I'm Not an Earthworm, I'm an Earth Dragon

I haven’t been able to eat decent food lately, so I missed food that I could chew. But even if I longed for such a thing, that was not something to eat.

It’s not that I’ve never eaten bugs. In the past, when I had no choice, I ate them. But even then, I really ate to live, not because I liked it.

Above all, this minty smell. I don’t know why they put that in baked food, but the legs of the caterpillars were sticking out of the pie surface, making it disgusting, and the smell was telling me not to eat it.

“…I’m not eating. I’ll just starve. Ugh, just looking at it makes me sick… Do you have any leftover utensils? I’m starting to crave iron.”

“Yours… I ate it all a few days ago. Do you want to eat mine…? If you don’t want to, I’ll give you a plate.”

I don’t need utensils, but I need a plate. I received his utensils from Myungho and started chewing on them.

About a week ago. Since entering this jungle, the ground was completely dominated by tree roots, so there was no way to access the mineral vein. As a last resort, I endured by eating utensils mixed with iron, but I ate all of mine.

But if this is the case, isn’t it like eating something that was in Myungho’s mouth…? I thought, but I figured I shouldn’t care about such things since it was already cleaned.

And it’s not like I can be picky. It was a bit awkward, but when the roots of my nails started to ache, I didn’t care. I took a big bite and watched Yuna eat that thing.

…She’s eating it, somehow. Yuna was eating, saying she didn’t think elves would have this kind of kindness. Akash was casually eating a tree nut that he got from somewhere.

“…Where did you get that?”

“I hid one just for myself to eat. I’m not giving it to you.”

What a jerk. Still, it seemed like he was telling the truth, and nothing else was visible. I thought about searching his luggage, but I didn’t think I needed to be so petty among my colleagues.

“…Yeah. That’s just like you. Myungho. So today… are we going to the place where the Great Worm is?”

“Yeah, right? Depending on the distance, it might be today or tomorrow.”

“And Yuna will find clues or answers about her parents’ whereabouts.”

“…Yeah. But why are you asking that all of a sudden? There’s no need to reconfirm.”

It’s not that important. But I wanted to know. What does that clueless guy want to achieve by going on an adventure? Power to be recognized in his home country? Or an ability that no one can match? Money?

“I haven’t heard what you want yet. You must have a purpose, right? I want to know. Power? Or money? Fame? What do you want that made you go on an adventure?”

“Well… experience? Since I came from another world, I was curious about what this world is like. I secretly longed for this kind of different world. Of course, it’s good to get stronger and make money, but I want to see the world. I wouldn’t risk my life for it though.”

In a way, it was a timid yet deflating wish that was very much like him. Still, I could feel the purity and sincerity. He really wants it.

“Then, have you ever thought about what you’ll do after your revenge is over?”

After the revenge is over? That’s obvious. I looked at the still shining necklace. The precious necklace my mother gave me. The necklace she told me to carry like my life.

After achieving my mother’s revenge… survive, survive, survive, survive, and then survive? What’s after surviving? Survive, survive…

“Survive… and… after surviving…? Live…”

“…Altera?”

Survive. Arthur? Survive. If I survive, survive. Survive? Survive.

Snap.

Akash snapped his fingers right next to my ear. What was I doing just now? Oh, right. I had to answer. Well, for some reason, I couldn’t recall what happened next.

“Oh, sorry. I was thinking about something else for a moment. About what happens after revenge… I’ve never thought about it. Maybe… I’ll live a quiet, peaceful life somewhere. Of course, until then, I’ll be with you guys.”

“What’s this? Is it time to reveal our purposes? Hehe, then I can’t be left out. I’ve never told that hero guy… but now it’s fine. My purpose is the end of the world.”

Akash suddenly interjected into the conversation and spouted nonsense. Then everyone quietly stared at him. Even Marie.

“…Oops, I missed a word. To be precise, it was. Now I’m just drifting like a jellyfish in the current, so don’t worry.”

Myungho stared at him as if he was pathetic and contemptible, then said it seemed like we were ready to go.

“…Yes! Eating the delicious pie makes all my worries go away! I’m ready, let’s go!”

Was it that delicious? Anyway, it seemed like she was motivated, so it seemed good for Yuna. I hope whatever the truth is, it’s something she can handle.

As we stepped out of the inn that was our exclusive domain, the tree roots that formed the building quickly unraveled and returned to their original form.

