There were days when I had strange dreams.
It still seemed like the dream couldn’t quite decide on “my” identity, as the bodies from my past life and current life alternated.
So it wasn’t strange when my current body appeared in a dream set in my past life.
Anyway, since it was a dream, I didn’t notice anything awkward at the time.
“I’m thinking of quitting now.”
In the dream, I spat out the delicious Raspberry Tart I was savoring and frowned.
The one who said those words was none other than Luri.
“No! Without you, how are we going to quell the rebellion happening in Praha-in right now? Ezak has intel that 4,000 militia are heading to raid the Imperial Palace. It’s leading the people to their doom!”
“Mom is too picky. I’m going to live for myself now.”
“What? Wait, Luri! Come back!”
No matter how much I begged, Luri coldly left me.
That’s when I woke up from the dream.
“Umm… What are you doing, Luri?”
Grumble grumble-
There was pressure on the tip of my finger.
Luri was pressing the nails of my fingers, from pinky to thumb, releasing the aura’s blood.
“What time is it?”
“It’s 7 AM, sis.”
Bam bam bam-
Just then, I turned off my phone, which was ringing the alarm, and pulled the blanket over me again.
“Then I’ll sleep for 10 more minutes.”
“Should I wake you in 10 minutes?”
“No, I’ve set the alarm automatically.”
“…”
Winter is particularly a season where I don’t want to wake up in the morning.
I savored the happiness of being warm under the blanket and fell asleep again.
Bam bam bam-
Had I really just dozed off for a moment? Had 10 minutes already passed?
Ughhhhhh.
I laid out my yoga mat on the floor to stretch.
My mind was still in a daze.
Luri, who had woken me moments ago, was still keeping vigil by the side of the bed.
I chuckled at her disheveled hair, looking like a new house.
“You didn’t know there was an alarm. You don’t need to wake me up so painfully next time. It must be tiring to get up early.”
“No, it’s fine. What are you doing right now?”
“This is called yoga. Do you want to try?”
“Yes. I’m inexperienced, but I’ll learn.”
“Hehe, I’m glad to have a companion!”
Saetbyeol tried to follow my routine but ultimately couldn’t last three weeks and escaped.
At first, I lightly sat down, gathering my shoulder blades and stretching out my bent spine.
I twisted my waist side to side and returned to the cat pose, stretching one leg back.
“You’re doing well. Maybe it’s because you haven’t been around for long? Your body is overall flexible.”
“Actually, I don’t really feel like I’ve been born. It just feels like my body has regressed to around five years old.”
“Well, considering your perspective, it might feel that way.”
Having skipped the entire initial growth phase due to Dragonia Nascentia.
Luri wiggled her hips side to side like a worm sticking to the floor.
“Now, clasp your hands behind your back, and lift your chest. Yes, keep your breathing steady.”
In the end, we sat facing each other again in a seated position.
“It’s been a while since I got to experience your acupressure. I feel particularly refreshed today compared to other times.”
At that, Luri’s ears perked up.
“Shall I do it again tomorrow?”
“No.”
“Why, why not?”
“Because you’ll just be more tired. I don’t want to burden you.”
Suddenly recalling the dream’s content, I declined.
“You must have your own routine too, and asking you to cater to me seems a bit picky.”
“Then how about some yoga…?”
“Yoga? It’s good for me if we do it together. Want to?”
“Yes!”
Just like that, I gained a yoga friend to accompany me every morning and evening.
When I came out to the living room, Saetbyeol had already finished getting ready for a walk.
“Going for a walk?”
“Ugh, but it’s minus 10 degrees outside… Will I be able to come back alive?”
“At that temperature, Nureongi might ask to come back first.”
“No way, he doesn’t know how cold it is out there.”
Whether or not she knew Saetbyeol’s struggles.
Nureongi dashed outside, tail wagging like a helicopter.
Morning sunlight streamed into the living room.
I wrapped the bedding around me and sat on the sofa.
“Luri, come in; it’s cold out here.”
“Eh?”
“I’m going to buy a lot of clothes and daily necessities for you. Let’s start with knits.”
It was the shopping time I had been postponing out of laziness.
Given that I’d likely hear complaints if I bought any random item, I planned to actively consider Luri’s opinions from the purchasing stage.
Luri wriggled her way into the blanket, sitting down.
“What’s this?”
“This is called an e-commerce site. If you want something, you can add it to your cart and buy everything at once.”
“Ahh… Oh! Is it a space where all the stores are combined?!”
“That’s right, you’re quick to understand, Luri!”
“That’s amazing…”
Knits, pants, skirts, underwear, and since it’s winter, it would be good to stock up on scarves, gloves, and padding as well.
“Wait, Luri, what’s your height? Stand here; I’ll grab a measuring tape.”
“Huh?”
If you input physical measurements into the database, it’ll automatically recommend the right size clothes.
Seeing Luri’s height come out as 125 cm, I gulped.
‘Wait, that’s not too different from mine?’
I felt a bit alarmed as I casually continued to put items in the cart.
“Let’s buy extra toothbrushes, a bag for school, and now that I think about it, I should get you a smartphone as well. I think I can use the capsule for a while. Or should I get you another one?”
