Chapter 72
Chapter 72
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: The Shaman and the Azure Dragon
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Two days later.
Hunter Tae-won had designated the meeting spot. It was a large franchise café smack in the middle of Jongno. Being late afternoon after the office workers' lunch rush, the place was nice and quiet.
I pushed open the door and gave the interior a single glance. That was enough to tell me exactly where I needed to go.
Of course, I could've picked him out even in a packed crowd.
Because there was one guy in the café who stood out like a sore thumb.
“…….”
I paused for a second to catch my breath.
Okay, stay calm.
I mulled over my approach but ended up heading to the counter first. When my order topped five items, the part-timer asked if I wanted it to-go. I shook my head.
The tray stacked with all sorts of menu items was pretty heavy. As I made my way to the table, prickling stares jabbed at my back.
The café staff had already side-eyed my massive order. Now that they saw my destination was *that* table, the whole scene apparently got even more intriguing for them.
My sharper hearing picked up their murmurs.
“Are those two acquaintances? Doesn't look like friends.”
“Maybe mukbang folks? You know, the video creators.”
“But they're not dressed for mukbang……?”
Ignore that.
I reached the table and cleared my throat.
“Um, hi.”
I set the tray down and greeted him. The guy, deep in a mobile game, slouched back and looked up at me. On his screen, a cute character was hunting monsters.
Isn't the real thing enough?
The young man's gaze flicked back and forth between my face and the tray a few times.
I tensed up, wondering what he'd say.
Then he blurted out:
“……Your energy.”
“Hm?”
“Your energy's real clear.”
……Cultist? Still, the out-of-left-field comment melted my tension away.
I took a seat and mumbled awkwardly.
“That's a compliment?”
“Obviously. You're Hunter Kang Ye-na, right?”
“Yeah.”
Staring at the deadpan teen across from me stirred up all sorts of complicated feelings.
*This is Yang Tae-won, huh.*
Skull-pattern rings crammed on every finger, flashy printed tee, ripped jeans, chunky boots, piercings in his ears and lip.
Fluorescent pink hair was the cherry on top.
Baek Sa-hyeon had a touch of that edge, but he'd been polished by society and the camera's glare. This kid screamed raw delinquent—like he'd bottled a black flame dragon inside him.
Either way, to part-timers used to weekday salarymen, his getup was straight-up aggressive.
*……Yeah, looks about twenty.*
He hadn't even hit the one-month mark since turning twenty, so maybe it tracked. Everyone racks up fashion black history around that age.
I never got the chance in Korea, but my cousin who started college hit me with some traumatizing looks right after New Year's. Still fresh in my mind.
Anyway, *this* kid dove into the Demon Realm?
Seeing him up close made my thoughts even messier.
Officially, minors couldn't hunter in Korea.
But Tae-won's case had dungeons that flat-out needed him. They'd raided them so far with one S-rank or three-plus A-ranks babysitting.
The prime example? The one linked to the Demon Realm.
“But seriously, who're all these for? Why buy so much?”
The delinquent teen—Hunter Yang Tae-won—gawked at the heap of cakes and breads on the tray.
“A lot? I just grabbed whatever was there…….”
“This must've cost a fortune. Bought it for me? Feels kinda bad mooching on a first meet, but I'll dig in, Unnie.”
N-Unnie.
Didn't see that coming, so it startled me. Guy had surprising charm under the rough exterior.
I fixed my gaze on the teen as he snatched a fork and sliced into the tiramisu.
Tae-won shoveled cake into his mouth, shedding coffee powder everywhere, then sipped his iced Americano and grinned. The smile—or maybe the buckteeth peeking out—softened his vibe big time.
“Ah, Lee Seon Unnie told me you're older. Didn't bug you, right?”
“Hm? Nah. Call me whatever.”
“Then just Tae-won me casually too, Unnie. Suits me better. Cool if I stick with Unnie?”
Hadn't he already?
Still kinda awkward, but hey, worked for me. I needed his help right now.
“Uh, this is good. You have some, Unnie.”
Man…… he packs it away.
Tae-won's eating was relentless. He'd cleared every bread type in the joint—worried it might not cut it. Downing ham-and-cheese French toast in two bites was borderline circus act.
“But what's your drink, Unnie?”
“Some chocolate thing.”
Figured any chocolate frappe was a safe bet. Tasted spot-on.
Tae-won's eyes lit up.
“Sounds tasty.”
“……Get you one?”
I started to rise, but he waved me off quick.
“Nah, I'm good. Meant I'll try next time. Not big on sweet drinks anyway.”
“Not into sweets? What're you, crazy?”
“Yup, that's me. Anyway, eat some, Unnie. Kinda embarrassing solo.”
“I'm fine. Already ate.”
Bought it to feed him anyway—no need for me to touch it.
I propped my chin and watched him chow down.
“So, about today's meetup—what'd Hunter Lee Seon say?”
