Chapter 183:
Seo Jae-yi frowned, confused by his question.
“Disgusted?”
“I was wondering if you’re… uncomfortable with becoming a monster’s Yeouiju.”
She wasn’t entirely human anymore.
A powerful regenerative ability, something only monsters possessed, was now deeply embedded within her, making her… part monster.
He could understand if she, who had lived her entire life as a human, found this unsettling.
He was willing to give her time to adjust.
“If it bothers you, I’ll… try to find a way to remove my power from your body.”
He didn’t want to, but it was better than her rejecting him. He could always give her another orb containing his power.
“Are you disgusted by me?”
Seo Jae-yi asked, looking at him intently.
“What? Of course not.”
Baek Joo-won’s eyes narrowed defensively, then he relaxed, realizing what she meant.
“…Right. You wouldn’t…”
“I’m glad you realized that.”
Seo Jae-yi smiled brightly.
“And I also gained your regenerative abilities because I became the Yeouiju, right? I should be thanking you; I can use my ability freely now.”
Seo Jae-yi’s powerful ability came with a heavy price.
She had always been hesitant to use her full power because of the backlash.
But now, thanks to the Yeouiju, she could unleash her power without hesitation. She could fight to her heart’s content.
“I’m happy that we’re closer now, that I feel like I’m always with you, and most importantly, I feel safe, knowing you’re protecting me.”
“…Yes. I’ll always protect you.”
Seo Jae-yi, pleased by his words, kissed him softly.
“But are you alright? Didn’t you become weaker after I absorbed your Yeouiju?”
“I’m fine. I can draw power just by being near you. And my power has actually grown stronger, thanks to you, who’s stronger than me, becoming my Yeouiju.”
“Ah, now that I think about it, I felt a sudden surge of power when you appeared in the dungeon. Was that also because of…?”
“Yes. We become one when we’re together. Our powers are amplified.”
“If… one of us dies…”
“Yes, if you die, I die too.”
Baek Joo-won whispered, as if revealing a great secret.
“We’re truly… one.”
“That’s good. We’ll both be more careful if our lives are linked.”
Seo Jae-yi, missing the underlying meaning of his words, smiled, satisfied.
“I like it. I want to be your Yeouiju forever.”
“That’s the best love confession I’ve ever heard.”
There was no sweeter, more heartwarming confession for a Mireu like Baek Joo-won. His love for Seo Jae-yi grew with every passing moment.
So he kept the hidden truth, the fact that she wouldn’t die even if he did, to himself.
She didn’t need to know that.
“I’ve received so much from you.”
“It’s fine. I’ve received far more in return.”
“I gave you something in return?”
Seo Jae-yi tilted her head, confused. She couldn’t recall giving him anything.
“You gave me… yourself.”
Baek Joo-won’s hand gripped her waist, pulling her closer.
As if possessing her entirely.
“I not only regained my Yeouiju, but I also gained you. Of course I’m happy.”
“That’s true. I’m quite a catch.”
Seo Jae-yi, filled with self-confidence, readily agreed.
And it was fair, as she had also claimed him completely.
“Right? So… shall we do it again?”
Baek Joo-won shifted his hips suggestively. Seo Jae-yi chuckled and sat up, seeing the desire in his eyes.
How could she refuse when the one who possessed her, wanted her?
She placed her hands on his firm pectoral muscles and slowly lowered herself onto him.
Her heart fluttered with every breath, every soft moan that escaped his lips.
A deep sense of satisfaction, of possessing each other completely, filled them both.
US Esper Association Head William Taylor summoned Seo Jae-yi and Baek Joo-won around lunchtime the following day.
They went up to the restaurant on the top floor of the hotel, where Taylor, Grayson, and Elizer were waiting.
“The subjugation would have been far more difficult without Esper Seo Jae-yi. I thank you, on behalf of everyone.”
Taylor bowed his head to Seo Jae-yi.
“This is a small token of our gratitude.”
He handed her a large wooden box filled with rare and valuable medicinal herbs.
