The Foreigner on the Periphery

When the bomb was detonated inside the skull, Changcheon's body, resembling a snake, shuddered. Jenkinson, who was drawn by gravity and about to fall as it was, grabbed it with magic.  

Changcheon was dead. Hanging from a floating body in the air, Minjun was breathing heavily.  

‘Successful!'  

Today, one did a great job. A moment filled with a sense of accomplishment.  

=Minjun?=  

Someone was calling him by an unfamiliar name. He felt no reason to answer. This was because it wasn’t his name.

=Minjun?=  

However, he let the voice in his head ring once more. " · · · · · · · · · ·!"  

The prisoner then succeeded in reawakening the consciousness that had been engulfed in his distant memories. “ · · · · · ·This!”  

With that, he wiped away the shadows covered in blood. The trembling darkness disappeared and his body was revealed. He felt like he was waking up from a drunken concussion.  

However, there were no blackouts. The thoughts that dominated his head and the sensations that filled his body while he was engulfed by old memories were still clear. That was until the thrilling moment pierced the dragon’s brain. Fragments of the past and the reason of the present meet and become disturbed.  

At this point, Minjun couldn’t help but feel confused. ‘What the hell was I doing before I got caught?'  

He knew that he was bizarrely keen on dragon ecology. Just looking at a single fallen scale was enough to meet the next molting time. He thought it would be strange to memorize even the anatomical diagram of a python-type dragon, which had a small number of individuals, but he only thought that there would be a plausible story.  

However, he couldn’t imagine that the reason was because dragons were slaughtered and eaten in the past. Minjun thought of a monster in the legend that even the oldest elder dragon in the whole dimension was treated as a ghost story.

The background knowledge he took for granted while intoxicated with the memory of ‘Sikryongjok' was quite bizarre.  

‘A market that sells the skin and flesh of an ancient dragon at a price? Since the beginning of the historical era, things like that…’  

With that, Minjun's expression hardened. Yes, it hadn't been since the beginning of the historical era. Then what about ancient times that were not left in literature?  

=Minjun!=  

At the third call, Minjun finally raised his head. He was looking at Jenkinson with trembling eyes.  

= · · · · · · · ·==  

The Red Dragon created various words in his head and then erased them again. This wasn’t the first time he had fought alongside him. However, this was the first time he had ever seen a dragon ‘catch’ in this way.  

‘This is not an execution, it’s like…’  

The words that came to mind after that were hard to shake out of his mind. It was also acceptable for him to become uncomfortable with each other, so he couldn’t help it.

‘It’s the first time I’ve seen this friend make such an expression.’  

Also, Minjun’s face, which was revealed after the shadow disappeared, looked very ecstatic and happy. Just like a person who finally found his vocation. He was a vitality that was hard to find in the face of a prisoner who did not want to die and worked reluctantly.  

=Are you okay?=  

As they continued to talk, the gun returned to Minjun’s blurry eyes. Even his dreamy expression disappeared. The face that seemed the most lively and happiest in the hundreds of years of his relationship with him returned to his usual gloomy.  

=It’s the first time I’ve seen you make that face.=  

“Um?”  

Minjun asked. "What do you mean?"  

= · · · · · · ·No.=  

As the dragon avoided the answer, the prisoner returned to the usual hard work. Pointing to the window with his chin. "Let's make the final blow the one you blow."

Jenkinson agreed with him by reaching out and smashing Changcheon's head completely. Kwajik!  

It was not necessary for other dragons to know the details of how this dragon died. This was also for Minjun. Because there was nothing good about spreading the honor of being a Dragon Slayer.

Minjun should be known only to the extent that he was capable of assisting Goryeong. When a prisoner began to receive checks from other Goryeongs, it was inconvenient to work in this world, so Minjun also wanted to be buried.  

"Oh, and…"  

Jenkinson’s leverage with Minjun was now serious. Literally overindebted. To make matters worse, the debt increased even more because of this incident. So, Minjun was able to make a claim confidently.  

It was about Changcheon's property. He died without an heir, so it would be distributed in some way, but of course, it was something else that Minjun was most concerned about right now.  

"Changcheon’s stolen million talents. Can we keep the whereabouts obscure? Officially."  

