TDGHR 51

Chapter 51

How Did You Find This Place?

“…I was originally human in my previous life.”

They had thought there could be nothing more shocking left to hear.

Yet at her bombshell declaration, every dragon present except Rokan was unable to hide their astonishment.

In a way, their reaction was even more intense than when she had said she intended to enter an Eternal Covenant with a human man.

“I… lived here, in this world, for a little over twenty years. I was an ordinary human… just like him.”

Her voice trembled, and her words kept breaking apart.

She remembered the first time she had revealed to her family that she was a reincarnator.

Back then, everyone she had confessed to had been close family, so they had understood her and embraced her warmly.

The dragons here were not her family.

Most of the people to whom she was revealing her secret now already viewed her unfavorably.

Her heart had felt ready to burst from nervousness even then. How much worse could it be now?

“In my previous life, I loved a man. And he…”

Every hostile gaze directed at her felt painfully sharp, and her breathing gradually quickened.

With Rokan supporting her, Sia paused to catch her breath before continuing.

“…I couldn’t forget him, so I came back here. And…”

“You returned to finish the love that had been cut short. Something along those lines, I suppose.”

Evan cut her off, then clicked his tongue and called it a cliché from some trite romance novel before beginning to stir up the other dragons.

“For that reason alone, she is now trying to justify her own foolish actions.”

“Evan!”

Rokan shouted at Evan, who kept tormenting his granddaughter with cutting words.

Even after Rokan raised his voice, however, Evan refused to yield.

“Rokan! Wrong is still wrong!”

“How dare you.”

Rokan bared his teeth and growled.

It was only because he barely managed to hold on to his reason that he did not release his Dragon Fear and start a fight even the dragons gathered here would struggle to contain.

“Perhaps it would be better simply to remove the source of the problem. Killing that human may be one solution.”

“Shut up!”

At the mere suggestion of killing Minjun, Sia shouted so loudly that the entire lair rang, making her earlier trembling seem like a distant memory.

“Just try killing my Oppa. Go on. Then either you die or I die, because there’ll be no turning back.”

“Whoa, whoa. I wasn’t saying we should actually kill him. Even if we don’t kill him, we can still break his resolve.”

Evan gave a thin, unpleasant smile.

He did not particularly care that this dragon had been human in her previous life.

He had no intention of looking down on her for it, and as someone who had never encountered a reincarnator before, he actually found the fact rather interesting.

But if she had become a dragon, she ought to forget her previous life and live as a dragon. Why was she still trying to live a human life?

And why was this human named Minjun so brazen as to admire a dragon even after learning what she truly was?

Dragons rarely involved themselves in or interfered with other dragons’ affairs.

Even so, Evan believed this was one matter in which interference was necessary.

And there were quite a few dragons who agreed with him.

‘As long as we don’t kill him.’

He had been completely serious when he said they could break Minjun’s resolve.

Whether by placing a sweet carrot in front of him or by wielding a whip painful enough to make him wish for death, they would have to force him to give up on something as absurd as love between a human and a dragon.

And what was this about becoming a dragon?

Evan knew it was impossible, but if it ever began showing even the slightest sign of becoming reality, would they not have to take action somehow?

The gathering that had always seemed so solid was slowly beginning to crack.

* * *

Immediately after the brief gathering, which had been nothing short of a nightmare for Sia, Rokan remained in his granddaughter’s lair out of concern for her condition.

Sia cried without end, unable to hold herself together.

“Hic… Hngh…”

“Shasha.”

What was he supposed to say? How was he supposed to comfort her?

Perhaps the best thing he could do right now was say nothing, hold her warmly, and simply listen.

Rokan kept Sia tightly in his arms until her sobbing subsided, and she did not reject his embrace.

As though she had become a little child again, she wept endlessly in Rokan’s arms, just as she had after revealing to her family in this life that she was a reincarnator.

It took a long time before her crying finally quieted.

Only after calming down somewhat did she take out her phone with trembling hands and send Minjun a KakaoTalk message.

[Oppa.]

