ED: Cheerycheri
The day to enter the dungeon was quickly approaching. But before that, the summoner trainer, whom Park Yoon-sung mentioned, visited the shared accommodation. I welcomed him with a pounding heart while holding Yong-sik in my arms.
“Ah, ah, he–llo…”
“…”
It was a bit awkward because of how obvious his nervousness was.
But, I understand how he feels. I heard that other guild members had to go through difficult and complicated procedures to get inside this shared accommodation. He probably had to sign a contract with several binding skills more precious than his life, and was dragged away as if he had been kidnapped with all his senses blocked.
So I understand why he’s so nervous. In addition…
“Hi–hiccup…”
SS-class, S-class, and A-class hunters were staring at the both of us with their eyes blazing. They gathered in the open space in front of the accommodation under the guise of escorting me and sent intense glares at the trainer.
“I–I’m Hae Song-ha from the Hermóðr Guild…”“Ah, yes….”
However, I can’t imagine how a kid like him would harm me.
I looked down at the shivering hunter, Hae Song-ha, with puzzled eyes.
He’s about fifteen? Sixteen? He looked so young that he seemed to be the same age as Do-gyul.
His light brown hair mixed with orange looked soft to the touch. Overall, he had the aura of a handsome youth.
I opened my mouth with an innocent smile so that hunter Hae Song-ha would not be frightened.
“Nice to meet you, Hunter Hae Song-ha. My name is Han Yi-jin. This one is Yong-sik.”
“Oh, he’s that S-class dragon…”
Hae Song-ha’s eyes sparkled with curiosity after seeing Yong-sik. At the same time, the summoned beast, who was sitting on Hae Song-ha’s shoulder, raised her head.
A squirrel or a chipmunk? It was not easy to guess because her fur was mixed with brown and grey.
Ah, but she’s also a summon, so she’s a monster, right? It just looks like an animal on the outside. But she’s also cute despite being a monster. It was when I was secretly observing Hae Song-ha’s summon that I heard the two summons interact for the first time.
“Kyaaa!”
“Chuchu! Chu!”
Yong-sik, who suddenly spread his wings, let out a threatening sound. Then Hae Song-ha’s summon, who was just as surprised as we were, shouted with her fur standing up.
Hae Song-ha and I panicked and backed away from each other.
“Yong-sik, shh, calm down, calm down.”
“Lati, good girl. Stay still, yes?”
Hae Song-ha also appeased his summon as if he was confused by the sudden incident. The squirrel summon, named Lati, did not back down and bared her teeth at Yong-sik. She was small, but she looked quite fierce.
“Ha-ha-ha. She’s not normally like this…”
“Hahaha…”
I just smiled awkwardly at Hae Song Ha who spoke awkwardly. I can’t say, ‘My Yong-sik does that all the time too’.
“Kyaaa, kyaa!”
“Oho, Yong-sik-ah! Don’t do that!”
Yong-sik continued to emit hostility, as if he had met his enemy from his past life. I was very perplexed, he has never behaved so violently towards other hunters. Of course, Baek Si Hoo, whose first encounter was the worst and caused Yong-sik to suddenly spit out his poisonous breath, was excluded from that statement.
Eventually, Hae Song-ha took Lati and placed her far away from me and Yong-siky and came back. I kept bowing to him in apology.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Ah, it’s okay. It’s just that summons often do this to each other.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, usually dragons fight a lot because they fight over territory… Otherwise Lati wouldn’t have looked so intimidating…”
“…”
Hae Song-ha tilted his head strangely, looking at Yong-sik who had calmed down. Yong-sik started behaving normally again, maybe it’s because Lati had disappeared from his sight. I spoke with a sigh.
“As you can see, he’s so selfish. I can’t even get angry…”
“In human terms, he’s still a baby. And there are many things I don’t know about in regards to his behavior since there have never been dragon summons of S-class or higher.”
Hae Song-ha, who nodded as he talked, looked at Yong-sik gently and looked back at me.
“And there is something that hunter Han Yi-jin misunderstood. You don’t have to reprimand the summon for their actions.”
“Really?”
“A summon who was just born is the same as a baby. Yong-sik might now recognize hunter Han Yi-jin as his parent. Parents who teach their children by scolding them angrily are the worst, right? If he does something wrong, you can discipline him calmly with good words. Rather than getting angry unnecessarily.”
Hae Song-ha explained it calmly. He didn’t look like someone who had just trembled in fear. When I looked admiringly at him, Hae Song-ha, who started trembling once more, asked.
“Wa–was I too presumptuous?”
“No, teacher. You’re very good.”
As I held Yong-sik, I inevitably clapped my hands enthusiastically for him inwardly. Then Hae Song-ha, who heard the praise, twisted his body in embarrassment.
“Hmph, a kid should at least make his words sound plausible.”