Jenkinson then asked curiously. = After all, the ghost absorbed it, so it’s not like you can’t find it?=

=?!=

How to separate the talents from the soul again. Until this morning, even Minjun didn’t know. Until he observed a test run of a certain compound magic circle. His request was simple. He could tear off the talent combined with Ha Eun-seong, so he said he would gulp it down without reporting it to the committee.  

It was a risky move, but the old dragon had no choice but to comply. This was because it was the request of the great creditor. "I'm not going to talk about the rest here, but for now, it's rare in Changcheon…"  

It was time for them to move.  

= No… No! =  

A maddening mental wave then flowed from Changcheon's body. Minjun frowned. "I thought it might be like this, but…"  

=?=  

Jenkinson, who had no spiritual sensitivity, had not yet seen or heard.  

Whoa! His head was broken and his spirit body began to separate from his body hanging like a rope.

She died and was not able to attain enlightenment cleanly. Looking back, Changcheon also suffered a pretty terrible death. In addition to this, the more painfully and cruelly one were to die, the more likely one was to become a ghost.  

= Ryuho! Ryuho!=  

Like Ha Eun-seong, an imperfect soul who could not fully maintain her ego and only ran out of thoughts. "No, is it better than that?"  

Just like when investigating the ghost of the Red Star gang, it might be possible to dig a link to the carbite through that ghost. Minjun, who had hardened her thoughts like that, tried to control her with her demonic alcohol, but it was not easy. Even if the dragon became a ghost, it had superior power over humans.  

The ghost continued to scream at one name and struggled. When he heard that Changcheon was looking for Ryuho even after he died, Jenkinson muttered bitterly.  

“I understand the intention, but she took the wrong way in the first place."  

Well, if he had been in the same position, what would he have chosen? Maybe · · ·  

=Ryuho!=  

"Damn, I can't do this in this state. Exorcism or whatever, I’ll have to lock it up somewhere.”  

However, in the meantime, the ghost had completely escaped from the body, and it had only begun to move for one purpose.  

=To Ryuho… Ryuho!=  

The ghost, freed from bondage, flew toward the ground. Her altitude was so high that there were no ghosts around her to send to catch her. It was only natural for her to come all the way up here and die.  

‘No, no matter how much you summon, you won't be able to beat a single spear. It’s best to set up an exorcism.’  

Jenkinson’s eyes widened as he told the situation.  

= That’s right! I can catch him and interrogate him.=  

The massless ghost of Changcheon flew away faster than an airplane, but there was no need to worry about its destination. "Let's teleport like this and go to Changcheon Rare."  

***  

Ha Eun-seong had to admit that her own thoughts were too shallow this time. The elf tried to dismantle the exorcism at the threat of his wearing a dragon’s skin but soon found out that the chief researcher had a protection he didn’t know he had. It was written by Changcheon himself.  

"I can't solve this…"  

Then the ghost moved the dragon’s body and boom! Thud!  

It then pounded to break the wall. If it couldn’t be done with the head, it was meant to be crushed with the body. Thud! Kwang… Kwadang!  

With that, he stumbled and fell again. Ha Eun-seong then rolled on the floor and got up while grumbling.  

= Miss, what!=  

"Huh? uh?!”  

The researcher from behind exclaimed as if perplexed. "The barrier!"

  =?! =  

Only then did Ha Eun-seong find out why he fell. The barrier that imprisoned Ryuho’s ghost suddenly disappeared.  

=Now why?=  

The researcher trembled. "This is probably because the caster who struck the barrier is dead!"

= What?!=  

He couldn’t believe it. Changcheon was dead? No matter how great the agent was, to be honest, Ha Eun-seong didn’t see a high chance of him winning. And so, he tried to get rid of Ryuho himself with his own hands.  

This was because he thought Changcheon would come back alive. Ha Eun-seong felt frustrated.  

= What? Did he do it in vain? =  

He didn’t have to take the dragon’s body and make a fussing skit. Hurr!  

= Changcheon! Changcheon! Please forgive · · ·. Please!=  

The specter began to writhe frantically through the pierced exorcism. At this rate, he didn't know that it might fly away and disappear.  

‘If that’s true, then why would I have to annihilate that ghost…’

He began to ponder. ‘No, but shouldn’t we check it? Are you really dead?'  

