Chapter 50 — Oppa, What Do We Do Now...
Chapter 50 — Oppa, What Do We Do Now...
Translation: GodTL
When the Gates opened and monsters began pouring out, and around the time Awakened started emerging to oppose them—
People wondered.
If unreal elements like monsters, artifacts, and magic had already been proven to exist, could creatures of imagination like Dragons not exist as well?
Some insisted that Dragons undoubtedly existed somewhere, even if they hadn't been discovered yet.
And—
Their assumptions weren't wrong.
Dragons did exist, and unbeknownst to humans, they had naturally settled and lived on Earth.
The reason people remained unaware of their existence was that they had perfectly concealed their identities and blended into human society.
There were Dragons like Sia, who had come to Earth using Dimensional Movement Magic with clear intentions, but such cases were extremely rare.
Most had been pulled into this world either voluntarily or involuntarily through dimensional rifts.
In any case.
Regardless of how they arrived, after coming to Earth, they indulged in their own brand of amusement as Dragons.
Students, ordinary office workers, political figures, famous celebrities, Hunters—
They concealed their true nature thoroughly and immersed themselves in various fields of human society, savoring fresh entertainments their kin in their home dimension had never experienced.
Yet, even while enjoying these diversions, they occasionally felt the urge to interact with other kin who had also taken root in this world.
How comforting must it be to find fellow Dragons in an unfamiliar dimension? How much would they want to share stories with one another?
Moreover, since Dragons could recognize each other's true nature, forging connections wasn't difficult.
Thus, sensing each other's presence, the Dragons who had naturally assimilated into Earth began gathering periodically to socialize and strengthen their bonds.
Today's gathering, too, had been arranged to welcome Sia, who had recently arrived on Earth.
However.
Under normal circumstances, with a new member joining, the atmosphere should have been warm and lively.
Yet, for some reason, the mood today was slightly different from their usual gatherings.
"I express my gratitude to all of you for taking the time to gather here despite your busy schedules."
Rokan, the leader of this gathering and grandfather of today's guest of honor, began the meeting with his usual greeting.
"Not at all. Isn't it only natural for us to make time to gather like this?"
"Besides, when we heard the new kin we're welcoming today is your granddaughter, how could we not come out of curiosity?"
On the surface, the issue hadn't yet risen directly into the open.
Rokan warmly greeted each guest who had arrived at his granddaughter's Lair, and Sia, the guest of honor, also exchanged polite introductions with the Dragons she was meeting for the first time.
"I never imagined I'd have the chance to meet my kin in an unfamiliar dimension. I can't express how happy I am."
"The feeling is mutual. What could bring us more joy than having more of our kind to share our experiences with in this foreign land?"
"Welcome, Sia. Let's meet like this often and share stories from now on."
Everyone welcomed her, their new family member, with warm greetings.
But.
Both Rokan and Sia could sense the peculiar undercurrent flowing through the gathering.
Then—
"How have you been finding life here, Lady Sia?"
Evan, a Dragon who had just been conversing with Rokan, approached Sia and asked.
"I was a little worried at first, but with Grandfather here, I've been managing without difficulty."
Her curt reply left no room for further conversation, and she subtly tried to step away.
However.
Evan had no intention of letting her go so easily.
"Why leave out the part about your human boyfriend?"
The moment he mentioned Min-jun's existence, the atmosphere in the Lair grew chilly.
Though most of those present already knew, they had avoided bringing it up, not wanting to ruin the welcoming ceremony's mood.
Even with the strange undercurrent, the gathering had maintained a semblance of formality—until now.
But the moment Evan mentioned Min-jun—
The atmosphere crossed a point of no return.
It was a topic everyone had hesitated to broach, but now that someone had, there was no stopping the inevitable chain of reactions.
"A human... boyfriend?"
One of the few Dragons unaware of Min-jun's existence asked with a startled expression.
Evan was quick to satisfy her curiosity.
"Yes, she has one. Normally, taking a human lover as part of amusement wouldn't be an issue. But the problem lies elsewhere."
Even the Dragons who had been enjoying the welcoming ceremony without prior knowledge stopped their idle chatter and turned their attention to Evan.
"Seeing how deeply infatuated she is, it almost looks as though she intends to form an Eternal Covenant with a mere human, not even a Dragon. Surely, I must be mistaken, Lady Sia?"
Eternal Covenant.
In human terms, it could be likened to marriage.
However, unlike human marriage, once Dragons formed this covenant, they could never break it. They were bound to their Eternal Covenant partner for life.
And the most crucial point was this—
The Eternal Covenant could only be formed between two Dragons.
Even among Dragons, if two had not formed this covenant, they would never be recognized as true lovers by their kin.
In short—
Min-jun and Sia were in a relationship that could never be acknowledged from the very beginning.
