Resolve

“…What is this?”

I immediately lowered my gaze.

Ten fingers of snow-white hands visible below my field of vision.

White forearms and inward-bent elbows extending upward.

“Finally…”

Proper pronunciation flowed as my lips and tongue moved.

A voice like the White Sovereign’s telepathy resonated through my vocal cords.

A male voice with a deep and heavy resonance.

“Moving hands and arms… and a speaking mouth…”

I spoke in Korean as if by an instinct I couldn’t hide.

I flicked my fingers while turning over my recovered hands.

I also continuously moved and rotated my forearms.

“I’ve become human again…!”

I finally regained a human body.

What I had longed for so much that I even dreamed of it.

How long had I been waiting for this moment?

Even in dreams, I would walk with a human body.

It can be said that my desperately yearned-for wish has come true.

Shwaaaaa-

I immediately spread a rectangular water screen in front of me.

I checked my appearance reflected in the full-length mirror.

Looking at the mirror, I immediately questioned.

“Huh?”

Snow-white hair that swayed down to my thighs.

Golden eyes that seemed to contain the burning heat of desert sand.

Lips positioned in a crimson red as if wearing lipstick.

A white-haired, golden-eyed white man was looking back at me.

“What on earth.”

The appearance of a noble and pure saint.

An appearance that seemed as if it should never be stained by the world.

It was the appearance of a beautiful young man that could momentarily be mistaken for a woman.

It had retained the coloration of the albino Death Worm—white body and golden eyes.

I kept tilting my head while looking at the extremely handsome young man in the water mirror.

“What’s this, why am I so fantastically good-looking?”

Honestly, I had no expectations for the human form of an albino Death Worm.

I thought a Hunchback of Notre Dame appearance would be unavoidable.

I was just grateful to regain human form in any case.

But what emerged was a prince with unparalleled beauty?

“Isn’t it the rule that if the original is ugly, the human form follows suit…?”

I’m truly so shocked that I’m speechless.

To that degree, the White Sovereign’s human form was shocking and terrifying.

It was like seeing the true appearance of a cursed prince from old fairy tales.

Like those common stories where you need to receive a kiss from a beautiful princess to return to your original form.

“To think that the terrifying albino Death Worm had such a human appearance…”

That’s how noble, handsome, and exceedingly beautiful the White Sovereign’s human appearance was.

It’s not just an unscratched lottery ticket level, but an abandoned $100 million winning lottery ticket.

Finding it and seeing it completely shatter expectations—that was the exact metaphor.

Of course, I was the one who released the curse myself.

“Insight.”

Along with the manifestation of a simple activation word, a status window appeared.

[White Sovereign]

[Gender: Male.]

[Height: 195cm.]

[Weight: 85kg.]

[Race: Death Worm.]

[Age: 1,286.]

[Occupation: Lord of Grabadra Sea.]

[Characteristics: Monstrous Magician, Hydrokinetic, Recovery Magician, Reinforcement Magician, Manifestation Artist, Swordsman, Wind Direction Magician, Barrier Magician, Elemental Magician, Lightning Magician, Hypnosis Magician, Fire Magician, Telekinetic, Transformation Magician, Archer, Spearman.]

[Rank: S-rank Level 3.]

[Emotion: Excited.]

Stats that don’t differ much from what I recently checked.

However, by becoming human, my power dropped to S-rank Level 3.

The human form’s height is as much as 195cm with a weight of 85kg.

A very tall yet quite slender physique.

It’s definitely not a ruggedly muscular body type.

With somewhat pale skin, like a researcher who would be tucked away somewhere.

“This is definitely not the face of the local humans.”

I was convinced this wasn’t the appearance of a West Continental person.

It was clearly a face belonging somewhere in the Central Continent Allos.

Not at all the appearance of an energetic activist, but rather that of a bookish person who might have secluded themselves and focused on something.

In terms of profession, not a warrior but a magician.

The physiognomy is also not the type to engage in physical combat.

I occasionally even have strange dreams where memories don’t come back at all.

Perhaps the White Sovereign was originally human?

Originally human, but became a Death Worm for some reason.

For what reason would he have wandered the desert as a monster?

Why did I enter that body specifically?

“I really don’t know.”

I thought there might be a much greater secret hidden in the human form of the albino Death Worm than I expected.

Also, naturally, I was currently not wearing a single thread of clothing.

The male nakedness was completely exposed, which was extremely embarrassing.

What a feeling to see another man’s body that wasn’t my previous life’s body.

I exerted the magical power of newly enhanced manifestation art.

Pat.

Immediately, clothing was completed from my head to toe.

