recovery for both body and mind.
Heungmi let out an exclamation at the honey flavor.
"Ooooh! So delicious! It's like honey exploding like yellow stars in my mouth!"
Different from chocolate's sweetness, Heungmi pressed both hands to her cheeks and grinned.
Perdikion pointed out another benefit.
"Feels like it's filling me with power. Like I could do anything."
The honey used for its sweet taste.
But its effects ranked high among mana-rich food ingredients.
Rune nodded in agreement with Perdikion.
"Yeah. If you're tired, mix some into honey water."
'Especially perfect with warm water when drunk.'
But bringing up alcohol wouldn't do him any favors.
They'd just scold him, saying he was too young to be interested in booze.
While wisely keeping his mouth shut on that, Perdikion savored the honey.
"Keh. Excellent."
The fire dragon boy gulped down warm milk laced with honey like it was rice wine.
He looked so much like he belonged in a tavern.
Rune naturally replenished his depleted mana and energy with the sweet honey.
Then Amelia mumbled around her bite.
"Th-thank you... Rune. B-because we were up all night... you p-prepared this new snack... right?"
"Well, sort of."
Pondering something packed with high-nutrition, mana-restoring honey, tarale cookies had come to mind.
'Making a ton so I wouldn't look weird eating alone.'
But Perdikion chimed in, backing Amelia, and Rune missed his chance to deny it.
"Knew it. Fitting for my little brother. Putting out these weird-shaped cookies shows you care."
Sharp instincts?
Perdikion's words hit a bit close to home.
'Not like I ignored it completely.'
If Rune openly ate recovery food alone, it'd just worry them needlessly.
But sharing made it less obvious, so he'd made extra for that reason too.
'With classes starting again tomorrow, figured it'd help.'
Rather than explain in detail, Rune gave a vague reply.
"Glad you like it. Made it for us all."
That honest bit worked wonders.
"Wow! So Rune made this thinking of us?"
"Pip-yak? Pip-pi-pi-yak!"
Heungmi's eyes sparkled, and Baekya spun in place, flapping its wings as if it understood.
"Not just that reason..."
Then Jed cackled and added,
"Keh heh! See? Master Rune gets shy too!"
The little doll-like Jed stuffed tarale cookies into his mouth nonstop.
Rune eyed him steadily.
'Does that guy not know when to butt in?'
Like he was chanting "eenie meenie miney mo," Jed wiggled his hips with teasing eyes.
"A real man says something cool like—bam!—right here!"
He wiped honey from his mouth with his hand, then shot Rune a gooey, soulful gaze.
"Found you. Picked you up."
Acting nonchalant, Jed offered a tarale cookie with a serious face.
Rune couldn't fathom what creature would fall for that.
Personally, those eyes seemed... overly dramatic.
No wonder Perdikion stared like he was watching a mad dwarf.
"...Get lost."
Rune furrowed his brow and shook his head, prompting Jed to chomp another cookie with a smack.
"Tch. Master Rune needs to grow more to get this charm."
"..."
Even a thousand more years, and he'd be fine never understanding.
As Rune shook his head in firm denial, Heungmi piped up curiously.
"But... what kind of dragon will you become when you grow up, Rune?"
At the question, everyone gazed at Rune with warm eyes.
Or were they hot?
He got the mood was good with the tasty snack and nutrient-packed honey and ice flowers.
But how had the talk veered here?
Perdikion spoke first.
"Obviously, a great ruler like me. Rune's my sworn brother, elder of the fire clan. Brave and decisive, worthy of my recognition."
"Of course, naturally," he concluded matter-of-factly.
Surprisingly, Amelia spoke up hesitantly.
"B-but... Rune's been acknowledged by the water clan too. Like the deep sea that suits the profound darkness... calm and deep dragon, I think."
The fire and water dragon kids locked eyes, neither yielding an inch.
Crackle!
Rune inwardly shook his head at the invisible clash.
'Intense.'
Heungmi chimed in casually, unfazed by the heavy air.
"Heungmi thinks! You'll be a kind dragon who tells stories about stars granting wishes when sleeping!"
