How to Live as a Half-Dragon

Chapter 18

018. growth.

I deduced that the owner of the aura was a dragonian based on two grounds.

Just to know that the momentary feeling of energy was threatening enough and that there are current dragonians in the vicinity of this village.

These two could be said to be their basis.

However, it was the realm of instinct, not the theoretical part, that added confidence to the reasoning.

A sense that distinguishes none other than the same kind.

‘But why is my body like this… .’

Xi’an’s instinct.

sharp senses.

He was saying that he was a dragonian.

And as proof… .

The skin vibrates in real time.

“What is different from yesterday?”

Xian felt suspicious about living yesterday as well.

However, yesterday was not so scary.

The hair on his whole body didn’t stand upright, and his body didn’t tremble.

‘Because the distance where the energy was detected is close… ?’

Xian immediately shook his head.

It was because he recognized that there was a more fundamental reason than that.

It was true that the boat was closer to where he felt the energy than yesterday, but Xian was sure that this was not a fear that came from a simple sense of distance.

The key was the reason why the ship only sensed it at a closer distance.

‘I see… .’

The reason was that there was no mana.

A small difference, but a huge difference.

It wasn’t just the head that knew that a small way to protect itself was missing.

He knew every single cell in his body.

It was a natural phenomenon for the guys who knew their bodies, who were much weaker than usual, to scream for the danger of survival.

“… … .”

Xian looked at Hughes on the bed.

The desire to wake her up at once came up.

Even if he is mature for his age, Xian is only 10 years old.

It was natural to instinctively find a place to lean on a weak heart.

‘No, Hughes won’t always be by my side.’

Fortunately, however, the young dragon overcame the urge himself.

I chose to endure it alone.

For now, waking Hughes would get me out of the panic, but I decided to look further afield.

No matter how you think about it, the answer to survival is self-survival.

If you don’t do that, like the extinct dragons… .

Or like the dragonians who are still dying somewhere… .

“I die too… .”

okay… let’s hold on to ourselves

Running away isn’t the trick.

Now, it is important to get used to this condition as soon as possible.

Because it was such a training.

And, fortunately, Xian found out the cause of the fear.

‘It’s easy to deal with if you know the answer.’

Xian closed his eyes and blocked his senses for a moment.

The enemy may still be around, but it won’t take too long to soothe the startled spirit.

Xi’an’s breathing quickly began to calm down.

The surprised heart and skin returned cold and calm.

“after… .”

After three or four breaths, Xian slowly opened his eyes.

The blocked senses returned and I began to feel my surroundings more clearly.

‘Why?’

It is transmitted wider and more clearly than when the necklace was just worn.

Of course, the range still wasn’t as wide as when there was mana, but the detail felt better than before.

Even the movements of grass insects tens of meters away are clearly felt.

After pondering the reason for a while, Xian came to a simple conclusion when he could hardly find an answer.

“I’ll have to ask Hughes tomorrow.”

* * *

If you’re lucky, you’re lucky.

Nothing else unusual occurred throughout the night.

The dragonian’s energy was never caught in the senses again.

‘You must have noticed that I noticed, right?’

Just like it was two days ago, and yesterday as well, it was clear that he had sensed the slightest reaction as he did.

‘He’s a very careful guy… .’

As I was thinking that I should be very careful today, I saw the dawn.

It dawned on me that the lonely night was over.

Sseureuk.

Sian turned his head at the noise coming from the side of the bed.

I saw Hughes waking up.

“Are you awake, Hughes?”

“draft.”

“yes?”

“I forgot my sister.”

“ah… .”

Shian, who was very nervous at the moment, thought.

Well, there is an age difference… .

“I’m sorry, sister.”

“no. You just have to be careful next time.”

Hearing Xian’s apology, Hughes just smiled brightly as if he had never done that.

Wasn’t really that angry… ?

Well, it didn’t make sense that Hughes, who wasn’t someone else, was angry.

It was hard for Xian, who knew her gentle personality, to think of it.

Even if I saw you angry yesterday.

It was when Xian was thinking the same thing.

Hughes opened his mouth.

“By the way, did something happen to Xian overnight?”

“Ah, that’s it.”

Sian immediately opened his mouth.

Hughes had a lot to say without asking, but since he asked himself, there was no reason not to say it.

Hughes was taken aback when he heard Xian’s story that it seemed that a dragonian had come and gone during the night.

“that… Did something like that happen?”

