CHAPTER 119: WHERE THE DRAGON HAS FALLEN ASLEEP (2)

Song Ha-Eun's soft hands pressed into Kwon Oh-Jin’s bare back, kneading firmly.

Squish, Squish.

Her thumbs dug into his tense muscles, relaxing them thoroughly.

“Alright, keep your arms spread out just like that. I’ll give you an amazing massage,” she said.

“So this is what you meant by ‘spread them?’” Kwon Oh-Jin asked.

“Hehe, yeah. Why? Were you thinking of something dirty?” She smiled mischievously as she rolled her thumbs in circles over his shoulders.

“I mean, wouldn't it be weirder if I didn't?”

She cleared her throat, blushing slightly. “Well, if you insist... th-then maybe I could indulge your dirty mind a little.”

“No thanks.”

“Why not?”

“That kinda thing just doesn’t suit you.”

He looked away indifferently.

“What do you mean it doesn’t suit me?!" she grumbled with a frown. "You know how many guys drool just watching me walk down the street?! Even yesterday, when I went grocery shopping—”

“Which bastard was it?”

“Huh?”

“Who was the bastard drooling over you?” He scowled, filling the room with a murderous aura.

“N-No, it was just a figure of speech, you idiot! Nobody was actually drooling.”

“Oh, geez.” The murderous aura disappeared instantly.

“Ha... you little punk, that scared the crap out of me.” She turned away, coughing awkwardly, but she couldn't hide the subtle smile tugging at her lips. “Anyway, just lie still.”

She resumed kneading his back.

“But what’s with the massage all of a sudden?” he asked.

“Well...” She trailed off, her lips pressing firmly together.

Because this is all I can do for you.

The thought lingered bitterly on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it down.

"Just because.”

She was always receiving invaluable things from him that she could never repay him for.

When she was just a clueless child, when she first awakened, when she was cursed and trapped in darkness, and even now—her life was filled with everything he'd given her.

Compared to that... what have I done for him?

She was still technically ahead in terms of star level, but he was already much more powerful than those at his level. She could still be of some help at present, but soon enough, he would rise to heights beyond her reach.

I... have nothing to offer.

Money? He was already the association’s ace, raking in absurd wealth.

A home? The apartment she'd gotten was nothing more than a collapsing shack compared to what Isabella had gifted him.

At the very least, she wanted to cook him nice meals, but every attempt ended in disaster due to her poor skills.

After racking her brain for anything else she could do, all she could come up with was massaging him after his exhausting training.

But even that's something anyone else can do. I’m...

A shadow passed over her face for a moment.

“Ha-Eun.”

“Huh? Yeah?”

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Ahem! It’s nothing.” She pressed down harder with her thumbs.

“Agh! S-Stop!”

“Hehe, stop whining. You’re a grown-ass man.”

“I’m not whining, you're about to kill me here!”

“Shh, just accept my massage.”

“Kugh! I’m seriously gonna die!”

Squish, squish.

Her fingers worked his back mercilessly. He couldn't even tell anymore if he was being massaged or tortured.

After some time, the doorbell rang.

Ding-dong!

“Huh?”

“Who could that be?” She tilted her head, then went to open the door.

On the other side was a dazzling beauty with wavy, platinum-blonde hair and a smile as warm as a spring breeze.

“Hello! Hehe.”

Isabella Colgrande bowed politely and cheerfully. The Saintess of Rome, an Awakener born to one of Europe’s most prestigious families, had an inexplicably strong interest in Kwon Oh-Jin.

Song Ha-Eun glared at Isabella, narrowing her eyes. “Why are you here?”

“Hehe. I have a favor to ask Mr. Oh-Jin,” she said, taking off her shoes. Before Song Ha-Eun could stop her, she brazenly walked into the house and headed straight into the living room.

“Hey! Hey! Who said you could just walk into someone else’s home?!”

“Hm?”

Isabella slightly squinted as she looked down at Kwon Oh-Jin lying shirtless in the living room, glistening with sweat and breathing unevenly like he'd just finished an intense workout.

“What exactly were you two doing?” she asked with an icy, cold glare.

“I-I was just giving him a massage.”

“A massage? And he ended up like that?”

“Well... yeah. I went a little rough on him.” Song Ha-Eun scratched her head and averted her eyes.

Kwon Oh-Jin awkwardly stood up. “Ugh. I apologize you had to see something so unsightly."

With his shirt off, his well-defined abs and pecs were on full display.

“Ah.” Isabella’s pupils enlarged. “Mr. Oh-Jin, y-your shirt...”

Her shoulders trembled slightly as her cheeks turned deep red.

“Oh, I'm sorry.”

“N-No, it’s alright.” She swallowed dryly, her heated gaze fixated on his physique.

Gulp.

Like someone gawking at an exquisite gourmet dish right before them, she breathed a heavy sigh and licked her lips.

“So, what was the favor you wanted, Miss Isabella?” he asked.

