Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Part 30. To the Dragon (2)
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A dragon's body under Polymorph is strikingly similar to a human's. From the feet to the head, it's composed of over 200 segmented bones. Beyond the skeletal system, there are muscular, nervous, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems, and most organs function in much the same way.
In simple terms, they look exactly like humans on the outside.
But they are not humans.
All educational institutions, including Lair, are designed with humans in mind. The purpose of military academies is to train exceptional soldiers—in other words, to create humans who can fight.
However, they are dragons.
For someone like Bom, who can distinguish between what she needs and what she doesn't, it's no issue.
For Gaeul, who has no interest in becoming a soldier in the first place, it's also no problem.
But for a daughter of the Red clan, it's different.
She is born a soldier and matures into a monarch as she lives. For Yeoreum, life in Lair might have been like walking in ill-fitting shoes—stifling and cumbersome at every step.
"...Yeoreum probably didn't just feel that way for a moment."
It was Bom's response to Yoo Ji-tae's words.
"Maybe it's been like that since she enrolled."
The regressor nodded in agreement.
He recalled the time she clashed with Sophia Borcova. When Mikhailov pressured her, she punched him square in the face. It wasn't just Yeoreum being violent; it was more like she had a firm, instinctive reaction to any stimulus directed at her.
Perhaps her refusal to learn from Yoo Ji-tae was the same as that punch to Mikhailov.
"......"
A skeptical thought crossed his mind.
So what?
Rejecting instruction and doing things on her own—is that wrong?
If that's her way of adapting to Lair, is there any reason for him to interfere and force change?
He had never pondered this during his regressions, so the regressor couldn't arrive at a clear answer.
"Ajusshi."
Bom, who had been deep in thought, spoke up.
As always, her face was blank, unreadable.
"Please help Yeoreum a little more."
"Why."
"If you help her..."
Bom chose her words carefully before continuing.
"Yeoreum will be happier."
A dragon's happiness was reason enough for him to intervene.
But even if he decided to help, the situation wouldn't resolve itself.
"I said I'm not learning."
Yeoreum cut him off sharply.
Her face showed no trace of her usual playfulness. She seemed resolute.
"I can manage alone, so you don't have to follow me around like today."
"......"
"Honestly, having you tag along is awkward and annoying."
With that, Yeoreum turned away.
So Yoo Ji-tae had to take another step forward.
"I can teach you."
Yeoreum's steps halted abruptly. A brief silence followed.
"...Hey. You're human too, right?"
Her voice drifted back from over her shoulder.
"......"
"I get that you're super strong. Impressive, sure. But in the end, you're human, not a dragon."
She glanced back slightly as she continued.
"No dragons on Earth, apparently. No matter how great you are, you wouldn't know how my tail moves. Right?"
She stuck out her butt and wagged it teasingly.
Admittedly, he had no idea how to control a tail.
Still, when Yoo Ji-tae tried to persuade her further, Yeoreum recoiled and bolted.
"No way. No!"
Forcing her wouldn't help.
Yet Yoo Ji-tae quietly followed her anyway.
"I said go home! You stalker!"
"...Stalker?"
"Chasing me around like this—what else is it? If not, why have you been following me for days? You like me that much? I get it. Female dragons are pretty. And I'm one of the prettier ones."
"......"
"...What with that look. Hey! How long are you gonna keep following me?!"
She yelled suddenly. Nearby people glanced over, recognized her, and quickly looked away.
The regressor scratched his nape.
Yeoreum let out a deep sigh.
"Well, kidnappers or stalkers..."
"I'm your teacher. Teacher. From now on, I'll teach you..."
"Ugh, whatever!"
She cut him off and focused on her workout.
There, Yoo Ji-tae felt another strange sensation.
Guardians following cadets around—that was a rule made by humans. The Red Dragon accepted it as natural, resigning herself to it. It was proof she was molding herself to Lair.
"Stop following me!"
...In the end, all Yoo Ji-tae could do was watch Yeoreum from afar.
It was frustrating, but he had no better option.
Yeoreum headed to the "Attribute Resistance Training Room."
There, one could build resistance to elemental orbs—fire, ice, electricity, poison, and more—by pressing them against the skin and channeling mana.
Pzzt! Pzzztztzt!
Yeoreum cautiously built her resistance to the electric orb by touching it. Her baseline resistance far exceeded humans', so she started at level 7 lightning, scorching her hand. For most cadets, that was the final stage; the watching instructor sighed heavily.
Yeoreum didn't spare Yoo Ji-tae a glance.
Maybe give up for today.
Just then, he remembered the snack Gaeul and Winter had both begged for in the evening.
'Super spicy chicken!'
Nod nod...!
Better go buy that.
As Yoo Ji-tae turned to leave the training room—
"Huh? Ajusshi?"
A chubby cadet waved at him cheerfully. A boy with a wrinkle-free smile.
Who was this again.
"Don't you remember me? Hisaki Sojiro!"
"...Ah, right. Long time no see."
He was the cadet who had done the anti-demon battle sim with Yeoreum before. There used to be a somewhat gloomy girl attached to him like a sidekick, but she was nowhere in sight.
Sojiro chatted brightly with Yoo Ji-tae.
As he listened quietly, unexpectedly, the conversation turned to Yeoreum.
"Oh, and lately, Yeoreum's been clashing with the professors."
"Clashing?"
"Yeah. She's got such a strong personality, right? She fights with professors and instructors a lot. Like, 'Again?' But I was always the one stopping her. Uh, well..."
Sojiro trailed off, scratching his head. He looked like he regretted his words.
"I see. Go on."
"Mm, she got scolded by Professor Ha Yoon and got upset. Then she sparred with kids from Moonlight House, and it didn't go well. Seemed like that hurt her pride."
