Why Is She Treating a Normal Person Like a Reptile?

[Why is she treating a perfectly normal person like a reptile? 'Sung Hyun-sook' plants her hands on her hips, fuming in outrage!]

Yeah. I have no idea how to react either, Mom. I wondered if it was some cutting-edge humor I wasn't privy to, but judging by Jin Soo-hyun's dead-serious expression, that wasn't it. A natural hermit holed up on her island wouldn't know the latest trends anyway.

...So she meant it sincerely? Cold sweat started beading on my temples, and Jin Soo-hyun let out a snicker.

"See? You're flustered. Of course it's obvious. It's the conclusion of perfectly logical reasoning—can't miss the mark."

I wanted to tell her to bring someone who wouldn't freak out after hearing out of nowhere, "Is your mom a dragon?" And what logical reasoning? What the hell did she deduce?

"Dragons, sovereigns of the demonic path, bow to no one—except maybe a Lord-class dragon who rules them."

Jin Soo-hyun struck a Sherlock Holmes vibe as she launched into her wild theory. I was kinda curious what monumental bullshit she'd spout, so I decided to hear her out.

"But you tamed that dragon over there like it was nothing. You—a mere human, not even a dragon, let alone a Lord-class one."

Yes, because Gift isn't a dragon...

"A human taming a dragon? Even I, a Taming Master, couldn't do it?"

Clomp clomp. She circled me like a shark as I stood speechless, continuing her "deduction"—or rather, bullshit.

Then she stopped abruptly, her eyes sharpening.

"But if you're the agent of a Lord-class dragon, that changes everything."

"......"

"If your sponsoring constellation is a Lord-class dragon, you could get skills or items to command dragons as sponsorship."

...Ah, so that's what she meant earlier with the random "Ancient Dragon" talk.

...Yeah, sure. Someone clueless about the situation might think that. My cold sweat wouldn't stop, and Jin Soo-hyun's grin turned even smugger.

"Well? Can't even refute it, can you?"

I couldn't refute because I didn't know where to start.

...Wait, no. Hold on.

Mom's got a point. Did I really need to correct Jin Soo-hyun's misunderstanding? Wouldn't it be better to just let her keep it up?

If I denied it here and she asked, "Then how'd you tame the dragon?" I'd be stuck without a good answer. Better to let her stay deluded. She seemed dead certain of her "deduction" anyway.

Yeah. 'No matter how I think about it, it's better to just go along with it here.' Goosebumps or not, no choice. I rubbed my forehead with one hand, sighed, and shook my head.

"...Damn. Can't beat that. As expected of Wilderness Island's ruler—sharp insight."

Don't laugh. I'm getting chills too...

Seeing me concede so easily, Jin Soo-hyun snapped her fingers triumphantly and cheered at the air.

"Knew it! Constellation dude! Spot on! Your guess was right!"

...You weren't even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the first to question it—was it your constellation? Keep a straight face despite the absurdity. Panic and you're dead. I shrugged reluctantly, playing along.

"Normally you'd keep quiet about ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠your sponsoring constellation, but... your deduction was too spot-on to deny. Yes, my sponsoring constellation is an Ancient Dragon."

My son’s dying from this awful acting, but Mom's too busy cracking up. Gonna hold a grudge. Watch me.

Jin Soo-hyun snorted proudly, brimming with smug energy.

"I was baffled at first—some punk being the new S-rank? But if you've got a legendary Ancient Dragon as your constellation, it makes sense."

"No big deal."

"A player who can command dragons... Damn. As a Taming Master, I'm even feeling threatened."

"I'm still way behind."

Right then, as she eyed me like a lifelong rival, a shadow of deep regret clouded her eyes.

What? Why the sudden pathos?

"Constellation dude..."

"Yeah?"

"Oh, no. Nothing else. Hey, you know this?"

"Pardon?"

"Your sponsoring constellation? Turns out she's my constellation's master."

"......"

Unforeseen plot twist! Dizziness hit me; I just blinked dumbly.

"M-Master...?"

"Yeah. The one who took her in and taught her monster-taming. An Ancient Dragon."

"......"

"But some tragic, unspeakable event forced an eternal farewell. Never dreamed they'd reunite as constellation and agent..."

I didn't either. Who knew it'd veer this way? Things felt like they were snowballing—was it just me?

Wait. Don't tell me,

"Miracle of miracles—the priest and disciple both became constellations. She says she'll visit soon."

"......"

Why do bad premonitions always hit the mark? If her constellation actually hunted for some Ancient Dragon in the Hall of Fame—or not—I'd be exposed as a liar. God knows how messy it'd get.

'Damn. Gotta dodge this somehow.'

