Chapter 184:
With the most important matters settled, Taylor gestured for the meal to be served.
A magnificent feast, worthy of a top-tier hotel, was laid out before them. Seo Jae-yi didn’t hesitate to order more when Taylor offered, as she was starving after spending the entire night with Baek Joo-won, having even skipped dinner.
During the meal, Taylor asked Seo Jae-yi about the two dragons she had brought with her, a topic he had been curious about.
Seo Jae-yi explained briefly.
“You know I’m selling dungeon plants in a dungeon, right? Those two dragons are monsters from that dungeon.”
Taylor stared at her blankly as she explained how they had submitted to her after she beat them up.
“Powerful dragons… submitted to you just because of that?”
“What else could they do? They had to obey if they didn’t want to die.”
It was a statement that blended truth and lies. Baek Joo-won, who had indeed offered his Yeouiju to avoid being killed by her, silently sipped his wine.
The decades-old wine should have tasted bland to him, a being who had lived for centuries, but it tasted strangely bitter.
“I… see.”
Taylor, who knew Seo Jae-yi’s temper well, simply nodded.
He had been considering trying a similar approach to tame dragons if she had used a more conventional method, but it seemed it had only been possible because she was Seo Jae-yi.
He gave up on the idea.
The rest of the conversation was fairly mundane.
Seo Jae-yi boldly requested a tour of the US as compensation for her efforts, and Taylor readily agreed.
He did clench his fork tightly when Grayson volunteered to be their tour guide, but he couldn’t refuse his insistent whining about needing a vacation.
And with Elizer subtly joining in, their four-person US tour was decided then and there.
The trip would begin tomorrow, as they still had matters to attend to.
“It’s a shame you won’t be able to properly enjoy Las Vegas. It’ll take a few more days for the city to return to normal.”
Grayson, left alone with them after Taylor and Elizer excused themselves, said regretfully.
Las Vegas, one of the most vibrant cities in the US.
But now, it was a ghost town, deserted because of the Rank 1 dungeon.
People were slowly returning after the successful subjugation, but it would take time for the city to regain its usual energy.
“It’s fine. We can always come back later, when it’s recovered. We’ll see it then.”
Seo Jae-yi offered a simple solution. Grayson’s eyes widened slightly.
“You’ll come back?”
“If you’re a good tour guide.”
Grayson’s heart swelled with emotion. They had been friends for years, but there had always been obstacles preventing her from visiting the US. He had always been the one to visit Korea.
And now she was saying she would come back.
“…I’ll do my best.”
“I’ll be watching.”
Grayson nodded eagerly.
He glanced at Baek Joo-won, more precisely at the faint red line still visible on his neck.
“…”
He stared at the scar for a long moment, his expression unreadable, and then gave a slight bow to Baek Joo-won.
“See you tomorrow, then. I’ll plan an amazing itinerary.”
Without another word, he waved goodbye and left.
Seo Jae-yi and Baek Joo-won, watching him from the entrance of the restaurant, exchanged glances.
“He knows.”
“He does.”
Grayson clearly knew that Baek Joo-won was the Mireu Seo Jae-yi had seemingly killed in the dungeon.
And yet, he had chosen to remain silent, pretending not to notice.
Just like two months ago, when he had given up on recruiting Baek Joo-won for Seo Jae-yi’s sake.
He probably wouldn’t mention it again.
That was Grayson.
“Honestly, I don’t like Mac Grayson. He’s too close to you.”
Baek Joo-won muttered quietly, and Seo Jae-yi’s eyes widened.
“Mac Grayson too? There must be a lot of people you don’t like.”
“Of course.”
Kwon Yi-soo was at the top of the list. He also disliked Gong Ju-hyun. He loathed them both for harboring the same feelings for Seo Jae-yi as he did.
Then there was Kim Yoo-sung. But he was like a father figure to Seo Jae-yi, so he had decided to… postpone his judgment.
Seo Won-yeong and Seo Hye-ryeong were the only humans he didn’t actively dislike. They were helpful to Seo Jae-yi.
But he didn’t like them. It was simply his nature as a monster.
The only human who mattered to him was Seo Jae-yi.
“I used to dislike him, but… I suppose he’s tolerable now.”
It was a significant concession, considering his intense possessiveness, far stronger than any human’s.
“So I can visit the US to see Maggie now?”
“I wasn’t planning on stopping you. How can I, when you like him? But you have to take me with you.”
Baek Joo-won clung to her, as if afraid she might leave him behind.
“That goes without saying.”
Seo Jae-yi chuckled and wrapped her arms around his waist.
How could she leave such a cute and adorable boyfriend behind? She would take him everywhere with her.
Always.
