Episode 8
Chapter 3: The Black Dragon Murakan (Part 2)
During the past two months of painstaking transcription, the study had been filled only with the scratch of pencils and the occasional whisper of the wind—no other sound had ever broken the silence.
So, even without peeking beyond the sliding door, Jin instinctively knew that Murakan’s glass chamber had been opened. Anyone in his position would have thought the same.
“Damn it. Why the hell is Murakan waking up now!?”
His heart pounded so fiercely it felt like it wasn’t even his own.
The once quiet, safe basement of the Storm Fortress suddenly felt like a labyrinth of unknown terrors. A chill ran down his spine, cold sweat breaking out.
Maybe… just maybe…
He’d misheard.
But before Jin could fully convince himself, the unmistakable click came again.
No, it wasn’t just that. The sound of fabric scraping against glass, footsteps touching the floor—someone was definitely there.
A dragon that had slept for a thousand years wouldn’t just wake up from sleepwalking. There had to be a reason. Either it was finally ending its long slumber, or it was roused by some purpose.
“Stay calm. Stay calm. I haven’t done anything to Murakan, right?”
Jin had never heard of Murakan waking up in his previous life.
If Murakan had stirred and started moving again at this time, there was no way Jin wouldn’t have known.
“So this must be a change caused by my return. Murakan didn’t just wake up—he woke because I kept coming down here.”
There was a common saying across the continent: if you disturb a sleeping dragon, your life is over.
Of course, while it was a common tale, very few people actually had their lives ruined by dragons. Dragons were incredibly rare to encounter.
But the lesson from that tale was clear:
Dragons have terrible tempers.
“Hey.”
Jin flinched.
A low, thin voice came from beyond the sliding door. Up until then, Jin had been trying to figure out how to handle this situation.
A few chaotic seconds passed. Fortunately, Jin managed to decide how to face Murakan.
“Be polite, but act boldly. Even if Murakan attacks me… I just need to hold out until the guardian knights arrive.”
That, of course, was the worst-case scenario.
But even then, Jin was confident he wouldn’t die. Using Solderet’s spiritual power and magic, or his quick tongue, he could buy time.
Most likely, he wouldn’t die.
That thought instantly lightened his heart. Besides, who knew? Maybe Murakan wouldn’t be hostile—maybe he’d show goodwill.
Click.
Jin sprang up and slid open the door, facing Murakan.
The black-haired beauty he’d seen every day inside the glass chamber now stood tall and straight. His body was impressively solid—hardly the form of a dragon who’d slept for a millennium.
“Ru… Runkandel’s child… I greet the family’s guardian.”
Jin deliberately stammered and spoke awkwardly.
He figured showing a child’s fear to a dragon who’d lived over a thousand years wouldn’t hurt. He also emphasized the word “guardian,” since Runkandel had always referred to Murakan that way.
“Hah!”
Murakan snorted in derision.
“Guardian? Guardian? Did you just say guardian, brat?”
Whoosh!
Just by speaking, the magical energy in the air vibrated, stirring a small whirlwind.
“Say that again, you little punk. You think I’m your guardian?”
In an instant, Murakan’s form, which had dissolved into black smoke, reformed right in front of Jin’s face.
“Are you Murakan? I’ve heard the Black Dragon Murakan is the guardian of Runkandel.”
Jin answered clearly, and Murakan blinked. It seemed there was no need to keep up the awkward act.
“Hmph. Damn Runkandel bastards… So they told their descendants about me like that. Ha! I can’t even get mad at a little runt like you. This is maddening.”
As the conversation progressed, a faint sense of relief crept into Jin’s heart.
“Looks like he’s not merciless even to kids.”
But the murderous gleam in Murakan’s black eyes spoke volumes about his true nature.
If Jin were his 28-year-old self instead of a child, Murakan would have broken a limb without hesitation before starting a conversation.
“But why the hell did this black dragon wake up now? It can’t be because I kept coming here. Is there some other special reason… Ah, could it be because of Solderet’s spiritual energy?”
Spiritual energy—or spirit power.
The power of shadows.
If anything could rouse a dragon from a thousand-year sleep, it would be that.
Jin rarely used spiritual energy unless necessary, but a faint aura of it always surrounded him—imperceptible to others.
“Come to think of it, contracted gods usually have guardian dragons. Except in special cases…”
If you contracted with Shinu, the Fire God, fire dragons would show favor.
If you contracted with Melzayer, the Wind God, wind dragons would be friendly.
That was why Ziphl was slightly ahead of Runkandel—Ziphl was known to have over a hundred dragons accompanying them.
From that perspective, Jin’s meeting with Murakan was actually a very favorable situation.
“The problem is, I’m not sure. I’ve never heard of a dragon close to ‘Shadow’ before…”
Currently, Ziphl’s head of the family, Keliak Ziphl, was contracted with Shinu and known to have a close bond with the fire dragon Kadun.
