024. Who Are You?
“Please continue taking good care of the sea.”
The next moment, I returned to reality.
Peep-pee-woo! Peet-peep!
“Lord Suho! You have returned! Peep!”
Daldal and Orlan, who had apparently been waiting at the shrine the whole time, happily welcomed me.
I vigorously stroked both of them.
“Was your visit to the Dragon Palace enjoyable? Peep?”
Orlan asked.
“Yeah. It was incredibly fun. It almost felt like visiting the Maldives. I wish you two could’ve come. Did you wait long?”
Peep-peep! Peet! Peeeeep!
[Translation: No! Flow of time inside Dragon Palace domain differs from reality!]
“Not even a moment passed here. Peep!”
“Really? Good. Then shall we go back?”
We quickly cleaned up the shrine and boarded the boat to return to the fish farm.
But just before leaving...
“Hm? Lord Suho.”
Peet-peep-peep.
[Translation: Something floating this way.]
“Hm?”
I stood awkwardly on the boat and looked toward something drifting toward us while tangled in seaweed.
“Isn’t that just marine trash?”
I wanted to keep Sol Island clean after all our work.
So I jumped off the boat and approached the clump of seaweed.
Inside...
I found a furry creature sleeping deeply.
......
Huh?
Who are you?
“What? What is this? What is it?”
I rubbed my eyes several times and studied the small creature.
It looked somewhat similar to Daldal.
But also very different.
Like a distant relative of an otter.
A distant otter relative...
“A sea otter?”
Congratulations!
Yang Suho acquired a sea otter!
“Wait, what? What is happening?”
Sea otter.
I had heard of them.
I had seen them too.
Of course, never in real life.
Sea otters did not live in Korean waters.
As far as I knew, they lived around the freezing waters of Alaska or the cold seas between Japan and Russia.
So why had one become tangled in seaweed and drifted all the way here?
I quickly pulled the sea otter from the seaweed and naturally held it in my arms.
Uuuung...
The mysterious sea otter continued sleeping deeply as if my arms were its own home.
“A sea otter I’ve only ever seen in documentaries suddenly appeared in front of me...”
Peeeeep. Peeeeep.
[Translation: What is going on.]
“Truly strange. Peep.”
Together, we carefully examined the sleeping sea otter.
First, its size was similar to Daldal, perhaps slightly larger.
Its body was long like Daldal’s but somewhat rounder.
Its face was different too.
Daldal looked sharp and confident.
This one looked rounder, fluffier, and slightly blank.
I had once heard a joke.
If its face looked bold, it was an otter.
If it looked blank and like anyone could steal a shellfish from it, it was a sea otter.
It was accurate.
Peep-peep... Peep.
[Translation: Fur color also very different from me.]
Daldal was right.
The sea otter’s fur was white from its head to its stomach.
Below its belly, it turned completely black.
It looked like cookies-and-cream dessert.
Its hind legs were also different from Daldal’s.
They resembled flippers like those of a seal.
Its tail was wider and stronger-looking.
Comparing them side by side made the difference obvious.
No.
Wait.
I was not filming a sea otter documentary.
“Lord Suho. Did the Dragon King give you any advance warning about this? Peep?”
Orlan looked between the sea otter and my face.
I shook my head.
“None...”
“Hmm. Even so, I am certain this child is also a Spirit Beast, Lord Suho. Peep. We will need to hear the details directly.”
“Probably. But it won’t wake up and keeps sleeping. We should wait. Right, Daldal?”
Peep...?
[Translation: Huh...?]
Daldal had been staring at the sea otter.
When I called him, he jumped in surprise and turned his head.
Peet?!
[Translation: What say?!]
“Hm? I asked whether we should wait until this child wakes up.”
Peeeeep...
[Translation: Ah...]
What was this?
Daldal had been completely focused on the sea otter for a while.
“Daldal!”
Peet?!
[Translation: What?!]
“Is the sea otter that interesting?”
Peep?! Peet-peep! Peet!
[Translation: Huh?! What! Just looking!]
“Just looking? Your mind is completely stuck on that sea otter. Why? Maybe...”
Pee-bi-woo!
[Translation: Ah. Absolutely not!]
“Could it be...?”
Pee-eek-peet-peep! Peep-peep! Peep!
[Translation: Absolutely not! Look! Shell! Shell! Wow! Amazing!]
“Hey, Daldal! I don’t think you should touch that carelessly...!”