No matter how good your senses are, you are bound to be relatively vulnerable when you are sleeping.

That’s why I go back to sleep.

Because of this, Hughes, who was sleeping, did not feel the sense of death that Xian, who had become more blunted, felt.

Hughes raised his voice.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?!”

“ah… that is… .”

I feel really angry this time.

‘Well, now that I think about it, isn’t it strange to be angry… .’

Yesterday’s incident could have been dangerous to not only Xian but also the defenseless Hughes if it went wrong.

It seemed that I was too careless.

“sorry… . I just don’t want to bother you… .”

In fact, it was a different reason, but it was also an obvious truth that such a heart was not absent at all.

Fortunately, the immediate apology worked, Hughes didn’t get any more angry.

“It is dangerous. Are you aware of it?”

“yes… .”

Hughes spoke as Xian answered in a dejected voice.

“So what about that Dragonian?”

“As soon as the presence was discovered, it disappeared immediately.”

“hmm… I mean… . After all, there are only two of us.”

No matter how bad they felt about being invaded, from the other side’s point of view, there would be no reason to go ahead with the attack by thinking of the worst.

Hughes examined Xian’s body.

“Anyway, you’re saying you’re not hurt?”

“yes.”

“I’ll say it again, but from now on, you can’t do that. It’s a situation where I can’t even adapt to the limited mana… .”

Xian, who was listening to the story, opened his mouth slightly with a face that reminded him of something.

“I’m just talking about it.”

“Is there something? Or you’re hurt too… .”

“No, it’s not like that… There is something strange… .”

Xian opened up about the change that had taken place overnight.

When he heard about how his senses became sharper when he shook off his fear and opened his eyes again, Hughes’ expression changed drastically.

“I can’t… .”

“What’s the big deal… ?”

I didn’t have any particular pain, and it seemed like it wasn’t like that because my head was clear, but I couldn’t conclude that either.

It was because Xian had no knowledge about this side.

‘Coming to think of it again, could it be, for example, a functional problem with the necklace?’

And if so, it was very difficult.

It wasn’t a gift, it was a loan, but if it was damaged, Hughes felt very sorry.

As Xian secretly checked his chest with an anxious mind, Hughes opened his mouth.

“It’s not like that, but… .”

“I’m glad it’s not… Then why… ?”

As if asking why he was so surprised, Hughes pondered seriously for a moment before saying,

“Do you remember how I explained the training before?”

“Yes, of course.”

It’s just a one-day story.

Although I can’t remember it perfectly, it seems that it was a story about accurately grasping the body’s natural strength by limiting mana and further training the body, not mana.

said Hughes.

“Perhaps Xian has done that growth.”

* * *

Sian narrowed his eyes and said.

“Growth? me?”

“yes.”

Hughes said that thanks to facing fear and overcoming it on his own, the oppressed senses seem to have become free and more delicate.

“Is there anything else that has changed? Like being sick somewhere.”

“I don’t know anything about that. Oh, my head is clear. My body seems a bit light… .”

When Xian said that while moving his body, such as clasping and stretching his hands, Hughes murmured to himself.

“Not only the senses, but also the mind and body… Didn’t even feel the pain… ?”

“why?”

Xian’s question woke Hughes from contemplation.

“No, nothing. By the way, Xian is really amazing.”

“really?”

“Yes, I’ve never seen such rapid progress in mana capping.”

Hearing Hughes’ praise, he feels embarrassed for some reason.

Praise makes even a half-dragon dance.

accept and write down

“How long did Hughes take?”

Hughes, who seemed perplexed for some reason, said.

“It took about three years… ?”

“Three years? really… ?”

It was a question in the sense that there was no need to lie and show it off, but for some reason, Hughes’ expression of embarrassment grew a little thicker.

I knew it was a lie, but I’m curious about it… .

“no way… . Don’t do that, tell me the truth.”

“that is… .”

Hughes, who was at a loss, confessed the truth after a while.

“… Actually, it took 5 years. This is real.”

“uh… . Five years?”

Putting aside my apologies to Hughes for being involuntarily inquiring, I was dumbfounded.

Judging by the atmosphere, it’s not like I’m lying… .

‘Did he achieve great growth?’

I don’t know what it is, but Xian, who was genuinely happy that his chances of surviving had increased anyway, opened his mouth.

Looking at the atmosphere, I knew it was a good thing, but it was because I couldn’t really feel it.

“Then what is good?”