The Fire Spirit King (1)
Two days before Uluru's summoning. We arrived at Samcheok Port. We'd gotten here this morning to clean up one particular yacht.
Of course, it was Jang Gilsan's yacht.
"Whoa……."
Han Areum and Han Deuri stood there with their mouths agape, staring at it.
Jang Gilsan's yacht wasn't some massive behemoth like the ones in movies, with three or four decks and a helipad. Compared to his position as the Union Guild heir, it was almost modest—a cruising yacht.
Modest my foot. It's a model that could circle the globe.
The hull stretched twelve meters, complete with a shower, toilet, kitchen for cooking, and even a bedroom. It was like a cabin on the sea. Painted entirely white from hull to sails, it floated beautifully against the seaside backdrop.
"Whoa……."
Han Areum and Han Deuri stood rooted to the spot, letting out endless sighs of awe. They didn't even dare approach for a closer look or touch it.
"What are you waiting for? Get on board."
At Jang Gilsan's question, the two shuffled over in postures that bordered on groveling.
"C-Can lowly folks like us really board something like this?"
"I'm scared we'll dirty the yacht……."
Jang Gilsan shook his head and grabbed them by the napes of their necks, dragging them aboard. Even as they were hauled away, the siblings wore ecstatic expressions.
[Ooh! What a pretty boat!]
Aqua, riding on my neck, exclaimed in admiration.
[Sisit!]
Mandu was just as thrilled.
We followed our friends onto the yacht. Han Areum and Han Deuri were already exploring the interior.
[It's bigger than it looks!]
Aqua hopped down and dashed down the stairs to the cabin with excited little thuds, Mandu right behind her.
Jang Gilsan headed up the stairs instead—to the wheelhouse. He knew how to pilot the yacht, too.
Me, on a yacht for a boat trip. Who would've thought?
The reason for this sudden luxury outing was simple.
—By the way, didn't you say Aqua would catch fish herself and make sashimi for us?
It started when Han Areum suggested going fishing on the boat. We'd planned to borrow one from Park Uncle, but Jang Gilsan had brought his own yacht all the way from Jeju Island. I could only shake my head at my friend's over-the-top gesture.
[Ooh! There's a fridge inside!]
But watching Aqua so overjoyed like that, I couldn't help feeling happy myself.
* * *
Jang Gilsan took the yacht out into the open sea. In the meantime, we took turns changing into swimsuits in the cabin. His secretary hadn't come along—Jang Gilsan had shooed her away, saying he wanted to hang out with friends.
This is the first time we've come to my hometown beach to play in the water together.
With friends coming all this way to my home sea, I felt a twinge of guilt for not planning something sooner.
"Hyungnim!"
Han Deuri called out from the cabin.
"How's my swimsuit?"
He'd turned around in fierce swimming trunks emblazoned with bold "Hot-Blooded Youth" kanji.
"Looks good on you."
"That's so half-hearted."
"You really want a long, detailed critique of your swimsuit?"
"……Short reviews are best."
Han Deuri nodded and plopped down beside me to squeeze out some sunscreen.
"Sunbae!"
Now it was Han Areum's turn. She was in her swimsuit too. I smiled, carefully keeping my eyes above her neckline.
"What's up?"
Her face flushed a bit, but her eyes held firm resolve.
"How's my swimsuit?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"Give me that long, detailed review?"
"Er……."
I froze, speechless, until the relief pitcher arrived.
[Pretty!]
It was Aqua, nestled in my arms.
"Ah…… Thanks, Aqua."
Han Areum glanced between me and Aqua, hesitating, then crouched down in front of her.
"You look cute in yours too, Aqua."
[Heeheehee!]
Aqua was dressed up too—in fisherman's "uniform," a fishing vest and straw hat. Same style as before, but new ones: floral-patterned vest and a white straw hat. I already had dozens of photos of her on my phone.
[I'll catch us something delicious!]
