Chapter 71
[Are you ready?]
“I haven’t even taken off my shoes yet.”
The dragon, jumping down and telling Yeonwoo to take them off and come in, crawled toward the dining table. After removing his shoes, Yeonwoo looked around the house that seemed both changed and unchanged. Though he had only been away from home for a week, the place that had always provided stability now felt unfamiliar and empty.
Did I stay at Chahun’s accommodation too long? As Yeonwoo scratched his eyebrow, the dragon urged him to wash some fruit. The moment Yeonwoo set down the washed fruit, the dragon pounced on it. The dragon grumbled that it hadn’t been able to eat properly while being mindful of Chahun, then opened its mouth and stuffed in as much fruit as possible. Yeonwoo washed more fruit, placed it on the table, and then checked a note there.
[Contact me as soon as you see this.]
Yeonwoo put on the repaired necklace and called for the dragon. Yeonhwa had said to contact her immediately, but there was something he needed to do first.
“Are you finished eating?”
Before Yeonwoo could finish his question, the dragon rushed over and coiled around his wrist.
[Finally, the contract!]
“Before we do that, there’s something I want to confirm.”
At these words, the dragon nodded enthusiastically, saying it would answer anything it could.
“What will you do after your horns grow?”
[What are you going to do, Yeonwoo? Originally, I was thinking of going back, but you asked me to live with you, right? I’ve changed my mind. From the moment I contract with you until you breathe your last, I’ll be by your side, so your plan is my plan.]
“You won’t go back to the dungeon?”
[Why? Do you want to come to the dungeon with me? It’s a difficult environment for humans to live in, but if you want to live there, I won’t stop you.]
Seeing that the dragon had no intention of returning to the dungeon, Yeonwoo stroked his chest in relief and asked his next question.
“The things you said you couldn’t answer before—can you tell me after we contract?”
[If they’re questions that aren’t restricted for me.]
“Next question. If I really contract with you, can I change the future regardless of causality?”
[Of course. I acknowledge that your sister is an exceptionally talented individual, but even she can’t bind us, can she?]
Yeonwoo continued to ask questions, leaving no stone unturned. After securing promises that the contract wouldn’t shorten his lifespan, that the dragon wouldn’t seize his mana core after contracting, and that it would participate in his future plans, Yeonwoo sighed and extended his hand.
[You’re so thorough.]
After sticking out its tongue at the numerous questions, the dragon quickly placed its tail on Yeonwoo’s outstretched hand.
“Is the contract complete now?”
[No way. Now, give me a name. I can’t tell you my original name, but my nickname was Riri, if that helps.]
“A name?”
Yeonwoo closed his mouth and stared intently at the dragon. The dragon was momentarily excited about what name it would receive under Yeonwoo’s serious gaze, but then—
“Then, Yongyong.”
When a name completely unrelated to Riri emerged, the dragon raised its scales and bit Yeonwoo’s hand. The dragon ranted for a while about what kind of name that was, then pressed its forehead with its tail.
[Yongyong? You’d be really happy if someone called you Human-human, right?]
In response to the dragon’s sarcastic reaction, Yeonwoo had to abandon the name Yongyong, which he had quite liked. Looking at the dragon again, he saw its golden eyes shining with anger. Muttering “sunlight,” “sunshine,” as he pondered names, Yeonwoo took out his phone, and the dragon climbed up his wrist to peek.
<Golden gemstone>
When he searched, numerous gemstone names appeared. The dragon, scanning the screen with Yeonwoo, tapped the display with its snout.
[I like this one.]
“You can read too?”
[Of course? You saw me before.]
I thought you were just skimming through like a picture book. Saying it was impressive as he stroked its head, Yeonwoo made the dragon raise its head proudly.
[There’s nothing in the world I can’t do.]
“Alright then, Heliodor.”
[Infuse your lips with mana as you speak. And hold my tail.]
Yeonwoo grabbed the dragon’s tail as instructed and drew mana to his lips. When he opened his mouth in this state, the voice resonated not from his lips but from inside his head.
[Heliodor.]
In that moment, the dragon, half-floating in the air, blew mana through their connected tails. When the dragon’s mana touched his mana core, an indescribable longing and tenderness enveloped Yeonwoo. Feeling like he might cry, he tensed his nose, and the dragon called to him.
[I, Heliodor, take pride in my name and promise to follow the will of my contractor, Han Yeonwoo. This promise shall be engraved in both my heart and yours.]
It was a solemn voice, unlike its usual playful tone. Yeonwoo also maintained a serious expression as he gripped the tail firmly.
[Do you swear to protect and safeguard me?]
“I swear.”
[I, too, swear to follow your will and aid you.]
As the dragon closed its mouth, golden mana surged around Yeonwoo. In response, Yeonwoo’s mana core emitted greenish mana, and the two types of mana intertwined like chains. The mana links, stretched long like chains, seeped into Yeonwoo’s body and began to tightly wrap around his heart.
[It’s done! The contract mark might make you uncomfortable for a while, but you’ll adapt soon. It’s a fetter that connects you and me, ensuring we keep our contract, so you must keep your promises to me. Of course, I’ll keep mine too.]
