< 66. 21st Century Robin Hood (20) >
As the bomb exploded inside the skull, Chang Cheon's serpent-like body slumped. Drawn by gravity, it was about to fall, but Jenkinson swooped in and caught it with magic.
Chang Cheon was dead.
Hanging from the floating corpse, Minjun exhaled heavily.
Success!
Once again, he had accomplished his task admirably.
At the moment when his body was filled with a sense of achievement...
=Minjun?=
Someone was calling a strange name.
He didn't feel compelled to respond since it wasn't his name.
=Minjun?=
But when the echo in his head repeated...
"······!"
The prisoner managed to bring back consciousness that had been lost to ancient memories.
"······What!"
He swept away the blood-soaked shadows. The swirling darkness vanished, revealing his body.
It felt like waking up after being thoroughly drunk. But there was no blackout. The thoughts and sensations that had dominated his mind during the lost time, including the thrilling moment of piercing the dragon's brain, were still vivid.
Fragments of the past and present reason collided, causing confusion.
What... was I doing to make a living before I was captured?
He knew he was unusually knowledgeable about dragon ecology, even predicting molting times from a single fallen scale. It was odd to memorize the anatomy of a rare-type Python dragon, but he thought there might be some reason for it.
But he never imagined that the reason was because he used to butcher and eat dragons.
Minjun recalled the legendary monster even the oldest Elder Dragons in the other dimension treated as a ghost story.
Dracophagians?
The background knowledge that had seemed natural in his memory now appeared bizarre upon reflection.
A market for selling dragon blood and flesh? Such things haven't existed since the start of the historical era...
Minjun's expression hardened.
Yes, such things did not exist since the start of the historical era.
But what about the ancient times that were not recorded in documents?
=Minjun!=
At the third call, Minjun finally looked up. Jenkinson was looking at him with a shaky gaze.
=······.=
The red dragon created and then erased various words in his mind.
It wasn't the first time fighting alongside him.
But seeing a dragon being 'captured' like this was unprecedented.
This isn't execution... it's more like...
The words that followed were hastily pushed out of his mind. It was inevitable, given that he was also a dragon, that such associations were unpleasant.
I've never seen this friend make such a face before.
Moreover, Minjun's face, now revealed after the shadows were cleared, looked... ecstatic and joyful.
It was like someone who had finally found their true calling.
The vitality and joy that were hard to find on the face of the prisoner, who had been working out of necessity rather than desire, were now apparent.
=Are you alright?=
As he kept speaking, the blur in Minjun's eyes cleared. The dreamy expression disappeared.
The most lively and happiest face seen in hundreds of years of connection with him returned to its usual indifferent state.
=It's the first time I've seen you make such an expression.=
"Hmm?"
Minjun asked.
"What do you mean?"
=······Never mind.=
The dragon avoided answering and returned to the usual blunt talk. Pointing to Chang Cheon's corpse.
"Let's say you landed the finishing blow."
Jenkinson extended his hand, agreeing to his words by completely smashing Chang Cheon's head.
Crack!
There was no need for other dragons to know the details of how this dragon died. This was also for Minjun's sake. The honor of being a dragon slayer was not something that would benefit him widely.
Minjun should only be known as an expert who assists Elder Dragons. If the prisoner starts facing scrutiny from other Elder Dragons, it would be inconvenient for Minjun to operate in this world, so he preferred to keep it buried.
"Oh, and."
Jenkinson's leverage related to Minjun was now in serious trouble. Quite literally, he was heavily indebted. To make matters worse, the debt had increased because of this incident.
So Minjun could confidently make a demand.
It was related to Chang Cheon's assets.
Since he died without an heir, it would be distributed in some way, but Minjun's primary concern was different.
"That million Talant that was stolen from Chang Cheon, it's okay to leave its whereabouts as a mystery, right? Officially."
Jenkinson asked, puzzled.
=Since the ghost absorbed it, it's basically lost, right?=
"Well, it seems I've found a way to recover it."
=?!=
A method to separate Talant from a soul.
