Chapter 90

The area near the shrine where the Azure Dragon was enshrined, being Cheong Family private land, was controlled by the family’s Barrier Technique to regulate entry and exit. However, strictly speaking, it wasn’t a place physically guarded by stationed personnel.

‘After all, there’s a powerful Barrier set up by Cheongil at the core, and the Azure Dragon disliked having guards or the like stationed.’

It was the Azure Dragon to begin with. It wasn’t a being that could be injured if someone attacked, nor was it a being that could be stolen away.

Whoosh.

Swoosh.

“It’s amazing. You made it so the Barrier doesn’t recognize us, right?”

“Correct.”

Just like when I had summoned Cheong Soha before, I passed through the family’s Barrier and headed towards the core of the shrine where the Azure Dragon was, cautiously keeping an eye on our surroundings just in case.

Blocking the way ahead was a special Barrier created by the Cheong Family’s former Elder and the hero who founded Cheonghwa Academy, Cheongil.

Among the several methods to enter there, the one I chose was the direct, orthodox approach.

Taking the family seal I had obtained from Cheongjong from my pocket, I slowly moved my hand towards the Barrier’s entrance while channeling Spiritual Power into it.

Then, as if welcoming its rightful owner, the Barrier’s gate opened without resistance.

Whoosh.

“Let’s go.”

“…….”

Once we passed through the final Barrier, what came into view was a quiet, antiquated annex. It was almost identical to how it was described in the original work.

However, permeating the entire space was a dense, oppressive Spiritual Power that couldn’t be expressed with just a few lines of text. It was likely power subtly leaking from the slumbering Azure Dragon.

Rubbing her arms as if she had goosebumps, Cheong Joohwa, who had been quietly observing the surroundings, spoke up.

“Somehow… it feels vaguely familiar, like I’ve been here before…”

Well, if it was during early childhood, she might have been brought here once, led by Cheong Sawoon’s hand.

I had left the Black Bird near the outer perimeter of the Barrier, so I would probably notice if someone came.

As I had no time to waste, I decided to head to the center of the annex and call out to the being.

“Azure Dragon. Are you there?”

Then, in an instant, the air distorted, and a circular heat haze began to bloom.

Whoosh.

Zzzzt.

[What are you? I don’t recall you.]

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I have an urgent request for you, Azure Dragon, and have come to visit despite the rudeness.”

[Really, now even insignificant fools come to bother me. Leave. I have no intention of leaving this place as I am.]

This was probably the expected reaction at this point.

In the original work, the Azure Dragon also refused to lend its power to the Cheong Family descendants until the very end, only to be forcibly bound into a subservient contract by a desperate Cheong Doyool after the schism began.

Although the protagonist Yoo Haon’s party saves the Azure Dragon within the story, by that time it had already lost much of its original power and exited the stage without any significant further role.

‘Honestly, that’s such a waste. It’s an incredibly powerful Divine Beast, just difficult to utilize.’

Without hesitation, I used the Appraisal function on the faint heat haze spread before me.

Ding!

Azure Dragon

▶Level 70 (54)

▶Stats

【Stamina : S (A+)】

【Monstrous Power : S- (A)】

【Art Formula : A (B)】

【Mental Power : A (B+)】

▶Traits (8/10)

【Cumulonimbus (Cumulonimbus) (S)】 【Locked】

【Raging Storm (S-)】

【Dragon Body (Dragon Body) (A+)】

【Spiritual Power Amplification (B)】

【Rampage (B)】

【Monstrous Strength (C+)】

【Sensory Expansion (C+)】

【Hawk’s Eye (C+)】

As expected of an ancient Divine Beast, it possessed incredibly powerful strength. However, like Keuseundae I had seen previously in Yeongwoldo, that power was not in a complete state.

‘The reason is, of course, because of what I know.’

The contract the Azure Dragon made with the Cheong Family ancestors, and what it sought to reclaim in return. The reason for its weakening was deeply related to that.

