Chapter 67 - The Hatchling's Amusement

If it were during my time as Johan Raven, it would be a different story, but with my current strength, it was impossible to subdue this Hatchling named Rosie by force.

However, that didn't mean there was no way to tame this creature.

If my prediction was correct, this Hatchling named Rosie had a fatal weakness.

First, I needed to confirm if that was indeed a weakness.

“To live in this house, you have to follow the rules.”

“Rules?”

“Yes. I've allowed you to stay here for now, but if you don't please me, you'll be banished immediately.”

“Banished? You have some nerve to say that to a dragon?”

“A dragon? You're still just a Hatchling.”

“Don't be ridiculous. A Hatchling is a dragon too!”

As expected, Rosie flared up.

Here, I planned to scratch her pride one more time.

“No. By my standards, you're not a dragon yet.”

“What on earth are those standards!”

“Successfully completing at least one amusement.”

At my words, Rosie just snorted.

“Is that all? Hearing it now, it's just nonsense.”

“Nonsense?”

“Yes! What's so great about an amusement? As expected, you don't know much about dragons.”

“No. I know very well. Dragons are a proud race.”

“What does that have to do with the amusement?”

I looked at Rosie and gave a wide grin.

“Among the Hatchlings who have lived an amusement life so far, there has never been a single one whose identity was exposed. Right?”

“Of course. The transformation and disguise of our race are perfect.”

“But if there were a first Hatchling whose identity was exposed during their amusement life, what would the other dragons think of that Hatchling?”

“What?”

“I'm curious what kind of punishment those proud dragons would inflict on that Hatchling.”

In an instant, Rosie's pupils began to tremble.

“Listen carefully. Rosie. You said a Hatchling's amusement is no big deal, but that's because all the Hatchlings so far have successfully completed their amusement. But if you were the first to fail, the story would be very different, am I wrong?”

“You, what on earth are you trying to say!”

Seeing her reaction, it was indeed a weakness.

In fact, Rosie's amusement had gone wrong from the start.

Because she had come out of the nest with her identity revealed to me.

“It would be quite a spectacle if a rumor spread throughout the world that a young Hatchling named Rosie came to this place called Earth for her amusement and had her identity exposed. Right?”

“You!”

“Don't get excited. I'm not saying I'll actually do that.”

“Of course you shouldn't!”

“Then let's go back to the beginning and talk. To live in this house, you must follow my rules well. Just like there are rules in your nest.”

Rosie just stared at me with dazed, unfocused eyes.

This was enough to properly confirm her weakness.

It was the moment the dominant and subordinate parties became clear.

“From now on, you are a foreign mercenary of the Haewon Sword Family.”

“What?”

“I think you can use the name Rosie as it is.”

“A mercenary! That's too absurd!”

“I'll appoint you as a member of the Chamryongdan, which I lead as Unit Leader.”

“Chamryongdan! I don't even like the name!”

Well, to say Chamryong (Dragon Slaying) in front of a dragon.

“Don't take it so sensitively. A 'Yong' and a dragon are similar yet different beings.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Of course, it was a lie.

I had named the sword unit Chamryongdan while thinking of the Red Dragon Devrias.

“Then, what am I supposed to do in the Chamryongdan?”

“You can just learn some swordsmanship and live here.”

“I'm strong enough without learning something like that.”

“As expected, you're not ready for an amusement life.”

“I'll learn.”

Rosie replied, closing her eyes tightly.

“A little more politely. I'm your Unit Leader.”

“But I will never use honorifics. This is a dragon's pride.”

I was well aware of a dragon's pride, so I could respect it to this extent.

I just needed to add the setting that she's a foreign mercenary who is not good at Korean.

“Fine. Instead, say it again very politely. I can't compromise any further.”

I gave her a firm look.

Rosie gritted her teeth and then forced out the words.

“…I'll learn. Like this?”

I nodded.

This was much more polite.

“And from now on, you can't call my name carelessly.”

“Then?”

“You must always add the title 'Unit Leader' after my name.”

“What if I really don't want to?”

“You can leave the Haewon Sword Family. I can't guarantee what will happen after that.”

Now that I had her weakness, all I had to do was slowly train her.

“Cheap.”

“I told you. If you don't like it, you can leave.”

“Ji-han Unit Leader. Is this what you want me to do?”

“Good job. Do it one more time.”

Rosie let out a sigh mixed with a lament and said.

“Ji-han Unit Leader.”

“Good. You have a talent for it.”

“Are you teasing me?”

“No. Repetitive learning.”

Of course, there was also a teasing meaning to it.

***

Seo Ji-hoon's head was a mess.

Even when he handed the Hatchling's map to his youngest brother, his mind hadn't been this troubled.

‘What on earth happened in that nest.’

No matter how much he thought about it, no answer came.

Looking at Xenoid, which Seo Ji-han brought back from the nest as a reward, only deepened his suspicion.

‘It's definitely an incredible sword.’

A sword that held this much aura would be worth a fortune.

No matter how much they had promised beforehand, if the reward was something like Xenoid, it was understandable to be tempted, but Seo Ji-han readily handed this sword over to him.

That meant Seo Ji-han had obtained something more than Xenoid from the nest.

“Hmm.”

But he had confirmed that Xenoid was the only reward from the nest.

He had verified the truth several times through Taros's Necklace, so there should be no lies in Seo Ji-han's words.

‘Then what on earth is it!’

The questions that tailed one another only plunged deeper into a labyrinth.