Aqua puffed out her chest proudly. Han Areum chuckled softly and poked her plump cheeks.
"Looking forward to it."
[Expect the best!]
[Sisit!]
Mandu, perched on Aqua's shoulder, chirped along. He planned to join the fishing too.
Just then, Jang Gilsan emerged from the cabin, last to change into his swimsuit, carrying a snack basket.
"Shall we kick off the boat party?"
"Sounds good."
"Great!"
"Perfect!"
[Of course!]
Unanimous.
The yacht's stern had a sofa and table for lounging. Jang Gilsan spread out cheese, fruit, crackers, and more.
"No booze on deck—too risky."
The fridge held sparkling water and juices instead. Once set up, he fiddled with his phone, and music started playing from the speakers.
"Ooh~."
Han Areum's mouth formed a perfect O. Han Deuri grinned slyly.
"No joke, right? Bet you've scored with plenty of girls on this."
The siblings exchanged glances and launched a teasing barrage.
"Be honest. You've brought Academy seniors here, haven't you?"
"Come to think of it, last summer some senior bragged about riding a yacht after Jeju."
"That was Minji sunbae! She definitely rode it! Right?"
Jang Gilsan poured orange juice without a hint of fluster.
"Private matter."
His usual flat tone shut them down cold.
"……Whoa. One word, and it hits like a truck."
"That's emperor training for you……."
The siblings took their juice in subdued silence.
Only Gilsan can handle those two.
They were infamous at the Academy—not just for their striking looks, but their hot-headed, charge-first personalities.
Yet they get along great with orphanage kids and elders like professors.
Polite but scrappy gangster twins—that was the student consensus.
Only Jang Gilsan could rein them in with a single word.
Han Areum wiped sweat from her chin, looking a bit deflated as she sipped her juice.
"Ugh, just a bit of sun and I'm already hot."
She fanned herself, then glanced slyly at Aqua.
"Aqua. Mind doing that thing?"
[Hm? That thing?]
"You do it for Hyunwoo sunbae every day. The cooling one."
[Ah! Of course!]
Aqua reached toward Han Areum. Seawater surged up like a living serpent, drenching not just her but all of us.
The cool water swept over our bodies, washing away sweat and skin heat alike.
"Haa……."
"Huaa……."
The towering siblings let out satisfied sighs. Even Jang Gilsan's face relaxed.
"Told you—this beats swimming. Cool, no stickiness."
It was seawater, but no salt lingered on our skin. Aqua's precise control kept the sofa and snacks bone-dry.
[Say the word if you heat up again!]
"Thanks, Aqua."
Refreshed, we dove into the snacks.
[Yummy!]
Aqua seemed to love the juice. Mandu was on the snack tray, gobbling crackers and cheese.
"Good call bringing plenty."
Jang Gilsan dumped more cheese beside Mandu.
[Sisit!]
Mandu's eyes crescented in joy as he licked Jang Gilsan's hand—a thank-you.
"Not big on cheese, but this is good."
"Pairs perfectly with crackers."
Jang Gilsan nodded, pleased at the praise.
With tasty snacks, our chatter flowed.
"Oh, yeah—a reporter tried sneaking photos inside the guesthouse recently."
Han Deuri had tried stopping him but crushed the camera by accident. A common slip for high-rank awakeners.
He looked worried.
"Think they'll make me pay for it?"
Han Areum's face hardened too.
"……No way."
"Looked like an expensive cannon cam."
"If they demand payment, kneel and beg. Say you're broke college kid."
"Smart. Save a million won with one kneel—profit."
Jang Gilsan tsked, displeased.
"You two need to grasp reality better."
"Us?"
Their eyes widened.
"Graduate the Academy, and you'll get love calls worth billions. Don't sweat a camera fee. And quit gawking at a dinghy like this—not even a superyacht."
"Ah……."
"You're A-rank. Act the part. Don't cheapen yourselves over pocket change. It docks your score."
