Chapter 38
A dragon cannot become a human.
However, in the Game, such impossibilities become possible.
---
「Title: Finished the Dragon Lord quest
-He gave me his daughter as a reward, thought it was a mount lol
(Picture of Calisa polymorphed into a human)
But holy shit, she suddenly transformed into a super pretty female character. Can I recruit her as a Follower? Super urgent, really...
└Yeah, possible
└"Possible"
└Why'd she turn into a human though; I liked her better before
└?
└Seriously, please just die
└Fr... Something about her was strangely alluring even though she's a reptile
└Ah, gentlemen, please...」
「Title: But why did she suddenly become human?
-Weren't they just ill-tempered reptiles? There wasn't any other lore, right?
└Constellations can do anything
└??
└The god said "human," so Calisa became human lol
└Cut the bullshit
└It's real; the lore says Calisa is a direct descendant of the Dragon Lord or something. So the Dragon Lord directly used his power to make her human.
└Oh... Polymorph
└So can she change back into a dragon?
└Probably
└Ah, then it's possible
└What's possible you crazy bastard」
「Title: But why would that ill-tempered bastard help?
-That dragon treats everyone except his own kind like idiots
What's in it for him to even cast Polymorph on Calisa?
└He had no choice because of a contract lol
└If he breaks it, he dies, so he's forced to do it.
└A father who sells his daughter... hmm
└Oh, kinky
└That's why it's hilarious later when you wander around the dragon sanctuary with Calisa lol
└Daughter? Ah... You mean this?
└KISAMA!!」
---
Calisa became human through the Constellation's miracle.
Not as an ugly dragon, but in the form of a beautiful Follower.
Freed from the heavy burden she carried, she sought refuge in my Religious Order, yearning for freedom and seeking her true self.
However, all this wasn't solely due to my and her achievements.
Though I hate to admit it, frankly, external influences played a significant role.
'Polymorph.'
A skill that can only be used by members of the same race, or even higher beings.
While I can descend into a human-like body using Summon, transforming a massive being like a dragon into a human body is impossible.
However, the 'Dragon Lord,' the being who created Calisa, could do it.
-...What?
"Because I said so?"
-W-What are you...
The giant dragon was flustered by my confident attitude.
How frustrating.
Calisa could be wandering lost somewhere at this very moment, yet he's wasting time with these concerns.
「Child of the Lost Star: I don't understand. Why at this point in time...」
The Child of the Lost Star, who was sending the message, paused for a moment.
「Child of the Lost Star: Wait, don't tell me.」
「Black Sun's Incarnation: What? What is it?」
Leaving the seemingly half-aware Child of the Lost Star and the still clueless Avatar of the Black Sun aside for a moment—
I looked at the Dragon Lord with a serious expression.
"Hey, you said she's precious, right? Are you just going to let her be taken away like this?"
-What...!
"Stop wasting your brainpower on getting angry and read the situation."
At my words, the Dragon Lord growled in frustration, but I wouldn't blink an eye.
"The last place Calisa disappeared was an unnamed Dungeon, and she's probably trapped somewhere there because of another Constellation."
It didn't matter if it wasn't a Dungeon.
The very brief incident caused by undoing the Polymorph. That's what I wanted.
"Dungeons are designed for human-sized beings. Imagine if hulks like you guys suddenly dropped in there."
With the sudden increase in volume, the Dungeon would lose its function and collapse.
The nearby Dungeon's Mana Stone would likely be destroyed as well.
It would be ideal if the incident was resolved just with that, but the problem was the Constellation bastard who would be nearby.
"Even if you destroy the Dungeon where Calisa is trapped right now, it'll be useless if the Constellation immediately takes action. So."
The moment Calisa's body changes from human to dragon, that's the most crucial timing.
"We need to make a decisive move before that Constellation bastard can interfere again."
-...Are you insane?
"Does this look like a joke to you?"
This was the best method I could think of right now.