Ziphl’s deputy, contracted with Melzayer, was famous for commanding wind dragons. Dragons tended to align with their elemental affinity.
But Jin had never heard of any connection between Solderet and dragons.
Even during his previous life, when he often spoke with Solderet after their contract, he never heard of Murakan.
“Well, I’ll just face it head-on. This doesn’t seem like a bad situation anyway.”
If Murakan truly woke because of spiritual energy, Jin had no reason to be afraid.
Ssshhh…
Ssshh!
Suddenly, Murakan took a deep breath, like a dog intoxicated by a pleasant scent—or a smoker savoring a long-awaited cigarette.
“Hah, yeah. The kid’s not to blame. Hmm… breathing in this energy makes me feel better. Kid! What’s your name?”
“Jin Runkandel, Murakan.”
“Right, right. Jin, huh? Honestly, I don’t care about your name. But you say you’re Runkandel too? Then lead me to Solderet’s contractor.”
“Solderet’s contractor?”
“Yeah! This thick spiritual energy… no one but the contractor could have it. I just hope the contractor isn’t a jerk like Temar.”
Temar Runkandel.
The name of the first head of the family.
Jin almost cheered silently.
It really felt like everything was going his way this life. The very problem he’d been struggling to understand was now being brought up first!
“He definitely woke because of the spiritual energy! And this reaction… it means I hold the upper hand.”
Sniff, sniff!
Murakan no longer paid attention to Jin. He closed his eyes, focusing on sensing the spiritual energy.
Jin thought for a moment.
Should I say I’m the contractor? Or should I say I don’t know much about it? The choice was obvious: the former.
That was the better option if he wanted to control Murakan going forward.
The latter would be troublesome. If he said he didn’t know, Murakan would demand to see an adult, and if an adult came, Jin would have to explain everything to the whole family.
That would mean the end of his peaceful days spent transcribing the arcane texts. His fortunate encounter with Murakan would be ruined.
A small flame-like spiritual energy flickered on Jin’s palm.
“Hup, hup! Oh, I’m feeling clearer… huh?”
Murakan’s eyes widened as he savored the spiritual energy.
“You really are the contractor, aren’t you, Murakan?”
“W-what? Are you crazy? Solderet actually contracted with a brat like you!?”
Murakan recoiled in shock, almost stumbling as he stepped back.
“This can’t be. No way. Hey, Solderet! Are you listening? Have you finally lost it? Come out and explain yourself!”
While Murakan ranted, Jin formed another shadowy orb in his other hand.
“My father said this power began with the one who cast shadows over the world.”
“Ughhh.”
With a thud, Murakan sank to the floor, looking up at Jin.
A heavy silence fell.
Jin wanted to say more, but seeing Murakan’s expression crumble in real time made it impossible.
Denial, anger, suspicion, fear, despair.
Murakan’s face shifted through those emotions in exact order.
“Hey… Solderet. This is a joke, right? This can’t be. Say something. Why is the promised contractor a kid like this…?”
Solderet remained silent.
His silence was one of the things that still bothered Jin.
When they first contracted, they talked often like friends. But from just before his previous life ended until now, there had been no word.
For now, Murakan seemed to need time to accept this reality.
But he was a dragon.
Even if he was foul-tempered and cantankerous, he was a dragon who had lived thousands of years. That meant he had insight and an indomitable spirit that wouldn’t be crushed by unexpected outcomes.
Murakan quickly came to terms with the absurdity of the situation. Given the circumstances, it was the best he could do.
“Sigh… kid.”
“Yes?”
“It seems that from now on, the one I’m supposed to synchronize with, according to my promise with Solderet, is you.”
To synchronize with a dragon!
He had heard such tales directly from a dragon before—no, from Murakan himself, the black dragon defeated by the former head of the family.
Back when he was a mage, every time he heard stories of archmages fighting alongside dragons, his heart would race with excitement.
Now, his nose flushed hot in an instant. Unable to control the flush spreading across his face, Jin instinctively lowered his head.
“So, uh, what does it mean to synchronize?”
“Hoo… you’re too young to explain it properly. And you’re probably overwhelmed right now.”
Jin nodded quietly.
“First, as Solderet’s contractor and friend, I’ll formally reintroduce myself.”
Whoooosh…
A heavy gust of wind stirred the air, and a dark aura began to envelop Murakan’s body.
He was transforming into his true form.
The black energy that had swallowed Murakan spread out like clouds, soon filling the entire basement with the massive silhouette of a black dragon, blocking Jin’s view.
[I am Murakan. Solderet’s proxy, his close friend, and the last descendant of the first being forged from shadows. By the thousand-year-old promise, from this day forward, I will be with you. Speak your name.]
The fiery young man from moments ago was gone, replaced by a majestic, commanding voice.
“Jin Runkandel. The thirteenth and youngest child of the Runkandel line.”
Jin forced down the trembling in his chest and answered.