While Daldal and I struggled...
Light slowly began leaking from the shell the sea otter was holding.
PEEPPEEPPEEPPEEP!! PEEPPEEP!! PEE-AAAGH!
[Translation: Agh! Exploding! Everyone run!]
“Hm? Huh?! L, Lord Suho! Peep, peep! Protect Lord Suho! Cock-a-doodle...!!”
Daldal and Orlan panicked and kicked up dust inside the tiny shrine.
But I could not look away from the sea otter.
Its tightly closed eyelids slowly began opening.
And bright light poured from the tiny shell it held!
“Whoa!?”
In an instant, incredibly bright light filled the entire shrine!
...But the explosion we expected never happened.
Instead...
[Hey! Small Dragon King Yang Suho! Did you return safely?]
The real Dragon King appeared in midair like a hologram.
“Dragon King...?”
[Hm! I do not even need to see your face to know what expression you are making. You are probably extremely confused. Daldal and Orlan must be panicking beside you. Am I right?]
PEEEEEEPPEEEPPEEEP!!!!
“The Dragon King appeared again!! Emergency! Emergency! Protect Lord Suho! Emergencyyyy!!”
“Yes... Exactly right.”
I scratched the side of my head.
[First, allow me to offer a small apology. I handed that child to you almost as if dumping the responsibility on you.]
The hologram Dragon King pointed toward the sea otter in my arms.
[That child’s name is Rako. Rako comes from the cold northern sea, and as you can see, is a sea otter. A Sea Otter Spirit Beast.]
“Rako...?”
When her name was spoken, the sea otter, Rako, opened sleepy eyes and looked at me before curling up again.
[Cute, right? I think so too. It is difficult to imagine an animal cuter than a sea otter. Oh dear, perhaps I should not have said that in front of Daldal.]
Peep-peet!
[Translation: Almost hurt!]
[Hahaha. Anyway. You are probably wondering why I suddenly entrusted you with a Sea Otter Spirit Beast that does not even live in Korean waters. Correct? Yes. You do not need to answer. I know.]
The Dragon King casually ran a hand through her deep blue hair.
Rako gave a long yawn and closed her eyes again.
[That child became a Spirit Beast only recently. Everything was unfamiliar, and Rako did not yet fully understand the extent of her own powers. Even so, she had already been given the important duty of protecting the cold seas.]
Protecting the cold seas.
It felt like a fitting role.
Maybe that was because I already knew sea otters naturally lived in cold oceans.
“For some reason, it feels a little cooler around here. Today was fairly warm for spring.”
A faint chill gently rose from around Rako.
Thanks to that, even inside the farm cabin where I had not installed an air conditioner yet, the heat was not overwhelming.
Was this her power?
Peep-peep! Peep!
[Translation: Suho! Cool wind coming from here!]
Daldal pointed toward the shell Rako tightly held.
A visible chilly aura slowly leaked from the small shell and lowered the surrounding temperature.
[Interesting, correct? That is one of the Dragon Palace’s precious treasures. It can regulate the temperature of a wide surrounding area.]
The hologram Dragon King spoke as if she had been listening to our conversation.
[It is extremely difficult to control. Among the current generation of Spirit Beasts, only Rako can properly handle it. That is why I placed her in charge of protecting the cold sea. Thanks to her, many creatures were protected from dangerous abnormal water temperatures. It must have been difficult, but Rako performed her duty well.]
The Dragon King looked proudly at the sleeping Rako.
But slowly...
The smile disappeared from her face.
[Perhaps because of that, some beings began targeting Rako. Fortunately, we managed to protect her. However, they did not retreat quietly. They placed a curse on Rako, a curse that continuously weakens her body.]
The hologram Dragon King slowly crouched down.
She stared silently at the sleeping Rako for a while.
Then she spoke.
[I know this is shameless, but I would like you to help her recover and remain by her side, Small Dragon King Yang Suho. Let her live peacefully in your Small Sea, eat delicious food with you, and rest without worry... Until we find a way to free her from the curse. Would you grant me this request?]
The hologram Dragon King looked toward me.
Who would target such a small and cute sea otter?
Why would they even curse her?
I did not know the details.
But if all I needed to do was let her eat delicious food and live without worry...
Then I thought the Dragon King had chosen the perfect person.
“Yes. Of course.”
[Thank you. Rako’s ability to control water temperature will also be a great help to you and your Small Sea.]
