Chapter 272: Changeling(2)

The one saying hello is that jellyfish guy, but who's calling him dad?

Could it be that one of the kids are here? ...That's unlikely, I thought the jellyfish guy was trying to mess with my memory, but then the fog rolled in. It was so fierce that it seemed like it would swallow me up at any moment, but it just swirled around me as if blocked by an invisible wall. Then, magic started to be sucked out of my body. Towards my chest. Towards the wound in my chest.

I should have fainted, but for some reason, I was fine. Mana was flowing from somewhere, no, wait a minute.

'Grace.'

I remembered the power of Grace that had healed me. I checked the item description of Grace just in case.

[Yoo Eunhye - L grade

A sword born from the magic stone of Dragon Lord and Grand Blacksmith Shalos. Young Mana Spring (limited connection for the contractor).

Contractor - Han Yoojin]

Mana Spring. There was an additional description that wasn't there at first. Myeongwoo said it was a growth-type item, but I didn't know abilities could be added like this. It seemed to have swallowed some of the power of the Mana Hole.

It would normally be impossible, but Grace was born from Shalos, the original creator. So, I guess I won't have to worry about running out of mana in the future.

Meanwhile, the magic stone in my chest continued to suck in mana. As if it had been holding back all this time, it did so fervently. And then.

"...Where is this?"

The scenery around me changed. A familiar ceiling, wallpaper, sofa, table, etc. came into view. It's the house from the ranch. Of course, it's not the real one, but even the long scratch marks on the wall were perfectly reproduced. There were many other traces as well. Although it's still a new house, it looked like it had been lived in for about three years because there were so many kids.

Most of the traces were left by monsters, but there were also ones caused by Yoohyun and Yerim. I opened the drawer just in case, and it was full of brand new cell phones still in their packaging. The top compartment was for Yoohyun and the bottom one was for Yerim. Yerim didn't want to use the same phone as yoohyun first, and my brother agreed, so the models of the spare phones were different.

'This feels so real.'

Is this an illusion shown by the fog? Then, if I looked around more, I would only fall deeper into the hallucination. I closed the drawer and looked around.

"Let's talk, it's been a while. And don't appear as Yoohyun again. The same goes for the other kids. There should be fewer restrictions since we're in the dungeon."

Let's see your face properly. Back then, I could only see a strange jellyfish-like form.

"Dad."

"Who's dad...

Who, who are you?"

It was a young child. A child of about seven years old with silver hair tinged with pink and golden eyes was standing in front of me. Could that be the jellyfish's original form? It's unnecessarily cute. Did it notice that I'm weak for kids and deliberately...

"Don't, don't call me dad!"

"Oh, please don't call me 'dad'!"

Do you have a conscience? You've probably lived for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years. The kid tilted his head, he's cute like a fairy..ehem but let's not go overboard.

"Then, Yoojin."

"That doesn't suit you!"

"Yoojin."

"...Don't pretend to be close."

"Yoojin-ssi."

"Just act like an adult then?"

It's strange no matter how the kid addresses me.

"Or, master?"

Instantly, chills ran down my spine. It felt like I had become a criminal beyond redemption. Internally, I shouted, "Have you gone mad?" before furrowing my brows firmly.

"Don't say such things with that appearance! Act your age, harmless king."

"I'm not the harmless king."

"...What?"

Not the harmless king? I hurriedly used the skill Tteoknip. The status window of the silver-haired little one appeared before me.

[Fantasy Fairy Species - Changeling

Current stat grade?

Potential growth stat grade?

Optimized initial skill

Acquisition as you wish(?)]

What is this? A fairy species, Chainjilin? Not only the grade, but even the skills had question marks. "As you wish(?)" What does that mean? Why did that fellow suddenly pop up?

Come to think of it, the mana stone in my chest was no longer absorbing mana. I placed my hand near the wound. Could it be?

"You, perhaps."

The little one, Changeling, grinned broadly.

"No, wait a moment. Although it's a species of dragon... it's still too different!"

Even though I mixed the cursed poison dragon species, why a fairy species? It didn't resemble Diamar or any dragon species at all. Even though a fragment of Sung Hyunjae's influence was included... Wait.is that why resemble human ? It can be affected?

"I grew as my master desired."

"Don't call it me that, and what do you mean by I desire? - I "

I couldn't continue. Me, my wished my desire is. Damn it, if I'm just a fairy creature, then Lauchitas' nemesis wont be apply. My stats are also questionable.

"To find Han Yoo-hyun."

My chest sank.

"To find... him?"

"Yeah."

"H-How...?"

My throat felt dry. It was too sudden. I was so genuinely happy at the prospect that it was scary.

"I was raised to be able to do that. By you."

"I simply combined magic stones with Dharma's skills."

"But Dad is a nurturer. A nurturer with the power to raise. Able to nurture to one's desires."

"...If I desire it."

"But It's not everything. You can't change the essence. You can make a fish's fin into wings, but you can't truly change it into a bird. But I however received the nature of Changeling."

The child's appearance changed. Growing taller than me, a familiar figure appeared. Only the hair color was different, it was Sung Hyun-jae.

"The nature that was swapped like the existence of that world into countless worlds. Also, since I wasn't born in a fixed form and started to grow from magic stones, I could change as the nurturer wished."