Ha Yoon—the combat techniques professor who had recently told him to manage Yeoreum properly. Moonlight House was the house she ran.
Sojiro added that Moonlight House had cadets in the level 5 physical techniques club.
That explains it, he thought.
The reason Yeoreum was so stubborn.
A human trained in human ways defeated her, despite her mimicking human training. That would make anyone dig in their heels.
It was almost surprising she hadn't acted out more routinely.
The Red clan had immense pride. In past regressions, the Red Dragon would have exploded.
"...I see."
As Yoo Ji-tae pondered silently—
The training room door burst open, and a somewhat downcast girl, Kim Ji-in, rushed out.
"Hey, hey, Sojiro!"
"Wh-what!? What is it!"
"Come stop Yeoreum...!"
Kim Ji-in spotted Yoo Ji-tae and widened her eyes.
He had already started heading toward the training room after hearing the noise.
"Hey. What's with all the commotion inside."
Sojiro almost asked if he hadn't heard anything, but held back.
"It's just..."
Kim Ji-in hurriedly explained.
"Yeoreum's about to fight the professor again!"
But to Yoo Ji-tae, it didn't seem as serious as Kim Ji-in made it sound.
"Cadet Yeoreum. Aren't you using the lightning orb too long?"
"Nooo, Unni. How many times do I have to say I'm fine?"
"I'm a professor teaching combat techniques to cadets. Watch your words, Cadet Yeoreum."
"Ugh......"
"Where's your guardian, anyway? I spoke to him the other day. Clearly, the cadet hasn't reformed."
"You think if he needed to, he wouldn't have handled it himself?"
"Cadet!"
Professor Ha Yoon raised her voice.
"You're young and immature! You need protection and education! Stop using the orb now. Right now! Push further, and you could damage your heart or eyes irreversibly!"
Yeoreum bit her lip. The gazes of Moonlight House cadets behind Ha Yoon irked her.
Should she charge? No? She hesitated briefly, then shook her head.
She didn't want to cause trouble for her entire clan.
As Yeoreum grudgingly moved to pull her hand away, someone approached.
Looking up, there was Yoo Ji-tae.
"......"
Yeoreum scowled, while Professor Ha Yoon brightened and called to him.
"Ah. Perfect timing, Guardian Yoo Ji-tae. As I mentioned before, Cadet Yeoreum is training recklessly again. Didn't you educate her yesterday?"
"No, I didn't."
His frank reply made Ha Yoon blink.
"...Pardon?"
"Professor. Leave her be."
"What are you saying?"
Yoo Ji-tae eyed Professor Ha Yoon. The short, wiry middle-aged woman was unfamiliar, but her sharp gaze, honed on the front lines, was all too familiar.
"She's a cadet under my protection. You can leave her alone."
"Lightning orbs are especially dangerous. You can't just brush it off with 'I'll take responsibility.' You know that."
The regressor's gaze slowly drifted down to the orb.
A glass sphere the size of a fist.
This is nothing.
He silently placed his hand on it. A barrier formed at the safe distance for level 7, as Yeoreum had set.
Crash—!
But the regressor's hand shattered the barrier and drew closer to the orb.
The output ramped up as it neared.
Finally, Yoo Ji-tae's hand, his skin, touched the orb. Level 20 lightning—the max—engulfed his hand, raging wildly.
Blue bolts sprayed everywhere.
Pzzztztztztzt—!!
Startled, Ha Yoon backed away, shielding her face with her elbow.
"Mr. Yoo Ji-tae—!"
Level 20 was dangerous even for superhumans skilled in mana control. Especially lightning, where one slip could mean burning alive.
Yet amid the spraying bolts, Yoo Ji-tae looked utterly serene. His level must be higher than expected.
As Ha Yoon tried to calm her shock—
Yoo Ji-tae lightly tossed the orb to Yeoreum.
The professor, who had just relaxed, yelped in alarm.
"What are you—!"
The Moonlight House cadets behind her gasped.
Yeoreum caught it reflexively with both hands.
"No...!!"
And nothing happened.
Pzzztztzt—!
The lightning just sprayed around harmlessly.
A cadet holding a level 20 lightning orb? Ha Yoon and the cadets gaped in disbelief.
"How's it feel?"
"Just a little stingy."
Yeoreum answered with a bemused expression.
Ha Yoon blinked in stupefaction, squinting.
A sting? Impossible. Common sense said a young superhuman cadet grabbing a level 20 orb would burn their eyes and shock their heart.
Yet Yeoreum showed no anomalies.
"Knew it."
That settled it.
Yoo Ji-tae decided to send Professor Ha Yoon packing.
"You saw that. Sorry for the worry. Please go now."
She was baffled, speechless. "...We'll leave it to the guardian. Goodbye." As she turned, Yeoreum flipped her off behind her back.
"Oh, and."
Ha Yoon turned at Yoo Ji-tae's words. Thinking she'd been caught, Yeoreum schooled her face and slyly lowered her finger.
But Ha Yoon wasn't looking at Yeoreum.
"I'd like to request an announcement to all training room instructors, in my name as guardian."
It was a right guardians could assert.
"...What should I relay?"
"Do not interfere with Cadet Yoo Yeoreum's personal training. Your methods and Lair's policies are not suitable for her."
"......"
Ha Yoon's eyes narrowed.
The words denied her teaching methods—and by extension, Lair's system itself—poking at her pride as a professor.
"Relay that exactly."
She felt a surge of indignation, but meeting the guardian's eyes quelled any retort. Strangely, it felt like a colossal being looming over her, issuing a command.
She couldn't defy it.
His demeanor was polite, so it was probably just her insecurity.
Ha Yoon suppressed her emotions, convincing herself.
"Very well..."