A white silk turban with pure gold embedded was placed on my head, and a bright white kaftan embroidered with five-colored threads appeared on my upper body.

Finally, loose trousers made of snow-white silk and jeweled shoes with ends curved inward like hooks appeared on my lower body.

“Much better.”

Dragons who enjoy polymorph into humans and various other races were also masters of manifestation art.

It was simple to perfectly equip clothing made of magical material.

I became like an exquisite Arabian or Persian prince.

Now I look completely like a person.

I fulfilled the long-dreamed-of wish.

“But…”

A completely different thought was swirling in my current mind.

A thought that felt somewhat bitter in a way.

It was the shock triggered by the death of water dragon Phurnicia.

“White Sovereign, so you were here.”

A gloomy and sinister old man’s voice suddenly echoed.

Pat.

An old man with a long white beard, wearing a purple-colored turban and silk clothing, appeared before me.

The appearance of an old merchant who seemed to have been seasoned in some court.

I immediately recognized the identity of the voice.

“Tarkhan.”

“Yes, indeed.”

The human-form Tarkhan, with his arms inserted into his sleeves, bowed his head to me.

Patpatpatpatpat.

Immediately, forms blinking into existence appeared here and there on the middle slope of the rocky mountain where I was.

In an instant, I was surrounded by the remaining nine.

“We pledge our loyalty in our new forms, White Sovereign.”

“Gahahahaha! You’ve taken on quite an interesting appearance!”

“Whoot! As expected, a splendid appearance!”

“Kyahaha! Everyone looks so funny!”

Four Death Worms.

“Can we help humans more eagerly with this appearance!?”

“I feel good as my work motivation soars!”

“Boss! To think you had such a human form! Amazing!”

“Our white one is white even in human form~!”

“Big bro whitey’s appearance is really unique~!”

Five Sand Worms.

“You all…”

The initial ten named worms had all gathered.

All were equipped with magic clothing manifested from mana like me.

Befitting desert people, all had unified bronze skin color.

The men wore turbans, and the women generally had high exposure.

Erden had the appearance of a cold-looking blonde nobleman in silk clothing.

Batar was a fierce giant figure with a bare upper body, loose trousers, and a bushy black beard.

Zorya had the appearance of an Arab-style dancer with flowing red hair and wearing a veil.

Kacha was a girl with pink hair tied in a bun and wearing a bra top with loose trousers.

Sivat was a passionate young man with brown hair, wearing only a vest on his upper body and loose trousers.

Karim also had a similar outfit, a boy with gray, unkempt hair.

Limud was a dancer with an ancient Egyptian style, with purple straight hair.

Sharan was a Persian-style woman with green disheveled hair.

Zand was an Indian-style girl with sky-blue bobbed hair.

“Kyahaha! The White Sovereign’s appearance is indeed the most unique! So cute~!”

A merciless Arabian-style tanned mesuaki.

Kacha, who was pressing down the turban on her head with one hand, covered her mouth with the other hand and cackled.

“How about immediately establishing a harem and proceeding to mating? With the rest of the female Death Worms, including myself… uhuhu.”

Curly and flowing red hair, deep bronze skin, Arab dancer-style attire with a veil.

Zorya, with the appearance of a desert beauty with an explosive figure, attempted seduction.

“I declare that polymorph is the best among the gifts received so far!”

“The other worms are also in an uproar now! Asking if that’s what they looked like!”

“Bird! Beast! Even desert cactus! There’s so much I want to try!”

The named worms were clearly excited.

To have the same human appearance.

It was also an actual indication of various possibilities.

“Human forms are forbidden.”

I presented a completely opposite policy to the worms’ expectations.

“…Why is that?”

Batar frowned his fierce expression and asked.

I explained while feeling the sensation of voice resonating from my vocal cords.

“Rather than forbidden, it would be better to say that polymorph into human form is not recommended. Because I’ve seen the vain end of a certain dragon.”

I began to explain how I obtained the tremendous gift set.

“I-impossible! Are you saying there was a dragon in the city!?”

Tarkhan shouted with wide eyes, his white beard swinging.

“I half-doubted that I had misread the shared system message when it appeared, but to think it was true!”

Batar scratched the turban on his head with a gaping mouth in astonishment.

Sivat and Karim, who had embraced each other in shock, asked simultaneously.

“A polymorphed dragon! It’s hard to believe!”

“How on earth did you catch the dragon?”

“What happened was…”

I continued to explain the circumstances to the named worms.

The expressions of the worms in human form changed in real time.

Unlike their previous faces where expression was impossible, there was definitely a different charm.

