A Dragon Lives In That Scholar's Deep Spring - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Do-gyeom added with laughter as if he had recalled something.

“You told me, humans like me aren’t even worth a bite.”

Though Do-gyeom laughed, Farang didn’t deny or show any sign of embarrassment at what she had said in her tipsy state.

“That’s true.”

She responded seriously, but Do-gyeom seemed indifferent, hearing and ignoring at the same time.

“…It’s even harder now that I know.”

As if he didn’t think Farang hadn’t recovered enough, he grabbed her by the shoulders and leaned her against a rock.

“I barely believed you were human, and I even thought about taking you to the doctor, thinking it was only a joke, but holding on for so long, worrying about drowning in this shallow water because you’re unconscious… It’s still difficult. My ingrained beliefs are so frightening.”

Meanwhile, Farang, confirming that the hole in the boat was neatly sealed, carefully scanned the surroundings.

The sun was setting, but thanks to the lingering red glow, they could see the serene scenery.

She wanted to immerse her entire body and swim in the deep water, but the shallow water went just up to her chest, so she had to bend her body significantly to get to the deepest part.

“You said it was difficult, so I brought you to the water.”

Once out of the water, Do-gyeom turned around and stripped off his wet robe, putting it on from the collar down. Farang, watching his naked backside, shook her head slightly.

Do humans naturally have so many scars on their bodies?

“You said you’re as good as water, and you even walked on it. I have no choice but to believe, even if forcibly.”

“……”

She doesn’t know why, but when Farang woke up, she felt drained. She just realized that she used up all her energy while intoxicated. If she hadn’t wasted her strength yesterday, she wouldn’t be famished today.

“All the nearby streams are dry, so I don’t know how desperate I was. Maybe it’s better not to drink from now on.”

“Just because of that thought…”

“I was worried I’d forget what I should return to and get used to this place. That’s why I thought I should go back soon.” 

Do-gyeom quietly coughed while feeling down.

“Still, I didn’t think soaking in the water would heal the wound, but….”

He dried himself off meticulously and turned around.

“It’s a good thing indeed.”

“Why, because you wouldn’t be able to use me if I were dead?”

As Do-gyeom was repeating the word fortunate, he stopped applying the salve when Farang bit him.

“…….”

“You said you needed me.”

“…Yeah.”

Do-gyeom, who hadn’t met Farang’s eyes for some reason, fixed his expression. He finally hesitated and faced Farang.

“I wanted to ask you to become the wife of the Crown Prince.”

“What is the wife of the Crown Prince?”

“The wife of the Crown Prince refers to the official wife of the Crown Prince, who is the successor to the throne of Joseon. Like a consort.”

“What?”

Farang, who had sprung up from the water, walked towards Do-gyeom.

“I am already the king of my world. Why should I, as someone like that, become a consort to the successor here and not the king?”

“A king… you were.”

Do-gyeom seemed quite flustered, and his adam’s apple bobbed deeply. 

Farang was about to tell him how many thousands of years it had been since she became a king, but then she stopped, realizing that she didn’t even know exactly how long it had been.

Anyway, the concept of time in this place and that world wouldn’t be the same, would it? She just hoped that Choi Do-gyeom knew how great a dragon she was.

“So, were there many who wanted to kill you?”

…She thought so, but Do-gyeom delved into an unexpected aspect.

“When you first landed here, you said that to me. Asking if I came to kill you.”

“Well, when you’re in a position of authority, there are occasionally reckless ones who charge without fear.”

Farang replied as if it were trivial, clenching her fist, but Do-gyeom still had a probing look.

“You’ve walked a perilous path too.”

Of all times, it was after dreaming of her mother, so Farang’s mood wasn’t particularly pleasant. Farang changed the subject somewhat bluntly.

“You asked. Why I, a king, should merely become a consort here.”

“I’m not asking you to spend a lifetime as the Crown Prince’s consort. It’s just that I need to buy some time.”

Farang easily recalled the issues she had seen and heard while staying at Do-gyeom’s house.

“It seems things didn’t go well when you left the house empty all day yesterday.”

Do-gyeom nodded unexpectedly.

“That’s right.”

While busy finding a way to return, how could she possibly be fulfilling the role of a Crown Prince’s consort? Farang had no obligation or reason to comply with Do-gyeom’s request.

“I don’t have time. I need to go back as soon as possible. Even if it’s just for a day, your request is something that can’t be done quickly.”

Farang turned away coldly. 

It was truly amazing that she had healed from her injuries in the water, where there was hardly any vital energy, but she needed to find a place with ample vital energy.

She couldn’t live in constant fear of being completely overwhelmed by the ring, not knowing when her heart would break, or only having one of the two outcomes: either her heartbreaking or being completely subdued by the ring.

