Dripping Dripping.

The sound of millstones resounding reliably in my ears.

As Jinseon said, I felt like I could hear the sound better than usual, perhaps because I decided to leave the bandages covering my eyes a little longer.

Is this what Arietta usually feels?

It might be different since Arrieta senses through divine power.

No, it’s similar to ultrasound, so I wonder if there’s anything different?

“Well… … .”

When I’m still, all kinds of thoughts come to my mind. How long have you been doing nothing like this?

“Even if it’s frustrating, I want you to wait a little longer. I am making the medicine now.”

“Ah, so that sound… … .”

When I wondered why I suddenly heard the sound of a millstone, it seemed that they were manufacturing medicine for me.

“Is there any medicine for this too?”

[Contemplation] is a power engraved in the soul itself rather than the body.

Can the cost of overusing such [contemplation] be pacified with medicine?

“Everyone. When you feel pain, your body is begging you to heal it. Whether it comes from the body or from the mind.”

“okay.”

So far I’ve only seen Lucia Domine, the Pope, as a human who can [contemplate], but he is still the longest-lived dragon.

You may have seen eyes like this before.

“Do you know about these eyes?”

“Well… … .”

Jinsun smiled bitterly. No, I think it was built.

Now that I can’t see ahead, I can only guess.

“I think it’s still too early to make a hasty decision, so I’m just being cautious about what to say. I might put a burden on you by saying that.”

“then… … .”

“Ahahahaha, isn’t there still a lot of time? There is nothing to be impatient about. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could talk about it?”

“… … .”

Actually, there is not much time.

You never know when Kang Chul will attack this place. However, there is truth in Jinseon’s words.

Time may be tight, but not to the point of being impatient.

No matter how fast it is, there will be time for a day or two.

There will be many opportunities to talk in the future, and by that time, we will be able to fully understand each other.

“So, I’d like to rest a little more comfortably now.”

“Ah, yes… … .”

Respect for laughing adults that I haven’t felt in a long time. I don’t know why this has been a while, but anyway.

Is it because there are no adults around you to respect?

“May I ask how my colleagues are now?”

“Sure. It’s nice to see how you think of your friends. However, there is nothing to worry about. It’s late at night now, so I sent you to bed first.”

Fortunately, it seems it hasn’t been that long since I collapsed.

If he had arrived at Penglai Mountain within the same day, he would have opened his eyes right after arriving here.

Anyway, if the other kids were also safe, that was it. It would have been a big deal if Marie had been rejected for being a Sistus, but fortunately.

“You will need time to unwind. It’s nice to think of your friend, but you’d better take a break now.”

“Actually, even if it was a trip, it wasn’t that I spent a very long time. We left on the same day and arrived right away.”

“Isn’t travel a way to expand one’s world? Even if that time was short, it was time to put your eyes on unfamiliar things, so you better look back on it now.”

“I can’t stand it.”

The time he lived was melted into Jinseon’s words.

It is a feeling of oppression that cannot be resisted.

Time is said to be fair, but it seems that it is not possible to catch up with those who have gone ahead because it is rather fair.

Dripping Dripping.

When Jin-seon tries to stay still, he focuses on the sound of the millstone turning.

The constant ringing is a feeling of comfort.

Drizzle, thump, thump.

After listening to the sound of the millstone for a while, sooner or later a new sound began to come in.

the sound of the ground shaking. It looks like someone is running on the floor.

Listening to the sound, the stride is short and the sound echoes shallowly, so I think it must be a child.

“Grandpa Jinseon! I’m here… … !”

Familiar tone and unfamiliar tone.

freezing air. hardened atmosphere.

I’m glad I had a bandage on my eye. At least I was spared from seeing this horror with my own eyes.

“A look that suits your appearance. It’s really nice to see. Head of the academy.”

“You this bird… … No, hehehe! Oz? you f*cking… … No, can you tell me why you are here?”

“Just do it as usual.”

“Keugh… … .”

Tia chose to keep her mouth shut.

Still, it seems that he wants to show a calm appearance in front of a smiling adult.

Well, there are not many people in this world who are older than Tia, and among them there are not many people who can be respected personally, so it was inevitable.

Normally, I would have made fun of the head of the academy in this state, but I am a person who thinks about the future.

It’s that I’m afraid of the aftermath.

“I came to pick you up since the headmaster didn’t come back.”

“uh… … . Wouldn’t this be the first time I’ve been away like this? Did something happen to Skientia by any chance?”

“Yes, a little bit of an internal problem. If we leave it as it is, it seems that Skientia will disintegrate sooner or later.”

“What have you done to this bastard?”

