Chapter 28
[28] Oppa, Thanks for the Present!
With Sia watching through the camera, I began training with the control device on my wrist.
I tried to make the most of the Dragon Bone Sword’s power. I also tried channeling my will through my mana and manifesting Dragon Words.
The training itself was no different from what I usually did. The only change was that I was wearing the control device.
Oh, there was one more thing.
Before, I’d simply tried to draw out the sword’s power by putting my will into the blade. This time, I trained while recalling how it had felt when I unleashed that aurora-colored sword aura.
That power was still too dangerous for me to control, but someday I’d have to master it completely.
Besides, Rokan had advised me that this approach would be more helpful for my training.
“If you keep training like that, the power will naturally build up inside the control device.”
Rokan explained another feature of the device he’d made.
It didn’t just control the power. It could store it, too.
It might look like an ordinary bracelet, but it was an incredible piece of work.
Still, one thing bothered me.
“Wouldn’t that make it even more dangerous?”
Earlier, Rokan had said that the power could consume me.
If all that dangerous energy accumulated in the device and something went wrong, it could lead to a situation that spiraled out of control.
“That’s a good question,” Rokan said, and explained. “Normally, it would. That’s why it took so long to make the device. I had to make sure it was stable. It was a pretty delicate job.”
So that was why.
The device had taken longer to make than I’d expected, and even the ancient dragon Rokan looked utterly exhausted.
“In any case, you’ll be able to use the power stored in the device in an emergency.”
Then Rokan showed me how to use the stored power.
I had to channel a small amount of mana into the bracelet, then take it off. That was all.
“I don’t know how much power will accumulate in it, but, in theory, you could unleash a tremendous amount all at once—enough that even I might not be able to handle it.”
“Wow…”
If even an ancient dragon like Rokan couldn’t handle it, just how powerful was it?
I couldn’t even begin to imagine.
“So I should never use it unless I have no other choice.”
“Exactly. Use it only when you think you’ll die right then and there if you don’t. It’s dangerous, and the backlash will be severe.”
If Rokan was warning me that seriously, I couldn’t imagine how agonizing the pain would be.
His frightening warning made me squeeze my eyes shut without thinking.
“I hope I never have to use it.”
“Indeed. Once the danger has passed, it would be best to put yourself to sleep.”
“Put myself to sleep?”
“That’s right. You won’t be able to use Dragon Words yet, let alone magic, so I’ll give you an artifact that can cast a sleep spell.”
I couldn’t understand why I’d need to put myself to sleep, but Rokan’s explanation made it clear.
The pain would be bad enough, but using the power stored in the control device might also make me go berserk.
…This really was a power I shouldn’t use unless absolutely necessary.
It was basically a nuclear bomb.
“Anyway, that’s all you need to know about the control device.”
After hearing the explanation, I resumed my training.
But Sia had been unusually quiet for a while…
‘That’s not like her.’
With a strange feeling, I turned toward the screen.
[Ta-da!]
Sia appeared on the screen, holding a silver bracelet.
[Does this look pretty much the same?]
“Sia, did you…”
Was that why she’d been so quiet? Had she been making a bracelet like mine without telling me?
[I thought it looked pretty on you, so I made one for myself. How does it look? Does it suit me?]
Looking proud, Sia turned her wrist this way and that to show off the bracelet.
“It’s pretty. Your grandfather did a great job with the design.”
I glanced at Rokan to see how he’d react.
He chuckled, apparently amused by his granddaughter’s antics.
“Every time I see you two, I’m reminded that I’ve never seen a couple so devoted to each other.”
After Minjun finished training and ended the call, Sia forgot all about dinner and spent the evening trying on one outfit after another in her dressing room.
The next day was her date with Minjun.
But it was also the day she’d meet Junhwi, whose life Minjun had saved, and his older sister for a meal.
‘When else would I put this much effort into my appearance?’
She didn’t know how pretty Junhwi’s older sister was, or how much charm she had when it came to men.
It was better to be prepared for every possibility.
“Not this one.”
She’d changed outfits ten times.
“Not this one, either.”
Twenty.
“Maybe… this one?”
Thirty.
It took her a full thirty outfit changes to find a look she was finally happy with.
Once she’d chosen an outfit, Sia began trying out her makeup for the next day.
What kind of makeup would bring out her best features and make sure no other woman dared set her sights on Minjun?
She even considered using polymorph magic to change her appearance completely, but she decided that wasn’t what Minjun wanted.
The ideal would be to keep her face as it was while looking so stunning that people would gasp.
Was there a way to do that?
While she was busy applying and removing makeup with magic, Rokan came to visit her lair.
“Oh, Grandpa!”
As soon as he entered Sia’s lair, Rokan spotted the makeup scattered across her vanity, along with the clothes still strewn across the floor.
“Isn’t your date tomorrow, Shasha?”
“Yes! That’s why I need to decide today what I’m going to wear tomorrow!”
“…I see.”
He didn’t really understand, but he decided to accept it.
“By the way, Grandpa, what brings you here at this hour?”
“Minjun asked me to give this to you.”
“Oppa did?”
The moment Minjun’s name left Rokan’s lips, Sia’s face lit up with excitement.
“Here. He was going to give it to you himself tomorrow, but said it would be better to give it to you a day early, so he asked me to bring it.”
It was an unidentified object wrapped in gift paper.
“Well, I’ll see you again soon. Tomorrow won’t work because you have a date, but how about we have a meal together sometime soon?”
“Sounds great! Thanks, Grandpa!”
