Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Episode 22. Guardian Consultation
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A little while ago, an official document had come down from the Lair.
— Guardian Consultation Period.
During this time, guardians were to consult with their cadets, discuss what they needed and what they lacked, and then submit guardian reports to the professors and administrative staff of each department.
It was mandatory for any cadet with a guardian, so it had to be done soon.
Perfect timing.
As Yoo Ji-tae sat in the study chair, Yeoreum naturally plopped down on his bed. An unusually serious expression on her face.
A moment of silence passed. Yeoreum repeatedly brushed her hair back.
Then she let out a sigh and muttered,
"Hey."
…
"I feel like such a fucking loser."
…
"It just hit me out of nowhere. So I thought about it seriously for a few days."
"Changed your mind?"
"Yeah. I'm a total fucking loser."
Her expression remained serious.
The girl sitting on Yoo Ji-tae's bed hugged her knees with both arms.
Silence stretched on.
For a Red Dragon to reveal her own weakness like this was incredibly rare. Including past regressions, Yoo Ji-tae had known this young Red Dragon for nearly decades. She'd lost plenty of fights during that time, but she'd never once called herself weak.
— Me!
— I hate losing to someone I can beat as much as I hate dying.
That was what Yeoreum had said during a past demon war simulation.
The regressor knew it wasn't just a figure of speech.
"A little while ago, I got challenged to a spar by a cadet from a Level 5 club."
"Oh."
"The guy was good with a sword. So I picked up a sword too. I figured, fuck, I'd win for sure."
"And? Did you lose?"
"No, I won. But… it wasn't with the sword."
In that case, there was only one tool she would have pulled out.
"Did you use mana from your Dragon Heart?"
"Yeah. I was so pissed, I wanted to break the taboo of play."
The taboo of play.
That meant releasing her polymorph.
Of course, it wasn't a binding taboo. Still, even the most reckless dragons treated this one seriously.
She had nearly lost in human form.
So she brought out her true power.
"I wanted to die. Felt so fucking pathetic."
With that, Yeoreum rubbed her ear.
"Anyway, that's the story."
Then she flopped onto the bed and started rolling around.
Yoo Ji-tae watched her for a moment. Bom had mentioned taking her as a disciple, but the Red clan had immense pride in martial arts. She hadn't wanted his guidance.
Now, that pride of hers seemed a bit broken.
Yeoreum rolled around on the blanket, eventually wrapping herself up like a sushi roll. Her gaze fixed on the wall, her face sulky.
Having spent time together, he felt like he understood now.
She wanted help.
But there were complications.
First, Yoo Ji-tae had never directly taught anyone.
Second, the process of getting stronger was grueling. It didn't suit a hatchling out for fun and games.
And finally, the third.
Yoo Ji-tae approached Yeoreum's head poking out from the blanket and sat down in front of it.
"You're strong."
"Huh?"
Her actual age was 15.
For a dragon that lived 10,000 years, that was incredibly young.
Equivalent to a human not even two months old.
"You're strong now. And you'll get stronger. The blood flowing in you will make it so."
…
"Right now, there are humans in the Lair stronger than you, but in 10 years, there won't be. In 100 years, it'll be rare in this world. In 1,000 years, you'd have to search all dimensions and still not find many. Humans have their limits."
…
"Just living gives you the right to rule. That's the natural order for you. Pretty lucky, huh."
…"So?"
Yeoreum lifted her head to look at Yoo Ji-tae.
"But if you try to leap ahead 10 or 100 years right now, you're defying that natural order. And defying it always comes with a price."
The six regressions he'd gone through.
The time he'd struggled to grow stronger.
The things he'd had to lose because of it.
…
"There might be sacrifices."
The regressor had lost everything.
"Still want to get stronger?"
Maybe it was overkill to say this about a hatchling climbing one little step. But he knew exactly what kind of monster his own 'strength' was.
Defying the natural order wasn't a choice. It was an attitude toward life. And attitudes like that built momentum.
Power was sweet. Once you taste it, there's no end. Demons weren't idiots when they were human; that's why they made pacts with abyss entities.
Are you ready for that attitude?
That was the regressor's question.
…
And her answer.
"Yeah."
Came out so easily.
The regressor nodded.
"Alright. When break starts soon, let's give it a try together."
"Try what."
"Getting stronger. I'll teach you."
"Huh?"
Yeoreum's eyes went wide.
"Teach me what? I never asked you to teach me."
Come to think of it, she hadn't directly asked.
…
"Ohhh. I get it. You wanted to teach me all along, huh?"
Was she joking, or had he misread? Yoo Ji-tae couldn't tell.
He shook his head.
"If you don't want it, forget it."
"Uh, huh...? Sure. I don't care either way. No, but still, who says no to learning?"
"Then. Shall I teach you?"
"Yeah. I didn't ask, but if you wanna that bad."
…"Forget it?"
Yeoreum stared at him blankly. Her expression seemed to be giving him a hint.
Asking to be taught hurt her pride.
But saying she didn't need it made him think she really didn't.
She sighed, as if giving up on something, and said weakly,
…"Fine. Do it."
…
"Teach me the martial arts, Teacher Yoo Ji-tae."
…
"Happy now? Jeez…"
She clicked her tongue, crawled out of the blanket, and headed for the door. As she passed, she tossed out casually,
"Hey."
"Yeah."
"Be grateful. It's an honor."
"For what."
