Became a Dragon kidnapped by Humans

The new FPL researcher, Kan Hana, tossed her smartphone onto the makeshift bed.

Whether it was gaming or browsing the internet, nothing she did brought her any enjoyment.

In fact, if she could immerse herself in entertainment despite the occasional chills that ran through her heart, that would have seemed extraordinary.

“I don’t need this. What I need is something to heal me… for instance, IF-017.”

IF-017—just being around it brought happiness.

Kan Hana had somewhat realized that simply thinking about IF-017 warmed her freezing heart.

However, had this been any other unknown phenomenon, she might have found it strange.

“IF-017 is adorable, so maybe it’s natural… hehe.”

She shrugged it off with that thought.

Still, she worried, “If IF-684 escaped suddenly, is IF-017 safe?”

In the middle of that thought, Kan Hana placed a finger on her lower lip in contemplation.

“Calling IF-017 by this designation feels detached. Sure, there aren’t other similar entities, but using ‘Dragon’ feels like more of a species name. There might be a better name.”

Kan Hana felt uncomfortable continuing to refer to IF-017 by just its designation.

She felt certain there was an original name perfectly suited for IF-017, something she couldn’t quite figure out.

Stuck on something she couldn’t pinpoint, Kan Hana clutched her head and tried hard to think.

Attempting to recall something with no leads was more creation than recall—trying to remember her breakfast from four years ago would have been easier.

While Kan Hana was struggling,

“Whew, why is it getting so hot all of a sudden?”

The surrounding area began to feel unbearably hot, like a furnace in the summer. A temperature where sweat formed on her skin even after removing outer layers of clothing.

Desperately avoiding the heated floor, Kan Hana retreated to the makeshift bed.

A flash of light erupted, and—

With a single instant, the containment room was split in half.

Staring at the fiery cross-section, Kan Hana was dazed.

“What…?”

She didn’t understand how the setting had suddenly changed. “The IF-017 containment area shouldn’t be breaking due to all kinds of protective measures,” she thought.

Realizing only now, after three seconds, that she had nearly died, Kan Hana panicked.

“Eek…?!”

Her reaction was delayed.

While her rationality told her she had just narrowly escaped death, her heart inexplicably remained calm.

Despite nearly being engulfed by the sky-high flames, Kan Hana felt no sense of danger.

On the charred surface after the flames had passed, a small flame flickered, appearing to Kan Hana like a miniature IF-017—adorable.

Unconsciously reaching out, Kan Hana hesitated briefly.

Since it was a flame, touching it would definitely burn!

“Eh, eh? Why did I even try to touch that?”

A basic truth well known even to Kan Hana: touching fire causes burns.

Confused about why she had reached out, Kan Hana remained perplexed.

“Of course, I shouldn’t touch it. But… I might regret not trying.”

With no one to hear, Kan Hana muttered to herself. Somehow, it felt like it would be safe to touch.

Definitely, she couldn’t explain it any other way.

Kan Hana extended her hand toward the flame, her eyes tightly shut in expectation of the pain she thought would come.

Sure enough, it was hot.

“…Is it okay?”

But strangely,

She could endure having her hand submerged in this fire as if she were in a 100-degree sauna.

“Wow, it’s warm.”

Unlike a normal fire, the flame danced on her hand. Familiar to her, it seemed identical to the warmth she felt when thinking about IF-017.

As if the sensation was a comforting snack, this flame felt as comforting as pig bone soup.

Curious to try, Kan Hana brought the flame closer to her body.

And then, with a slight suction-like motion,

The flame was drawn into her chest.

Like drinking scorching soup without blowing on it, it was hot but also surprisingly comforting.

“Heh… Still so warm.”

Kan Hana smiled.

She could sense the same feeling resonating with all the flames attached to the cross-section.

Realizing this, she instinctively reached out.

A wobble of movement,

But her hand missed.

Unsteady due to the vibrations around her, Kan Hana collapsed with a startled cry.

Unbeknownst to Kan Hana at the moment, when the containment room had shattered, the space-fixing properties had failed, making it no longer different from an ordinary construction.

What remained was temporarily sustaining it, but now even that was becoming impossible.

With all other structures evaporating while the IF-017 containment remained rigidly stationary, it started falling.

“Eh, eh?!”

Realizing the imminent danger only now, her sense and emotions synchronizing in alarm,

Kan Hana screamed from within.

“Nooo!”

Right before the containment room lost all its properties and began free-falling,

The tiny flames gathered together towards her, but by then Kan Hana had already fainted.

—

“…Ahhh… Noooo…”

Thud.