“If I had let her complete the dragon transformation, it would have been a battle I absolutely couldn’t win. By the capricious and malicious water dragon, not only our worms but the entire city we had just conquered would have been thoroughly destroyed. Our journey would have ended right there. Everyone would have returned to the desert sand.”

The worms fell into a dead silence.

Water dragon Phurnicia, who died carelessly in human state.

There was a lesson that could never be easily overlooked.

Now I and the worms are also in human forms.

I was equally shocked as well.

I desperately yearned and sincerely wished to return to being human.

It seemed like I could sacrifice anything if I could just regain human form.

But Phurnicia’s futile death was a profound shock that completely shattered my aspiration.

I thought once I obtained human form, my worm life would end.

The reality I came to realize was actually not that at all.

Being gripped by fear was instantaneous.

A complete transformation in thinking occurred.

“Human form has too many disadvantages.”

I, who had longed so much for human appearance that I even dreamed of walking as a human, never expected to treat what I had finally obtained as trash like this.

That’s how shocking Phurnicia’s death was.

A dragon dying trapped in human state?

Could there be a more profound shock than this?

It was the moment when a completely primal concept, a new fear, was born in me.

Just as there’s no defense against a group attack, and both you and I go down with one spear thrust.

Even the strongest in the world can be finished if careless.

The rule applies to everyone.

“Human form is too dangerous.”

Human form is too dangerous.

Human form is very vulnerable.

Human form is very easy to be defeated.

Human shape has many weaknesses.

Human appearance has far more risks than advantages.

That was the newly established mindset in me, who had become a Death Worm.

There’s no guarantee that what happened to Phurnicia won’t happen to me and the worms.

“…So that’s what you were thinking.”

Tarkhan’s solemn voice echoed among the gathering.

“As much as possible, refrain from polymorphing into human form. The same applies to other small animals like mice, rabbits, and all life forms that look small and weak. When unavoidably using it, firstly deploy a magic barrier to wrap the entire body, and implement it while fully equipped with all kinds of protective measures.”

“We will immediately transmit this to the other worms.”

Erden and several other worms immediately transmitted to the worms through full telepathy.

The caution in using polymorph becomes ingrained.

The excitement of the thrilled worms gradually subsided.

“That’s all.”

Once it was determined that human form was too weak and inefficient, there was no reason to hesitate.

This was a result based on extremely logical judgment.

Having completed the transmission, I activated polymorph.

Shuuu…

Immediately, purple mana crystals rose from my body.

Kuddddd-

As limbs disappeared, my body elongated and rose.

The human form I so desperately wanted gradually disappears again.

I returned to my original albino Death Worm form.

Immediately I coiled my body like a python.

Ururrrung-

Returning from the vulnerable human form to the worm form, I felt relieved.

Again, the sensation of only body without limbs, as if arms and legs had been cut off.

Now this has become more familiar.

“I don’t intend to force anyone. Proceed as each of you wishes.”

I spoke while looking at the named worms, now so tiny in human form.

Tarkhan bowed his head to me and said.

“When the sovereign has such thoughts, how could we insist otherwise?”

Shuuu…

Phantasmal attribute magical crystals also bloomed from Tarkhan’s body.

Kuddddd-

He too restored his Death Worm form.

“Gahahah! So this is the conclusion after all! Understood well!”

Batar guffawed, holding his stomach.

Shuuu…

Magical crystals also bloomed from Batar’s body.

“That’s right. After all, it’s a fact that human bodies are weak! We are worms, the most excellent workers who cultivate any rough and barren soil to make life bloom aaaaa-!”

Sivat roared toward the sky, shaking both arms with a passionate voice.

Shuuu…

Magical crystals also bloomed from Sivat’s body.

Shuuuuu…

Eventually, all named worms followed me and returned to their original forms.

On the middle slope of the rocky mountain behind Zangar, there were 11 Death Worms and 10 Sand Worms.

Some, with their drastically increased size, could not fit on the narrow space at all, so they floated their bodies in the air using telekinesis.

“You all…”

I was caught in unnecessary emotion and my throat choked up.

These guys, unexpectedly understand romance.

They’re quite impressive for worms.

“For the White Sovereign!”

“Don’t forget that we will follow the sovereign even to hell!”

Led by Tarkhan and Sivat, the rest of the worms shouted in unison.

The worms who had returned to their original forms also naturally vocalized by gathering the energy of speech in their throats.

We must never suffer the same stupid fate as water dragon Phurnicia.

Such a thought was already ingrained in everyone.

“Don’t forget that our true nature is to be worms. There must never be mistakes like those stupid dragons who enjoy pleasure and get caught off guard.”

The metaphor with dragons who enjoy pleasure by changing into various human appearances seemed somewhat different.