I gazed at empty air, sighing wistfully.

"Ah... What now."

"Huh? Why? What's up?"

"Regrettably, she's not ready to meet her old disciple yet."

"...Really?"

"She wants to focus on training her new lower-realm disciple for now..."

This is what they mean by bullshitting on the fly. But it worked—Jin Soo-hyun didn't suspect a thing, just gave a bitter smile.

"That's what she says, constellation dude. Ah, why the waterworks? You weren't like this before."

W-Waterworks? No need for tears, right?

Sorry, but no choice. This melodramatic vibe was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠getting awkward when—

Fwaaah—!

A beam of light slowly descended over Jin Soo-hyun's head. The classic effect for constellation sponsorship to an agent.

Why now? But she didn't flinch, like she expected it.

"As her first and last disciple, a token of respect for my revered master."

"...A token?"

The radiant light coalesced into a sphere in her palm. A Skill Orb.

And she handed it to me.

"Take it. You know refusing would kill the mood, right?"

"......"

"Hah, never thought I'd watch someone else snag a boon like this. But it's disciple etiquette—no room to complain."

I took it in a daze, clueless what was happening. Like she said, couldn't refuse the vibe.

Confusing, but... let's check the skill.

"......"

Already burdensome, and it's an EX-grade? No way it's bad at that rank—and it isn't.

Just like Mom said. Benefits Gift and me. And not just any benefit.

Short version: Up to 30% all-stats boost after 30 min? Insane.

'Level-ups give 5% stat boosts now...'

Holy shit. It's like leveling up every 5 minutes of fighting.

"This settles the debt for saving my life, right?"

Crushed by the weight, her grin barely registered amid my daze. EX skill from the sky—whoa.

"I'll head home then. If your constellation misses her disciple, fly over on that dragon anytime. I'll make a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠special exception for your island."

"A-An honor..."

"Take care. Thanks."

Riiip! She tore a teleport scroll she'd pulled out and vanished.

Mind blown. Never dreamed I'd get more from Jin Soo-hyun.

Honestly sorry now. Though I'd never return Gift.

'So many untested skills, and now another...'

Ether: Field and Storm Slash from soul realm hell, plus Spirit Summon from Lee Ji-yoon's constellation—all unused. Especially Ether: Field (unknown effect) and Storm Slash (locked by comprehension).

"At least wanna try Storm Slash soon."

Before Full Moon Canyon in three months, anyway.

"That's true, but can I master this cheat skill in three months?"

Frustrated, I checked Storm Slash's info. Sigh, all question marks anyway—what's the point—

"Huh...?"

Why's the skill info visible now?

"I used to think that."

"Pardon?"

"Not that I wanted the kid to become a player, but whatever path he chose, I hoped he'd live as fiercely as his parents."

A wistful look crossed Lee Tae-ho's face as he reminisced to Yoo Soo-yeon. But the tender mood didn't last.

"...But now I kinda wish he'd tone it down a bit."

"Same here. Even Choi Kwang-hyun isn't that vigorous."

Their gazes shifted through the glass to the vast white chamber beyond. A holographic avatar in an augmented reality field—for players, courtesy of the Association's virtual training program, Cyber Field—or CF.

And the avatar in the CF? None other than Jae-min.

"Said he'd rest awhile, then suddenly demands CF activation..."

"Blood's thicker than water. He takes after the 'S-rank couple' in so many ways—can't sit still for a second."

"It's a sickness, that. Nah, fine, whatever. But..."

Arms crossed in utter bafflement, Lee Tae-ho stared at the field.

"The bizarre request threw me off."

At the field's center stood Jae-min, gripping a training longsword, statue-still. Surrounded by five Cerberus hounds, no less.

Not starting from stage 1—he'd jumped straight to five Cerberus from the get-go. Easy to set via external controls, sure...

But the motive? Unclear.

"Heard he got cynophobia from that mess, and now Cerberus again?"

"Maybe extreme therapy to conquer it?"

"Hm, plausible."

As they chatted, the five Cerberus lunged in unison.

[Woof!]

[Grrr—!]

[Raaawr—!]

Jae-min raised his upright blade to eye level, horizontal.

Posing now? Too slow? The thought flashed through Lee Tae-ho's mind.

Whoooosh—.

They clearly saw it: mana vortex spinning at the sword's tip.

"Wha...?"

Before the question escaped, a silent horizontal slash traced a line in the air.

Their eyes bulged like bowling balls as—

Kraka-ka-boom—!

The storm of slashes shredded the five Cerberus horrifically.

Unable to look away from the impossible sight, Lee Tae-ho muttered in awe.

"No way... that's the one Hyun-sook used...?"