Longtail's Glow-Up in His New Nest
Longtail, who had scored a new home, was unrecognizably transformed. His looks hadn't actually changed, but his vibe had. Doesn't a person seem to radiate a whole new aura once they gain some confidence? It was the same principle. Staring at his reflection in the still pond water, Longtail muttered to himself.
Who am I? Longtail, owner of the beastliest Han Nam The Hill pad.
Thanks to Ian's help, Longtail now owned an epic nest, leaving him as a strapping stud with just one mission left: seduce some ladies and sire Longtail II, III, and IV.
[Man, I owe him big time.]
Longtail's gratitude toward Ian was beyond words. But Ian had no intention of collecting on any debt.
"Debt? What debt? If friends start nickel-and-diming each other, what kind of friendship is that?"
[Hahaha! You're right!]
Ian and the drake burst into laughter. In that moment, Ian caught a strange ringing in his ears.
...Huh?
A sharp beep. And then a sticky trickle running from under his nose...
What the—?
Ian wiped his philtrum and flinched. Bright red blood was gushing from his nose like a faucet.
Why am I...?
Thud!
Ian's consciousness cut out. His head smacked the nest floor, and he passed out cold.
[Friend! You okay? Snap out of it! Friend!]
Panicking, Longtail called out to him, but Ian was already out and wouldn't wake.
What do I do now?
Longtail was at a total loss. As a drake, he knew zilch about human health—and had zero reason to. So there he stood, stomping his feet helplessly as Ian lay fainted.
That's when a human woman emerged from the bushes. Probably one from Ian's group, but Longtail wasn't the type to memorize every human face, so he didn't recognize her.
"Hold up! Drake! Listen to me!"
Grrr...?
"Me! Ian's friend! Friend, so don't eat me!"
Longtail couldn't understand a word she said. But one word stood out. He got the gist of "Ian." When humans gaze upon a mystery, the mystery gazes back. Just as Ian the summoner had memorized Longtail's name despite the language barrier, Longtail had etched his summoner's name into his mind.
Longtail watched silently as the woman did her thing. Seeing the drake wasn't threatening her, she crept cautiously toward Ian. She checked his nostrils with a finger, felt for a pulse—verifying he was still alive.
Good. He's still breathing.
The human woman, Lucy Talian, let out a sigh of relief.
#
...What time is it?
Ian opened his eyes in the dim nest. A luxury high-rise apartment to a drake, but to a human, just a big cave. Instinctively, he patted around for his smartphone.
That's when someone gently grabbed his arm.
"You're awake?"
"Huh?"
Ian looked up. The cave was dark, but with his affinity for Umbrakinesis, he could pierce the shadows like daylight.
"Cathy?"
It was her. The woman who always hid her hair and face under a robe. Her occasionally revealed features were stunningly beautiful—impossible to forget.
Ian blinked in confusion. But why was Cathy here?
"..."
Kindly enough, she'd rested his fainted head on her thigh. No way was she leaving him on the hard floor. No pillows around, so she'd improvised a lap pillow.
Soft...
Ian had a pointless thought as he tried to sit up.
"Lie still a bit."
"Nah, I'm good. Feel kinda bad, though. How long you been like this?"
"Don't sweat it. I'm fine."
Talking to Cathy always felt weirdly intriguing. She was straight out of a medieval fantasy, yet she exuded post-medieval smarts. So far, the only other one like that was his mentor, Eredis.
Is Cathy a mage too?
"You a mage?"
Her eyes went wide at the sudden question.
"Nope?"
"Then how'd you get here? The drake?"
"Told him you were my friend, and he let me in."
"...?"
Ian's suspicions deepened. How the hell did she communicate with a drake? Learned Maronius Language or something?
"..."
An awkward silence fell. Cathy broke it first.
"Mage Ian. I have a confession."
"Confession?"
Ian sat up straight. Some things demanded proper posture.
"Ahem. Yeah. Spill it."
Seeing Ian perk up a bit, Cathy's mood soured just a touch... but she pressed on.
"...Last night's raid? That was because of me."
Ian jolted at the admission.
"You in cahoots with the thieves? Knew you were shady!"
"..."
