"Just Sit Here a Moment"
The Phoenix feather had taken root in Dullahan’s heart, so flames still existed.
Very little of it.
It was his natural talent as a hatchling named Perdikion that allowed him to properly sense even this trace amount.
Perdikion, who did not know Rune’s thoughts, withdrew his suspicions toward Dullahan and glanced around.
“Speaking of which, what about the others?”
“Resting. We need to sleep deeply for at least a day.”
“Because we fought Adult Blue Dragons?”
“…Yes.”
Perdikion’s brow furrowed instantly.
“Rune. I’ve been thinking about this for a while, but you are far too reckless.”
‘It wasn’t especially reckless.’
When Rune did not answer, Perdikion looked at him.
“Listen carefully. I understand that you could not turn your back on your clan members who suffered from the Dark Dragon clan’s power, as the only successor of that clan. But you should have spoken to Christina-nim properly first.”
“That’s true.”
‘If I had been an ordinary hatchling.’
A ten-year-old hatchling confronting a crazed Adult Dragon.
It was no different from a puppy barking at a tiger.
Having agreed with Perdikion’s words, Rune continued.
“But I didn’t think that Amelia’s family could hold on until I become an Adult. Christina might have taken action, but that wouldn’t have been a fundamental solution.”
“How can you be sure that your judgment is correct? You are not yet an adult. You are still young and should be protected, little hatchling.”
Of course that was true, yet the true spirit that dwelled within him had trained for nearly a thousand years.
Since Perdikion did not know this fact, Rune gazed at him silently.
“…If I had spoken the truth, would Christina have taken me there for them?”
“Of course!”
Perdikion had no further words.
His eyes, which had looked foolish moments ago, now seemed far deeper after he took a moment to think.
“Even if you are young, you can still distinguish what you must do. I truly believed it was possible and actually did it.”
Although still young, Perdikion sensed Rune’s potential as the successor of the Fire Dragon clan.
His younger brother possessed the talent to become the strongest Darkness Dominator among Black Dragons.
The feeling of standing before someone with overwhelming talent brought inferiority and pride to his own aura at times, or even envy.
Before Rune appeared, Perdikion had believed himself the most talented successor.
But.
‘It is true that I once had mean thoughts about this guy. I was envious of his talent. Yet I still hoped that my little brother Rune would turn out well.’
He, who had grown up in an education that demanded one must always be above someone, was a special existence who had taught him how to treat others without such standards for the first time.
Yet the brother who had taught him did not even consult Perdikion about what he was doing.
That fact made him angry.
To Rune, his existence felt like nothing at all.
“I know your ability is outstanding. I know your words are true. But that does not erase your mistakes.”
“Mistakes?”
Perdikion’s fists clenched.
“The ones you faced were two crazed Adult Blue Dragons who could not even distinguish friend from foe. No one knew what happened. If something had gone wrong, not a single person would have known your whereabouts!”
His reason thread? It had already grown so thin that one more tug could snap it.
He had barely held onto his reason by a thread, yet Perdikion had been furious for a long time.
Rune’s eyes widened in surprise as he opened his mouth slightly and looked at Perdikion.
The red-haired boy realized he had overreacted and dropped his gaze to Rune’s feet.
“…I wasn’t angry. I was simply worried that my little brother would do something reckless.”
He simply wished for Rune to see him as an older brother he could trust.
He wanted to become someone to whom he could ask for help.
When he had relied only on himself and dominated others, Perdikion also wanted to become an equal who could share trust with Rune, just as he had shared trust.
A strange silence hung between them.
Rune fell into thought for a moment.
‘I had prepared countermeasures. But to someone who didn’t know about them, this would have looked reckless.’
Recovering the power of the Dark Dragon clan.
Although physically young, he was mentally mature enough that failure seemed almost impossible.
Yet one could not be certain that the planned matter would succeed perfectly.
‘I simply didn’t feel the need to tell him because I thought it would be solved smoothly… This was careless.’
Perdikion, who had raged fiercely, had only felt worry and concern beneath that rage, and anger at the fact that he had not known a great matter might occur in his absence.
Rune quickly realized this.
‘The ones who thought they were close enough to receive the Fire Seal acted without a word. I must apologize in a way.’
He showed a slightly embarrassed face.
“I understand perfectly. I’m sorry for worrying you, oppa.”
“You really think that?”
“Of course. Besides, I know you were truly worried about me.”
Rune smiled faintly and spoke to Perdikion.
“Thank you, oppa. And I’m truly sorry.”
Perdikion closed his mouth.
He had not expected his young little brother to apologize so readily.
Rune remained silent in the face of Perdikion’s steady gaze.
