"Heh."
"Hahaha."
"I'm finally human again."
"Four hundred years. A whole four hundred years."
"I've waited for this day for far too long."
The woman—naked, with skin as white as snow, crimson hair cascading to her waist, and radiantly beautiful features—completely ignored Ide pinned beneath her. She was lost in the ecstasy of admiring her restored human form.
As she gazed at her own human hands, a blissful, almost intoxicated smile spread across her face, while tears streamed down her cheeks.
To her, the immense power of a Dragon was nothing more than a long, agonizing curse.
"Allow me to correct a small misconception and pour a bucket of cold water on your excitement."
At that moment, the black-haired young man shook his head with a faint smile.
His eyes were still closed. He seemed to realize that the current situation was... inconvenient. With a wave of his hand, he conjured a set of clothes and draped them over the woman who had transformed from the crimson Dragon.
Only then did he open his eyes. He looked at her and said, "Unfortunately, you haven't truly become human again. Your essence remains that of a Dragon. That hasn't changed in the slightest! I merely restored your outward appearance to what it was when you were human. That is all."
"I haven't become human?"
The woman's body trembled. A shadow passed over her eyes. She carefully used her magic to inspect her own body, only to find that the boy was right. Her current human form was nothing more than a superficial illusion.
She bit her lip and asked the boy, "How can I truly become human again?"
"I'm sorry."
"There is nothing I can do."
"Even I cannot turn a human who has transformed into a Dragon due to the side effects of Dragon Slayer Magic back into a normal human."
The black-haired boy shook his head helplessly. Every power in this world came with a price. Dragon Slayer Magic was no exception.
"Dragons" are a long-lived species naturally favored by the world. Their lifespan, strength, and affinity for magic are superior to humans in every way.
The only way for a human to gain power equal to or greater than a Dragon is to become a Dragon themselves.
That is the unavoidable fate of Dragon Slayer Magic—a side effect that isn't really a side effect, but an evolution.
"Is there no way?!"
"No, that's impossible!"
"There is still a way."
After hearing the boy's words, a dark cloud settled over the woman's eyes. She muttered to herself in a low voice, her pale hand gently caressing her abdomen. "The final method."
"I see."
"That is indeed the last resort."
"However, once you use that method, you will completely fall and become a beast."
"Even so, are you sure you want to do it?"
The black-haired boy glanced at her abdomen and instantly understood. He looked up at her, his voice questioning.
"I..."
The woman didn't answer. She just kept stroking her belly, her body trembling more and more violently.
It seemed that two conflicting wills were waging a fierce war deep within her heart.
"Well, how should I put this?"
"What if I told you I could turn you back into a human?"
Just as the woman gritted her teeth, her will hardening as she seemed about to make a terrible decision...
Ide, who had been pinned under her the whole time and completely ignored by both of them, finally spoke up.
He had pretty much figured out what was going on.
First, the woman was originally human but had accidentally turned into a Dragon due to special circumstances.
She had lived for over four hundred years, desperate to become human again, but couldn't find a way.
The mysterious black-haired boy helped restore her human appearance, but couldn't change her Dragon essence.
That seemed to be the gist of it.
"You?"
Hearing Ide's voice, the woman suddenly remembered she was still sitting on him. She stood up calmly, then hauled Ide off the ground by his collar. "You say you can turn me back into a human?"
"Uhh."
"If I can get my hands on a Devil Fruit, there's a high probability it will work," Ide answered.
"Devil Fruit?"
Both the woman and the black-haired boy froze. They exchanged a look, seeing only confusion in each other's eyes.
Clearly, neither of them had ever heard of something called a "Devil Fruit."
"Anyway, let me introduce myself first. I'm Ide."
Ide felt the pressure mounting under the gaze of the silent duo. He feigned a relaxed demeanor and introduced himself.
"Irene."
"Irene Belserion."
The woman was silent for a moment before giving her name.
"Heh."
"You can call me Zeref."
The black-haired boy smirked, a cunning glint in his eye as he looked at Ide and gave his name.
"Irene and Zeref?"
"Okay, got it."
However, upon hearing their names, Ide simply nodded. He didn't show much reaction.
"Oh?"
This reaction surprised the black-haired boy—Zeref.
After all, Zeref considered his name to carry quite a bit of weight on this continent.
"Ide, tell me about this Devil Fruit," Irene demanded urgently.
"A Devil Fruit is a special fruit that grants the eater all sorts of strange superpowers!"
"As far as I know, among the countless Devil Fruits, there is a type called the Human-Human Fruit (Hito Hito no Mi). If an animal eats it, they can transform into a human."
Ide explained the intelligence he possessed.
"It's actually true?"
While Ide was speaking, Irene's eyes glowed with a brilliant purple light. She had enchanted her own eyes with the concept of "Truth Sight."
Because of this, she knew Ide wasn't lying to her.
"Where is this Devil Fruit?"
Having confirmed the Devil Fruit was real, Irene's heart pounded wildly in her chest. She wanted to find this legendary fruit and eat it right now.
"Uhh."
"How do I explain this?"
"This so-called 'Devil Fruit' isn't in this world."
Ide said awkwardly.
"..."
Irene, who had been thrilled a moment ago, realized this statement was also true. Her excitement cooled instantly, replaced by anger. She glared at Ide. "Are you toying with me?!"
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