Chapter 202

Chapter 202

Though the impact of the sight before me was quite incredible, something even more astonishing happened right after.

After Seo Dawon hopped off, sparkling lights began to cover the dragon's body. Soon, its white shine filled my view.

After the light faded, what appeared before us wasn't the huge dragon but Jo Chanyoung in his combat uniform. In addition, the echoes of light still remained, floating as string-like light strands midair. These white strings percolated into Jo Chanyoung's back, as if sucked in, and soon disappeared-It was as if the dragon had turned into a human being.

This was so fascinating because I had never directly seen such transformations before, nor had I ever heard about such cases in my entire career as a User. Jo Chanyoung stretched and crack his neck. After seeing my shocked expression, he made a strange noise.

Only after I felt his gaze did I realize that my shocked expression was perhaps a bit too honest; I turned away from him. Soon, though, I was forced to look straight ahead again because of Seo Dawon close approach.

"Garam-ah," the mage said.

"Yes?"

"Are you hurt?"

The first words I heard from the Mage was surprisingly filled with concern. As if he was genuinely worried, his voice was so soft and gentle.

I felt my face flushing red, and instinctively denied, "N-No..."

"Really? Jaemin-ie said you got injured, though."

"N-No, that's... it was nothing."

"He got hurt, but I healed him."

I glared at the despicable Bae Jaemin who squeezed into our conversation. No wonder he said nothing to Woo Ragi; he was busy ratting out the tiniest of details to Seo Dawon.

When I glared at him, Bae Jaemin smiled as if he had something to say but eventually frowned his brows and lowered his gaze. It bothered me how shamelessly he could adopt an unfairly wronged expression.

However, Seo Dawon tapped my shoulder and chuckled. "It's fine as long as you've been treated. I just wanted you to be careful."

"......Yeah."

"So, stop glaring at Jaemin-ie. You know Jaemin-ie has to regularly report to me about injuries."

Seo Dawon's scolding pierced me accurately in my conscience; I reigned in my glare. However, as if I were being stubborn, I stayed at a distance from the Priest.

Subsequently, the Mage passed by me and approached Woo Ragi, who stood unphased. Woo Ragi's Echo Swords were perched like wings, floating beside him in the air. As Seo Dawon approached, the swordsman created a gap between the blades and allowed him to enter. When Seo Dawon stepped inside, I couldn't hear any voices from within that cocoon of blades.

'Maybe they're talking about something secretive?'

Inadvertently, I began to eagerly observe Seo Dawon and Woo Ragi's expressions. Seo Dawon smiled as he said a few things; Woo Ragi frowned and shook his head, as if he refused to do as he was told.

Because I was so focused on their conversation, I didn't notice the presence that had crept up behind me. Someone tapped me on the back very lightly; horrified, I turned around.

There stood Jo Chanyoung-twice my size even though his posture was stooped over.

However, after going through the trouble of getting my attention, he simply stood still without making eye contact. He stubbornly tilted his gaze away from me; it was to the extent that I would have assumed he was trying to pull a prank if not for his serious expression devoid of smiles.

Furthermore, he must have called out to me because he had some business with me, but he did nothing but silently stand behind me. How frustrating.

"......"

"What...is it?" So, naturally, I had no kind-hearted things to say. At my blunt question, Jo Chanyoung pointed his finger at where the [System Message] alert would be from my perspective.

There, I had received a notification that a new message had arrived. It was as if he was informing me that all he had to say was written in that message.

'But, why isn't he saying anything and only gesturing with his hand...?'

I saw him speak normally during the pre-raid meeting; he shouldn't have an issue with vocal communication...

Even though this business was all so cumbersome, I opened the message with a puzzled mind. Jo Chanyoung had sent a private message-not to the group chat.

[Jo Chanyoung: I want to purchase a black-market ticket by tomorrow]

[Jo Chanyoung: Also want to know if it's possible to make it a monthly purchase.]

[Jo Chanyoung: Can I hand you the amount I paid before?]

I felt even more puzzled when I saw his brief message. Honestly, was it really necessary to do this over text? Furthermore, judging from his behavior and expression, it seems like he was grudgingly participating in this conversation.

