Chapter 80: The Red Dragon and the Dragon Orb (9)
If you’ve obtained great power, then you should use it, show it. If it can stop such farcical situations, all the better.
The dragons, faced with magic far beyond their strength, lowered their eyes in silence, unable to speak a word.
“Couldn’t you have just blocked the attack instead?”
The elder, speaking on behalf of the other Black Dragons, questioned El. The other dragons were too stunned to say anything.
“I merely used the best method I had to protect myself in that situation. Or are you saying that if a human is attacked by a dragon, they should simply die?”
“Well, no…”
El wrapped his arm around Rurin’s shoulders as she gazed at him intently, and declared firmly:
“I have power. But I have no intention of using it recklessly. As long as I am left alone, I won’t strike. However, if another like Nies comes after me, the Black Dragons themselves may face extinction.”
The declaration was harsh.
Yet, no dragon dared respond. It was the truth. Even a single Meteor spell was one of the most powerful offensive magics.
Countless Meteors, falling all at once, would spell the end of a race. There wasn’t a single dragon who couldn’t calculate that in their heads.
Watching this, the elder swallowed nervously and glanced at Rurin.
In truth, the elder’s feelings differed slightly from the other dragons.
Though he had spoken sternly, he had no intention of defending Nies. He had merely spoken to ensure the Black Dragons wouldn’t object later.
The elder had long suspected that Nies’s actions were suspicious. After living for thousands of years, it was impossible not to notice such things.
He was confident that a thorough investigation would reveal everything. And while part of him was worried, he also felt relief—Rurin’s safety was now almost guaranteed.
His granddaughter, unlike her mother, who had died before him, would live a long, peaceful life.
However, as much as he wanted to be on her side, he had to subtly voice his support for the Black Dragons, so that his decisions would seem fair to his kin. Even though he was, in reality, helping Rurin.
“Everyone, return. We will conduct a thorough investigation into this matter,” the elder declared, turning away from El.
Once the elder disappeared via teleportation, the other dragons soon followed.
And with that, the situation came to an end.
El watched them leave, a thought lingering in his mind.
If they ever disrupted the peace again, he would sweep them away without hesitation.
***
Serena fainted once more in Elena’s arms. Though her injuries were fully healed thanks to both my mana and Elena’s healing magic, she was still exhausted.
With both the Red Dragons and Black Dragons gone, we returned to Greycity.
I planned to soon settle my ties with the dragons.
I would destroy all those involved in the incident that led to the death of Rurin’s mother—the ones who attacked Rurin and me. Using the remaining Dragon Orb, I would sever all ties to the Red Dragons and other enemies.
But for now, I had to be patient. Rurin needed to come of age first.
Since the Red Dragons had left Serena behind, we took her with us. I was furious with how they had treated her. Serena, although a Red Dragon, had been used and had become my hidden card. I couldn’t simply leave her behind.
To those who help, I give help. To those who seek a fight, I offer destruction.
That’s how the world works, doesn’t it?
In any case, since Serena was a dragon, once she fully recovered, she would go her own way.
After returning to Greycity, we left Serena at Elena’s clinic. Thanks to a dragon’s natural resilience, she quickly regained consciousness despite her weakened state.
“Where am I?” she asked as soon as she woke up, showing no signs of disorientation despite the new environment.
“Where else? This is Elena’s clinic,” I replied.
“Elena? You mean the elf who helped save me?”
Serena, remembering Elena’s magic, looked around, seemingly searching for her.
Elena, who had been watching from behind, was startled when her eyes met Serena’s and quickly hid behind me, her shoulders trembling.
Seeing this, Serena let out a strange smile—one that was hard to interpret.
“I really thought I was going to die! I never imagined I’d be brought back to life. And even less that a human would be the one to save me!”
“Is that so?”
“Well, I suppose I’ll acknowledge it this once.”
Serena, with her usual nonchalance, plopped down on the bed.
“I wasn’t the only one who saved you. As I said before, without Elena and her Grand Heal, it wouldn’t have been possible. You should thank her too. I can’t use healing magic, after all.”
“Thank her, huh? Fine. In that case, elf, you can be my servant in return for saving me!”
“Huh? W-What?”
Elena, startled by Serena’s sudden declaration, looked at me for help, clearly unsure how to respond to a dragon’s command.
“I’m joking, just joking. What a clueless elf. But ugh, the thought of having to keep watching you lovebirds is unbearable. Ugh, I suppose there’s nothing I can do. Anyway, can I stay here to rest?”
Her abrupt topic changes were jarring. After making an odd joke and calling me and Rurin a couple, she nonchalantly declared her intention to sleep here.
“I almost died, so I’m really tired. I’m going to sleep now,” Serena stated boldly, and then immediately drifted off. She was still in her human form, with her luxurious red hair spilling over the side of the bed.