She desperately wanted to hear Minjun’s warm voice over the phone, yet paradoxically, she did not feel capable of calling him in her current state.

She had no confidence in how badly she might fall apart if she heard his voice.

She had intended to talk to him briefly over messenger instead, but the instant she sent the message, a video call came in from Minjun.

Sia did not want him to see her in such a broken state, so she declined the call.

After a moment of hesitation, however, she gathered her courage, switched to a voice call, and called him first.

“…Oppa.”

[What happened? Okay? Tell me slowly, one thing at a time.]

The instant Minjun’s warm voice came through the receiver, she began to crumble so badly that avoiding the video call almost felt pointless.

“What… are we supposed to do now…?”

She was frustrated because she could not tell Minjun anything about what had happened today.

Without mentioning a single detail of the day’s events, she broke down crying again.

Minjun quietly listened to her sobs until she ended the call, sharing the weight of her sadness without pressing her for an explanation.

The next day, Minjun called Sia as soon as he woke up, worried about her.

He wanted to ask what had happened yesterday and whether there was anything he could do to help, but for some reason, she did not answer.

‘Does she need some time alone to sort out her thoughts?’

Even Minjun had never seen her cry that bitterly before.

He had no idea what had happened yesterday, but she had refused to say what was wrong and simply cried and cried.

He considered asking Rokan whether he knew the reason.

In the end, Minjun decided to do nothing.

He thought what Sia needed right now was time.

After leaving her a message telling her to call whenever she felt calmer, Minjun began his day with an unsettled heart.

While eating a simple breakfast, he started planning his schedule.

Now that he was B-rank, he could look for a new B-rank gate raid party. After the raid, he could also buy Sia a gift to cheer her up and send it through Rokan.

Or perhaps clearing his schedule entirely so that he could answer whenever Sia called would be the more reasonable choice.

While Minjun was still weighing his options, someone knocked on his front door.

Knock, knock, knock.

‘Who is it?’

Puzzled by the unexpected visitor, Minjun opened the door.

“Hi!”

Standing there with a bright smile, completely unaware of Minjun’s troubled state, was Go Yuna.

Minjun had already been extremely unsettled since yesterday because of Sia, and seeing Yuna at his doorstep made his head feel even more complicated.

He had given her his phone number, but he had never told her his home address.

How had this noona found out where he lived, and why had she come here?

As Yuna stood there smiling sweetly at him, Minjun felt his headache deepen.

He was in no mood to see anyone right now, and if that person was Go Yuna, he wanted even less to do with the visit.

But sending her away harshly by demanding to know how she had found his house was awkward too.

He had no real justification for treating her that way.

Minjun swallowed the sigh rising to his throat and asked in as calm a voice as he could manage, “…How did you know where I live?”

“I asked your mother! She sent me some kimchi a little while ago, so I wanted to return the favor. I made a few things and was going to visit her, but she said she lives in Yangpyeong and told me not to come all that way. So I told her I’d send them through you instead.”

Yuna held out the bundle of food she had brought with her.

“So, Minjun, could you give these to your mother later?”

“…”

If her goal had simply been to send food to his mother as thanks, there were plenty of ways she could have done it, whether by courier or something else.

Why go through the trouble of using him as the middleman?

And there was no telling how Sia would react if she learned about this.

Minjun looked back and forth between Yuna and the bundle in her hands with obvious bewilderment.

“And! I brought plenty for you too. See? Doesn’t that make it okay?”

“For now… thanks. I’ll eat it.”

Just as he accepted the bundle and was about to tell her to get home safely, Yuna spoke again.

“Oh, Minjun. Sorry, but can I use your bathroom? I really need to go.”

Before he could even answer, Go Yuna naturally stepped into his studio apartment.

Minjun wanted to stop her, but he could not bring himself to say anything and swallowed his words.

If she genuinely needed the bathroom that badly, how could he simply tell her to leave?

All Minjun could do was look bitterly toward the bathroom she had just entered.

A short while later, Yuna emerged and said, “Minjun, I’m really sorry, but can I have a glass of water before I go?”

“…Sure.”

Normally, even letting Yuna into his apartment at all would have been a terrible look.