I unintentionally responded out loud, "It's possible, but..."

However, as soon as I spoke out loud, Jo Chanyoung rolled his eyes and tapped his fingertips in the air. Soon after, I heard a new alarm, informing me that a [New message has arrived!].

[Jo Chanyoung: Rather than talking]

[Jo Chanyoung: I want to continue the deal here]

Of course, it was Jo Chanyoung's message that appeared before me.

I was at first skeptical-why, when he has a perfectly intact mouth, would he need to send messages? I wondered if there were any rules to the [Black Market] that I was ignorant of, so I finally asked him these questions over message.

[Jung Garam: But, why aren't we talking out loud...]

[Jo Chanyoung: ?]

[Jo Chanyoung: Complications can arise when conducting monetary transactions through verbal conversation...]

[Jo Chanyoung: You could take the money and not uphold your end of the deal.]

[Jung Garam: Me??]

[Jo Chanyoung: Yeah]

'What's he saying... Does he think I'm the type of person to do that?'

Shocked at the absurdity of his statement, I glared at the summoner. Jo Chanyoung bowed his head a bit more as he noted my worsening mood; he also tilted his body subtly out of my way.

"If you don't trust me, why would you want to do business with me?" When I immediately questioned him in an angered tone, Bae Jaemin, who had been giving us quick sidelong glances, started staring at me. However, Jo Chanyoung continued to tap at the air with a prim expression even when confronted with my temper.

[Jo Chanyoung: Rather than not trusting you, I've decided on this method after considering the possible consequences.]

[Jo Chanyoung: Also, when I speak with people for a long time, my mood starts to slump...]

[Jo Chanyoung: I'd prefer to conduct business with as little speaking as possible.]

His reply-which brokered no formalities nor excuses-was refreshingly curt. After reading all that, I looked at Jo Chanyoung again, but his head had turned away from me and was staring at the ground soullessly.

For some reason, it felt like he'd just trudge away-murmuring 'it can't be helped'-if I were to refuse him for some reason. I was bewildered and not exactly happy with what he said, but I finally nodded. Perhaps Jo Chanyoung's request may become a key component of this [Vengeful Ghost Memory].

However, I didn't know the market price for the [Black Market] tickets; the world within the [Vengeful Ghost Memories] isn't real anyway. This was a quest that had been packaged in with Choi Kyung-sik's 'memory,' so I thought it'd be fine to do him the summoner a favor without receiving money in return. Well... To be honest, I was also curious to see how Jo Chanyoung would react to something like that.

[Jo Chanyoung: And the price?]

[Jung Garam: I'll just give it to you]

[Jo Chanyoung: ?]

I retrieved the [Black Market] ticket by pressing on a button on the [Status Window] and floated it above my hand-as if I were showing it off to Jo Chanyoung. The subtle gleam of the invitation ticket, unchanging from when I last saw it, caught the light; I inserted it into a crevice created by Jo Chanyoung's folded arms.

Jo Chanyoung looked speechless in his own unique way-typical of those that can't express themselves very well-at my unexpected action. When I grinned, his gaze turned chilly, and he grabbed me by the wrist.

"...I hate being in debt." He firmly shut his open mouth and murmured bleakly. The force applied to my wrist was so great; I felt like I'd be dragged around by him.

However, I was an assassin, a class that was peerless in its close-range attack abilities; Jo Chanyoung was merely a summoner (?)... I simply spread out my fingers one by one, shook them, and laughed teasingly at him.

"If you don't need it, then you can throw it away," I said.

"......" The clear bewilderment on Jo Chanyoung's face made me happy. He blinked a few times, as if he were about to call out to me, and eventually dropped his hand, fiddling with crumpled edges of the ticket.

Just then, a gap appeared in Woo Ragi's mass of swords; Seo Dawon stepped through and joined the rest of us again, a smile on his lips. Woo Ragi, standing behind the mage, looked annoyed but docilely followed his guild master anyway.

TL: Jo Chanyoung is such an interesting person... I want to meet him. He's kinda like my friend who'll text me when I'm in the room w/ her lmao.

Anyway guys, Thanks for reading >.< Hope you enjoyed the two chaps. Trying to pick things up and return to the current timeline lmao.