Chapter 34
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Dragon's Shadow (3)
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The aftermath of the Moonlit Dungeon still lingered in places here and there.
People's voices seemed about half as loud as before.
No one was raising their voice, and everyone walked cautiously.
I'd heard that some of the returned students were still resting in the recovery room, and there was a full-scale investigation underway into Hyun's sudden promotion to S-rank.
The Blue Dragon Dungeon would probably break open before that investigation wrapped up.
I slowly made my way toward the recovery room.
A few students were waiting in front of the door.
It wasn't the intensive care room, but they were letting people in one or two at a time.
Too many at once would tire her out mentally.
When the door opened, a faint herbal scent wafted out from inside.
I quietly greeted her and handed the school nurse some C-rank potions like mental barrier potions and antidotes before leaving.
As I stepped out into the hallway, two guild members who'd come as reinforcements during the last Moonlit incident were scribbling something on a piece of paper off to one side.
"This Moonlit S-rank dungeon... minimal damage, I guess?"
"Minimal? There were zero casualties."
"What happened?"
"No idea. Good luck, maybe. I heard some say it was the potions, but it can't be that simple."
Hearing that, I just thought we'd really gotten lucky.
Outside, the wind felt a bit chilly.
I rubbed my arms and let out a breath.
At that moment, I spotted Yoo Han-seong and Hae-sol sitting side by side on a distant bench again.
Hae-sol had a blanket draped over his shoulders, head bowed, while Yoo Han-seong had one arm slung over the back of the bench, quietly explaining something.
I couldn't hear their conversation clearly, but the atmosphere said it all.
From now on, the two of them would likely train together separately.
'This is originally when Han-seong picks up Hae-sol after he breaks down from trauma.'
Thank goodness Hae-sol's condition wasn't as bad as in the original story.
I started walking slowly.
Them getting closer was a good thing, I thought.
It fit the natural flow where they moved together anyway.
Not something I needed to get involved in.
The Moonlit was over now, and there'd be some time before the next dungeon.
I needed to practice potions more in the meantime.
A familiar herbal scent seemed to linger at my fingertips, and I took a small breath.
A few days later.
As I stopped pounding the pestle, the door opened quietly.
I could see a few healers from other years glancing toward the door out of the corner of my eye as they worked on their own batches.
But I didn't need to turn around to know who'd come in.
"Hari."
Yoo Han-seong's voice was low and even, as always.
I slowly lifted my head.
"Yeah."
"Got a minute to talk?"
His tone sounded like someone who wanted to help but didn't know how to bring it up.
I didn't remember him being quite this hesitant in the original.
I took a sip of water and sat back in my chair.
"What about?"
"About Hae-sol."
I quietly drew in a breath.
"You asking how he seems?"
"That, and..."
Yoo Han-seong didn't sit, just leaned lightly against the wall by the workbench.
"He'll be okay."
Yoo Han-seong nodded slowly in response.
"Good."
"You were worried?"
"Yesterday... his complexion wasn't great."
Yoo Han-seong fell silent for a moment.
Then, very quietly, he said,
"You know Lee Hae-sol trusts you the most, right?"
Of course I knew, but hearing someone say it out loud felt different.
Yoo Han-seong let out a small breath.
"We're going to start training together from now on. I'd like it if you joined us too, if that's okay."
"Hm?"
I blinked.
"...Me too?"
"Yeah. You too. You've got the next dungeon to prep for, right?"
The next dungeon...
"Finals, huh."
He probably knew about the Blue Dragon before that, but it was normal for me not to, so I nodded.
Wait, this could mean...
'Am I actually becoming a party member like this?'
Not just dipping a hand in, but rolling in headfirst!
I took a sip of water to regain my senses.
Then, calmly asked,
"Training menu?"
"Basic stamina, mana circulation, and position coordination."
"I don't have a position."
"You do. Why wouldn't you?"
Yoo Han-seong said it very firmly.
"Most recovery potion makers just produce, they can't support in combat. But you make potions and seem good at situational awareness too."
"How would you know that?"
"I didn't see it myself, but that blue notebook of yours was open once. I caught a glimpse. Sorry."
"Oh. Um. It's fine."
You might as well have seen everything about the Blue Dragon Dungeon while you were at it.
The words rose to the tip of my tongue, but I held them back.
"That's a role broader than just support, from a team perspective."
I was speechless.
I hadn't expected that kind of evaluation.
I thought they just saw me as barely managing potion-making.
Yoo Han-seong glanced toward the door.
"We'd feel secure with you there."
Why did those words hit my chest so hard?
"That's..."
I quietly fiddled with my fingers.
"Okay. Got it."
Only then did Yoo Han-seong's expression soften a bit.
"Good. Then meet us at the field next to the training ground at 3 p.m."
"Got it!"
As he turned to leave the lab, I lightly called out.
"Yoo Han-seong."
"Yeah."
"Take good care of Hae-sol."
Yoo Han-seong closed his eyes briefly, then opened them, speaking in a somewhat curt tone.
"I will."
After the door closed, the lab fell quiet again.
I looked down at my hands.
Powder from the mortar still clung to my fingers.
For some reason, my heart felt like it was slowly sinking.
Around 3 p.m., I stood by the auxiliary track next to the training field.
The sunlight slanted, casting long shadows.
A few students passed by sporadically, but most avoided looking our way on purpose.
In the center of the field, upperclassmen were training.
Some were warming up and joking around, but the overall mood was heavy.
I touched my ear once.
I could quietly sense Erich's presence.
Are you nervous?
"Me? You?"
You.
"I'm just like always."
That's what makes it weird.
"That's how I am."
Getting tense wasn't good.
Tension draws eyes, and eyes mean unwanted memories.
That wasn't the direction I wanted.
A moment later, Yoo Han-seong walked over to the track.
His gait was the same as usual, but his breathing seemed a bit deeper.
Hae-sol followed behind him.
Hae-sol's face still showed he hadn't fully recovered.
He had that air of someone who'd barely slept.
Still, his steps didn't falter.
"You're here."
Yoo Han-seong stopped in front of me.
"Yeah."
"Body feeling okay?"
"Fine."
Hae-sol stood beside me and gave a small greeting.
"Hari."
"Hae-sol."
I smiled at him.
Hae-sol's eyes wavered briefly before steadying.
"We won't push too hard today."
Yoo Han-seong briefly explained the training plan.
"Just basic stamina check and mana circulation test. Hae-sol, focus on preventing overload from yesterday. Hari, we'll check your mana reserves and recovery flow too."
I nodded.
That kind of role was familiar, actually.
I always monitored mana flow while making potions, so checking someone else's status wasn't hard.
As the three of us moved to the edge of the track, a few people glanced our way from afar.
"Those three are training together."
"Moonlit party."
"Even the F-rank's in on it."
The words from a distance weren't meant to be hidden, but not shouted either.
I showed no reaction.
This level of murmuring was normal.
Plus, with an F-rank involved, interest would fade fast.
That was the best part.
"Warm up first."
Yoo Han-seong said.
"Light lap."
As the three of us circled the track once, I deliberately didn't push my pace too hard.
Just enough not to get winded.
Hae-sol's breathing quickened midway, but he held his pace to the end.
After one lap, Yoo Han-seong checked his watch.
"Good. Not bad for your current condition."