[What are you doing? Leave at once. If you thought I would be lenient just because you are young, that was truly foolish. Go back to your superiors and tell them not to come looking for me for a while.]

As the Azure Dragon grew irritated, mist rose in the surroundings and the air in the room grew cold and heavy.

Frowning slightly at this, Cheong Joohwa cautiously approached and spoke.

“By any chance… do you know my father?”

[I don’t follow. Enough of this nonsense.]

“He was a middle-aged man with sharp features, who always carried a fan at his waist. Do you really not remember?”

At those words, the heat haze floating in the air shifted slightly.

[Is that so. Now that you mention it… you are that fellow’s child, aren’t you? I saw you a few times when you could barely walk.]

“…So you did remember.”

As Cheong Joohwa had anticipated, it seemed her father, Cheong Sawoon, had brought the young Cheong Joohwa here before.

Sensing the Azure Dragon’s imposing aura soften slightly, I seized the opportunity and quickly spoke up from the side.

“Azure Dragon, do you intend to lend your power to Cheong Doyool?”

[No. I will not join with anyone anymore. That child’s father was quite to my liking, but if what I heard is correct, he is already dead.]

It seemed the Azure Dragon held some fondness for Cheong Sawoon.

In that case, things might go more smoothly than expected.

“Might I ask what the reason is?”

[Even if I told you, would you understand? Those with whom I made promises are now dead and gone, and I cannot even sense a similar scent from the current lot. There is no meaning in me alone keeping watch over the contract any longer.]

In other words, the Azure Dragon was saying that now, with the ancestors’ bloodline thinned, there was no longer a suitable counterpart to uphold the ancient covenant.

But if that was the case, there was a perfectly fitting candidate. Right beside me.

“Would you consider helping Cheong Joohwa, Cheong Sawoon’s daughter?”

[I said I liked the fellow, not that I would extend any favor to his daughter.]

“If you were to see her for yourself, you might change your mind.”

At those words, I felt a certain gaze scrutinizing me from within the heat haze.

Meeting its gaze without flinching, the mist that had filled the surroundings thickened, and a faint spiritual form revealed itself.

Though only its upper half was visible, its draconic form was unmistakable.

A Divine Beast straight out of myth had unveiled its true form before us.

“…….”

“W-wow, it’s… bigger than I thought.”

The Azure Dragon, having emerged from the heat haze, quietly observed Cheong Joohwa for a moment before suddenly letting out a booming laugh.

[──!]

The atmosphere trembled at the sound, and for a moment, my hearing went numb.

It lasted for quite a while. The Azure Dragon, who showed no sign of stopping its laughter, finally calmed down and spoke.

[…Kuhaha, now I see what you meant. This is truly a laughable matter.]

If it was the Azure Dragon, it probably realized the moment it laid eyes on her. The peculiarity of the Atavism Cheong Joohwa possessed.

[To think such a bloodline would be born not from those obsessed with lineage, but from those who let it go.]

“Bloodline?”

[Yes. You may not know, but the aura I sense from you is remarkably similar to Cheongwoon’s.]

“…Who is Cheongwoon?”

[The name of the arrogant fellow from so long ago you wouldn’t remember, who founded this family and captured and bound me.]

However, the Azure Dragon, which had shown a pleased expression, soon hardened its face again and turned halfway away.

[But, this is where our conversation ends. The reason I kept my promise with that fellow was because I believed in the pledge he made, that it would surely be fulfilled in the future. Yet no matter how long I waited, the one who would fulfill that pledge never appeared.]

“…….”

The object it had been taken from by Cheongwoon in the distant past, which it had hoped to reclaim someday as the price for reigning as the Cheong Family’s guardian deity for ages.

From behind the turning Azure Dragon, I softly uttered the name of that object.

“Are you searching for the Yeoijoo?”

At that, the Azure Dragon stopped in its tracks.

[That can’t… be. How do you know of that?]

