I’m Here To Find My Missing Companion

“How did you get into this place?”

Translated by rcast

A modest bright yellow building exudes elegance. Furthermore, the use of multiple small windows provided a basic and clean atmosphere rather than a colorful one.

Overall, the building felt small, but the golden statue on a low-rise pillar in the center stood out. 

It appeared to be a sculpture of God, staring down at the earth from a quite high vantage point. The general aspect, though, was of a really ancient and old building.

Chanelica gave up in front of the massive building.

“No…”

She had walked all day and had traveled all the way there. 

It’s been more than a half-day since she left the Cartel mansion. But she didn’t realize it until she got to her destination. She didn’t have anything but the bag she took from the Cartel home.

“…Hngh.”

She had a teary face. Chanelica went through her memories one by one.

‘Since when did I not have a bag?’

Chanelica, whose plan was derailed by the Dragon Lord’s memory loss, will not be able to meet God until next year. As a result, Chanelica’s first stop after leaving the Cartel mansion was to the temple.

“If I go to the temple of the human world, can’t I meet God?”

“Asha, we’re dragons. God doesn’t respond to us unless it’s through the Dragon Lord.”

It was pointless for a Dragon to go to the temple, according to his friend Chel. However, because Chanelica was already there, she decided to visit the temple at least once.

The temple is a place where you can get the best view of God’s traces.

There were many large temples, but Chanelica purposefully asked about the location of the smallest one. It was because she was well aware of God’s habits.

God likes quiet places. This is true even if God communicates often with humans.

It’s because simply thinking about traveling to an area with a lot of living things is exhausting.

Chanelica didn’t think the gods would meet her anyway, but she needed to locate a peaceful area to raise the possibility. That’s why she avoided the surrounding major temples and traveled a considerable distance to the small temple.

And she passed through a lot of places on her route there. A small restaurant and a well to cool off.

“I have no idea…”

Chanelica, who had collapsed from her seat, drew her knees together and buried her face in her hands.

It doesn’t make sense that she lost her entire money within a day of coming out!

It was completely dark in front of her. She had to spend at least a year in the human world before becoming a holy dragon. It’s the money she borrowed to spend wisely for a year and repay with after.

“I should have carried something with me!”

She was depressed. 

Chanelica had no idea how long it took her to get there. She had no idea how to catch a carriage on the street, so she just wandered around.

The sun has already begun to turn red, and the light in the sky has begun to fade. It’s hard to return to the Cartel mansion when it’s dark. It’ll be dark soon, and she won’t be able to see anything.

“But since I’m here, let’s listen.”

She sat up, helpless. The temple must be entered in order for her efforts not to be in vain.

“Everything will be fine. Let’s think after we get in. I’m going to call God first!”

Chanelica gathered her courage and approached the gate. There was no common design in the wide securely closed bright yellow door.

It’s been a long time, yet this temple is still the best.

Regardless of her terrible situation, the temple touched her and overwhelmed her. As if she’s in a familiar place.

As expected, there is no doubt that she was a god.

Chanelica pushed the door with all her might.

Squeak!

Fortunately, whether it was closed or not, the door opened with a weird sound. Chanelica gently entered the temple through the open door and took a look around.

Inside the temple, it was pitch black. The light from outside, which had not yet darkened, was only weakly lit through a few small windows.

“Hmm…”

Chanelica, who felt awkward coming to another God’s temple, coughed in vain.

But there was no response. There was only silence.

It was the atmosphere that Chanelica wanted. A quiet space that seems to be alone with God. 

Of course, she should be excited.

The internal structure of the temple was also nothing special. Just as the outside felt simple, there was no splendid decoration inside. 

There seemed to be no separate prayer room. Just a few long chairs for people to sit on, and one altar in the center front.

Chanelica walked straight to the front of the temple, toward the altar.

“Hmm…”

The temple must have spent money only on sculptures on the outer pillars.

There was little difference near the altar. There were no common sculptures or pictures of God. Just a few candlesticks and books. 

There was nothing strange about it even if anyone said it was a study.

‘Come to think of it, I didn’t even know whose temple it was.’

Chanelica closed her eyes. With the expectation that God might react to it even if they don’t know who it is.

“If there’s a God here, please come out.” She called God.

“I’m a dragon now, but I was a god, too. I still remember when I was a god. So I want you to come out and explain what happened to me.”

God understands the sound of the mind even if life does not speak. So, God will understand what Chanelica says.

But nothing happened.

Until a long time passed, Chanelica continued to call God. Meanwhile, darkness gradually began to lay inside the temple.

Chanelica’s pride has been hurt. 

