Second Life of a Dragon Raising Hunter

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Chapter 55

Baek In-hwa waved her hand, saying it didn’t matter much to her whether she delivered an apology to Namgung Seong or not.

As Yeon-woo stepped out of the classroom, her gaze fell upon a girl with black hair who was wandering about like a lifeless corpse, every ounce of energy seemingly drained from her.

Baek In-hwa… perhaps she would prefer to communicate via phone at night rather than chase after someone right now.

The drooping black-haired girl referred to was Kim Yoo-min. She looked so lifeless, resembling a mere shadow of the always healthy and energetic Kim Yoo-min everyone knew.

As Yeon-woo watched her from a short distance, a sudden recollection of Kim Hyun-soo’s request came to mind. Now that she thought about it, ever since some point, there hadn’t been much conversation in the Body Training Room either. It might just be the right moment to fulfill the promise. Lunchtime was probably happening for Kim Yoo-min too.

Lost in her thoughts, Shar, who had been sticking close to her, frowned and whispered.

“Dad, why do you only meet with girls?”

“What kind of accusation is that…? Or wait, maybe it’s true?”

It turned out that the person she had been encountering the most recently was Dang Sa-ryeon, and she had promptly needed to speak with Baek In-hwa upon arriving. Now, she was about to speak to Kim Yoo-min too.

If she were to declare her love for Nea, wouldn’t she need to designate her surroundings as a no-girls-allowed zone right now?

“…No, it’s the opposite. I don’t have any issues.”

After a moment of pondering with her chin in thought, Yeon-woo quickly reached that conclusion.

Half the people on Earth are women. Unfortunately, while Baek In-hwa was destined to die soon, Kim Yoo-min was merely a request from a professor, so someday, she would have to rush to rescue some men too.

“I just have to approach without any second thoughts, right? Shar, that’s enough of messing with Dad’s friendships.”

“Tch, did you catch on…?”

Exactly. In the end, if she didn’t feel guilty, there wouldn’t be any issues. She was neither cheating nor planning to take in a harem like some noble families. Despite the difference in genders, Yeon-woo believed that friendship could definitely be established.

In her argument with Shar, having emerged victorious, Yeon-woo headed towards Kim Yoo-min. At the sound of her footsteps, Kim Yoo-min turned around.

“Hey, Kim Yoo-min. Are you going for lunch?”

“Uh… Huh!? Choi Yeon-woo!?”

Surprised and trembling at the sight of Yeon-woo, Kim Yoo-min was completely baffled in Yeon-woo’s eyes. It wasn’t like she had risen from the dead; they hadn’t seen each other for about a week, why was she so stunned?

“Hey, hey, why are you so surprised? It’s only been a week, let’s have lunch and chat.”

“Uh… while having lunch? Is that really necessary…?”

“Hmm? Do you have plans? If so, I guess I can’t force it.”

“Plans… I don’t… no, I do! Yes, yes! I can’t help it! Ah, and the little one hiding behind you…”

As she clutched Yeon-woo’s jacket, Kim Yoo-min seemed reluctant to finish her question, aware it sounded strange to refer to Shar as ‘daughter’.

In the meantime, Shar and Yeon-woo engaged in a mental conversation. It felt slightly wrong to be sneaking a back-channel discussion.

‘You definitely said there weren’t any, right? Just making excuses?’

[Yes, I heard it clearly!]

“Yeah, this is Shar. Shar, this is Kim Yoo-min. You know her, right?”

“Uh-huh. Hello, Kim Yoo-min unnie!”

Kim Yoo-min, who already had a fondness for children, found Shar adorable, particularly with her bashful bow and shy demeanor as she hid behind Yeon-woo.

No matter how you looked at it, she wasn’t the age to be carrying around a fifteen-year-old child, yet for a moment, the thought “What difference does it make?” crossed her mind. As long as she was cute, that was all that mattered!

“Oh, Shar greets well too. So cute! How can you be so pretty? But you don’t look anything like your dad?”

“Ergh, painful.”

“Hehe, I’ll have to bring some snacks next time! Anytime is fine. Yes, I should.”

“So, do you want to come to the Body Training Room tomorrow morning? Shar has been working out a bit too. Could you join in? I’m not very good at martial arts.”

At that, the smile on Kim Yoo-min’s face faltered a bit. Then, she pulled at Yeon-woo’s collar, shouting. Yeon-woo raised her hands above her head like she was about to surrender.

“Wait, are you teaching a child how to fight first!?”

“I didn’t want to, but Shar was really eager to learn. Well, self-defense is necessary, so it’s a two-in-one. I don’t want her to be too intense, so please think of it as just playing with her.”

“Ugh, I know, but….”

Thankfully, it seemed Shar remembered that she was a dragon, as her grip on Yeon-woo’s collar relaxed slightly.

“So you’ll come, right? Looking forward to snacks? It’s only been a week, let’s catch up!”

“Uh, no….”

Kim Yoo-min, about to say she couldn’t, suddenly started moving her lips without sound. Her eyes were fixed on Shar, who, due to Kim Yoo-min’s sudden shout, looked up at her with slightly teary eyes.

[Wah, n-no, I’m not crying!]

‘Haha, your body responded before you could think again?’

Perhaps it was because she had just hatched, but Shar sometimes acted on instinct over reason. In such cases, it usually worked wonders on the other party.

“Ah, fine. But tomorrow is really a no-go. I’ll let you know beforehand if I can go later. Sorry for yelling, Shar….”

