Chapter 148: This is what you call brainwashing.

“Besides, we never know when it’ll use that ability. So we have to end it in one shot. The problem is those scales.”

“Exactly. We can pierce them, but we have to take it down in a single, clean hit. Dragging it out won’t help.”

The longer we drag it out, the more likely we get caught by that ability.

So the priority now is strategy.

I guess we should be thankful we can even discuss a plan while dodging those massive tail attacks.

“Even so, unless we strip off all those scales—”

“Hmm. As long as it’s not a worm, right? Young girl.”

“What are you thinking?”

“Can’t we just change the scales into something else?”

What should we turn the scales into?

“Change the scales into something else? I don’t think it’d be hard… but all of that? That size?”

“We already turned that giant fireball into candy, didn’t we?”

If we could change that fireball into candy, then changing the scales should be possible too.

At least, that’s what I think.

Whether the Young girl can or can’t—she must.

It’s not like we can Dragon Ball-style regroup and fight again later.

“Changing a fireball and changing scales isn’t the same thing. The fireball was huge and simple. But those… there’s too many.”

“So it’s hard to change?”

“All at once is impossible. It’ll take time. That skill wasn’t really meant for this kind of use, anyway. And they’re divine beasts, right? That means the scales are probably on another level.”

So it comes down to rank?

Maybe the scales are like fish scales—easy to change.

But these are dragon scales, so they’re probably very valuable too.

If we want to gather them, we should focus on stripping just a specific area.

“Then just do the head. Change the head area.”

“Alright. As long as we get the head.”

“Both of them?”

“Just the Azure Dragon should be enough. He’s the only one with the teleport ability.”

The Black Dragon doesn’t seem to have it, so if we take the Azure one down quickly, we’ll be fine.

I don’t know what it’ll turn into, but let’s see.

“Kuhahaha! What’s wrong? Afraid to come at me? You’re weaker than those bugs!”

“Ugh. Being called weaker than the hero is kinda insulting, y’know?”

Even the hero wouldn’t dare act cocky with me.

Right then, our noble Young girl starts waving her hands—and before long, the Azure Dragon’s head scales start transforming.

Hair? No, wait… coins?

At first, the scales changed one by one, but suddenly they all turned into coins and clattered to the ground.

“Coins. Covered it all in 100-won coins.”

“Isn’t that like… counterfeit or something?”

“They’ll disappear eventually anyway.”

“Whoa. From afar, it looks like he’s going bald. Like he’s got alopecia or something.”

“Man, that’s just sad.”

Yeah, he looked completely bald.

Kinda reminds me of that old bald dino known for headbutts.

Anyway, no more waiting.

Time to smash that skull.

The Azure Dragon seemed to finally notice something was wrong with his head, but by then I was already on top of him, aiming for the kill.

“What the—? Why does my head feel… empty?”

“Bro! Your head—wait! Look out!”

“Skull Smash!”

CRACK!!

With a sharp, bone-crushing sound, I smashed through the Azure Dragon’s skull.

He dropped to the ground like a fake dragon pretending to be divine.

Even an Azure Dragon can’t beat me when I’m armed with a goddess’s power.

“Guuuuuurgh…”

“N-No! Azure Dragon bro!”

Don’t “bro” me now.

You’re finished.

Though his body was still twitching, like a dying eel, I figured I’d better finish it off.

“Grrrr… Is this what divine power feels like? I—I won’t die like this—”

“Unfortunately, I can’t let you live.”

With my angel wings fluttering, I descended and, like sealing the deal, slashed his throat with my sickle.

Shhhhk!

The sound echoed as the dragon’s life was finally extinguished.

It was a bit pitiful, honestly.

But if I let him live, he’d only be trouble.

As a final touch, I gave his skull another good whack.

CRACK!!

“GYAAAAAAAAAAH!”

“BROOOOOO!”

The Black Dragon howled in grief.

Did he really think he’d be spared?

With the Azure Dragon gone, and only the Black Dragon left, he was no match.

“Tsk. Should’ve just begged for mercy earlier. I might’ve let you off.”

“You wretched—!”

“I’m not going easy on you either.”

CRUNCH!

The Black Dragon was taken down fast.

Way weaker than the Azure one.

It wasn’t hard.

Now it was time to use the scales—literally and metaphorically.

I prepped the scale of judgment to absorb the souls of the two dragons.

“If I use the scale to draw out their souls—”

The souls rose.

I tried tasting one.

It was big, so it took time to absorb.

The taste?

Like grilled pork jowl with salt—rich, savory.

Kind of different from that soul drink thing.

But delicious, honestly.

“Yum?”

As I slowly digested it, my body pulsed with strength.

“Yup. The skull was the weak point, after all.”

