Chapter 11
Chapter 11
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Defying Common Sense (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
They were just the two of them. Yoo Ji-tae, struck by a sudden doubt, asked.
"What about Yeoreum?"
"I asked her to come along, but she said no because she had to do physical training."
It made sense enough.
Yeoreum had her own personal goal. To fight Javier Karma—the one who had defeated her—and win.
Now that she had a new sword, she was probably diligently practicing on her own.
She and Yoo Ji-tae were still awkward around each other.
Even in the mornings when they ran into each other upon waking, it was a cursory glance. Even if their eyes met while he was smoking, she'd look away after a brief moment. The same went for his clones.
On the other hand, she seemed to get along well with Bom or Gaeul. They exchanged jokes and went on walks together.
He'd thought they might fight every other day, but surprisingly, things were harmonious.
Maybe it was because of Bom.
How long would it take her to defeat Javier?
If he had to guess, several years.
She wasn't untalented, and she was a dragon, but even so?
Yes, even so. Javier was a genius who had left his mark on an era. He started from a higher point than others, and even now, he was pushing forward.
So, at the very least, defeating Javier while they were in the Lair would be difficult.
Time was on their side. He could watch patiently.
"Have you eaten?"
Yoo Ji-tae shifted his thoughts.
Today, he planned to treat them to something a little special.
Common, but special.
"No?"
"Me neither!"
Perfect.
Back in his second loop. A massive war had broken out.
He had participated in it. At the time, he was so weak that he barely made it into the two-digit ranks on the world leaderboard, so Yoo Ji-tae had to join a group.
Surprisingly, it was there that he first encountered a Gold Dragon. She had come as an entertainer for a morale-boosting performance.
It was Gaeul, who had since become that Gold Dragon.
Back then, Gaeul was active as a world-famous solo singer.
She didn't look as cheerful as she did now. With a weary expression, she sang and danced with a smile that felt more like an obligation.
Between performances, during a break for talk. The superhuman soldiers had shouted out a question. "Do you have a favorite food?"
The host, gathering opinions, had asked her that.
And the Gold Dragon's answer was...
Ting-a-ling-
"Welcome to Lair Chicken. What menu would you like, customer?"
*
Gulp.
A swallowing sound came from Gaeul's slender throat.
On the way there, she had kept pestering Yoo Ji-tae. "Can't I just try one? Please? Just ooonnne..." The smell was too good to resist.
"No."
"Hnggg... Ajusshi... This is torture."
"What?"
"Making me hold back next to a smell this delicious. It's torture, torture! You're a bad person, Ajusshi!"
A bad person?
It was true, so no damage taken.
When Yoo Ji-tae didn't respond, Gaeul switched tactics and started whining.
"Hng, Ajusshi. My mom said everything has its time!"
"..."
"I think now's that time. What if I try it later and it doesn't taste good? What if I get all excited from the smell and then get disappointed?!"
"Then don't eat it."
"Hnggg...!"
After whining for a while with no give from Yoo Ji-tae, she pouted and went quiet.
"Given up already, Gaeul?"
"Hmph. It'll probably taste like poisonous mushrooms anyway."
"Poisonous mushrooms?"
From what he heard, back when Gaeul lived in the Amazon, she once found a really pretty mushroom that smelled great.
She picked it and ate it right away. It tasted so awful that she suffered for a while.
So, this would probably taste bad too. She was desperately trying to mentally win.
Her quick change in attitude was cute, and Bom smiled softly.
By the time they got home, Yeoreum was there. Yoo Ji-tae had called her too.
Then he laid out four chickens on the dining table.
As they gathered and sat one by one, the table—large enough for one person alone—filled up.
"..."
The freshly fried coating glistened. A savory, salty aroma wafted. The surprised Gaeul cautiously brought her nose close. Sniff, sniff. A sparkle lit up her golden eyes as she inhaled.
"Huh? I saw this place while passing by on the street."
Yeoreum, arriving late, grabbed a leg and brought it straight to her mouth.
Gaeul scowled fiercely.
"Ah, Unni! I was gonna eat that first!"
"Yeah, latecomer's fault."
"I've been waiting forever."
"Wait a bit more then."
Before Gaeul could retort, crunch- the coating crumbled in Yeoreum's mouth. The perfect crispy sound.
The chick who lost her first bite let out a barrage.
"What are you doing? Eat."
She hadn't been waiting for permission, but at Yoo Ji-tae's words, Gaeul unwittingly reached out and grabbed a chicken leg.
She brought it carefully to her mouth.
Then took a big bite. Nom-
The next moment, her expression went blank.
Yoo Ji-tae was curious about her reaction.
How was it? The taste of her first chicken, one to live forever in memory?
Chewing away, she took another bite, then another.
Soon, tears like chicken droppings welled up in her eyes.
The startled Bom asked.
"Gaeul? You okay?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm... fine."
With a strangely calm voice, the chick sniffled as she ate the chicken.
"...It's delicious."
Was it that tear-jerkingly good? Yoo Ji-tae couldn't understand the kid's feelings.
