TOP 82

Chapter 82

Between Distrust and Trust

After finishing the easy farming.

I left the site together with Yoo Seol-ah.

【Do we not have to report this or anything?】

Prill asked.

We had only roughly stored the bodies in the pocket dimension, the “Dragon Rare,” and left.

“It’s fine.”

There was no need to go through complicated reporting procedures.

After all, the place was carefully chosen by them for the attack, so there were no witnesses.

As we headed home, I asked Seol-ah the question I had been meaning to ask earlier.

“Meteus. How can I meet him?”

“Ah! You asked earlier.”

“Right.”

Once again, I was planning to find Meteus.

He had told me to come to him, but that wasn’t the only reason.

‘I’m not the type to go just because someone tells me to.’

This time, the circumstances were a bit different.

‘I ended up gaining a lot of dragon powers.’

From “One Punch,” to the “Tenauges System,” “Dragon Body – Stage 3,” “Guardian Contract,” and “Dragon Rare.”

Most of my main skills were dragon-related.

And.

‘Judging from the situation, Meteus is a dragon.’

He was incredibly strong.

He was the only being capable of withstanding the overwhelming blow of Tenauges, the dragon I had faced in the trial.

Given that strength, and the conversation with Tenauges, it could be inferred that Meteus was also of the dragon race.

In other words, a dragon.

Such a being had told me to come.

Even giving me a token.

And his attitude was also quite friendly.

‘If I go, I might get more detailed information about the dragon powers I have.’

Not only that, but I could also potentially learn various new information I didn’t know.

Of course, there would be a cost, but I judged the risk to me would be low.

Thinking that through, I waited for Yoo Seol-ah to speak.

“Hmm… Master. You know it’s not easy to meet the Magi Tower Master, right?”

“Of course.”

The Magi Tower.

It wasn’t like the Gaia Order, but it was one of the world’s four major powers.

And Meteus was the master of that tower.

So naturally, meeting him wouldn’t be easy.

“The Tower Master usually stays at the tower in America.”

“But visiting America now is difficult.”

“That’s right.”

After the Great Cataclysm, traveling abroad became several times harder than before.

It cost a lot, and identity checks were strict.

Visiting America now wasn’t easy for me.

“However, the Tower Master’s visit to Korea is scheduled soon.”

“Then we’ll have to aim for that.”

“Yes. In three weeks.”

“In three weeks…”

Luckily, I was fortunate.

Information that Meteus’ visit to Korea was scheduled.

“But Master, will the Tower Master actually meet you?”

Seol-ah’s worried question prompted me to take out an item and show it.

《 ?? ??? ?? – ???, ??? 》

• ?????

“What’s this?”

“If I can just show this, he’ll meet me.”

It was the token Meteus had given me during the trial.

Even the Tenauges System couldn’t discern any information, but this should be enough.

It was given as a token for this purpose.

‘If it doesn’t work… well…’

Even so, it was worth trying.

“Hm. So I just need to show this?”

“Yes. Any other way?”

But showing it in the first place was a task.

Someone with no connection can’t just suddenly hand something over, right?

If they misunderstood it as a terrorist act, the problem would fall on me.

“…I think it’s possible.”

“Oh?”

Unexpectedly, a positive answer came from Seol-ah, who hadn’t had high expectations.

“In the Magi Tower, there’s a tradition where the Tower Master personally congratulates any magician who reaches six stars.”

“Six stars?”

“Yes. That’s why he’s visiting Korea. My sister… reached six stars.”

Her expression darkened for some reason.

I checked, just in case.

“That sister is your half-sister?”

“Yes.”

“Not on good terms?”

“…Yes.”

Family matters.

I didn’t ask in detail, but I had heard a bit.

‘She really tormented Seol-ah.’

She was a figure who massively rivaled Yoo Seol-ah, the illegitimate child of a chaebol family.

Basically, the villain type.

‘She bullied Seol-ah in the Magi Tower and within the Yoo Sung Group.’

