Dragon Lair 'Building the Lair!'
Jehyun's eyes gleamed.
Through the recent elf kidnapping incident, he'd felt the importance of a proper nest even more acutely.
If he built a Dragon Lair and set the surrounding area as its domain, it would greatly bolster the safety of his followers.
Of course, this incident had happened because the elves tried to help him.
"J-Jehyun-nim!"
At that moment, an emerald presence emitting a fragrant grassy scent rushed over and threw herself into Jehyun's arms.
It was Sharze, the high elf with flowing emerald hair.
She looked up at Jehyun with teary eyes.
"I-I again this time…."
When Kang Sihu had mutated, she'd fallen into helplessness once more, unable to do anything. Her own powerlessness and worry for Jehyun had shaken her emotions deeply.
"It's okay. It's all over now."
Jehyun smiled gently and stroked Sharze's head.
Sharze buried her face in his chest and murmured in a choked voice.
"I'm sorry…. And thank you…."
Jehyun grinned at the sight. What a cute little thing.
Sharze was more of a crybaby than he'd thought.
"You worked hard."
Royja and Rojei, who had participated in the match, approached and bowed their heads.
They couldn't hide their shock at seeing Jehyun subdue Kang Sihu. Especially the impact from the arrow of light—it had been tremendous.
They could tell at a glance that the bow Jehyun held was one of the divine artifacts the elves cherished as treasures.
And a light spirit, no less. Even among elves, those who could summon light spirits were exceedingly rare.
As expected of the great one….
They gazed at Jehyun with sparkling eyes, inwardly filled with admiration.
He wasn't even a holy dragon yet, but already so versatile.
They were convinced Jehyun was different from other dragons. His abilities were extraordinary, and he treated his lesser beings like them as full individuals with respect. Truly a dragon of rare character.
Woooaaah!
At that moment, cheers erupted from the crowd.
The spectators, finally snapping out of their daze, roared in celebration of Jehyun's victory.
Kang Sihu's monstrous transformation had been shocking, but it only served to highlight Jehyun even more.
Kim Jehyun, who had surpassed the 8th Circle Kang Sihu.
They cheered wildly for the birth of a great mage.
"The winner of this Superhuman Soul Tournament is Mage Kim Jehyun!"
Han Sangdeok of the Arang Clan, who had been hiding in a corner, stepped forward to confirm Jehyun's victory.
The cheers grew even louder.
Watching the scene, the Matapju ascended to the platform beside Han Sangdeok.
"Greetings. I am Matapju Choi Hanseom."
The Matapju congratulated Jehyun on his win while declaring that he could not tolerate the Black Snake Clan leader's use of forbidden power.
"Thus, the Magic Tower proclaims that after investigating the truth of this incident, all those involved will be severely punished."
The Matapju's gaze turned toward Lee Hyunwoo in the black team's waiting area.
Lee Hyunwoo's throat bobbed heavily under that stare.
He realized that staying put like this might not even guarantee his own safety.
But there was nothing he could do. He could only lower his head.
"Lee Hyunwoo. Keep your promise. Guide us to where the elves are held."
Jehyun approached Lee Hyunwoo and spoke in a cold voice.
Lee Hyunwoo nodded with eyes full of resignation.
"…I'll keep my word."
* * *
"Kang Sihu is dead."
"Hmm. Was Alpha recovered?"
"I'm sorry. That too…."
"I see. You're dismissed."
At Jeon Jung-sik's words, the burly-headed man bowed and left the room.
Jeon Jung-sik tapped the desk with his right hand, his face clouded with deep thought.
Then he abruptly stood up.
Either way, he had to inform Jang Boyoung.
I'll get an earful again.
Just thinking of Jang Boyoung's nagging made his head ache already.
"Jeon Jung-sik! You're in there, right? I'm coming in."
At that moment, the door burst open with a voice from outside.
A woman with short bobbed hair and a cute, round face—Jang Boyoung.
Speak of the devil.
Jeon Jung-sik chuckled.
"What's up?"
"Do we have to have a reason to see each other? Don't be so cold. I was just passing by."
"Hmm. Perfect timing, then. I had something to tell you."
"What, does our Jung-sik have some worries? Your face looks like a puppy desperate to poop."
"…."
Jeon Jung-sik turned to glance at the mirror on the wall.
His expression was as impassive as ever.
Even he couldn't read his own face, yet Jang Boyoung nailed his inner thoughts perfectly. It was an incomprehensible mystery.
"So, what is it?"
"Uh…. Kang Sihu is dead."
"Yeah, Kang Sihu…. Huh? Kang Sihu is dead?"
She hadn't known, after all. If she had, she wouldn't have entered with such an innocent expression.
The whole world was buzzing about Kang Sihu's death on every news channel, but true to form, the shut-in researcher was oblivious to worldly affairs.
"Yes. That's what happened this time."
"Ha, don't tell me the Matapju stepped in?"
"…Not the Matapju. It was that Kim Jehyun from the Magic Tower."
"Kim Jehyun? Who's that… Oh! That annoying kid mage from before? Didn't his pet dog go missing or something?"
"He came back. Stronger than ever. Handling top-grade spirits and reaching 7th Circle magic."
"What? That, that… Isn't he just barely twenty? Possible at that age?"
Jang Boyoung's eyes widened like a rabbit's.
