Do you understand?

Do you understand?

Regardless of Han A-rin’s mental breakdown, our conversation continued.

There were various topics discussed, but the most memorable one was about the ‘Elixir’.

 

“My child, you’ll need to take the Elixir soon. It would be good to determine your constitution in advance.”

I shook my head to this, as if to say it was really okay.

 

However, Grandmother Lecia shook her head in return as if to say it wasn’t okay, and placed her hand on my forehead.

‘It’s warm.’

 

Although I don’t particularly like being treated like a child,

Maybe because of who she is, I find it somewhat comforting.

 

Grandmother Lecia poked my cheek and continued speaking.

“I know you don’t want to take it because it tastes bad, but you still have to take it.”

 

“…?”

“If you take your medicine well, I’ll give you my favorite candy. Let’s just take it once with your eyes closed.”

 

Somehow, the situation seems like I’ve become a baby throwing a tantrum because I don’t want to take medicine.

I composed myself at Grandmother Lecia’s words and tried to explain as logically as possible that it was okay.

 

“It’s not that I don’t wanna take medicine… If I take something like that when I’m not even sick, it won’t be available for people who really need it. I think it’s better not to take it.”

(It’s not that I don’t want to take medicine. If I take the Elixir when I’m not even sick, it won’t be available for people who really need it. I think it’s better not to take it.)

 

I thought this would be a reasonable excuse for refusal, so I looked at Grandma Lecia somewhat triumphantly.

But Grandma just smiled and said to me.

“Still, you should drink it.”

“……”

Despite giving a very mature and reasonable explanation for my refusal.

Being firmly rejected made me a bit sulky, and my lips were about to pout.

Of course, I’ve grown a lot over time, and I recognized that this wasn’t mature, so I managed to pull it back in just before it came out.

I’m a bit proud of the satisfaction that comes from showing my subtly grown willpower and mature response.

While simultaneously feeling dejected from being rejected, my tail is swishing back and forth indecisively.

Grandma Lecia stroked my head and said.

“Won’t you drink it for Grandma’s sake?”

If she puts it like this, there’s no way to refuse anymore.

I nodded to Grandma and said I would drink the elixir

“That’s right. Good girl, good girl.”

This might be a little embarrassing!

But I can’t show my dissatisfaction, so while receiving endless pampering.

Grandma told me when I should drink the elixir.

“If you drink the concentrate as it is, side effects may occur. We plan to mix it with beneficial ingredients and potions to make it in the most suitable form for you, Ha-eun. So let’s drink the elixir when this Grandma visits your lair.”

“… Yes.”

Having promised to drink it, I can’t back out now.

I decided to work hard, determined to repay for the elixir.

* * * * *

We tried to politely refuse the elder dragons’ insistence that we stay just one more night.

We had returned to the hospital room and were sitting on the floor.

There was no particular reason, just that being fussed over like babies was a bit embarrassing.

‘It’s not that I dislike it, but it’s hard to keep accepting it continuously.’

Anyway, as adults wanting to maintain at least some dignity, we returned to the hospital room as soon as the banquet ended.

Chae-a was laying out on the floor all the snacks she had stuffed in her pockets.

Seo-rin, who came to visit us in the hospital room, looked at us with a hint of disappointment and said.

“I missed Ha-eun and Chae-a all day today. Didn’t you miss me?”

Startled by those words, wondering if we had too much fun at the party without Seo-rin, I was about to respond when.

Chae-a, who was nearby, grabbed Seo-rin’s hand tightly and said cheerfully.

“Yup!”

“…?”

Isn’t it usually “no” instead of “yup” when you’re supposed to say you missed someone?

Thinking this might not be right, I blinked in confusion.

Seo-rin, looking very flustered, quickly asked Chae-a.

“Oh, you didn’t miss me?”

“Nope. It’s okay.”

At those words, Seo-rin looked at Chae-a with a genuinely hurt expression.

Just as I was about to intervene, thinking this shouldn’t be left as is.

Chae-a pulled out the hairpin Seo-rin had bought her and said.

“When I see this… I can bear not missing you, so it’s okay. With this, Chae-a and Ha-eun and unnie are always together…!”

Ha-eun then carefully puts the pin back in her pocket and giggles.

Seo-rin quickly relaxed her expression at those words and spoke playfully.

“Oh, so that’s what it was?”

“Yeah. But when you’re not here, it hurts here… So you can’t disappear. Okay?”

Chae-a says calmly while pressing firmly near her heart.

Then she smiles brightly and focuses on organizing the snacks.

Although Chae-a didn’t say much, it seemed she was under a lot of stress about people around her disappearing.