"Who dares teach a Red Dragon?"
After she left, Yoo Ji-tae jotted down the consultation notes roughly.
[Yoo Yeoreum: No manners, but same as usual.]
The next was Gaeul.
…"Consultation?"
"Yeah."
"Uh, um. Me? Lately! I've just been going to school fine. Hehe."
He nodded.
He'd been worried deep down. After her entrance ceremony declaration. She'd had chances to stand before crowds and bask in love repeatedly.
What if being blocked from that made the attention-starved Gold Dragon daughter act out? Something like that.
But she was adapting well to life in Academy City.
"Uuum, I made friends too. And… studying. Lots of fun stuff. Hanging out with Sister Bom is fun! And Winter loves the picture books I read."
"Oh."
"And Sister Yeoreum is… um…"
…
"Uh, f-full of energy…"
"Got it. Anything lacking?"
"Um, not really."
The chick grinned brightly.
"Oh. But."
"Yeah."
"If there's a chance, could I go on a dispatch or something?"
"Dispatch?"
"Yes! I looked it up, and they send people to military bases and stuff around. Can I go too?"
"Why."
"Just! I wanna do some volunteering. Meet new people!"
Hmm.
It depended on the place. And who was there.
"Let's talk again when you have a solid plan."
"Yes!"
As she stood, her twin braids swayed. Her footsteps out the door were light and bouncy.
The regressor's gaze followed her golden nape.
He picked up his pen.
[Yoo Gaeul: Doing well, but needs monitoring.]
Finally, Bom entered Yoo Ji-tae's room.
An inscrutable blank expression.
Bom approached and stood before him.
"Sit."
"Where?"
There was only one chair. As Yoo Ji-tae started to point to the bed, Bom suddenly came closer and straddled his lap.
"Here?"
…"No. Over there."
"This is nice too."
Even as he gestured, Bom just stared without moving.
…
This distance was a bit awkward for him.
"So, why?"
"Consultation time. How've you been?"
"Attending classes. Hanging out with Yeoreum and Gaeul. Taking care of Winter."
"Anything lacking."
"Nope."
He decided to probe gently.
"Wanna draw something? Write a novel or whatever?"
"No. Why?"
"You're Green clan."
Bom shook her head.
"Tried it, but no fun. Weirdly."
Then Bom snatched the notebook from his hand. She held out her hand for the pen. He handed it over readily.
"What about you, ajusshi?"
The consultation subject suddenly switched.
"How've you been, ajusshi?"
"Just living."
"Anything lacking?"
"My lap's a bit heavy."
At his words, Bom lifted her legs and turned fully to face him.
The distance was very close now. He grew more awkward. Bom, unconcerned, started scribbling with the pen.
"Guardian Yoo Ji-tae… heavy lap… suspected frozen shoulder…"
…
"But is frozen shoulder in the lap? Anyway. Anything else lacking?"
"No."
"Guardian Yoo Ji-tae… living a satisfactory life…"
She wrote more.
"Enough. Get down."
"Why? It's close and nice."
"Too close."
"Better than far away."
…
"We should get this close too."
…
"We're not that close yet."
Bom stared at him intently.
"Ajusshi."
"Yeah."
"How can we get a little closer?"
Then her upper body slowly leaned in.
Yoo Ji-tae leaned back gradually. Bom whispered in a very soft voice as she watched him.
"Look at this."
…
"When I get close, you pull away."
The subtle distance narrowed bit by bit.
"Am I burdensome to you, ajusshi?"
"No."
"Or do you see me as a girl?"
"Not that."
"Still, the shell's a human female. Embarrassed?"
…
She started whispering slowly.
"You know what? Ajusshi…"
Soon his back hit the chair back.
"Surprisingly…"
Yet Bom's face drew nearer to his.
His gaze was impassive, the usual expression that might scare others. But inside, he was growing more troubled.
Noticing that, the sullen Bom cracked with a "Pfft…" and laughed.
Once her expression broke, she couldn't hold it. She burst out laughing, "Kkhkh, kuhuhu…!"
"Ah… so fun…"
After sending Bom out.
Yoo Ji-tae scribbled roughly with the pen.
[Yoo Bom: Doing well. Hasn't found interests yet, but enjoys teasing guardian…]
He wrote the notes, then erased them. Simplified it to [Hasn't found dreams yet.]
But then, through the thin paper, unread writing shone through. Curious, Yoo Ji-tae flipped the page.
[Yoo Ji-tae: Surprisingly shy.]
Thus, the cadet consultations ended.
…
But why did this one come in?
…
Winter glanced toward where her sisters had gone.
Then back at Yoo Ji-tae. Her eyes grew a bit bulging.
"What. Something to say?"
…
"Nothing? Then go. I have stuff to do."
Winter nodded and turned to leave.
As Yoo Ji-tae turned back to his desk, he felt eyes. Looking back, blue eyes peered through the door crack. Her eyes brimmed with disappointment, like she couldn't bear to leave.
And so, Yoo Ji-tae ended up consulting with an unneeded baby.
He picked up Winter and placed her on the bed.
Only then did she beam.
"How've you been lately."
…
Maybe a tough question.
Winter just grinned.
"Anything lacking."
…
Still grinning.
"Any requests?"
…
And to the end, Winter just grinned.
No need to note it, but as he closed the notebook, she looked sad. So Yoo Ji-tae jotted down rough notes.
[Yoo Gyeoreul: Seems happy.]