And dragons are sometimes idiots who have such fatal carelessness.

From the beginning, dragon life and worm life differ in their goals and directions.

As much as possible, such situations shouldn’t be created at all.

After all, it’s just that the worms have become tremendously strong because I am special, but generally this is not the case.

Originally, worms are beings that crawl on the ground, and dragons are beings that fly in the sky.

Currently, it’s literally a difference like heaven and earth.

But it doesn’t have to be that way forever.

I harbor a very grand dream.

The possibility of current Desert Worms catching Wyrm-grade dragons corresponding to adult dragons is slim.

But someday, I want to develop the worms to grow enough to beat even dragons corresponding to an average S-rank Level 5 by Seven-colored Dragon standards.

Dragons will bleed and groan under the overwhelmingly powerful worms.

“Let’s agree to use human form only in very special situations. Like when infiltrating Gaia disguised as humans eaten by the White Sovereign.”

“Right. In such situations, there’s no reason to hesitate.”

I heartily agreed with Erden’s insight.

It’s not about permanently sealing human form.

There will certainly be many strengths unique to human form as well.

Situations where the appearance of a person will occasionally be needed.

Use it only for strategic purposes.

“…By the way, haven’t we become extremely advantaged? To think that transformation into what we’ve eaten has become possible.”

“That’s right too.”

I also agreed with Batar’s genuine question.

The worms have already become an absurd minchkin army.

If all 1,252 worms by current standards transform into Tolga and fire mind swords, or transform into He Chen and spread a vast sea of fire?

The sight of one S-rank and 1,252 A-rank bodies rampaging.

An incredible rampage might be possible.

“Everyone, repeatedly train to quickly return from a very tiny larva size to the original volume of tens of meters.”

I repeatedly transmitted.

“Why is that?”

“Because it’s much faster to go through just one step of restoring the original volume than going through two steps of returning from human form to original form while also recovering volume. Ideally, you should always be prepared for training to restore your original size within one second and overwhelm at once with volume and weight.”

“Indeed…!”

Tarkhan smacked his teeth in admiration.

I looked around at everyone and drove home the point.

“Perhaps that’s the polymorph most suitable for us.”

Actually, the inconvenient points aren’t particularly significant.

After all, now we can reduce our size.

In places where human arms are needed, like unlocking doors or pressing switches, problems can generally be solved with telekinesis.

It’s not bad at all to normally stay like a 2-meter pet python.

If it seems like something is about to happen, immediately size up.

“We will return to the city now. Since we were each in the middle of work.”

Tarkhan spoke, locking his circular dentition.

Pat.

Exercising Blink, Tarkhan immediately disappeared.

Patpatpatpatpat.

The rest of the worms also disappeared sequentially.

In the end, only I remained standing on the middle slope of the rocky mountain.

“So it ends up like this…”

Decided to seal human form as much as possible.

With that, I embraced a firm resolve.

Since I’ve transmigrated as a worm, shouldn’t I aspire to worm form?

I absolutely refused to end up like Phurnicia, who was killed pathetically without even being able to transform into a dragon, looking down on and being careless around a worm.

Such situations should absolutely never be created.

Such a futile death was truly out of the question.

Carelessness is like a passive that necessarily follows absolute powerhouses.

Let’s not become like stupid dragons who are enslaved with restraints or brutally killed while being careless, enjoying pleasure.

If you want to maximize survival rate and live long in the harsh otherworld transmigration situation, that’s the answer.

In the end, I also checked the human form I was so curious about.

The instinctive curiosity was completely resolved.

In fact, I had no lingering attachment now.

If you want to live, you must restrain from human form.

My existing thinking was completely reversed.

It was the moment a new will was born.

Chulkuduk, chulkuduk-

Suddenly, a cold metallic sound echoed.

I turned toward the direction.

“So you were here, White Sovereign?”

A too-familiar beautiful voice echoed.

Someone was climbing up to the middle slope of the rocky mountain where I was.

“Is this level of preparation appropriate?”

Chain mail and scale armor in several layers surrounding the entire body without gaps.

Even a chain mail face mask wrapped around the face, with only blue wall-like eyes gleaming.

A 5th-grade magic talwar slung on the back, and scimitars and jambiya alternately inserted in sheaths on both sides of the waist.

Besides that, various armaments were tightly wrapped around the entire body, more than usual.

Realizing what I had forgotten, I nodded my head.

“Mm.”

She was so heavily armed that she looked fat, as if she had gained weight from her originally nimble and taut body.

But there’s no particular problem with her current appearance.

It was clearly due to my instructions.

Nadia shrugged her shoulders.

“Massacre preparation, complete.”