Pretty face perfect for a lookout. Puzzle pieces clicked. Cathy was a wicked con artist luring innocents to sell to bandits!
"No! How do I look like a thief?!"
"...Your face?"
To Ian, trapped in modern stereotypes, it made perfect sense. Weren't pretty thief girls a fantasy staple? A face like that not being a thief? Professional negligence. Sue for breach of duty.
Face flushing red, Cathy defended herself.
"My real name's Lucy! Lucy Talian!"
"Real name? Cathy was fake?"
"Yeah! Super important secret—don't blab anywhere!"
How big a secret could it... Ian recalled last night's raid.
"So they weren't thieves—they were assassins?"
"...Not assassins. Kidnappers."
They knew her name. And they'd come to drag her back—dead or alive.
"What'd you do to get kidnappers after you?"
"...You really know nothing... Oh, right. You're a mage."
Lucy Talian marveled at Ian's ignorance, then remembered he was a top-tier mage. Of course. Mages wouldn't know the Talian name. Mages got a pass—they were all eccentrics anyway.
Lucy sighed deeply and explained.
"I have a fiancé."
"Already? How old are you?"
"Eighteen."
"Same as me?"
"Nobles marry young."
Ian was stunned by her explanation.
"You're a noble?"
"..."
Lucy was genuinely impressed. This mage must be a prodigy. Knows absolutely zilch.
"For the Talian family, I got engaged at seven."
"To some creepy pedo bastard...? No, wait."
Ian reined himself in. "Arranged marriage, huh."
"You get that part?"
Seven and marriage had thrown him off momentarily. Even in this cheery medieval world, no sane guy would chase a seven-year-old. Obviously political.
"My husband's a knight from mercenary stock. Thirty-three."
"Uh... congrats?"
Big age gap, but from a modern view, not incomprehensible.
But Lucy ground her teeth.
"That son of a bitch...! He poisoned my parents!"
"!"
Ian jumped at the sudden medieval family drama. Whoa! Noble son-in-law poisons the in-laws! Crusader Kings much?
"Why?!"
Lucy's tale went like this: The Talian family ruled the Pianreb region as a minor baronial house, a sleepy rural outfit. Short on loyal knights, they faced threats from outsiders. On the brink of domain wars, extinction, or becoming some hotshot knight's side loot, the baron planned to wed his seven-year-old cutie to the leader of a rising mercenary band for protection.
The merc captain fell for the baron's wealth at first sight (not the loli bride) and agreed. Merc life is hand-to-mouth; snag land and a wife, and you're out. He planned to settle as son-in-law.
But human greed doesn't quit. Sit, and you wanna lie down; lie down, and you wanna sleep. As son-in-law, he realized he was an outsider—never truly noble. One meal with nobles would've shown him: he was just a guard dog for their wealth.
Naturally, he built his own power base. For over ten years, a weird standoff: baron using mercs as shields, merc growing his faction from within.
The baron drew first sword.
"My parents wanted to break it off. Official reason: his womanizing."
"..."
Ridiculous. Expect a guy engaged to a seven-year-old to celibate till she's grown? Creepy monk style? Or fool around with his teen fiancée? Psycho either way. Adult man seeks women naturally. Baron used that as pretext.
Sure, surface reason. Real one: tired of the merc's antics. But facts were facts—a betrothed man philandering.
After ten years building the domain with his sweat, the merc faced eviction. So he went ninja mode: wipe 'em all out. Yep. Kill 'em all~
At the feast, he poisoned the baron couple. Officially poison, but even a five-year-old knew the culprit. Baron's retainers rebelled, of course. Merc brought goons and swept them away. Sword beats pen, always. And he'd nurtured supporters over a decade.
The bloody coup seemed set to succeed... but snag.
The merc's fiancée, Lucy Talian, escaped the domain with her nursemaid's help!
Fire under his feet now. Marry Lucy or stay commoner swordsman. To nobles, armed peasant = bandit. No baron in Talian lands? Bandits instead? Fantasy readers know: bandits = XP farms. Neighbors swarm first.
Domain he'd babied for ten years now at risk from rival nobles. Merc had to hunt Lucy or bust.
"So last night's guys..."
"His men."
Lucy Talian said bitterly.
"Come to drag me back..."