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“The dragon is sleeping.”

This long winter slumber lasted for centuries.

Even dragon money like Felici couldn’t defy this natural order.

“It can’t be helped.”

The driving force behind the dragon’s movements lay in its heart.

The vast mana condensed in what we call the Dragon Heart moved that massive body of theirs.

But when that mana runs low, they fall into an unexpected winter sleep.

Felici had experienced this when she briefly woke up to find the world crumbling around her.

“As much as I’d like to draw some mana from somewhere…”

There’s no way to supply mana to move the dragons.

Even absorbing an entire mountain range wouldn’t help her avoid sleep.

So Felici accepted it.

This is the way of the world, and there’s nothing that can be done.

She thought that until she met Judak.

“Haa, ugh…”

It was a plain short-sleeved tee.

It was fabric she had once obtained, trying to figure out Judak’s intentions.

Every morning, Felici started her day by smelling the aroma left on that T-shirt.

As a dragon capable of seeing colors, Judak’s color perception emanating from that tee was more intense than anything.

It felt as if she had gone her whole life starving and finally tasted spicy rose tteokbokki—intense and overwhelming.

“I want it.”

She desired to own it and keep it safe in her stash.

Judak, an existence from another world.

Just smelling that color made her mana feel replenished.

No, it was actually true.

“If I just had Judak… just Judak…”

Maybe she wouldn’t have to sleep at all.

The most dangerous boredom for a dragon?

She couldn’t feel bored at all, thanks to Judak’s mysterious belongings.

-Snap!

Felici, who had polymorphed, felt her instincts wake up as her pupils dilated vertically.

You can’t explain a dragon’s existence without mention of desire.

When there’s something they want, they will always claim it.

That was simply the nature of dragons, but…

“Ugh…”

Her red tail, which had popped out in excitement, drooped down to the floor.

“I must contain myself…”

But that was all just a story for when a dragon stood at the top of the food chain.

Felici still couldn’t forget the memory of that day.

The day she got a glimpse of Judak’s power.

Light flashed, and everything turned to dust…

“How could I not possess him?”

If she got too bold, it would be the end.

To Felici, the entire world was merely Judak’s playground.

She had to avoid being a hindrance to the whims of an overwhelming being.

That’s why she remained curled up quietly in the city.

Force could never claim Judak. She was pouting her lips, deep in thought.

[Concept Article: Just secretly look at Judak-nim!]

(A Rabbit Beastfolk meme with hands on head)

∩ >ㅅ< ∩

Thanks for the fertilizer box today!

Love you!

[Likes 7645] [Dislikes 12]

– Oops, how about that? Haha

– This is such a warm piece reflecting the writer’s character, kindness, and consideration. Hehe ^^

– Judak*) (A meme of a frog with bulging eyes)

ㄴ Author) Gah!

ㄴ Wow, Judak comments are real taunts.

ㄴ I’m living my best life, rabbit brat;

“Huh?”

A concept article where the Rabbit Beastfolk is simply naked.

Judak zipped into view and left a comment.

This wasn’t just a one-off occurrence.

[Concept Article: I’m going to eat Judak!]

(A meme of a character with wide-open mouth and round eyes)

Wahhh!

[Likes 8532] [Dislikes 12]

– Judak*) Ow! Haha, look at that! Haha

ㄴ Ow! You can say that again! Hahaha

ㄴ No way, they pop up like a ghost out of the blue.

– Author) So, when will you come visit?

ㄴ Judak*) .

ㄴ Author) Hey! Answer me!

ㄴ They really do escape like a ghost, haha.

ㄴ Of course, that big dumb Judak.

Felici had seen the real Judak before.

It was truly a miracle.

While running errands for the deputy, she accidentally stumbled upon Judak in the ruins.

“He looked just like a normal human male.”

But she didn’t believe it.

He seemed far too ordinary for a human male.

For a dragon’s mind to easily etch the word ‘Gallery’ was impossible for someone so mundane.

No, she didn’t even know if he was a he, a she, or an it.

Right, external affairs.

It was foolish to try and pin Judak’s existence, which was like a foreign entity, onto any one form.

“I’m sure he recognized me immediately.”

Thinking back now, it might not have been a miracle after all; perhaps he revealed himself intentionally.

Even if he recognized her right away, acting as if he didn’t… was probably…

“To play.”

If that were true, then Felici would just dance to his tune.

But since the atmosphere allowed for this playful banter, Felici seized the opportunity.

Learning from those naked concept articles she was currently looking at.

– How to flirt with the opposite sex… txt [3]

– How to subtly expose yourself >< [12]

“…!”

She absorbed various pieces of knowledge from mortals.

All for the day she could claim Judak.

“Now I’m ready.”

It was around the time she finally visited the café again.

And she finally laid eyes on it.

-Clang!

“Customer?”

She saw Judak sweetly smiling at some girl.

Recently, the deputy had been dropping by frequently.

That existence was akin to the guardian dragon of Kellierhton, also known as Dragon Dragon X.

Every time, they took away a tea set from her, but she had no idea they loved tea so much.

“Would you like some coffee?”

After all, it was a café, after all.

Upon addressing them, the shocked Dragon Dragon pointed to Penny and stammered.

“D-daughter?”

“What…!”

She looked at Penny.

Penny had grown significantly since their first meeting, but did she still look that young?

“I’m a waitress.”

“Oh, I see.”

Once the misunderstanding was cleared, the Dragon Dragon took a deep breath and returned to normal.

“…This is shocking.”

Penny, who had just been treated like a child, only felt gloomy and sulked away to the corner.

But the Dragon Dragon was strangely fixated on me.

Then, taking the closest table, approached me and said,

“Are you open for business today?”