Until early this morning, Minjun didn't know it either, before observing the trial run of a complex magical array.
His demand was simple. Since it was possible to detach the Talant combined with Ha Eunsung, he wanted to take it for himself without reporting it to the committee.
It was a risky action, but the Elder Dragon had no choice but to comply.
Because it was the demand of the great creditor.
"The rest of the discussion isn't here. First, to Chang Cheon's lair..."
Just as they were about to move.
=No... No!=
A maddened psychic wave emanated from Chang Cheon's corpse. Minjun frowned.
"I suspected this might happen, but..."
=?=
Jenkinson, who lacked spectral sensitivity, had not seen or heard it yet.
Hiss!
The spirit began to separate from Chang Cheon's body, which had broken apart like a rope.
She had not achieved a clean spiritual enlightenment after death. In fact, Chang Cheon had experienced a rather horrific death. And, more painfully, the more brutal the death, the higher the chance of becoming a spirit.
=Ryuho! Ryuho!=
An incomplete spirit with only rampaging thoughts remaining, unable to maintain its self-identity like Ha Eunsung.
"Actually, this might be for the best."
Just like when questioning the ghost of the Red Star organization, he might be able to trace a connection to Kabite through this spirit.
With this thought in mind, Minjun tried to control her with necromancy, but it wasn't easy. Even as a spirit, a dragon possessed superior power over humans.
"This won't work. We need to imprison it somewhere, whether it's with exorcism wards or whatever..."
But meanwhile, the spirit completely separated from the body and began to move with a single purpose.
=Ryuho!=
The freed spirit flew toward the ground.
The altitude was so high that there were no spirits around to send after her. It was rare for someone to die at such heights, so it was natural.
No, even if many were summoned, they wouldn't be able to handle just one Chang Cheon. Installing exorcism wards is the best.
Upon hearing the situation, Jenkinson's eyes widened in surprise.
=Got it! We'll capture and interrogate it.=
The ghost of Chang Cheon, with no mass, flew away at a speed faster than a plane and disappeared, but there was no need to worry about its destination.
"Let's teleport to Chang Cheon's lair."
Ha Eunsung had to admit that his thinking was once again too shallow.
The elf, unable to withstand the threat from the dragon's shell, attempted to dismantle the exorcism wards, but soon realized that even the chief researcher, himself, was unaware of the protective magic that had been set up. Chang Cheon had personally intervened.
"I... I can't decipher this!"
The ghost then used the dragon's body to pound against the walls, trying to break through. If it couldn't be done with the head, it would be done with the body.
Thud! Thud... Crash!
In the process, it stumbled and fell again. Ha Eunsung rolled on the floor, grumbling as he got up.
=Damn it, what's going on!=
"Eh? What?!"
The researcher behind him shouted in confusion.
"The barrier!"
=?!=
Only then did Ha Eunsung understand why he had fallen. The barrier imprisoning Ryuho's ghost had suddenly vanished.
=Why now?=
The researcher trembled.
"It must be because... the caster of the barrier died!"
=What?!=
It was hard to believe.
Chang Cheon was dead?
No matter how formidable that agent was, Ha Eunsung honestly hadn't considered him highly likely to win. That's why he had tried to eliminate Ryuho himself. He had thought Chang Cheon would return alive.
Ha Eunsung felt a sense of disillusionment.
What a wasted effort!
It meant he didn't need to go through the farce of taking over the dragon's body and stumbling around.
Flicker!
=Chang Cheon! Chang Cheon! Forgive me... Please!=
Beyond the broken exorcism wards, the ghost began to thrash wildly. It might end up flying away and disappearing.
If that's the case, I don't really need to destroy that ghost...
He pondered.
But still, shouldn't I check if it's really dead?
He didn't have the luxury to continue such thoughts.
It wasn't to prove death, but because the party mentioned in their conversation had directly appeared here.
=Ryuho!=
Regardless of intent, it was the most definitive form of proof.
=?!=
Ha Eunsung felt his heart drop for the second time today.
