Chapter 160: A Monster Who Dreams

You may have noticed by now, but the truth is, I’m not an ordinary monster.

I’m a very, very special kind of monster.

There are many differences between me and other monsters, but above all, I can think and dream of the future.

Monsters usually act purely on instinct.

Because of that, they can’t think about how to live more safely and comfortably, or how to eat better food.

When they’re hungry, they eat.

When an enemy appears, they fight.

That’s basically all there is to them.

So how did I come to dream?

Honestly, I don’t really know myself.

All I can say is… I was born that way.

From a young age, something about me was different from ordinary monsters.

Watching monsters risk their lives fighting every day, I found myself asking, “Why?”

I couldn’t understand creatures who ate anything they found as long as it filled their bellies.

Even my father—people called him the King of the Snow Mountains, but really, he was only the leader because he was strong.

If an even stronger individual appeared, he would naturally have to give up his throne.

In fact, my father died in battle, and I, still lacking strength, became a fugitive.

Meeting Jin Sehyun was a stroke of luck born from countless misfortunes.

While fleeing from monsters trying to eat me, I reached a passageway—what humans call a gate.

I was swept onto the path that led from the Demon Realm to the human world.

I hadn’t even fully grown yet, let alone mastered my abilities, so surviving a gate was nearly impossible.

As expected, I was eventually captured by humans and nearly killed.

In that moment, when I couldn’t even tell if I was alive or dead, a hot light poured into my body.

Warm and gentle, yet powerful, that light erased the pain in an instant.

A body that felt like it would die at any second began recovering right before my eyes.

The human who threw himself into danger to save me—Jin Sehyun.

That’s how I met him, like a miracle.

From that moment on, I decided I would protect the weak Jin Sehyun.

“Poppy, why hasn’t Jaeyul awakened yet…?”

Unfortunately, our Sehyun was kind, but also a little stupid.

“There are cases where people awaken even later than this, and maybe there are other conditions too… but still, isn’t this too late?”

How could he not know that Seon Jaeyul had already awakened?!

Even while playing tug-of-war with me, he sighed deeply and worried about pointless things.

As far as I remember, that Seon Jaeyul bastard awakened… probably three years ago.

Whether it was because he tried to kill his drunkard of a father, or because he was trying to protect Jin Sehyun, he partially awakened while unconscious.

He fully awakened at fifteen.

But after awakening, that cunning, sly little bastard thoroughly hid the fact that he had awakened.

Because Seon Jaeyul—like all Seon Jaeyuls—had the ability to repel others’ mana, Sehyun couldn’t sense his awakening.

Not just “that Seon Jaeyul bastard,” but all Seon Jaeyuls shared the same ability.

Seon Jaeyul, ruler of monsters who endlessly destroyed countless worlds—his powers were common knowledge throughout the Demon Realm.

Still, the fact that Jin Sehyun had believed for all this time that Jaeyul was just an ordinary eighteen-year-old… should I call him pure?

Then again, Seon Jaeyul’s acting really was top-notch.

The way he acted weak and pitiful only in front of Sehyun made my teeth grind every time I watched.

“Shouldn’t you at least pretend to listen, you idiot.”

My mouth itched to spill the secret, but if I told him, that Seon Jaeyul bastard might actually kill me.

All I could do was hope that my thick-headed pet human would figure it out on his own.

“Pff.”

Honestly, what a hopeless guy.

This is exactly why I can’t leave Sehyun alone.

He really needs someone to look after him.

“Poppy, please take good care of Jaeyul.

When things get dangerous… you have to protect him.

Okay?

We’re still family, after all.

I’m counting on you.”

In the end, Sehyun turned out to be a bad human too.

How could he say he was leaving me behind?

Fine, abandon Seon Jaeyul if you must, but at least take me with you… how could you not?

If I forcibly clung to him, Sehyun would probably take me along reluctantly.

But I couldn’t do that.

“…Stay by Jaeyul’s side so he won’t be lonely.”

That stupid human didn’t even realize what his own expression looked like, worrying only about the Seon Jaeyul he was leaving behind.

I couldn’t understand why he insisted on leaving when he so clearly didn’t want to, but ignoring a request from Sehyun, who looked like he might burst into tears at any moment, was impossible.

Perhaps this too was part of taking care of him.

