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Chapter 34
Part 6. The Dragon’s Shadow (3)
The aftereffects of the Moon Halo dungeon were still lingering everywhere.
It felt like people’s voices had dropped to half their usual volume.
No one spoke loudly, and everyone walked carefully.
I heard that some of the returning students were still resting in the recovery ward and that a large-scale investigation was underway into how the dungeon had suddenly turned S-rank.
Most likely, the Blue Dragon dungeon would open before that investigation even finished.
I slowly walked toward the recovery ward.
A few students were waiting in front of the door.
It wasn’t the intensive care section, but they were only letting people in little by little.
If too many people went in at once, it would be mentally exhausting.
When the door opened, a faint herbal scent drifted out.
I quietly greeted the nurse, handed over some C-rank items like mental barrier potions and antidotes, and stepped back out.
In the hallway, I saw two guild members who had been dispatched as support during Moon Halo jotting something down on paper.
“This Moon Halo S-rank dungeon… should we say the damage was low?”
“Not just low. There were no casualties.”
“Did something happen?”
“No idea. Guess they got lucky. I’ve heard people saying it was because of potions, but it can’t be that simple.”
Hearing that, I honestly thought it really was just luck.
When I stepped outside the building, the wind felt chilly.
I rubbed my arms and let out a breath.
That was when I noticed Yoo Hanseong and Haesol sitting together on a bench in the distance.
Haesol had a blanket draped over his shoulders and his head lowered, while Hanseong leaned one arm on the back of the bench, quietly explaining something.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the atmosphere alone was enough.
From now on, the two of them would probably train together separately.
‘Originally, this is the point where Hanseong pulls Haesol back up after he collapses from trauma.’
Thankfully, Haesol’s condition wasn’t as severe as in the original story.
I slowly walked away.
I thought it was a good thing that the two of them were getting closer.
Their flow had always been naturally built that way.
It wasn’t something I needed to interfere with.
Moon Halo was over now, and there would be a bit of time before the next dungeon.
During that time, I needed to practice making more potions.
I took a small breath, feeling as if the familiar scent of herbs still clung to my fingertips.
***
A few days later.
When I stopped grinding herbs, the door opened quietly.
I saw a few healers from other grades who had been working nearby glance toward the entrance.
But even without turning around, I felt like I knew who it was.
“Hari.”
Yoo Hanseong’s voice was low and steady, as always.
I slowly lifted my head.
“Yeah?”
“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to talk for a moment.”
He sounded like someone who wanted to help but didn’t quite know how to start.
I didn’t think Hanseong used to speak in this tone.
I took a sip of water and sat down.
“What about?”
“About Haesol.”
I quietly inhaled.
“Are you asking how he’s doing?”
“That, and more.”
Hanseong didn’t sit. He lightly leaned against the wall beside the worktable.
“I think he’ll be okay.”
Hanseong nodded slowly.
“That’s a relief.”
“You were worried?”
“He didn’t look great yesterday.”
Hanseong fell silent for a moment.
Then he said very quietly,
“You know Haesol trusts you the most, right?”
I already knew, but hearing it said out loud felt different.
Hanseong let out a small breath.
“I think I’ll be training with him from now on. If you’re okay with it, I’d like you to join us too.”
“Huh?”
I blinked.
“…Me too?”
“Yeah. You too. You need to prepare for the next dungeon as well.”
The next dungeon—
“The finals?”
Of course, he knew the Blue Dragon dungeon would come before that, but since I wasn’t supposed to know, I just nodded.
This was… kind of bad.
‘Am I about to become a party member or something?’
At this rate, I wasn’t just rolling in with a hand—I was diving in headfirst.
I drank some water to ground myself, then calmly asked,
“What kind of training?”
“Basic stamina, mana circulation, and position coordination.”
“I don’t have a position.”
“You do.”
Hanseong said firmly.
“Most recovery potion crafters only produce items. They can’t assist during combat. But you can craft, and you seem good at reading the field.”
“How would you know that?”
“I didn’t see it directly, but there was a time your blue notebook was open. I saw part of it then. Sorry.”
“Oh… um. That’s okay.”
You could’ve just read the whole thing. Especially the part about the Blue Dragon dungeon.
The words almost slipped out, but I held them back.
“That role is much broader than a simple supporter, from a team perspective.”
I was at a loss for words.
I never thought I’d hear that kind of evaluation.
I thought I was barely managing to make potions at all.
Hanseong pointed toward the door.
“With you there, it’d feel reliable.”
I didn’t know why, but those words hit my chest hard.
“Well…”
I quietly touched my fingers.
“…Okay. I get it.”
Only then did Hanseong’s expression soften slightly.
“Good. Then come to the auxiliary track next to the field at three this afternoon.”
“Got it!”
As he turned to leave the workshop, I called out lightly,
“Yoo Hanseong.”
“Yeah?”
“Take good care of Haesol.”
Hanseong closed his eyes very briefly, then replied in a slightly blunt tone,
“I will.”
After the door closed, the workshop fell quiet again.
I looked down at my hands.
Powder from the mortar still clung to my fingers.
For some reason, it felt like my heart was slowly settling downward.
***
Around three in the afternoon, I was standing by the auxiliary track next to the field.
The sun was slanting, stretching long shadows across the ground.
Students passed by here and there, but most of them seemed to be deliberately avoiding looking this way.
Upperclassmen were training in the center of the field.
Some were warming up and joking around, but overall, the mood was heavy.
I touched my ear once.
I could quietly feel Erich’s presence.
[Are you nervous?]
“Me? Or you?”
[You.]
“I’m just normal.”
[That’s exactly why it’s strange.]
“That’s better.”
Being nervous wasn’t good.
If you looked nervous, you stood out.
And if you stood out, people remembered you.
That wasn’t what I wanted.
After a while, Yoo Hanseong walked over to the track.
His steps weren’t any different than usual, but his breathing looked a bit deeper.
Haesol followed behind him.
Haesol still looked like he hadn’t fully recovered.
He had the air of someone who hadn’t slept much.
Even so, his steps were steady.
“You’re here.”
Hanseong stopped in front of me.
“Yeah.”
“Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Haesol stepped up beside me and greeted softly.
“Hari.”
“Haesol.”
I smiled.
His eyes wavered briefly, then settled.
“We won’t push ourselves today.”
Hanseong briefly explained the training plan.
“We’ll just check basic stamina and mana circulation. Haesol, focus on preventing overload because of what happened yesterday. Hari, help monitor remaining mana and recovery flow.”
I nodded.
That kind of role was actually familiar.
When making potions, I always watched mana flow, so checking others’ conditions wasn’t difficult.
As the three of us moved to the edge of the track, a few people glanced over from a distance.
“Those three are training together.”
“It’s the Moon Halo party.”
“An F-rank’s mixed in too.”
They weren’t whispering loudly, but they weren’t really hiding it either.
I didn’t react.
That level of murmuring was normal.
And once people noticed an F-rank was involved, their interest usually faded quickly.
That was ideal.
“Let’s start with warm-ups.”
Hanseong said.
“One light lap.”
As we ran one lap around the track, I deliberately didn’t increase my speed much.
Just enough to keep my breathing steady.
Haesol’s breathing grew a bit rough halfway through, but he didn’t lose his pace.
After finishing the lap, Hanseong checked his watch.
“This is fine. For your current condition, it’s not bad at all.”