Still, she was a god in the past, but she came to the temple to meet another god and did this.

Dragons already knew that they could not meet God. Just in case. She’ll still want to listen to it. 

However, she can’t help but feel sad even though she knew it.

“It’s fine.”

Chanelica, who shook her head and got up, paused while trying to go outside as it was.

The thick books on the altar caught her eye. Still, it was a temple she stopped by and she thought she wanted to know whose temple it was.

Chanelica picked up one of the three thick books on the altar. At the same time, the dust piled up in front of her bothered her nose.

Cough, cough.

‘Wow, it was an abandoned temple. Huh?’

She didn’t know because it was dark, but when she looked closely, there was a bunch of dust. Come to think of it, when she opened the door of the temple earlier, she thought she heard something rusty.

On the black cover of the book, there was a word that she had no idea about, but when she looked at it still, she could see what it meant.

It was a dragon’s ability to be passed on when one was a Hatchling. Even during the Hatchling period, she had to read a book to gain knowledge. 

To do so, she needed the ability to transform all the languages and letters of the world into dragon’s language, which was used to convey through magic during the Hatchling period from generation to generation. 

Since it is a magic that is passed on from someone and engraved on dragon hearts, Hatchlings, who cannot use magic at all, could naturally use it.

The transformation takes longer than usual. ‘Is it because it’s dark?’

On the cover of the book, it said “The Bible”. Chanelica headed over to the bookshelf without hesitation.

“What’s this?”

Chanelica frowned unknowingly.

All the letters in the bookshelf were erased black. It was a trace of someone painting it on purpose. Despite the large number of small and full letters throughout the book, every single letter is handwritten.

It was strange. She turned it over and over again to check the last page, but all the letters were erased throughout the thick book.

Chanelica immediately put the book down and opened another book.

“What?”

It was the same. The letters were completely erased so that no one could read them.

Sure enough, the third book she opened was in the same state.

“Why on earth…?”

Her blood seemed to cool down. She had a creepy feeling.

‘I, who was a god, felt this way at the temple? Is it possible that this kind of thing happens by entering the temple of another god while possessing the spirit of a god?’

She didn’t feel good. Something was about to happen. It would be okay if it was to meet the owner of this temple, but it wasn’t that kind of feeling at all.

‘I should get out of the temple first!’

She tried to turn around in a hurry, but in the short period, the darkness completely subsided. Chanelica immediately grabbed the matchbox on the altar. She thought she could walk to the door without falling if the candlestick was lit up.

Smack!

The match caught fire. She felt a small and warm heat with a spicy smell.

Chanelica immediately divided the small fire that was burning orange into three candles on the candlestick. That was when she grabbed the candlestick and turned around toward the door.

“Ugh!”

Chanelica suddenly stepped back, frightened by the sight of the person in front of her.

However, the silver candlestick with one hand was too heavy, and Chanelica, who tripped due to a strange twist in the center, was on the verge of falling back.

Smack!

The one who surprised Chanelica quickly grabbed the shaking candlestick and her arm at the same time. Fortunately, Chanelica did not fall.

“Are you okay?”

The thick voice of the man was catchy. Chanelica was surprised by the low, dark voice she heard for the first time. It was an attractive voice that made her want to sing.

“Oh, yes…”

Chanelica replied, confused. At that time, the candle shook. The light candles spun about on the candlestick looked precarious, as if they were going to go out, but they allowed Chanelica to recognize the man’s face.

“I’m sorry if I surprised you.”

“No, it’s not.”

Contrary to the idea of not knowing what surprised her, there was an answer that it wasn’t on its own. That’s because Chanelica felt like she was out of breath the moment she recognized the man’s face.

It is a face that can only be seen by a few candles, but the clear features and handsome features could not hide in the darkness.

The nose and mouth, which naturally blend with good eyes, naturally reminded Chanelica of the word “prince”. She wondered if this was what the face of a cutie, which was depicted in several fairy tales she read in the library of the Cartel mansion, was like.

“Thank you for catching me.”

The heavy candlestick had already been completely handed over to the man.

Chanelica, whose hands were free, bowed slightly with her hands on the collarbone. It was an act that came out naturally even though no one taught her.

“By the way, who are you?” And her endless curiosity followed her words.

The candlelight was not bright, so she didn’t know the exact color of his hair, but it was freely scattered. Also, the clothes were not particularly outstanding. His face is like a prince, but from the rest of his attire, he seemed to be just a commoner.

“Excuse me, Lady. I’ll ask first.” The man said with a serious look. “This temple is a place where unauthorized people should not enter. Lady, how did you get into this place?”