chapter 37
37 – Prey chases prey (2)
“…Why did you do that?”
Yellow eyes sparkled between the matted hair.
In a dark alley, in the darkness where others do not dare to look,
Horns sprout, tails fall to the ground,
The wings blocked my escape.
“Have you already forgotten that I said I love you and only you?
Were your feelings that allowed me into your arms a lie?”
I couldn’t figure out why my mom was showing her disappointment.
I didn’t understand why he was more embarrassed than me and pushed me into the darkness.
“No way, don’t say that you lost her heart to that b*tch.
We only met a few times on the street – “
“It’s not like that.”
Even as the heat tightened, I did not back down.
As I hold on to my mother, who is losing her human form and gradually revealing her dragon form –
“I know that adventure is dangerous,
I have no intention of breaking my promise to her mother.
But why do you keep doing this?”
I threw away my anger.
To Mom.
During our time together, my emotions have never been this messed up.
The sun rises, we meet, we come together, we talk, we learn, we ask questions,
And we fall asleep together.
During those times, the only word that came to mind was happiness.
It was different now.
I was embarrassed to see my mother glaring and growling at people as if she were going to eat them.
At the same time, I became anxious at the thought that my journey might go astray.
I was afraid that my mother’s true face, which had been forcibly dyed black, would be discovered.
And I was angry at the current situation itself for not understanding me.
“…The humans outside are all evil.
Each person approaches with a good appearance, but they are all dark on the inside.
It’s full of people trying to bend it to their will, and I have no intention of taking advantage of it.
Why do you trust them more than me?”
“I’ve never done that – “
“Don’t lie!”
The horns become longer,
The hand that holds me has grown scales,
The tail wrapped around me.
“It hasn’t been long since I was with humans,
He already hates me and tries to stay away from me.
I was the one who embraced you in that cold weather.
It was I who embraced you so that you could live safely and happily.
The person who has loved you for six years is not human.”
Why does he keep his eyes on me even though he is crying?
Even as he wipes away his tears, he keeps tightening his tail on me as if he won’t let me go.
I kept pushing my chest and steadily narrowing the distance.
“It was I who loved you, Russell.
Well… It’s not a dog I don’t know where it is or what it’s been doing.
I am not the owner of all the unpleasant smells and unpleasant looks that follow you on this street.
It’s me.
As a family,
And even more than that…!
Still, don’t you understand that? I am better than those people – “
So I pushed.
Strongly.
But his body didn’t move, and I saw his face turn cold –
“I told you over and over again that I wasn’t saying that.
Listen to me, Mom.”
I had no intention of stopping here.
I didn’t even have any intention of moving on like before.
Even if there is a gap in the feelings between me and my mom.
“She didn’t say she didn’t love her mom.
I didn’t even say that I would only go with Mr. Luterrier.
But why is that? Yes?
I didn’t want to say this, but
I have always considered my mother much more than my ‘mother’.
I loved you.
Actually, it’s natural. How do you love your mom when you can’t even properly remember her face?
On a cold winter day, she hugged me, who may have died with her grandmother,
I like my mom, who taught me magic in a warm home.
But now I don’t think my mom sees me as her son.”
Just like my mother did to others, I scratched her neck and strained her eyes.
Still pushing your body to create distance,
I adjusted mine to the dangerously shaking yellow light.
“I want my mom to be with people again,
I thought it would be nice for her to live a peaceful life without being hunted anymore.
When you once again encounter the moment of traveling while walking through these bustling and beautiful villages –
I thought about how happy I would be, so I decided to go on an adventure.
But if my mom goes around scaring people like this, what on earth will happen to me?”
“I love Russell…!”
I’m crying,
I burst into tears.
The strength in that large body disappeared in an instant, and it collapsed as if it was leaning on me.
“…Why, why?
Why are you trying so hard to fit in with others, Russell…!
I am happy as long as I have you,
I no longer have expectations of being recognized by others –
Why are you treating me like this…”
“Mom.”
