Chapter 82: A Pledge.
But not long ago, there was a case where a mine used it along with rumors that intellectual bodies could use it. There were wider scopes as such, but those speculations did not last long too.
That was because the monsters and other fantasy creatures who had as much intelligence to converse with humans or mines weren’t able to use a pledge.
As a result, the terms of the pledge remained a mystery and to this day countless people are researching it to find out the secret.
“A bit more to the left…….”
“Okay.”
And that secret was being made by two cadets.
Scrrrrr!
Traces were left on the pledge following Kang Yoo-sik’s pen movements like a trail of fire and delicate mana floated in the air on top of it.
After it was done, Cha Si-hyun refined the structure of the mana carved inside through a solid line of white wire and coordinator connected to the pledge.
“This time, tilt it by 50 degrees more.”
“Sure.”
At Kang Yoo-sik’s instructions, Cha Si-hyun initiated the tasks perfectly as if reading his mind and before they knew it, the pledge was almost completed.
Kang Yoo-sik took a light breath and looked at Cha Si-hyun when they were nearing the end of the work.
“Now all we have to do is seal it with the remaining mana and coat it, then we’ll be done. Would you be able to do it alone?”
Cha Si-hyun nodded and got the basic outline by going through it quickly and moved her hands right after with zero hesitation.
Woooong—
The remaining mana that was faintly scattered all over, wove into a translucent membrane in no time and covered the pledge.
A pledge with delicately flowing mana. Kang Yoo-sik let out a breath after looking at the unique wavelength flowing inside it.
“It’s done…….”
An item that would’ve taken even an expert in this field a good month to complete. The two alone completed it in just four days.
‘It somehow worked huh.’
He wasn’t even an expert in this field before regression but all that he did was read the thesis.
That’s why he thought it’d take over a month, but such predictions of Kang Yoo-sik were missed by several factors.
– You’ve worked hard. Lord.
– It was me who did.
– Shut up.
First off, it was Perceval’s computational skills and Andvari’s ability.
Thanks to those two, the calculation which would’ve taken a long time were completed faster and could simply amplify the power of the pledge, just passing over some complicated process.
Thanks to that, the required process was reduced a lot. But in return, the production process of it changed, causing problems that weren’t in the thesis.
But there was a very simple thing that solved it all. It was Cha Si-hyun’s coordinator.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Cha Si Hyun inadvertently supported using countless variables that weren’t even on the thesis and wrapped up the work with tremendous accuracy and speed.
Though it was also thanks to Perceval & Andvaranaut, it was safe to say that it was thanks to Cha Si-hyun.
‘The coordinator is truly…. tremendous I see.’
The more he looked at it, he couldn’t understand how the Hwang Young Group let this talent rot just like that.
Wouldn’t it have been better to build a proper cooperative relationship and utilize the coordinator without having to destroy her family and get her forcibly bind the pledge?
Kang Yoo-sik was dwelling upon the question while recalling the incident before the regression and gave an odd expression.
‘Perhaps Cha Si-hyun wasn’t the target from the beginning?’
Thinking about it now, he found out about Cha Si-hyun’s coordinator only when she attacked Hwang Hwi-chan and commissioned him.
In other words, there was a huge possibility that the Hwang Young Group had no idea about this too.
‘But that means they had another reason to destroy Cha Si-hyun’s family….’
Looking at how they forcefully tied up Cha Si-hyun too, there aren’t just one or two suspicious things to just simply call it an aggressive takeover.
When Kang Yoo-sik was lost in thoughts at the sudden suspicions.
“Mr. Kang Yoo-sik?”
Cha Si-hyun who was seated in the opposite direction came closer and called out to him.
“Ah, yes.”
“Are okay? Is there something wrong………?”
“Nope. I’m fine. I was just tired, so……”
“I see.”
Cha Si-hyun got back to her seat while Kang Yoo-sik looked at her and brushed off the question that was on his mind.
‘I can just gradually figure this out.’
Anyways he had no choice but to get involved with the Hwang Young Group later.
Kang Yoo-sik thought that there was no urgency about it and question while picking up the pledge to deal with Crimson first.
“I’m going to use it starting now, do you want to go together with me?”
“Yes. I too want to see if it’s made properly.”
“Then let’s get going to our training rooms, shall we?”
“Ah, then let me just get changed……..”
Kang Yoo-sik gave a strange expression at Cha Si-hyun who entered the room.
“On such a hot day, wouldn’t it be okay to just go with what you’re wearing?”
A large-sized short-sleeved white t-shirt that looks like it’s flowing down slightly along with hot pants that are barely visible with the t-shirt covering it.
He thought that she wore like that at home due to the heat, but he was confused as to why she’d get changed to go outside that’s even hotter.
As Kang Yoo-sik watched with a bewildered expression, Cha Si-hyun gazed back and answered quietly.
“Outside wear and indoor wear have always been different.”
Cha Si-hyun replied and went into the room right away, and moments later came out wearing the cadet uniform as usual.
“Let’s go.”
