Side Story - I am a Pet (6)

-Oh! Matt! I was worried you might be late, but you reached just in time. Thank you.

Aside from not being a voice, it was also different from the Spiritual Speech that was usually used by Matt who was in her true body state. If one had to express it in words, it would be the will itself. Right now, the

'something'

that couldn't even be described in words so naturally conveyed its will to them.

'A Subtle Light'

... You bastard, your overwhelming brightness causes you to not live up to your name.

-Haha, what can I do? This is what happens when the time comes.

Unlike Matt, who sounded bitter, the

'Subtle Light'

answered in a casual manner. A sense of mystery could be felt from his words, which had no desire or remorse.

Can't you live a little longer?

-Haha, friend, whether it is possible or not does not matter. The important thing is the willingness to walk down this path.

Although

'Subtle Light'

was emitting such a strong light, it was strange that not even the slightest heat could be felt.

-Matt, my fragile and lonely old friend.

You old man...

-It was fun.

The light grew brighter and moved farther away. As the brightest light simply drifted away, the surrounding scenery could finally be seen.

"Ahhh..." Dong-min stood on Matt's nose bridge, staring blankly at the sight that was in front of him.

"Isn't it cool?" Matt said with a bitter smile. Before Dong-min realized, she had turned back into her human-form.

The space where they were floating in was a tranquil universe which had nothing, one that Matt as a 9th-Class Great Wizard had created without a single phrase of a spell…

Shiaaaang--!

The entire universe could be seen within that quiet and tranquil space. Gobs of lights, ranging from the size of an adult fist to ones that had a 3-meter-diameter, filled up the surroundings. The numbers were by no means small, at least 100,000, no, a million were present.

Regarding the lights, Matt explained, "They're guests."

Dong-min then recalled the things that Matt had previously said, thinking,

The day her old friend dies.

He then asked, "Are these all the people of the Kendler tribes?"

"That's right. These are 95 percent of all the Kendlers that exist in the universe. All the Kendlers have gathered here, except for those who couldn't make it."

"Oh my God." Dong-min was speechless. Since the Kendler tribe were the front-runners that led the Union's technological civilization, they were spread throughout the universe. He wondered how it was even a possibility for them to all gather together in the same place at the same time. Even if it were possible, it was difficult to even grasp how much it would cost to make it happen. He asked another question, "Do the Kendlers who were regarded as a

'Subtle Light'

have such a great position?"

"No, they are nothing more than blacksmiths with pretty great skills."

"Then?"

"What do you mean

‘then?’

The Kendlers have originally been like this. When a brother-in-arms dies and a funeral is held, all the members of the Kendler tribe would gather to celebrate it."

The Kendler tribe were born from the irregular explosion of the Sacred Sun, Candle. They lived an eternal life because of Lux Veritatis, their Magical Energy Organ that created endless nuclear fusions from the moment they were born. Therefore, they had no physical life span. The Kendler tribesmen with long lives had lived for more than 100,000 years, so there was no need to explain any further.

"But it's a funeral right now, though?" Dong-min asked.

"Yes. That's why it's a celebration. The Kendlers are theoretically immortal, but... If their desire to live weakens, the internal nuclear fusion wouldn't be able to be controlled,” Matt explained. As a result, for the Kendlers whose will to live had faded, their size would grow bigger and their light would gradually brighten. The process would take quite a long time, so they could afford to prepare for the end with ease.

Wooooom!

For a moment, the light flashed. Matt hugged Dong-min from behind and whispered, "It's starting." As her words sounded out, the Kendler, a

'Subtle Light'

who was floating in the air, began to radiate brighter. Then, more than 100,000 gobs of lights scattered far away started to circle around the

'Subtle Light'

as if caught by an immense gravity.

Pyinggggg----

A smooth sound, reminiscent of both whistling and humming, spread through the quiet universe. It was naturally not a physical sound, but a Song of the Soul that sent a loud echo just from being heard.

Pyinggggggg---Pyinggggg---!

The echoes, which began to increase one by one, gathered and turned into a huge torrent.

Dong-min watched the desolate and melancholic, but similarly heart-rending echo, with a blank expression on his face.

Matt said, "The Kendlers born in Candle are all brothers and sisters. The whole species is like one family. They laugh together, cry together and always do their best for one another."

"...Are you jealous?" Dong-min stared at the Kendlers who were shining brightly like the Milky Way and silently asked. He had already been with Matt for a long time, so it wasn't that hard to guess her feelings.

Indeed, Matt replied “Yeah” and nodded. "There are many dragons who are denigrating, and it’s a useless waste of resources, but...I think the processes of all these are wonderful. Us dragons have such severe individualism that we live in this world alone."

Dong-min recalled the Black Dragon, who was called an Elder, had said Matt would not care even when her own father died. This was a thought he had been pondering over the past 7 years. Even though there were countless dragons gathered and living in Dragonian...Matt was completely alone. Korea, where he lived, was a place where individualism was also on the rise, but it was of a completely different level as compared to Dragonian. To the dragons, even their own children would become strangers upon adulthood.

Pyinggg--! Pyingggg---!

