Chapter 33
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Dragon's Shadow (2)
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But ominous premonitions always come true, don't they?
“Before heading into Dalmu-ri, you handed out those potion pouches to us. Looks like some folks who went inside recognized them. They're speculating the potions had something special about them.”
“......”
“The glow when you saved Lee Hae-sol, and how that pattern that looked ready to blow suddenly paused.”
I blinked in silence.
That detailed?
After one practice session wrapped up, in the waiting area.
Amid the chairs where the injured students were gathered, two of them sat whispering in low voices.
“Hey, you saw that healer's potion back then, right?”
“......The glowing one?”
“Yeah. Thought it was glow-in-the-dark at first, but nope. And remember how it tanked the boss pattern when it nearly bit?”
“So?”
“Lee Si-hyeon isn't that tough normally. If it was off from his usual, had to be the potion.”
“Jin Hari hands those out all the time.”
“Something was different, I'm telling you.”
“How?”
“Never seen anything like it. Like I said, it sparkled.”
“Then why didn't you put it in the report?”
“Who'd believe it? F-class healer. Plus, Yoo Han-seong and Yoo Hee'd throw a fit.”
Crossing Yoo Hee's fans means a rough academy life.
Yoo Han-seong's no different.
And besides.
“Seniors owe their lives to it. Feels wrong to rat her out.”
“Yeah, fair.”
They exchanged glances and shook their heads.
“Don't breathe a word from now on. Just makes things awkward, and we'll look nuts.”
And punishment would follow.
For instance, Yoo Han-seong's entire (temporary) party getting a (physical) lesson in morals from the others.
Conversations like that were cropping up everywhere, in slightly varied forms.
That's how things snowballed to that mess this morning.
I mulled it over after hearing Yi-seo's words.
Truth be told, as long as it doesn't spiral into something extreme like a lab rat scenario, I'm fine with rumors about my potions' effects spreading.
Well, drawing too much spotlight to Jin Hari herself? That's trouble.
“Rumors? Don't sweat it.”
I gave a small smile.
“I'm F-class no matter what.”
Magic words.
Show something incredible, but slap “F-class” on it, and poof—totally dismissible.
My confident tone—no one coveting or watching me—had Hyeon Yi-seo and Yoo Hee trade looks and let out soft sighs.
Then they chimed in.
“Well, if no one's overthinking it, could be a good thing.”
“Yeah, especially when we're not around you.”
“Ahaha, F-class or not, I scored awesome friends. Thanks for the worry.”
As lunch neared, the classroom vibe turned downright weird.
Someone steals a glance my way, then jerks their head aside. Another starts to speak up but stops. Some head over, then pivot away.
The door clicked shut softly.
Yi-seo gazed out the window.
“Everyone's acting super off today.”
“......”
“Lunch plans?”
Potion notebook in hand, I replied.
“Workshop.”
“More potions?”
“Yeah. Practice with my break-time batches.”
Yi-seo snorted a laugh.
“You're ridiculously diligent.”
I shrugged it off casually.
Like always, hole up in the corner, practice quietly—the weird buzz'll fade.
That's when a faint presence stirred by the door.
Yoo Han-seong.
True to form, no eye contact today either.
Just the tiniest flicker of his gaze toward my notebook as he passed.
I glanced down at it.
Filling the gaps in the Blue Dragon攻略.
Wonder if he clocked it.
Wish I could just hand it over.
That the Blue Dragon might ramp up in difficulty—no hidden boss this Dalmu-ri.
Hidden ones include stuff even Yoo Han-seong's never faced this lifetime. A heads-up seems smart.
Though it could wrap with just the three bosses like Dalmu-ri.
Date might shift too.
“Actually, old school workshop's off-limits for a bit starting today.”
I said it glumly, masking my thoughts. Hyeon Yi-seo, gearing up to head out, blinked wide-eyed.
“Why?”
“Better setup now, but can't work solo. Kinda bums me out.”
All my hush-hush stuff's done anyway.
Like the Baridegi zone.
Level's high enough now to grow it in subspace.
Levels up like a skill.
Still bummed—that old school air's the best.
“No more there ever?”
Yoo Hee asked.
“Nah, under repairs. Can go after, but the vibe? Gone.”
Yoo Hee burst into a fine chuckle. “Oh yeah?”
Swing by now and then for S-grades, or maybe camp there later.
Moments later.
The path to the workshop was dead quiet.
Lunchtime's usually a racket, but today? Half the crowd's swallowing words mid-stride.
New experience.
I never piped up, but snide digs were daily bread.
Over a month of longevity, I guess.
No such jabs now.
A twinge of odd reluctance as I reached the old school.
Pushed open the right workshop door like always.
Faint herb scent and warm air currents wafted out.
Headed to my usual corner desk.
Cleared a messy table spot, pulled two small flasks.
“Today, tweaking calming ratios first.”
Muttered under my breath.
This cramped workshop—stirring herbs with chopsticks, brewing solo in peace—is my steadiest time.
Crushed a herb bundle lightly with fingertips, steadied my breath.
Familiar aroma bloomed.
Then.
Chair scraping next to me.
I turned with a straight face.
“Hae-sol-ah. When'd you get here?”
“Bit ago. Looked locked in, didn't wanna bug.”
Hae-sol.
Face not fully bright, but eyes steadier than morning.
He hesitated, then pulled a small vial.
“Hari-ya.”
“......Yeah.”
“That mental barrier potion. Thanks. Never dreamed it'd work.”
I paused my long spoon mid-stir.
“No test spot, so tossed it your way. Glad it hit.”
“Worked on my curse.”
“Oh.”
I met his eyes, calm as I could.
“Gotcha.”
Hae-sol nodded.
“......Held on thanks to it.”
“For real?”
“Yeah. Short burst, but lighter body...... fear dialed back some.”
“Sweet.”
Beamed wide. He fidgeted fingers, then spoke softly.
“Any chance...... more of that potion?”
“Duh! Got plenty now.”
“Whew. Thanks.”
“No biggie. Sleeping okay lately?”
“Nightmares past few days, but easing up.”
“That's good too.”
Soft reply, then handed over nightmare-soother special alongside mental barrier.
His face eased a touch.
“Grape-flavor mental barrier this time. You dig grapes, right, Hae-sol?”
“Huh?”
Flustered vibe.
As if a fan wouldn't know!
I chuckled, slipped a tiny label-less purple vial into his palm.
“Gift. Spill the taste test.”
Nudged a small flask his way.
“Overdo it though, side effects possible. Moderation, yeah?”
“Your potions? Zero side effects.”
“Psh.”
Light laugh.
Hae-sol's shoulders loosened.
“Thanks. For real.”
He clutched the little bottle tight with both hands.