Gurgle—
Blub—
A few bubbles slowly rose through the pitch-black ocean.
Among them was a small figure.
"When is this going to end…"
Reborn in the Sea of Life, Ian muttered in frustration.
He had lost track of how many days he'd been here.
Time was meaningless in this place.
Even space lost all sense due to the endless ocean.
His only task was to soak here.
Well—
There was one more thing.
Being fished out by his mother, Tiamat.
A roar echoed above the sea.
A massive dragon soared into the Sea of Life and gently lifted Ian out in her jaws.
Then she slowly shifted form.
No longer resembling a dragon, though she retained her massive, furious horns.
Perhaps due to the Sea of Life, her curvaceous body maintained an almost divine purity.
Just one glance was enough to make one feel:
"Having a mother like this and not thinking impure thoughts is a crime."
Not that Tiamat minded—
Or perhaps more accurately—
She wasn't even aware of it.
"Ian~"
"How do you feel today?"
"I've made some improvements to the Sea of Life!"
"You must love it!"
"…"
"What's with that look—?"
Seeing Ian remain silent, Tiamat grew concerned.
"Mommy isn't lying to you, you know."
"I know."
"After soaking in it for so long, of course I know what the Sea of Life feels like."
"Then… is there something you don't like?"
Tiamat asked carefully, clearly anxious.
"Tell Mommy—"
"Mommy can do anything."
Her gaze was full of sincerity and desire.
She was the ruler of this dark sea and possessed overwhelming power. That much was clear.
But—
"I want to leave this place. I want to see the outside world."
Ian said firmly.
Yes.
He'd been here far too long.
Though the Sea of Life provided everything he needed to live, and his mother cared for him,
He felt he wasn't meant to stay here forever.
There was an urge in his very being to go.
"You can't go!"
Tiamat roared almost instantly.
If she was a loving mother just moments ago, gentle and doting,
Now she was stern and unyielding, unwilling to let Ian leave.
"The Sea of Life is wonderful! Why would you want to leave?!"
"It may be wonderful, but the outside world might not be so bad either."
Ian looked straight at his mother.
"I want to see it."
"No! It's too dangerous!"
Tiamat waved her hands in protest, no longer resembling the calm, gentle mother.
"Humans are cunning! And you're so exceptional!"
"The moment you go out, those wicked women will set their eyes on you!"
"They'll ruin you!"
"Then I'll just avoid them, right?"
"No, you won't be able to."
Tiamat grabbed Ian's shoulders.
"They'll drag you into danger, force you into awful things."
"By the time you realize it, it'll be too late. You'll be trapped."
"No. Absolutely not."
"No one can hurt you—"
"Mommy won't allow it!"
The usually doting Tiamat now resembled an agitated bull.
Ian knew continuing the conversation wouldn't change her mind.
But still—
He wanted to leave.
The Sea of Life was not a place to remain in forever.
"How could you even think that?"
Tiamat was still dwelling on his words, not noticing the change in his eyes.
"That's it."
"Mommy must not be doing her best yet."
"I found the reason."
Tiamat hugged Ian tightly.
"Today, I need to love you even more."
Splash.
Ian and Tiamat fell back into the Sea of Life.
Even the deepest cleansing facial wash would be no match.
But—
After all the motherly love and filial affection concluded, and Tiamat fell into slumber believing Ian had given up on leaving—
The true rebellion had only just begun.
"Mother, I just want to see the outside world—"
"I'll be back soon."
So saying, Ian transformed into his dragon form.
As Tiamat's son, he had long since gained enough physical evolution from the Sea of Life.
But he soon realized he had underestimated the restraints Tiamat had placed on the sea.
At the boundary—
Ian felt an overwhelming pressure.
A presence so intense, even with Tiamat still asleep, it was unmistakably hers.
"You may not leave me—"
"You may not leave me—"
"Please… just let me see the outside world."
Tiamat, I'm Going to Find a Girlfriend!
Chapter 2
Author: The Sage Who Can't Do Anything
With all his strength, Ian finally broke through the restraints.
But in doing so, he was gravely injured.
Defying his mother came at a price.
Just before leaving the Sea of Life and falling into a world where time and space once again began to flow,
he seemed to see his mother standing there.
"I'll drag you back—"
"You're mine—"
"No one can change that—"
He could no longer argue.
Ian closed his eyes and allowed himself to fall.
---
At the same time—
Somewhere beside a lake in Britain—
The bright moonlight gently illuminated the lake's surface.
In the water, a blonde girl nervously watched the scene before her.
To be precise—
She was standing there alone, staring at what had just happened.
Her name was Artoria.
Just moments ago, she had witnessed the most shocking scene of her life.
There was a loud boom in the sky.
Then a meteor blazed across the heavens.
And then—
Splash.
It crashed down not far from where she had been bathing and humming a little tune.
Was it a person?
Or something else?
With only moonlight around, Artoria couldn't tell.
But—
She faintly sensed something about this person… something similar to herself.
No—
Maybe not a "scent," but more like—
The feeling of meeting someone who's like you, the kind of "Ah, so I'm not the only one" moment.
Why did she feel that way?
Unknowingly, Artoria had walked closer.
And the moment she saw the figure clearly, she froze, then blushed.
"He's a really handsome boy…"
She whispered.