What a Headache

The power of the field had been absorbed while aiding Amelia's purification work, and even the core of her parents' curse and poison had become Rune's.

Now, if he could just dispel the remaining darkness and curses in the Cursed Dungeon, he could complete the Seal of Darkness.

The seals were essential conditions for provisional elders of the dragon clans.

This was extremely important to Rune.

That's why no one—not even Christina—should stand in his way just because he was young.

No one should block him under the pretext of protection.

"You're too young, so the adults will handle it."

He couldn't give the other dragons or elders any opening to say such things.

They had tested the child's will through harsh lessons, trying to make even stubborn Rune utter, "I want to stop."

But Rune had never said those words.

So now, the best course was to trust him.

"I can't stop you. I'll cheer you on, Rune."

Rune grinned back.

[I'll do well, so don't worry too much.]

That sight seemed oddly mature for a young hatchling, carrying a persuasive charm that truly made one want to believe.

Christina chuckled softly and replied playfully.

"Fine. But you haven't perfectly met the conditions yet. You know that, right?"

'Tch.'

Rune, who had subtly tried to slip by under the mood, smacked his lips in disappointment.

Still, looking at Christina's face, he could tell she was less worried than expected.

A few days later, Christina announced the end of lessons along with permission to "proceed with the dungeon conquest."

And Rune received a large canister from Heungmi, who had returned from visiting Jed.

"Uncle Jed said to tell you it was really hard making it!"

"Got it."

The Mokoji Stone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was already filled with Jed's messages anyway.

Rune activated the Mokoji Stone after a long time and checked only the very last one.

The guy was desperate.

On the day Heungmi delivered the sea monster byproducts and pearl magic stones, Jed had bombarded the Mokoji Stone with messages all day.

Moreover, after prying details about the dungeon—Rune's destination—from Heungmi, he sent a week's worth of messages filled with lamentations and pleas about not being able to join.

Just reading them felt like he was clutching at Rune's pant leg, refusing to let go.

'No need to reply. I can just pick and choose when I get back.'

Even today, the day of departure, he was still itching to go to the dungeon, but Rune ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lightly ignored all the messages and requests.

He held the mana key in his hand and looked around at his companions.

"Everyone ready?"

"Yes!"

"Pip!"

"Yeah."

Clank! Clank!

Amid their curiosity and slight tension, Rune used the mana key to head to the lair of the Water clan.

As they passed through the portal in midair, Perdikion couldn't hide his continuous amazement.

Heungmi hopped along lightly with Baekya on her head.

Bringing up the rear, Dullahan guarded the group.

Far ahead lay the entrance to the deep sea, still shrouded in darkness but faintly shimmering with blue water light.

Before the sparkling Snowball, a mermaid with sapphire eyes—wearing a pearl necklace with a first-time golden gem—held a spear and greeted them.

"W-Welcome... Rune. Heungmi too."

Amelia, in her mermaid form, greeted them properly with her own mouth instead of telepathy.

The Amelia in Rune's memory had only spoken telepathically in her mermaid form.

'Is she making an effort because Perdikion's here?'

Glancing at Perdikion, Amelia straightened her back—it was clearly because of him.

"Wow, Sister Amelia! Long time no see!"

Amelia gently stroked the head of Heungmi, who brightly spread her arms and clung to her feet.

Then Amelia looked up at Perdikion.

"A-And... um, w-welcome."

"...Perdikion."

"Y-Yes, I-I'm... from the Water clan, p-provisional... elder. C-Call me... A-Amelia."

Their personalities were completely different, but so far, the greeting was going smoothly.

'I was a bit worried, but it's better than I thought.'

Her hand gripping the spear looked anxious, but this was huge progress.

Perdikion, arms crossed and looking down, didn't seem fond, but compared to his initial suspicion that Amelia's family was using Rune, it was a decent response.

The problem came next.

"Th-That... the Water Lair... is, f-for you, f-first time, so you p-probably... d-don't know. If there's anything y-you... w-wonder..."

"No need. I heard you only reclaimed the water domain recently anyway."

Perdikion glanced around and frowned.

"As expected... No way a hastily appointed provisional elder would have done anything properly. You can tell just from the state of the lair."

"Ah... B-But... I t-trying... to h-help..."

"Trying?"

