Ways to Slay Dragons Gently

The face when he was beating himself frantically was very ugly and terrifying.

That person was more beautiful than any woman he knew, so it was the most painful thing for him who was proud of it.

I hope she can always smile and kiss herself beautifully and tenderly - instead of beating and insulting herself.

It hurts, I can't breathe, my chest hurts.

Who can help me!

Please stop, stop, stop, stop!

Mom, stop it!

I will be a good boy.I listen to everything you say.Will get first in school.You won't get into fights and get your clothes dirty.No more hanging out after school.Won't eat snacks from Mr. Wise's wife again.I won't laugh and play in front of my mother anymore.Also won't eat a lot.Even if I grow up, I don't need new clothes.

So please stop!Don't hit me!

Please, just one touch - smile at me, kiss me, hold me tight, say you love me.

Please say you love me.Please, mother.

"It's okay, don't be afraid of anything. No one can hurt you." Someone whispered in his ear, and his body was embraced by his arms.

The strong hug released the tension in the whole body, and the curse of the nightmare finally disappeared.

Yakanjel opened his eyes in Ulan Pok's arms that were holding his upper body tightly.My heart was beating wildly, my fingers were trembling, my body was covered in cold sweat, and I felt extremely tired.It has been a long time since I had a childhood nightmare. Maybe it was because of the shock of being pulled into the river by a mermaid during the day and almost drowning, which caused me to dream of a similar experience.

"...Did I say something in my sleep...?"

"No, it's just that you look in pain." The untangled silver hair flowed down, and the young man stroked it and replied.

Although he was so tired that he wanted to lean on him all the time, the young man still tried his best to support his body.

"Do you want to drink?"

He took the small skin bag handed over by the young man, drank a little of the liquid inside, the unexpectedly strong liquor burned his throat, and he couldn't help coughing.

"...Where did you get such a strong drink...!" the young man asked in a low voice in order not to wake up his sleeping companions by the campfire.

"It was given to me by the farm I went to buy bacon during the day."

"How can you sell such a strong drink to a child?"

"I said 'Because Dad likes to drink, please share some with me'."

"Who is Dad?"

The young man pointed at the snoring brawny man wordlessly.

"Poor Thomas, even if he looks older, he doesn't look like he is the age of a child like you." Yakenjel, who tried his best to hold back his laughter, returned the skin to him.

"Sleep, Yaconjell has taken his turn at the night watch. If you have another nightmare, I will wake you up again."

"Ah..." The young man obediently lay down and covered the blanket, looking up at the boy sitting beside him and asked, "...can I ask you again?"

"I'll answer whatever I can."

"Why do you, the King of Eudemons, ask me this man to swear? We've only just met. Where in the hell am I worthy of making you swear with your life?"

The boy turned his gaze to the dancing campfire flames, and after a moment of silence, he said, "I once had a unicorn friend, it was a pure white phantom beast with a mane longer than a horse."

"It's often seen in tapestries and royal coats of arms, so I know what it looks like. It is said that the horn of the unicorn can heal any injury, and it is only close to pure maidens. Is this true?"

"It's true, they have been hunted by humans since 1000 years ago, and there are basically not many left. They will also be hunted and killed by hungry ghosts in the World of Eudemons."

"...No matter which world they live in, what a poor creature. If their power caused their own death, then this power is no different from a curse."

The boy who always answered concisely started talking about unrelated unicorns this time. Jacques was a little confused, but it was better than just saying "because he is beautiful".

"Alconjell, who also has the ability to heal others, cannot say that the unicorn's ability is a curse."

"But, my strength comes from the protection of the four-phase god--"

"Healing magic cannot be activated without the intention to heal the opponent."

"Of course."

"So the unicorn is the same. The gentleness that wants to save others' pain is the source of the unicorn's strength." It is natural to be blamed for calling compassion a curse.

"But unicorns are dangerous phantom beasts for humans other than pure girls, right?"

