Chapter 601: Where Am I? (1)
The lock rattled as someone fumbled with it, and then the door opened. The way they moved was so careless and unprepared I thought, no way, but–
‘…Oh, come on.’
The person who came in was an ordinary man. He wasn’t unawakened, but he was only F–rank, and his clothes were nothing special. He didn’t look like your typical American or like someone from my neighborhood – Arab, maybe? Still, the States are full of different ethnicities, so he could’ve been American anyway.
Either way, he was a bit different from the kidnappers I’d dealt with so far. To be precise, the ones after I regressed.
‘Before I regressed, low–rank Hunters sometimes approached me on the off chance.’
Since regressing, other than the mid–ranks who came at me right at the start, it’d mostly been S–ranks. Even kidnappers have their own tiers – not that it makes them anything but kidnappers. Anyway, I’d wondered why there wasn’t a single guard and just one lonely security camera.
“Potion, potion.”
The man walked up to the bed and held a potion out to me. The bottle didn’t look like any of the officially regulated potions from the various Hunter Associations. A black–market product, marked as low–grade. And it wasn’t even in an inventory–compatible vial, just an ordinary bottle. Dungeon by–product vials are surprisingly pricey, after all.
“Potion, no.”
He didn’t seem to have a translation item either, so I shook my head to make my point. Would he understand English? If you’re dealing with black–market goods, basic English is pretty much mandatory.
“No, potion! Umm, danger!”
The problem was, my English wasn’t great either. The translation item Seong Hyunjae had yanked off me earlier, I’d picked up and shoved back into my inventory. I couldn’t take it out even if I wanted to – and if I did, they’d just snatch it again.
“Potion, healing!”
The man repeated himself, shoving the potion toward me again. No, I’m telling you, it’s dangerous. For me, anyway. And I’ve got way better potions in my inventory.
“Dragon! I want Fairy Dragon! Healing dragon! Dragon skill cure me!”
To start with, I said I needed my dragon, to try to get Gyeol back. Thankfully, he seemed to more or less understand. I coughed a few times while shouting “please dragon”, and the man nodded and went out. He did close the door, but didn’t bother to lock it – sloppy as expected.
A little while later, the man came back carrying a box. I could hear wings flapping frantically inside. Oh, Gyeol!
“Dragon.”
“Yes! Very thank you! You good guy! Box open please!”
As the box opened, a silver–sheened Fairy Dragon burst out with a flutter. Gyeol, who’d been huffing and puffing, turned pink the moment he saw me.
– Ah!
He mouthed, Pa, and shot straight toward me. I smiled at the man, and he bared all his teeth in a grin in return. I wanted to pet Gyeol, but my arms were tied, damn it. I lifted my bound arms a little, hoping he might untie them, but he shook his head firmly. So that was a hard no.
“Uh… my arm pain. Back! Chest side please.”
How was I even supposed to say “tie them in front” in English? I tried asking him to loosen them a little, but he refused.
“Healing dragon. Okay.”
Then he gestured at Gyeol, locked the door, and left. Gyeol floated up close to my face and whispered.
– Dad, are you okay? That’s blood!
“I’m fine. Sometimes you just cough up blood in life. It’s more dangerous if it stays stuck inside. Are you okay, Gyeol? They didn’t bully you or anything?”
– They just locked me up so I couldn’t run away. Dad, it’s warm here. And they use words I’ve never heard before.
“What kind of words?”
– …Allah?
So it was somewhere Arab. Though of course, America is, you know, so it could still be the States. I hoped it was the U.S. I’ve always wanted to visit California at least once.
– But it’s not another world this time, Dad.
Gyeol gave me a stern look.
– This time you stay put! Uncle’s going to come rescue you.
“No, but–”
– Those people aren’t going to hurt you, right? So it’s fine if you just stay put. I’m not going to help either.
His narrow golden eyes were surprisingly resolute. If I said he was like Seong Hyunjae, he’d probably get mad. More than that, I’d figured that as long as I got Gyeol back, getting out of these bindings would be easy.
“My arms hurt, though.”
– Hurting arms are easy to fix. It’s fine.
He said it sharply but still kneaded my arm with his front paws. I couldn’t get these ropes off by myself. Even if I behaved, I still had to recover my items. Especially Grace.
