Chapter 19
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Blood Wolf -1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Three days had passed since returning to Seoul.
We had slipped back into our daily routine.
Dungeon raids. The surest way to make money.
"Master. Where are we headed today?"
"C-Rank dungeon."
"C-Rank? That's a first for us."
So far, we'd stuck mainly to D-Rank and E-Rank dungeons.
Better to regret after dying than risk it too soon.
Now that safety was confirmed, it was time to start earning more.
For now, the goal was a house.
Not just something a bit bigger, but a real home where several people could live together.
Living hand-in-paw with Eli was pretty nice.
But there was Prostia's situation too, and if possible, I wanted to get a place nearby for that grandmother of hers.
According to Prostia, who had gotten a phone even before me, the grandmother had lost her family early on.
She wouldn't come alone even if I asked her to.
So first things first, I wanted my own house.
A big one where everyone could live together.
'Land prices in Seoul must be insane.'
Muttering curses under my breath, we headed to the dungeon entrance.
C-Rank dungeon.
It was definitely tougher than the others.
But the one by my side wasn't just any ordinary beast.
"Eli, for now, hold back your power."
"Got it."
"...The boss is coming. Ready?"
"Of course, Master."
The moment the Ogre Lord led its ogres charging at Eli...
Kwaaaang!
Flames engulfed the Ogre Lord.
Not even ash remained—it simply ceased to exist.
"Master, all done!"
Her merciless demeanor from moments ago was gone, replaced by a beaming smile.
I patted Eli's head and left the dungeon.
Stepping out, the bright sunlight dazzled our eyes.
"Master, I'm hungry."
Eli rubbed her stomach.
A glance at my watch showed 2 p.m.
"I'm getting hungry too."
"That's why I prepared this!"
Eli pulled a lunchbox from her bag.
Inside were neatly made sandwiches.
"When did you make these?"
"This morning!"
Eli said proudly.
"Ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato—all in there!"
"Sounds delicious. Let's eat."
"Yes!"
We sat on a bench near the dungeon entrance.
Eli handed me a sandwich.
"Here!"
I took a bite.
"It's good."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You could sell these."
"Hehe."
Eli giggled and started on her own sandwich.
"Om nom nom..."
She stuffed her cheeks full.
I chuckled and ate mine.
Under the warm sunlight.
A quiet afternoon.
It was so peaceful, it was hard to believe we'd just come from a dungeon.
We chatted about this and that while eating.
"Master, that boss was weak, right?"
"Yeah. You're just too strong."
"Ehehe. I'm protecting you, after all!"
Eli puffed up proudly.
"Thanks."
"It's only natural!"
The day was drifting by peacefully like that.
Until I sensed someone approaching us.
I looked up in that direction.
"Gi-hyeon-ah?"
A familiar voice.
My heart sank.
"Sis."
There stood my older sister, Seo Ha-rin.
Late twenties.
Neat suit.
Just like always.
"It really is you."
As she approached slowly, my feelings grew complicated.
Eli looked at me.
"Master? Who's she?"
"My sister."
"Sister?"
She stood in front of us.
Then stared right at me.
"It's been a while. Three years?"
"Probably more."
Silence fell.
She spoke first.
"You've been doing well."
Come to think of it, she was still working in the Awakener field.
Specifically, as a rescuer who dove into high-grade dungeons to save those in peril.
She was a figure respected by many.
'Why here, of all places.'
But my heart felt tangled.
The days of glares for my lack of talent, and the day I stormed out on my own.
Unlike the other siblings, she never outright bullied me.
But she always watched me with an inscrutable gaze.
Pity? Sympathy? Or something else?
That made it even more uncomfortable.
We wouldn't snap at each other if we met, but no need to seek her out either.
That was my sister Ha-rin.
"Yeah."
I gave a short reply to her words.
Nothing else came to mind.
She looked at Eli.
"Who's this?"
"Eli. I'm..."
Eli trailed off.
She didn't know how to introduce herself.
I stepped in lightly.
"Eli's my Summoned Beast."
"Summoned Beast?"
She looked at Eli again.
This time, with a different glint in her eyes.
"When Father mentioned it, I thought it was a lie."
Her words slowed a bit.
"That you, Gi-hyeon, had summoned a dragon... I didn't fully believe it. Half-skeptical."
I didn't respond.
She sighed.
"At first, I couldn't believe it. You, who used to blame yourself for having no talent, summoning something like that."
Her subtle wording nearly set me off.
No talent. That phrase might have been a trigger for me.
"Mind if I sit?"
I hesitated a moment.
"...Suit yourself."
She sat on the bench.
A little distance from me.
Eli looked anxious, so I took her hand.
A signal that it was fine.
"Ah, right."
She rummaged in her bag and pulled something out.
A small bag.
Fruit gummies.
"Here."
She handed the fruit gummies to Eli.
"Thought you'd like them."
"Th-thank you."
I eyed the bag.
Familiar packaging.
'That's...'
The ones I loved as a kid.
Common convenience store gummies, but I was obsessed.
She looked at me.
"Remember?"
"...Yeah."
She smiled faintly.
"You used to beg me to buy them when you were little."
"Did I?"
"Yeah. Once, you bought a ton from the store and stacked them up."
Eli opened the bag.
Popped one in her mouth, and a smile spread.
"Yummy!"
"Good."
She watched Eli, then turned back to me.
"Gi-hyeon."
"What."
"How many Summoned Beasts do you have?"
Sudden question.
"Why ask?"
"Saw it in a video."
She pulled out her phone and showed the screen.
Daejeon Gate battle footage.
Prostia casting ice magic.
Eli transforming into a dragon.
"White snow woman and golden dragon."
"..."
"Both your Summoned Beasts, right?"
I glanced at Eli.
She nodded casually.
"Yes. We followed Master all the way here."
"I see."
"So, we won't serve anyone else."
"Impressive loyalty."
Eli nodded proudly.
She looked at me.
"One more thing."
"What?"
"How many Summoned Beasts total? Just those two?"
I was at a loss for words. Even I didn't know.
As I hesitated, Eli answered for me.
"Three so far."
She held up three fingers.
"Me and Prostia. And..."
She paused, choosing her words.
"One more, but we haven't found her yet."
"Haven't found?"
"Someone from our original world who was with Master. She seems to have come, but we can't sense her clearly yet."
She nodded and looked at me.
What was she getting at?
"Is that one a Number 7 too?"
"Her explosive power might be the strongest among us."
"Oh ho."
She nodded at Eli's words.
"Gi-hyeon-ah."
"What."
"Can you show her this one video?"
Sudden video? What?
Before I could ask, she played it for Eli.
"This?"
Eli's eyes narrowed.
The video showed a small girl.
Quite the troublemaker look, with wolf ears on her head and bright red hair—not an ordinary appearance.
"Huh?"
Eli's eyes widened.
The video continued.
"Master! It's me! You watching? I missed you!"
"Missed you so much I came looking, but I don't know where this is."
"Some weird lady picked me up."
"She doesn't seem bad. Warm. Lots of tasty food."
"But I miss Master... And this lady smells like you! Same blood scent!"
"Master, come get me quick!"
"Not a lady..."
Tsking, she pocketed her phone.
Now I got it.
Why she pretended it was a coincidence and came to see us.
"The Number 7 disaster we found recently and took into our family—the Blood Wolf. Is she your Summoned Beast too?"