“It doesn’t seem like your situation can be resolved within a day or two.”

That’s why, for now, she thought she should go to a place called Samgaksan to fill up vital energy. Farang was considering this when she turned to gauge the waterway, and she responded indifferently to Do-gyeom’s provocation.

“I’ll go to Samgaksan first to replenish my vital energy. After that, I’ll figure out…”

“Didn’t you know? This place is Samgaksan.”

“…What?”

She couldn’t believe it. Farang couldn’t hide her astonishment and looked at Do-gyeom again.

“Is this Samgaksan? So, is the water here gushing in your houseyard?”

“Didn’t I tell you? The nearby places dried up, and I couldn’t immerse myself. I came here riding a horse. This place is just at a stream level.”

“No. The water gushing below should naturally hold vital energy if the water flowing from above does.”

Farang walked into the water again, splashing, and tried to gather vital energy by grabbing the water. But it was futile. Moreover, the moment she drank it, the ring swiftly absorbed it, leaving nothing for Farang.

“…This is unbelievable.”

Was the only option left to go to the sea and see? Farang left Do-gyeom behind like a distracted person and continued walking along the water.

“O, the one who brings spring to this dry land, make a promise first. That you will give water to this parched soil!”

To save it. It seemed like the land dying of drought would be the first to go. The words of the old woman, who had been muttering incessantly, echoed in Farang’s ears like a mantra.

“It’s not like the problems will be solved just by going to the sea.”

Do-gyeom, who followed, blocked Farang’s path.

“Move. If you block me again, I’ll throw you into that water.”

Farang, who was usually indifferent, was now agitated and warned fiercely, following the waterway again. However, Do-gyeom fearlessly blocked her once more.

“I will kill you this time!”

“I heard that the ring is cursed!”

Farang stood still and stared at Do-gyeom. Seizing the opportunity, he added.

“The merchant you asked for directions told me. He said you accidentally met the former Prime Minister of the Ministry of State Affairs and talked about the curse.”

Farang asked with a raised eyebrow.

“So? Are you taking me to that former Prime Minister?”

“That’s impossible. The Ministry of State Affairs was abolished long ago and no longer exists. At best, the merchant heard about it because the former Prime Minister used to perform rituals for the country.”

“Then?”

“At least there should be records. Also…”

As Farang tried to avoid giving Do-gyeom a chance to obscure his words, the answer she wanted finally came.

“On the day you arrived, there was a State Ritual.”

“A State Ritual?”

“Although the Inner Court Archives or the Ministry of State Affairs no longer exist within the palace, I’ve heard that supplies are sent from the palace for the priests outside the palace to conduct rituals. That day was probably the Ritual for Fortunes, and since you appeared after the Ritual for Fortunes, I think there might be some connection.”

Do-gyeom, who was laying out words that were hard to comprehend at once, looked down at the ring on Farang’s finger.

“Moreover, the person you met was a State Minister. Even though it was officially abolished a long time ago, isn’t it unofficially maintained in some way? If you investigate, something more will come out.”

It was intriguing. Do-gyeom, scrutinizing Farang’s reaction, boldly added a bargaining chip this time.

“And as you know, I work in the palace. I am a palace official, and that should be more than enough to assist in the investigation.”

Still, Farang didn’t want to become the Crown Prince’s consort. Farang didn’t easily give in.

“There seem to be many palace officials if you’re one of them. Is it just anyone among them who can make a new connection?”

She said this, aiming for a slightly easier condition than what Choi Do-gyeom proposed. But Do-gyeom persisted even stronger, without flinching.

“Above all, isn’t there a spring with an abundance of vital energy in my courtyard, even more than here in Samgaksan?”

“……”

“If that’s something you said, would you give up on it?”

Farang found herself biting her lip unknowingly. She was perplexed, as she had not expected that they might hit a snag at Samgaksan.

“Even after saying that yourself, are you going to give it up? Wouldn’t you be dissatisfied even after this? Is choosing only such nonsensical talk for those who guide your path?”

“Until now, I haven’t had to choose anything in my life.”

“That’s why I am needed.”

Even when avoiding eye contact, Do-gyeom persistently followed Farang.

“I believe in myself. But if you reject me… it means you’re not that desperate to go back.”

“…”

“You must find being the Crown Prince’s consort challenging.”

“Who said it’s challenging? It’s just bothersome and annoying…!”

After retorting in frustration, Farang realized her mistake. She had let herself get caught up in the argument. When Farang looked at Do-gyeom with annoyance, Do-gyeom smiled faintly, as if he had won, and extended his hand.

“There’s no reason not to take this hand, right?”