Perdikion clicked his tongue under his breath and said,

"What exactly have you been trying at? Anyone can claim they've tried. Elders produce results. A ruler without responsibility is the most incompetent. I even have to teach you this."

"..."

The mermaid's face paled.

The red-haired boy before her, arms crossed with a pitiful look, finished.

"Hand over the Seal of Water to my little brother and start the dungeon conquest."

Amelia's brow twitched uncomfortably for a moment.

Even Rune wanted to smack his forehead.

Perdikion's words clearly sounded bad to Amelia.

Finally, Amelia bit her lower lip and stiffened her shoulders.

"Um, e-excuse me!"

"What."

"Y-Your words... are t-too rough... If something's n-not to your l-liking... c-could you say it a b-bit more p-politely...?"

Perdikion's brow furrowed sharply.

He held back from snapping, but the atmosphere was tense enough that exploding wouldn't be odd.

Amelia averted her gaze.

"You're the one... Hmph, never mind."

"..."

He clearly wanted to say something, but Perdikion frowned and held it in somehow.

But Amelia's face was already deathly pale.

The water-colored girl bit her lip tightly and fell silent after that.

Watching it all, Rune swallowed a long sigh.

'What a maddening situation.'

Both were kids.

Immature ones who had never properly communicated.

Even if Perdikion was older, the age gap was just about 100 years—practically twins in human terms.

Thinking there was no good in taking sides, he watched for a bit, but the mood froze over in an instant.

Rune stepped in to mediate.

"Hold on, both of you look at me."

He glanced at each once, then asked Amelia first.

"Amelia. How was Perdikion's tone rough?"

Amelia, sneaking a glance, bowed her head slightly.

"I-I'm... lacking... it's t-true. St-Still, I t-trying... not to be a-ashamed... B-But you s-said it so d-directly."

Seeing Perdikion's eyes widen instantly, Rune cut in before he could speak.

"Then what were you going to say, bro?"

"I don't even want to say it now."

Amelia's expression cracked as she watched Perdikion.

Not swayed, Rune calmly continued.

"But holding back after starting creates misunderstandings. If the dungeon team starts off with you misunderstood, problems could arise. I don't want that."

As Rune met his gaze steadily, Perdikion relented and opened his mouth.

"A provisional elder of the Water clan should be on my level. But look at the lair around us. Nothing done as a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠manager. Can't even converse properly with guests. Seeing the future lair owner trembling and forcing talk is frustrating. Doesn't matter since the goal is handing the Seal of Water to you and conquering the dungeon anyway."

'This twisted guy was doing fine lately—why this suddenly?'

It felt hopeless to resolve.

As he pondered solutions, Perdikion continued.

"From the start, without your help, she can't even manage her own domain properly—what help can she offer? With someone who has the power to solve urgent issues right here, it would be better to hand over authority quickly and focus on the problems."

"Th-That...!"

Amelia's face flushed, her brow furrowing as she tried to retort.

Unable to express the surging emotions, she gripped her spear tighter.

"...E-Even if I'm receiving h-help... I d-don't want to be w-with someone who d-doesn't share... s-sincere words... g-gratitude... r-respect... H-How did kind Rune... b-become friends... w-with someone like you?"

Perdikion scoffed.

"I think I was plenty considerate. Why should I hear such rudeness from my little brother's acquaintance?"

Only then did Rune realize the key issue he'd overlooked.

'These two... don't match at all.'

Their upbringings, thought processes—everything differed, and neither had real experience conversing with peers besides Rune.

Some atmospheres speak for themselves without words.

Perdikion couldn't accept an incompetent as a fellow elder candidate.

Amelia felt discomfort from his curt greeting on first meeting.

And then the blunt demand for the clan seal right away.

Amelia's discomfort had escalated to dealing with a thug.

Meanwhile, Perdikion was frustrated in his own way.

An elder must know what they can and can't do.

If help is available, move for quick resolution.

With clear tasks ahead, her inability to separate personal from official irked him.

Even forcing talk when greetings were hard seemed stubborn.

So he skipped the superficial greetings for the main point, only to hear she had no respect—leaving him displeased.

Rune explained their situations to soothe them.

"Amelia, bro wanted to say it's okay to skip cumbersome greetings if talk is uncomfortable. He was pursuing efficiency, not trying to belittle you."

Amelia's sullen expression dropped the hand holding her spear.