But it was definitely a good thing.
As long as history continued, far into the future, this child would remember this moment over and over and be happy.
Then, Yeoreum, who had been watching Gaeul, squinted.
"Damn it... Just eat it already."
"What! Doesn't this taste moving to you, Unni?"
"What are you on about, you yellow pig."
'What? Am I a pig?' Gaeul seemed to grumble that. Her cheeks were stuffed full of chicken, so it was just a guess.
While they bantered, Bom quietly savored her chicken.
After the meal. As Yoo Ji-tae stood on the balcony, the door opened and red hair poked in.
Yeoreum spotted him and froze.
The two stayed silent for a while.
"What."
When Yoo Ji-tae spoke first, Yeoreum gestured toward the side.
"Cigarettes. Over there."
He turned his head, and Yeoreum stepped onto the balcony.
She put a cigarette in her mouth and lit the tip with her finger.
A natural motion.
"Adapting to life here okay?"
"Yeah. So-so."
"Need anything?"
"Dunno."
After exhaling smoke a few times, Yeoreum spoke slowly.
"Uh... Why are you going to the Lair?"
"So you all can do what you want."
"What I want is to fight. Lots of strong people there?"
He nodded lightly.
Thick cigarette smoke dispersed into the air.
Yeoreum flicked the butt with her finger, and it burned up entirely and vanished.
She lingered, then tossed out a line much later.
"You. Fight me for real sometime."
"..."
"I know you're strong, but I'm curious just how strong."
He shook his head.
"Why?"
He had no intention of playing along with a kid's whims.
With no reply, Yeoreum, thinking she'd been ignored, scowled.
"You know you're really boring, right?"
"Pretty much."
"Ha, damn..."
She roughly opened the balcony door and left.
* * *
Time passed.
Yoo Ji-tae and the dragons busied themselves with academy preparations.
After submitting applications, contact came a few days later. Interview schedule notification. In the meantime, Bom, the most worldly-wise, helped Yeoreum and Gaeul prepare.
Nothing impressive needed. They already had certifications, and it was a conversational interview.
Meanwhile, Yoo Ji-tae created another identity.
There was a thing called a 'Guardian.' A unique position only in the Lair.
After the Great War ended, hunter training infrastructure exploded worldwide.
Now, the Lair was filled with kids from wealthy families, prestigious houses, bloodlines, and genius academies. Minors bonding, creating their own 'world of elites.'
The problem? Even powerful, connected kids were still kids.
Being young, they often misused their power, causing endless issues.
Thus, a few years ago, 'Guardians' and 'Attendants' from organizations or families started residing to manage the students.
And now, Yoo Ji-tae would become one too.
Another week flew by.
Time raced, and the awaited interview day dawned.
Yoo Ji-tae and the dragons entered the Lair via the Portal Management Bureau.
Vast grounds. Not tall, but beautiful buildings packed with modern tech.
A dome-shaped mana barrier covered the entire massive floating island, 'Hate Ling,' from above.
Cadets hurried everywhere, thick mana scent wafting through the air.
These were the future top hunters of nations.
The interview ended in a flash.
"Uh, uh... W-Wait a sec!"
Gaeul shrieked. Her face was deathly pale.
She had been tense about the interview, swinging between heaven and hell for days, only calming with Bom's comfort.
Now, post-interview, she suddenly panicked.
"What's wrong, Gaeul?"
"I-I just... remembered something horrifying!"
"What?"
"What if... I-I'm the only one who fails?!"
"What're you saying."
As Yeoreum scowled, the floor-staring Gaeul cautiously looked up.
"Like... What if only I fail? You two pass and I'm the only one out? I can't enter the Lair alone?!"
"Who hit her panic button."
"Why? Don't you worry, Unni Yeoreum?"
"Nope."
"I-I was so nervous I couldn't speak properly! If I fail alone like this... Mom..."
Gaeul stayed pale for days like that. Only calming when all three passed.
"Ha! Interviews are no big deal."
Bom smiled, Yeoreum snorted in disbelief.
Then, Yoo Ji-tae's phone rang noisily.
"Yoo Ji-tae speaking."
-Hello. This is Professor Myeong Jong from the Lair Academic Affairs Office.
An elderly man's voice.
Myeong Jong? Yoo Ji-tae knew the name. A famous professor at the Lair, and a top Korean superhuman ranker.
He was probably one of the interviewers.
"Yes. Nice to meet you. What can I do for you?"
-There's a small incident from this interview.
Yoo Ji-tae's gaze fixed on Yeoreum. 'What. Why.' She looked at him sulkily.
"What incident?"
-Didn't reserve cadet Yoo Bom tell you?
Bom?
Her green eyes met his.
Professor Myeong Jong's next words were a bit surprising.
-Reserve cadet Yoo Bom scored perfectly in this cadet selection interview.
"..."
-The interviewers unanimously praised her. She's the only one this year, so the Academic Affairs Office has high expectations. If possible, could the guardian come to the office now with the reserve cadet?