The unwelcome sensation of feeling like a three-meter reptile now, after having felt like a human woman in the early morning.
Suddenly, a massive ghost appeared through the wall of the lair where the exorcism wards had vanished.
"Chang Cheon?!"
A grotesque scream escaped the elf researcher's lips. Ha Eunsung could then be certain.
He's really dead!
It was hard to believe even seeing it with his own eyes.
What kind of person is that agent?
A human had truly defeated an Elder Dragon!
Realizing this, Ha Eunsung thought he should stop what he was doing for now. Instead of entering the barrier, he observed Chang Cheon's ghost.
The appearance of the recently deceased ghost was horrific. The spirit, reflecting the state just before death, was covered in every imaginable kind of wound. Flesh was torn, burst, cut, ground, burned... It was a scene vividly displaying the malice directed at Chang Cheon.
And whether it was the climax or the opposite, it was ambiguous, but where the dragon's eyes should have been was empty. The spirit, with brains dripping like tears from its cheeks, faced Ryuho with spiritual rather than visual senses.
=Ryuho! Ryuho!=
A much younger spirit, who had died longer ago, answered the call.
=Chang Cheon!=
Contrary to expectations, Ryuho did not flee. It seemed as if he knew that his flame covering his body would not disappear no matter where he went.
And Chang Cheon, without even the reason to understand the meaning of his actions, acted according to the will left in his soul. Ha Eunsung's expression twisted upon witnessing this scene.
That... must be incredibly hot!
Without any Talant in contact, they couldn't injure or destroy each other, but the spirit could still feel mental anguish.
Chang Cheon enveloped the blazing Ryuho with his spirit, as if determined not to fall again, repeatedly calling his name.
=Ryuho, Ryuho! =
Contrary to the speculations of many, it was not Chang Cheon's will to accompany Ryuho during the disaster in the Four Celestial Kingdoms.
Ryuho married a powerful Elder Dragon but was often ridiculed due to the disparity in their ranks as a couple. The taunts that seducing an aging dragon with his handsome face, slender body, and youth was the greatest achievement of his life troubled him deeply.
As their marriage continued, his frustration combined with the dragon's inherent insecurities about age, and he became increasingly impatient.
His insistence on participating in the Elder Dragons' war stemmed from his desire to become a stronger dragon as soon as possible.
Chang Cheon tried to dissuade him, but Ryuho stubbornly insisted, and they eventually ventured into the dangerous battlefield together. He felt he couldn't miss this opportunity. The sight of dozens of Elder Dragons fighting would be something he wouldn't see again for hundreds of years.
Merely observing such a battle would be an immense learning experience. Seeing how they exploited each other's weaknesses, what magic they used, and how they harnessed their magical power held great significance.
Chang Cheon was displeased with her husband's thinking but believed that with her abilities, she could protect him at least from a distance. After all, she would be watching from a place far from the front lines.
In the end, both Ryuho and Chang Cheon, along with the dragons gathered to punish the Elder Dragons of the Four Celestial Kingdoms, had all made a miscalculation.
The battle was not conducted in a reasonable manner where a young dragon could participate.
The Elder Dragons who had claimed the Four Celestial Kingdoms had set a trap with the intention of annihilating all other Elder Dragons for the liberation of the Chinese people.
When the nuclear warhead storage ignited and merged with magic to cover the land, not only did the caster die, but several Elder Dragons caught in the explosion also perished. The survivors were only able to save their own lives.
Unlike the foreign dragons who spoke recklessly without seeing the scene, Chang Cheon's efforts could not save her husband from death.
Ryuho, of course, did not survive.
=Chang Cheon! I was wrong! I... It's hot. So hot. Please, save me!=
The Elder Dragon endured the excruciating heat radiating from her dead husband's body.
However, this did not lessen Ryuho's suffering, and the dragon coiled around his spirit, protecting it as if it were armor.
Ha Eunsung muttered without realizing it.