If there was anything peculiar about Seo Ji-han after his return from the Abyss, it was that he had brought back a foreign female mercenary.

But since he said he had taken in a lost child who had an accident in the Abyss, it wasn't a problem to be particularly concerned about.

“Big brother! What are you thinking about so hard?”

“Huh?”

When he came to his senses, Seo Ji-won was in front of him.

“Oh, you're here.”

“I've been here for a while. What on earth were you thinking about so hard?”

To the point of missing Seo Ji-won's presence, his worries must have been deep.

“It's nothing. I just had something to think about personally.”

“This isn't like you, big brother. By the way, what is that sword?”

What Seo Ji-won pointed to was Xenoid.

Since it was a famous sword that exuded an extraordinary aura, he recognized it immediately.

“That? A reward I got from the Abyss.”

He deliberately didn't mention Seo Ji-han.

The secret deal between the two was a secret kept even from the unit members.

“It's an incredible sword just by looking at it! What kind of quest did you clear to get something like this? Can I touch it once?”

Seo Ji-hoon nodded and was lost in thought again.

No matter how much he thought about it, the thought that handing the map to Seo Ji-han was a mistake covered his mind.

What a Hatchling was, and what Seo Ji-han had obtained from that nest, would remain an unsolvable mystery.

“Second brother.”

“What.”

“What do you think?”

“I told you. It's a famous sword just by looking at it.”

“No, not that. I mean our youngest, Ji-han.”

“Seo Ji-han, out of the blue?”

“Yes.”

Seo Ji-won smirked and made an expression as if he knew something.

“I was wondering what you were thinking about so intently since a while ago, and it turned out to be about him.”

“He's changed too much since I last saw him.”

“That kid is a genius.”

“A genius?”

“Yes. He started showing his prominence suddenly as his illness improved. I don't know if he was hiding his claws before that, but in any case, he's a genius.”

Seo Ji-won recalled the memory of the duel a few days ago.

The image of his youngest brother that day was still vivid.

Although it was a duel where he completely held back and matched his level, Seo Ji-han was unbelievably composed that day.

As if it were a battle between equals.

‘Should I tell him this?’

Then he shook his head.

Because it was an unbelievable thing even when he thought about it himself.

“A genius… The appearance of an unexpected dark horse.”

“Thanks to that, the competition for the succession has become more interesting. Don't you think so?”

“Competing with the youngest. It's an unbelievable thing.”

“…”

Then, a silence lingered for a while.

They just looked at each other and smiled a meaningless smile.

***

Today, I introduced Rosie to the Chamryongdan members.

Since I couldn't keep this creature hidden away in the family, I planned to have her join the Chamryongdan for now and manage her.

As expected, all the members showed a puzzled reaction.

“Why? Is there a law that says mercenaries can't join?”

“N-No, it's not that, but it's just so sudden, sir.”

“So you're saying I should have given you a notice so you wouldn't be flustered, Ho-joong?”

“No, sir! But she looks very young…”

Everyone's eyes showed agreement with Choi Ho-joong's words.

Well, Rosie had a face that looked sixteen at most.

That's why I told her to transform into a more mature form, but dragons are a race that will never bend once they become stubborn.

“Short people usually look young. And her face is naturally youthful. Rosie. You're twenty, right?”

“Yes. That's right. Ji-han Unit Leader.”

Still, since I had educated her, she was good at adding the 'Unit Leader' title.

“Unit Leader! The mercenary is speaking informally!”

“She's a foreigner. She's not good at Korean.”

“That's right. I'm still a bit clumsy with Korean.”

“But her pronunciation is so good?”

Strictly speaking, not only her pronunciation but also her vocabulary and grammar were superior to that of Ho-joong.

“So, Ho-joong, you should teach her some language etiquette.”

“Understood, Unit Leader.”

Of course, it was unlikely that she would be educated.

“Ji-han Unit Leader. Then is this fat sir going to be my teacher?”

Choi Ho-joong immediately flared up.

“What? Fat sir?”

“Yes. It's true that you're fat and you're a sir.”

“Both are wrong. You little brat. I have a good build, and I'm only twenty-three.”

“Lies. It's obviously a belly that comes with age.”

Saying that, Rosie pointed her finger at Choi Ho-joong's lower abdomen.

“Unit Leader! Is it true that this brat is clumsy with Korean?”

“Why are you getting so worked up? Are you acknowledging everything Rosie said?”

“Of course not!”

“Then just educate her well.”

“I will educate her very strictly, Unit Leader.”

Rosie's status for now was a trainee member.

She was not yet an official member because she had not obtained an official license issued in South Korea.

If I ever needed to take her to a dungeon or the Abyss, I could just escort her, so I could think about this part later. There was one thing I needed to check right now.

“Im Seong-jun.”

“Yes, Unit Leader.”

“Are the preparations for the Bimu going well?”

“I am receiving guidance from senior Shin Ah-yeon, but…”

“What's with that unconfident voice? You haven't been slacking off, have you?”

“No, sir! This is the first time in my life I've been pushed this hard!”

“That's not enough. Just being pushed hard doesn't automatically mean you'll win the Bimu, does it?”

“Th-That's true!”

“I'm telling you again, this Bimu. It's not a fight you can afford to lose.”

My pride wouldn't allow it, and that brat from the Cheolyeong Sword Family must taste bitterness.

Now that I've been to the Hatchling's Nest, I planned to teach him myself for the remaining time.