There was no time to keep thinking like that.

Not for proof of death, of course, but because the person mentioned in their conversation was directly present.  

=Ryuho!=  

Another ghost appeared through the rare wall where the exorcism had disappeared. Whatever the intention, it turned out to be the surest way to prove it.  

=?!=  

Ha Eun-seong felt her heart sink for the second time today. In the early morning, the body of a human woman, and now the body of a reptile, which was 3 meters tall, was an unpleasant sensation.  

"Changcheon?!"  

A grotesque scream escaped the elf researcher’s mouth. It was only then that Ha Eun-seong was convinced. ‘You’re really dead!’  

He couldn’t believe his eyes. ‘What the hell is that agent doing?'  

A human really beat the old dragon! After this, Ha Eun-seong thought that he should stop what he was doing. Instead of entering the barrier, he observed the ghost of Changcheon.

The appearance of the ghost that had just died was terrifying. It was conceivable for a spirit body that reproduced the state just before death.  

Flesh, burst, cut, grind, ride… It was a sight that clearly showed the malice towards Changcheon.  

In addition to this, it was unclear whether it was the apex of the dragon or the opposite, but the place where the dragon’s eyes should have been was empty. With her brain flowing like tears on her cheeks, the spirit body faced Ryuho with a spiritual sense rather than a sight.  

= Ryuho! Ryuho!=  

At a much younger age, the ghost who died a little earlier answered the call.  

=Changcheon!=  

Contrary to expectations, Ryuho did not run away. As if he knew that no matter where he disappeared, the fire that covered his body would not disappear. And Changcheon acted according to the will left in his soul without even understanding the meaning of his actions. Changchun  

Changcheon then enveloped Ryuho, who burned like a snake, with his spirit body. And he repeated his name over and over as if he would not fall any further. = Ryuho, Ryuho! =  

Ha Eun-seong’s expression distorted when he saw the scene. ‘That must be extremely hot!'  

Without the talents in contact with each other, they could not hurt or destroy each other, but even spirit bodies could feel mental pain.

=Ryuho!=  

Contrary to what many people have guessed, it was not Changcheon's will to accompany Ryuho there when the disaster in Sichuan occurred. Although Ryuho married the powerful Goryong, she was often the target of ridicule because of the difference between her husband and wife. The sarcasm of Ryuho’s greatest achievement in his lifetime, which was to seduce an old dragon with his flat face, flabby body, and youth as a weapon, tormented him.  

As the marriage continued, such a heart was combined with Eun-seong's unique sense of age, and he became impatient. The request to follow the old dragons’ war was due to their wish to become a strong dragon as soon as possible. Changcheon stopped him, but Ryuho persisted and eventually headed to the dangerous battlefield together. He felt he could not miss this opportunity.  

The minister, where dozens of old dragons gather to fight, would not be seen again in the next few hundred years. Just observing such a fight was a great study. It was very meaningful to see how they aimed at each other’s weaknesses, what magic they used, and how their magic was utilized.  

Changcheon was dissatisfied with his husband’s idea, but he thought that if he had the power, he could protect at least one of them. He would be watching from a distance from the front line anyway. And as a result, the dragons who gathered to punish the Old Dragons of Ryuho Island, Changcheon Island, and Sacheon all made a mistake.  

The fight was not fought in the common sense that it was okay to bring a young dragon. Old Dragon, who had made Sichuan as a territory, dug a trap with a plan to annihilate all other ancient dragons for the liberation of the Chinese people. The moment the nuclear warhead storage was on fire and it was fused with magic to cover the earth, the caster as well as some of the older dragons lost their lives. Those who survived could only save their own lives.

Unlike the foreign dragons who could not see the scene, it was not a situation where Changcheon could save her husband just because he used her hand. Ryuho, of course, did not survive.  

= Changcheon! It’s my fault! I · · · Hot… Too hot. Please, save me! =  

Goryeong accepted his dead husband’s excruciating heat from his body and bore his pain. That doesn’t mean that Ryuho’s suffering had lessened, but the dragon turned around and wrapped around his soul and protected it as if it were a piece of armor.  

