The One Loved by Dragons

"What? Me, doing a dungeon raid?"

After returning to the dorm and sleeping a full day away, word had already spread like wildfire through the school that I was joining a dungeon raid—before I even knew about it myself.

"Sorry about this, Min-ho. I tried my best to block it, but the momentum had already shifted too far."

Professor Kim Yo-han looked at me apologetically from across the table, his face full of regret.

Honestly, my first thought when I heard the news was, 'Who the hell decided that?'

Old habits die hard. Back when I was active, the Hunter Association and Guild Alliance—those entrenched powers—had been pulling every dirty trick in the book.

No matter how much of an S-rank awakener you were, you couldn't just go around yelling "I am the supreme ruler under heaven" and expect to survive alone. You needed other hunters to back you up while you took down the boss monster during a dungeon clear. You needed people to sell the byproducts or craft items from them. And to get the gear you needed and boost your mana capacity, you had to dive into dungeons at or above your rank—which meant you couldn't afford to go solo. It was a massive loss.

Above all, every dungeon S-rank and higher was already managed directly by major guilds or the government. The only way in without them was to hunt down abandoned dungeons in places like Africa where nations couldn't handle them—but those came with way too many risks.

Guilds were the most optimized groups for handling all that crap. That's why even the cockiest hunters usually joined the one that treated them the best.

'They must be dying to drag me along.'

I stared bitterly at Professor Kim Yo-han, who was still expressing his apologies. After regressing, it seemed like the government was keeping them somewhat in check here, but now even that balance was starting to tip.

If not, they would've already boasted that they'd handled everything and told everyone to just follow them blindly.

I quietly mulled over what I needed right now. No way in hell was I going to let them jerk me around like they wanted.

First off, high-rank skills. And weapons and armor befitting my current level.

'Wait, isn't this actually a golden opportunity for me?'

The best place to get them was already wide open: the SS-rank dungeon, Demon Dragon's Nest.

Everything I needed was inside there.

Having sorted my thoughts, I looked at Professor Kim Yo-han and asked, "So, once we clear it, I'll officially get recognized as S-rank, right?"

"That's right."

"And I don't have to join any group or anything right away?"

"Of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠course not. That's entirely up to you, Min-ho."

"Got it."

I'd been worried they'd slap a collar on me by force, but thankfully, that wasn't the case. If they tried, I was ready to smash everything and defect to another country on the spot.

For now, this raid was basically a massive showbiz spectacle. They'd publicized my participation as a "test to earn official S-rank recognition," giving them a shiny excuse to win public favor too.

'Maybe I should dance to their tune for once and grab the real prizes?'

I was already S-rank, so did I really need to step onto their stage? But pretending to play along could net me a huge haul: skills, items, and the official achievement of clearing an SS-rank dungeon.

And on top of that...

'The other S-rank joining is that Kang Mir guy, huh?'

The Kang Mir I'd seen right before dying was a near-perfect top hunter, nothing like the current him. And he definitely had unique skills unlike typical S-ranks. It wasn't public knowledge, but back then, rumors flew that he had skills beyond S-rank.

If I met him, I could confirm it for sure. Hell, if I played my cards right, I might even snag one of those skills.

If it turned out to be some L-rank monster like the rumors said, he'd be tastier prey than a dragon's lair.

Finally, the dungeon's name—Demon Dragon's Nest—drew me in for some reason. Especially since my new L-rank skill was called Dragon Heart.

Just like how I'd combined the three S-rank skills—Mana Control, Mana Heart, Mana Body—to create Dragon Heart, maybe this raid would unlock something that synergized with it.

Thump.

Feeling the deeper pulse of Dragon Heart than before, I looked at Professor Kim Yo-han.

"Alright, then. But on one condition."

I'd need to secure at least three S-rank skills first.

"You're requesting me as a witness?"

The man scowled deeply at Professor Kim Yo-han's words as he came to visit.

With his bushy beard and that perpetually furrowed brow giving off a mischievous rascal vibe, he was none other than Professor Park Cheol-gyu. And he was a Dragon Slayer—the first hunter to officially earn that title.

"The chairman said that if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠an S-rank hunter guaranteeing him joins as an observer, they won't be able to pull any cheap tricks."

"Hah! Is that really all? Why'd that kid specifically point me out?"

Professor Kim Yo-han shrugged at his question.

"Beats me—I can't read the kid's mind. But if I had to guess..."

"Guess what?"

Professor Park Cheol-gyu leaned forward as Professor Kim Yo-han trailed off.

"You've already succeeded in raiding the SS-rank Fire Dragon's Nest with similar vibes, right? Maybe he wants to learn something from you."

"Don't remind me. Those Hwarang Guild bastards pulled strings back then, and I had to watch them sell off an SS-rank item to another country right in front of me."

"Funny thing—Hwarang Guild's leading this raid too."

"Exactly my point. Screw up even a little, and they'll snatch that kid away too. He's young, high-rank but green—they'll sweet-talk him into a leash easy as pie."