The Dragon King smiled again and nodded.
Then she looked at Rako.
[Rako. Get along well with the Small Dragon King. Eat plenty of delicious food too. I will absolutely remove your curse.]
The hologram Dragon King gently stroked Rako’s body.
Then she stood up.
She waved lightly toward us.
[Bye!]
And disappeared.
Rako remained deeply asleep.
Her body only shifted slightly a few times.
“Still, a curse... Who would do such a thing to such a young Spirit Beast? Peep...”
After the hologram Dragon King disappeared, Orlan stared at Rako and muttered.
Peep-peet?
[Translation: Isn’t she just sleeping?]
“You fool! If the Dragon King says it is a curse, then it is a curse. Peep! Let me see. Hmm... Her breathing is stable. Her body temperature is not too bad. Still, I can feel some sinister energy slowly leaking out. Hm? What is this? Peep, peep?”
Ignoring Daldal’s glare, Orlan carefully examined Rako.
Then he noticed something on the top of her head and tilted his own.
“Lord Suho. Look at this. Peep.”
“What is it?”
“Have you ever seen a pattern like this in the human world? Peep?”
A faint and strange symbol was engraved on Rako’s round head.
“Never...”
“According to my exceptional insight, this is definitely the source of the curse, a Curse Mark. Peep, peep. Observe carefully. The sharp patterns represent the intent to harm the target, and the thick outer barrier prevents outsiders from touching it carelessly... Agh! Cock-a-doodle?!”
While completely absorbed in his explanation, the tip of Orlan’s wing accidentally touched the Curse Mark.
Then...
FSSSSSHHHH!!
PEE-AAAGH!?
PEEPPEEPPEEP!!! PEEPPEEP!!
[Translation: Emergency! Emergenc-yyyy!!]
“Agh!? Cough, cough! What is this?!”
Black-red smoke suddenly rose from Rako’s head.
In an instant, it covered the area around Sol Island.
When I accidentally breathed some in, my chest tightened and tears poured from my eyes.
“D, Daldal! Orlan! Cough! Cough!”
“Lord Suho! Lord Suho! Peep! Cough...!”
Peet-peeeep! Hack! Cough! PEEEEEP!
We immediately fell into panic, shouting for one another.
“Y, you wicked thing! B, begone!!”
Orlan barely stabilized himself and flew upward.
He flapped his wings powerfully.
A sudden storm swept the smoke away and sent it far into the distance.
Thinking we were safe, I raised my head.
“...!”
Inside the fading black-red smoke...
I saw something.
The face of a twisted, abnormal creature.
It stared at us with hateful eyes.
Its mouth twisted into a mocking smile.
Hahahahaha...!!
With that chilling laughter that made every hair stand on end...
The black-red smoke disappeared completely.
“What a vile creature! Peep!”
Peep-peep! Peet! Peet-peet-peet!
[Translation: Won’t forgive! If caught, bite hard!]
Orlan and Daldal furiously shouted curses toward the direction where the smoke had disappeared.
“......”
I was angry too.
But first, I approached Rako.
Fortunately, she did not seem injured.
I lifted the small sea otter, who was still deeply asleep, into my arms.
Uuung...
Rako shifted slightly.
For some reason, she looked terribly pitiful.
So I hugged her tightly.
“You truly sent Rako to that human?”
Suho had left.
But the lively feast in the Dragon Palace continued.
A young female general with a sharp and powerful appearance approached the relaxing Dragon King.
Her face looked almost identical to the Dragon King’s.
But the atmosphere around her was completely different.
“I did not send her. That child drifted there.”
“Azure Dragon.”
Cheongye sighed.
The decorations on her blue-green armor moved.
The Dragon King, Azure Dragon, took a sip of her cocktail.
“Do not worry. The Small Dragon King will care for her well. Did you see how fat Daldal and Orlan became? That young man looks sophisticated, but he acts like a countryside grandmother. Even I would gain weight around him.”
Azure Dragon offered Cheongye a cocktail.
Cheongye refused.
Her eyes became sharp.
The surrounding space trembled under the killing intent she released.
Azure Dragon did not care.
“I do not trust humans.”
Cheongye spoke.
The Dragon King, Azure Dragon, quietly watched her.
Then smiled.
“You must never judge everything by only one side, Cheongye.”
Cheongye silently stared at the Dragon King.
Then she clicked her tongue and walked away.