“If it’s the Yeoijoo, I will definitely retrieve it for you someday. As the price for helping us.”

The Azure Dragon, which had fallen silent, continued in a trembling voice, as if it couldn’t possibly believe it.

[…Don’t tell me you… are the promised person Cheongwoon spoke of?]

The voice seemed tinged with a bit of anger, and somehow also sounded moved with emotion. Seeing the Azure Dragon’s reaction, I pondered for a moment.

‘Of course not, but…’

In the original work, including sequels, there was never any mention of the pledge between Cheongwoon and the Azure Dragon being fulfilled.

Many said it was a plot point for the future, but at least during my time in that world, I never saw such a scene.

I had subtly inquired when participating in sequel development, but since the writer for the first part’s story had passed away, I couldn’t uncover the truth.

However, regarding information about this Yeoijoo, various additional details were added later.

Even though I hadn’t actually seen it because it wasn’t implemented in the game, it was almost certainly located in the place I suspected.

‘Wait, does that mean I end up becoming the promised person after all?’

I didn’t think so, but looking at the result, that’s what it was.

Denying it felt awkward, so I had no choice but to nod.

“I suppose that’s correct.”

[…That is not the clear answer I desire.]

The Azure Dragon turned its body again. And it fully emerged from the heat haze, revealing its entire form.

[…It has been such a long time. To be honest, I had tried to forget everything long ago.]

“…….”

[If he was going to make me wait this long, why did he keep me by his side?]

“I apologize. I have no way of knowing his intentions.”

[How pointless. Truly pointless.]

The Azure Dragon, merely staring blankly at the unseen sky lost in thought, soon seemed to reach a decision and muttered softly.

[To be honest, I don’t know. Whether you are truly the person he spoke of, or if now is the promised time. I myself lost the milestones to judge such things long ago.]

But then, the Azure Dragon nodded with a convinced expression.

[Even so, walking the path visible before my eyes is surely better than waiting forever for something that may have no substance.]

“Does that mean…?”

[Very well. I shall believe one last time. As long as you do not forget the promise made with your own mouth, I shall become your strength.]

In response, I bowed my head and took out the Cheongsimok from within my pocket.

I had mentioned it once before when separating Gangcheol-i from Seo Jiha, but this Cheongsimok contains a small amount of Yeoijoo fragments.

That’s right. Precisely, they belonged to none other than the Azure Dragon.

‘…In many ways, it’s the optimal item to use as a contract medium.’

I handed it directly to Cheong Joohwa.

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“Obviously, you’re the one who needs to make the contract. That was the plan from the start.”

“Huh? No, but I…”

Cheong Joohwa hesitated, unable to readily accept it.

Perhaps because she knew the significance of being the Azure Dragon’s master within the Cheong Family, she seemed to think she shouldn’t be the one to receive it.

“…Wouldn’t it be better for you to make the contract directly? I’m not even sure if I’m qualified, and there’s that whole promise thing you mentioned.”

To be honest, I was tempted too, but that was impossible from the start.

“Due to the original covenant, those without Cheong Family blood cannot receive the Azure Dragon’s protection. It’s not that a forced contract is impossible, but there would surely be side effects.”

“Ah…”

Therefore, having Cheong Joohwa as the contract’s principal was the best choice.

And anyway, when the Azure Dragon’s power was actually needed, I could just bring Cheong Joohwa along.

Having explained that much, she seemed convinced, nodding softly.

“Then I’ll start right away.”

Soon, after some time passed, with my assistance, the contract between Cheong Joohwa and the Azure Dragon was completed using the Cheongsimok as a medium.

“It doesn’t feel real…”

“You probably won’t be used to it at first, so it would be better to summon it occasionally in a private Training Ground and get accustomed to it later.”

Having exited the Barrier again and left Dobongsan, we returned to the Academy without delay.

‘…….’

With this, the die was cast.

So next, all that remained was to wait for the other side to make a move.