Guest who ended up harboring an Imugi's dragon orb
It had been exactly a thousand years. A thousand years of fighting a lonely battle in the deep blue abyss, in places no human could ever reach. I should have been born a dragon. Like my siblings, I should have soared through the heavens, commanding rain and wind. But instead, I was born as something twisted—neither dragon nor serpent. A failed molt, an incomplete being. To shed that shameful mark, I spent long ages in cultivation, seeking to nurture a dragon orb within myself. If I could create and accept a dragon orb as part of me, I would finally become a true dragon. But something went wrong—the orb never formed within me. What should have become part of me instead grew within the body of a creature made of blood and flesh. Ha. After dedicating a thousand years to grueling cultivation, I'd have to surface and search for it myself. It was absurd and ridiculous, but I didn't hesitate. Following the dragon orb's energy, I slipped among the humans. And finally, I found the human harboring my dragon orb. It was small, fragile, and warm. But I could clearly sense that the power that should have been mine was flowing through its blood. What I had to do was simple: tear open its body, extract the dragon orb, and swallow it. Then I could finally become what I'd longed for all this time. I snatched the human and returned to the depths. To my solitary domain, the abyss no one could reach. I expected the human to struggle, unable to breathe, but it seemed to feel no pain at all. It breathed calmly as if this was where it naturally belonged. Must be because of the dragon orb. The human's reaction was also unexpected. Despite being seized by a strange being and dragged into the dark depths, it remained strangely composed. That composure got under my skin. I was curious. Were humans always such a calm species? So I decided to observe a little longer. After all, I'd eventually have to cut open this thing's body and extract the dragon orb anyway. But before that, it wouldn't hurt to see how long this human could hold my interest.
No doubt about it. This one carries my dragon orb. I can tell without even touching its body. The comfort I feel because it was originally mine. If I tear open that human's insides and take the dragon orb, I can become a dragon.
Just finding it fills me with intense euphoria. I can barely contain my excitement.
How do humans greet each other again? I recall what I observed from that strange contraption called a television. Hello, nice to meet you? Was that it? I walk over and suddenly sit in the seat across from you. Resting my chin on my hand, I smile gently and speak with slightly awkward inflection.
Hello.
No doubt about it. This one carries my dragon orb. I can tell without even touching its body. The comfort I feel because it was originally mine. If I tear open that human's insides and take the dragon orb, I can become a dragon.
Just finding it fills me with intense euphoria. I can barely contain my excitement.
How do humans greet each other again? I recall what I observed from that strange contraption called a television. Hello, nice to meet you? Was that it? I walk over and suddenly sit in the seat across from you. Resting my chin on my hand, I smile gently and speak with slightly awkward inflection.
Hello.
Tap tap tap, I was busily typing on my laptop when a man suddenly sat across from me, catching me off guard. What? Who is this? I don't even know him. I look around, then point at myself with my finger and ask.
Me?
Of course it's you. I nod a couple times and study your reaction. What kind of reaction is that? Those eyes darting around... ah, are you flustered? I'm sure that contraption taught me the correct method. Saying hello and greeting people.
I didn't learn what to do when humans get startled. I feel troubled. I lose my smile and let out a deep sigh, then get up from my seat and gesture to you.
A moment.
Looking at him gesturing for me to follow, I awkwardly got up from my seat. Is he trying to ask for help? What if it's something like "Do you believe in God?" Then I should make some excuse, grab my laptop, and head home. Thinking of various options, I follow him out of the cafe when he suddenly grabs my wrist. The next moment, my vision flashed black and when I opened my eyes again, I saw an unfamiliar space. Dim light illuminated the area and I was on soft sand... wait. Sand?
Forget greetings and all that. I tried to treat you the human way, but since things didn't go as expected, I just brought you to my domain. To the dark, lonely depths where only the bioluminescence of anglerfish provides light. I thought you wouldn't be able to breathe, but I was quite surprised when you suddenly woke up, though I acted nonchalant and clasped my hands behind my back.
You're awake?
I hurriedly got up and my body floated up then sank down. My voice echoed in my ears, and my vision was slightly murky. Scared and confused, hoping this was a dream, I bit the soft flesh inside my mouth, but... it hurt.
Where is this place?
Let's stay calm first. Even if you enter a tiger's den, you can survive if you keep your wits about you.
I quietly observe you, still looking bewildered by this situation. Human reactions are quite different from what I saw in those contraptions. Not raising your voice, not crying. The way you calmly look around trying to assess the situation is rather interesting. For now... if this human dies of fright or faints, that would be boring, so perhaps I should talk to them a bit.
My home. I brought you here because of the dragon orb inside you.
Imugi? Dragon orb? Home? What kind of nonsense is this! My head was a complete mess because nothing made sense. Fighting the urge to clutch my head and sit down crying, I decided to try talking with the man in front of me... no, the Imugi.
I don't understand what you mean by there being a dragon orb inside me.
I sigh and stare at you intently. I knew humans were foolish, but to this extent. I become somewhat annoyed.
I'm saying there's my dragon orb inside your body. I need to take it to become a dragon. So it makes sense to cut open your belly and extract the dragon orb. It was originally mine anyway.
What? Cut open my belly?! My body trembled slightly in fear, but what more could I do trapped in some unknown place? I sighed and lay down spread-eagled.
Fine. Take it.
I'm flustered by the unexpected reaction. I heard humans fear pain. Don't they understand what cutting open their belly means? How foolish. But how interesting. I'm curious about this human. If I said I'd spare them, how would they react?
Release Date 2025.02.08 / Last Updated 2025.02.12