“Well, she’s not wrong. When you’re hurt, you get tired,” Rurin agreed, nodding for once at the Red Dragon’s words.
“So, why don’t you get some rest too? Just in case!” Rurin tugged at my arm, her eyes full of genuine concern. She was always so cute when she was like this. Not just cute—there was another emotion too, something more.
One thing I realized in this battle was my own feelings.
I hadn’t only gained more mana.
Seeing Rurin tremble with fear had ignited a fury deep inside me—one that burned hotter than anything else.
The fact that another had tormented her so badly had nearly driven me mad. Though I’d killed the main culprit, it still didn’t feel like enough. The thought of her painful childhood left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“Th-that, El! Defeating the dragon is one thing, but what happened with the healing magic earlier? When your mana flowed into me, the power of Grand Heal shot up by at least four times!”
“That’s probably because the healing magic absorbed my mana and became as strong as a dragon’s.”
“I can’t believe it! There’s a method like that…”
Elena, her curiosity piqued, began circling around me, her eyes gleaming with interest.
Her gaze held a different kind of awe from when she looked at dragons—it felt more like a deep sense of respect.
Or maybe I’m imagining things.
Perhaps?
“Whatever that method is, let’s go home already! I’m tired!”
Rurin, still tugging at me, wouldn’t let me continue talking with Elena. She had been trying to pull me out for a while, and finally succeeded in dragging me out of the clinic. The moment we stepped outside, Rurin immediately teleported us away.
Our destination was the restaurant.
Back at the restaurant, the exhaustion hit me. I decided to rest right away.
The next time I moved was the following day, around noon. I felt great, whether because of a good night’s sleep or the resonance between the Dragon Orb and my Dragon Heart. My body had grown stronger, and contrary to Rurin’s worries, I felt refreshed and energized.
Feeling so well-rested, I got to cooking and eventually dragged a still-sleepy Rurin to Elena’s clinic.
Serena was lounging on the bed like it was her own home, while Elena looked awkward, unsure of what to do.
“You two are such a ridiculous couple.”
Serena blurted out her nonsensical comment with a wave, while Elena sighed in relief as she walked over to me.
“I see she’s doing fine if she can still talk nonsense.”
“Ha ha ha! I’m only a bit tired, that’s all. I’m a dragon, remember? But aren’t you guys hot? I’m boiling! What’s with the way you’re clinging to each other? Even though the Black girl acts like a blushing maiden, you two look like an old married couple.”
Rurin, who had been dozing on my back, still hadn’t woken up, despite Serena’s teasing. She must have been in a deep sleep because even Serena’s insults didn’t get a reaction out of her.
“Hot? It’s freezing. How can it be hot?”
It was midwinter—there was no way it could be hot. If anything, having Rurin on my back felt warm. At this point, she was practically my scarf, even though she was gripping my hair so tightly that my scalp hurt.
Rurin stirred slightly at Serena’s voice, and I felt her rubbing her eyes from behind me. Then, all of a sudden, she gasped in surprise.
That’s fine, but why did she have to grab my hair even harder?
It hurts!
“W-what is this?! Why am I waking up to something red? This is the worst! It’s so annoying.”
“Morning? It’s already noon, so get a grip.”
After setting Rurin down, she continued to rub her eyes, still half-asleep. I let her be and set the food I had brought on the table.
Since both Serena and I had narrowly escaped death, I had prepared something special to restore our strength.
After all, it’s only right to feed those who’ve helped me.
The dish I made was a traditional Korean soup called **Hyojonggaeng**—a restorative broth. You could call it a hangover soup, though it wasn’t spicy.
Instead, it was a nourishing, fatigue-relieving meal that provided both comfort and strength, originally considered a luxury dish in the Joseon Dynasty, often delivered as one of the first take-out meals.
If you elevated the ingredients, it became a real powerhouse of a dish.
Beef brisket, ribs, and large abalone. Thanks to the time-stopping storage, I had fresh ingredients on hand, including seafood as fresh as if it had just been caught.
First, I soaked the meat to remove the blood, then boiled it with ribs and kelp. After preparing the abalone and blanching the cabbage, I removed the kelp and added all the ingredients for a long simmer, letting the flavors meld into a rich broth.
Even just hearing about it made me feel energized.
Usually, shiitake mushrooms enhance the meat’s flavor, but I used **Monton Mushrooms** instead. When it came to soups, Monton Mushrooms were far superior.
The luxurious flavor of the ribs and the refreshing taste of abalone combined to create a broth that was both hearty and soothing.
Even Rurin, who had been sleepily rubbing her eyes, perked up at the smell and rushed over to tear into the ribs.
The tender rib meat, especially when dipped in the secret sauce, melted in your mouth, while the rich broth spread its warmth, revitalizing the body.
Not to mention the chewy texture of the abalone, which added a pleasant contrast to the dish.
