Rushing to the skin clinic, Yerna was relieved to hear that, contrary to her worries, it was nothing serious—just molting, or shedding.
She thought that usually only lizard-like hybrids molted.
However, it turned out that not only mammalian hybrids but even some humans occasionally shed if they had the genetic trait from ancestors who did so.
Nowadays, it’s said that the genes of different races have mixed too much.
“……”
However, Luke found it hard to fully agree with that assertion.
“Okay, now I understand for sure.”
Luke finally peeled off the rough skin that covered his entire body like a coat, revealing the incredibly smooth and clean skin underneath.
Had he really molted?
“Luke Irushi, what on earth have you made?”
He muttered to himself.
Luke was not a fool.
He could now understand the condition of his own body.
There was no way he had any genetic traits associated with molting among his ancestors.
If he truly wanted to melt the immortal, he wouldn’t have used such a hybrid.
The best magical materials are always those that are ‘pure’.
So, it couldn’t have contained unnecessary genetic traits.
Even if it did, he was sure he would have removed them—he would have, after all.
If he intended to use it as a material for the immortal, he was convinced he wouldn’t have chosen such a material.
Yet, why was this body shedding? Perhaps it was due to….
Horns, the amount of magic power, and……. shedding.
“Did I use a dragon as the material for this body?”
The reason why three circles had not been engraved until now was simple and clear.
Because he had thought his heart was a ‘human heart’.
Luke cautiously placed his hand on his heart and muttered.
“This was a Dragon Heart.”
The powerful magic felt during meditation—it was the secret of this unbelievable amount of magic power.
His heart was not a human heart.
Luke gazed at his reflection in the mirror.
The horns he thought were either from a cow or a goat, were actually the traits of a dragon.
He felt like the clue to his body was falling into place.
The true identity of this body was ‘Chimera.’
An optimally designed body, magically engineered to melt the immortal.
Created as a minimum condition to contain a portion of the ‘infinite’….
“I’ve really done something preposterous.”
Merging a dragon and an unknown beast was quite the ordeal.
While he wasn’t certain if immortality had truly been achieved, perhaps he had created the most powerful terrestrial creature.
A chimera powered by a Dragon Heart!
And now, was it me that was controlling it?
This could only be expected as a mage.
What level could he reach?
And how had ‘I’ done something like this?
It was impossible for a spell to completely change one’s race.
A soul could not dwell in another race.
That was an unbreakable principle.
There were some records of attempts made, but he had never seen a single success.
Then, there was another possibility….
“Did I merely transfer my memories?”
Yet there were many ambiguous aspects to consider.
Why would he transfer all his memories to a created chimera? Why would he embed a self that thinks of himself as ‘Luke Irushi’ into such a small and seemingly fragile child’s body?
A complete memory transfer is an act of self-denial.
“That’s something a rich would do.”
The essence of magic lies in believing in oneself.
A mage must be arrogant and proud, thus, they would never attempt to replicate ‘themselves’.
Then….
Luke spoke in a serious tone.
“Py.”
-……?
“Could you step aside for a moment? I’m about to inscribe three circles.”
The circle was already nearly saturated.
The amount of mana accumulated was reminiscent of his time as an 8-circle mage.
To have this much mana but only barely managing to establish the framework of three circles is a sure sign of a serious magic storm ahead.
Thus, it was prudent to evacuate the spirit Py beforehand.
Luke hummed a calm and soothing melody.
The emotion contained was.
‘Don’t worry.’
Upon receiving that emotion, Py looked around anxiously before eventually nodding and slipping out of Luke’s sight.
As Luke watched Py leave, he closed his eyes.
In a body that did not possess a human heart, but a dragon’s heart.
———–
Yerna sighed as she thought of the time she had taken Luke to the hospital.
“Thinking back to that time is really….”
“Must have been quite a shock.”
Dayton replied soothingly to Yerna.
If a child’s skin suddenly shed like that, even I would be startled.
By the way, it’s the first time I’ve heard that humans can molt. Now that I think about it, even Diana sheds a lot when she’s scrubbed; could she have lizard-like hybrid traits in her bloodline?
‘Wait, she’s my sister.’
That’s a self-deprecating joke, Dayton chuckled softly, lifting the food basket Yerna had asked him to carry.
“So this is what you wanted?”
“I heard that nutrient intake is important after molting. Thanks for doing this.”
“What, no problem. I’m glad to help. Haha.”
Dayton scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly at Yerna’s innocent gratitude.
“Well then, I’ll take this inside. You should head back to your lodging and get some rest. You must be worn out from working and cooking.”
Indeed, Dayton had worked a night shift yesterday, so he didn’t have to be out today.
However, he had willingly brought this over just because Yerna had asked him to cook.
Dayton forced a smile despite his fatigue.
“Haha, it’s alright. Without my physical strength, there’s nothing left.”
“Yeah, you certainly look it. But hurry and get some rest. You look tired.”