At Evan's words, Sia clenched her lips before speaking clearly in response.
"...That's correct. I intend to form an Eternal Covenant with him."
"'With him,' you say. Perhaps the concept of an 'Eternal Covenant' follows different customs in Lady Sia's homeland than in our dimension?"
Though he feigned ignorance with his questioning, everyone present knew the truth.
No matter which dimension they came from, there were certain customs universal among Dragons—and the Eternal Covenant was one of them.
"Evan. That's enough. Given the nature of this gathering, let us discuss this matter separately at a later time."
Knowing full well what his granddaughter must be feeling, Rokan attempted to bring this uncomfortable situation to a close.
Yet Evan paid no heed and pressed on with accusatory insistence.
"A Dragon can never love a being outside our kind. If you believe this to be love, then surely you must be mistaking it for mere pity or compassion."
"...Why are you doing this to me? Just why?"
From a Dragon's perspective, it was only natural not to understand—and just as natural not to be understood.
Sia had planned to reveal everything later, once Min-jun had fully become a Dragon.
But why was this Evan so intent on digging into her private affairs?
And why bring it up now, of all times, in front of every Dragon residing on Earth?
Couldn't he just pretend not to know and let it pass?
She didn't want her relationship with Min-jun—as if it were something impure—to be dissected and scrutinized before the gathered Dragons.
Sia's eyelids trembled faintly.
"Compared to the span of our lives, your bond with him is but a fleeting moment, a mere brush of passing. And yet you would consider an Eternal Covenant with such an ephemeral creature? Wouldn't it be better to simply call it part of your dalliance?"
To say a Dragon and a human could marry was no different than saying a human could wed their pet.
Evan continued his relentless assault.
"In a play, a human might act the part of a dog. But no matter how convincing the performance, they would never harbor genuine romantic affection for an actual dog."
"Evan."
"I apologize for broaching such a topic on this auspicious occasion, but there are matters that must be addressed before we move forward."
"Evaaaan!"
Rokan, his patience thoroughly exhausted, let out a low growl laced with a trace of Dragon Fear—but Evan didn't so much as flinch.
Instead, his voice grew even sharper as he dug deeper into Sia's heart.
"Lady Sia. Might I ask why you've made such a choice?"
Though his words were polite, his demeanor was anything but.
What could she possibly say in response?
"......"
Her silence was punctuated only by the faint trembling of her eyelids as she glared at Evan.
Unfazed by her reaction, he continued to prod at her nerves.
"You must know that even if you were to build a life together, you could never bear his child."
Though every Dragon present currently wore the flawless guise of a human, it was nothing more than an imitation.
She could never carry the child of Min-jun—a being of a different race.
"I'm aware that it's an unspoken rule among our kind not to interfere in this world—or in each other's affairs—unless absolutely necessary. But this... this does not fall under that exception."
A significant number of Dragons nodded in agreement with Evan's words, their gazes sharp as they studied Sia.
Yet not all of them regarded her with hostility.
"Evan, even so, you're going too far. I... can at least understand Lady Sia's feelings. Comparing the love between a Dragon and a human to that of a human and a dog is an excessive analogy to begin with."
"Indeed. Frankly speaking, I believe we should abolish outdated customs like the 'Eternal Covenant' altogether. While many revere it as sacred, it's nothing more than a curse disguised as a covenant—one that binds two souls together long after their love has withered."
A few Dragons began taking Sia's side, and Rokan, too, chastised Evan to stand down.
Amidst the rising voices and heated exchanges that had turned the welcoming ceremony into an uncomfortable spectacle—
Sia's eyes burned red.
For the Dragons who defended her.
For her grandfather, who stood by her.
For Min-jun, who had unwittingly become the subject of the Dragons' gossip.
And for herself—who had chosen this forbidden love.
What... should I do?
One possible solution came to mind, but she feared it might only worsen the situation.
Yet in the end, she concluded that doing something—anything—was better than standing idle.
"Listen."
With great effort, she forced the words out.
"Oppa... is prepared to change his race for me."
In a desperate attempt to shift the chaotic atmosphere, Sia dropped a bombshell.
"Lady Sia, what did you just say?"
"A human... changing his race?"
Her words sent shockwaves through the gathering, and murmurs erupted among the assembled Dragons.
Struggling against the disarray, Sia pressed on.
"He knows. He knows I'm a Dragon... and that to form an Eternal Covenant, he must become one as well. That's why he's pouring everything he has into making our dream come true."
Truthfully, Min-jun was unaware of the specifics—the Eternal Covenant, the Dragons' approval—but he did know that becoming a Dragon was the only way to wed Sia. So it wasn't entirely a lie.