‘Perdikion is the type to think of intruders within his territory. He is still young and his emotional control is immature, but he will gradually refine it. Anger is actually a good sign. He cannot become too agitated over a worthless opponent.’
Judging positively, Rune waited until Perdikion calmed himself.
There were those who raged to place others below them, yet at least Perdikion was not one of them.
He only grew angry because he felt close enough.
Rune felt at ease, for that proved he maintained a friendly relationship with the Fire Dragon clan’s elder successor.
‘That simple boy raged because his trust in me is deep. Then….’
Perdikion, who had lost his words and looked flustered.
Rune looked at him and decided how to guide him.
“I’m glad I have an oppa like you.”
“…!”
In a situation where his emotion flared and he made a mistake, Rune, who was far younger than him, did not flinch and even encouraged him.
Perdikion’s face showed clear surprise.
‘Instead of confronting his anger, he uses it in reverse.’
Rune continued explaining.
“Although I was angry, that was because I thought of you that much.”
“…”
‘He truly does not deny it.’
While Rune looked at Perdikion, he spoke slowly.
“Actually, I also thought Christina should know. So, would you listen to my story?”
“Go ahead.”
Rune explained the matter of asking Christina to bring cooking ingredients from the deep sea on the day he saw her off.
Perdikion, who had listened quietly while holding back his anger, summarized the core points.
“…Christina-nim induced me to visit the place ruled by the Water Dragon clan.”
“Yes. And if anything happened, I thought it would be enough to just escape using the Mana Key.”
In truth, Christina’s design in directing him there was for the sake of Amelia’s family, who had suffered under the curse for a long time.
But describing it this way could serve as evidence that safety had been secured.
‘Well, it was true that in the worst case I had planned to secure an escape route safely like that.’
Yet Perdikion crossed his arms and looked displeased.
“But what if the key doesn’t work properly? You might have been taken down instantly by an Adult Dragon.”
“Of course I verified it several times in advance.”
Perdikion looked displeased at Rune’s answer.
When he tried to add something, Rune cut him off first.
“If I thought it was dangerous, I wouldn’t have acted rashly. Even during the Abandoned Mine Dungeon, I didn’t do anything reckless, did I?”
Of course he had.
He had solo-cleared the hidden boss that appeared at the end, yet Perdikion did not know this fact.
But the purpose at the time had been to properly utilize Heungmi’s hunting instinct.
In other words, Rune had simply needed to watch from afar to help Heungmi gain combat experience.
‘When you think about it, there really was nothing reckless. The monsters that appeared were too trivial, so there was no need to reveal real power.’
Perdikion, who did not know this inner thought of Rune, reluctantly accepted it.
“At least I admit you considered safety. However, it is certain that facing two Adult Blue Dragons head-on was reckless. Never do that again.”
“Yeah, I will.”
Perdikion, who had complained that even with the others including Heungmi, they were hopelessly insufficient compared to Adults, finally sighed.
“Since I have a contact now, remember to contact me whenever you go somewhere in the future.”
“Okay.”
If Perdikion accompanied him, it would be easy to explain the reason to Christina.
More than anything, seeing a guy who worried this much made Rune feel guilty.
There was a place he wanted to go with soon, so Rune felt it was fortunate in his heart.
‘I was going to the Cursed Dungeon soon anyway.’
The Cursed Dungeon remaining in the Water Dragon territory.
As Rune hesitated on how to mention the Blue Dragon Lair to Perdikion, the latter asked quietly first.
“What will you do if Christina-nim comes? She definitely won’t just let it pass.”
“I’ve prepared countermeasures… but I’ll have to be prepared.”
‘No matter how well I explain according to Amelia’s request, it won’t pass easily.’
Even after the explanation, cleanup would follow.
There was still a little time left.
Perdikion, who had watched Rune in deep thought, opened his mouth as if unable to bear it.
“Until Christina-nim comes, I will stay with you.”
“…I don’t know how many days it will take to handle that side.”
“Then you absolutely cannot be left alone.”
The decisive answer carried the will that no further objection would be allowed.
“Don’t worry too much. You are still young. She probably won’t punish you too severely.”
Nod.
‘I wonder.’
Externally he agreed, yet Rune sensed a harsh outcome in his heart.
But Perdikion’s sincerity in reassuring him was clearly felt.
Rune once again thought that the young boy had changed a lot for the first time, opening his heart fully.
‘He was a guy who had no adults to rely on and no place to vent his feelings.’
Although still clumsy, Rune wanted to tell the sincere Perdikion that he was doing well in his own way.
‘That should do it.’
Rune, who had recalled something, pointed to a nearby chair.
“Oppa, just sit here a moment.”