Chapter 101: Lair Amusement Park (4) (1/2)
“Everyone, gather up.”
In response to BM’s words, the hulks lying down on the floor raised their bodies.
“Get up, get up! You lazy pigs…! Don’t you hear Mister Nurse calling us to gather up!”
Bell Baryon shouted. Hearing their boss yell, they moved slightly faster and lined up in front of BM.
With unfocused eyes, the large men and women gazed at the nurse and smiled. Behind the nurse stood a metal armour. Seemingly polished with a better oil than usual, the full-plate armour shone like a new one.
A nurse? Are they playing hospital or something? BM had never participated in their jokes but decided to play with them just for today.
“The metal armour, Armata… is leaving hospital today.”
In an instant, a wave of fluster appeared in their giggling faces and when the protector bowed from behind BM, the Special Force agents grabbed their heads and screamed.
“WHAAAAAAAT?!”
“HOOOOUULY SHIT!”
“SERIOUSLY?!?!”
They were shocked.
A precious friend who frequently exercised with them, washed their drenched clothes, washed the dishes and personally volunteered to do housework – it was time for him to leave.
While they were dismayed, the protector took a step forward and gave yet another bow.
“It was fun staying with you.”
A metal-screeching voice flowed out.
“I was able to practise my lacking housework skills. I realised the joy of washing dishes, and understood the happiness of laundry. It’s all thanks to you.”
The agents weren’t able to speak. Joy and sorrow intertwined in their hearts.
Amidst the silence, the protector opened its mouth.
“Kaiman. You’re a good person. Although you’re an old man in your fifties and short, I know the type of person you are. You will definitely meet a good person.”
“Hey, you damned full plated armour! There are lots of women coming after me, man!”
Kaiman, the agent, raised his middle finger with a laugh. The protector turned its head and stared at the other agents.
“Santos. Please ask the nurse for new underwear. It’s worn out.”
“Damn. It’s because my thing is too amazing.”
“…Not from what I saw.”
Wahahat! They laughed and someone slapped Santos on his butt.
“Judie. I can’t believe your husband is still alive.”
“What?? Why! Fuck.”
“Don’t you do a guillotine choke in your sleep?”
Kuhahahat! The large woman heartily laughed and exclaimed, “That’s why we used different rooms!” Other agents remembered that the protector would sometimes wake up in the morning creased and dented and laughed.
Calling out the thirty agents one by one by their name, the protector gave them its opinion before calling the leader, Bell Baryon.
“Bell. Be a good leader.”
“See you later. You damned metal.”
A faint degree of sorrow was slightly mixed into their happiness for the protector’s departure. It was the same for everyone present.
Bell extended her fist out and the protector awkwardly matched its own fist with hers.
The last one remaining was Ha Saetbyul.
“Saetbyul. I’m particularly more concerned about you.”
“Thanks for your hard work. My hospital friend.”
“Thank you. You and I are beings that live to protect others. Once there is something you wish to protect, protect it at all costs.”
“You too.”
Ha Saetbyul walked up and bumped her fist with the protector.
“Wish you a happy life.”
“I shall see you later.”
– A dragon is an imaginary animal.
“…Imagin, ary?”
– They fly around the air and shoot out fire. Kuaaang~!
“…!”
– Do you want to come over? Should we go ‘vuuung’ and fly?
Nod!
While the part-timer wearing the costume raised Gyeoul and flew her around the air, Yu Jitae threw a glance at Bom. It was because she tended to know things he didn’t know.
Bom whispered.
‘I think she’s confused about the word, dragon.’
‘Confused?’
‘I told her a long time ago that we are dragons and not humans. But Gyeoul has never seen her true body and hasn’t seen us undo the polymorph either.’
In other words, she knew she was a dragon but thought that dragons were like humans.
‘She’s thinking if there’s a different meaning to the word, dragon. In her head, a dragon looks like a human like me and Yeorum, and yet a costume is suddenly calling itself a dragon.’
According to Bom, she only cancelled the polymorph once after she was born and even that was only for a split second.
Thinking back, Bom, Yeorum and Kaeul went on their Amusement after the age of ten while Gyeoul was still in her egg state.
Were dragons the same as humans for her?
Even if that was the case, there was probably no need to touch on her values on a day like today where they were out to play.
‘I guess we should tell her when the time comes.’
‘Yes, you’re right.’
‘Would Gyeoul be very surprised when she finds out about it?’
‘…’
Bom went hmm… and pondered. Her grass-coloured eyes looking at Gyeoul became profound.
‘Nn… I think so, yes. If she happens to cancel the polymorph one day, she would probably be very surprised after seeing her body. We have become very used to the human body after all, and that’s how much we’re absorbed in this Amusement life as well.
‘What do you mean that you’re absorbed in the Amusement?’
‘Just, it feels like this is where we are meant to be. Not an Amusement.’
‘…’
‘In fact, even I become confused sometimes.’
Yu Jitae had no time to think deeply about Bom’s last words because Gyeoul flapped her hands from the dragon mascot’s grasp and reached her hands out at him.
Perhaps having roughly understood the part-timer’s words, Gyeoul didn’t ask anything on the way to the haunted house.
She felt thrilled to be at high places, and enjoyed getting on anything fast. She was interested in food and liked water. Although she no longer played with it, in the past she had liked dolls and plushies like kids of her age. Despite being able to fly, she usually walked and even now was resting in Yu Jitae’s arms.
While pondering, a question appeared in his mind.
If she thought of a ‘dragon’ as another type of human race or some sort, what would she be thinking of him as?
He decided to ask her.
“Gyeoul.”
“…?”
“Who am I.”
She tilted her head.
“…?”
“What am I. Who am I.”
“…Yu, Jitae?”
“No, not that. What kind of thing am I.”
Yu Jitae’s question was slightly weird so she merely tilted her head with a wide smile, unable to process his words. Thus, Bom asked directly.
“Gyeoul. Is ahjussi a human or a dragon?”