Professor Kim Yo-han watched Professor Park Cheol-gyu grit his teeth, reliving that old rage.

Then he smiled softly and spoke. "Why don't you team up with the kid this time and turn the tables?"

"Huh?"

Professor Kim Yo-han grinned at the surprised professor.

"Don't just sit there like last time and get screwed. Grab the items—and the kid if you want."

"..."

Professor Park Cheol-gyu blinked, doubting his own ears. The straight-laced role model for all S-rank hunters, saying that?

"An eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. Timeless principle, right?"

"Hmph, fair enough."

"And above all, that Kang Min-ho kid? Watching him up close will be plenty entertaining."

"..."

Professor Kim Yo-han patted his shoulder lightly after dropping that loaded line, then left the room.

Thud.

After the door closed, Professor Park Cheol-gyu pondered those final words.

'Entertaining, huh.'

Kim Yo-han wasn't one to toss that word around lightly. Now Park Cheol-gyu was getting curious about what it really meant.

The next day, two more participants were added to the heavily promoted SS-rank Demon Dragon's Nest raid prepared by Hwarang Guild.

Park Cheol-gyu, the famed Dragon Slayer and top hunter in the government sector. And Kang Min-ho, the rising star who'd single-handedly stopped the Uijeongbu dungeon crisis.

News of their joining spread like wildfire across every media outlet.

Worldwide, fewer than seven countries had successfully raided an SS-rank dungeon. The US, UK, Germany, Russia, and in Asia, China, Japan—and now Korea, fresh off the Fire Dragon's Nest clear.

Naturally, this raid drew massive attention not just domestically, but globally.

The day before the raid, a top-tier limousine waited in front of the school—for Professor Park Cheol-gyu and me, courtesy of Hwarang Guild.

The luxury ride was so sleek it turned heads from passersby. Ignoring the envious stares from students, I headed with Professor Park Cheol-gyu to the Korea Hotel for a massive press conference.

"That fluffy little punk from back then is S-rank now? World's full of long shots."

"I was shocked too when I realized that sketchy intruder guy was the famous Dragon Slayer."

I matched his gruff tone, and he let out a disbelieving chuckle.

"Hah. Your aura screams S-rank, but I still can't wrap my head around it."

He kept tilting his head, baffled by the gap between the kid he'd first met and my current self.

"They say even a wise man needs three days to change, right?"

"Oh yeah? So you're the fledgling dragon, and I'm the old beggar?"

"Kids these days just grow fast, that's all."

"That ain't the same thing."

"Take it or leave it."

I shrugged off his tsundere jab and opened the limo's mini-fridge.

"Whoo~"

It was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠packed with premium liquors and drinks—enough to impress anyone. No booze before facing reporters, though. I mixed orange juice and soda water for a quick lemonade.

"Want one?"

"Pass."

"..."

Professor Park Cheol-gyu stared out the window impassively. He treated people casually, so I matched him, but he was top-tier even among S-ranks—a real deal.

Rumors said if he decided to kill you, no one was safe. His legend from the Fire Dragon's Nest boss raid—climbing onto its back bloodied and delivering the killing blow—still echoed in hunter communities.

Sensing my gaze, he grumbled without turning. "Don't let them push you around. Do what you want. Whatever they offer, they'll try to take ten times more from you."

"..."

That hit me a little—damn, touched.

"No plans to get jerked around. I was gonna take what I want first, then bail."

"If it were that easy, no one'd have a leash."

"Guess we'll see."

"Anyway, give it your all. I'll handle any backstabbers."

"Thanks in advance."

"Smooth talker."

He muttered "that little shit" under his breath, but I pretended not to hear and grinned.

"Wipe that smile off. Getting attached."

"This face good for the press conference? Bonding with reporters seems fine."

"Hah, weird kid."

"My origin story's a bit unique."

He chuckled at how nonchalantly I brushed off his gruffness.

'Least I won't be bored in the dungeon.'

You needed that kind of guts not to get played by those guild pricks.

Swish.

The limo pulled up silently at the destination. After thanking the valet who opened the door, we headed to the lobby entrance, where a familiar face greeted us.

"Welcome, both of you. It's an honor to raid together. I'm Kang Mir."

"Park Cheol-gyu."

"I've always admired you, senior. Please guide me."

Kang Mir bowed a full 90 degrees to Professor Park Cheol-gyu, his eyes sparkling. He looked way younger than in my memories.

"Uh, yeah. Looking forward to it."

Zero manners to me the student, full respect to a fellow pro hunter. Cute.

He brushed past and offered me his hand. "Nice to meet you. Heard you shone in Uijeongbu. Looking forward to working with you. Kang Mir."

Still the polite guy, then and now.

I eyed his outstretched hand and smiled. How convenient—coming right to me.

I grabbed it firmly. "Nice ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to meet you. Kang Min-ho."

And naturally activated my skill.

The moment his status window appeared before my eyes, I nearly yelled out loud, forgetting to keep a straight face.

'An L-rank skill!'