Chapter 162:
Seo Jae-yi also chided Grayson.
“Yes! How can you call Logi a ‘thing’?”
“That’s right! You’re a bad human!”
“You’ll hurt his feelings if you talk like that!”
“…”
Airok stopped mid-rant and fell silent.
“Jae-yi, I think he’s more hurt by that comment.”
“No way!”
It was obvious, but Seo Jae-yi wouldn’t admit it.
“Of course, I’m taking him with me. He might be a child, but he’s grown a lot. He’ll be very helpful when we fight the dragons in the dungeon.”
“Hmm, if that’s the case…”
Grayson nodded, seemingly unconcerned.
“Are you sure? He’s still a dragon… a monster.”
Elizer, who had been eyeing the small dragon perched on Seo Jae-yi’s head, tugged at Grayson’s sleeve, his eyes filled with worry.
“It’s fine. That dragon is terrified of Jae-yi. He’ll be fine as long as she’s there.”
“That human knows what he’s talking about.”
Airok nodded vigorously at Grayson’s words.
“I don’t care about a human’s trust. My Master is the only one who matters to me, and I’ll only obey her orders.”
Seo Jae-yi was touched by his declaration of loyalty.
“That’s so cool, Logi! You think of me that way?!”
“Of course, Master!”
Seo Jae-yi and Airok chuckled, looking at each other.
Elizer readily accepted Grayson’s assessment, having sensed the dragon’s fear of Seo Jae-yi.
While he was more wary of Baek Joo-won, Seo Jae-yi radiated a far more powerful aura.
In fact, Elizer had never met anyone as strong as Seo Jae-yi.
And she was even more intimidating now, her energy calm and controlled, after gaining a Paired Guide.
A controlled power was far more dangerous than a wild, untamed one.
“Then I’ll be going, Guild Leader. Take care, Won-yeong. And tell Aunt I’ll be fine.”
Seo Jae-yi said goodbye to Kim Yoo-sung and Seo Won-yeong. She smiled gently and patted their shoulders, seeing their worried expressions.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I promise I won’t do anything reckless this time.”
“I can’t trust your words.”
“Me neither.”
“Hey! How can you not trust me?!”
“Have you ever kept a promise?”
“Exactly.”
Seo Won-yeong nodded in agreement with Kim Yoo-sung.
They couldn’t relax, knowing Seo Jae-yi could be reckless at any moment, especially when others were in danger.
Baek Joo-won reassured them,
“I’ll keep an eye on her. I’ll be entering the dungeon with her this time.”
They immediately relaxed, trusting Baek Joo-won, even though they didn’t fully trust Seo Jae-yi.
“Please take care of Seo Jae-yi.”
“Make sure she doesn’t do anything dangerous.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Seo Jae-yi looked at them, dumbfounded by their heartwarming exchange.
They were treating him so differently from how they treated her!
Especially Kim Yoo-sung, who had been so wary of Baek Joo-won after learning he wasn’t human, now seemed to trust him more than her.
“Then we’ll be going!”
Seo Jae-yi waved goodbye to Kim Yoo-sung and Seo Won-yeong and then followed Grayson and Baek Joo-won through the gate.
Elizer’s gentle, soothing energy enveloped her. It was a different sensation than entering a dungeon gate, though similar.
The scent and the atmosphere changed completely in a matter of seconds. When Seo Jae-yi opened her eyes, they were inside a US Esper Association branch building.
“Welcome, Esper Seo Jae-yi, Guide Baek Joo-won.”
William Taylor, the US Esper Association Head, approached her and extended his hand. Seo Jae-yi shook his hand and grinned.
“It’s been a while, Association Head. A few years, hasn’t it?”
The Association Head’s smile faltered slightly.
They had exchanged greetings through Mac Grayson several times, but they had only met once in person.
Seven years ago, during the joint Esper training program between the US and Korea, which had been a thinly veiled attempt to recruit Seo Jae-yi.
Taylor had succeeded in making Grayson and Seo Jae-yi friends, but he had failed to recruit her.
He had even almost lost his beard to her uncontrolled flames.
He had been avoiding her ever since.
And now, seven years later, she was subtly bringing up that incident. He couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward.
His meticulously groomed beard twitched.
“Indeed, it has been seven years. You’ve grown, Esper Seo Jae-yi.”
“I have! But you seem to have gained quite a few gray hairs, Association Head. It must be stressful, dealing with Maggie.”
Grayson and Elizer, standing behind them, chuckled as Seo Jae-yi expressed her mock concern. Taylor glared at them.
