Chapter 1
A curious rumor had been recently circulating around the world.
“They say a dragon's nest has been found. Is that really true?”
The Dragon's Nest.
It was a mysterious place said to hold mountains of treasure that a dragon had hoarded for thousands of years. According to rumors, a portal to this nest had opened somewhere in the mountains of South Korea.
But that was just what the rumors said.
“It’s all bullshit.”
Most people brushed off the rumor as a load of rubbish. It made sense. The world was already going through chaos with monsters from other dimensions popping up, turning everything upside down.
And now there's suddenly a story about a dragon’s treasure-filled nest? It sounded like something out of a children’s fairy tale and not something any sane person would believe.
“Who would actually fall for that? What kind of fool do you take me for?”
Yet, there's always at least one fool willing to believe those things.
“Alright, I’ve packed my sleeping bag and some food. Time to head out.”
And that fool... is me. I’m one of those who actually believed that the Dragon’s Nest exists. That was why I was now lugging this heavy backpack over my shoulders and leaving my damp, moldy one-room apartment behind.
“Let’s find that nest and turn my life around.”
Thunk—
The old iron door closed behind me, plastered with overdue bills: phone bills, rent, utilities, loans. There were so many unpaid notices that there was no way I could clear them using normal methods.
“The only way I’m paying off all that debt is by finding that treasure.”
I’ll rip every one of those bills down once I come back with the treasure.
Tsk—
Clicking my tongue in frustration, I turned toward the stairs. I needed to get out of this dark, suffocating basement and into the light. I needed to find the rumored Dragon’s Nest.
“I’ll find that nest and change my entire life.”
I was setting off on what might just be my last adventure—a gamble with my life on the line.
***
Six months later.
I finally came to understand firsthand what it meant to be the fool who believed a ridiculous rumor.
“This... this is insane... it hurts... I’m gonna die...”
I’m going to die. I couldn’t find the dragon’s nest, and now it seemed like I was going to freeze to death on this snowy mountain. No, it was worse than that. I was about to be torn apart by a werewolf limping toward me from behind.
‘The rumor said that the nest was in the mountains so I came all the way to Mount Sorak, the last on my list. But what is this?’
What the hell is that thing even doing here? It attacked me near the foot of the mountain, leaving me with a leg injury. And now, it was still chasing me halfway up the mountain.
“Damn it... why was it down there? It’s supposed to live around the mountain’s middle, not at the entrance…”
I’m cursed with the worst luck. Maybe I could have escaped if my body were stronger.
“I know its weaknesses and its patterns. But knowing means nothing when I don’t have the strength to fight or the legs to outrun it...”
Damn it all. I hated how weak I was in moments like these, and I hated myself for chasing this foolish dream with such a fragile body.
“Maybe I should’ve lived within my limits... Should’ve listened when people told me to give up on this dream... Should’ve gone and gotten a job at a factory even if it was late…”
Suddenly, a wave of overwhelming regret crashed over me. But even so, I didn’t want to die at the hands of a monster, so I kept limping forward and leaving footprints in the snow.
“…Still, I’m not dying easily. I’m not going prove everyone who doubted me that they’re right.”
Up ahead, I spotted a cave where I could hide for a while. I dashed toward it, mustering up the last of my strength. I know the werewolf was hot on my trail and was following my scent, but I didn’t bother looking back. I reached the cave after a series of twists and turns, and it was damp and dark.
“Hah… hah… It’s not like I can lose it by hiding here… What am I supposed to do…?”
Werewolves had an excellent sense of smell. It’ll follow the scent of my blood right into this cave. After that, it’d be a guaranteed ending where I’m torn apart by those sharp claws.
“Hah… You really think I’m just going to let that happen? I’ll run to the very end…”
All I had left was my stubborn pride. That, and a persistence bordering on obsession.
Dragging my dying body, I headed deeper into the cave. Deeper and deeper. I pushed further in with every ounce of strength I had left even as the sound of the werewolf’s footsteps echoed behind me, growing louder.
“Hah… hah…”
And then, at the very end of the cave when I hit a dead end, I saw it—a swirling vortex of blue light spinning in the air. It was the dimensional portal I’ve been searching for all these six long months.
“Is this... the Dragon’s Nest...?”
A portal leading to another dimension. Of course, you could never know if the dimension on the other side was friendly or hostile to humans until you stepped through. You’d only find that out after entering.
However, the most important thing was that this portal might lead to the Dragon’s Nest which I’d only heard about in rumors. Or it might not.
“Damn it. I’d have thought this through if I had more time.”
The werewolf’s footsteps were getting louder and closer by the second. Entering a portal when you had no idea what was on the other side was dangerous, but I had no choice.
“There’s no other way. I have to go in.”
To hell with it.
I threw myself into the swirling portal without hesitation.
***
Thirty seconds. That was how long it took to travel through dimensions, and in that brief span, I felt something impossible to describe—a strange sensation, like my body wasn’t my own, as if I were a limp doll floating on ocean waves.
Anyway, I turned my head to check where I had ended up as soon as I arrived.
“Hmmm…”
I had no idea where I was, but it looked like the inside of a crumbling building. The windows and ceiling were blocked, so I couldn't tell where or when this was. It resembled an ancient temple or perhaps the interior of a ruined castle.
“Is this the Dragon’s Nest? It’s too shabby for that. Shouldn't it be a little more sparkly?”
