Second Life of a Dragon Raising Hunter

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Chapter 30

It was a story I had heard many times before. Why do you fight so much? Is your life not valuable? Why do you push forward when you could leave it to someone else?

I remember being taken aback by my usually dependable friend suddenly asking that with a trembling voice, looking seriously concerned.

At that time, my physical condition was pretty dire. It practically marked the beginning of my retirement, so I can guess what he was thinking. What was his name again?

Lost in thought for a moment, I snapped back to reality at the sound of Baek In-hwa tapping her fingers on the table. It was nice to reminisce about past connections, but I had to face reality first.

“Why do you fight so much?”

“Right. I thought it was acceptable during the Doppleganger incident, but why… why did you fight that guy? You’ll die if you keep fighting like that, you know.”

“Ah, I can vaguely guess how it went down. Did you gamble with your life again?”

“Heh, gambling with my life sounds bad when you say it like that.”

And Baek In-hwa shot a glare at Namgung Seong, who was chuckling. The laughter faded. Now that I was done calculating how not to die, I could approach things calmly…

But the truth is, I was a reincarnator, and in my previous life, I spent nearly a decade as a half-hearted hunter unsuitable for anything. I couldn’t deny that shaped my way of thinking.

As I rubbed my temples in silence, Baek In-hwa quietly said, “If you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to. But I think it’s best to change that way of yours.”

[Baek In-hwa is right, Dad. I’ll support you most of the time, but I can’t accept this. Even if you manage to save Mom, will she be happy if you’re a complete wreck?]

At Shar’s serious words, I couldn’t help but sigh. Regardless of what Baek In-hwa, who didn’t know the circumstances, said, with Shar echoing those sentiments, I found myself at a loss for words.

My motivation to try again was Shar and Nea. The poor dragon trapped in a cave for thousands of years, unable to spread its wings. Never having seen its biological parents, it called a human “Dad.”

Maybe because I’m a child, I’m overly invested in those two. Yet, I remember the maternal love that Alkeinea showed.

I joked about it, but I knew how desperate Shar was to pull her mother from that prison, even if it meant sacrificing half her lifespan.

“Hmm…”

Hence, I couldn’t help but worry. I wanted to listen to everything Shar said. That was how I viewed the role of a parent and the only thing I could return to Shar and Alkeinea.

Of course, responding that I wouldn’t do so in the future would be easy. But the question of whether that was truly such an easy answer lingered in my mind. After all, isn’t trust the most important thing in relationships?

Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth.

“…Alright, I’ll try. It might be impossible for now, but if I give it my best, it should work someday. Will that do?”

“Yes, that’s enough.”

“Well, it’s one thing to say that among humans, but it feels a bit unsettling to do that to monsters. They seem like they’re not in their right minds.”

To be honest, it wasn’t a story that needed dragging out.

Fifteen years old. It might seem young, but in the world of hunters, they’re already starting to solidify their fighting styles.

Darius’ web attack and Baek In-hwa’s ice techniques are good examples. I’d assume half the class below the top ten had their methods, but definitely the top tier.

At that age, anyone would have the right to comment on another’s fighting style. Denying someone’s life is essentially the same thing. If you say a big sword suits me better than a rapier, you shouldn’t complain if I hit you.

I’m sure Baek In-hwa, who brought it up, pondered quite a bit internally. Was it okay for him to say something like that? Especially since he was achieving results with that style?

Still, him summoning the courage to speak meant he saw my way as abnormal. So thinking that, even if I couldn’t discard it now, I should at least slowly work on changing it crossed my mind.

If a mere friend like Baek In-hwa reacted like that, I couldn’t help but wonder how much more worried those closer to me would feel seeing me fight.

But it was also a little frustrating. My somewhat reckless fighting style likely stemmed from my previous twenty years. No one here, other than myself and Shar, knew about those times.

‘What do you think you know about me?’

They couldn’t possibly know since I never told them.

I thought that and leaned back. There was so much to train on, so many sword skills to learn, and my schedule was packed.

While peering out at the azure foliage through the café’s front window, a familiar sight caught my eye—a sparkling golden head of hair.

“…Huh?”

Wait, why would that person be here?

But as I watched the blonde move through the dormitory lobby, I was certain. The blueish-grey nun’s habit, with shining golden hair peeking out between the veil and her face, and those pointed ears that seemed ready to poke through the veil.

“S-Sister Claire?”

I accidentally slammed my hand on the table and stood up. The remnants of my Americano spilled everywhere, but that didn’t matter.

What was Sister Claire doing so far from the orphanage? A flurry of questions swirled in my mind.

“What’s going on? You’re all wet now!”

Baek In-hwa turned his head to follow my gaze, and Namgung Seong smoothly took out tissue paper to wipe down the table. His nonchalant demeanor wasn’t very lordly.

Did my sudden outburst attract attention? Naturally, Claire’s gaze darted this way too.

Her verdant eyes widened in surprise, and she beamed as she waved her hand, sprinting towards me.

“There you are, Yeon-woo!”

“S-Sister! Don’t run! What if you fall?”

Rushing forward, her long legs appeared stunning through the side slit of her habit.

Eek!! I was overwhelmed with the urge to scream. That slit was a modification made personally by the nun, saying that it was uncomfortable for her to move without it, and it was definitely not the official garb of the Crescent Moon Order!

The Crescent Moon Order was a religion that came from the continent of Arkeon, worshiping the moon goddess Lunaria, primarily followed by elves. Since Sister Claire belonged to this order, our orphanage’s children were nominally part of it too, including me.