Tia gets rid of her snobbishness and straightens herself. But the one who wants to be straight now is rather me.

Why are you treating me like a criminal?

It is a prejudice to think that everything that happens is because of me.

“I swear I didn’t really have any accidents.”

“Then did someone related to you have an accident? How much is your share?”

“… … About 20%.”

“Yes, then you are.”

No, this is really embarrassing.

It’s not wrong, but it’s unfair.

Why are you asking me that so I can’t even make excuses?

Who in the world would ask a question like that? behave shamefully.

“If you really get into an accident… … .”

“Tia.”

“… … ”

The atmosphere that seemed like it was going to explode in irritation calmed down with a word from Jinseon.

There is definitely a reason why it is called a god. Who would dare to resist the soft yet resolute atmosphere?

“If this child did something wrong, it would be right to be scolded. But before that, isn’t there something I need to check first?”

“… … .”

“Isn’t it the attitude of an adult to ask first if it doesn’t hurt or how it happened?”

“… … you’re right.”

assertiveness. Could this be the true transcendent?

I hope you learn a little from the fire-breathing lizard that you can feel as if you are grinding your teeth secretly right in front of your eyes.

“Aren’t you sick?”

“Fine. Principal, I’m a little dizzy, but is there anything special?”

It’s nice to see Jinsun accepting feedback right away.

I hope you will treat me kindly like that in the future.

“How did that happen?”

“I tried to break through the barrier of Mt. Bongnae, and it happened like this.”

“Right.”

“… … .”

“It must have been really hard.”

Something… … . Something is strange.

It’s kind, but it’s kind of hard. What? What kind of face is Tia in front of you right now?

Have you ever been so afraid of being invisible?

I didn’t do anything, so why should I be afraid of remorse?

It was Jinsun who forced Tia to be kind, but not me.

“Then can you explain what you did?”

“ha… … . is it tiaya? Aren’t you trembling? I didn’t realize how difficult it was for you to be kind to others. Wouldn’t you like to cool down for a while?”

“… … .”

Tia walked out of the room at Jinsun’s dejected voice.

The room feels even hotter.

“Tia has been having a lot of trouble lately, so don’t worry about it. If you’re worried about anything, I’ll explain it well, so don’t be afraid.”

“Yes, please take care of me.”

this is a real adult

This kind of person should be evaluated as a true adult, not the fake ones around you who can’t live up to their age.

A mature adult.

It is very moving to be able to achieve such a historic meeting.

* * *

How long has it been since then?

With your eyes closed, your sense of time becomes ambiguous. I feel like it’s been about 2 days, but I’m not sure.

While I was resting, I spent time sleeping, idling, or something like that.

Normally, I would have vehemently refused to spend such a boring time, but there was a strange comfort.

Is it because you feel protected by adults? There is room in the heart.

“Oz, are your eyes okay?”

“I don’t know what to do with the headmaster worrying so much.”

“… … Anyway, you have a problem with that snout. Half of the things you do wouldn’t have happened if you were good at keeping your mouth shut.”

Either Jin-seon persuaded her well, or the fever that rose to her head subsided as time passed, and Tia looked normal.

It’s the same as nagging, but it still feels more mature than before.

It could be that the atmosphere around her makes it that way, but seeing her growth is impressive.

“Hmm. I think it will be okay if I loosen the bandages soon.”

“Is that so?”

Of course, that didn’t mean I wasn’t frustrated.

As soon as Jin-seon gave permission, he removed the bandages covering his eyes.

“… … Is this okay?”

My eyes are strange.

Should I say that the images overlap?

It feels like [Contemplation], which is an output enough to be activated during battle, is being applied in its basic state.

“It’s something you brought on yourself, so there’s nothing you can do about it. It will still take a little longer to get used to it like before.”

“Well… … .”

It’s definitely uncomfortable.

The output of [Contemplation] gradually increases and then decreases, etc., at will.

Perhaps just a moment ago, the impact was much worse.

“I guess this bandage wasn’t an ordinary item either.”

If the output of [Contemplation] was this much, there is no way I would be blind.

The world seen through [Contemplation] is not already at the level of seeing with the eyes.

I could see who was behind me right away, but could I have blocked it with just a piece of cloth like this?

“Seeing a lot is tiring. Don’t you sometimes need time to understand what you’ve seen? It would be nice to meditate like this in the future.”

“Actually, all I was thinking was random thoughts.”

“Is there anything wrong with meditation? Even though you saw it, the things you shed, the things you thought were sundry. Looking back at those unimportant things is also meditation.”

“Looking back… … .”

That word particularly struck me.

After removing the bandage, I look at Jin-seon for the first time.

