Deeper into the Sea
Sun-drenched beachfront. Unlike the spot Terra and I had visited, this resort beach built purely for relaxation was even rowdier than I'd imagined.
"Ugh…."
"Come on, unnie! Over here!"
"I said I was sorry…."
And right in the middle of it all….
The pressure wrapped in Ha-eun's smile proved too much, and there I was, awkwardly standing in my swimsuit.
"Exactly~ Leaving me out while everyone else goes."
…No idea where she's getting salty from. There shouldn't have been any more issues with the Association….
"And you're pretty, so what's the problem?"
"…."
No, seriously, what's pretty about prancing around in what’s basically underwear…? Sure, I've got a cardigan on, but why does it have all these holes showing everything underneath? I just can't wrap my head around it.
Whoa… this is more embarrassing than I thought.
"Unnie, over here."
"Why… what now?"
"What do you mean 'what'? Anyone would think I'm about to eat you. I set up our spot."
With a deep sigh, I followed Ha-eun. She'd diligently set up a parasol. Pulling out drinks from underneath, she handed one to me.
"This is vacation! A day to relax easy!"
"If you want me relaxing easy, turn off the stream."
Haa… who the hell is this even for….
Whoosh—
"Huh?"
That's when my tail unconsciously swept across the sand.
Oh yeah… I've got a tail.
Shhrrk—
"…What are you doing, unnie?"
"Tail scale maintenance."
I pulled my freely flopping tail onto my lap and stroked it. It covered a good chunk of my body now.
Sighs flooded the chat. Heh heh. That's one more win for me, the dragon. Having a tail has its perks.
"You gotta maintain 'em under sunlight like this. Need to see the light reflect off them properly."
"Hmm? Is that so?"
"If the scales get misaligned, they get all wonky. Ruins the aesthetics."
Ha-eun watched me for a bit, then plopped down right in front of me.
"Then… can I have just one scale that falls off while you're maintaining?"
"…Huh?"
"One of your scales, unnie. They say dragon scales are top-tier materials, beyond even that."
"Uh…."
"And scales from a gold dragon like you? Gotta be insanely valuable, right?"
She smirked and leaned in close. …Was she always this bold?
"…You're probably the only one who'd straight-up demand a scale from me like this. Anyone else, and I'd have stomped 'em already."
I'm dead serious. No clue if some lunatic would try, but asking a dragon for a scale directly? Basically suicide.
But if it's Ha-eun, my future contract partner… Hmm… Maybe one wouldn't hurt…?
"Haa, fine, one it is."
"Gasp! I was kidding! For real?!"
"But you gotta promise me one thing in return."
"Huh? A promise?"
"You think my scales are freebies?"
Beep—
Who cares about important adult talk when donations are flying.
Shhrrk—
I stroked my tail, snagged a loose scale, and carefully peeled it off. Blew on it, and it expanded back to its massive original size—a gleaming golden scale. Handed it to Ha-eun, and it looked like a full-body shield.
"Whoa… way lighter than it looks…."
"Don't give it to just anyone. It's my scale—if you sell it without permission, I won't forgive even you."
"Yes, ma'am! …I'll save it for when it's really needed…."
She's way happier than I expected. Makes sense—it's the ultimate material no one else can get. Even with all the gates spilling monsters, nothing apocalyptic like me has shown up. If I had to pick one, the black dragon under the World Tree… but it hasn't even woken up yet, so whatever.
"Ah! …So the promise is…?"
"Don't get mad at what I'm about to say."
"Huh? Mad…?"
I stood up as I said it, eyeing a boat approaching from the sea.
"I personally reached out to the Association."
Kim Sang-cheol, Suppression Team 3 leader. Ha-eun's direct superior and a big shot in the Association. I contacted him with Leviathan intel and a subjugation plan, and he eagerly accepted—promised support too. Guess he was thrilled I'd handle a headache for them.
Anyway, that's the support arriving. I could've flown or swam, but they asked me to keep a low profile.
Thud—
"N-No way, unnie…?"
"Yep. Let's go catch a fish. A big one."
I approached Salao with a smirk, extending my hand. He looked somewhere between middle-aged and elderly, dressed like a fisherman.
"I'm Goldie. Oh, on paper, Yi Se-yeon."
"Younger-looking than expected. You can really catch big game?"
"Of course. We're talking a massive, one-of-a-kind legend. I've got my eye on it."
Only then did he shake my hand. …Feels kinda slimy. Not the best vibe.
"M-My vacation…."
"Hmph."
He eyed the slumping Ha-eun and spoke up.
"You're Park, right?"
She flinched.
"Huh…? D-Do you know me…?"
"Worked with Hunter Park Sang-hyuk a few times. Guess that red is genetic."
Ha-eun's face stiffened. Clearly not a topic she liked.
"Ah… my brother…."
Every time 'brother' came up, she reacted strongly. Wanted to ask what was up, but she always dodged.
"…Park Ha-eun. P-Please take care of me."
She headed to a corner of the boat. I followed and sat beside her.
"Asked around—that guy's been on this boat from America the whole way. Four hours."
"…He has a ton of sea-related abilities."
"Oh? You knew?"
Ha-eun seems to know hunters inside out. Like with Bern last time—she spots 'em and knows. Hunter encyclopedia as a hobby or something?
"…."
"Don't pout, Ha-eun. I'll talk to the Association—double your vacation. Okay?"
I cast a spell on the scale to shrink it for easy carrying. Too big would be cumbersome.
"Haa… I can't live with you around, unnie. Even on vacation, this happens…."
"Never imagined I'd be in a swimsuit either."
Still, we both got what we wanted, more or less. As BountifulHarvest put it, even steven.
"We'll shove off soon. Got a tool to point the way?"
Salao approached, harpoon in hand. Looked the part for serious hunting.
"Yeah, this compass'll guide us. Salao-ssi?"
"Just call me Old Man. That's what I'm used to."
"Sure, whatever."
I stood and showed him the compass from Talasa. He nodded and headed to the helm.
"Pin the location?"
"Straight northeast."
As Talasa said, it nailed my treasure's spot. No clue on limitations yet… but solid for now.
I went to sit back down—
Vrooooom!—
"Eek?!"
The boat blasted off at insane speed—I nearly toppled.
"Ow… what the…."
"Th-That's his ability. Navigation Acceleration skill, I hear. Up to 3,000 km/h?"
3,000 km/h…? What is this, a fighter jet…?
"Hunters got all kinds of wild abilities…."
Splash—
Despite the speed, ride was smooth after takeoff. No rocking waves. Like a luxury carriage on sea.
"But… unnie. What exactly is this fish we're hunting…?"
As I kept directing Salao, Ha-eun cautiously asked.
"Oh, Leviathan? Think of it as a type of snake."
"A snake…?"
"Yeah. They don't classify those as dragons."
Curiosity hit me too, so I pointed at Salao.
"Speaking of, what's his rep? Association says he's famous."
"He… soloed a marlin-type monster!"
"Marlin?"
"Over 10 meters long…!"
10-meter fish monster, huh. Snrk—
"Gonna smash that record today."
"Pardon…?"
"Leviathan's name isn't for show. Those things are usually…."
…easily over 300 meters.
Ha-eun's face twisted in horror.