I hadn’t heard specific examples, nor asked.

But I did know it made Seol-ah’s life very difficult.

Why?

Jealousy of Seol-ah’s talent.

Fear of her threatening her position.

‘Even though she’s six stars, she’s petty.’

Of course, that half-sister wasn’t talentless either.

Six stars.

But.

‘Seol-ah is even better.’

Seol-ah reached five stars at only ten years old, surpassing her sister in pure talent.

‘Okay… it’s natural rivalry due to the chaebol succession.’

I could understand that.

But.

‘I won’t let my guardian be belittled.’

I couldn’t let that happen.

“Seol-ah.”

“…Yes, Master.”

“By saying that, you also have a plan, right?”

Seol-ah had just said she thought there might be a way.

She then mentioned that the Tower Master meets six-star magicians.

Which meant, in other words…

“…I’ll try.”

In the three weeks until the Tower Master’s visit, she just had to reach six stars.

“No.”

“Pardon?”

“Not ‘try,’ you have to achieve it.”

“…Understood, Master. I’ll do it!”

“Good.”

Then everything would be resolved.

I could meet Meteus and show him the token, and also gracefully surpass that half-sister.

And for that, what was needed.

“Prill. Possible?”

【Possible! Absolutely possible! We have to boost Seol-ah’s morale!】

With the help of Prill, the top ice magic instructor.

“Do it thoroughly. Make her a six-star magician within three weeks.”

【Okay. Seol-ah, get ready. It won’t be easy.】

“Unni, I’ll definitely do it!”

【Good! We’ll prove Seol-ah is better than that nasty woman!】

Prill and Seol-ah were fired up.

‘Good.’

And this was good for me as well.

Seol-ah’s position rising in the Yoo Sung Group meant more strategies I could use.

‘Ultimately, it’s not bad to dream of Seol-ah taking over the Yoo Sung Group.’

It was far off, but dreaming was fine.

So.

“We’re here.”

We arrived at my home.

The officetel where I had first made a contract when I moved to Seoul.

The remaining schedule for today was rest.

“Good job. I’ll go inside. Start preparing to learn magic from Prill tomorrow.”

“Master?”

“I’m going in.”

I said goodbye to Seol-ah.

She was my guardian, but I wasn’t planning to bring her into my home.

I needed rest.

But.

“I’m not going in.”

Suddenly, she said she wasn’t leaving.

“Why? Go home.”

“This is my home!”

“……?”

She said her home was here.

I didn’t understand.

“I moved! By now, all my things should be unpacked.”

“Uh…….”

Her initiative was crazy.

And.

“Ta-da!”

“…Next door?”

“Yes.”

“…Wasn’t someone living there?”

“They vacated immediately when I offered double rent.”

“……”

She even chose the apartment next to mine.

“As expected of a chaebol. Mindset is different.”

“Yes?”

“Never mind.”

Well, I didn’t mind.

Actually, it was better.

‘If Seol-ah isn’t entering the Yoo Sung Group, being nearby is preferable.’

Being close made it easier to move together if needed.

Plus.

【Ah! Then we can start lessons today!】

“Great, unni!”

Seol-ah’s three-week level-up limitation.

This made achieving it much easier.

Being next door meant Prill could visit more easily for lessons.

I decided to think positively.

“Anyway, yeah. I’ll leave the window open, so Prill can come back and forth for lessons.”

【Got it!】

“Good!”

After settling that, I was about to enter the house.

Then.

“Oh? Hyung!”

“…Jiho?”

Another neighbor, Yoon Ji-ho, appeared.

‘Right, he’s also next door.’

We became close after working together as porters in the Seolsan Cave dungeon, and later surviving the Paladin 88 attack together.

“Hyung! I got my four-star certification!”

He proudly showed me his four-star hunter certificate.

“Hero of Justice,” Yoon Ji-ho, who had lived as a two-star without utilizing his unique trait, now suddenly reached four stars thanks to my advice.