It felt like a lie that we were just there, but soon, Myungho grabbed an elf wandering around and asked if he could find the person who came with us.

Then a vine came down from the ceiling, and an elf was formed at the end of the vine like a fruit, and gently fell to the ground.

“You called. Your business is probably to ask questions to the Consensus, yes? Is that correct?”

Myungho, who was staring blankly at the disgusting yet marvelous phenomenon, soon came to his senses and answered yes. Then the elf who came with us said to wait a moment, and suddenly stuck a protruding tree branch into his ear.

“Synchronizing. Adjusting individual details. Adjusting personality. Initiating descent procedure… Greetings. Benefactors who protected me from the giant turtle. What are you curious about?”

The elf, whose appearance and voice had changed from before, felt somewhat divine. But Yuna, as if she didn’t care about that, approached it and asked in a trembling voice.

“My… no. What happened to my parents?!”

– – – –

“Sigh, even the World Tree doesn’t know. Maybe there’s no way to know my parents’ whereabouts in this world…”

Yuna, who was full of will just a moment ago, was now spreading gloom and lethargy around her, but I couldn’t tell her to stop.

Because even the World Tree didn’t know. At first, she asked if an elf had ever been near the place where she was found, but it answered no. She asked if there was an elf who went out of the forest with a child, but there was no answer.

She asked the World Tree with all sorts of conditions, but there was nothing that could be a clear answer. There was just an elven couple who removed the plants inside by some method before leaving the forest, and then disappeared without a trace.

When it was said that there was a baby in the womb, Yuna listened with her ears perked up, but the time was too far in the past for it to be her parents. So Yuna was now emitting a negative aura, saying she didn’t know what to do anymore.

“But if we look at it positively, it means they could still be alive, right? It’s confirmed that your parents cut off contact. If you follow the clues one by one, you might reach them someday.”

“…I guess so. But I wish I knew where they went…”

While Yuna was depressed, Altera was staring out the window with a stiff expression. Because while Yuna couldn’t get the information she wanted, Altera did.

When she asked if the Great Worm lived in the forest, the World Tree asked why she was asking that. Altera replied with a determined expression that she had to find and kill her father.

When she asked for the location if the Great Worm living here was her father, the World Tree said it couldn’t help with the subjugation, but it could open the way, and gave us information and a guide.

If we kill it, we have to give 10% of the corpse.

It’s not important, but the guide was the one who saw me get infected yesterday. He had a lot of hair and looked unique, but today he looked like any other male elf.

Let’s not think about it too deeply. I’m not going to fight these people, and I don’t want to.

“…Altera.”

“Yeah.”

Even she seemed nervous, as Altera was sitting more stiffly than I had ever seen her. I thought about making a silly joke to ease her tension, but I gave up.

I don’t know if she would understand, and what if she doesn’t laugh even if she does?

Marie’s song urging us to have a balanced meal quickly, and the noise of passing over the tree roots.

Those were the two sounds heard inside the carriage.

“…We have arrived. The great dragon you seek is over there. Due to our contract with the great dragon, we cannot go any further. This individual will wait here for your return. I hope you come back alive.”

The elf, who used to be human, informed us of our arrival, and as soon as he spoke, we got off the carriage as if we had been waiting for it.

And I noticed something strange. Over there, I saw light. No. Not the light from the glowing stones.

Sunlight. As I moved towards the light, I was overwhelmed by the scenery.

In a deep and huge pit, large enough to fit a tower, the skeleton of a huge creature exuding presence was embedded along the wall. Judging by the length, it seemed to be a snake.

If it were alive and moving, would it have been called a giant beast? The skull seemed to be deep down where it couldn’t be seen, and only the tail could be seen from above the pit.

“…Is that where the dragon is?”

Fortunately or unfortunately, there was a downward path on the wall that we could barely climb down.

“Ah. Wait. Before we go down, give me the book. We don’t know what’s down there. We should at least use a barrier.”

Akash said we should use a protective barrier before going, and asked me for the book. It would be necessary.

He didn’t even chant a spell, just snapped his fingers, and cast a barrier on all of us except Altera.

“…Why only me?”

“Your body is harder than the barrier, do you want it?”

When Altera complained about why she was the only one not given a barrier, Akash grumbled about why she would want it when she didn’t need it, but still cast a barrier on Altera.

“…Okay, let’s go. I… will take the lead. Everyone, follow carefully.”

We have a barrier. Swallowing my tension, I headed into the pit.