Yet every circumstance seemed to be unfolding in a way that left him no choice but to let her inside.

Minjun felt a headache coming on.

He was not an idiot. It would be a lie to say he sensed no intention at all behind everything Yuna was doing.

But the circumstances kept turning out like this.

One situation after another where he could not simply glare at her and throw her out.

While Minjun poured her a glass of water, Yuna briefly looked around his studio.

Her gaze eventually landed on the clothes hanging from the drying rack that Sia had left behind.

“Do you live with your girlfriend? I don’t think you mentioned that last time.”

“Yeah. She’s away somewhere for a little while right now.”

Of course, it was a lie.

Even if they wanted to live together, their circumstances and those damned restrictions made it impossible.

But if he said that, surely Yuna would feel more uncomfortable staying here and leave sooner.

Go Yuna, however, knew from the start that he was lying.

There was only one toothbrush and one rinsing cup in the bathroom, and there were no cosmetics, feminine products, or any other signs that a woman lived here.

As far as Yuna could tell, the clothes on the drying rack were simply things Sia had happened to leave behind for some reason.

‘That’s a lie.’

She could immediately tell that Minjun felt uncomfortable around her.

But inwardly, she gave a small amused laugh.

She had simply brought some food to send to the mother of a younger friend she was close to, yet he was misunderstanding her this badly.

Apparently, he had a surprisingly cute side too.

“Here’s your water.”

“Thanks. I’ll drink it well.”

As though she had been invited over from the beginning, Yuna settled in comfortably and slowly sipped the water.

After finishing it, she opened the bundle and began explaining each of the foods she had brought for Minjun.

“The silver container has jjajang sauce. I made it with exactly the same recipe we use at the restaurant, so it’ll be good. This kimchi came from the restaurant too. It’s not factory-made—the aunties at the shop make it themselves.”

“I’m not a kid. Anyone listening would think you’re my mom, not my noona.”

There was no need to explain everything in that much detail.

“Just tell me which ones are mine and which ones are for Mom.”

Whether he would actually eat any of it was another question.

“What a shame. Our Minjun used to have such a cute side.”

Sounding disappointed, she went back to explaining the food she had brought.

When Yuna finally finished, Minjun asked, “By the way, noona, aren’t you busy? Don’t you need to get going soon?”

You’ve had your water, and I’ve received the food. It was time to leave.

That was what he meant, phrased indirectly.

Whether Yuna truly failed to notice or simply pretended not to, she answered, “Oh, today’s my day off. I’m usually a pretty busy woman, but that doesn’t mean I’m a workaholic who never takes a day off. Things should be a little less hectic for a while.”

With a bright smile, she subtly made a point of telling Minjun that she had plenty of free time.

“Oh, since it’s my day off, how about sparring with me? I’m retired now, but I used to be an A-rank Hunter, so I’m sure I could help quite a bit.”

“I appreciate the thought, but I’m fine.”

Her intention was to extend the amount of time she could spend with Minjun somehow, but he naturally had no reason to accept.

“Come on, I’m telling you it’d definitely help. You don’t have to feel burdened.”

“I’m really fine, noona. You don’t have to keep trying to do things for me. Thanks for the food.”

At this point, most people would have taken the hint and left, but Yuna stubbornly kept pressing him.

“Then what about your girlfriend?”

“Sia would say she doesn’t need it either.”

“Can’t be helped, then.”

Still apparently reluctant to give up, Yuna lightly placed a hand on Minjun’s shoulder and asked, “Then since it’s almost lunchtime, want to eat together? It’s better than eating alone.”

“Sorry, I have plans.”

That, too, was obviously a lie.

“Then I guess it can’t be helped. Let’s eat together sometime soon.”

Yuna looked disappointed right up until the very end.

Seeing her reaction, Minjun had a strong feeling.

Yuna would probably keep finding one excuse or another to come by his home in the future, and if that continued, things would spiral beyond control.

He did not want the issue with Yuna to keep upsetting both him and Sia any longer.

“Noona.”

Today, Minjun decided it was finally time to draw the line.