Chapter 3
Chapter 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Part 2. Bom (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Hello.”
Fluent Korean flowed from the Green Dragon's mouth.
“Why have you come to see me?”
“I have business with you.”
“You know who I am, then?”
“Yeah.”
Yoo Ji-tae looked at her face. It was hard to read her thoughts—an oddly enigmatic aura.
A brief silence hung between them.
Until now, to Yoo Ji-tae, dragons had been like bombs he kept hidden, hoping they wouldn't go off. That was why, over the hundred years of repeated regressions, he had barely exchanged twenty words a year with them. There was no reason to chat with a bomb on purpose.
But now, he felt the need for conversation. And for a regressor more accustomed to swords than words, that was unfamiliar.
Cautiously, he opened his mouth.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Yes.”
The immediate reply caught him off guard.
Did she know from the start?
“Who am I, then?”
“Yoo Ji-tae.”
“Where'd you hear that name?”
“It's on your chest.”
His chest? Come to think of it, he was wearing the superhuman police uniform, complete with a name tag.
Blocking people's eyes and ears was child's play for him, so he'd thrown it on carelessly.
He glanced down at his chest with hazy eyes, then lifted his head. The dragon was wearing a peculiar smile.
“Just kidding. Honestly, I don't know who you are, but there's one thing I do know.”
“What?”
“I've been living here for over a year now. I love traveling, so I've been all over the place. But I've never seen or heard of a human as strong as you. And a human as...”
The Green Dragon chose her words carefully.
“...dangerous as you.”
Even young, she was of the Green Dragon clan.
The Green Dragons could read providence, they said. Something about rules permeating the world, judging things and phenomena from all angles based on those rules—it was beyond human understanding, and frankly, he didn't care.
“Did you come to kill me?”
“No.”
“Then what? Do you have sexual desires toward a dragon?”
“No.”
“Then kidnapping? Abduction?”
“Something like that.”
“What happens after you abduct me?”
“I'll keep you around.”
“Why?”
“You don't need to know.”
The Green Dragon fell silent at Yoo Ji-tae's curt manner. She stared at the cracked road tiles, thinking, then spoke again.
“What if I refuse?”
“I'll take you anyway.”
“By force?”
Yoo Ji-tae had no reply.
“Are you going to do bad things to me?”
“No intention of that.”
“Abduction is already a bad thing. So you're doing bad things right now.”
I see.
“But once you take me, you won't do anything bad?”
Again, no reply from Yoo Ji-tae. That was affirmation enough.
The Green Dragon pondered. She didn't seem inclined to refuse from the start.
It was a very dragon-like judgment, not defying providence. She knew that if Yoo Ji-tae was set on taking her, any resistance she offered would be meaningless.
“I like it here.”
“Okay.”
“This is the first place I've stayed for half a year.”
“Whining won't help.”
He silently met her green eyes.
Dragons' greatness came from their long histories. Conversely, even a dragon hatchling was just a baby. Still ignorant of much, full of wonder and fear at the world.
Yet she was remarkably calm.
“Fine. Then let's go, ajusshi.”
She suddenly approached Yoo Ji-tae.
Ajusshi?
“I'm going on my own two feet.”
“What?”
“It means you're not abducting me—I'm going willingly. I'm not a kidnapping victim; I'm a guest. And you're not a kidnapper.”
“So?”
“So treat me kindly like a guest.”
She naturally fell in step and offered her hand to Yoo Ji-tae. It was as if she'd foreseen what would happen next and how he'd take her.
He didn't dislike her natural demeanor. It was a new side, even after several encounters.
But his mild interest ended there.
“Seems you're under a misconception. I'm not a good guy. And this isn't a game.”
His voice was gloomy, like sticky poison flowing.
To a regressor, this was like inviting a tiger into his home. Fail to leash it properly young, and it'd grow beyond control later.
He'd once had precious things—and people—he'd shared long times with. In his first couple of lives, he'd envisioned futures together, vowing to succeed this time.
But when the final day came, everything but him turned to ash and vanished, leaving him alone in a ruined world.
Again and again.
Yoo Ji-tae spoke slowly.
“From now on, you'll live in my sight. You'll do what I know, within my eyes and ears. Obey me, and no harm comes to you. Disobey, and I can't guarantee what follows. Harsh? You'll endure it. It's the best I can offer.”
“...”
“This isn't your world. Up close, it's ugly and filthy in many ways. I plan to protect you from this perilous place. But step outside my fence, and I'll become something even more dangerous—no fence in this world can protect you from me then. Understand?”
Plain words. Even tone. Yet from his mouth, they became more intimidating than any threat.
The Green Dragon remained impassive.
Yoo Ji-tae reached for her outstretched hand. She slyly hooked her pinky.
“You won't hurt me if I obey? That's a promise?”
A child was a child.
Yoo Ji-tae hooked his pinky with hers. Her small, pale hand trembled faintly.
She wasn't as relaxed as she seemed.
“I promise.”
With that, the man and girl vanished from the street.
The next morning dawned.
