Chapter 750: Dragon keeper (4)

After Hwangryong left, we decided to visit the Red Dragon Palace in the south in the afternoon.

The Red Dragon Palace is where the shaman candidates are staying.

Yoon Yeorang is there, so if I made an excuse saying that I wanted to see my junior from Eungwang High, it wouldn’t be suspicious.

‘Yong Jegun won’t have to make any excuse no matter what he does.’

I knew it, but no one thought Yong Jegun’s actions and remarks strange after we arrived at the palace.

Hwangryong treated Yong Jegun like a playful younger brother, while the dragons and the shamans only looked at him with lukewarm eyes.

The dragons seemed disappointed that Yong Jegun had set his mind on ascending.

My thoughts were a little different.

‘How can Yong Jegun have no regrets when he’s enjoying life here like this?’

Yong Jegun was peacefully preparing to go to the Red Dragon Palace.

He invited Jeokho with us.

“Jeokho-ssi, do you want to come to the Red Dragon Palace?”

“You mean the one down south? It’s an ambiguous position. I’ll wait at the Blue Dragon Palace just in case there are eyes watching. Please take good care of my son.”

Jeokho refused without much thought.

I knew he would say that because Jeokho is planning to limit his actions at this time.

His last sentence seemed to be directed at me as well though.

I know that Jeokho treats Kim Shinrok as a young kid, but he doesn’t think he’s younger than me, right?

Yong Jegun grinned as if he read my thoughts.

“Shinrok-ie must be very young in your eyes, Jeokho-ssi. Right, Shinrok-ah?”

“It’s probably because you’re old.”

Kim Shinrok was speechless after the blindfold conversation with Hwangryong, but he was able to bite back like that.

Of course, Yong Jegun didn’t shut up easily.

“Yeah, Jeokho-ssi and I are very old.”

“Jeokho-nim didn’t age like you.”

By my standards, all the royal lineage and descendants here are very old.

They’re thousands of years old, but I don’t know why they’re being so childish.

If it wasn’t Yong Jegun on the other side of this childish fight, Jeokho might’ve stepped in.

“Don’t tease my young son too much. Yong Jegun.”

“Huh? Young…?”

“Alright. I went too far, Shinrok-ah. I’m sorry. Let’s go now.”

Kim Shinrok blushed when he was called “young” by Jeokho.

In that state, he was dragged by Yong Jegun who apologized with empty words.

Yong Jegun apologized, but it feels like Kim Shinrok lost.

There was a small commotion, but we headed to the Red Dragon Palace as if nothing had happened.

To learn each palace at a glance, we decided to go from the Blue Dragon Palace through the Yellow Dragon Palace at the center and finally to the Red Dragon Palace in the south.

‘It’s different from palaces in fairy tales, but it’s similar to their names.’

The Blue Dragon Palace was inspired by the return of Cheongryong, decorated with blue flames and water.

The Yellow Dragon Palace where Hwangryong stays is the widest and where mysterious clouds of light, several Unryongs, were afloat.

The Red Dragon Palace allowed red coral to bloom everywhere.

I haven’t looked at them in detail yet, but just a glance was good enough.

Of course, considering the purpose of why we came here, it was difficult to treat it like a sightseeing activity.

“The structure of the road connecting the Yellow and Red palaces has changed a little.”

It seems like it’s been a while since Yong Jegun made a proper tour around the palace.

I also said something by comparing the map that I drew in my memory when we first arrived.

“It’s been changed to make it easier to come and go.”

“He’ll continue to trim it. I think Hwangryong really likes his guests. I wonder if the internal structure has changed a lot.”

While we were observing the surroundings, we saw someone standing in front of the Red Dragon Palace.

The two candidates were there, except for Yoon Yeorang.

“We came out because we felt guests coming.”

“You knew Yoon Yeorang, right? She’s exploring the Red Dragon Palace, so she might take a while.”

The two treated our group with sincerity even though they themselves might not be familiar with the palace yet.

Since Hwangryong especially sent an Unryong to the three candidates, there was someone in charge of guiding and entertaining them.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

However, the two candidates tried to be polite despite their nervousness.

Unryong tried to offer tea and snacks, but I dissuaded.

“I brought a present. Would you like to eat together?”

I brought out a box with MITRON’s logo.

The box contained confectionery and drinks.

MITRON sells drinks in cans which let me bring them without worry.

The two candidates looked bright as if they didn’t mind the sweets.

“I heard that it’s difficult to access food on earth in the Dragon Palace, so I prepared it as a gift.”

“Yoon Yeorang isn’t here yet though…”

“I’ve prepared a lot, please don’t worry. Let’s eat together while we wait. I wanted to talk to you guys too.”

Although the two candidates hesitated, they listened to me and we had a little tea party.

In one bite, the two candidates fell in love with MITRON.

“The traditional sweets given by the shamans were also delicious, but this one is…”

“It’s delicious. Thank you. May I ask where you bought it?”

The two turned on their devices and took note of the information that I gave.