I knew this was only a temporary separation.

Sehyun would never abandon me.

That ferocious Seon Jaeyul might, but I’m different.

He would definitely come back to me.

Without a doubt.

As expected, Seon Jaeyul couldn’t accept Sehyun’s disappearance.

He completely lost his mind, to the point where normal life became impossible.

He wandered around frantically, searching for Sehyun, and often sat there vacantly, lost in thought.

Taking care of him fell to me.

Honestly… I felt a bit sorry for him.

Losing someone you loved that much without a word—how big of a shock would that be?

The central pillar that kept Seon Jaeyul going had vanished.

Until he pulled himself together, feeding him and taking care of the house became my responsibility.

How did I manage all that with the hands of a mighty beast, you ask?

Using the human arm I kept in my secret pocket—

Wait.

That’s a secret!

I can’t tell you for the sake of my image.

Fortunately, that Seon Jaeyul bastard found a new goal.

To gain enough power to protect Jin Sehyun, and then reclaim him.

Whatever the case, having a goal at least erased his attitude of slowly rotting away.

The problem was that he couldn’t adapt well to the academy.

“Haa….”

After classes ended, Seon Jaeyul returned to the dorm and flopped onto the bed.

“Change your clothes, you bastard!

How dare you lie down in dusty, filthy clothes!

Hey, hey!”

“Shut up.

If you’ve got nothing to do, go clear a gate or something.”

I didn’t realize it when Sehyun was around, but being alone with Seon Jaeyul is suffocating enough to drive me insane.

How does he manage to understand absolutely nothing I say?

Other Seon Jaeyuls have that strange power to control monsters, but this one seems a bit… deficient.

Just as I leapt onto his chest to stomp him—

“What’s wrong with your hand again?!

You’ve got abilities, so why do you always come back after brawling?!”

This was absolutely unforgivable.

Humans who don’t listen need to be punished.

“I told, lick, you, lick, not to, lick, fight, lick, how many, lick, times, lick!”

“It stings, so stop licking it.”

Heh.

Seeing that Seon Jaeyul bastard tremble and hide his hand when I got angry was satisfying.

Licking wounds is one of my attack skills.

I’d love to just slap some spit on it and call it a day, but if Sehyun later saw Jaeyul covered in scars, he might feel upset.

I’d better treat it properly.

“Graaack!”

“Haa… I really didn’t need to see that.

It’s gross, so stop pulling out that human arm.”

“Shut up, idiot!

I’m treating you specially, so keep your mouth shut.”

I pulled antiseptic, healing ointment, gauze, bandages, and cotton swabs out of my secret pocket.

First I disinfected the wound, then carefully applied ointment with a swab, and covered it with gauze.

This is basically the same as raising a child.

“So you’ve decided to just throw your life away now that Sehyun’s gone, huh?

You’re really letting that shitty personality of yours run wild.”

“Make your own food.

I don’t need any.”

“When Sehyun comes back, I’m telling him everything!

That you’re always picking fights and living like a thug!

Seriously, you’re so frustrating!”

The idiot Seon Jaeyul didn’t understand a word, but at least I said everything I wanted to.

Doing this much helps relieve some stress.

I should curse at him a bit more, then go eat a steak and come back.

Naturally, I’ll steal it.

“We’re going into a gate together tonight, so get ready.”

“…A g-gate…?”

Ah… what horrifying thing did I just hear…?

We’re going into a gate again?

No, absolutely not!

Looks like it’s time to pull out my trump card.

“Grrrnnn….”

I collapsed onto my side and let out a pitiful whine.

It was a physical demonstration that I was too sick to enter a gate.

“If you keep pretending to be sick, you’ll end up really sick.

Get up.”

…Damn that heartless bastard.

He doesn’t fall for it at all.

There was a reason I went this far to avoid entering gates with Seon Jaeyul.

Under the excuse of “synchronizing,” he was abusing me.

If I missed even the slightest signal or made a mistake, he’d make me repeat the same thing over and over until I did it right.

Once, when it got too hard and I complained, I briefly found myself in my dead father’s arms before coming back.

Anyway, Seon Jaeyul is a bad bastard.

I really wish Sehyun would come back soon.

That guy gets lonely easily—he’s doing okay, right…?

For some reason today, I really miss my pet human.

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