"What in the world—"
She wasn't sure if now was the right time to reveal this, but it was a fact that would inevitably come to light sooner or later anyway.
If they had already found out about her relationship with Min-jun—however they'd learned of it—then it was only a matter of time before they discovered that he was practicing Dragon Words to become a Dragon.
The murmurs among the Dragons grew louder.
Sia turned her gaze toward Rokan, her eyes glistening as if tears might spill at any moment.
As if silently asking him—Did I do the right thing?
Instead of answering, Rokan wore a troubled expression and gently took his granddaughter's hand.
Unfortunately, the situation wasn't unfolding the way she had hoped.
"Does that human truly believe such a thing is possible? This is absurd."
"Absurd, perhaps, but I find the courage itself admirable. There was a human like that where I once lived. Though, in the end... he failed."
"Admirable? That fool doesn't know his place!"
"Exactly! That's not courage—it's sheer audacity!"
The Dragons split into factions once more—those who viewed Min-jun's resolve positively and those who didn't—and arguments erupted between them.
And the overwhelming majority fell into the latter camp.
How dare a mere lowly creature like a human covet the status of Dragons, the race closest to gods?
The very idea was enough to make many Dragons bristle with indignation. Even if Min-jun somehow succeeded, their disgust would not simply vanish.
But there was another problem.
"We're overlooking one crucial detail. That human already knows of our existence. And the reason he knows is undoubtedly..."
The Dragon who spoke turned his gaze toward Sia.
"...because of you, Lady Sia."
Ever since settling on Earth, they had meticulously concealed their true nature.
Revealing themselves to humans would only invite unnecessary trouble, so no Dragon willingly exposed their identity.
And yet—
Because of a fleeting love with some insignificant human, the existence of Dragons had now been exposed to the world.
"Lady Sia."
Evan, who had brought this matter to their attention in the first place, spoke in a voice colder than before.
"Do you understand the gravity of what you've done?"
She wanted to argue, but she couldn't.
Surrounded by what felt like an entire room of enemies, she shrank back before finally parting her lips.
"...Even so, my oppa doesn't know about any other Dragons besides me and Grandfather. He would never harm any of you—"
"You keep calling him 'oppa,' but if I recall correctly, you're around two thousand five hundred years old. Not twenty-five."
Evan had already uncovered, through various means, that she was in love with a human man—and that this human was attempting to wield the power of Dragons.
But despite all he had uncovered, there was one thing he still hadn't figured out.
Why did she, Sia, call that human man oppa?
"Just what is that human? And more importantly—Sia, why are you so determined to form an Eternal Covenant with him, of all people?"
"Exactly. That's what's been bothering me from the start."
"Rokan, you must know something about this. As our leader, as our elder, as the wisest among us—you understand better than anyone how aberrant this situation is. Either explain what your granddaughter has done or, even now, guide her back to the right path. Fulfill your duty."
Among all the Dragons present, Rokan was not only the sole Ancient Dragon but also the only one who had once held the title of Dragon Lord. Since the formation of their assembly, they had trusted and followed him as their new Dragon Lord.
But—
Because this was a matter involving Rokan's own granddaughter, the Dragons believed he bore responsibility as well. They expected him, as their leader, to resolve this situation.
Sia clenched her eyes shut. Rokan let out a heavy sigh.
Even with millennia of accumulated wisdom, even he couldn't discern what the right decision was in this moment.
After a long silence, Rokan locked eyes with Sia in wordless understanding.
This truth would have come out eventually anyway.
From the conflicted look in his gaze, Sia understood his intent.
Taking a deep breath, she finally mustered the courage to stand before them again.
"...I was originally... a human in my past life."
'No matter how I think about it, something feels off.'
That night, after his rank reassessment, Min-jun's mind was in turmoil.
Normally, Sia would have contacted him by now.
But since there was still no word from her, something must have happened.
She was a Dragon, so it couldn't be anything threatening her safety.
Then... what was it?
The sound of Sia's voice—when she had abruptly ended their call earlier, saying she had something to attend to—still lingered in his mind.
He had wanted to celebrate this happy occasion with her, but now, with things unfolding like this, his mood was unsettled.
Since she still wasn't responding, he decided to sleep and try calling her again in the morning. With a heavy heart, he lay down on his bed.
But at that very moment—
His phone buzzed briefly.
Hoping against hope, Min-jun checked it.
[Oppa.]
Just two short words in the message.
The moment he saw it, he frantically tried to video-call her.
But for some reason, Sia declined the video call and instead called him back with a regular voice call.
"Sia. Sia? Are you okay?"
[...Oppa.]
Her voice was thick, as if she had been crying for a long time and had only just managed to calm down.
"What's wrong? Tell me, step by step."
Sniffling, she forced out each word with difficulty.
[What... should we do now...?]