The Mana Stone Given to Jjangryong
The Mana Stone Given to Jjangryong
When I opened my eyes in the morning.
Jjangryongi was still using my pillow.
I was lying down with only half of my head hanging off the edge of the pillow, while Jjangryongi was sleeping right in the middle with his belly exposed.
"......Hey."
"Kki-i-ing."
"This is my bed."
Jjangryongi tossed and turned in his sleep.
His tiny tail came up over my nose.
When I moved his tail away, this time his wings covered my face.
"You sure have it easy lying on someone else's pillow."
In the end, I grabbed Jjangryongi's belly with both hands and lifted him up.
"Wake up."
"Kyaa......."
Without even opening his eyes properly, he climbed up my arm.
Then he buried his body among my hair.
So if I take back the pillow, he's planning to use me as a pillow instead?
"Jjangryong-a, you're heavy."
No reaction.
Will he still act like this if I say this?
"If you keep doing that, I'm not giving you food."
Jjangryongi's eyes snapped open.
"I knew you weren't sleeping, were you?"
I put him on my shoulder and opened the refrigerator door.
I hoped something had changed, but as expected, not a single thing had.
The only remotely edible thing was a single tiny biscuit I had gotten after being examined at the hospital.
Well, having at least this is better than nothing.
"This is breakfast."
As I pulled out the biscuit, Jjangryongi's head followed it.
"This time, we're really eating half each."
His eyes narrowed.
What of it? I'm the master here.
"What. You ate sausage and drank strawberry milk yesterday, too."
I split the biscuit in half.
I tried to split it precisely, but one side broke off a bit larger.
Huum.... What should I do?
After hesitating for a moment, I held out the larger piece to Jjangryongi.
"I'm yielding it to you because I'm the master."
Jjangryongi accepted and ate it without hesitation.
Even before he had chewed it, his eyes were already directed toward the remaining biscuit in my hand.
"Hey..., this one is mine."
His front paw reached out.
I stuffed the entire biscuit into my mouth.
Jjangryongi looked up at me with a shocked expression.
"Umul umul...... I told you it was mine."
There was no need to make a face like he'd been betrayed over a mere half of a biscuit.
More importantly, there was a serious issue.
I set Jjangryongi down on the dining table and rested my chin on my hand.
"Come to think of it, I don't know a single thing about you."
Aside from how we contracted and that your species is an Invisible Dragon, I know nothing.
I don't know what you eat or what abilities you have, so shouldn't I find out at least a little bit?
To be precise, it would be nice if I could figure out what abilities you can use.
Since looking at the status window doesn't particularly tell me anything.
For starters, shall we find out what you eat?
"Is it really okay for you to eat sausages?"
"Kya."
"What about ramen?"
Jjangryongi nodded his head.
"Strawberry milk too?"
His head moved much faster.
"It seems like you're saying everything you want to eat is fine...."
Asking this guy didn't seem like it would yield any real answers.
I picked up my cracked smartphone.
When something unknown came up, asking the internet was the fastest way.
[WillTreatChickenIfAwakened : What do you check first when you get a summon for the first time?]
Can't talk.
Seems to roughly understand what I say.
Eats anything just fine.
oo : Starting an imaginary friend parenting diary now, are we
ActiveF-Rank : Did the hospital just let you out?
Resign When Awakened : Check first if you can make it go to work in your place
ㄴ WillTreatChickenIfAwakened : Why that
ㄴ Resign When Awakened : If it's possible, I want to awaken as a summoner too
oo : Line up for the summon
Please Give Me Allowance : Hyung-nim, lying is bad
ㄴ WillTreatChickenIfAwakened : I said it's not a lie
ㄴ Please Give Me Allowance : I understand completely
"Not a single human being here is helpful."
Jjangryongi placed his front paw on top of the smartphone.
It happened to be right over the comment that said imaginary friend.
"They're calling you an imaginary friend."
He bared his tiny teeth at the screen.
Did that tease him?
A moment later, a new comment was posted.
8-Year Summoner : If it's your first time, check command comprehension level first
8-Year Summoner : You also need to look at activity range, maintenance mana, and whether forced recall works
8-Year Summoner : Don't test offensive abilities at home, I didn't want to learn that the hard way either
8-Year Summoner : Don't post skill info on the internet from now on
I read the last sentence and quietly closed the status window.
I was actually planning to write down even the skill names.
'So there really are normal people on Hunter Gallery.'
WillTreatChickenIfAwakened : How do I check command comprehension level?