When Dayton flexed his arm to show off his muscles, Yerna chuckled in response.
Strangely enough, it felt odd seeing Dayton make a grateful expression for her concern.
As Yerna watched Dayton enter the lodging, she smiled softly.
‘He always seems so reliable.’
In fact, perhaps a bit too reliable.
She didn’t understand why Luke liked such a person.
But it seemed he was definitely good at cooking, maybe that’s why he liked him.
“I should learn to cook a little too.”
Although she couldn’t taste the seasoning.
Right now, Luke was cooking alone, but sometimes watching him made her feel like she was a terrible guardian.
‘But it’s strange, the forest seems a bit too quiet.’
Not even the sound of birds could be heard; it felt oddly still.
“Well, it’s probably nothing……?”
For now, the GPS is quiet, so it’s probably just a coincidence.
Yerna opened the door of her lodging a bit further away and called out.
“Lu, I’m back! Look, I also made a snack for you…….”
Thud.
And she couldn’t finish her sentence.
The basket of food that Dayton had prepared fell to the ground and rolled away.
Sandwiches and hamburgers spilled from the basket and landed on the floor.
“What the……?”
Inside the lodging was not Luke, but a large shadow.
And beneath it was white and black cloth scattered across the floor haphazardly.
Yerna lifted a torn piece of cloth with trembling hands and murmured.
“T-this is…….”
It was unmistakable.
Clothes that Luke used to wear often, and the last ones he had on.
-Creeeee……
‘That thing’ turned its body.
———-
“Huuh….”
Dayton returned to his lodging and took a clean shower.
Feeling the sensation of water flowing over his body, he mindlessly watched as the water drained down the sink.
This languor was definitely proof of exhaustion.
“I’m really tired.”
Yerna had asked him to cook today, so he woke up a bit earlier and had less sleep.
Since it was Yerna’s request, he would probably do it again if asked.
“Heh, still, being worried about is surprisingly nice.”
Though he hadn’t shown signs of being tired for fear of worrying her, if feeling worried was enjoyable, maybe he should have shown it a little more.
‘No, Yerna likes a masculine vibe.’
Dayton shook his head.
He was certain he had said that during the playhouse.
Seeing the strong actor who played a highly intelligent golem from the future, thinking, ‘That guy is really cool.’
Since that day, his role model had been that muscular guy.
Though, due to exercising, he ended up enjoying doing sports instead.
‘Well, I originally did exercise quite hard…….’
He hadn’t explicitly cultivated ‘masculine’ muscles.
As he finished his bath, he wondered if he should take a nap, and was in the moment of drying his hair with a towel.
“Mm?”
Suddenly, he sensed a stir of mana.
“This isn’t Luke’s magic power?”
A magical reaction extremely different from the usual. Realizing something was off, Dayton expanded his senses.
‘Luke’s magic is gone……. and there’s a monster-like response.’
The location of that reaction was definitely Yerna’s lodging.
So Yerna must be nearby.
Dayton hurriedly opened the locker, strapped on his gauntlets, and dashed out.
Running at full speed, he saw Yerna standing in front of the lodging, staring at the monster vacantly.
Given that he couldn’t sense magic from her, it seemed Yerna wasn’t even currently reinforcing her body.
“Yerna!”
At Dayton’s shout, Yerna snapped back to her senses, calling out his name.
“Dayton?”
Dayton shouted an enhancement spell as he leaped between Yerna and the monster.
The creature was larger than the lodging’s doorway, and Dayton positioned himself to protect Yerna.
“Yerna, where’s your cane?”
“I-it’s… in the lodging….”
“……Tch.”
There was no choice but to lure it outside.
Dayton clenched his fists, slightly bending at the waist as he took a combat stance.
The amount of magic power felt was at least large-scale, and the appearance was an entirely new monster he had never seen before.
“Yerna, I’ll lure it out, and in the meantime, you grab your cane.”
“Dayton, can you handle it alone……?”
-Creeeeek.
One step, it was right at the doorway.
Then, the shadow draped over its body slightly lifted, revealing its overall form.
Its entire body was covered in platinum fur, with long pointed ears on its head and huge horns protruding on either side.
Dayton clicked his tongue at the sight.
“Tch, what kind of fur-covered dragon is this?”
Can he win? Well, he would have to find out.
With the power of the enhancement magic wrapping around him, Dayton awakened the muscles all over his body, ready to react at any moment.
“One, two, three….”
Yerna looked at the monster, which appeared to have a head two sizes larger than hers.
‘Teal and gold……?’
Was that odd eye color too familiar?
And that bandage around its neck…….
“Three!”
“Wait, Dayton. Stop!”
“What?”
Crash-!
Dayton realized he was now sprawled on the floor, rolling.
‘What is this……?’
That familiar method of subjugation……. No way.
“Luke?” “Is it you, Luke?”
-Creeeeek.
No, Luke nodded.