“Before that, didn’t you say you’d start speaking more casually to me?” She puffed out her cheeks.

“Oh, right. My bad,” he said, having completely forgotten.

“Hmph. If you keep it up, I'll get upset, you know?”

He chuckled as he watched her pout with her arms crossed. “Yes, yes, I understand, Miss Saintess.”

“Ah! There you go again!”

He chuckled and shrugged. “I’m joking. So, what’s this favor you wanted to ask?”

“Hmm... Have you heard of dungeons, Mr. Oh-Jin?”

Dungeons, huh...?

He'd never actually entered one before but had heard plenty about them.Dungeons were portals similar to gates, but also distinctly different. Gates, once opened, remained active for a set period or even indefinitely while dungeons had a concept of 'clearing.' In other words, they were temporary gates that closed once the boss inside was defeated or certain other conditions were met.

They say high-quality Astral Relics appear in those often compared to regular gates.

In addition, even if one failed to obtain an Astral Relic, rewards were granted separately for clearing the dungeon, making it a worthwhile endeavor. Of course, the better the rewards, the bigger the risks were. Dungeons were filled with powerful monsters and deadly, intricate traps.

“What about them?” he asked.

“A new one was discovered near Baekdu Mountain.”

He was shocked. Did she say Baekdu Mountain?

"Are you sure?” he asked.

“Haha, I am. My family has thoroughly investigated the claim.”

A dungeon at Baekdu Mountain, huh? Could that be where the Astral Relic Lee Shin-Hyuk mentioned is hidden?I can’t be too sure just yet.It's too much of a coincidence, and the timing doesn’t match up.

The False Star Cult hadn’t appeared yet, and Lee Woo-Hyuk hadn’t begun his desperate pursuit of them.

Unless... Kwon Oh-Jin’s gaze darkened. Did the future... change?

He had no way of knowing. How can I tell when all I have are bits and pieces of the future?“Mr. Oh-Jin?” Isabella called out.

“Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment.”

“Haha, you seem a bit surprised. Well, it’s not every day that dungeons are discovered.”

“Does anyone else know about this dungeon? Perhaps any organizations targeting a treasure inside...?”

“Hmm. I’m not sure. You’re actually the first person I’ve told,” Isabella replied.

Does she not know about the False Star Cult either...? No, I can't be sure.

The Leech Queen was ranked third among the Executors of the Black Star Society. If there was any connection at all between the two groups, she could very well be hiding information on purpose.

He clicked his tongue softly. I guess I'll have to see for myself.

“So, why are you telling me about this dungeon specifically?” he asked.

“I would like to formally commission you to explore the dungeon.”

“Explore the dungeon?”

“Yes. You might be affiliated with the association, but I’ve heard you also take on private requests like a mercenary.”

“That’s true...”

It's worth checking out. If I'm lucky, I can find that Astral Relic, but even if I don't, the dungeon's rewards will make it worthwhile.

Isabella extended a check. “This is the offered payment.”

He was flabbergasted by the amount he saw. Holy shit. How many damn zeros is that?

“With this much, you could probably hire two—no, maybe even three eight-star Awakeners,” he remarked.

He was a globally renowned prodigy, but at the end of the day, a rookie was still just a rookie. He’d only just reached six stars.

Isabella smiled brightly. “Hehe. I trust you far more than some people with just a high star level to their names, Mr. Oh-Jin.”

He squinted warily. Does she know how strong I really am?

He was at a level where even most eight-star Awakeners couldn’t compare to him.

Well, it’d be strange if she didn’t know.

He recalled how she'd slaughtered a nine-star Awakener with a mere flick of her hand in Italy. There was no way someone like that wouldn’t recognize his strength.

“Alright. I’ll take the job,” he said.

“Yay! This will be my first time being in a team with you, Mr. Oh-Jin!”

“Huh?”

Wait a second, she’s coming with me?

Song Ha-Eun shot up from her seat. “Who said you could just team up with him like that?! Don’t go dragging my Oh-Jin down. Back off!”

“Oh my," Isabella muttered. "I’m rather confident in my abilities, though."

Song Ha-Eun scoffed. “And what star level are you?”

“I’m a six-star.”

“A six-star? A mere six-star thinks she can team up with my Oh-Jin?”

“Isn’t Mr. Oh-Jin also a six-star?”

Song Ha-Eun frowned. “That’s beside the point! Anyway, if you’re going, then so am I.”

“I don’t have a separate check prepared for you, though.”

“I’ll just take half of Oh-Jin’s.”

I didn’t agree to that. He sighed deeply, glancing between Song Ha-Eun and Isabella.

“Both of you, stop fighting.”

This is driving me insane.

Frankly, he wanted to go alone, but he knew he couldn't get either of them to back off in this situation. After a brief moment of contemplation, he sighed and nodded.

“Fine. We’ll all go together.”

I feel like I'm holding a bomb in each hand, but what can I do? This is just what my fucking life's like.