8-Year Summoner : Start from simple things like sit, wait, bring object
8-Year Summoner : If it doesn't listen to its master, no matter how strong it is, it's a headache
I put down the smartphone and faced Jjangryongi.
"Alright."
I set him down on the floor.
"Sit."
Jjangryongi quietly stared at me.
"I said sit."
Come to think of it, he was already sitting.
"...Sorry, can you stand up?"
Jjangryongi stood up.
"Sit down again."
Jjangryongi sat down.
"Oh."
He listened better than I thought.
I held out my palm.
"Paw."
Jjangryongi slowly raised his front paw.
The moment his tiny paw pad was about to rest on my palm.
Kwak.
"Ouch!"
He bit my index finger.
"That's teeth, not a paw!"
Jjangryongi wagged his tail while keeping his bite on my finger.
It wasn't that he didn't understand.
It was definitely on purpose.
Next was bringing an object.
I pointed at the spoon on the dining table.
"Bring that spoon over there."
Jjangryongi flew over to the dining table.
After looking back and forth between the spoon and chopsticks, he came back biting a bottle cap that had fallen beside them.
"That's not a spoon."
Jjangryongi set the bottle cap down on the floor and hugged it with his front paws.
"Who said I'd take it? I told you to bring the spoon."
On his second try, he brought back chopsticks.
"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Jjangryongi turned his head away.
Only on his third try did he come back biting the proper spoon.
It wasn't that he couldn't understand my words, he just seemed to be doing this to annoy me.
This time, I didn't say anything and just stared at the smartphone on the dining table.
The moment I thought it would be nice if he brought it over, Jjangryongi's head shifted slightly.
A moment later, he flew to the dining table and grabbed the smartphone with both front paws.
Whimpering under the weight, he dragged it over and set it down on my lap.
"You understand even without me speaking?"
"Kyaa."
"Then why did you get the spoon wrong twice earlier?"
Jjangryongi bit the bottle cap and turned his back.
It seemed he had no intention of answering.
Still, one thing became clear.
Jjangryongi could vaguely sense not only my words, but also what I wanted.
It seemed to be thanks to the skill called Sympathy.
'If I use it well, it'll be really convenient.'
Even in combat, we would be able to exchange intentions with just a glance without needing lengthy commands.
I made eye contact with Jjangryongi.
'Put down the bottle cap.'
Jjangryongi put the bottle cap in his mouth.
"That's not something you eat!!"
Next was the activity range.
I took Jjangryongi and stood in front of the front door.
"Go outside for a moment."
Jjangryongi looked back and forth between the open door and me.
"It's an experiment. It'll be over soon."
Despite my persuasive words, Jjangryongi didn't budge.
"If you do well, I'll give you biscuit crumbs."
He immediately flew out into the hallway.
"Aren't you way too weak to food?"
Though I was a bit worried about his weak spot for food, he was smart, so there wouldn't be any problems, right?
Once I closed the door, he was no longer visible.
However, I could vaguely tell where Jjangryongi was.
He's right in front of the front door; he seems a bit sulky.
And I could feel his subtle nudges reminding me not to forget the biscuit crumbs.
I silently thought for him to go toward the stairs.
A moment later, Jjangryongi's presence drifted further away.
One floor.
Two floors.
Although his exact location gradually blurred, his emotions were still transmitted.
He didn't seem pleased that I had sent him outside alone.
I opened the status window.
[Return (B)]
Instantly returns the contract target to one's side.
"Does it work regardless of walls?"
I'd know if I tested it.
I took two steps back from the entrance and spread my arms.
I focused on Jjangryongi's distant presence.
"Return."
The surrounding air briefly distorted.
The next moment.
Peo-eok!
"Argh!"
Something hard slammed head-on into my face.
I fell backward just like that.
Jjangryongi was lying flat on his belly right on top of my face.
"Why did you aim for my face again!"
Looking at Jjangryongi who was staring at me with a face conveying that exact meaning, I almost felt a bit resentful, but I decided to let it slide.
Pressing his front paw against my nose, he turned his head away.
No matter how much I thought about it, he definitely aimed for my face.
Still, the skill worked properly.
Regardless of walls or distance, I was able to summon Jjangryongi right back.
"Next time, come here."
I pointed to the front of my chest.
Jjangryongi pressed his front paw against my forehead.
"Not there!"
He told me not to test offensive abilities at home.
Even so, since I couldn't rent a training ground either, I decided to test it extremely weakly.
I pulled out an empty drink can from the recyclable trash.
"Just a tiny bit."