“Ah, sure…….”
Kang Yoo-sik headed towards the training room along with a fully armed Cha Si-hyun as usual. He took a breath after handing over the pledge to her.
‘First time for summoning….’
Before the regression, he had no connection with a fantasy creature, so he never had any experience dealing with it. Kang Yoo-sik clapped his hand while being quite nervous at the unfamiliar feeling.
Clap–!
At that action, a gigantic appeared in front of him and Kang Yoo-sik naturally recalled the image of Crimson.
As it did so, the mana from inside his body was sucked into the summoner, spewing up a dark red atmosphere, and started to form a figure.
A dragon slightly small in size, but certain in its dignity.
“Dragon……”
Cha Si-hyun muttered in surprise at the scene while Crimson who was fully summoned flashed its golden eyes and turned its head.
Crimson squinted its eyes and clenched its teeth right the moment Kang Yoo-sik was discovered.
[You cowardly bastard! How dare you summon me after doing such shit!]
Crimson yelled as expected right as he was summoned and Kang Yoo-sik chuckled at that.
“What do you mean shit? You were the one who did something to get beaten up.”
[Shut up! I can’t believe you were so cowardly to get help from that monster to beat me up….. I will not treat you as my true owner until you or the other one proves your strength!]
“I just have to prove my strength?”
[Huh?]
Crimson’s eyes narrowed at Kang Yoo-sik replied easier than expected and looked at the surroundings again.
As it discovered Cha Si-hyun, Crimson groaned for a moment and looked at Kang Yoo-sik again.
[Don’t tell me you’re planning on getting together with this lady and beat me up again.]
Perhaps it was that Crimson knew how it was going to be beaten up in case they fight, as it asked in disgust to which Kang Yoo-sik shook his head.
“You asked me to prove my strength. It doesn’t make sense if I do so.”
[Mmm……! Looks like you’ve gotten better than before where I couldn’t find anything called conscience in you!]
“……..”
[So, how are you going to prove your strength?”
At Crimson’s question, Kang Yoo-sik replied while taking off his jacket and handing it over to Cha Si-hyun.
“There’s nothing called how. We just have to fight.”
[Ohohh………]
Crimson’s eyes sparkled at Kang Yoo-sik’s reply and it growled with the scales of the whole body rising sharply.
[Are you confident enough? You may be strong but will eventually end up like a rag. You won’t be able to even reach the body of a wild dragon.]
“We’d know if we go for it. In return, I have a condition.”
[What is it?]
“If I win, you have to sign on the pledge. Got it?”
Crimson tilted its head at Kang Yoo-sik’s offer.
[Pledge? What is that?]
Kang Yoo-sik looked at Crimson with a deep smile at its pure reaction to it.
“It’s a token of loyalty to the owner. Only the truly strong ones can do it.”
[Hmm…… If that’s so then I have a condition too.]
“Mm?”
Crimson flashed its eyes as Kang Yoo-sik looked curiously.
[In case you lose to me, you have to free me and help me find my true master I can serve. That’s my condition!]
“Sure. That’d not be hard.”
[Good!]
Bam!
Crimson reacted well by banging the tail on the floor and Kang Yoo-sik smiled at that.
“Good, then let’s get started. Ms. Cha Si-hyun, please get back.”
“Sure.”
Kang Yoo-sik who moved Cha Si-hyun to the back prepared for the battle and Crimson twisted its mouth at the sight of it.
‘Heh. Looks like that rag doesn’t know his place.’
When Crimson was beaten unilaterally by three people last time, it penetrated through the opponent’s power even while being mercilessly beaten up.
Also…. Though its evaluation about Kang Yoo-sik wasn’t bad, it wasn’t good either! That was because he did have many tricks, but it didn’t seem like he was dealing with them properly.
‘Though it looks like he’d use a lot of magic…… With that level, he can’t even give a proper injury to my scales. In this battle…. The victory is mine!’
With this, all it had to do was find an outstanding owner who’d free it from the rag, monster, and the other one.
Crimson who concluded so, flashed its eyes and spread its wings out with all might.
Woong!
Kang Yoo-sik’s right arm was glowing brilliantly in silver light. Crimson looked at Kang Yoo-sik who pulled out six aids.
[……. Ah?]
Mana that was amplified more than twice as much as last time and six crosses flashing a ferocious light.
Above that, though it wasn’t visible that well, it felt like there was something ominous on his left-hand finger that was looking straight up at it.
Crimson looked dumbfounded at Kang Yoo-sik who looked as if he turned into a whole different monster from a rag.
“Here I come.”
Kang Yoo-sik ran to Crimson with all his might.
***
[Errghhhhhughhhrk!?]
Clang!
Crimson who was slammed on the floor after being grabbed by the tail, laid flat on the floor just like that and closed its eyes with both hands after realizing the current situation.
[Uhhhhhhhhh…………]
Losing like that after speaking so confidently?!
As Crimson would’ve lost even if it had fought in another way, it couldn’t bear it and was unable to even lift the head up.