‘Aside from the earring, everything is bound to me, so they’re probably still keeping them.’
They were useless to anyone else. I lifted my head and looked at the closed door. The walls were bare packed earth, and the floor was basically just dirt. Someone might have gone, Oh wow, a super famous F–rank Hunter just dropped into our laps~ Let’s treat him nicely and help him contact home, but unfortunately, these weren’t that kind of people.
‘I could at least pay some ransom.’
One glance told me they weren’t exactly well off. So if I played my cards right, maybe I could talk my way out of this. For now, I just had to wait for someone to come back.
“Hmm, Gyeol. I think you might have some younger siblings now.”
Same dad, so you could call them siblings, right. Gyeol, who had been kneading my arm, froze. His golden eyes blinked as he turned to look at me.
– I knew they were there, but… aren’t they just beasts?
“The Black Dragon is really more of a dragon race than just a monster, you know? He could talk from the very start, and he’s got Yuhyun’s blood in him. But Blackey and the little one talk just fine too. I think the Black Dragon even taught them how to transform into human form.”
I hadn’t expected the kid either. I thought at best they’d be a normal high–rank monster. Maybe it was the Black Dragon’s influence.
“So… once I give them proper names, I think they’ll become independent beings like you, Gyeol.”
– Not now.
Gyeol’s face went serious.
– You can’t name them by yourself. You have to do it together with Uncle or Auntie.
“…That was the plan, but I named you by myself, didn’t I, Gyeol?”
Instead of answering, the Fairy Dragon’s wings trembled.
– I like my name, but still, no. Anyway, you can’t. …But, Dad.
Gyeol hesitated a little and grabbed his own tail with his front paws, fidgeting.
– You don’t hate those kids, right?
“Huh? Of course I don’t.”
– I did. Because I was born from the Transcendent’s magic stone that killed Uncle.
“…No.”
It killed me that my arms were tied, so I couldn’t hug or pet him.
“It’s true I hated Diarma, but that has nothing to do with you, Gyeol. I was the one who combined magic stones to create a beast, and the one who tried to use the beast born that way. You don’t bear any responsibility or guilt. I’m just… sorry.”
– It’s not your fault either, Dad. If I’d been born from the person who hurt you, I’d definitely hate them too. …You can’t help it. Even if they didn’t do anything wrong.
Gyeol’s ears drooped sadly. So he’s been worrying about it this whole time. …Of course he has. How could you just forget something like that.
“Even when you know something’s wrong, your feelings don’t change that easily. That’s how people are. But Gyeol, from the moment I first saw you, I never once disliked you. You’re you – completely different from that evil dragon.”
– …Yeah. I’m me.
“If, just maybe, some trace of Diarma’s appearance had remained in you… then even knowing I shouldn’t, I might’ve been a little wary of you.”
I hesitated, then said it honestly. I couldn’t just sugarcoat something he already knew.
“But in the end, I would’ve fallen for you as you are. Any prejudice would’ve faded quickly, and I’d love you just the same as now.”
– …I know. I figured you would.
Even as he said he knew, Gyeol sounded a little choked up and pressed his head firmly against my arm. You can know in your head that things would’ve turned out the same no matter how they started, but actually hearing it said is different. You have to talk. That’s the only way.
– I was a little scared at first. That’s why I didn’t ask you to name me right away. Usually we get a name as soon as we’re born, but once you have a name, you end up separated from your dad. So I decided to help you first, and if you thought I was useful, then it’d be okay to get a name.
“…Even if you were just an ordinary kid with no power at all, I’d never abandon you. Never.”
– Yeah. But I think it’s a good thing you didn’t name me right away. Back then, you were alone.
This kid… Still, he seemed to have cheered up, rubbing his cheek against mine with a bright smile.
– Honestly, I’m jealous of the younger ones. But I’ll be good to them. They’ll like you a lot too, right? I hope they like me as well.
“Uh, yeah.”
The little one should be fine, but I was a bit worried about the Black Dragon. Hopefully the two of them wouldn’t fight.
“The Black Dragon still seems to have some of his old memories, so he probably won’t be that attached to me. Probably.”
– He’ll still like you. You’re Dad!
“…Being someone’s dad doesn’t mean everyone likes you.”
– But you’re a good dad.