【Title: The US Rank 1 dungeon has been subjugated!!!】
【Watching the live footage of the gate closing is so… moving. There were casualties (RIP), but I heard it’s the lowest number of deaths for a Rank 1 dungeon subjugation? And the MVP is our Firestarter?! ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
I was so worried about Firestarter with everything that’s happened recently… but not only did she return safely, she’s also the MVP! She’s amazing! ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Firestarter’s class is on a different level. ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
Are you jealous, America? We have Firestarter. ^^7777777】
【Comments】
-
I thought I was done with national pride, but I was wrong! It was so satisfying hearing the US announce that Firestarter was the MVP. ^^777777
-
I got chills hearing the announcement… Think about it. What if Firestarter had been so pissed about the human experiments that she left for the US or another country? We would be crying right now.
└ Holy crap, that’s terrifying… You’re right… Those involved in that incident deserve to die… -
Did anyone see Firestarter in the gate closing footage? I was watching for her, but she didn’t appear. She’s not someone you can miss easily… Did anyone else not see her?
└ Me neither. I was looking for her, but she wasn’t there.
└ I know, right? The other Espers who participated were there… And they said she wasn’t even injured… Why didn’t she appear? ㅠㅠ
└ Our Firestarter doesn’t bother with a closed gate. She’s too busy doing other things to watch a gate close. You newbies still don’t know that? Step up your game.
└ That sounds like bullshit… but it’s so Firestarter… I learned something new today… -
Wait, I just heard from a friend… Firestarter is currently sightseeing in the US…? Here’s a picture I received. (Happy_Firestarter_Eating.jpg)
└ ??????
└ ??????????
└ ?????????????
The luxury US tour, all expenses paid, was amazing.
She had never been able to travel leisurely, always worried about overloading, but now she was enjoying her first overseas trip with her loved ones.
It was pure bliss.
“This trip is so much fun. I should travel with Aunt and Won-yeong next time.”
Seo Jae-yi, back in the city after visiting the breathtaking Grand Canyon, ordered a sweet drink at a cafe.
She thought of her family back in Korea, waiting for her return.
She should take them to the South of France, famous for its beautiful scenery, once Seo Hye-ryeong was fully recovered.
“But I won’t have… a walking wallet with me next time… or a convenient teleportation bus…”
She looked wistfully at Grayson and Elizer.
She didn’t need Grayson, as she had plenty of money herself, but Elizer… he would be very useful.
“Stop treating me like a personal teleportation device.”
Elizer, sipping his espresso, frowned.
But Seo Jae-yi, having experienced the convenience of his ability, couldn’t let go of the idea so easily.
“It’s a shame, but it’s time to go back.”
Their two-week vacation had come to an end.
She wanted to stay longer, but she had things to do in Korea.
“You’re going after Park Jung-soo?”
Seo Jae-yi nodded at Grayson’s question.
Two weeks was fine, but she couldn’t leave him unattended for too long; he might die before she could even get to him.
And he couldn’t die so easily.
“We’ll say goodbye to the Association Head tomorrow and then leave. Everything’s packed, right?”
“Of course. Everything’s ready.”
The dragons’ corpses, her share of the rewards, and the mercenary fees provided by the US.
She couldn’t wait to see the Guild members’ reactions.
After spending her last night in the US with Baek Joo-won…
Seo Jae-yi teleported directly to the US Esper Association Headquarters with Elizer. Just like when she first arrived, Taylor was waiting for her on the other side.
“The Association Head is really treating you well.”
“It’s only natural. Last time, it was a request; this time, it’s gratitude. I wanted to bring more people, but…”
Taylor looked behind him with a slightly regretful expression. He was alone in the Association Headquarters lobby.
“I have no choice but to express my gratitude alone, as Esper Seo Jae-yi declined.”
Everyone, from the Espers who had participated in the dungeon subjugation to the reporters eager to interview her, had wanted to be here.
But Seo Jae-yi had refused. In fact, except for a select few within the Association, no one even knew she was leaving today.
“There’s no need to gather everyone; they’re busy. And I dislike… commotion.”
Seo Jae-yi said she preferred it this way, waving her hand dismissively. She liked being cheered for, but not excessive attention.
If she liked attention, she would have revealed her face long ago.
“Then I’ll express my gratitude on behalf of everyone.”
Taylor chuckled and bowed deeply to Seo Jae-yi.
“Thank you again for your assistance.”
Seo Jae-yi had given her all in this subjugation. She had single-handedly held back several dragons, fighting recklessly without regard for her own safety.
And she had lost her dragon companions.
It was rare for someone to go this far, even for an ally, so Taylor was deeply moved.
“The US will always remember Esper Seo Jae-yi and will be your eternal ally. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you ever need our assistance.”
Taylor, unaware that her two dragons were alive and well, and that one of them was right there with her, made a solemn promise.
Seo Jae-yi, keeping the truth to herself, smiled brightly and shook his hand.
Only Grayson, who knew the truth, looked at Taylor with a sympathetic expression.