Became a Dragon kidnapped by Humans

The stars were perfectly aligned in a most pleasing way, forming a beautiful Milky Way.

And beneath it lay the Sun and clouds.

Up to this point, everything was exactly the same as what I saw right before closing my eyes…

…Yet for some reason, the ceiling still feels unfamiliar.

It feels like the place where I’m lying has changed.

Why is that? Why do I keep getting moved somewhere else without a word?

This has happened twice now, and I’m starting to feel a bit irritated.

Since it’s quiet here, I’ll let it slide this time.

“Well, well, we seem to have an esteemed guest aboard our aircraft.”

A voice came from beyond the wall.

“We cannot permit takeoff.”

“…If we had taken off, it would have meant the end for all of us, Mr. Loft. May I inquire why you’re not allowing the flight?”

Conversation.

One side was human; the other wasn’t.

But even so, it didn’t seem like the kind of being whose features were wildly distorted…

Hmm…

Approximately (formerly) human, perhaps?

“If the aircraft could fly silently without producing any engine noise, if the body of the craft could remain completely steady… if such a route existed, then I might allow the flight.”

“Huh? How could such a thing be possible?”

“Ha ha, hence why I cannot allow the flight. How can an aircraft burn the world and still soar?”

A gentle voice.

As if taking care not to disturb me who was unintentionally eavesdropping, he spoke softly and calmly…

Hooh. Far better than humans these days.

“Then, how long should we wait before takeoff would be safe?”

“What did you hear me say, junior? Let me make myself clear: one crash is more than enough for me.”

“…I will convey that message to the crew.”

Eventually, the (formerly) human continued.

This time, it was a pleasant-sounding announcer-like tone.

“…Greetings, passengers. Our aircraft will not be taking off in order to ensure your restful journey, so please enjoy your trip as much as you’d like.”

There, that’s how it should be.

Is it because humans have become careless, or are non-human entities becoming unexpectedly well-behaved these days?

Is there some kind of ‘decency preservation law’ at work?

Tonton-i snakes too… it’s quite commendable…

“Our destination… is Dreamland. Though the journey may be short, please have a comfortable trip. End of transmission. This was not the captain… but Loft.”

Then, it became completely silent.

How strange that this entity behaves more like a true Sage than modern Sages do. Fascinating.

Just as I was starting to feel good about it…

An odd thought reached me from nearby.

‘Progenitor… heavy… mass…’

Mass? What does that mean?

I clearly remember the word from my human days, but while the term itself doesn’t seem derogatory…

Still, it makes me feel…

‘You. Tonton-i snake, where did you learn to use such rude words?’

Though small, this Tonton-i snake dared to send such an insolent thought my way, and what’s worse, responded defiantly.

‘Progenitor. Wake up? Hard. Move head. Please.’

Hmm…

From afar, Tonton-i snake’s vocabulary didn’t seem this advanced…

Look at this little guy.

I praised him earlier for being commendable, but now he’s stabbing me in the back?

It wasn’t like I went through all the trouble of bringing him here just so he could freely send thoughts with his newly acquired eloquence.

I felt like I needed to punish him somehow.

‘Annoying. Not my problem. Effort.’

‘Progenitor? Progenitor?!’

I tossed and turned my head.

Then, a loud “Gwueeeng” sound came from beside me.

Hehe.

Who told you to sass an elder so boldly?

I fell back into slumber once again.

Perfect, really…

Now, if only no one disturbed me…

Really, though.

With a squish, the small snake flattened under the weight of its ancestor’s head like a pancake, struggling to breathe.

If only its body were entirely boneless and flexible, it wouldn’t have to bear the weight at all.

Unfortunately, with its “just-right elasticity,” the ancestor found it delightfully soft and plopped down mercilessly on top of the small snake.

Despite bearing the full brunt of the weight, the ancestor appeared to have fallen asleep long ago.

‘Progenitor? Progenitor…? Please. Rejection. Why…?’

The small snake felt wronged.

At first glance, the ancestor seemed as endlessly kind as its mother, but suddenly cruel torment began.

Even though the progenitor was undoubtedly a good being, why must it torment the young snake?

Shouldn’t it either cuddle protectively like its mother or siblings, or harass relentlessly like two-legged creatures?

After trying to argue, the small snake realized the ancestor had been asleep for a long time.

And it wasn’t something the small snake could wake the ancestor up from anyway.

Not only was it physically impossible with its current strength, but there was also a strong instinct that it shouldn’t disturb the ancestor carelessly.

With a squeak, the small snake endured the weight in silence.

That’s when…

‘…Footsteps. Two-legged creature.’

The sound of approaching footsteps sent shivers down the small snake’s spine.

