I’m Not an Earthworm, I’m an Earth Dragon

No matter how much Myungho gets ahead of me, a human is a human. Hero or gold rank, in the end, they are weak beings who tense up at the sound of a beast’s cry.

It took no time to surpass him. Myungho asked me to wait for him, so I ran a little further ahead and planted my greatsword into the ground.

Then, I brought my ear close to the handle. It was less accurate than putting my ear to the ground, but in a hurry like this, it was enough.

It was sufficient to know roughly where and how many there were.

…In front, many two-legged beasts. And behind them, two six-legged beasts.

There was quite a distance between the two, but since there are no other six-legged creatures living in this mountain, they will soon be caught.

At my speed, I could arrive just as they meet. But Myungho couldn’t. When I turned my head to look back, I saw Myungho running far behind me.

I could handle the two of them alone, but it would be impossible to protect all the weak ones.

Hmm, that should work. I ran towards Myungho and picked him up in a princess carry.

“…Altera?! Why all of a sudden…”

“You’re too slow on your feet. Whatever it is, hold on tight, and be ready! We’ll be fighting as soon as we arrive!”

He was surprised to be suddenly picked up, but after a brief explanation, he seemed to understand a little. His face was still red like raw meat, though.

As I dashed through the trees and rocks, his embarrassment seemed to disappear, and he tightly gripped the fur I was wearing.

Still, the fact that he didn’t scream meant he was quite strong among humans. As I cut through the wind, I soon began to see the distinctive traces of many humans moving.

Before long, I could see the humans. And the six-legged beast. A creature with half its body as its mouth, covered in an insect-like carapace.

It was about to swallow a child with its huge mouth wide open.

Good. I wasn’t late. I roughly threw Myungho towards the people and pulled out a rock spear from the ground, throwing it at the beast’s eye.

-GGWAKKKK!!!!!

Since I threw it in a hurry to stop it, it didn’t reach the brain, and the spear was stuck only through the eye.

“Everyone, gather around me! I will protect you!”

Myungho seemed to be doing his job properly. Then I can fully concentrate on these beasts.

I focused magic on my horn and pushed the spear stuck in one of the beast’s eyes further in. The beast, its brain pierced, fell to the ground and stopped moving.

Perhaps they were a pair, as the other one, enraged by the death of its partner, rushed at me with its mouth wide open.

It looked quite menacing with its irregular, saw-like teeth inside, but I’ve seen even more terrifying things.

I created a large hammer made of rock and swung it into its mouth with full force.

The beast, hit squarely, rolled around before regaining its balance and charging again. It sure had a tenacious hold on life.

I adjusted my stance, and this time, I charged first and slammed the hammer down on the beast’s head. Once, twice, three times. With each strike, the carapace cracked, and eventually, flesh splattered.

Finally, when I felt like I was hitting the ground instead of flesh, the beast fell completely silent.

This is why I hate these bastards. They don’t die unless their brain is destroyed.

I wiped the flesh off my hands and turned around to see the humans looking at me with terrified expressions.

“…Don’t be afraid. I’m an ally. Altera, thanks to you, we could save everyone. Thank you. Now, everyone. I heard from an old man. We will help you, so let’s go to where the old man is first.”

“Could that old man be the village chief… Is he the village chief?!”

“…Probably. A slightly receding hairline… a white mustache. Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s right! He’s alive…!”

Which way did we come from? I was so focused on catching up that I didn’t think about the way back.

…Hmm. Maybe I should follow the slightly bent trees.

“This way… I think. Follow me.”

“Alright. Everyone, please follow her. I will stay at the rear and watch for anything that might appear. Altera? I’m counting on you.”

Honestly. The weakest one in the party acting like the leader.

Despite my displeasure, I diligently retraced our steps back.

– – – –

“…So, a horde of orcs suddenly attacked your village?”

“Yes… Normally, during this time, they should be nomadic people grazing their livestock in the fields beyond the mountains, but for some reason, they suddenly turned into raiders this year. Our village is in the mountains, so we thought we would be safe, but they suddenly attacked…!”

“Were there any deaths?”

“…No. Fortunately, not yet… but I’m worried about what that adventurer said earlier about the beasts that know the taste of human flesh…”

“No… Orcs are just a bunch of thieving bastards, so it’s not that strange… Hey, old man. Did you hear any strange rumors? Like an epidemic somewhere. Or maybe… some idiots started a war and somewhere got completely wrecked.”

“No… There was nothing like that. It just happened suddenly without any warning…”

Yuna and Akash were gathering information from the old man while waiting for Myungho and Altera. However, the old man didn’t know much, so they didn’t make much progress.