Seeing even the oblivious Jang Boyoung this shocked reaffirmed how much of an outlier Kim Jehyun was.
"Damn, so Alpha couldn't be recovered either?"
"…That's how it went."
"Wow, impressive. That kid. Now I kinda want to see him in person."
"Good thing you're not mad."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Anyway, you won't get the chance. We'll handle him for sure this time."
"How many times have I heard that now?"
"Sawak. We'll use her."
Sawak.
At the word, Jang Boyoung's eyes widened again.
"You're seriously feeling threatened by him, huh."
"Yes. We can't let this continue. He's already breached the second wall twice. No guarantee he won't hit the third. Even that monstrous Matapju could show up again. Better to eliminate the possibility entirely."
Jeon Jung-sik showed firm resolve.
This time, they would truly eliminate Kim Jehyun.
* * *
"Haidel!"
"J-Jehyun-nim…."
Jehyun faced the pale-faced Haidel.
Leading Lee Hyunwoo, they'd rushed straight to the Black Snake Clan headquarters.
They found a hidden room in Clan Leader Kang Sihu's quarters and encountered Haidel and the other imprisoned elves.
All of them had severely depleted vitality.
"You okay?"
"Y-Yes…."
Haidel looked barely able to stand, yet he tried to bow to Jehyun.
Jehyun stopped him and thoroughly checked for any anomalies in his body.
And in the process, he discovered one fact.
"That bastard Kang Sihu… was even draining blood?"
Haidel's body bore periodic blood extraction marks.
The tools on the table confirmed that Kang Sihu had been drawing and consuming his blood.
What the hell…. Not a vampire or anything.
"At least everyone's safe. That's a relief."
Jehyun looked around at Haidel and the other elves.
Their vitality was badly damaged, but no one was in mortal danger.
No signs of mistreatment on the female elves either.
Small mercies.
The worst he'd feared hadn't come to pass.
But they hadn't rescued all the elves yet.
The numbers didn't match what he'd heard.
Asking Haidel and the others, they said they hadn't seen anyone else.
Jehyun approached the Superhuman Crime Investigation agents collecting evidence and explained the situation.
The agents acted immediately on his words.
They interrogated the detained Black Snake Clan members and learned that some elves had been smuggled to the black market.
"The black market?"
Slaves of other races were traded there.
Branded with slave marks, they could only obey their master's commands.
Jehyun's face hardened menacingly.
The Superhuman Association moved swiftly, and at Jehyun's request, Magic Tower personnel were mobilized too.
They successfully rescued all the kidnapped elves from a black market branch.
Fortunately, the market opened every half-year, and the next one was exactly three days away.
By sheer luck, they saved them without incident.
These elves were even healthier than those held by Kang Sihu.
The black market had managed them meticulously for months to fetch top prices.
"Thank goodness."
Jehyun meant it sincerely, and the elves felt it.
They gazed at him with eyes brimming with emotion.
Elves' loyalty has increased.
* * *
The superhuman community was on fire with talk of Jehyun.
Not just the top-grade spirit, but 7th Circle too. And he'd beaten Kang Sihu head-on.
Even seeing it with their own eyes, it was unbelievable.
Many now viewed Jehyun not as a mere prospect, but on par with the established absolutes.
Just that fact sent his stock skyrocketing.
Not just the community—news outlets were abuzz with Jehyun coverage daily.
Bzzzzt.
Jehyun's phone was blowing up nonstop.
From acquaintances he knew to those he'd lost touch with, messages poured in.
"Ugh, it's ringing off the hook."
Jehyun switched it to silent and tossed it into his Subspace.
He'd been happy to reply at first, but after a day of hundreds of texts and calls, even that got old.
Oh yeah… I haven't opened those boxes yet.
Jehyun remembered the Ellen Treasure Box +10 and Jindoji's Treasure Box +10 he still hadn't checked.
Before that….
He turned to Haidel and the elves following him.
The Elf Forest was just ahead.
Jehyun spoke to Haidel.
"Haidel. I'm going to build my lair now."
"Oh… You mean a Dragon Lair, sir?"
Haidel knew well about dragon lairs.
The designated territory becomes more fertile, turning into an impregnable natural fortress that none but the dragon's permitted can easily breach.
He'd thought it would be ages before Jehyun, not yet a holy dragon, could build one.
Yet here he was, declaring it far sooner than expected.
As expected of him… truly exceptional.
Haidel looked at Jehyun with shining eyes full of respect.
"I've decided on this place for the site."
Jehyun continued, looking at Haidel.
Haidel nodded as if he'd half-expected it.
"You've chosen here, then."
"Yeah. The location's better than I thought."
The elves hadn't settled here for nothing. Prime spot.
A massive cliff loomed behind the forest—perfect for carving out a lair.
That was when Jehyun made his decision.
Complete the Lair
You're not far from becoming a holy dragon. Congratulations!
Now complete your first lair.
Building the lair will provide a foundation to accelerate your growth.
🎁 Reward: 5,000,000 points, Guardian Appointment (Linked Quest Available)
Jehyun's eyes sparkled at the floating message.
But he tilted his head at the "Linked Quest Available" in the rewards.
Linked quest?
You can check the linked quest. Would you like to view it?
Jehyun nodded yes.
The quest linked to Guardian Appointment appeared.
Reading it, Jehyun's eyes widened in surprise.