Jjangryongi sat in front of the can.
"You can't destroy the can. Just leave a slight mark."
Silver-blue light gathered at his mouth.
Anxious, I raised a pot lid to cover my face.
"Weaker than when boiling ramen."
Pong.
A very quiet sound rang out.
There was no explosion.
The can didn't fall over either.
"Did it fail?"
I picked up the can and held it up to the light.
A tiny hole was pierced right through the center.
From the front all the way to the back.
Smooth, without even a trace of scorch marks.
"......With this level of power control, I could use it to catch mosquitoes."
An emotion of sheer flabbergast radiated from Jjangryongi.
"Do you know how scary mosquitoes are in the summer?"
As if to show that he could demonstrate something even bigger, he looked at the wall.
Silver light gathered at his mouth again.
"Uh-uh..., no."
The light diminished a bit.
"This is a rented place."
The light vanished instantly.
So he understands things like this loud and clear.
[WillTreatChickenIfAwakened : Summon test results]
Understands commands well.
Roughly figures out what I want even without speaking.
Position felt even if far away.
Returns immediately when called.
Is this good enough?
oo : Setting bible for imaginary friend updated already, huh
ㄴ ActiveF-Rank : Since it's inside your head, of course it knows without speaking
Resign When Awakened : It comes immediately when called?
ㄴ WillTreatChickenIfAwakened : Yeah, even comes through walls
ㄴ Resign When Awakened : Does it work when commuting to work too?
ㄴ WillTreatChickenIfAwakened : It's a skill to summon the summon
ㄴ Resign When Awakened : Useless then
oo : Where's the photo?
ㄴ WillTreatChickenIfAwakened : Can't take photos
ㄴ oo : Fake
Still, no one believes me.
A short while later, 8-Year Summoner left a comment.
8-Year Summoner : If all of it is true, the setup is pretty good
8-Year Summoner : With command sharing, location sensing, and instant recall, if it can attack as well, then it's more than enough for a combat-type
8-Year Summoner : But don't post any more info
WillTreatChickenIfAwakened : Pretty good?
8-Year Summoner : At least it's not a dud
"Pfft..., says it's not a dud at least."
Jjangryongi's tail slapped the floor.
"It's just because that person doesn't know how strong you are."
His tail stopped.
"When they see you in person later, everyone will be shocked."
Only then did Jjangryongi nod satisfied.
I put down my smartphone and organized the belongings returned to me from the hospital.
Torn work clothes.
Dusty safety boots.
Gloves with bloodstains remaining on them.
When I turned the work clothes pocket inside out, a small screw and a crumpled receipt fell to the floor.
Finally.
Tal-gak.
A single black piece smaller than a fingernail rolled out.
"What's this?"
The surface was smooth like glass.
Even though it was black, a faint light was moving inside it.
It seemed to resemble the black mana stone I had seen at the accident site.
'Did a fragment get inside back then?'
The moment I picked up the fragment, Jjangryongi froze.
His blue-green eyes followed the black fragment.
"Do you know what this is?"
Jjangryongi twitched his nose.
Then he suddenly flew up.
"Wait."
He snatched the fragment from between my fingers.
"That's not something you eat!"
Jjangryongi put the black piece into his mouth.
"Spit it out!"
Hurtling into action, I tried to open his mouth.
Jjangryongi threw his head back.
Ggul-ggeok.
"I said it's not food!"
At that moment, a black light spread between his silver scales.
Jjangryongi slowly hovered into the air.
His scales shone brightly once, and a blue light gathered at the tip of his small horns.
[Contract target has consumed high-density mana.]
[Immature Knowledge (F) is activated.]
[Dragons require a large amount of mana for growth.]
The light disappeared quickly.
Jjangryongi landed on the floor and patted his belly with satisfaction.
"So it was absorbable?"
"Kya."
I searched for the characteristics of the black fragment on my smartphone.
Searching the internet soon brought up similar photos.
[Condensed Mana Stone]
[Possesses a higher concentration of mana than ordinary mana stones, and the price varies according to purity and size.]
[Recent average market price: 84,000 won per gram.]
"......."
I rechecked the numbers.
What...?
84,000 won.
Per gram.
The fragment Jjangryongi swallowed looked to be at least 10 grams.
It was an item far more expensive than my entire net worth.
I slowly looked at Jjangryongi.
He was licking his front paw with a face that claimed complete innocence.
"Jjangryong-a."
"Kya?"
"Spit it out."
Jjangryongi patted his belly with satisfaction.
"Give me back my money!"