Matt and Dong-min silently stared at the waves of light radiating throughout the entire universe. Then, the

'Subtle Light'

, which was shining the brightest in the middle of those light waves, finally arrived at a point in the universe.

Whoooooo----!

The space split apart and a sacred light was emitted from inside it.

"Look properly."

It was the sun.

"That's the home of the Kendlers, and their father as well as their mother."

It was the Sacred Sun that was hidden in an alternate dimension.

"That's Candle."

That was the light that lit up the universe in the beginning of time, one of the first lights made by the Great Father to light up this world surrounded by darkness.

And the Kendler's blacksmith,

'Subtle Light'

, which started in the light, shined brighter and radiated greater. Then, it threw itself into the candlelight of the Great Universe.

Pyingggg---Pyingggg---

As one light melted into the other light and disappeared, a calm echo spread through the Kendler tribe. Although it was a beautiful and sad sight, it was also a scene of wonder.

Matt, who was silently watching the scene, said, "Dong-min, when you're done with what you have to do on your star, I mean, on Earth..." She asked cautiously, "Why don't you come back to my house?"

"..." Dong-min remained silent for a while. Matt had always been with him for the past 7 years. They had meals together, slept and traveled together. He even received lessons from her. She always stood in front, because she was his guardian.

"Dong-min?"

"I am..." Dong-min struggled to speak.

It was unbearably awkward at the beginning of this whole process, and Dong-min even felt a disoriented sense of rage. Of course, that was because he never had a guardian from the moment he was born. He had never imagined, or expected, for a being who would protect and care for him. After all, from the moment he stood in this whole world, even those who gave birth to him and raised him were enemies. Life was a series of suffering, so he lived as a living weapon. He lived just as what the beings who created him had meant for. He was also an incarnation of wrath, as well as a revenger. But nevertheless, he was still a child.

"I am..."

Although it may not have been the case for Matt, who lived for 10,000 years, 7 years was definitely not a short time for Dong-min. Dong-min, who did not trust anyone in the world and lived only with hatred and resentment, had already changed.

...Are you okay? ...Good job! Hang in there!

Aside from concern, praise, encouragement, Dong-min was showered with all these unconditional affection.

Shinggggg!

The light then burst forth again.

'Ahh.'

Dong-min finally realized.

'I am...'

Pyingggg---Pyingggg---

The gap that appeared between the dimensions was closed, and the Kendler tribe's singing voice was slowly fading away. The candles that used to light up the whole universe were covered up, and the lights that used to radiate and dance within the surroundings were disappearing one by one.

Dong-min looked back and loosened Matt's arms, who was hugging him from behind. He looked at the red-haired woman who stood in the black universe that just regained tranquility. He said, "I love you."

"Yes yes! I love you too!"

If these lines were shared between an ordinary man and woman right now, their hearts would surely look in the same direction. That would only not happen if lies or deceit were mixed in. However, this was different. Matt’s love and Dong-min's love were extremely different, which Matt noticed from the bright and shining eyes of Dong-min.

"...Huh? That's, you? What? Huh?" Matt staggered with a look of shock and astonishment. This was an expression that Dong-min had seen for the first time, despite having spent a long time with her. She stared at Dong-min with a look of disbelief. "Uh, well, that's..." She stuttered and slowly stepped back. "I love you. B-But it's not that kind of love. I mean, there are some among the dragons who are in love with humans, but… I was born and grew up in Dragonian, so for me to be, uhhh, with an inferior species… What I mean to say is…”

It was an unimaginable sight for Dong-min, who always knew Matt for her cheerful and confident demeanor. He thought it seemed like she wanted to immediately run away from this spot.

However, Matt was a powerful Great Wizard, as well as a superpower user. Coupled with the fact that she was also a martial arts master, she soon came to her senses. "Erm, well, that's." Then, she said, "I'm sorry."

"..." The Star Gate opened again, and they returned to Dragonian. It was raining, and needless to say, it was not a normal rain. The climate in Dragonian was perfectly controlled, so this rain was due to the civil complaints by the water-loving dragons.

"..." Dong-min had the ability to control water current. Even if he dived deep into the sea, not a single drop of water could get on his body and wet him. Despite that skill, he did not shield himself from the rain. No, to be more precise, he couldn’t. There was a raging storm brewing violently in his heart than ever before in his life.

Dong-min then recalled

Min

, the maknae[1] of Prestige. She gave her brown poodle the unusual name, Suspension, and showered it with great affection and attention. She bought dog tools that were as expensive as her own clothes, and animal food and snacks that were as expensive as her own food. Sleeping with it in her arms was a given, while kissing it whenever she had the chance. She gave love beyond what was usually seen to humans, to her pet, but…

"Kyaaackkkkk! What is this?! Captain-nim! Uwackk, what do I do?!" Dong-min recalled the scene where Min screamed as she saw Suspension suddenly mating with another poodle at the dog center. Even though she previously showered it with so much love, she couldn't even touch Suspension at that time. Her gaze seemed as if she was looking at something dirty.

"Haha." Dong-min looked up at the sky with a bitter smile. All he could see was the pouring rain. He just stood there blankly, like an abandoned dog that was deserted on the side of the road. That was all.

1. Maknae refers to the youngest one in a group or family.