White hair and beard, even a benevolent smile. It is like a fresh figure protruding from a painting.

But if there’s one thing that catches your eye, it’s that.

Blue eyes that illuminate everything.

Did you say it is the eye that reads the heavenly spirit? Perhaps the names of those eyes are not accurate.

It wasn’t the ability through the eyes, it was just being revealed through the eyes.

It is infinitely calm and clear.

What is reflected in those eyes becomes clearer as time goes on.

The more you approach the end of life, the more you look back on yourself.

Through him, to understand the world itself to which he belonged.

To turn the light and shine it backwards.

“Return light reflection… … .”

The moment I saw it, I could understand.

Jinseon knew more than anyone else that his death was imminent.

Yet, he does not express it. He is not afraid of death, which is clearly visible, and he is just realizing it while looking back on his life.

“Yes, ah. It seems that you can even see my death in your eyes. I am really worried about how you have to carry such a heavy burden.”

“… … .”

Even as Jinseon talked about his death, he smiled and expressed his concern about me.

The notion of death is not as light as Marie’s.

He decided to accept it nonetheless knowing how heavy it was.

“Ah must. It may sound sudden, but would you like to hear what kind of dragon it is?”

“… … .”

I nodded.

He seemed to have something to say. It seemed that there was something to be said.

It may be the reason why they welcomed me as a guest.

“The dragon is an infinitely lonely being. Do you know how?”

“Is it because there are few of them?”

“It is. but… … .”

Jinseon took a moment to steam, and soon began brewing tea.

I didn’t rush, I just sat and watched the action.

It was then that the tea, which had been brewed carefully for a long time, began to give off a bitter scent.

“There are many people who don’t know, but there are always four dragons in this world.”

It’s a contradiction.

But at the same time it was also true.

There were five beings called ‘dragons’ in this world, but one of them wasn’t actually a dragon.

Jinseon smiled at my calm expression, then put the car down in front of me and said.

“Looking at you calmly accepting it, it must be something you already know.”

“Yes, King Kang Chul. She must be something close to a dragon, not a dragon.”

“yes… … . I’d love to elaborate on that too, but… … . Let’s put off our turn a little later.”

Jinsun carefully began to sip his portion of tea. His gestures were infinitely restrained and relaxed.

By the time I finished organizing the previous story in my head.

Jinseon opened his mouth again.

“Four dragons… … But in fact, that’s different too. We are only called dragons, because each of us should be classified as an individual.”

“individual… … You mean?”

“Yes, ah. do you know I have no wings.”

Four, but one object at the same time.

He seemed to know what Jin-seon was trying to say.

If Tia is closer to the Western ‘Dragon’, Jinsun is closer to the Eastern ‘Dragon’.

“Nyx has huge hands, a tail, and scales that shine like jewels.”

[Black Dragon] Nyx, who settled in ＜Pandemonium＞, could not fly, but instead had a tail that could drop everything flying in the sky.

“Harbart has a graceful body and fins.”

The [sea dragon] Harbart, who settled in the ＜Borderline Sea＞, had a streamlined body and skin that could move freely in the water.

“For me… … You have this nice beard and horns. It is something to be proud of.”

[Baekryong] Jinseon, who settled in ＜Bonglaesan Mountain＞, had a long and thin beard like an oriental dragon and horns like a deer.

“So much, we are all different. That’s the rule.”

“Rule… … ?”

“If we, who have such great power, do not value the things around us, what kind of disaster would there be?”

I could tell from Jinsun’s words.

The dragon’s loneliness was designed that way from the beginning.

So that they can’t wield their power recklessly. Create precious things around you, things to protect, and use them to protect their power.

They just had to be lonely.

“Ah must. If so. How can we not feel lonely when we have no choice but to be different while feeling the same?”

“Yes… … That’s right.”

Jinseon’s few words contained many meanings. It means so much that it makes my head dizzy.

“I was like that too. I wished there was someone like me. I didn’t want to remain the only one. So do you know what mistake the foolish old lady might have made?”

[Baekryong] Jinseon made a mistake to relieve his loneliness.

Even he, who is called a freshman, couldn’t stand the loneliness.

He said he wished there was someone like him.

Yes, there was a being with a shape surprisingly similar to Jinseon.

“It must have been Jinseon-nim who made Kang Chul now… … .”

Jin-seon broke his relaxed expression and said as if he was sad.

“yes… … .”

[Baekryong] Jinseon was not like a freshman who transcended the world.

He still looks back on the past and ponders his regrets over and over again.

“I still regret it. How can I forget the words of my selfishness… … .”

It was just one person.