Chapter 33
Part 6. The Dragon’s Shadow (2)
They say bad premonitions always come true.
“Apparently, there were people who saw you handing out potion pouches before entering the Moon Halo dungeon. And they’re guessing that the potions inside were… unusual.”
“……”
“And the light that flared when Haesol was saved. The way a pattern that looked like it was about to explode suddenly stopped for a moment.”
I blinked silently.
They noticed that much?
***
After one of the training sessions, in the waiting area.
Between chairs where injured students were resting, two students sat close together, talking in low voices.
“Hey, you saw it then, right? That healer kid’s potion.”
“…The one that was glowing?”
“Yeah. I thought it was just luminescent or something, but apparently not. And did you see how they almost got hit by the boss pattern but still held on?”
“So?”
“Lee Sihyeon’s not usually that tough. The only thing that was different was the potion.”
“Jin Hari gives out potions all the time, though.”
“I’m telling you, it was different.”
“How?”
“I’ve never seen anything like it before. Like I said earlier, it kind of sparkled.”
“Then why didn’t you write it in the report?”
“Who’d believe us? They say she’s a frank healer. And Yoo Hanseong and Yoo Hui would make a fuss too.”
If you get on the bad side of Yoo Hui’s fans, academy life becomes exhausting.
Same with Yoo Hanseong.
And besides—
“The seniors survived because of it. It feels wrong to put her in a difficult spot.”
“Yeah. That too.”
The two looked at each other, then shook their heads.
“Let’s just not say anything. If we do, it’ll just feel weird, and we’ll be the only ones looking crazy.”
And there would probably be consequences.
For example, Yoo Hanseong’s entire (temporary) party received some very physical lessons in conscience from other parties.
That kind of conversation was happening in slightly different versions all over the place.
And that was how things ended up like this by this morning.
***
After hearing Hui’s explanation, I thought it over.
Honestly, unless things escalated into something extreme like being dragged into a research institute, I didn’t actually mind rumors about my potions spreading.
What would be a problem is Jin Hari herself getting too much attention.
“Rumors aren’t a big deal.”
I smiled lightly as I said it.
“No matter what, I’m still F-rank.”
It was a magic word.
No matter how impressive something looked, the label “F-rank” was enough to make people dismiss it entirely.
No one would seriously covet or fear me.
At my confident remark, Iseo and Hui looked at each other and let out small sighs.
Then they said,
“Well, as long as no one gets weird ideas, it’s actually better this way.”
“Yeah. Especially when we’re not around.”
“Haha. Even if I’m F-rank, I’ve got really good friends. Thanks for worrying about me.”
As lunchtime drew closer, the classroom atmosphere grew even stranger.
Someone would look at me, then quickly look away.
Someone would start to speak, then stop.
Someone would walk toward me, then turn back.
The sound of a door closing echoed softly.
Iseo stared out the window and said,
“Everyone’s really weird today.”
“……”
“So what are you doing for lunch?”
I answered while holding my potion notebook.
“I’m going to the workshop.”
“Making potions again?”
“Yeah. Just practicing with the ones I usually make when I’m resting.”
Iseo chuckled.
“You’re seriously diligent.”
I shrugged like it was nothing.
As always, if I quietly practiced in a corner, strange rumors would probably die down on their own.
Just then, I sensed a quiet presence near the door.
Yoo Hanseong.
As expected, he didn’t really meet my eyes today either.
As he passed by, he only flicked his gaze very slightly toward the notebook in my hands.
I looked down at it.
‘It’s a notebook about filling the gaps in the Blue Dragon strategy.’
I didn’t know if he recognized it.
If only I could just tell him.
That the Blue Dragon might be even harder this time, possibly because the hidden boss didn’t appear during Moon Halo.
Some of the hidden bosses were things even Yoo Hanseong was encountering for the first time in this life, so at least a warning felt necessary.
‘Of course, it might still just end with three bosses like before.’
And the date could shift again too.
“Actually, starting today, we won’t be able to use the old building’s workshop for a while.”
I said it in a slightly gloomy tone to hide my thoughts.
Iseo, who had been getting ready to leave, widened his eyes.
“Why?”
“They’re giving us a better environment, but the downside is I won’t be able to work alone.”
Not that I had anything secret left to do there.
For example, Bari-degi’s Domain.
It had leveled up enough that I could grow things in a subspace now.
‘It levels up like a skill.’
Still, I liked the atmosphere of the old building, so it was a bit disappointing.
“So you can’t use it anymore?”
Hui asked.
“No, it’s just under renovation. I’ll be able to go back later, but the old atmosphere will probably be gone.”
Hui laughed lightly and said she understood.
I was thinking of only going there occasionally when making S-rank potions, or maybe even just living there later on.
A little later.
The path to the workshop was quiet.
Normally lunchtime was noisy, but today it felt like more than half the students were walking while holding their words in.
‘This is a new experience too.’
For over a month, I’d gotten used to hearing all kinds of dismissive comments telling me to know my place.
But today, none of that reached my ears.
Feeling a strange sense of emptiness, I arrived at the old building.
I opened the familiar right-side workshop door.
Warm air mixed with a faint herbal scent rushed out.
I went to my usual corner desk.
After tidying part of the cluttered table, I took out two small flasks.
“Today, I’ll start by adjusting the calming ratios.”
I murmured quietly.
Stirring herbs with a wooden stick in this small workshop, making potions alone in silence, was the most calming time for me.
I crushed a bundle of herbs between my fingers and steadied my breathing.
The familiar scent rose.
That was when—
I heard the sound of a chair being pulled out beside me.
I turned my head casually.
“Haesol. When did you get here?”
“A little while ago. You looked focused, so I didn’t interrupt.”
It was Haesol.
His expression was still not bright, but his eyes were steadier than in the morning.
After hesitating for a moment, he gathered a bit of courage.
“Hari.”
“…Yeah.”
“About the mental barrier potion. Thank you. I didn’t think it would actually work.”
I paused the long spoon I’d been stirring with.
“I didn’t have anywhere to test it, so I just gave it to you. I’m glad it worked.”
“It worked on my curse.”
“Oh.”
I replied as calmly as possible.
“I see.”
Haesol nodded.
“…It helped me hold on.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Just for a bit, but my body felt lighter… and the fear faded a little.”
“That’s good.”
When I smiled brightly, Haesol fidgeted with his fingers before speaking softly.
“Um… could I get more of that potion?”
“Of course! I can give you plenty now.”
“Hah… thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Have you been sleeping well lately?”
“I’ve had nightmares the past few days, but they’re gradually getting better.”
“That’s good too.”
I answered gently, then handed him a mental barrier potion along with a special potion meant to calm nightmares.
His expression softened slightly.
“This one’s a grape-flavored mental barrier potion. You like grapes, right, Haesol?”
“Huh?”
He looked startled.
What do you take me for, an original-story fan or what?
I chuckled and placed a tiny, unlabeled vial of purple potion into his hand.
“A gift. If you drink it, tell me what you think.”
I slid a small flask toward him.
“But don’t take too much. There could be side effects, so use it in moderation, okay?”
“Your potions don’t have side effects.”
“Oh, come on.”
I laughed lightly.
Haesol’s shoulders relaxed a little.
“Thank you. Really?”
He held the small vial tightly with both hands.