Hm.
That was definitely off.
He'd told a story once, sure.
Before a sleep period, about wishing on falling stars.
She must mean that.
'But a star-granting story? Strictly speaking, your mom Baekmi told me that.'
Rune swallowed the truth he couldn't voice.
Next, Baekya stepped up, cookie crumbs on its beak.
"Pii-yak! Pii, pip-pip-pip!"
Flapping excitedly, it seemed to have its own hopes.
Meaning unclear, but Rune could guess.
'Baekya just wants to play, eat, and sleep together.'
What else would a bird want?
Perfectly balanced, nothing lacking or excessive.
Heungmi turned to Christina.
"What about you, Lady Christina?"
"Me? Well..."
Christina, sipping gentle golden marigold tea, pondered briefly with a glance.
Then a kind smile bloomed.
"I hope you become a dragon who can desire and attain anything."
Fitting words from her.
A blessing, laced with certainty she'd achieve it on her own terms.
'Wisdom from long years.'
Rune met her eyes briefly.
She smiled softly.
He stared a moment at the smile that seemed to waft faint floral scent, then popped a tarale cookie in his mouth.
"Right! What kind of dragon do you want to be, Rune?"
All eyes snapped to him.
What he wanted to be.
Tougher question than expected.
'Past life had a clear goal.'
A thousand years of training to ascend as a true dragon.
That single aim.
But now, not so simple. Hard to answer easily.
"First, a Black Dragon. Then elder of the darkness clan."
Heungmi pouted at the safe reply.
"Ehh. That's just what you have to do. Not that! What do you wanna be!"
"Exactly. In dwarf terms, your 'future aspiration'!" Jed added.
Rune nodded slightly at Jed's words.
No dodging it, then.
He thought a moment and said,
"You guys are here. Just wanna keep living well like now. Looking forward to more."
Not everything said, but true enough.
Past life was far from smooth, but this new one brought abilities, power, fortunes aplenty.
'Keep this up, I'll naturally become strong. Unlike before, I've allies now. Won't die powerless alone.'
That sufficed.
Rune felt inwardly satisfied.
No telling lifespan ahead, but live well without dying, and the darkness lair would be his someday.
On track for destined strength; nothing more to wish now.
Somehow, the honey in his mouth tasted extra sweet.
'Before, humans feared my infamous imugi name, causing needless grudges. But now's different.'
Sure, some he'd openly oppose.
But no baseless grudges or misunderstandings yet.
Won't die to some unknown killer like before.
Only those who've felt it know the frustration.
'Plus, world's got Fairy's Path and warp magic. Maybe, over time, return to my original world.'
That thought summoned the madman again.
Recalling the white demon-like figure, Rune shuddered inwardly.
'Wonder what that sudden poison guy's up to.'
Human-like, yet not; definitely human.
Likely dead by now, lifespan spent. Kids? Who knows.
'Even if reborn lucky, can't forgive slaying a divine beast.'
Last breath flashed back; anger surged.
Then he sensed odd stares and snapped to.
"?"
Everyone looked wistful.
Even Heungmi folded her ears, gazing at him.
"Rune... Heungmi'll play with you more from now on."
"...?"
Rune swallowed the lingering honey sweetness.
Amelia followed.
"Ru-Rune... Y-you treasure us... that much..."
"..."
Honey clung sticky-sweet in his mouth.
He met Perdikion's hot gaze next.
The fire dragon boy, seeming least fazed, crossed arms gruffly.
"I'm... tch. Not moved or anything. I'll train harder, become darkness elder to show ya."
"..."
Rune couldn't follow the flow.
"Pek! Piyaak! Pip-yak!"
Now the white bird went wild.
Baekya placed a tarale cookie on Rune's plate, eyes sparkling with intense eye contact.
"Pip-yak?"
Christina chuckled softly at the sight, adding gently,
"How could anyone not dote on you?"
"...?"
Misunderstandings piled up.
Perdikion, fork in hand, huffed.
"Soft idiot. Don't worry. I get your feelings clear."
Definitely some weird misunderstanding.