=How could a woman who cherishes her husband's spirit so much think of mercilessly destroying others' spirits?=
As Ha Eunsung stared blankly at the two ghosts, a voice came from behind him.
"So you were here after all."
=Huh?!=
He turned around in surprise.
There were Minjun and the Red Dragon.
While the dragon looked at the couple's ghosts with a complicated expression, Minjun approached.
"What's with you? Why are you in that body?"
=Ah... Well.=
Ha Eunsung hesitated and spoke vaguely about his plan. He wasn't brave enough to admit outright that he had acted preemptively, believing Minjun was surely dead.
Minjun, observing him for a moment, said:
"Don't tell me you were thinking of destroying that poor dragon's spirit, were you?"
=······.=
Ha Eunsung had no way of knowing that was also a violation of the Draconic Code. It was fortunate they arrived before he could execute it.
And more importantly...
'To destroy the dragon's spirit, the consumption of Talant must have been immense. It's a good thing they arrived quickly.'
Minjun was thinking from a more selfish perspective.
=Ah, well... I'll get out of this body now.=
At that moment, Ha Eunsung didn't notice the unusual gleam in Minjun's eyes.
"Wait a moment. If you come out like that, that dragon... will die."
There was no lie in this statement.
=What?!=
"I'm a black mage, you know? I can clearly see the life force of that body."
=Yes...=
"It looks like Chang Cheon had salted the dragon heavily before taking him.
=What do you mean?=
"He suffocated the dragon before properly cooking it. He made the connection between the dragon's spirit and body as weak as possible to make it easier to take over. The life support system will keep it alive, but it will be difficult for the owner's spirit to control the body. Is the spirit awake now?"
Ha Eunsung, after introspecting, responded.
=No, there's no response.=
It was different from the previous case of possession. Although there was a sense of two spirits in one body, the owner's spirit wasn't showing any signs of communication.
"That dragon wasn't actually from Earth. It's an alien dragon that was kidnapped. We barely rescued it, and if it dies like this, the ethical gentleman over there will be extremely angry."
There was no lie in this statement either.
"So stay in that body for now. Until the dragon's spirit recovers enough."
Ha Eunsung asked nervously.
=How long?=
Minjun looked at the shattered glass container and the surrounding magic circle. He was thinking of slightly modifying the setup to separate the Talants.
But while the ghost was moving in the dragon's body, it had stumbled, hit things, and flailed its tail, making it almost unusable.
He told Ha Eunsung:
"Try waiting for a month."
It was enough time to reconstruct the magic circle.
=Then, in the meantime, I...=
Minjun said calmly.
"Don't worry about that. I'll protect you for now. The security will be much more thorough than the safe house provided by the Red Dragon, so you don't need to worry about something like today happening again."
Ha Eunsung, after hesitating, finally nodded.
There was the option of ignoring everything and escaping as a spirit, but the fear of what might happen if he did was overwhelming.
The opponent was an agent who had even killed an Elder Dragon.
Of course, it was rational to assume that the Red Dragon's contributions were significant, but it didn't change the fact that Minjun had led all of this.
Seeing Ha Eunsung coming to terms and agreeing, Minjun sighed in relief.
'It's better to keep him safe until I can retrieve the Talants. If possible... in a form that's easy to control. After extracting the currency, Ha Eunsung and the dragon can part ways and follow their paths.'
The telepathic consultation with Jenkinson had already been completed. Delaying the return of the kidnapped dragon until it was fully recovered was a reasonable decision.
Although the intention was to help a poor family, the thief who stole a million Talants would remain under Minjun's protection for a while.
And in this situation where the owner of the stolen goods was dead, Minjun planned to seize it.
He even had a plausible excuse. After all, he hadn't recovered the commission while Chang Cheon was still alive.
The money owed must be collected.
Minjun had a rough idea of how much Talant remained in Ha Eunsung's spirit. Though it had been used a few times, the original amount was a million Talants. Even with significant deductions, there should be at least 950,000 Talants left.
It was a sufficient amount for the unpaid commission.
< 66. 21st Century Robin Hood (20) > End