“Yes, I plan to be here for about an hour. Would you like a drink?”

“Yes, I would appreciate it.”

As I turned my back to prepare the coffee, I suddenly felt a piercing gaze on me.

‘Have I been caught?’

I wondered if they had realized I was Judak.

More so because dragons could sense human emotions and color perceptions through sight and smell.

But I quickly shook my head.

‘Then there’s no reason to pretend I don’t know.’

If they recognized me, they would have made their mark or subdued me long before.

From their perspective, I was the nuclear launch button, but in reality, I was just a human.

I absolutely had no desire to run the café myself.

Yet, it was my first time, so while drying the cloth placed on the table, I was pouring the coffee.

“Ah.”

As I poured water into the coffee, it splashed everywhere.

Just as I turned to grab a towel to wipe it up, I found it had vanished.

This wasn’t a joke; I genuinely couldn’t find it anywhere.

Thinking maybe I was hallucinating, I wiped it with some tissue and set it aside.

As I ground the coffee beans and put them in the filter, I tossed the tissue away.

“No way.”

The crumpled tissue had disappeared as well.

When I glanced around and inadvertently made eye contact with Dragon Dragon, something felt stiff about her posture.

“Guess this is harder than I thought…”

Followed by that strange comment.

“Hmm.”

Slowly turning around again, I finished pouring the coffee.

Every time I did, I felt that burning gaze right between my shoulder blades.

As I poured the coffee into the cup and turned my head slowly, I said,

“This is… it can’t go on any longer.”

And the ominous murmurs of a customer approached me, coffee in hand—all aimed at the deputy.

At that moment, the Dragon Dragon suddenly raised her head.

It was the moment I made eye contact with those flickering red eyes instead of gold.

“Your coffee is ready.”

“…!”

Her eyes widened in shock as the coffee was thrust at her.

She stared at it for a long while, blinking, as if searching for something within the coffee.

“…Did you say this is coffee?”

“Yes?”

I wondered if she was filing a claim.

Looking down at the cup she pointed at, I could see that black water still.

“Then you see this as black water coffee, don’t you?”

“Is this what you see as black?”

But for Dragon Dragon, it seemed to be different; she remained fixated on sniffing and staring at the coffee for a long time.

It was just like a cat witnessing catnip for the first time.

“The aroma, taste, and color… it all feels identical…”

For a moment, Dragon Dragon muttered something and took a sip, shaking her head vigorously as she questioned me,

“A-are you going to keep this store open?”

“Yes? I plan to do this once a week…”

At that, her face brightened.

“You’re only going to rest once a week? Great! When’s your day off?”

“Excuse me?”

What on earth was she talking about?

I was loathe to spend even a minute or second on anything but the Gallery.

The café was merely for appearances.

Today was just the inaugural day—I had no intention of running a café.

“I’m only going to work one day a week.”

“…What?”

“I’m busy with my actual work.”

“B-but.”

Thinking whether she had something to say, I looked her in the eyes.

In response, Dragon Dragon suddenly cringed and nodded her head gloomily.

“Ah, I understand. If that’s your intention, I can’t argue…”

“I’m busy with my actual work.”

As I stated that, I casually glanced at the clock.

And I froze in shock.

17 minutes had passed.

Seventeen whole minutes had slipped away while brewing coffee!

“No way!”

“!”

Startled, Dragon Dragon’s eyes widened as I hurriedly dashed back into the building.

And I returned home through a hidden path leading to the bunker.

-Bang!

“Ah.”

Upon banging open the door, I found the drying machine sprawled awkwardly across my bed.

But there was no time to hesitate.

I dove straight into bed and quickly turned on the Gallery.

“Phew.”

Fortunately, I managed to enter a concept article before the gallery blank stretched beyond 20 minutes.

[Title: Is this skirt too short…?]

(A meme of a marketplace yogurt)

These idiots, haha, does this trick anyone?

(A representative image of an elf)

(A serious front shot of an elf)

Ah, by the way, I’m an elf.

[Likes 2011] [Dislikes 5043]

– Damn, caught again.

– As expected, the idiot posts are from Elphin.

– Elphin really has nothing better to do.

ㄴ There’s no way he’s an elf!!!

ㄴ (A meme of trash being thrown around)

ㄴ Author) Thanks for the enthusiastic response!

“I have to keep up with the gallery.”

Seeing the silly memes finally made my anxiety, trembling, and restlessness subside.

The café, well, since it was closing time, Penny should clean up well.

Just as I was about to move on to find the next concept article, I noticed:

– The sky has stopped; what is this?…jpg [421]

“Huh?”

A title that caught my eye.

Usually, this would be either a bait post or a true problem post.

Feeling an inexplicable anxiety, I clicked on the article.

[Title: The sky has stopped; what is this?…jpg]

First of all, I’m a farmer.

It has traditionally rained quite a bit in our region, so we’ve always farmed well, but something feels off.

(A picture of a sky with sparse clouds)

(A picture of the ground cracked and dried)

Even with clouds, no rain has fallen.

At first, I thought it was just an unusual sky, but

It’s been two months since this nonsense started.

If it weren’t for the marketplace, the people in our village might have starved to death already.

We’re barely hanging on, but seriously, what’s going on?

[Likes 4921] [Dislikes 42]

– What is happening; is time stopped?

– Wow, this drought is legendary, haha.

– Even the monsters around here are dried up?

– The sky seems to be angry, wow.

ㄴ Is the sky in a bit of a mood or what? Haha.

ㄴ (A meme of a frog running with a sword)

ㄴ (A meme of an elf going out to die)

“Huh?”

It had been two months without a single drop of rain from the sky.

 

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