Chapter 318 - 318. The Phantom Beast World and the Human World (Part 1)
The dry scent of straw tickled my nose.
I lifted my heavy eyelids. A whitewashed ceiling and thick wooden beams came into hazy view. Apparently, I was lying on a bed thickly layered with straw.
I slowly sat up, bracing for pain—but none came. I recalled the nightmare battle with the Ancient Dragon, then clenched and unclenched my hand. My fingers responded clearly. The intense agony that had wracked my body was gone, as if it had never existed.
"Where…?"
"This is the guesthouse of the Village of the Phantom Beasts."
Stella, sitting cross-legged beside the straw bed, leaned forward with a sigh of relief. She handed me a wooden cup. I brought it to my lips. The water was plain and room-temperature, but it soaked into my parched throat, as if reviving every cell in my body.
"How long was I asleep?"
"Nearly a full day. You were sleeping so deeply, I feared you might never wake."
As she spoke, I turned to the window. Outside lay a peaceful village of cottage-like buildings. All structures were sized for humans—far too small for Ancient Dragons or Wyverns. As Stella said, this was clearly a facility for human visitors. The sky remained that artificial, flawless blue.
I looked back at the room. Stella sat with hands on her knees, beaming at me. I could tell she was waiting for me to speak—but I couldn’t read what her eyes hoped for.
"What happened with the trial…?"
"You passed, of course. Just as I believed you would."
She puffed her chest proudly. I sighed, half-annoyed. Who was the one shouting about dying honorably just moments ago?
"So… can I go back now?"
Chairman should have contacted them, but I’d been away from the Levante members too long. The Mateo Trading Company’s caravan must have already set sail. I’d wanted to see them off.
"No. We must complete the ‘Covenant Ceremony.’ After that, Mash, you’ll become a Dragon Tamer, just like me."
"With that Ancient Dragon? No way. It’s too scary—I never want to see it again."
"Don’t say such cowardly things. Normally, the one who gives the trial forms the covenant. But an exception has been made—for you, Mash."
As she spoke, a girl emerged from the back room, carrying a tray. She wore clothing reminiscent of traditional Japanese attire. Her skin was translucently pale, her features delicate—reminiscent of an elf. But between her silken silver hair, a pair of horns peeked out from the back.
She placed the tray of food before me and sat silently beside Stella.
"Let me introduce her. This is Houan—she will form a covenant with Mash."
"She’s not a dragon!?"
I shouted in surprise. Houan puffed her cheeks, clearly annoyed. She looked even younger than Mami. First Chairman, now this ancient dragon trying to pawn off a child on me—did they think I was some kindergarten teacher?
"I’m a real Ancient Dragon. And I’m fifty years old. I’m older than you, so stop treating me like a kid!"
Her voice was childish, slightly lisping, matching her appearance.
"You read my mind!?"
I stared, stunned. Houan glared back. Stella quickly stepped between us.
"Now, now, Mash. As Houan says, she’s a true descendant of the Ancient Dragons. She’s just using human-form magic right now."
Stella leaned close to my ear. "Ancient Dragons are said to live even longer than elves."
"I see… Can they take any human form?"
Maybe this was a form meant to appeal to me. But the horns and unnaturally perfect beauty might be limits of the transformation. Yet Stella shook her head.
"It’s not disguise or illusion. The human form reflects the caster’s true self."
"Can Wyverns do it too?"
"No. Only high-ranking Phantom Beasts like Ancient Dragons can achieve this."
As Stella explained, Houan puffed up proudly.
"Well, if she’s older than me inside, it’s fine. Let’s just finish this ‘Covenant Ceremony’ and return to Heilong."
At my words, Stella’s smile faded. Her serious gaze pinned me.
"Mash. The covenant is a bond of souls, a symbol of friendship between you and Houan. Afterward, you’ll mostly live in your separate worlds. But if you call, Houan will carry you on her back to the ends of the world, and aid you with great power. But the reverse is also true—you must answer her call and become her strength. Until death parts you."
"So we won’t travel together after the covenant?"
Stella shook her head quietly.
"The ‘air’ that fills our worlds is different. The air of our world is toxic to Phantom Beast World dwellers, and vice versa. It’s not instantly lethal, but long stays are limited—about a month at most."
"So I just need to return within that limit?"
"Yes. Returning will cleanse the accumulated toxicity."
Stella nodded. It reminded me of our situation as transmigrants. We too relied on the blessing of the Fifty Gods to survive in this world. That blessing lasted ten years. I continued my journey to fulfill Racshell’s wish and break free of that chain—but the end was still unseen. I let out a deep sigh.
