Next, I fed it some honey and placed my hands on its sides, saying,

“You looked ugly because you were scowling earlier, but you’re better now.”

Chortling, I waved as YongYong flew toward its habitat.

I thought I would never see it again.

But…

“Please look this way!”

“I love you!”

“How can you always be so consistent?”

Days later, an unexpected reunion occurred at a place that resembled a temple among humans on Earth.

‘Goodness, don’t the Dragon Tribe have any manners? Not even a thank you.’

I internally grumbled while smiling in response to the crowd’s cheers, displeased by the Dragon Tribe’s lack of gratitude for saving one of their young.

Moreover, it was awkward because directly seeking a reward would look like I was expecting one.

Peek[Dash].

“Grrr!”

I was contemplating talking to the gods in two days if there was no response, when suddenly a cute voice rang out from the right.

“Grrr, grrr!”

“You…why…”

YongYong suddenly appeared, smiling broadly, and expressed joy with its whole body.

‘Absolutely astonishing.’

Subsequently, it settled above my head as if to make it its nest. Rather than getting scared by the increasing cheers of the humans, it seemed fascinated and let out several loud roars.

“You truly are a mysterious being!”

And so, my fame continued to rise, giving birth to new rumors each day, as the second humans on Earth looked up to me even more after YongYong’s appearance.

“From today, you are YongYong.”

Thus, I named the creature, which started visiting me daily, YongYong, because I couldn’t keep calling it ‘you.’

Even if YongYong knocked over a flower pot now and then, I considered it okay to keep it by my side as a friend.

“YongYong~”

However, one day, YongYong vanished without a trace.
“Where did you go~ Playing hide-and-seek again?”

The absence of Yurik, who had always been around like family, was unbearable. Day and night, I searched every nook and cranny of the divine lands, excluding the habitats of other beings, but found no trace of him.

“Ungrateful brat.”

Feeling immensely sad yet resentful towards Yurik, a part of me still clung to the hope that he would return someday.

“Time flies.”

It was one morning, several years later.

“It’s been quite some time since Yurik disappeared.”

Upon impulsively visiting the place where I first found Yurik, nostalgia pricked at my nostrils.

“I was so good to you…”

I choked back surging emotions, promising to grovel if he would just return, and quickly decided to move to another location.

Swoosh[Dash].

‘What kind of wind is blowing all of a sudden?’

For a moment, I had to squint against the unusually strong wind dominating the area.

Whoosh[Dash].

“What… what is that?”

Afterward, the wind ceased, and looking up, I witnessed an unbelievable spectacle.

Thud[Dash]!

Something massive landed, flapping its wings right in front of me.

“I apologize for disappearing without a word, my friend.”

“Yurik? Are you really Yurik?”

I had to ask several times as he looked nothing like I remembered.

“Yes, my friend.”

Seeming to understand my confusion, the now massive Yurik briefly paused before curling up and drawing his face closer.

“Being in a fluid state limited my ability to communicate.”

Yurik, who couldn’t tell me the same reason even on the day he left due to maturation, purred as I stroked him as before.

“I see…”

For just this moment, being immersed in our unexpected reunion, no other words were necessary.

“So, you think I’ll easily forgive you?”

“Can you not give me a chance, my friend?”

Thinking about the emotional turmoil I went through over the years, I couldn’t help but act a little sulky. Yurik’s face turned unusually grim for a matured dragon.

“Then, let me ride you every day from now on. I’ve never seen the divine lands from above.”

Softening my stance, I stated my condition for forgiveness.

“Very well. I shall be your wings until the end of my life.”

Yurik responded without a second of hesitation, and just like that, our transcendent friendship quickly solidified once more.

“My friend, would you make a wish if I had the power to grant it?”

It was one of the days when we had been diligently forging our bond, flying over the divine lands and also visiting the ground.

“No harm in that. But can you do that now that you’re matured?”

“Only a rare few matured dragons manifest such power. Not all dragons are granted abilities.”

As the sky turned orange in the evening, Yurik, who was watching the sunset with me, made an intriguing offer.

“However, there’s a catch.”

Yurik, who wanted to do something good for his one and only friend and who asserted that if he were to use his powers it would be for me, explained the cost of granting a wish.

“My abilities can fulfill someone else’s wish, but in return, they will become a deprived being. Do you still want to make a wish?”

“I don’t care.”

I responded indifferently, thinking what’s the big deal about being deprived.

“If something’s lacking, I can just fill it again. I’ve been living like that anyway.”

Wondering why he made such a big deal out of it, Yurik repeatedly asked to reconfirm my intention.

“Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

“I never do such things~ I’ve come to realize that beauty alone isn’t enough!”

I shrugged my shoulders and asked for a powerful ability.

“I need to be perfect in every way.”

“Is that so…”

Yurik hesitated briefly, but finally decided to proceed with the ritual.
“Understood. Stand in front of me first.”

Thus, Yongyongi chanted an ancient spell and moved to a space that felt as if it had vacuumed the universe.

Thump[Dash].

Before long, at the moment when a strong power was granted according to the law of equivalent exchange, I felt something inside me snap.