Instinctively curling its body to hide, the small snake tried to exert force.

—Shiver, shiver, shiver.

But nothing changed in its appearance.

Of course not. To elongate its body for camouflage, the snake would need to narrow its entire width uniformly, which was impossible in its current pancake state.

‘Crushed. Camouflage. Impossible…’

Here was the small snake, stripped of its minimal defensive options, facing the two-legged creature.

A two-legged creature dressed in black… or rather, something resembling one.

It was quite unusual.

Unlike other two-legged creatures that would scream or poke at the sight of a snake, this one simply observed the small snake and the ancestor quietly.

The small snake wondered.

‘No harassment?’

Soon, the figure took a few steps back, sat down at a distance, and continued watching the small snake and its ancestor.

Relieved, the small snake exhaled with a “Peeep!”

‘Distance. Safe. Lucky.’

To the small snake, the figure seemed almost imperceptible, lacking noticeable breath or scent.

With the added distance, it became even harder to sense the presence.

This was good news for the small snake, which typically perceived every detail as potentially threatening.

Given that this figure already had few intimidating traits, its cautious movements further reassured the small snake.

‘Quiet.’

Upon closer inspection, the small snake found the figure strangely fascinating.

Unbelievably serene.

Even the careful act of pulling something out of their pocket seemed meticulously deliberate.

So quiet that, in the snake’s perception, this figure seemed fainter than other two-legged creatures standing two walls away.

In short…

It acted as if making the slightest noise would cause everything to explode.

“…”

The figure carefully cut up what appeared to be food.

The smell of feathered bird meat wafted through the air.

‘Smell. Good.’

The small snake wondered why the figure was cutting up food that seemed small enough to eat whole.

Its curiosity was soon satisfied.

The figure delicately held the chopped pieces on the tip of its fingers and offered them to the small snake.

“…”

Approaching as if walking ten steps would take forever, the figure moved with utmost caution, as if one misstep would result in catastrophic consequences.

Despite receiving the food via the bare hands of this two-legged creature, the small snake felt no aversion.

It eagerly accepted and ate the offering.

‘Tasty. Good.’

Though slightly difficult to swallow due to its pancake-flat state…

According to the small snake, it definitely tasted good.

‘Sleepy…’

It’s natural to feel drowsy after a full meal.

Today alone, the small snake faced beasts and dozens of two-legged creatures, so feeling tired was understandable.

Especially since it was still very young compared to its mother.

However, there was a problem.

‘Sleep. Impossible.’

Despite closing its eyes for quite some time, the small snake couldn’t fall asleep.

The cause was clear.

Because the ancestor was still firmly planted on its back. There was no clearer reason than that.

‘…Uncomfortable. Very. Extremely.’

It was hard to even breathe properly.

There was no way it could sleep like this.

The small snake attempted to make a sound but stopped halfway—it was too difficult.

The longer it stayed pressed against the ancestor’s head, the more uncomfortable it became.

Was it the full stomach making it increasingly uncomfortable?

Although it pondered this, the small snake couldn’t reach a conclusion, as the great ancestor capable of answering anything was lazily snoring away!

“…Repo, come over here for a moment…”

Using the distant voice as a cue…

The small snake finally gave up on sleeping and opened its eyes.

Flash.

The semi-transparent figure from toe to waist caught the small snake’s gaze.

“…?”

Peeep?

Slurrrp, the figure was becoming more transparent by the second.

Peeei…?

Before the small snake could doubt its own eyes…

The entire figure was fading into transparency.

Peeei?!

Thinking it might have been a hallucination, the small snake frantically checked for remnants but the smell of the meat remained.

“…Ah.”

Eventually, the figure vanished completely, as if it had never existed.

Peeep! Peeeeeep!!

The small snake remembered.

The story its mother once told about a snake trapped with various poisonous insects in the prison of two-legged creatures, eventually turning into a ghost.

‘Ghost? Ghost?!’

Gurgle.

The small snake foamed at the mouth, rolled its eyes, and fainted from sheer shock.

Gweeek…

‘What is it, Tonton-i snake? Why the sudden commotion?’

Instantly awake, the ancestor poked the plump body of the small snake, but it was already unconscious.

The first angry thoughts and voice the small snake had ever heard from the ancestor.

‘What nonsense! This was the most comfortable position ever… Who dared to ruin it? Aaagh, I’m furious enough for five deep breaths…’

“Gaaaaoo…!”

The small snake, gasping for breath…

Watched as the ghost reappeared gradually in front of its eyes.

To the small snake…

The ghost…

“…Oh. My goodness, dear Lord.”

…was covering its eyes with its hand, looking sheepishly embarrassed.

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