"Yes."
"Yup."
They nodded. But I caught their secretive glance—not defiance, but sharing some twin secret.
I let it slide.
Everyone has secrets.
Instead, I hugged Aqua and blew a raspberry on the back of her head.
[Eekekeke!]
Her body turned orange as she squirmed and giggled.
* * *
After about thirty minutes of chit-chat, we stood.
"Time to fish?"
[Let's do it!]
We grabbed rods and bait. Han Areum and Han Deuri exchanged quick looks. Han Deuri shot up his hand.
"Gilsan hyungnim! Teach me fishing!"
He stuck to Jang Gilsan. Han Areum coughed awkwardly and approached me.
"Can I learn from you, sunbae?"
"Sure. Start with baiting?"
"……Ugh."
[Teach me too!]
"You bet."
I stroked Aqua's straw hat with a grin. She beamed up at me.
Then—
Boom!
A massive explosion rocked us.
[Eek!]
"What?!"
The shockwave churned the sea. I clutched Aqua tight and whipped toward the sound.
Flap—!
A dragon soared there. Black scales devoured the sunlight; stark white fangs gleamed sharper than razors. Crimson eyes glared ferociously, radiating awe-inspiring spirit power.
A dragon out of nowhere?
I tensed for battle.
[Pompeii!]
Aqua named the Fire Spirit King. Only then did I realize.
[What is this sudden nonsense?! And what's with that ridiculous getup?!]
Aqua swept spilled seawater off the deck, yelling furiously.
[Kuhuhuhu……!]
Pompeii laughed sinisterly—a low, gravelly voice that felt forced.
[Long time no see, unripe successor of water.]
Aqua tilted her head, blinked, then realized it meant her.
[What?! Why call me such a fancy name?!]
[Kuhuhu……. Still so pure. That's the water spirit in you.]
Aqua tilted her head again, unsure if it was praise or insult.
Pompeii fixed on her.
[Heed my warning. Do not set foot in the Spirit Realm.]
[What?!]
[Do not let tainted, polluted humans defile the land of eternal purity.]
[What nonsense is that?!]
As they bickered, I examined Pompeii closely—prepping for a fight.
But the more I looked, the less fired up I felt.
……Isn't he kinda small?
Dragon or not, he was tiny—just over a meter. In the Spirit Realm, maybe dragon-sized, but human world lizards outgrew him.
Voice sounds artificially deepened too—kinda awkward.
Up close, he was kinda round and cuddly, with a mint scarf around his neck.
I blinked. Yep, mint scarf.
No menace in those bared fangs or glaring eyes—just a alley cat hissing.
[Uluru permitted it! Who are you to say no?!]
[As rightful king, I veto.]
Then—
[Sit?]
Mandu poked out from a cracker bag, having polished off the last crumbs. He met Pompeii's eyes.
Pompeii's eyes widened.
[Hm?]
Mandu, crumbs on his mouth, wagged furiously in delight.
[Sisit!]
Like a motor. Pompeii tilted his massive head, then carefully—very carefully, like avoiding scratching his claws—unwound his scarf.
"……."
[…….]
Watching a knitting dragon was so serene that Jang Gilsan and the siblings, who'd stood, sat back down.
Swish—.
Pompeii handed the scarf to Aqua. She took it casually.
Sudden flames engulfed him.
Foosh—.
The fire vanished, leaving a young boy.
That's Pompeii?
Red-tinged body, dark red hair, heterochromic eyes. Black mini-wings on his back—like claiming dragon heritage, but bat-sized.
Aware of our stares, the wings flapped proudly.
What is that? Adorable.
I was instantly disarmed. Pompeii even landed on the yacht, took the scarf back from Aqua, and rewrapped it.
Did he take it off so it wouldn't burn in his polymorph flames?
Aqua handed it over without complaint, like routine.
Every time? For every transformation?
The cuteness overdose nearly gave me heart shock.