Gyeol’s eyes sparkled. The thing is… at our very first meeting, I was told I wasn’t fit to be a guardian. If it hadn’t been for Yuhyun’s influence, they probably wouldn’t have acknowledged me as a guardian at all.
“Gyeol, unfortunately, there are plenty of people out there who hate me. Not everyone likes Dad.”
– I know. Lots of people fought with you. It’s weird when people hate you without even fighting, though.
“Tell me about it.”
People who dislike someone without having taken a single hit from them… I don’t get them either. It’s not like I committed a crime or anything… Ahem. Anyway, I’ve never been caught. And honestly, most of it was self–defense.
Even though I was locked up and tied down, it’d been a while since I’d had such a relaxed time with Gyeol. Chatterbox was definitely dead, so I wasn’t too worried about what was happening outside. As long as no Transcendent interfered, everyone should be safe. They were probably worrying about me instead.
– This is an absolute secret, but I really like how I look in human form.
“Really? I thought you hated looking like the Sesung Guild Leader because you don’t like him.”
– That’s why I just need to get rid of that part! Then it’ll be completely mine. No one will say I look like him anymore.
Gyeol lifted his nose proudly as he spoke. Good answer. Seong Hyunjae’s childhood face is pretty cute, after all.
– And, um… the person who influenced me a tiny bit, helped this time.
He skirted around actually saying who “that person” was. He obviously meant Seong Hyunjae.
– I’m talking about the teleportation.
“…What? Seong Hyunjae did that? How?”
– It was probably a skill he used to have a long time ago. That’s why it might hurt.
My heart dropped. I’d lived thanks to Gyeol showing up, but a skill from Seong Hyunjae’s past? Damn it, is that bastard actually okay?
– I hate to admit it, but there was a time we were basically the same existence. So he could move me to you even from another space. I think he somehow contacted Grandpa and got help too.
“Then what about the sword that appeared at Chatterbox’s neck?”
Gyeol shook his head.
– That was probably Grandpa’s sword. It reacted to Uncle’s sword, remember? I don’t know why it showed up on Chatterbox’s neck, though.
It had looked like someone had planted it there in advance. If that sword hadn’t neutralized Chatterbox, it would’ve been hard to kill him completely. Either way, my chest felt tight. I appreciated the help, but he needed to look after his own body too!
– So, Dad. I feel bad for Seong Hyunjae, but don’t go near him. Ever.
“Huh? Why?”
– If his condition gets really bad, his instincts might try to swallow you.
Gyeol sounded serious, but I had no idea what he meant. Did Seong Hyunjae secretly have some man–eating instinct that kicked in when he was sick or something?
“Why would he try to eat me?”
– There’s a thing! Anyway, it’s dangerous, so from far away, ask if it’s okay when Uncle, Auntie, other Auntie, next–door old man, and Government old men are all there. Because you’ll never just walk past him.
First it was “the Black Dragon is better off not knowing”, and now this – why is everyone hoarding secrets. He couldn’t tell me the details, but he insisted I promise, so I nodded. Seong Hyunjae was taking care of himself, right? Well, Ms. Soyeong and Ms. Evelyn were there, so the Guild Leader would take good care of… himself? Maybe? Yeah. With Chief Song around, I chose to believe they wouldn’t just leave him lying around. Hopefully Yuhyun wouldn’t go too wild. Yuhyun, your big brother’s fine. Yerim, get along with Yuhyun.
After some time passed, someone opened the door again. This time it wasn’t just one person. Two more people came in along with the man from earlier. One of them walked up to me and pulled out a phone. He said something into it, and–
[I have acquired you.]
The phone spat out robotic Korean.
Wow, translation apps these days are impressive.
[You follow me.]
Maybe not that impressive.
[I selling. Please stand.]
“Hard to stand like this.”
[Dragon run away?]
“No. Follow me. Is that right? And help me.”
[Stand.]
“Ah, help me! I can’t get up alone.”
One of them helped me up. Gyeol perched snugly on my shoulder.
[Please follow me.]
I doubted he’d spoken that politely, which made it feel weird. We walked down the corridor for a bit and went into another room. Inside were people wearing white headscarves or something like that.
Gasp. Could this actually be Saudi Arabia or somewhere like that?
–TL Notes–
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