Chapter 3

“Ugh… It’s been a while since I’ve tasted such humiliation.”

After cashing in, as the setting sun cast its glow, I was drinking at a restaurant next to the “Adventurers’ Guild.”

For the record, the snack was “tongue-cut sparrow’s bone-in meat.” It’s a vicious monster that targets human tongues, but the meat is quite firm and delicious. It goes really well with ale, especially when you eat it with a lot of salt.

Yum yum.

“Peep…!”

By the way, the chick of the bird species seems to be looking at me with eyes full of terror. Don’t worry, I won’t eat you.

“But still, chick. The tension of youth is scary, isn’t it? Especially when you’re all hyped up.”

I even give a word of advice to the chick, only a few weeks old. You should avoid acting on the tension of youth just because you happen to gain power or status, okay?

“I mean… I had a tough time in my previous life.”

In my previous life, I was a newbie at a black company. I worked so hard I peed blood, and then I just collapsed from overwork and died.

And as I closed my eyes in regret for my life…

“I became this. The ‘Dark Destruction Dragon Genocide・Dragon’…!”

I was seriously shocked. When I woke up, my body was incredibly huge and I had become a pitch-black dragon.

But strangely, I didn’t feel out of place.

“It was a strange sensation. First, I realized that I had an embarrassingly ridiculous individual name, ‘Dark Destruction Dragon Genocide・Dragon.’ Then I understood how to move my body and that I was incredibly strong.”

Maybe that’s a “monster trait.”

Suddenly appeared creatures, monsters.

Perhaps in this world, there’s a supernatural existence like an evil version of “Goddess Sophia” (not that Goddess Sophia is necessarily good). Monsters might be biological weapons created by that being—hence they understand their own ecological data.

That’s what I thought.

“The answer, I don’t know. But what I did understand was that ‘I,’ a trivial existence, had been reborn as an incredibly strong monster in this world.”

And then—once I realized that, it was all over…!

“Ah, after that, I just went wild, damn it…!”

I breathed fire with all my might, flew at supersonic speeds, and swung my many-ton tail around, rampaging like a child letting loose.

After learning about the existence of humans and their dire situation, I became even worse.

“And high on life, I ended up introducing myself to the royal family I happened to meet. ‘My name is the “Dark Destruction Dragon Genocide・Dragon”!’ I said, with my embarrassingly ridiculous name…!”

At that time, I was so excited that I thought it was cool…!

From there, I became a “guardian dragon that eradicates evil with the power of darkness,” laughing as I annihilated strong monsters.

And after living like that for over a decade, I finally realized.

Wasn’t I just embarrassing myself?

“It’s fine that I hunted down strong monsters. It seems to have given the human forces some breathing room. But still… to go around with an embarrassing name, acting like a superior being…”

And then there’s this.

Gradually, the royals started making brazen requests like, “Could you bring us the corpse of that monster for a trophy?” or “Could you let us give a speech while riding on you?” It started to become political exploitation.

The princess was kind, but her father and brother were just impossible.

They must have thought of me as “just a monster” deep down.

“So, I thought if I continued like this, I’d become ‘a fool who’s easily used,’ just like in my previous life.”

And so, I decided that this way of living was no good.

“Taking human cells from this world as a reference, I transformed into a human with sheer willpower, and that’s how I got to where I am now.”

Also, the “Skills” that are supposed to reside only in humans somehow awakened in me at that time.

Is the goddess’s judgment flawed?

“…And that’s the end of my old tale. After all, it’s best for humans to live in a position that matches their character. That way, the food tastes better.”

“Peep?”

As I grumbled quietly to the chick and fed it some beans…

“Ah, big brother is talking to a chick~”

…a pair of twin sisters appeared, mocking me.

“At your age, that’s a bit… It’s embarrassing to watch.”

Said the smirking silver-haired little one, and…

“Are you drunk? You’re really hopeless, big brother.”

Said the giggling silver-haired little one.

Their names are Niesha and Kuesha.

Despite being in their early teens, they’re already accomplished adventurers.

“Would you like to lick our nail dirt~?”

By the way, they’re ranked second-class upper.

And they lead an all-female party called “Fairy’s Prank,” which is really amazing.

“Hey, you two. You seem as lively as ever today, that’s good.”

“Mmm!?”

The twin princesses seemed displeased.

They didn’t like being ignored.

“Come on! Get angry when you’re made fun of!”

“That’s right, this is why people who underestimate you never stop coming after you…!”

Now they started lecturing me.

Sorry about that?

“Also, stop acting like a guardian. We’re already fine ladies.”

“That’s right, we even earn more than you, big brother.”

They puffed out their chests proudly.

“You’re so full of energy. Your youth is dazzling.”

These two are like daughters or little sisters to me, since I picked them up and fed them years ago.

Now they completely mock and dislike me.

“Ah, you two are really splendid. How about it, want to have dinner together? I’ll treat you for once.”

“Huh? The perennial third-class adventurer is treating us~?”

“Yeah. I happened to defeat a troll and got some extra income—”

“!?!?!?!?!?!”

In the next moment.

The twin sisters jumped at my side and started touching me all over with super-fast hands!

“Hey, you two!?”

“Petapetapetapetapeta!!!”

What’s going on?

“No injuries… Huh, not bad for you, big brother.”

“Phew… Really, it’s troublesome. Taking on opponents bigger than yourself.”

Niesha and Kuesha sighed in relief.

Is this what it is?

“Are you worried about me?”

“Hah~!?”

They got really angry.

“Don’t get carried away, okay? You’re still our former guardian, right? If you got hurt by a troll and died, it would be embarrassing for us!”

“That’s right. Unlike you, a solo adventurer, we’re the double leaders of the highly popular party ‘Fairy’s Prank.’ We have a reputation to maintain.”

They argued back at a rapid pace.

Was I that off the mark?

But that’s right.

The two of them are like trendy high school girls, so they wouldn’t want an unsuccessful older brother figure like me to stand out in a bad way.

It would be embarrassing if their friends found out.

I need to reflect.

“Sorry, I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“Hmph hmph!”

They left with a strong message, seemingly refusing my dinner invitation.

That’s a bit disheartening.

“Ah well, can’t be helped. I’ll just have a lonely meal with the chick… Wait, what?”

Before I knew it, the half-eaten chicken meat I was holding had disappeared.

Where did it go!?

“Could it be that Chick-kun ate it?”

“Peep?”

Chick-kun looked confused.

…Well, it couldn’t have been him.

He’s of the same bird species, and the meat was bigger than his body volume.

“It was half-eaten… Hmm, it’s happening again. Sometimes my personal belongings just disappear…”

Like handkerchiefs, underwear, towels, and such.

They just go missing without a trace.

“Could it be because I’m getting old? But with my dragon body, my brain function should be better…”

My body is set to be in the late twenties.

Well, I haven’t lost any money or valuables yet, so it’s fine, but it’s still a creepy phenomenon.

“Uhyohyohyohyohyohyo!”

I watched, puzzled, as the sisters ran off from the guild in high spirits.