“Great.”

“Hehe. Now I can be of help to you, hyung!”

He seemed to value my advice from back then, following me closely.

I also saw potential in him.

Most importantly.

‘He almost died because of the Gaia Order.’

Being an ally who could oppose the Gaia Order was the biggest advantage.

However, I couldn’t help but look at Ji-ho with a somewhat awkward expression.

‘Four stars…’

I had broken through the six-star wall quickly, so at four stars, he couldn’t help me much.

A disappointing reality.

‘Well, being four stars isn’t meaningless.’

It was still good to have him on my side.

Soon, he might break the five-star wall, and even if not, he could still be helpful.

Anyway.

“Sorry, but we can’t go to the next dungeon together.”

“What!? Why?”

“It’s a six-star dungeon.”

I could take five-star Seol-ah and Shin Chaeri, but four-star was impossible.

As porters, they could come, but it was inefficient.

‘Better to send him to another dungeon to grow.’

That was the more efficient choice.

“A six-star dungeon… hyung, could it be…?”

“Yes. I’m six stars now.”

“…Ah. C-Congratulations!”

Ji-ho said it, but his expression was not happy.

He seemed disappointed he couldn’t help me.

“Hyung, you’re amazing…”

“Hm?”

“I wanted to run with you. I thought we’d gotten closer… but it feels like we’ve drifted further apart…”

“….”

Hm.

I hadn’t realized he felt that way.

But, strength isn’t the only way he can help me, right?

Then.

“Who’s this?”

“Ah! A junior I know. Want to greet each other?”

“Hello. I’m Yoo Seol-ah.”

“…Yoon Ji-ho.”

Seol-ah quietly intervened from behind.

“Are you worried because you’re weak?”

“…What?”

“Do you want to get stronger?”

What was he saying?

“Seol-ah─”

I tried to stop him.

“Yes.”

Ji-ho answered firmly.

“Then ask her.”

“Ask whom?”

“Ma…ster.”

“Yoojin hyung?”

“…Yes. Thanks to her, I’ve gotten much stronger!”

Oh dear.

Of course, I could make Ji-ho stronger.

Just like I did for Seol-ah.

‘Just use the “Guardian Contract.”’

If he took 30% of my stats, he would see significant growth in a short period.

But.

‘Will he accept it? This guy?’

This wasn’t like Seol-ah or Prill.

Seol-ah had no choice but to survive, and Prill already had a contract with me and the spirits.

He would impose a strong restriction on himself: “cannot betray me.”

Not an easy choice.

“Hyung.”

Ji-ho looked me in the eye.

“I want to get stronger.”

“…Power without a cost doesn’t exist. Think carefully.”

“What’s the cost?”

I sighed.

I hadn’t intended to reveal this skill to someone unlikely to contract.

“Yoon Ji-ho. Don’t regret it.”

If he agreed, I would show him the skill.

The Guardian Contract.

However.

‘Once he sees it, there’s no backing out.’

Even if he wanted to refuse after seeing it, I would enforce the contract.

I didn’t want any risk of this skill leaking.

“…I won’t regret it.”

“Good.”

Ding!

[‘Yoon Ji-ho’ is appointed as a Guardian.]

[Contract terms are disclosed to ‘Yoon Ji-ho’.]

[If he agrees, the contract is established.]

“…!”

As expected, Ji-ho was shocked.

The conditions were absurd.

The strong restriction that he could never betray me─

“I’ll do it. Contract.”

Zzing!

[‘Yoon Ji-ho’ has agreed to the Guardian Contract!]

[‘Yoon Ji-ho’ is appointed as a Guardian.]

“…….”

I was momentarily speechless.

No hesitation at all?

So I asked.

“Ji-ho, you didn’t even hesitate with such a contract─”

“Hyung.”

“….”

“I trust you.”

“…….”

I had nothing to say.

Nothing at all.

【Ugh. Yoojin, garbage. Ugh!】

‘…….’