I shouldn't resist this feeling that seems to be calling me. I know that much.
It might sound strange, but... even knowing better, I had no choice but to go.
*Stop now. You need to turn back.*
My mind was coldly assessing the situation, telling me to turn back quickly, but my damn body refused to listen.
I had to go. I had to go this way. Something was calling me. That unconscious feeling kept pulling me forward.
Just like how you'd reflexively jerk your hand away from a pot of boiling water, my body reflexively followed this pull the moment I felt it.
Looking back now, it was the same with Park So-Ah.
What if a real Harmageddon spy had been there instead of Park So-Ah? Why would I go alone, especially knowing the practical exam was coming up soon?
Even though I shouldn't have gone, I was drawn to Park So-Ah as if in a trance.
No, not to Park So-Ah, but to the Light Dragon's remains, to where the scale was.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
*But why...?*
Is it because I was created from part of the Light Dragon? I don't know.
If that's really the case...
[That's probably exactly what you're thinking.]
The one who resolved my spiraling questions was none other than the Light Dragon himself.
...Come to think of it, the one who would know most about this problem wasn't a person but a dragon, and he was right here.
While I was thinking this, the Light Dragon read my mind before I could even ask what he meant, and slowly explained.
[Your body is now in a state that could truly be called half-dragon. Simply put, you're neither dragon nor human.]
"I know that without you telling me. What's important is why I'm being drawn to these things."
[That's—]
I stopped walking for a moment as the Light Dragon seemed about to start explaining.
But strangely, standing still made it impossible to concentrate on the conversation.
I can normally sit quietly and listen to someone talk. But today, I just couldn't.
My legs were shaking, my eyes darting around, scanning my surroundings for nothing in particular, then looking in the direction of the pull, tilting my head up to look at the sky, then down again, flapping my wings...
Anyone watching would think I had ADHD, I was so restless.
If I could feel it, the Light Dragon surely could too.
[Just keep moving. It seems we still have some distance to go, so there'll be plenty of time to talk.]
"...Alright."
Only after I started walking again could I continue my conversation with the Light Dragon.
[The reason you're drawn to my remains is because you're a half-dragon.]
"I'm drawn to them because I'm a half-dragon?"
[Yes. Basically, wyverns and other lesser dragons, as well as half and quarter dragons, are naturally drawn to true dragons.]
That reminded me of the scale Park So-Ah had been holding.
So this pull I'm feeling now is for the same reason.
"No, but being drawn to different objects like this... That doesn't make sense."
[It's not particularly nonsensical. Don't you humans have a saying that blood is thicker than water? It's a similar principle.]
"That saying is used for family."
[That's precisely why I mentioned it. Just as you can recognize your parents' faces and presence from a distance, wyverns, lesser dragons, and dragon-kin are naturally drawn to the dragons from which they originate.]
I understood that much, but there was still something I didn't get.
"...But I was originally human?"
[You may not be a half-dragon born through normal means, but dragon blood—my blood—flows within you. So, well, being drawn like this is inevitable.]
Is that so...
"Is there no way to resist it?"
[Could you keep your hand in a fire and remain still?]
"Of course not."
It's common knowledge that fire is hot. Hot means painful, and any living being tries to avoid pain.
This is the realm of instinct.
Wait a minute.
"So you're saying this is instinct?"
[Yes. It's instinct. And as far as I remember, I've never seen anyone successfully resist that pull.]
I couldn't make a judgment based solely on the Light Dragon's word, but it felt like my world was going dark.
The Light Dragon, who probably knew almost everything about dragons, had directly said "there's no such method," which was incredibly frustrating.
The feeling of being called was getting stronger, but instead of finding answers, I was only getting more frustrated.
So basically, until Harmageddon disappears or all of the Light Dragon's remains are gone, I'll have to suffer this pull.
Of course, the Light Dragon's remains aren't like pebbles lying on the street, so I won't be tormented all the time, but just when I thought things were finally settling down and I could live normally, this happened. I couldn't feel entirely positive about it.
[If you think about it differently, you could say it would all end if you just eliminated Harmageddon completely. They're the only ones using the Light Dragon's remains as they please.]
The Light Dragon had a point, but if it were that easy, I wouldn't be worrying about this now.
These people had terrorized the court, manipulated a Hero Intern, and were using the Light Dragon's remains that were supposed to be under the Association's control like they were throwaway cards.
Would such people be easily caught?
No, they've been doing these crazy things for years without being rooted out, so what would change now?
"...Things will change."
Yes. Things will change. They're improving, even if slowly.
And... Hyun is here. Things will definitely get better someday.
[By the way, do you have a plan?]
"Of course not."
If I'd had a plan, I would have called Hyun immediately when I felt this damn pull.
If I had, S-Class and A-Class Heroes would probably be following me in a line by now.
[What are you thinking, going there now? You must know who's calling you?]
"Who else but Harmageddon? Either a lackey or someone with a name."
[Knowing that and still going... I don't understand what you're thinking.]
What am I thinking... I'm thinking a lot. That's what I'm doing right now.
No, that's not what I meant to say.
"I've just had a change of heart."
I've learned that there are people who will believe in me no matter what happens.
I've come to believe that if the whole world turns against me, there are people who will stand with me against it.
"When you have people like that, it seems a bit cowardly to dump everything on them and tremble alone just for my own comfort."
It's a bit embarrassing to say this, but it's sincere.
That's why I answered the call from the reporter myself.
I did it to show that I can handle things too, to show Hyun that he doesn't have to shoulder everything alone.
"And if the pull is this strong, it means the Light Dragon's remains are involved. If that's the case, I should be the one to deal with it."
I still see Hyun nearly dying after being hit by No. 445's flames in the courtroom.
When I think about that, I know I'm the right person for this.
Just as Hyun puts himself in danger for me, I'm putting myself in danger for him.
It's my own way of repaying him.
[So, you don't want to see your mate get hurt.]
"Who...! Who said he's my mate... It's not like that. Just... Oh, forget it!"
Leaving the Light Dragon snickering behind me, I stood in front of the park where the feeling was intensely pulling at the back of my neck.
...Wait, why a park of all places? When things went down at the hospital, it also started in a park... No, surely not.
Nah, it can't be.
Thinking that, I stepped into the park.
Since it was just about time for people to go to work, there weren't many people in the park.
There were a few people walking around, but at most it was just early morning cleaners and elderly people out for a walk.
The fortunate thing was that since the people in the park were just people, no one paid any attention to me.
Come to think of it, I hadn't met anyone from leaving home until arriving at the park.
My instinct told me this was the right place, but the unnaturally peaceful atmosphere created a sense of dissonance.
This eerily peaceful feeling, the boldness of openly calling me out in an open space, and the unnaturally low number of people...
All the circumstances reminded me of what happened at the hospital.
And what came out of that hospital was...
"...Come out. I know you're here."
As soon as I said that, the surroundings became eerily quiet.
When I turned around, there was a man sitting on a bench that I was sure had been empty when I passed by.
As if he had been there from the beginning.
He was a man I knew well.
"It's been a really long time, Sia."
His voice was clearly full of humor and friendliness, but there was a strange sense of unpleasantness that made me frown involuntarily.
The man looked at my expression as if even that amused him.
"...Han Yeong-Seok."
"Oh. I'm honored that you remember me."
The one who called me wasn't a lackey or someone with just a bit of a name.
It was the leader of Harmageddon.