Ha Eun-seong muttered without realizing it. = How could a woman who pampers her husband’s soul like that… =

How could she have thought of grinding other people’s souls relentlessly? "You were here too," she said.  

= Huh?! =  

He turned his head in embarrassment. There were Minjun and Red Dragon. While the dragon was looking at the ghost of his married couple with complicated eyes, Minjun approached. "What, why did you go into that body?"  

=Ah… that’s it.=

Ha Eun-seong hesitated and spoke around her plan. Thinking that Minjun must have died, the liver wasn’t big enough to reveal the fact that he had moved ahead of time. Minjun looked at him for a moment and said, "Ryuho, didn't you mean to annihilate that little dragon soul?"  

= · · · · · · · ·=  

Ha Eun-seong did not know that it was also a violation of the Dragonic Code. And above all…  

‘It would have cost a lot of talent to annihilate even the dragon’s soul. I’m glad you came quickly.’  

Minjun was thinking from a more selfish point of view.  

=Oh, I… Then I will come out of this body.=  

At that time, Ha Eun-seong didn’t notice that the chae was passing by Minjun’s eyes. "Wait, wait. If you leave now, the dragon will die."  

There was no lie in this statement.

=Yes?!=  

"You know I’m a warlock, right? Now the vitality of that body is clearly visible."  

=Yes….=  

"It seems that Changcheon kidnapped the dragon and then added a lot of salt in advance."  

=What is that?=  

"He took his breath away before cooking it properly. I made the link between spirit and body as weak as possible to make it easier for Ryuho to take it away. It won’t die if it’s inside the life support system, but it’s to the point where the master’s soul can’t control the body. Is that soul awake now?"  

Ha Eun-seong then spoke while contemplating inside. = No, there is no response. =  

It was different from the previous case where he possessed. There was a sense that there were two souls in one body, but this time, the master’s soul did not express anything. "The dragon, in fact, isn't even from Earth. He’s a dragon kidnapped from outer space. He managed to rescue him, but if he dies, the moral gentleman over there will be very angry, right?"  

There were no lies in this statement. "So, don't come out for a second and stay in that body for a while. Until that dragon soul fully recovers."  

Ha Eun-seong asked with a smirk. =Uh, how long?=  

Minjun then looked at Ha Eun-seong's broken glass tube and the surrounding magic circle. He was planning to use this facility for the purpose of separating talents with minor modifications. However, while the ghost was moving with the dragon’s body, it staggered and hit it, wagging its tail indiscriminately and hitting it, so there was almost nothing to use.  

He then spoke to Ha Eun-seong. "Wait a month."  

He said enough time to rebuild the magic circle. = Then, in the meantime, I…=  

Minjun then spoke with a calm expression. "Don't worry about that. You are my protection for a while. It will boast much more thorough security than the safe house the Red Dragon has prepared, so you don’t have to worry about the same thing happening again today.”  

Ha Eun-seong hesitated, and finally had no choice but to nod his head. There was a way to ignore everything like this and get out of the spirit body and run away, but he was afraid of what would happen if he did. The opponent… was an agent who even killed the old dragon. Of course, it was possible to reasonably guess that the Red Dragon, who came with him, had a great performance, but the fact that Minjun had been leading all of this did not change.  

Looking at Ha Eun-seong, who was so convinced and promised, Minjun sighed in relief. ‘I’d better keep the talents until they are safely recovered. If possible… in a state of being in the frame of ‘material’ to make it easier to control. After extracting the currency, Ha Eun-seong and that dragon are separated and can go their own way.'  

Telepathy had already been negotiated with Jenkinson. It was reasonable to delay the return of the kidnapped dragon until after it had fully recovered. Although the intention was to help a poor family, the thief who stole a million talents would be under Minjun’s protection for a while.  

In addition to this, in this situation where the owner of the stolen item was dead, Minjun intended to intercept it. He also had plausible excuses, to put it bluntly. In the end, he couldn’t recover his commissioned rain while Changcheon was alive.  

One should get the money one deserves. Minjun could roughly guess how many talents were left in Ha Eun-seong’s soul. It must have been used a few times, but the original principal was a million talents.  

No matter how much one was to peel, more than 950,000 talents would remain. It was a sufficient amount for the unrecoverable request fee.