There wasn’t a single glittering treasure in sight. Instead, there was a mountain of old junk, antique furniture, and trinkets piled together.
At a glance, it looked like a landfill more than anything else. I held my bleeding wound with one hand while surveying my surroundings carefully. Before anything else, my life was on the line.
“On the floor… dolls, rattles, hairpins, scalpels, paintbrushes, basketballs…”
There was no consistency and neither was there a clue as to who owned this stuff. I couldn’t think of what this trash heap of a place was meant for, either. So, I picked up a genderless doll lying on the floor.
“Judging by the dust, it’s been here for a while—”
— Don’t touch that.
The sudden voice startled me and I yelled out loud.
“W-who’s there?!”
— Put my doll back. Now.
“…”
The voice issuing a command was androgynous. Instinctively, I didn’t resist. I carefully set the doll back on the floor. My gut told me I’d die if I disobeyed.
‘Who the hell is this—?’
— If you want to know who I am, come closer.
“…”
How did this person know what I was about to say? Trembling, I started walking toward the voice.
— Be careful not to step on my things. Watch the floor.
“…”
Following the mysterious figure’s orders, I weaved carefully around the relics and old furniture, slowly moving forward.
— Now, climb on top of the furniture. Use it like stairs.
Then, when I stepped on a mountain of modern furniture and climbed upwards...
“O-oh…”
I saw it.
It was the legendary dragon. The massive white dragon was covered in thick scales, cradling an egg the size of my body atop the heap of furniture. Its eyes were shut, but it opened them and fixed its reptilian gaze on me, speaking without moving its mouth.
— You’ve made it to the Dragon’s Nest. That’s too bad, human.
“…Too bad?”
— Yes, it’s unfortunate. There’s no treasure here for you, and you’re about to die. What a pity.
The dragon’s eyes flicked toward my wound.
— Human, you’ve come all this way to the Dragon’s Nest, but you’ve lost too much blood. Without proper treatment, you won’t survive much longer.
“…I’m going to die?”
— Yes, you will. You overestimated yourself and chased after something far beyond your limits. You should’ve lived the life fate had planned for you.
“Why the hell would I die now?”
I’ve finally found the Dragon’s Nest.
‘I bet everything I had and risked my life to find this place…’
And now I was going to die?
Since I was facing death anyway, I shouted.
“I suffered through hell to find the Dragon’s Nest, and you’re telling me I’m going to die? Don’t be ridiculous—!!”
— Getting angry won’t help. You’ve lost too much blood, and now it’s rushing to your head. You’ll die even quicker. What a waste.
“Ha, so I’m not even allowed to get angry anymore?”
Thud—
I collapsed on the spot, out of energy.
“Hah… hah…”
— Still, I must say that you’ve got quite the mental fortitude for a human. Out of all the humans I’ve met, you’re one of the best. It’s a shame.
“Why do you care, you damn reptile…?”
— It’s a shame because such a strong mind ended up in such a weak body. What a mismatch. If you’d had the physical strength to match it, you would’ve been perfect.
“Do you think I chose this body? What a joke…”
I let out a hollow laugh, feeling completely drained. Then, the dragon looked down at me and spoke again.
— Human. Would you like to keep cursing me, or do you want to hear about the ‘opportunity’ I’m offering you?
“…Opportunity?”
— Yes, an opportunity. The choice is yours. By some stroke of luck, you passed the test. At least, mentally. Who knows? Your body might improve later.
The dragon gave a reptilian smile, and as it did, its enormous form began to disappear. In its place, where it had been cradling the egg, appeared a mysterious figure which was beautiful and unearthly. They were white-haired and impossible to tell if male or female.
“It’s polymorphing. Dragons can transform into human form. It allows them to blend into human society and amuse themselves.”
The figure approached me as I lay on the ground, speaking calmly.
“The truth is, like you, I’m about to die. This is my end. In human terms, I suppose you’d call it a terminal illness.”
“I don’t really care since I’m dying soon too… but I’ll ask anyway… Why? Aren’t dragons supposed to be immortal?”
“Immortality is much more tedious than you think. When you can’t die, you grow bored and lose interest. Nothing excites you anymore. I’ve lived far too long, and now I feel it’s time for something new and not some endless survival.”
Something new? I had no idea what that meant. Why was it talking about this while I was about to die?
‘It’s not like this lizard can burn my soul or anything.’
Telling someone who was fighting to survive that you wanted to die… do dragons just lack empathy? As soon as I thought that, the dragon spoke, almost as if reading my mind.
“From a human perspective, I suppose we might seem cold. But dragons do have feelings. We even empathize. It’s just that over time, those senses dull. Anyway…”
The dragon knelt, looking directly into my eyes.
“We’re running out of time. So, how about it? Want to take a chance? The choice is yours.”
“…What kind of chance?”
“I’ll save your life. But in return, you’ll have to make a promise to me.”
The dragon glanced toward the eggs it had been guarding—one green, one blue, and one red.
“Take those three eggs and raise them.”
“W-what?”
“As I said, I’m dying soon. So, promise me you’ll raise my children in my place. Promise to nurture them until they reach adulthood. If you do that, I’ll save your life. What do you think?”
“…”
My vision started to blur.
So, I weakly raised my hand and extended my pinky finger.
“I’ll do it if it means you’ll save my life.”
I had no reason to refuse.