The alternative was to spread all kinds of celestial-grade skills over this Earth and attract widespread aggro.
Demanding the return of my stolen Follower.
Then, the Constellation would take Calisa and hide even deeper.
The humans who were living peacefully would only tremble in fear at the sudden descending Punishments.
I've built up such a holy and gentle image so far, I couldn't just ruin it like this.
'If anyone's going to do it, it's you.'
Dragon Lord.
Relying on his fiery temper could actually lead to a smoother resolution.
-T-To Polymorph Calisa again...
The Dragon Lord seemed intrigued by my suggestion and muttered to himself.
Actually, my suggestion was also the solution he desperately wanted.
His daughter's true form.
Calisa's original appearance, the one the Dragon Lord yearned for so much.
'Such an obsession, really.'
Before being a dragon with a fiery temper, he was a Constellation who cherished his Followers.
In the end, even the Dragon Lord couldn't forget the Follower who left him and was swayed.
His feelings were utterly ridiculous, but I maintained my composure and waited for the Dragon Lord to make his decision.
-...Just this once.
"What?"
-Cooperation with you... will never happen again...!!
-Kugugugugu!
The ground trembled.
It was the reaction of their sanctuary, resonating with the Mana the Dragon Lord was emitting.
At the right moment, I retrieved Sekratis, who was restraining him, and granted him freedom.
[Warning! The Constellation, 'Dragon Lord,' is interfering with your Follower 'Calisa.' Do you permit this?]
'Yes.'
Polymorph was his domain, after all.
Unfortunately, there was no choice but to transform Calisa back into a dragon for now.
But really.
Even if she temporarily reverts, would Calisa change her mind again?
'Hmm.'
Knowing her detailed background, I found the Dragon Lord's expectations quite amusing.
It was quite difficult to manage my expression because of it.
-I-It's done...!
The Dragon Lord growled happily.
[Follower, 'Calisa,' is using Polymorph due to the 'Dragon Lord.']
By now, absolute chaos must have erupted somewhere.
Whether it's a Dungeon or somewhere else, they wouldn't be expecting Calisa's suddenly enlarged form.
'Why did he have to take her there of all places?'
Perhaps things were going this smoothly precisely because it was Calisa.
Anyway, I wanted to meet him quickly.
'Just you wait.'
After promising him an unforgettable experience, I focused on the upcoming events.
#
Deep in the darkness.
Gazing at the restrained Calisa, the 'Eternal Sleeper' sensed that the end was near.
'Just a little longer now.'
A world where there's no interference from other Constellations, a world just for himself.
There, he would unfold a new world, just for him.
The Eternal Sleeper embraced the feeling of anticipation, eagerly awaiting that day.
It wouldn't have been possible with any other Follower.
It was possible only because of this Follower, who possessed the Dragon's Blessing, a top-tier catalyst, all in one body.
-Just a little, just a little more.
The Eternal Sleeper urged the progress of the work like a child waiting for a gift.
Then.
-...?
[Someone is watching you.]
The Constellation immediately expanded his senses, feeling a strange, unsettling presence somewhere.
‘There’s nothing?’
There had definitely been traces of an intruder, but he couldn't detect anything.
It was definitely not his imagination. There had been something there.
-...Could it be.
The Eternal Sleeper recalled an impossible hypothesis.
He had repeatedly checked and blocked the Absolute Being’s tracking in advance.
Even for the Absolute Being Constellation, searching for Calisa should be impossible.
-No way.
Confident in his countermeasures, he considered another possibility.
The presence of another Constellation, neither the Absolute Being nor himself.
There was a chance it was the presence of an insignificant Constellation who happened to witness his existence here.
-Pathetic.
Secretly spying without even revealing their identity.
The Eternal Sleeper ultimately dismissed the situation as 'nothing' and refocused on his task.
[Someone is watching you.]
-....!
Then, at another sign of presence, he immediately went on high alert.
-Who's there!
.....
Silent stillness answered the Constellation’s enraged shout.