As the items in the cart increased, Luri frowned.
“Isn’t this too much, sis?”
“I have plenty of money, so don’t worry, and just add everything you want.”
“I’m worried it’ll be heavy to carry home…”
“Huh? Carry what…? Ah, ah-ha!”
I chuckled at Luri’s small misunderstanding.
“It’s okay. No need to go. They deliver once you order. Remember the chicken we ordered a couple of days ago? It’s just like that.”
“So, you mean I don’t have to go find the items myself?”
“Exactly. Isn’t the world great now?”
“Th-that it is…”
In the end, since I couldn’t figure out Luri’s taste, I ordered clothes on my own.
Since I’d worn the same clothes repeatedly in my past life, I probably wouldn’t know what I preferred either.
“Speaking of which, I don’t see Dad around the house. Is he still asleep?”
“Ah, dear father left early this morning.”
“Where to?”
“I’m not quite sure.”
“Hmm. Did the adoption ruling come out today? If so, he might have gone to the city hall to amend the birth certificate and family registration. Let’s tidy up the house a bit before Dad gets back.”
“Oh! Leave the cleaning to me!”
“Could you just pick up the random things on the floor? The rest I’ll take care of with the robot vacuum.”
Our family generally kept a clean house, so there wasn’t much to organize.
Diiiing-
[Starting Cleaning.]
Luri flinched as she watched the robot vacuum traverse each corner of the house.
“Leave the floor to it and could you please stick the dishes in the dishwasher?”
“Like this?”
“Close it and hit the start button. Good job!”
That’s it, the dishes were done.
I showed Luri how to separate recyclables and handed her a warm chamomile tea as a token of appreciation for her efforts.
She still pouted her lips, expressing her dissatisfaction with her feelings.
“I feel like I can’t help with the cleaning. Haha…”
“Right? The washing machine and dryer do all the laundry too. The appliances that come out these days are impressive, I even saw one that washes and folds laundry!”
“Is there nothing I can help with regarding mail processing, document organization, or schedule management?”
“Not really? My smartphone handles it all, so I don’t need help.”
“Well, at least a massage…!”
“Oh, Luri, you haven’t seen this yet! Come here, I’ll show you something cool.”
“Huh?”
Tada!
I introduced Luri to the massage chair in the library.
Laying down in the chair, I adjusted it to my height and turned it on.
“Hmm… I don’t remember it feeling like this in the past, but it feels so good now…yawn.”
Sleepiness poured out uncontrollably, and a yawn escaped me.
It felt like my body was floating in the vastness of space, weightless.
“Is this what a massage is like?”
I passed the baton to Luri.
“Eek!”
She twisted her body and ultimately dashed out of the room.
“Is it tickling? I didn’t know you were so sensitive.”
“It’s nothing…”
She set the ring she was wearing on her finger delicately on the table.
“Huh?”
When the translator shut down, she spoke fluently in the Imperial Language.
“I’m sorry that I can’t be of any help. Without the power of a dragon and being unfamiliar with the future artifacts, what use can I be to you, Mother? I’ll leave as soon as possible.”
I wondered where Luri’s mood had soured.
I hugged her gently and patted her back.
“I heard that black dragons like you enjoy receiving recognition from others.”
“I don’t want to be recognized by just anyone.”
“So, you want to be purely recognized by me, right?”
“I should have met Mother earlier… If I had died right then, could I have reached Mother in time? Could I have rescued her from that hell?”
“I don’t know. But what hasn’t happened shouldn’t be speculated upon.”
“I’m sorry… I’m having a hard time keeping my feelings in check.”
“You’re still young.”
Dragonia Nascentia is a magic that optimizes the user’s body to their mind.
In the case of a human, as the body ages one year, the mind ages one year as well.
That’s why they cannot live eternally.
But Luri is different.
‘You’ve been stuck at 10 for so long.’
I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had hindered her growth, but I suspected my treatment of her like a puppet played a significant role.
Luri’s black hair flowed softly through my fingers.
“Human relationships aren’t determined solely by necessity. Especially family ties. It would be nice if Luri could help me, but seeing you fret when you can’t help makes me feel sad.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s natural to not know anything right now and to be unable to do anything. Let’s take our time and think things through slowly. Just know this one thing.”
“Yes…”
“You’re not alone in knowing your pain.”
“Oh.”
“So, let’s be happy together as we’ve struggled. Honestly, even now, I’m pretty happy that you’ve come back, Luri…!”
I awkwardly smiled, and Luri laughed along.
For the time being, it seemed I would need to reduce my use of the robot vacuum.
“Usefulness, usefulness…”
I spun around in my spot, pondering, then clapped my hands together.
“Perfect! There’s a role that’s incredibly important right now. Luri, do you want to hear about it?”
“Yes!”
“I haven’t been practicing much lately due to my business, so I haven’t had many duels.”
“What’s a duel?”
“It’s a magic battle, just a duel where you surround the area with a barrier and fight. Do you have any intention of becoming my opponent?”
I extended my hand to Luri.
But all I received in return was silence.
Luri had already scampered off at a distance.
“Sis, we’re family now…! Even if I’m not useful, we’re still a family!”
I moistened my lips in regret.
What a quick learner she was about enlightenment.