“Introducing you to some hunter. Scary one, so behave.”
“He *really* said that?”
“Pretty much. New gov-affiliated hunter lately. A-rank, but packs S-rank punch. Scary, right?”
That's the intro he went with.
I'd told Lee Seon to handle my background vaguely, and that's what came out. No red flags. I nodded.
“Yeah. Anything else?”
“Nope. Details after you meet.”
“……Yeah. Needed your help with something, so I set this up.”
I'd fed Lee Seon—who hooked us up—a vague excuse. No full rundown. Tough to spill details to a gov hunter on this one.
Lee Seon hadn't pried. No clue if he clocked my bind or just factored in Tae-won's uniqueness.
I leaned toward Tae-won a bit, voice low.
“Saw your Surisan Dungeon strategy report. You basically led the whole thing.”
Mid-sentence, those dozens of handwritten pages flashed in my mind. Kid's glued to his phone—why handwrite reports? Too risky to ask; it'd derail us.
Tae-won answered straight while munching bread.
“'Cuz of my trait. Other hunters can't handle it. Normal folks get eroded by demonic energy—suffocate in three hours.”
“You?”
“Me? Up to five days max. FYI, guardian talismans shield others three days tops. Minimal crew's best. Fits clear conditions perfect.”
He'd inhaled a sandwich and five or six breads mid-explanation, then clapped his hands clean. Eaten spots? Spotless.
“Thanks for the grub.”
“Good you enjoyed. More?”
I asked, and he gazed ceiling-ward thoughtfully before nodding.
“This much is solid. Enough for whatever Unnie wants to hear, at least.”
“How do you know what I want?”
“C'mon, playing coy.”
Tae-won grinned again.
“You see this coiled around me, right?”
I clamped my mouth shut.
Past his grinning mug, I felt the counter staff still sneaking peeks.
They clocked his outfit as weird, sure. But *that*? Not a peep.
Felt off. Way off.
Tae-won beamed, waiting on my reply.
A twinge of unease and weirdness aside, no point denying what I saw. So I owned it.
“Yeah. I see it.”
Truth was, I'd spotted it entering the café.
What filled my vision: a colossal dragon that could stuff the whole place.
Serpentine body clad in blue scales. But the majesty and mystique? Way more dragon than snake.
Folks strolled right through it nonchalant, so no physical form. Didn't kill the intimidation, though.
The behemoth dragon coiled tight around Tae-won, fixated on me.
Its gaze—like it'd pierce anything—had my skin crawling since earlier.
He blinked wide at my answer, then whistled.
“O, impressive.”
“……You asked knowing I'd see?”
“Nah, just curious. Was half-doubting.”
He slurped the last of his drink, chill as ever. Damn.
“Not every awakened sees it. Aura-sensitive types usually do, but depends on their energy.”
“What's the bar?”
“Dunno. Folks with natural ghost gates open? Hunters? Most can't. Would cut down on assholes if they could.”
*Like Lee Woo-yeon.* He muttered, snorting through his nose.
Guy's in every mess. Why's he beefing with everyone?
Anyway, I flicked my eyes to empty space.
Unreal entity draped over him, system mum.
So the Azure Dragon ain't a system monster.
Intriguing.
Means no system power can touch it. More concept than living thing.
Kinda like the demon Belial.
The Azure Dragon's eyes blinked sloooow. Reptilian pupils, Belial-style.
But standing before it? Night and day.
Belial sparked raw fight instinct. This? Nada.
Yet a tension hummed—like it'd snap any second. Tossed naked before a stuffed predator, maybe.
I swallowed hard.
That's when it hit.
The dragon's stare shifted abrupt—from me to Tae-won.
Eyes locked a beat, then he cocked his head.
“Says it's possible.”
“W-what is?”
Caught off-guard, I stuttered.
“Dunno. My lord ain't chatty. But claims it's your answer, Unnie.”
I eyed the Azure Dragon looped around him. Eyes shut now—like it never bored into me.
“Whoa, wiped. Starving.”
Tae-won suddenly thunked his head on the table and sprawled.
“You good?”
“Nope. Dying of hunger.”
Weak groan.
I zipped to the counter, snagged armfuls of muffins, tray and all. He limply shoved one in his mouth.
“Jaw aches now.”
Tasty food, still mopey tone. Made sense—basically force-fed.
Or hey, divine word for a few muffins? Bargain.
Saw Tartarus priests pray plenty, but never direct replies.
They served the system—not gods like this. Still, who'd thunk I'd eyeball a transcendent being myself.
He choke-downed muffins, perked up finally. Eyes brimmed curiosity at me.
“But to pull it off, hero needs to fetch something first. You a hero class, Unnie?”
A whoa slipped out unbidden. Wow.
“Seriously skilled.”
He beamed.
“Specialty shaman here.”
Right.
Yang Tae-won's class was Shaman.