Chicken Bones and a Daughter's Arrival
While her avatar, the Annihilation Heavenly Dragon Grand Ragnar, was munching through various chickens and "communicating" with viewers on broadcast...
The dragon, Annihilation Heavenly Dragon Grand Ragnar, had just wrapped up a dramatic negotiation with officials from the Korean Hunter Association.
It was... an enlightening time.
"Y-yes...."
Kim Dusik, the Hunter Association president, nodded with a face like half his soul had been sucked out. Jae Ye held up the contract, stamped and sealed with their agreement, and bowed to her master.
"Then I shall return first."
So be it.
With a low hum, space ripped open, and Jae Ye vanished.
Confirming her kin had departed, the Annihilation Heavenly Dragon turned to the humans and spoke.
I have one question for thee.
"...What is it?"
Kim Dusik swallowed dryly. The dragon before them was a being of overwhelming power that they—no, all of humanity—could scarcely comprehend, let alone challenge. Even the Baekik Dragon, Korea's mightiest force, stood no chance against her. Well... it made sense if she was its mother. Kim Dusik himself was constantly nagged by his 90-year-old mother.
In any case, this dragon was immensely powerful. And not just strong—she was clever too. If she hadn't been so merciful... and ignorant of human common sense...
'I don't even want to imagine it.'
Especially that nine-tailed fox named Jae Ye she'd brought along. Unlike her master, who lacked human sensibilities, Jae Ye's words cut like a sharpened blade in the strangest ways. That's why they'd settled for such a simple contract: In exchange for guaranteeing the Annihilation Heavenly Dragon's resident registration number, ID verification, and conveniences needed for her broadcasts—along with various other conditions—neither she nor her subordinates would launch a preemptive strike on humanity.
It might seem unequal to humanity at first glance, but Kim Dusik considered it a massive win.
'As long as we don't strike first, humanity's safe.'
Because she was the owner of an EX-rank gate. They'd neutralized one ticking time bomb—the kind that could erupt without warning, a global threat—with this deal. He could practically hear land prices skyrocketing across Northeast Asia, especially around Korea.
'Now we just need to stop any lunatics from poking her first. If we can manage that...'
At least Northeast Asia was safe from EX-rank gate threats. Staring at the dragon with the fervor of a man ready to sell his pride for national security, Kim Dusik's eyes burned. The dragon tilted her head at his blazing gaze for a moment, then spoke.
Kim Dusik.
'What question's coming? Please, nothing serious...'
Do you humans not eat the bones when you eat chicken?
"...Pardon?"
"??"
"??"
"??"
The humans gathered in the underground parking lot plunged into collective confusion.
"This time, I shall try the one called Honey Garlic Chicken."
So far, I've sampled Pride, seasoned, soy sauce, spicy... all sorts of chicken varieties. From surveying mukbangs, they generally fell into two categories. One: broadcasts where the streamer chats with viewers while eating rice or simple meals. The other: "challenge mukbangs," devouring massive quantities or foods tasteless to humans.
After analyzing countless mukbangs, I still couldn't decide how to structure mine. As a first-timer, maybe start light with viewer interaction? But viewers loved the challenge formats most.
'Which way to go...'
The conclusion was simple.
'Just do both.'
My avatar body could handle overeating without issue. It was fake, forged from dragon gold, after all. Though the special metal fused with my dominion let it bleed like flesh and even conceive... it wouldn't break from mere gluttony.
So I sent Do Hwa, the six-tailed fox subordinate of my attendant Jae Ye, to fetch one serving of each variety. I figured ten kinds would be plenty, but over thirty? Even I was surprised.
Chicken... had evolved this far?
Anyway: Eat chicken while chatting with viewers, and sample every type one serving at a time. Interaction fun plus challenge thrill... the ultimate mukbang?
Crunch! Snap!
"Om nom nom..."
Honey Garlic Chicken had a unique flavor. Was this the trendy taste among modern humans?
"What is it?"
"My favorite flavor..."
I pondered a viewer's question.
Hmm... a tough one.
"It pains me to say, but to me, they all just taste delicious. Nothing more."
The chat flooded with chicken recommendations.
I addressed the excited viewers gently.
"Children. [Calm yourselves.]"
Calm yourselves.
The humans calmed instantly. To the astonished viewers, I explained with a small smile.
"No need for such surprise. 'Twas but a light dragon word."
Crunch!
...What's wrong with the bone-crunching? Doesn't it whet your appetite? I find meat lacking without that snap. Of course, I'd eat boneless too. Back in my hatchling days, I devoured whatever I could catch to survive. Picky eating is a luxury no dragon knows.
Savoring the chicken, I continued.
"In any case, every chicken tastes delightful to me. How could I pick a favorite? 'Tis my first day with chicken, and I haven't tried them all yet."
"I'll give it my best."
Snap!
And so, that day was spent entirely on chicken. (For the record, Pride Chicken was my favorite.)
After the broadcast ended.
As I lounged in the magma bath, Jae Ye approached.
"Mistress."
What is it?
"The eldest miss has arrived."
...Henisia?
Rumble rumble rumble...!
At Jae Ye's words, I rose. From the shimmering golden magma hot spring(?)—heated by my prolonged soak—I shook off and turned.
Very well. Let us go.
"Yes."
Jae Ye folded her enchanted metal umbrella with demure grace and led the way. I followed.
Leaving my private sanctum at the lowest level, the glittering golden underground world unfolded. The cavern ceiling loomed high like a sky, studded with twinkling gems mimicking a starry night. Yet it wasn't dim...
Golden-glowing trees. Golden grass. Golden beasts. Golden rivers. Golden earth. A world bathed entirely in gold.
Usually, brightness comes from the sun above. Here, it radiated from the land itself. This was my lair, my domain—the world I'd forged within the gate: the Golden Domain.
Thud! Thud!
Flora and fauna, influenced by my dragon gold, fled in panic at my approach. But once I passed, they swarmed to lap up the liquid gold dripping from my body.
This Golden Domain existed only because of me. To its inhabitants, I was the sun, the god. Thus, I ruled supreme.
Whoom!
Mother.
One who thought nothing of my supremacy: my eldest daughter, third child, made her appearance.
Henisia.
A body at least twice—thrice—my size. No wings, but vast trees and a small forest sprouting from her back... a bizarre form of dragon. Like a living island, she slowly rose and nuzzled my face.
Tree Dragon Arna Henisia. Note: The "tree" in her title means "foundation stone," not grass. Thus: The dragon from which all trees originate. True to her name, she wielded dominion over every tree.
What brings thee to this mother's domain?
I just missed you, Mother.
Rub rub nuzzle...
Henisia rubbed her face against mine affectionately. I licked the face of my firstborn, now far larger than me. It felt like yesterday she was tiny... when did she grow so big...?
Since thou art here, rest a while before leaving. Surely movement is hard with a body with child?
Thank you, Mother.
Henisia curled up with a fond eye-smile. Seeing my long-absent daughter, I smiled back with my eyes.