"But… the entrance to the Phantom Beast World is on a sheer cliff in a snowbound mountain range. I can’t fly, so reaching it would be nearly impossible. Even if Houan calls, I physically can’t come. And I don’t know what kind of help you’d need, but don’t expect me to mediate fights between Ancient Dragons!"
Houan shook her long hair, smiling.
"It’s okay. There are other entrances. And I’ll come get you. In that trial, Mash didn’t lose to Mother. If you hadn’t stopped your attack, Mother would’ve fallen. So it’s okay."
She smiled faintly, her small lips softening.
"Mother… you mean the Ancient Dragon with azure scales? I didn’t have a chance. It was a one-sided beating. I only got lucky because she was toying with me."
Besides, I now knew that even using Goddess Summon, Racshell couldn’t come instantly to the Phantom Beast World. She must have appeared in my world first, then physically traveled here. Being relied upon in such an unreliable place was troubling.
As I thought, Houan pushed the tray toward me.
"Eat before it gets cold."
On it lay a mountain of meat resembling golden-brown chicken wings. The sweet-savory glaze filled my nose, stirring my hunger. I didn’t know what meat it was, but I hadn’t eaten in a day. My stomach growled. I grabbed one and bit in.
The smooth, glazed skin, the chewy, fibrous meat beneath—it had the same springy texture as chicken. The sweet-savory flavor was nearly identical to fried wings. Watching me devour it, Stella cautiously picked one up and took a delicate bite. Her eyes widened. She covered her mouth with her hand.
"What is this? It’s delicious!"
"An otherworldly hero who visited once taught us the recipe."
Houan picked up one for herself, chewing happily. Her expression was pure bliss. Perhaps her kimono-like clothes were also introduced by a transmigrant.
For a while, the three of us silently devoured the mountain of wings.
"The one who visited… was it Akizuki Uta?"
I mentioned the name of the transmigrant summoned a hundred years ago, but Houan shook her head.
"I don’t know the name. Mother might."
"By the way, what did your mother mean when she told Racshell, ‘You destroyed our world’? What did Racshell do to the Ancient Dragons?"
Houan tilted her head vaguely.
"I’m not sure…"
She looked out the window, her eyes distant.
"Originally, the Phantom Beast World was like the human world—there was a sun, and at night, stars and a moon shone. But when the gods of the human world connected the worlds, the collapse of the Phantom Beast World began. The only reason it still holds its form is because the Primordial Dragon Lord sacrificed itself to uphold the world…"
"The human world is Stella’s world, and the gods are Racshell and others?"
Houan nodded. "It’s also the world Mash lives in," Stella added.
"Her… and the beings called the Fifty Gods…"
Houan seemed uneasy, nervously clenching and unclenching her hands on her lap. Why were Racshell and the others trying to connect the worlds? It must be tied to their origins—and likely connected to why Mizuki and I were summoned.
"Why did Racshell and the others try to connect the Phantom Beast World?"
"I don’t know. Mother would know more."
"…I see. Do you not talk much with your mother?"
Houan nodded solemnly.
"When Mother laid her eggs, she accidentally dropped mine into a ravine. The Evil Dragon Lord found it and raised me."
"O-oh…"
Houan looked at me, as if checking if I was listening seriously. I gave a weak nod.
"Later, Mother and the Evil Dragon Lord had a huge fight, and I was returned to Mother. But when I said I wanted to keep living with the Evil Dragon Lord, she got furious. So… I think Mother doesn’t like me."
…
Her backstory was pitiful, but the clumsy egg-dropping incident made it hard to tell whether to laugh or sympathize. I glanced at Stella—she wore the same conflicted expression.
"Mash."
For a moment, emotion vanished from Houan’s face, leaving only a serious gaze.
"I can’t freely control water like Mother, and I’m not strong. But I have the power of the White Dragon—the power to heal. Mother told me to form a covenant with you, but this is my own wish too. Choose me. Form a covenant with me."
Her wide, mystical eyes seemed to pull me in.
"Was it you who healed my body?"
My voice trembled. She nodded without hesitation.
"If it’s Houan, I want to form the covenant. I feel the same way."
As I spoke, her cheeks flushed, then burst into a radiant, joyful smile.
"Mash… I’m happy…"
Houan lowered her lashes and leaned her face toward mine. Warm, soft lips touched mine. I felt her heartbeat—thump—echo in my chest, then spread through my body, wrapping me in warmth.
It felt like a fleeting moment, yet also endless.
When her lips pulled away, she gazed at me again. Then placed a small flute in my hand.
"This…?"
"A flute made from my horn. Its sound is inaudible to others, but I will always hear it. As long as you have this flute, I will come to you no matter where you are."
I stroked her cheek. It was still warm, still soft.
"Houan. From now on, I’m counting on you."
She gave a small nod.
"But… we should’ve done the covenant before eating. Mash’s taste was delicious."