He had to endure this; he had known what to expect when he invited her.
And she wasn’t wrong.
“This is your first time meeting him, right? This is my Paired Guide, Baek Joo-won.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Baek Joo-won.”
Seo Jae-yi introduced Baek Joo-won.
Taylor, regaining his composure, shook Baek Joo-won’s hand and scrutinized him.
The stateless S-rank Guide who had suddenly appeared in Korea.
The US had been keeping an eye on him, trying to track him down, but it was as if he had fallen from the sky; they couldn’t find any information about him.
They had even sent Mac Grayson – or rather, he had gone on his own – to try and recruit him, but they had failed.
Taylor knew Grayson had deliberately failed. He was very fond of Seo Jae-yi, almost like a grandson. He would have wanted to ensure Baek Joo-won stayed with her, now that a savior who could cure her terminal illness had finally appeared.
Taylor hadn’t questioned or punished Grayson for his actions.
He only suspected it; there was no concrete evidence, and Baek Joo-won had no intention of coming to the US anyway.
Even if Grayson had genuinely tried to recruit him, it wouldn’t have mattered if Baek Joo-won refused.
But he couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret, seeing Baek Joo-won in person.
“You’re a truly powerful Guide.”
Taylor was also an S-rank Esper, one of the US representatives.
He could sense Baek Joo-won’s exceptional power with a single handshake, even though he wasn’t actively emanating his energy.
“I apologize for Grayson’s behavior before. He must have been quite a nuisance.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Association Head. There’s no need to apologize.”
They exchanged pleasantries. Grayson, standing behind them, grumbled about what he had supposedly done, but no one paid him any attention.
‘It’s a shame we couldn’t recruit Baek Joo-won, but I don’t regret it.’
Taylor looked at Seo Jae-yi, standing beside Baek Joo-won.
Seo Jae-yi was alive because he hadn’t brought Baek Joo-won to the US back then. And she was radiating a power so potent that even he felt a shiver of apprehension.
This was Seo Jae-yi. Korea’s strongest Esper, more powerful than even Mac Grayson, the likely future US representative.
Having regained her full power with a highly compatible Paired Guide, she was a force to be reckoned with.
‘Subjugating the Rank 1 dungeon might not be a pipe dream after all.’
He was glad Baek Joo-won was by her side.
Because Seo Jae-yi was alive, they could ask for her help.
Grayson’s affection for Seo Jae-yi had saved the US.
“The subjugation will begin tomorrow afternoon. Would you like to go to your accommodations now?”
“I’d like to see the gate first, if possible.”
“Of course. However, even Elizer can’t use his ability immediately after a long-distance teleport, so we’ll have to drive. Is that alright with you?”
“Certainly.”
A Spatial Manipulation Esper was a valuable asset, but their ability wasn’t without limitations.
They could create short-distance portals easily, but creating a long-distance portal between the US and Korea took a toll; they couldn’t use their ability again immediately afterwards.
Seo Jae-yi, already aware of this, nodded.
The four of them, excluding Elizer, who needed to rest, got into a waiting limousine and left the Association branch building.
“It’s… quiet.”
The gate had emerged near Las Vegas, the most vibrant city in the US.
But the city, which should have been bustling with activity, was eerily silent. The lights were off, and there were no revelers on the streets.
A few people passed by occasionally, but their faces were etched with fear and anxiety.
The mere presence of a Rank 1 dungeon gate was enough to terrify them.
If the Espers failed, this city would be the first to fall.
“An evacuation order has been issued. Most of the residents have left, except for those who have nowhere else to go. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Las Vegas this deserted.”
It was like a ghost town. The fear of monsters was a powerful force.
The gate was located about an hour’s drive from the city.
Seo Jae-yi could feel its immense power even before they arrived.
“Wow, a Rank 1 is definitely different. It’s nothing like a Rank 2.”
The gate’s power was even more palpable after they got out of the car.
The Rank 2 dungeons in Incheon and Gapyeong had been unnerving, but this was on a completely different level. It was terrifying.
Seo Jae-yi looked up at the massive, shimmering blue gate, the largest she had ever seen.
An immense power, as if it was sucking away all the energy in the world, emanated from it.
“It’s fortunate that it’s not a Fixed dungeon. It would have been a disaster if it had become permanent.”
“I agree. We’re lucky.”
Taylor nodded at Seo Jae-yi’s words.
“I’d like to hear more about the dungeon’s interior.”
“I’ll call the Esper who participated in the previous subjugation.”
Taylor made a call, and someone rushed over shortly after.