TRPM 230

chapter 230

The news that Chloe Greenwood had been hired as an instructor at the Seoul Awakener Academy died down after just a few days.

In fact, among those who had been appointed as instructors at the academy, there were figures even more famous than Chloe.

Moreover, all that was known was that she had been hired as a mental magic instructor; since few facts had been revealed, there wasn’t much more content to report.

So it was only natural that the news gradually faded away.

Instead, news channels began flooding with a new topic.

[“A magician in China has been seen commanding a dragon, creating a huge stir…”]
[“The identity of the magician remains unknown, but at least it’s confirmed to be real, not an illusion…”]
[“In the future, China’s national events will feature real dragons.”]

The appearance of a magician commanding a dragon in China dominated the news.

Even though Alex, a magician who commanded a dragon, existed in the Ironblood Guild, his case had quietly passed without much attention, whereas the magician commanding a dragon in China became headline news…

‘Even if Alex commanding a dragon was overshadowed because of Kim Baek-rang’s animal rampage incident, this is a little abnormal,’ I thought.

Despite being somewhat overlooked, Alex had ended up joining the Ironblood Guild to protect himself, but let’s leave that aside for now.

The important point was that there were just too many news reports about the magician commanding a dragon in China.

Perhaps China was intentionally promoting him.

‘Come to think of it, there was a magician in the past who commanded a dragon in China, too.’

I didn’t know his face either.

Before I had regressed, I had never been to China because relations with the country weren’t good.

Many countries had tried to kidnap me and my mother before, but China’s attempts were overwhelmingly frequent.

Once, a high-ranking Chinese official had brazenly come in person and demanded that I hand over my martial arts skills, claiming they belonged to China. Of course, I refused.

Not everyone in that country is like that, but after experiencing such events, it was hard to see China favorably.

Wait, why did my thoughts drift this way?

‘Anyway, not just me, but many people before my regression didn’t know the face of the magician who commanded a dragon.’

The magician would only summon a dragon at events and did nothing else.

China also reveres dragons, so it’s possible they controlled information to protect the magician or even imprisoned him for sacrilege.

As a result, there was even talk before my regression that such a magician might not really exist, and the story might have been fabricated in China.

‘Some even claimed to have seen the dragon in person, including archmages, so the magician must have existed.’

An archmage could see through most illusion magic and it was unlikely that China would dare threaten someone of that level.

It wasn’t impossible that the archmage had been deceived by illusion magic or pressured by China, but the likelihood that the magician commanding a dragon actually existed was high.

‘The only problem is… as far as I know, it’s still quite some time before a magician commanding a dragon should appear…’

I didn’t remember the exact date, but the topic of a magician commanding a dragon becoming a public sensation happened after I had graduated from the academy… while I was actively clearing dungeons as a current awakener.

In other words, it was off by at least five years.

‘I have a rough idea why.’

Probably because of Alex.

Unlike before, the current Alex, with my help, started commanding dragons very early.

Not just any dragons, but ones stronger than before, and with size-adjustable magic if their power was lacking.

Moreover, the information on the summoning contract used back then had been partially released into the Awakeners’ system database.

Most likely, the Chinese magician used the information I released as a reference to command a dragon.

Before my regression, Alex may have had the same information available.

“…A dragon…”

Brrrring?

While watching the news at home, a sudden sound made me look up.

Fenrir and Sarang were there, watching me.

“Why are you here?”

Sarang was Lee Ha-eun’s familiar.

I could summon Sarang since I had been involved when she was first called, but I hadn’t summoned her now.

That meant Ha-eun had summoned her… but why was she at my house?

Panting…

“Where’s Ha-eun?”

Sarang looked toward the front door at my question.

I focused my senses toward the door…

Huh…

I confirmed Ha-eun’s presence outside, hidden behind an incredibly powerful barrier.

A barrier focused solely on concealing her presence… if Sarang hadn’t alerted me, I might not have noticed it at all.

In terms of concealment, it was like the barrier Serenity had used right before my regression.

The one that prevented monsters from finding survivors inside.

Of course, Serenity’s barrier had multiple complex functions, but it was impressive that the still-developing Ha-eun had partially implemented that power.