Changeling returned to the appearance of a child. Trying to calm my racing heart, I asked an irrelevant question.

"Even your appearance, because I wished for it? i wanted you to look more like Dharma or a dragon species."

That was clear. It would be easier to deal with.

"I can also take on that appearance. But Dad doesn't like it. I don't want to be hated. Since I can comply with what's desired, don't hate me."

"...I don't hate it."

I just tried not to like it. I took a deep breath. Perfect nurturing title.

"I didn't know I could do such a thing at all."

"Because it's dangerous if you find out. It's probably why the degenerates don't tell you much about titles and skills. If it leaks out to the Transcendents with memory-reading skills, they'll definitely target Dad."

"But isn't it dangerous to know this much now?"

Even now, with that jellyfish guy targeting me, it's horrifying to think it could escalate further here. He might even try to take my loved ones as hostages. Should I somehow erase memories?

"I'm awake now, so it's okay. They can't interfere."

"Oh, by the way, the newbhad to be sent into the virtual world with a real body because of you. ...We just need to be careful of the miscreants."

"In the first place, the miscreants probably don't know exactly either."

Chainjilin floated lightly beside me. Something transparent-like wings fluttered behind his back.

"Open your status window."

Following Chainjilin's words, I opened the status window.

[Perfect Nurturer (L)

A loving nurturer who dedicates their life to a born S-class Awakened.]

I read that brief description repeatedly, the description window blurred again. I blinked a few times.

"So, it means I can bring them here. But as they are already separated, as an existence... it was said to be impossible..."

"Since the relationship with this world has been severed, normally it wouldn't be possible to bring them safely. But as long as there's a greater force to protect them than the backlash."

A greater force. I couldn't even imagine how much power that would be. Transcendents were said to lose most of their power if they entered another world without any preparation. So, it meant that I needed to protect Yuhyun with at least enough power to match them.

If that was possible. Completely.

"S-so, then, right now!"

"But, Dad."

Golden eyes stared straight at me.

"I can also protect this world."

My trembling heart settled calmly. I tried not to deliberately think about it. If there was enough power to bring my younger brother here, it meant that other things could also be possible.

"The Chatterbox is disrupting the system and the Harmless King is destroying dungeons. If this continues, it will affect Dad's world too. Every world has a limit to rejecting the invasion from other dimensions. If the protection weakens due to the Harmless King's erosion, transcendents will interfere more easily."

"...Alright."

Even though Changeling's voice didn't quite reach my ears, I roughly nodded.

"We have to stop it."

"There's no reason for Dad to take responsibility."

"They're targeting me. Because of me. Why are they going so far? That jellyfish scoundrel. Shouldn't there be consequences?"

"There will be a very heavy price. They probably noticed. Even Sigma becoming real is due to the nurturer's power."

"What? Is it because I acknowledged it? With my actual body..."

Chainling shook his head.

"There's also acknowledged influence. But while it's smaller than mine, Sigma also has Changeling nature, and Dad has nurtured that even more. Enough to truly change. I don't know the exact reasons, but the king of harmlessnes probably noticed, that Dad is very special."

So, as the changeling said, they are committing deeds that may require them to sleep for hundreds of years or lose much power, all because of me.

"...In the end, it's because of me. Shouldn't I have just been told to save the world from the beginning?"

A resentment surged for no reason. A small hand touched my cheek. It was slightly cool yet soft.

"It's okay for Dad to do as he wishes. It's a world that has already perished. You don't have to endure any more hardship."

bring his brother back and embraced him. It's okay to end like this. Yes, it should have ended that way from the beginning. Yoohyun should have returned to his side and left the dungeon.

That's right.

"…There are too many people waiting."

There shouldn't have been anyone. If it were a regression, there wouldn't be any lingering regrets.

"You know that too, don't you? There's someone who promised not to change because of what we agreed upon. I'll refuse again this time. Promises are meant to be kept."

They'll keep waiting. As they promised.

"Noah feels the same way. Even if he can't do much, he doesn't want to leave before me. He wants to stay behind for me."

I can't predict how the young, still immature he will change. But when I finish resting and move forward, even if he makes mistakes and wrong choices, I wanted there to be a place he can come back to. It's okay to do as he pleases.

"Yerim is still young. We decided to raise spirits. She's just starting to enjoy spreading her wings."

I didn't want to end it here. She'll grow even more in the future. Beyond imagination.

"Myeongwoo will be fine, but he'll worry about me. Just worrying, it's useless. He'll be waiting outside. With chirpie and velare. And other people and horses too."

I have to show gratitude. Besides, they're just unreliable rascals, and it's awkward to send Myeongwoo.

"Peace feels the same way. He follows me so well. If he's going to act like a leader and bring me here, he should take at least some responsibility. Right? And."

Above all.

"…Yoohyun is my brother."

He's happy living with me like before. He smiles so well these days. A face I haven't seen in years. He's only twenty now, and before that, he was just twenty-five.

And, furthermore.

"…I'm, happier."

I am too. Right now. Even with a tomb in my heart, still. Still, I want to live a little longer.

"As you desire."

Changeling said. A small silver dragon with fairy wings appeared before me.

Where I wish to return. My current home has disappeared. Beyond the mist that lies thickly in some unknown space.

"I've been waiting!"

The King of Harmless laughed.