“…It’s strange, Akash. You know a lot. Try to remember something.”

“I know a lot, but… there’s so much that I can’t pinpoint just one thing. It’s like asking to pinpoint just one reason why humans are greedy. How can I pinpoint just one when there isn’t just one? Ah, wait… What? You’ve been pushing all the annoying and difficult stuff onto me, and now that it’s getting interesting, you want to come? Don’t be ridiculous, you said you’d return it, but for years…!”

However, when Akash suddenly collapsed, Yuna looked at him with concern. Even though she didn’t have any good feelings towards him, she still considered him a comrade.

But when Akash quickly regained his senses, she dropped him unceremoniously.

“…What is it, really. You… Wait. Akash…? Are you Akash?”

However, Yuna asked the revived Akash if it was really him. Akash didn’t respond to her and just kept doing strange things like moving his body and taking deep breaths.

“Hmm. To survive in such an uncomfortable body… I am indeed me. Hmm? What did you say? Say it again, it’s been a while since I’ve used my hearing.”

“…Who are you?”

Yuna picked up the iron bow on her back and drew the string. The old man made a funny noise at the sudden change in atmosphere, but she didn’t care.

“Who else? Akash. But a little more… let’s say, closer to the original. Why are you taking out your weapon? This body can’t harm anyone. Now, sit down. I have no strange intentions, I just came to see the half dragon who became a companion of the degraded version.”

Yuna was tense due to his serious and oppressive attitude, different from his usual frivolous demeanor. However, she also knew that he couldn’t harm anyone, so she lowered her weapon for now.

“Thank you. I’m a mage, after all. I can’t miss such a rare specimen.”

“…If you are Akash, are there more… Akashes in the world?”

Yuna, having lowered her guard a little, asked ‘Akash’. He answered readily.

“That’s right. There are those that are degraded like the one in this body, and those that are closer to the original like me. Well, I have no intention of agreeing with the original’s dream. Knowledge is enough to inherit. I can’t inherit a dead man’s obsession.”

“…Then are the Akashes… good?”

“I doubt it. If that were the case, why would the owner of this body have been locked up in an underground prison?”

Akash answered Yuna’s question with a hearty laugh, implicitly suggesting that they were evil.

“…Oh, they’re here. Finally. I thought I’d have to wait forever.”

Seeing Altera leading the people from afar, Akash jumped up from his seat and strode towards her.

Altera looked at him as if he were some strange object, but Akash didn’t seem to care and observed her horns, eyes, and tail.

“Dragon eyes, these curved horns, whoa. Even a tail. Something proper has come out into the world. Hmm, Altera… was it? May I touch them? I have no ulterior motives. It’s purely an academic request. Ah, you said you can’t understand words… Then excuse me for a moment.”

Akash reached for her horns, but Altera responded by firmly grasping his hand.

“You don’t like it. Hmm… could you let go? I think it’s going to break. I’m fine, but the owner of this body might not be. Oh, dear. If only I could use magic at a time like this.”

Akash didn’t even wince at the pain and looked at Altera with an expression that found even this interesting.

“…What’s going on… Akash? Altera? Akash, what did you do this time…”

“Oops. The owner’s here. It’s nothing, just an academic curiosity to touch the horns, but it turned out like this. Won’t you tell her to let go?”

Seeing Akash’s unusual appearance, Myungho looked at Yuna.

“…For now, he is Akash.”

“…Alright. Altera. Let go of Akash. What? You want me to tell him this… Okay. Akash. If you try to touch her again, she’ll rip your arm off. But more importantly, who are you?”

“Ask the iron-armed woman over there for details. I’m done here, so I’ll be going. Oh, right. And write some words on this body. To not use foul language. This guy is ruining everyone’s face. Then, goodbye.”

Having said his piece, ‘Akash’ dropped his head and collapsed again. Altera looked down at him as if he were trash, and Akash, who soon regained consciousness, groaned in pain as soon as he got up.

“This bastard…! He just says what he wants and keeps putting me in these shitty situations…! I should just kill all the other mes…!”

Clutching his bruised arm, Akash rolled around, and Myungho took out his brush, seriously considering whether he should really write on him.

Then, as if he had made a decision. He picked up the brush and slowly approached him.

“…Hey, you. What are you doing with that? Don’t come, don’t come…! Don’t come near me…!”

“…I’m sorry. I think the other you was right.”

Especially concerned about the discord that might arise after teaching Altera to speak, Myungho touched Akash with the brush.