I decided to be careful about this and was offering my tail that Chae-a likes, when Seo-rin hugged me and Chae-a and said.

“Then shall we sleep together after a long time? The bed might be a bit narrow, so I’ll bring some blankets.”

“Yeah, I’d love to!”

Chae-a nods her head, giggling happily at the thought of sleeping together.

I was roughly patting Chae-a’s head,

When Seo-rin looked at me and asked one question.

“Come to think of it, Ha-eun, did the elders give you an elixir?”

It seems the story about the elixir has spread around.

Since there’s nothing particularly to hide, I nodded, and Seo-rin spoke to me with an expression mixed with relief and apology.

“I should have been the one to get it for you…”

Why is everyone so desperate about not being able to give me the elixir?

By this point, I could easily realize that I had some illness that even I didn’t know about.

But honestly, I was just puzzled because I didn’t feel sick anywhere, nor did I think I would get sick.

‘Come to think of it, wouldn’t it all show up in the examination?’

Thinking about it, I haven’t really had any tests other than the initial one when I first came here.

Seeing that they’re trying to give the elixir after making a definitive decision, I thought there might really be a big problem.

I was curious about what the exact answer might be, but I didn’t think asking a child would yield any particular answer, so I just mumbled to myself.

* * * * *

Seo-rin had temporarily stepped out to fetch a blanket and pillow.

Normally, she would have come out with Ha-eun and Chae-a.

But now, she had come out wanting to sort out her emotions.

‘It’s fortunate… but a bit complicated.’

The great relief that Ha-eun would be able to drink the elixir.

The disappointment and self-doubt that she herself had been of no help.

She looked up at the ceiling, thinking that various emotions were mixed and it was a bit complicated.

‘I feel like I’m not being helpful to Ha-eun.’

Despite vowing to pour everything into helping Ha-eun when she was imprisoned.

After actually escaping, she hasn’t been able to do anything for Ha-eun.

Of course… that wasn’t entirely bad, but it was inevitable to feel disappointed in herself.

‘… I should reflect.’

Although they were lucky to get the elixir this time, if another ‘problem’ arises due to unavoidable variables.

They couldn’t rely on the goodwill of others and hope for luck again.

So, thinking about becoming stronger and steeling her resolve, she calmed her heart.

‘Let’s raise the hunter rank as quickly as possible.’

I hardened my expression, thinking I would do anything to protect Ha-eun.

 

The next day, when I woke up, what I saw was

The back of Chae-a exploring under the blanket and Seo-rin still asleep.

 

I was blankly staring at this scene, finding it extremely peaceful, when I saw the counselor enter the hospital room.

“Oh my, Ha-eun and Chae-a are awake? And… Seo-rin? Why is Seo-rin sleeping here?”

 

The counselor looked at this, chuckling as if she found it amusing.

Then she approached me and calmly continued speaking.

 

“But it’s not good to sleep on the floor… From next time, bring a spare bed from the room next door. Understand?”

“Yes!”

 

My tail keeps wagging involuntarily at the counselor’s kind words.

I’m giving the naughty tail an “ang-nyang-nyang” punishment, telling it to calm down, when

 

Seo-rin, who has woken up, rises from her spot with a dazed face and speaks to the counselor, startled.

“Oh, oh? Ah, hello.”

 

She must have slept so deeply that her hair is all messy, making her look like a lion.

I’m giggling at Seo-rin’s puffed-up hair, when

 

Seo-rin, seemingly having finally come to her senses, fixes her hair and speaks to us.

“Ah… I’m late.”

 

It seems she needs to go for training.

I’m thinking how tough it must be to still have to train even after becoming a hunter, when

 

Seo-rin frantically rubs her cheeks against mine and Chae-a’s faces before hurriedly speaking.

 

“Sis, I’m going to training for a bit. See you later, okay?”

“Chae-a is good at waiting…!”

“Yeah, I’ll be back soon, sis. Don’t worry!”

“Alright!”

“Ha-eun, you should wait without crying too, okay?”

“…?”

A question mark floats above my head, but Seo-rin leaves without seeming to care about listening.

I blankly stare at Seo-rin’s back as she walks away.

Chae-a wriggles closer to me and says something.

“Ha-eun, you can’t leave. Okay?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Seeing that she’s using formal speech, she must be afraid I might refuse.

As soon as I nod my head in agreement, Chae-a seems relieved, giggles, and sits next to me, fiddling with some snacks.

I look at Chae-a for a while, then stretch out and organize what I need to do today.

‘First, decorating the lair…!’

After decorating diligently, I decided to ask the viewers for their opinions, thinking it would be good to do that first.