Eden, who was watching from the side with a sullen face, grumbled. His lips were protruding again as they always do when he doesn’t like something.
“Hey, shut up for a second.”
“What kind of teacher has a summon who is as big as a mouse? Don’t be fooled, Yi-Jin-ah.”
“That’s right. I can’t believe him.”
“…”
Eden and Kang Soo-hyun, who get along only at times like this, each added a few words against Hae Song-ha. And Kang Yoo-hyun… He always looks at people like they’re bugs, or so I thought.
“If you guys are going to disturb me, just get out of here, huh?”
“When did I interrupt? I didn’t.”
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“I didn’t interrupt either. That’s unfair.”
“Ha….”
I shook my head. No matter how much I detested them and their childish behavior inwardly, I couldn’t speak openly in front of the parties involved. Of course, I also felt that his words were a little unreliable because hunter Hae Song-ha looked quite young. Still, the way he talks gives off a good trainer vibe.
It was the moment when I opened my eyes and tried to say more that he spoke up.
“Excuse me…”
“…?”
Hae Song-ha interrupted the conversation in a low voice. I was taken by surprise and focused my gaze on him. This time he didn’t tremble and instead courageously opened his mouth.
“I’m not a kid…?”
“Yes…?”
When he saw my bewildered expression, Hae Song-ha reiterated his words.
“I’m 35 years old this year.”
“…!”
We all stared at Hae Song-ha in amazement. Hae Song-ha seemed to be at a loss as our gazes stuck to his face.
“Really?”
“Do–do I look that young?”
“Yes.”
Hae Song-ha looked really, really young. I can’t believe he’s 35 with that face. He doesn’t just eat preservatives three times a day, does he? That smooth baby skin really belongs to a 35-year-old…?
“R–really…?”
“…”
Hae Song-ha’s crying face seemed to awaken my protective instincts. Not only me, but also Eden and Kang Soo-hyun, who grumbled, were speechless.
“You’re 35… not 15…?”
“Yes.”
“It’s true,” said Ha Song-ha as he cried out in frustration. Him crying like that made him appear more suspicious rather than making him appear more sincere.
I panicked and looked around. I wish Park Yoon-sung was here at times like this. There are too many unhelpful bastards around.
Then, Yong-sik stuck his head out.
“Kyauu!”
“…!”
It was as if he was telling Hae Song-ha not to cry. Hae Song-ha opened his eyes wide.
Oh, this is the time!
I pushed Yong-sik toward Hae Song-ha.
“Would you like to touch him once?”
“Yes? Re–really? Can I do that?”
I nodded and pushed Yong-sik closer to him. I was strangely convinced. It was the same with Do-gyul, Yong-sik apparently has a weakness for people who look small and young.
Hae Song-ha reached out carefully like Do-gyul did. Then Yong-sik sniffed Hae Song-ha’s hand.
“Kyau…”
“What’s wrong?”
Yong-sik frowned unpleasantly. As I was confused by his dissatisfaction, I remembered the summon who had just fought with Yong-sik.
“It’s alright. That friend isn’t here. It’s someone else. Look closely.”
“Kuu…”
Hearing my words, Yong-sik looked at the nervous Hae Song-ha. Then he closed his purple eyes and stuck his head out towards Hae Song-ha. It was an arrogant gesture, as if to say, ‘I allow you to touch my head, puny human’.
“Wow, I can’t believe I stroked a dragon.”
Hae Song-ha murmured to himself as he stroked Yong-sik’s head hesitantly and alertly. He seemed impressed and suddenly burst into tears. As expected, Yong-sik’s power was great.
“I–I’ll do my best! Please believe in me!”
“Of course, I believe in you, teacher.”
Fortunately, Hae Song-ha, who cheered up, shouted vigorously. When I nodded and responded, the training began in earnest. Hae Song-ha looked like a possessed person who had come to preach that ‘there are no bad summoned beasts in the world’.
“…So, when a summoned beast behaves like this, it is important to repeatedly make them understand their actions and its consequences.”
“Aha, I see.”
“When summoned beasts become adults, they become as intelligent as humans. So the separation anxiety disappears naturally over time. Dragons are smarter than other summons, in fact, I think he can understand everything hunter Han Yi-jin says as long as it is repeated a few times.”
“Yes, I understand.”
It’s just a matter of understanding.
“Kyau?”
Yong-sik tilted his head with a face as if he did not understand. I just smiled at him.
“Then shall we just do simple training today?”
In front of the accommodation, there were training sets and equipment that Hae Song-ha had prepared. Hae Song-ha, who was looking around, pointed to one place.
“Let’s try that one today.”
“…?”
Yong-sik and I turned our heads to the place Hae Song-ha was pointing at.
T/N: Decided not to do the April Mop but maybe next time 😁
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