However, the situation was becoming increasingly unsettling.
He had already missed the opponent’s presence twice.
“Hee, heehee.”
The anomaly originated from the bound Follower.
She, who should have been locked in a dream, unable to take any action, let out a low chuckle.
As if mocking the flustered Constellation.
However, the Constellation could not be angered by her insolent attitude.
He realized that something was happening, centered around himself and his actions.
“I feel Him. Heehee. Abundant Love, a warm embrace. I am with Him now.”
As if reciting a poem for a loved one, Calisa continued speaking.
“...You were so foolish.”
-....!!
“So stupid. You weren't thorough, and you let your guard down. As if you firmly believed you were above this world… arrogant.”
-If you say one more word, I'll tear you to shreds...!
The Eternal Sleeper was enraged by the unrestrained insults.
But Calisa didn't care.
As if she hadn't even considered the Constellation from the beginning.
Twisting her bound body, she lifted her lowered head.
Even though she wore a blindfold to block her Vision, the Constellation felt her gaze fixed directly on him.
“Do you feel Him?”
-.....
“Foolish Dragons, unlike morons like you who are blinded by power, the true God of this world. The true Constellation who descended to spread true Love.”
[Someone is watching you.]
“Ah...! He’s coming. He’s coming...!”
The Eternal Sleeper could do nothing more.
A massive energy was surging in.
And not just from one being, but two.
One was a fierce rage like a sacredly burning fire, and the other was purely joyful like a child.
Which should he fear more?
The answer was already decided.
One who is enraged cannot catch up to one who is enjoying.
Therefore, it was right to fear the latter Constellation much more.
“My Father God. The Absolute Being has come here.”
Calisa's face was filled with happiness.
[Follower, ‘Calisa’ uses ‘Polymorph’.]
-Crack!
The Follower’s body contorted.
The slender figure bathed in the dim light swelled up as if inflating.
Her original form began to twist and distort, forcibly transforming.
The Eternal Sleeper was speechless at the grotesque transformation.
What was happening?
There wasn't even time to ponder such idle questions.
He had been discovered.
No, perhaps he had been… playing into His hands from the very beginning.
‘Since when?’
From the first time he approached Calisa?
Or from the time he dreamed of the 'Otherworld' paradise and made his plans?
Had everything he had done been nothing more than a child's plaything, something to be mocked?
-Ah.
Calisa, transformed into a Dragon, collapsed the Constellation’s Dungeon with her massive form.
#
[Black Sun's Incarnation: You...]
[Child of the Lost Star: Interesting. Very interesting.]
“Why.”
As I calmly surveyed the situation in my Summoned body, I received reactions tinged with shock.
[Black Sun's Incarnation: When... just when did you know?]
The Black Sun finally seemed to understand the situation somewhat.
The kidnapped Follower, the Constellation who was like a father to her enraged by it.
Another Constellation lurking within.
And. The Follower, Calisa’s Corruption.
“Corruption my ass.”
What made him think he had perfectly manipulated everything?
From the moment the Dragon Lord summoned me to his sanctuary, there were countless ways to pinpoint Calisa's location.
An ordinary Constellation would have panicked when their interference was blocked, but I'm a player in this Game.
Did they really think I wouldn't have prepared for such a situation?
[Black Sun's Incarnation: Then, then. Why from the beginning?]
The Black Sun’s wary question made me laugh.
“It's fun.”
[Black Sun's Incarnation: ...Ah.]
The Black Sun finally recalled our first meeting.
He had messed with my Follower, and he remembered my reaction then.
“Did I look angry when we first met?”
I had shown the same reaction then.
I feel a kind of thrill seeing them believe they are the best and relentlessly try to control the situation.
It's like the satisfying feeling of completely destroying a giant sandcastle someone painstakingly built.
The enraged Dragon Lord.
And that Constellation whose name I'm about to learn.
“Ah, exhilarating.”
My heart was already pounding with anticipation for what was to come.