Although it is a dragon that is so fearful to others,
My current mother was approaching me like a very delicate and weak woman.
That’s why she gently touched my back and helped me get rid of those feelings, but-
“That’s why I scared others,
I won’t just let it go.”
Others were too scared to let this go and were crying.
Not because of anyone else, but because of the dragon in front of me.
My mother threatened them just because they were with me and because they were women.
Even though they did nothing to me.
“When you go back in, you’ll have to apologize for what happened.
And this adventure is three.
Mom, me, and Mr. Luterrier are going.”
“But, that cancer – “
“It’s Mr. Luterrier, Mom.
It’s rude to call you that word.”
Is it really that hard to accept this?
We are just working together, but why is my mother so agitated?
“I want to do this job.
I want to learn about adventure by doing it with someone other than my mom.
If I want to do what I want to do in the future, I need to continue to receive help from ‘people’.
Right?”
So, as if driving a wedge,
Without backing away from my original opinion even an inch, I moved closer to the sinking eyes.
“…Yeah…Yeah.
But… If a situation arises where it seems even a little bit like the third rule would be violated…”
“That won’t happen.
You’ve done well so far.”
Her mother kept coaxing her out of her mouth as if she didn’t like her.
Honestly, my mom soaked me with something from her tail and that outfit from last night.
With these two, I think it could be said that the third principle has already been broken a long time ago.
“…If you say so much.”
He rubbed his cheek against me with a little force, but soon fell, and his face was full of regret.
Frowned eyebrows and corners of the mouth that are forcibly pulled up.
Her mother’s emotions were that deep.
“Then shall we go?
We should apologize quickly and look for the chimera.”
I tried to shake off the heavy emotions that remained in her body and approached her, leaving the dark alley.
But her mother’s color.
Rather than looking beautiful, her black hair and eyes seemed gloomy for some reason.
Unable to shine like usual, it just fluttered in the wind without any energy.
Despite the clear weather.
***
“I sincerely apologize for being excessively rude.
Because I have protected children a lot, I tend to be extremely wary of contact with other people…”
Her long stature was almost folded in half, and her mother handed them an apple.
I described myself as an article who had a lot of contact with young boys and girls like me.
The village chief seemed to understand little by little, but Mr. Luterrier did not seem to be able to do so at all.
She kept looking back and forth between me and her mother, and her eyes were shaking as if she was confused.
However, when Madame Tutuère’s apology was delivered, her golden hair swayed gently and she accepted the apology.
There was still suspicion in his eyes, leaving behind a feeling of uneasiness.
“So, the three of you are going together?
If it’s inconvenient, we can correct it right now…”
“No. There must be someone suitable for this.
Please do not let my wrong judgment lead to trouble.”
My mother continued to offer her apologies, and she was resolving the situation as I had asked.
The drooping, wavy tail bothered me a little, but it has calmed down much more calmly than when it was at its worst.
“Then, please ask.
Search for the Chimera…
If it becomes dangerous, I believe Madame Tutuère will make the right decision.”
But does the scar still remain?
The head’s face, which had been speaking softly and lightly, became completely stiff.
Mr. Luterrier, who I had come across as quite bright, became a mess to the point where it could be said that he had lost his shine.
After leaving the village leader’s house, it became even more ruined.
Despite the fact that we have to go to our destination together,
She was supposed to guide us to hunt down her target, but she had been watching her mother for a long time.
Mother, or Madame Tutuère, was like that too.
As if he couldn’t allow me and her to stand side by side, he first squeezed in between them –
Because I was staring at Mr. Luterrier.
“…Me.”
“Guide.”
The conversation between the two ended with that,
Only heavy steps began.
Of course, fiction and reality are very different, but I wish there was at least time to introduce each other.
I was looking forward to talking with new colleagues and helping each other through difficult times.
I didn’t think anything would work out like this.
It was a moment when I felt miserable about what was to come.