"If approaching it with malice, the unicorn will naturally guard and fight in order to protect itself, and the healing horn of the agile unicorn will become a sharp spear piercing through the knight's armor. So treat the unicorn as a danger For Eudemons, there are only those who have bad intentions towards it.”

"...Is that so. Humans who have almost wiped out unicorns call phantom beasts that are only self-defense dangerous, which is putting the cart before the horse."

Legend has it that unicorns are only attached to innocent girls, and they use girls as traps to catch unicorns.Human beings do not hesitate to use such despicable means to take advantage of the gentle phantom beasts for a little self-interest.

The selfishness and cruelty of human beings are also turned against the same kind from time to time, and Yakenjal is well aware of this.Human beings are everywhere, regardless of status, age or gender, who will do whatever it takes to get their way.

"Yarkenjell is a lot like a unicorn."

The topic changed suddenly, and the young man couldn't help being dumbfounded.

Ulan Boke spoke out the basis of the parable before the youth spoke.

"When someone approaches, he will definitely put on a defensive posture, but when the other party leaves, he will show a lonely expression. He hates filth, is brave in battle, is agile and strong, and is fair and beautiful."

"...I haven't actually seen a unicorn, so I can't tell if I really resemble it. You and that unicorn are friends, right?"

"Yes, I know what you're trying to say. Friendship and romance are completely different, I'm aware of that. Has Yakenjal ever been in love?"

"No."

The somewhat reconciled young man admitted it honestly.

"In that case, you will know when the time comes. As long as the object of love stands in front of you, you will almost tremble with joy. You are sure that the other party must be more important than your own life. In addition, there are many emotions that come out together, and the It's chaotic and painful, but happy feelings can't help leaking out. This kind of relationship can't be called friendship."

"From your usual perspective, you really don't seem to be such an enthusiastic person." The sarcasm blurted out.

The young man twisted a lock of his silver hair and kissed it.

"I am a very self-controlled character, which is a good thing for both of us. If I am suddenly overwhelmed, I am afraid that the unicorn will stab each other to death with its horn."

"Of course...! Even if you are still a child, I won't let you off if you dare to do that kind of thing." The former paladin jumped up and threatened in a low voice.The black-clothed boy looked up at him and said nonchalantly, "I will not hurt you. I swore to protect Arkenjell from everything that made him suffer. This is more important than anything that exists—even mine. Life and my mood are more important."

"I am a man."

"I knew that from the beginning. Even so, my mood will not change. Compared with the race difference between humans and dragons, it is not a problem if the other party is male or female."

That being said, this is a big problem for Yakenjal.At present, he has reached the point where he suspects that the two people can't make sense at all.

"I do not love you."

"It's ok."

"Ah...don't say it so easily. Even if you sacrificed for me, I don't mean to give you anything in return."

"I don't want anything. When I came to this world and met Arkenjell, that's all. I got the meaning of life and death. I don't want to take anything away, and I will never hurt you. Just loving you."

This faint but incomparably warm words of love made Yakanjel blush.

Including the days of paladin training, the experience of being confessed to love by the same sex is not once or twice.

The behavior of confessing itself is the expression of expecting further behavior with him.Yake always felt strongly disgusted by the other party's obvious evil thoughts.Only this time it wasn't like that.

He has murderous intentions towards the same sex who regards him as the object of lust, but he feels a little lonely about the words and deeds of the young man who actively keeps his distance.This kind of contradictory sexuality of his own may be very similar to that unicorn, as the boy said.

"... Whatever you want, I can't command your heart."

Throwing down these words indifferently, the young man lay down on his back, covering his head with a blanket.

Even if they look a bit similar, and I don't have the power of a unicorn, why should I face such a troublesome situation.When I didn't have the strength to live alone and needed love and assistance the most, no one reached out, so I don't want anyone's help now.

She loves no one, is not dominated by anyone, and lives freely alone.

Although the unicorn born in aloofness is so proud, it can't say "it's not loved by anyone". Yakenjell doesn't know that they are even vulnerable to this point.