“I heard you took several breath attacks head-on. There might be some lingering effects, even with Guiding, so please use these to restore your health.”
Why would she refuse such valuable gifts?
Despite having no injuries thanks to Baek Joo-won’s regenerative abilities, Seo Jae-yi accepted the gift graciously.
“And we’ve decided, after our discussion yesterday, that Esper Seo Jae-yi deserves the largest share of the rewards.”
“I see.”
“This is a list of the items we obtained from the dungeon.”
Seo Jae-yi was surprised that they were showing her the entire list, instead of just deciding among themselves and giving her her share.
“There wasn’t much we could salvage, as it was a volcanic region. But there is one particularly valuable item: lava stones.”
“Lava stones?”
They had found four lava stones in the dungeon.
Lava stones, occasionally found in volcanic dungeons, contained immense heat.
Equipment crafted with lava stones granted the wearer S-rank fire resistance.
They were rare and highly sought after; it was surprising they had found four. A Rank 1 fire dungeon was indeed different.
“Yes. We’ve decided to give one of them to Esper Seo Jae-yi.”
Offering one of the four lava stones to Seo Jae-yi was a significant gesture of goodwill from the US.
“I heard you brought two dragons with you.”
“Yes. I apologize for not informing you beforehand. I didn’t want to waste time… persuading everyone.”
Taylor waved his hand dismissively.
“Everyone agreed that the subjugation was much easier thanks to the two dragons. I wouldn’t dream of faulting you for that, Esper Seo Jae-yi. On the contrary, we are in your debt. Because of this, the two dragons…”
He trailed off, his expression somber.
Seo Jae-yi realized what he meant.
The lava stone was compensation for the dragons’ sacrifice.
If they hadn’t died, they would have been wary of her, not offering her such a valuable gift.
If it weren’t for Baek Joo-won willingly sacrificing himself, she would have only faced suspicion and hostility, not received this rare treasure.
She owed Baek Joo-won a lot. Seo Jae-yi took his hand and squeezed it.
“So please, accept it.”
“I will.”
Baek Joo-won and Airok hadn’t actually died, but they had suffered.
So Seo Jae-yi accepted the lava stone. She deserved it.
“And as we discussed, the dragons’ bodies will be distributed among those who killed them. Esper Seo Jae-yi, you’re entitled to seven.”
“Seven?”
That was almost half of the fifteen dragons.
Seo Jae-yi, surprised by the number, looked at Taylor, who explained,
“The two dragons you brought killed four. We’ve decided to give you all four.”
That made sense.
Airok had killed two alone and had almost killed the dark blue dragon. And Baek Joo-won had killed the sunset dragon.
It was only natural for Seo Jae-yi to claim all four.
“And the three of you – you, Grayson, and Elizer – killed three together.”
The red dragon, the dark brown dragon, and the boss monster.
Seo Jae-yi had been the one to deliver the final blows, but she had received help from Grayson and Elizer.
“However, both Grayson and Elizer agree that you were the biggest contributor, so they’ve decided to defer to you regarding the distribution of those three.”
Seo Jae-yi looked at Grayson and Elizer. Grayson smiled at her, and Elizer nodded silently.
Seo Jae-yi smiled, grateful for their generosity.
“I won’t take them all, as I didn’t kill them alone. I’ll take the body of the dark brown dragon and the magic stones of the other three.”
The three Americans looked at her, their expressions a mixture of surprise and concern.
“You’re not taking the boss monster’s body?”
“Jae-yi, you took several of its breath attacks. You should take its body.”
Even though Grayson and Elizer had helped, Seo Jae-yi had done most of the work and suffered the most injuries, so she was entitled to all three magic stones.
But they couldn’t understand why she would give up the most valuable prize, the body of the boss monster.
But Seo Jae-yi shook her head.
“The Rank 1 dungeon emerged in the US, and I’m just a mercenary who came at your request. The boss monster’s body rightfully belongs to the US.”
Her tone was firm, her decision final.
Taylor expressed his gratitude.
“We can discuss the rest after lunch.”