Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Dragon Knight (7)
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The voice coming from the helmet was about a million light-years away from what I'd imagined.
It wasn't high-pitched like mine, nor as cool and composed as Miss So-jeong's, and definitely not as bold and brave as Princess Heart's.
"This feels... quite strange."
A low, thick male voice that echoed like it was reverberating through a cave. Just from the sound, I pictured a rugged man—someone like a veteran mercenary hardened by decades on the battlefield.
What the heck is this? A bug?
Did I mess up somehow? Use cheap materials and end up with some weird debuff? Or maybe a ghost possessed it?
My mind was a whirlwind of confusion. To get a read on the situation, I asked for a name.
"...Um, what's your name?"
"Il-ho."
...So not a ghost, then. Feeling an odd mix of unease, I removed the helmet from Il-ho and glanced at Miss So-jeong. She looked pretty shocked too.
"...What do you think happened?"
"I suspect the helmet's effect manifested based on Il-ho's inner self-image rather than her outward appearance."
"Her self-image?"
"Yes. It seems Il-ho sees herself as a 'knight who protects her master.'"
That actually made sense when I thought about it. In the original myth, Dragon Fang Soldiers were born as full-grown men, and Il-ho was my guardian, so she must see herself that way.
...Even so, this is a bit much.
A deep voice coming from this small, cute body? The gap was too huge to call it just "gap moe"!
"Uh... Il-ho, how does it feel to talk li—like that?"
I broached the subject carefully. Somehow, it felt like my little sister-daughter had taken a step away from me. Way too early for independence.
Il-ho scribbled on the whiteboard.
- awkward
Awkward, huh. So the voice was the issue after all? Yeah, no way Il-ho wanted a voice like that.
"Doesn't like the voice? Want me to fix it for you?"
Il-ho shook her head firmly.
- voice is fine
"Then...?"
- talking feels awkward n weird
Should I take that as a good thing or a bad thing?
Either way, it couldn't be undone. I wanted to tweak it to sound different, but if she liked it, who was I to argue?
"Ahem. Well, it's cool! Super manly!"
I patted her shoulders, and Il-ho gave a faint smile.
As I mulled over that bizarre voice, Vice Guild Master Lee Ji-young approached from afar.
"Are you ready? You've got one hour until dungeon entry."
"Oh, already?"
Then it was time to gear up Il-ho.
Unlike other hunters, Il-ho needed to prep early. To avoid drawing attention with her looks and keep my connection to her hidden, she'd head to the gate fully armored.
I'd asked if the armor was uncomfortable, but she said it felt like regular clothes, so we'd settled on that.
"Shall we head out, then?"
At Vice Guild Master Lee Ji-young's words, we stood up. The dungeon gate was about a 10-minute drive away.
Normally Miss So-jeong would drive, but since she was entering the dungeon today, another Management Bureau agent took the wheel.
During the drive, a crucial realization hit me.
"Miss So-jeong, come to think of it, Il-ho needs an alias too."
Il-ho tilted her head, and Yu So-jeong nodded in agreement.
"Yes, excellent idea. Better to keep Il-ho's identity hidden as much as possible."
I explained the situation to Il-ho, and she nodded like she got it.
"Il-ho, got any name you like?"
Il-ho slowly shook her head. Her face was hidden by the helmet, but it felt like she didn't care either way.
"Hmm... Guess I'll pick one."
Something simple yet cool.
Thinking simple led to the obvious choice.
"How about 'First'?"
Il-ho as One, straight to English: First. No one would link "First" back to "Lee Il-ho." Who names their kid Il-ho anyway?
...I did, thinking she was a lizard, so I'm the exception.
Il-ho pondered my suggestion briefly before replying in that deep voice.
"Sounds good."
Still not used to the voice, but at least the alias was set.
The car soon pulled up near the gate. Il-ho and Yu So-jeong got out, but I stayed inside.
Couldn't risk linking me to Il-ho. I got dropped off at a nearby building and watched from the rooftop.
For now, since Il-ho was unknown, this worked. But if she got famous later, I'd have to send her solo.
Is this what it feels like for parents sending their kid to school alone for the first time?
A bit—no, a lot—different, but close enough.
I focused my eyes, and Il-ho and Miss So-jeong came into sharp view from afar. I tuned my ears to their location.
Hunters swarmed the shimmering gate. It was larger than expected for its rank, drawing a crowd.
Yu So-jeong and Il-ho approached. Vice Guild Master Lee Ji-young greeted them.
Then one hunter scowled and stood from his folding chair, his irritation plain as day.
"These two the ones who 'suddenly' decided to join?"
A sharp tone. His gaze skipped Yu So-jeong and locked on petite Il-ho, laced with mockery.
Vice Guild Master Lee Ji-young cut in.
"Hunter Kim Min-jun, they're the real deal in terms of skill."
"Skill? Vice Guild Master, did the kid dress up in toy armor for this? This ain't a picnic. It's a gate! With all the promising rookies around, adding last-minute stragglers? Come on."
His words twisted my face too. How dare this punk—barely a snack for Il-ho—insult her?
But I was over 100 meters away, and it was unfolding now. I wanted to step in, but I couldn't.
Then a middle-aged hunter grabbed Kim Min-jun's shoulder.
"Ease up, Kim Min-jun."
"But—"
"The vice guild master decided it herself."
The man tightened his grip, and Kim Min-jun turned away with a tongue click, stalking off.
The middle-aged hunter eyed Yu So-jeong, squinting like he was trying to place her.
"You...?"
"Yu So-jeong."
She replied in her usual calm voice.
"Here for rookie team play training. First, this is Hunter Heo Young-chul."
"First."
He seemed thrown by the deep voice but quickly offered a handshake to Il-ho.
"My bad, had you wrong. Looking forward to it, Knight First."
After shaking hands, he turned back to Yu So-jeong with a low, concerned tone—like he'd seen something regrettable.
"...You sure this'll be okay?"
"No issues."
Right then, someone shouted.
"Gate open in 30 seconds! Prep up!"
The hunters' vibe sharpened instantly. They gripped weapons and faced the rippling blue rift.
"...If you say so. Been a while since we synced up."
"Likewise."
With that, they finished prepping for combat. Miss So-jeong drew a curved sword from her subspace—something I'd never seen her use.
Finally, Il-ho's debut.
Show 'em, Il-ho! How amazing you are!
I cheered silently. Come back safe, no injuries.
As if hearing my inner voice, Il-ho paused en route to the gate. She turned, looking straight at my rooftop.
Helmet hid her face, but I was sure she'd heard my cheer.
Il-ho gave a small nod, then faced forward again.
Blue light swallowed the hunters. Yu So-jeong and Il-ho vanished into it.
The gate stabilized, quiet returning. Only a few hunters and staff remained to manage it and prep backups.
Now to truly leave it to Il-ho. I stretched my stiff back and wings, tension easing.
Then I glanced aside.
"Ah."
An unfamiliar awkwardness hit me. Losing a constant presence when I needed it felt bigger than I'd thought.
"Uh, um. Guess I'll hit a café nearby."
Muttering to myself didn't help. The awkwardness lingered—not loneliness, just... awkward.