I, The Earth Dragon

Junwan, a renowned authority on Korean folk religion, embarked on a nighttime hike up Toryongsan Mountain. He was worried about his precious research materials getting swept away by the sudden downpour. As he reached his destination, a secluded cave, he encountered a strange phenomenon!

─Waaaaaaaargh!

A tremor shook the ground as if an earthquake had struck. Then, something emerged from the cave… Smooth, taut skin stretched over bones, a thick white ring around its head. Unbelievable as it seemed, no matter how he looked at it… it was a ■■■.

“A gi… giant… earthworm─!”

As Junwan cried out in shock, the enormous creature transformed into an earthworm and plopped into his hand. bbong!

Junwan descended the mountain feeling like he had been possessed, inexplicably carrying an earthworm. Strangely enough, he could touch the worm with his bare hands, and it inexplicably drew his attention. This was odd, considering his mild OCD(Obsessive-compulsive disorder) made him averse to even touching soil unless it was for research.

“Hey, earthworm, you are an earthworm, right? You’re not a dragon or something, are you?”

For some reason, he found himself talking to it. The earthworm, however, remained silent. Was it lonely? Was he, Junwan, going crazy from his own loneliness? But that night, something happened that truly made him question his sanity─.

“I never lower myself to converse with someone like you… but I’m desperate.”

A woman of unknown origin sat on his living room sofa, patiently waiting for him. With a grave expression, as if about to reveal a millennia-old secret, she began to speak.

“You must promise to keep this a secret. I… I am an Earth dragon.”

“An earth… worm?”

Had he been thinking about earthworms too much lately? He was hearing all sorts of nonsense. As Junwan scoffed in disbelief, the woman erupted in a terrifying roar.

“Earth worm?! If it weren’t for your interference, I would have ascended to the heavens as a true dragon!”