It was a weekend, but the Lair Local Police Station buzzed from early on. The entire superhuman investigation team was out on site for surveillance because of Jo Ho-sik.
Yoo Ji-tae was no exception.
“Then, I'll carry out my orders.”
Dressed in uniform, Yoo Ji-tae bowed at a right angle from the waist.
But the man receiving his salute was also Yoo Ji-tae.
He waved the clone off. Having received orders to 'just do as told,' the clone headed to the Lair.
Yoo Ji-tae lounged on the sofa reading the newspaper as usual.
“Mm, hmm...”
Then the Green Dragon emerged from his room. She was wearing pajamas he'd bought her.
He'd put her in his room and slept on the living room sofa.
“Hello.”
Despite being a dragon—and a kidnapping victim—she'd slept soundly, rubbing her eyes. Her tousled hair sparkled in the morning sun.
“What's for breakfast?”
“Breakfast?”
“We have to eat. You skipped dinner last night too.”
“Oh.”
“...You do eat regularly, right?”
He had, once. With coworkers.
“And you eat every meal?”
“Yes.”
“Why? You're not even hungry.”
“Because good food makes me happy.”
He muttered, Fair enough.
Then the Green Dragon asked,
“Don't you have anything to say to me? We barely talked yesterday.”
Hmm.
“Like rules for living here. Things you like or hate. What you expect from me. Stuff like that.”
“Nothing.”
“You said to obey you?”
“Just stay here. Your friends will all come here too. Live with them here.”
“Really? Can I go out?”
He nodded. Going out didn't matter. What counted was staying within his influence.
If a dragon really tried hiding her presence, it'd be a hassle even for him. He'd find her eventually, but it'd annoy him.
“Do whatever you want. I'll provide anything you need.”
“Wow.”
“But don't do it without me knowing.”
“Anything?”
“Yeah. Anything.”
“Even going to the bathroom? Or periods?”
Silence was his answer.
Dragons and periods?
“Kidding. Oh, I just thought of something I want to do today.”
“What?”
“Go grocery shopping with you, ajusshi.”
“What?”
“Eat something. I'll make it for you.”
An unexpected proposal.
Yoo Ji-tae went grocery shopping with the Green Dragon.
From the streets to the mart, all eyes—young and old—locked onto the Green Dragon.
“Hey, look over there...”
“Damn, she's insane... Like an actress or something.”
“The guy next to her looks scary.”
“Don't make eye contact...”
Their murmurs reached him.
Admiration flowed until their eyes met his—then gasps and averted gazes.
On the way back with ingredients, he figured he might as well get her an ID. He ducked into a back alley to a broker he knew and had one made.
The broker, a one-eyed man with an eyepatch, kept stealing glances at the Green Dragon with his good eye.
Shock was evident.
“Whoa... Boss, is that young lady your girlfriend?”
Yoo Ji-tae ignored him; so did the Green Dragon. But the constant stares and halting hands prompted Yoo Ji-tae to speak.
“Want me to gouge out your last eye?”
“Y-Yes? N-No, I mean...”
“The ID.”
Yoo Ji-tae growled. His voice scraped like metal on metal.
“R-Right...”
Finally terrified, the broker's hands shook as he worked.
This reaction was familiar.
Beauty one couldn't protect became poison—and apocalypse had followed before.
The broker swallowed dryly, sneaking peeks at Yoo Ji-tae. As irritation built, he asked the Green Dragon,
“Uh, miss...”
“Me?”
Her voice is beautiful too...! The broker hastily hid his expression.
“W-What name should I put for the lady, sir?”
“Name? Oh, yeah.”
“Hmm.” The Green Dragon looked at Yoo Ji-tae.
What to do? There were four dragons. Sequential names to avoid confusion.
“Bom.”
Next would be Yeoreum, Gaeul, Gyeol.
“Th-Then the family name...?”
“Yoo.”
Because he was a Yoo.
“Yoo Bom. Got it.”
Good thing there were only four.
Three would mean rock-paper-scissors. Seven, he'd mash days of the week together.
“Here you go, finished.”
Afterward, they shopped the city for necessities. Yoo Ji-tae got her a hologram watch and a check card in Bom's name.
No issues. Money was something a regressor could grasp anytime, any amount.
On the way home from shopping.
Bom stared blankly at the ID in her hand, then at Yoo Ji-tae walking ahead. Amid the crowd, his back felt towering beyond their height difference.
Gazing at him always brought unease.
This man is dangerous.
Too much.
Obviously a killer. Perhaps once a tyrant. Maybe even a dragon-slayer.
Providence's eye warned her in real time.
Dangerous.
Yet she was already caught.
Lost in such thoughts, Bom's eyes returned to the ID.
Bom.
The season of life that graces the world.
Such a pretty name, perfect for her.
Maybe he's not that dangerous.
Last night and today, she'd been safe. He hadn't threatened her.
Bom looked at his back again. Broad and wide. Still fearsome, but like a tall castle wall—reassuring too.
So Bom decided to watch a bit longer.