“Is there any creature where that isn’t the weak point?”

—Hmm. Tasty, but the soul’s too large. I’ll leave part of it and let them live a little. Teach them the faith.

With that, a small orb popped out from the scale and started to reform—taking the shape of a dragon once again.

Azure Dragon and Black Dragon.

Compared to before, they’re now tiny—only about a quarter of their original size.

Still bigger than us, but all that former grandeur?

Nowhere to be found.

“Why are we in this pathetic state?! You wretch! What did you do?!”

“You should be grateful I even let you live. Honestly.”

“You wretch! How dare you—!”

“Shut it. You’re just treated as sacred animals now.”

At the word sacred animals, the Azure Dragon twitched like it was about to charge me—but that was it.

The moment our eyes met, it froze in place.

“Grrr…”

“Our goddess will guide you now. Here—receive the doctrine of Goddess Kanora.”

I enthusiastically preached Kanora’s teachings—who our goddess is, what her doctrine is, how she leads the world, and more.

These two dragons, forcefully resurrected by the goddess, no longer had their former powers.

Under her influence, they couldn’t even properly oppose me anymore.

Eventually, after thorough brainwashing, the dragons looked at me with blank eyes.

After a moment, emotion began to stir in those eyes.

“To think the goddess is such a great being…”

“Right? From now on, do your part properly. You’ll stay here and become guardian deities to protect the locals.”

“We will.”

And with that, the dragons were successfully mind-controlled.

Sadly for them, they were now fully brainwashed—slaves and guardian deities to serve humanity.

***

On our way down from Mount Baekdu, Battle mage asked me:

“What kind of doctrine does this Kanora religion even have?”

“You saw it, right? Just mention the doctrine, and even dragons drop to their knees.”

“…This is straight-up a cult. Well, she is a demon goddess, so I guess it makes sense.”

Our goddess’s teachings are to care for all as her children.

Except, if you’re not one of her children… she’ll smash you with divine wrath.

“No mere serpents can go against our goddess. Especially not ones that have already passed through her gut.”

“Passed through?”

“Yeah. Those two dragons? The goddess half-digested them and spat them out.”

“Then they probably carry some lingering influence.”

Exactly.

The goddess likely spat them out before they gave her indigestion.

They became small dragons again—but like anything vomited up, traces of stomach acid would remain.

That’s the influence.

They probably don’t even realize it, but they’re now bound to obey the goddess’s will.

***

“We just got word from the succubus—she sent back some North Koreans. But apparently a bunch of Chinese came through too.”

Seemed like the succubus did a good job… though the Chinese part was interesting.

Well, since it’s near the China–North Korea border, that checks out.

Still, if it’s Chinese from this area, it could be… problematic.

“Chinese?”

“Not sure if they’re from Yanbian, but we should check it out.”

We arrived at the closest village to Mount Baekdu—known as the Refugee Settlement.

There were tons of people.

Mostly North Korean refugees, but if you listened closely, some weren’t speaking Korean at all.

“$$^%$^$^%$*&%^A”

“Yeah… no clue what that means.”

It sounded like a bunch of squiggly characters—probably Chinese.

And judging from their faces, they looked annoyed and disgruntled.

“Looks like they’re demanding we hand over supplies. Some are even asking for money.”

“Sounds like someone wants a beating.”

Seriously, they’re on our land.

What right do they have to make demands?

They must’ve been undocumented even in China if they ended up here.

“Well, weren’t we planning to invade China anyway?”

“Yeah, that’s the plan.”

“Then how about we brainwash them and send them back in?”

“Oh. That’s a great idea. Let’s do that.”

So I gathered the Chinese and North Koreans and began spreading Kanora’s teachings and miracles.

At first, the Chinese were clueless—but thanks to the goddess’s grace, their brains activated an automatic translation ability.

They heard the teachings in Chinese and understood them in Korean.

Once they were fully converted:

“Understand this—your mission is to travel across the mainland and spread the blessings of Kanora. Got it?”

“Yes.”

Now glowing with divine blessing, the Chinese followers would soon journey deep into the Chinese mainland.

***

“How about doing the same thing with Manchuria?”

“Manchuria? If I had to guess, it’s probably full of ex-criminals who fled from China.”

Cheonma suggested an unexpected idea.

It sounded convincing—Manchuria was probably the most neglected region in China right now.

North and South China were fighting, and Manchuria was far from both—it made sense.

So, of course, public order there would be wrecked.

It’s likely become a gathering place for China’s defeated and desperate.

“With Korea’s current population, it’s hard to cover the whole peninsula. So…”

“You’re suggesting we use them as labor?”

“Exactly. And once they’re no longer useful, we can shove them deeper into China.”

Honestly, not a bad plan.