“Nothing I can do about it. Got it. If you don’t reach out within the week, I’ll barge in!”

The once-healthy Kim Yoo-min seemed a world away as she turned and walked away with a voice as tiny as an ant. It seemed they managed to secure a promise via somewhat strong-arming.

“Nice play!”

“Hrmm!”

Yeon-woo brought a handkerchief to Shar’s adorable little nose, which Shar used to blow her nose vigorously.

“Ew….”

Upon returning to her dorm room in one go, Baek In-hwa slid down against the door as soon as she closed it.

Her body trembled. Her hands shook as if she had a seizure, and her vision seemed to blur. What reason was there to be this flustered when merely a dozen people glanced at her for a moment?

Of course, Baek In-hwa hadn’t always felt this way. When she was a child, she could handle hundreds of stares without issue, but at some point, she began to feel extreme aversion to focusing gazes on her.

It was definitely from that time.

Eight years ago, the day she lost her only brother due to her own blunder.

Seven years ago, even after she tore apart the monster that devoured her brother.

The guilt and responsibility that had burrowed deep into her heart refused to leave, and Baek In-hwa could only sob while holding her aching head in place.

“Oppa….”

*

After finishing lunch and the last lecture in the afternoon, Yeon-woo headed straight to the Department Head’s Office. Since it was a place a mere student frequently visiting would hardly be welcomed, Yeon-woo always took a deep breath outside the door.

Today, Yeon-woo’s plan was to get help from Yuri with Dongja Sam. Although Yuri hadn’t explicitly said she would help, it was more of a mindset to think she would. Honestly, it would be quite shameless if she didn’t help a student she took in, especially when there was no sword talent at all.

Inhaling deeply, she exhaled. As she took a step forward to knock on the door, faint sounds of conversation drifted in through the slightly ajar door. The voice belonged to Yuri and a woman Yeon-woo hadn’t heard before.

– Why would you come here for something so trivial?

– Whatever the case, permission is necessary, right? The student council must always maintain transparency.

– Alright, I’ll grant permission. But be sure to carry it out thoroughly.

– Of course. And… I hear they’re coming this way.

– What? Why is that crazy old coot coming here? Don’t those from the Western sect covet the seat of the old?

With Yuri’s grumbled voice, a thud came as something hit the desk.

Who is it? Who’s been in the student council at this time?

As Yeon-woo pondered for a moment, the sound of clicking heels approached from the other side of the door.

She quickly stepped back a few paces. Certainly, appearing awkward before the student council executives would not bode well for her. In any case, the only one who would be visiting the Department Head’s Office with a blonde girl would be Choi Yeon-woo, and wasn’t she rising to star status within the academy?

“Oh my, we have a visitor.”

“Hmm? Ah, Yeon-woo, is that you? Come in.”

“Ah, yes. Excuse me.”

As the door opened, their faces naturally met. The woman before her had orange hair with strands of different colors woven in like highlights. She was slightly shorter than Yeon-woo and had an overall neat and tidy appearance.

With eyelids lowered like blackout curtains, her gaze drifted as if there were fine long eyelashes draping over her.

It felt like her looks bore a resemblance to Shar and Nea, though not in a literal sense. Compared to Kim Yoo-min, who was adorned like a splendid patterned snake, or a black stallion rushing through meadows, she had an air of beauty that didn’t seem born from nature—one that hinted at an otherworldly charm.

Of course, she wasn’t implying that there were suspicions of plastic surgery. No, it wasn’t a problem if one did a bit of surgery. Saying “Wow, did they get plastic surgery?” upon first seeing someone wasn’t quite right now, was it? In any case, there was something eerily familiar, a strange sense of déjà vu with her appearance.

Putting aside her thoughts, the woman smiled brightly and spoke.

“Oh my, so this is the famous Yeon-woo? I didn’t expect to meet you here. Nice to meet you!”

“Ah, hello. May I ask your name…?”

“I’m Ain, from the third year. Surprisingly, I’m the student council president. Let’s be friendly if we bump into each other in the streets, okay? And so, you’re Shar? Hello! You’re really pretty! If you’re ever bored, come by the student council room. I’ll play with you!”

After bombarding Yeon-woo and Shar with such whirlwind greetings, she seemed quite busy, clutching a stack of documents tightly as she smiled, waving her remaining hand and leaving, leaving Yeon-woo slightly stunned.

‘…Wow, her sociability and energy are incredible, even after all this time.’

[Is she a famous person?]

‘Yep, she easily outshines anyone. I’ll tell you more about that later….’

“Oh, by the way, I enjoyed watching the duel! Keep it up!”

As she eventually reached the end of the hallway, it seemed like she had just remembered something, cupping her hands to her mouth and shouting in Yeon-woo’s direction.

‘…There are going to be a lot of people here in the teacher’s building.’

Yeon-woo thought that, but soon changed her mind. She was the type to not care about such things anyway.

“Wow, still as bright as ever.”

“Indeed.”

“Since we’ve never met, why are you agreeing so readily?”

“I’ve picked up bits and pieces. Though it’s my first time seeing you in person.”

That was a lie. In the past month, she hadn’t heard a single story regarding the student council president. But if it was the real deal, she recognized it from long ago—before her regression.

“Hurry up and close the door and come in. Oh my, Shar! Are you tired from being with Yeon-woo?”

“Nope, it’s super fun!”

“I see, I see.”

While Yeon-woo closed the door, Shar dashed straight to Yuri. Enchanted by Shar’s bright smile, Yuri was pouring chocolates into her palm.

(To be continued in the next episode)