Ugh. It’s noisy.

What is this?

That voice seemed familiar…

Kan Hana opened her eyes.

“Progenitor. Still prohibited from rising! Rest! Rest!”

As she slowly sat up, a snake Tonton-i slithered by, licking her hand and urging her to lie down again.

You didn’t use to love being stepped on or having me lie on you, did you?

Why so eager?

It’s not like I’m sick or anything…

“Kyaaao…”

Tsk. Who said I wanted to get up?

I just need to confirm something.

She placed her hand over her chest and felt the divine fire.

“Keeeeeey…”

Amazing.

Why does it feel like it’s calmer than before?

Just from resting a bit?

I doubt it. I felt this heat could only start calming after hundreds of years at least.

It’s not ordinary fire—it’s divine fire for a reason.

Did someone do something while I was resting?

That soda or whatever it was that made my chest feel relieved, wasn’t as effective as now.

And the ringing in my ears has lessened too.

My body feels refreshed overall.

Ah, now I know why the collapse sounds stopped and then started again.

Hmm.

Not exactly sure why, but it’s a good thing!

Well, shall we see if this cooperative Tonton-i snake wants to lie down and rest again?

Before that, let me stroke the snake who endured the heat for me.

Ah, you poor thing…

“Progenitor. It’s good… but, hurry back to rest.”

Even as Tonton-i enjoyed her touch with a hiss, it urged her to lie down again.

Hehe, good boy, good boy.

But…

…this spot is not ideal.

In all the hurry to lie down, I didn’t check and now the rain’s coming in.

Oh well.

If I had been in my previous state, taking a couple of wrong steps might have gotten me injured, but now I can afford to choose a better spot.

Holding Tonton-i, she sprang up.

Let’s find a better place.

“Chiiik.”

“Kyaaao?”

Hey, Tonton-i.

Before I lay down, I didn’t check, but…

Did it look like this around here?

It’s all melted, like it got hit by a meteor…

“Impossible?”

Tonton-i clearly said it wasn’t like this before.

…Oh my goodness, could it be…

Though, from what I can tell, only a ‘very small’ amount of divine fire leaked from under my chin.

And this is the result?

That’s absurd!

If this were my usual lake of divine fire, it would cool down naturally even without interference.

This is why stopping the Glwangcheol-i was pointless.

The difference was only between crashing or melting.

I could already see what state the building would end up in if we keep going like this.

But… it’s not over yet.

As long as it hasn’t collapsed yet, we can still contain the damage.

…Right?

I placed Tonton-i in a spot that wouldn’t get rained on.

And instructed him to stay put.

“Thud, thud, thud.”

Ran faster than usual.

A fire that has left the body and lost control doesn’t follow commands easily, even from afar.

There’s no choice.

I’ll have to manually pull it back before it burrows into the walls or floors.

What’s next after pulling it out?

No way I’m swallowing it again, so I’ll just wrap it around my body for now.

As long as I’m awake, it may burn but it won’t spread. Humans will be safe as long as they don’t come too close.

I saw several humans nearby who looked like they were about to be absorbed by the divine fire.

“Where is the fire spreading?”

“It’s spreading everywhere! There’s no escape!”

They seem fragile.

Don’t worry. Your deity has arrived.

I captured the divine fire heading towards the humans and wrapped it around me.

“Kyaa.”

Yeah. You’re safe now.

The next prayer…

…Ah, there’s no prayer this time, huh?

Even though I’ve saved quite a few people already, I’m still exhausted and tired…

I don’t expect prayers.

But it would be natural to at least receive gratitude, wouldn’t it?

Even though it may not help much…

I looked at the humans.

“That’s… what is that fiery mass?! Could it be the ascended IF-017?!”

“Quick, escape while there’s a path!”

What?

No, this is ridiculous.

There’s no need to be this surprised. You knew I would summon rain every time I expelled divine fire and you offered rites to me.

You knew my divine fire wouldn’t spread as long as I was awake…

You understood all these things. So why…

I lowered my extended hand, intending to reach out towards them, but retracted it.

“Kyaaa…”

…Yeah.

I get it. I know who you are.

Even though my body is in poor condition and my mind isn’t functioning well, I can still realize this one fact clearly.

There’s no such thing as a believer who regards their deity as a monster.

These people are not my believers.

Yeah.

Until now, I’ve had slight misconceptions.

If they don’t pray to their deity, then they’re not believers.

Even if they were once my believers… they are now excommunicated.

—

After gazing silently at those unpleasant entities for a moment,

I took a step toward the remaining divine fire.

Next… familiar voices and something collapsing echoed from that direction.

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