Kang Yoo-sik chuckled at that and approached closer.
“Keep your promise, okay?”
Crimson staggered back trembling at Kang Yoo-sik’s question and stood back up as if nothing had happened.
And looked up at Kang Yoo-sik with a dignified expression.
[Fine. Now that you’ve proved your strength. I will accept you as the tr-……]
“Enough. Just sit down.”
[……… Sure.]
Crimson lowered its head immediately and Kang Yoo-sik showed the pledge he got from Cha Si-hyun.
“Okay. This is the pledge. If you put your footprint over here, it means that you will be pledging your loyalty to me.”
[Umm…… but what does it say?]
Kang Yoo-sik patted Crimson’s body when it asked out of curiosity as it could not read the letters on it.
“It’s not much. Something like, you will be loyal to the owner, will always do your best and will do whatever the owner says….?”
[Mm. Looks like obvious things I have to do.]
“It’s somewhat like that. Okay okay. Hurry up and sign.”
At Kang Yoo-sik’s words, Crimson put its foot on the pledge while feeling quite strange.
Woooong—-!
The pledge was activated normally and coiled around the body. Crimson gave an odd expression at the strange feeling and straightened its shoulders.
[I will be loyal to you no matter what!]
“Mmmm. Right. You have to.”
[……. What was that? That pathetic look.]
“Uh? No nothing.”
Kang Yoo-sik put his hand down, pulling out his phone to send a text to someone, and looked at Crimson after getting a reply.
“Act well towards your owner.”
Whoosh!
The surrounding changed along with those words.
It was the same room as before but a different place. At that, Crimson looked around in a flustered expression.
“Ah. You’re here!”
It was the other young owner who Crimson couldn’t accept more than the rag owner.
[……. In the end. It was like that huh.]
Crimson twisted its eyes at Lee Ha-rin after realizing the purpose of that pledge.
It was unbelievable how he brought it to obey that owner who couldn’t fight him no matter how much she tried.
Crimson laughed at Kang Yoo-sik while feeling furious.
‘Looks like they’ve misjudged me. It seems to have imposed restrictions, just this crap of a pledge. If only I get serious….’
Crimson flashed its eyes, spread its wings, and dashed to destroy the pledge that’s binding it with all might.
Sccruuuuuu!
“Uh, uhhhhhhh….!”
Mana was getting sucked out at the same time as Crimson’s exertion of power.
Lee Ha-rin gave a flustered look at that and Crimson scowled.
[You immature fools! I will-……]
“Sit down!”
Koong!
Crimson’s power that was rising all over the body had disappeared at once even before the words were conveyed and it looked around with wide eyes.
Wings were folded back in as if it was never spread out and with the hind legs and butt on the floor, it was already seated down.
[Wh……. What on earth……]
“How obedient~”
[Thank Y-…. Huh?]
Crimson was surprised at the humiliating answer uttered without realization and looked down at its body.
The thin paper that looked easy to destroy just a while ago, had now turned bigger than itself and weighed it down.
‘How come such a small piece of paper has this much of……’
Contrary to the appearance, it was made by condensing the knowledge of countless tamers over the decades. But Crimson who didn’t know that shuddered towards Kang Yoo-sik.
‘Wh-, what happens to me……?’
Crimson whose means of defiance had disappeared shook its eyes and at that, Lee Ha-rin dragged the phoenix at the back.
“This is Phoenix. Your colleague.”
“Screeee……”
A bird of flame with a strangely pitiful look on its face. At that sight, Crimson had an ominous feeling for some reason.
“Let’s get along well. Crimson.”
The other ‘owner’ looked at it with a clenched fist and gave a bright smile.
***
[I lost today too ^^;;]
A picture of Lee Ha-rin who was smiley while looking like a wreck and Crimson who was flat on the floor with the tongue out though it won.
Kang Yoo-sik who understood the situation in the image chuckled without realizing it.
‘Looks like I’ve met a person in charge.’
Just a few days ago she used to send captures posing dashingly that she won but as days pass by she looked like a wreck with no energy.
‘At this point, I need to think of it like Lee Ha-rin is the strange one.’
No matter how much he thinks that it was developing as it was under Nam Gung-ryoon’s care, that kind of grit and stamina was unbelievable.
Kang Yoo-sik looked at his phone like he was wondering if he had brought out its hidden talents or something.
“What are you looking at?”
Ahn Seol-ha who was seated in the opposite direction of the limousine asked with an exciting look.
“Ah, it’s not much.”
“Hmm… No matter how good it is, you have to focus on the escort today, okay? Since it’s a punishment.
Kang Yoo-sik gave a slight smile and put the phone down at Ahn Seol-ha’s who was talking coyly.
“Okay. From now onwards I’ll only be looking at you.”
“……… Good.”
Ahn Seol-ha gave a satisfied smile at Kang Yoo-sik’s words and they exchanged looks at each other.
The limousine halted as if on cue and the driver, Lee Hyun-chang muttered to the back.
“We’ve arrived at the party venue…”