I thought about that as I opened the front door.

“Whoa…!”

“Why are you standing there? Come in if you’re coming.”

Ha-eun looked startled at the suddenly opened door, but when I told her to come in, she entered my house as if she’d been waiting.

I had no idea why she had brought Sarang inside.

“So, what’s up today?”

“Just… I was bored since there’s no training today.”

It was the weekend, but a day without training.

Yeon Mi-rae had gone to the Ironblood Guild due to an urgent matter, and Sophia, temporarily at the guild, would be there too.

Since Ha-eun would be studying alone in that situation, today’s training had been canceled. She seemed bored with the unexpected free time.

“Then why were you standing at the door?”

“I was testing my concealment barrier. But you found me anyway.”

Ha-eun muttered as she sank onto the sofa.

“Ugh… I want to start learning magic from the academy director already…”

“Be patient. Only two more years.”

“Two years… that’s so long.”

Ah, right.

I sat next to her as she spoke.

Then Ha-eun, as if remembering something, suddenly asked me:

“Oh, right, Gun-woo. Don’t you think our moms have been going out way too often on weekends lately?”

Hmm… indeed.

“They used to go out with friends, but lately it feels like every week.”

“Right? I’m not the only one who thinks so, right?”

Let’s think… since when have they been going out every week?

“…Ah.”

“Why? Did something come to mind?”

“Something, but it’s not something I should tell you.”

“Oh, really?”

Ha-eun looked curious but didn’t press me for an answer.

She understood that it was not something I could reveal.

It’s not exactly a top secret, but still something confidential that shouldn’t be revealed.

The likely reason our mothers and their friends went out every week—or used it as an excuse to disappear—was probably related to the Shinsegye cult.

The cult’s leader was our uncle, who had been replaced by a doppelganger.

The doppelganger was captured and taken by Chairman Richard, and our mother inherited the uncle’s property, including the Shinsegye building.

I don’t think she would sell the building to someone else.

The time capsule buried by my father and uncle had been discovered in the Shinsegye courtyard, and even if not, my mother wouldn’t abandon the children living there.

So the cult would continue to operate normally…

The cult as an organization might not continue indefinitely, but the building would operate for the sake of the children.

So our mothers probably visited Shinsegye every week.

Honestly… they could have told me honestly.

I understood why my mother hadn’t told me—she didn’t want to burden me.

“Don’t worry too much, though.”

“If you say so…”

Ha-eun said this while holding Sarang.

At that moment, my smartphone vibrated.

Someone was calling.

Who could it be?

I took out my phone to check the caller.

Sophia?

She should have been at the Ironblood Guild with Yeon Mi-rae—why was she calling?

I answered, curiosity piqued.

“What is it?”

[Your mother contacted me.]

…My mother?

Of course, my mother knew Sophia existed. She had seen Sophia sleep in my room, and after returning from the U.S., Sophia had been living at Yeon Mi-rae’s house.

But why would my mother contact her, of all people…?

[A foreigner came and said something I couldn’t understand. I’m heading to your mother’s location, but I thought you should know, Artist.]

“A foreigner?”

My mother was at Shinsegye, right? A foreigner came?

Maybe someone from Chairman Richard’s side?

The chairman had taken the doppelganger impersonating my uncle. Perhaps he thought there was still some clue left in the Shinsegye building.

No, that can’t be. Richard is busy capturing doppelgangers worldwide.

He wouldn’t have time for anything else. So who could it be?

“I’ll go too.”

[Yes, let’s meet at Shinsegye.]

“Huh? Where are we going?”

Ha-eun reacted to my words to Sophia.

Hmm…

“Do you want to come too, Ha-eun?”

“Can I come too?”

“Your mother will probably be there too.”

I said this and prepared to leave.

Ha-eun’s face lit up as soon as I told her she could come, and she got up immediately.

She even started humming, as if excited about a date with me.

It’s not really a date, but she’s that happy?

…If she’s going to be this happy, maybe I should at least give her a light “date” afterward. Regardless of what happened with my mother, if it finishes early, I might consider a real date.