Returning to its frivolous voice, the dragon wrapped its tail around Yeonwoo’s pinky finger. Yeonwoo nodded and flopped down on the bed. It was uncomfortable, like breathing through a straw, his breath catching. While trying to adapt to the tight, stiff sensation around his heart, a “ding” sound rang. Moving only his hand while lying down, Yeonwoo answered the phone, and a voice he’d heard to the point of weariness during the week came through.
“Hyung? Is that you, hyung?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
His voice mixed with panting breaths. With his mouth wide open, trying to take in oxygen, Chahun rapidly called out “hyung, hyung, hyung,” searching for Yeonwoo.
“What are you doing?”
“Just lying down. Give me some time before asking. Didn’t we just part ways?”
“Part ways? You just went home.”
What does he mean? Yeonwoo tilted his head back and forth, trying to understand the confusing statement. Soon, the sound of the training room door opening came through the phone.
“Are you at the training center?”
“Yes. I came to stretch a bit. Do you want to come too, hyung?”
Chahun might be restless after being confined, but Yeonwoo wasn’t. Having prioritized gaming over sleep all week, Yeonwoo’s body couldn’t overcome the drowsiness washing over him.
“You’re sleepy, aren’t you, hyung? I’ll save our game, so do you want to come play on the weekend?”
“Should I?”
Chahun burst into laughter at Yeonwoo’s eager response. There was a clattering sound after the laughter, as if he was selecting training equipment.
“Go practice now.”
“Hyung, hyung, hyung, wait a moment. You’re returning to duty tomorrow. What are you going to do?”
Tomorrow? Chahun’s question brought up an issue Yeonwoo had pushed aside, not wanting to think about it. Originally, he should have returned to Zone C, but having manifested as a guide, he also needed to take guide lessons. Since he couldn’t go back to the military academy, Do Minyoung, who knew the situation, had reached out, offering to teach him. It wasn’t a bad offer, but what bothered Yeonwoo was Minyoung’s emphasis that he wanted Kang Chahun to be the Esper they practiced with.
Chahun had welcomed it, saying he didn’t mind and would actually be happy to practice with Yeonwoo, but something felt off to Yeonwoo. He was reluctant to put Chahun together with a guide who had reportedly attempted to imprint on him multiple times.
Moreover, during the week of isolation, Chahun had constantly pressed close to him, possibly due to a lack of guiding. Such a Chahun might be easily imprinted upon if he stayed in the same room with an experienced guide. Though Yeonwoo had tried to prevent such a situation, the tactless Chahun would often bring up practicing together with Do Minyoung, just like now.
“I’m not sure if we need to practice at all.”
“Why don’t we need to practice…? Hyung, aren’t you going to give me guiding? Do you want to see me receiving guiding from someone else?”
Imagining that scene, Yeonwoo gently scratched his cheek. Perhaps due to his strong aversion to guiding, he found it difficult to imagine Chahun receiving guiding from someone else.
“Or would you rather practice with someone other than me? Wow, hyung, I can’t stand the thought of that.”
Why worry needlessly? Since it was a secret that he could now handle two abilities, he wouldn’t need to provide guiding to others. After pondering briefly, Yeonwoo grabbed the dragon, which was rolling around, laughing.
[Puhaha…! I can teach you how to handle mana, but even I can’t teach that.]
Didn’t you say there was nothing in the world you couldn’t do?
When Yeonwoo raised an eyebrow, the dragon squeaked that it had no reason to receive guiding. Snorting, Yeonwoo calmed down the still agitated Chahun.
“I already have a team. I need to see what’s been going on before deciding.”
He answered that he’d decide after checking in at Zone C first, but the situation was changing rapidly without requiring Yeonwoo’s decision.
“Esper Choi Dongwon did what?”
That day, several defensive-type Espers had shown signs of going berserk. Thanks to all the Center’s guides being deployed to prevent Chahun’s berserking, there were plenty of guides to attend to them, but none paid any attention. Jo Heeseo was the same. She focused solely on trying to reach Chahun with her guiding, not radiating even a little guiding to Choi Dongwon, who was staggering right beside her.
During this, Chahun’s berserking finally stopped, possibly because the guiding reached him. Only after Chahun was moved to the guiding room did the guides, with exhausted expressions, distribute guiding to the collapsed defensive-types. Only Jo Heeseo returned gracefully to Zone C. Choi Dongwon, who regained his senses without a guide, requested counseling from Park Seohyun, saying he no longer wanted to maintain the team, and Park Seohyun replied that she was seriously considering it too.
“Then our team…?”
“Will be torn apart, I guess.”
Park Seohyun sighed deeply but seemed somewhat relieved. “I knew we couldn’t last long anyway.” She shrugged and nodded toward Jo Heeseo, who stood in the corner. The lips of the usually confident Jo Heeseo were twisted. Observing her, Park Seohyun explained that the training center director had severely scolded Jo Heeseo for leaving her post while an Esper was going berserk. Park Seohyun, sarcastically commenting that Jo still hadn’t come to her senses, looked at Yeonwoo.
“Esper Choi Dongwon has stated he’d rather be a search dog than work with Guide Jo Heeseo, and as for me, well, I’ll have to be re-evaluated, but I’ll likely return to the common area. What do you think, Esper Han Yeonwoo?”
“I…”
“Ah, I didn’t even need to ask. You were planning to leave the team anyway, right?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