Even though communication wasn’t possible in the Dragon Palace, we can use devices in offline mode.

Seeing them use devices, they looked like ordinary modern people instead of shaman candidates.

Both of them are players from a different high school.

One of them was a senior, and the other already graduated.

‘I heard the current shamans are of different ages. The candidates seem to be the same.’

After talking, I asked about their candidacy.

The two answered without being vigilant.

The first shaman candidate had good eyes.

“I actually saw you come from far away. I was able to prepare myself while I waited.”

The first candidate said so and pinpointed the route we traveled.

I thought she wouldn’t see through the clouds of the Yellow Dragon Palace, but her eyes were good enough to do so.

The second candidate had good ears.

“I heard you coming. I was going to focus on the three footsteps, but I also heard a little of your conversation. I’m sorry.”

Even though the distance was quite far, the second candidate heard our footsteps and our words.

The shaman candidates said that she heard us talk about the changed road between the palaces.

As I listened to the two of them, I thought about what I saw in PMH.

‘The scene in PMH gave an impression that the shamans who couldn’t tell that the Dragon King was fake weren’t good. In reality, their qualities aren’t bad.’

I can’t say ‘excellent’ but they weren’t bad.

Objectively speaking, there are many young players better than the two.

They can use their eyes and ears, but they’re not as good as Jang Namwook’s Eye of the Star Maiden or Moon Saeron’s Focused Coverage.

Their senses are probably not as good as Joo Soohyuk's or Ahn Dain’s.

However, the Dragon King chose these two.

‘Other than being excellent players, I guess it’s also taken into consideration their compatibility with the Dragon Clan and the ability to communicate with the Dragon King.’

In that regard, Yoon Yeorang would be the best pick.

She met the Dragon King in her dream already.

While I was speculating about the selection criteria, the two put down their forks.

“It was so good that I almost overate. I should’ve left some for Yeorang…”

“Yeorang hasn’t eaten a meal since she came here. I hope she will eat some snacks.”

Then, Yong Jegun asked with a smile.

“Really? Did the Dragon Palace food not suit her taste?”

“Yes, I guess so. She didn’t touch it.”

“I see. How about you two?”

The two looked vague at Yong Jegun’s question.

I guess it’s hard to answer.

“You can be honest. I actually also only eat what I want to eat. Shinrok-ie over here has his own favorite food too…”

Kim Shinrok, the innocent dried persimmon lover, was dragged out.

His expression looked like he wanted to bury a tack in Yong Jegun’s blindfold, but he kept quiet so as not to interrupt the flow of conversation.

The candidates hesitated.

“Honestly, I don’t really like seafood… Oh, but I had a few bites.”

“I’m not particularly picky, but maybe because I’m nervous I couldn’t eat well.”

The two of them ate, but it must not suit their tastes.

It was no wonder that their tongues got loose ahead of the big test.

Yong Jegun nodded.

“You must be hungry then. We still have enough snacks for you, so go ahead and eat more.”

“Ah, thank you…!”

Although it hasn’t been long since they came here, the candidates accepted Yong Jegun’s playfulness yet kind favor.

Even though some time has passed, Yoon Yeorang didn’t appear.

She must be wandering around.

I didn’t make plans with her so it can’t be helped.

Soon enough, the time for Hwangryong’s welcoming banquet approached.

Yong Jegun spoke to the worried candidates.

“Unryong is with her, so she can come whenever she wishes. Alright, shall we go first? Hwangryong will be disappointed if many people are late.”

And so we headed to the Yellow Dragon Palace ahead of Yoon Yeorang.

The banquet was held in a pavilion inside the palace.

There was a huge garden and lake inside the palace too.

The pavilion rose above the clouds, and had no walls, only roofs and pillars, letting us see the superb view of the garden and lake.

It was the best place to hold a banquet.

“Welcome. Now only one candidate is missing.”

Hwangryong greeted us and instructed Unryong to guide us.

When we followed Unryong to the pavilion, almost all the seats were taken.

Jeokho was in the east with a little view of the Blue Dragon Palace, and the dragon and Cheongryong were around him talking.

“So, Junyeol is…”

“My son is…”

I didn’t hear what Cheongryong and Jeokho were talking about, but I could guess easily.

Another show-off contest is being held.

Jeokho was outnumbered, but unlike Yeom Junyeol, he could boast about his son who was in the palace.

When Yong Jegun tried to catch Kim Shinrok, who was trying to distance himself and push him to the middle…

“It looks like all our guests have arrived.”

With Hwangryong’s words, Yoon Yeorang appeared.

She had traces of several kinds of powers, perhaps because she had been exploring all kinds of places.

She tidied up her clothes, but the corners were still crumpled.

“Hello! Am I the last one? I’m not late, am I?”

Next to the brisk Yoon Yeorang was an Unryong who looked tired from being dragged around.

Other than Unryong, there was another person who looked tired from being dragged.

‘Is that one of the Dragon Palace’s shamans?’

Behind Yoon Yeorang stood a Dragon Palace shaman wearing yellow cotton yarn.

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