Anyway, Sister Claire dashed over with open arms. My nose began to tingle.

I never thought she’d be so excited to see me…!! I took a step forward, opening my arms as well. What a touching reunion…!! It’s only been three weeks, but still…!

Yet what came into my view was a fist. It might have looked the same even ten years later, but those slender, delicate fingers were still so white and pretty, Sister…

Smack!! A jarring impact crushed my nose! I fell backwards with a thud.

“You little brat! You got accepted and didn’t even call!!”

“W-Wait, hear me out!”

“I’ll listen, alright.”

“Uh… I actually don’t have much to say. I lost track of time while having fun.”

Thinking back, it was indeed just forgetting. How could this happen? I often forgot to check in during my previous life too, but is this the effect manifesting here? What a pathetic memory.

Sister Claire seized my jacket as if grabbing my collar, revealing blood-soaked bandages peeking out from under my shirt.

“Gah!? What are these wounds, Yeon-woo! You’re covered in blood!!”

“Ah.”

“Wait, calm down!”

As Claire screamed in a panic, even Namgung Seong seemed flustered, trying to catch her from behind. He hesitated about where to put his hands but managed to grab her shoulders.

“Who’s this student…?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’m Namgung Seong. I’m friends with Yeon-woo.”

Wait. What’s with that normal conversation? Is that dumb-haired brat really not a fake?!

“Oh, you’re Yeon-woo’s friend. Is that pretty student from your side also a friend? She’s lacking in many ways, but please take good care of Yeon-woo.”

“Likewise, we’re very much indebted to her.”

Baek In-hwa said that. It sounded like a plain statement for agreeing, but these two indeed owed me a fair bit.

In the morning, the weak Baek In-hwa was getting help with writing subjects, while Namgung Seong seemed to struggle with history and received a little assistance from me.

But regardless, the debt I owed them both was immense, and I certainly didn’t feel much obligation to repay it.

As I stood there, dazed, Claire turned her head towards me.

Oh, she looked angry now.

…? Why is she suddenly angry?

“Didn’t I clearly tell you to call me when you made friends?”

“Ah.”

Seriously, did land mines grow, or what?

*

Anyway, once the conversation wrapped up, I sent them off and went upstairs with Claire to wash out my Americano-soaked uniform. Claire got a permit from the desk and followed me to my room.

“Wow, your room’s nice. How’s it feel to stay here after living in the narrow orphanage room? Are you starting to lose thoughts of going back?”

“That’s a loaded comment, Sister. But I prefer the orphanage room more.”

Sure, the dorm room was spacious, warm, and had everything. But personally, the narrow orphanage room felt dear to me.

On stormy days, the kids who were scared of thunder would huddle together to sleep. On cold days, we all cuddled in the parlor, and those warm memories still linger in my mind.

“So you should have behaved better usually. Why does Yeon-woo ignore my words all the time? Do you know how sad that makes me each time?”

“Please just call it forgetting, not ignoring. By the way, how are the kids? What brings you all the way here? Is grape juice okay for drinks?”

I should’ve thought to buy some tea or something. The lucky part was, Claire liked grape juice. She poured two glasses, saying, “Patients should stay still.”

“Yes, the kids are doing well. I left the orphanage in the care of a colleague. They said it would be fine for a day.”

“So you’ll be staying here tonight then?”

“Guess so? What? Are you embarrassed to sleep together after a long time?”

Claire said that with a bright smile, making a joke. I couldn’t help but smile back.

Thank goodness. It seemed my acceptance to the academy hadn’t drastically changed the situation at the orphanage. Probably thanks to Claire’s savings, but I could pay it back soon.

“…So what’s going on, Yeon-woo? About that mana.”

“…Ah, so you came because of that?”

Claire’s usual cheerful demeanor shifted to seriousness. It was quite understandable; the academy was not a place for unsuitable candidates like me, yet here I was, claiming acceptance.

Claire knew I was unsuitable but didn’t speak of it out of respect for my will. I had heard such things in my past life.

For now, I should probably clarify matters regarding the dragon contract, just like I did with Seong and Darius. With that thought in mind, I turned to Shar.

‘Can you show yourself, Shar?’

[Isn’t that lady like my grandmother? Sounds good.]

‘But don’t call her grandmother, got it?’

And slowly, Shar’s form began to manifest above my head.

To be precise, until now she had been inside me, externalizing herself only when needed, but at least in my view, that’s how it appeared.

“Hello, Sister! I’m Arki-Share! Please call me Shar!”

“…Oh my?”

“I somehow ended up forming a contract with a dragon. Thanks to that.”

I expected Claire to be shocked and glanced at her, but her reaction was surprisingly mild. After taking a sip of grape juice, she spoke.

“I thought you had contracted with something like a demon. But a dragon is reassuring. They’ve got a pleasant disposition. I’m relieved.”

“…You’re not surprised at all?”

“I’ve met a dragon. I didn’t fight it or contract, but we had a somewhat friendly relationship.”

“…What?”

Without answering my curious question, Claire hugged Shar tightly and said so.

*

“…Hmm?”

The boy, Yuri, raised his head from the paperwork to glance out the window. A familiar feeling arose. Who was it again?

“…Huh, what brings you here?”

Though he didn’t know what it was, he figured it’d be good to check. After all, it was someone he had crossed swords with in the past. Though with that temperament, they wouldn’t do anything reckless, but he believed only he here would know who she was and what she was.

“Claire Wigdrie.”

The great successor who had concealed everything and left after not being able to find someone to inherit her lineage, even with the lifespan of the newly born.

(To be continued in the next part)