Their visit was brief, and Rokan soon returned to his own lair.
As soon as he’d gone, Sia carefully stroked the present Minjun had given her as if it were a sacred treasure.
“I wonder what our Oppa got me this time.”
Humming, she carefully unwrapped the gift box.
Inside was a white pair of pajamas decorated with cute little dragons.
“Pajamas?”
Come to think of it, hadn’t she worn Minjun’s old clothes instead of her usual pajamas during their video call earlier that day?
‘Maybe Oppa felt bad about it.’
Perhaps Minjun had felt a little uncomfortable seeing her use his old clothes as pajamas.
That must be why he’d given her these.
In truth, those old clothes, steeped in Minjun’s scent, were softer and more comfortable than any pajamas.
“But Oppa gave these to me.”
She had to try them on.
She could vividly picture Minjun choosing matching pajamas with her in mind, then asking her grandfather to deliver a pair to her.
A smile stayed on Sia’s face the whole time she imagined the scene and put on the pajamas.
After quickly changing into the ones Minjun had given her, Sia took a selfie and sent it to him right away.
[Thanks for the present, Oppa!!!]
[These pajamas are so cute…]
After sending the message, she clutched her phone and waited for Minjun to reply.
It didn’t take long.
Minjun sent back a message with a photo.
[I’m glad you like them.]
[I thought it’d be nice if we had matching pajamas, so I bought them.]
The photo Minjun sent was a selfie of him wearing his new pair of matching pajamas.
They were the same design as Sia’s, except his were black.
‘…He’s so cute!’
Minjun usually had a sexy charm, but seeing him in character pajamas brought out a cute side of him, too.
She immediately set the photo of him in his pajamas as her phone’s wallpaper, then resumed messaging him.
[I’m looking forward to our date tomorrow!]
It was a little awkward having someone else join them, but that might make their date a little different from usual.
It was a rare chance to watch the person she loved receive a generous treat from someone else.
Less than a minute after she sent the message, Minjun replied.
[Sia.]
[You’re wearing the matching T-shirt you gave me tomorrow, right?]
She’d been so focused on making herself look as pretty as possible that she’d forgotten the most important thing.
[Of course!]
The prettiest outfit was the matching T-shirt you wore with the person you loved.
She took off the clothes she’d planned to wear the next day and put on the matching T-shirt she and Minjun had picked out.
“Wow.”
They’d worn matching T-shirts a few times when they were dating before, but from Sia’s perspective as a dragon reincarnated from a human, that had been a very long time ago.
Naturally, she couldn’t help looking forward to it.
On top of that, she resolved to make sure Junhwi’s older sister wouldn’t even think of setting her sights on Minjun.
＊＊＊
The day of the date arrived.
Early in their relationship, Minjun had gone on a double date once or twice, but he’d never been on a date like this before.
From the outside, it might look like a double date, but the other two weren’t a couple. They were siblings.
‘What was Sia thinking when she suggested this?’
Sia had specifically asked to meet them, and Junhwi and his sister had agreed, so they’d decided to go together.
Even so, Minjun still couldn’t figure out what Sia was thinking.
“Oppa, what are you thinking about?”
“I was wondering when they’d get here. Did we arrive a little early?”
“That just means we get more time together. That’s a good thing.”
Sia pressed close to Minjun’s arm as she spoke.
“But, Sia… your perfume smells a little—”
“Right! It’s the one you use all the time, Oppa. I liked the smell, so I tried some on. I wondered if you’d wear the same one today.”
It might’ve been understandable if it were a unisex fragrance, but the perfume Sia had put on was very clearly marketed for men.
Minjun considered telling her that it was a men’s fragrance, but when he saw her smiling happily as she smelled the perfume on his clothes and on herself, he simply smiled and held his tongue.
‘Well, whether it’s a men’s or women’s fragrance, it’s fine as long as the person wearing it likes it.’
Just as Sia was checking to see which perfume Minjun had put on—
“Hyung!”
Junhwi and his older sister arrived.
Sia had been sniffing at Minjun’s clothes. She turned toward the two of them.
Junhwi looked away awkwardly, while Sia greeted them as if nothing were unusual.
“I’m Minjun Oppa’s girlfriend, Jung Sia. It’s nice to meet you!”
“I’m Kim Junhwi.”
Junhwi bowed politely, and his older sister greeted them warmly, too.
Sia gave them both a quick once-over.
Junhwi looked just as he had in the video, and his older sister was quite pretty, clearly someone who paid attention to her appearance.
“I’m Kim Jiyoon, Junhwi’s older sister! I’ve been hoping the four of us could have a meal together, Sia. I’m so glad you could come.”
“Sia, too?”
Minjun asked, looking surprised.
As far as he knew, Junhwi’s sister had no particular reason to want to meet Sia.
“Yes. I heard Sia helped provide your equipment, Minjun. In a way, that makes her one of Junhwi’s benefactors, too. You used the equipment she gave you to protect him, after all.”
Jiyoon said that she’d wanted to treat Sia to a meal as well, but worried she might feel uncomfortable joining them.
So she’d originally planned to prepare a separate gift for Sia and send it through Minjun. She was glad Sia had suggested they all eat together instead.
“Anyway, let’s continue our conversation inside.”
With a friendly smile, Jiyoon opened the restaurant door and ushered Minjun and Sia inside.
Sia didn’t let on, but she watched Jiyoon’s every move closely.
She seemed fine so far, but it was better to be ready for anything.
Making sure the other two could see, Sia interlaced her fingers tightly with Minjun’s and walked into the restaurant.