These Lunatics are Obsessed With Me

Yong-sik wagged his tail while acting cute, then I looked back at Hae Song-ha with a bitter look.

"Is that the reason why Yong-sik won’t transform into his adult form?"

Hae Song-ha nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes! I can understand Yong-sik's feelings."

"…Yes?"

"Ah, it's nothing…"

"…?"

Hae Song-ha, who blushed, couldn't make eye contact with me and turned his head away. I glanced at him in confusion and tilted my head. What's wrong with him?

"Anyway, is it okay if he stays like this?"

"I think it’s fine? Rather, I think it would be good for you if he stays in his child form most of the time.."

"Ah…"

Certainly, in the novel, Yong-sik was too big for Kang Yoo-hyun to carry him around in the novel. It might be possible to reduce his size a bit, but Yong-sik in the original story didn't listen to Kang Yoo-hyun very well. I'd rather he stay like this, he's definitely cuter in his child form…

"Kkyau!"

"Hmm."

Well, let's think about the Yggdrasil's Essence later. It wasn't an item that drops that easily anyway. I'm sure I'll get it sometime in the dungeons, and even if I don't, it's not a big deal.

"That's right, I should think positively."

"Oh, Vicemaster-nim was looking for Hunter Han Yi-jin-nim. It seems like there will be a briefing for the 5th Area soon."

"Gasp, let's go quickly then."

I don't know how much strict Song Yul will scold us if we're late. Worried, we quickly returned to the centre of the raid team with Hae Song-ha. Soon, the matter of Yggdrasil's Essence was completely forgotten in my mind.

Area 5, the final stage of the Sæ dungeon. Even before the dungeon anomaly occurred, the boss monster's grade had always been ranked S.

However, this time, an abnormality occurred in the dungeon, so there was a high probability that the grade of Sea Dragon Rashdir, the boss monster in Area 5, had been upgraded to SS-rank.

"I'll leave the task of defeating the Sea Dragon to Hunter Kang Yoo-hyun, Hunter Sung Yoo-bin, and Hunter Han Yeo-reum who receive auxiliary skill. The rest of you should focus on exterminating the elite monsters."

"Understood!"

"…"

Are they still following the conditions of three people per day? Or did they consider power balance and select three based on that? Honestly, with my skill, Kang Yoo-hyun alone would be more than enough. It seemed like they added Valkyrie members to avoid potential item distribution problems if he took them all.

Perhaps because he knew that, Kang Yoo-hyun also remained silent and didn't say anything. Actually, he kept looking at me as if he wanted to say something. I patted his back to tell him not to worry.

"Hey! Do your best and come back. I'll be cheering you on from behind."

"…Sure."

I really hope there’s no trouble this time and I’ll just enjoy the benefits as a spectator. I thought I was just going to have fun from behind with my auxiliary skill, but I got caught up in some weird event and almost died. For some reason, I feel like my possession and the auxiliary skill buffs are choking me…

I shook my head, clearing the horrifying thought. Then, Eden approached me and said—

"Don't worry, Yi-jin-ah. I'll protect you!"

“…”

Well, I wonder how long an A-rank can last against the elite monsters guarding the boss monster. Still, he’s better than me with no attack skills. I sighed and rummaged through my inventory. I'd better equip myself with some equipment so I don't get hurt.

"…Huh?"

As I searched my inventory, I discovered an equipment item I'd never seen before, and my eyes widened in surprise. I didn't remember I had something like this. I took it out of my inventory and found a silver bracelet on my hand. I looked at it carefully. The item information appeared before me.

[The Sea God's Bracelet (L)

The Bracelet of the Sea God, Njord.

Equip effect: Sea God's Blessing(L)

Increases Strength +10, Agility +10, MP + 20, and Basic Defense +20]

"Ohh…!”

What is this awesome rare item? It's legendary-grade equipment! There's no way the Odin Guild provided it to me, right?

Did it appear in my inventory when Kang Yoo-hyun defeated the boss in the 4th Area, or was it when Yong-sik defeated the boss in the 3rd Area? It seems like one of those, but I'm not sure.

Regardless, I should probably report it to Song Cha-hyun and hand it over. Items obtained from raids basically belonged to the guild that had dungeon priority.

"Eugh…!"

But at that moment, a burst of white light erupted from the bracelet. I closed my eyes against the blinding light and opened them to see the Sea God's bracelet on my wrist. At that moment, I heard a system notification.

[The Sea God’s Bracelet (L) has been permanently bound to you]

"…!"

Holy shit!

Unlike other equipment items, S-grade and higher rare items are permanently locked once you equip them, meaning that they are completely bound to you and untradeable or sold to others.

The only way to unbind them is with a Contract Breaker item of S-grade or higher, which is neither easy to find nor cheap. So, most people end up keeping permanently bound equipment items to themselves. No, but I didn't mean to wear it, but why…? Why did this happen?

I looked at the bracelet with a shudder. It fit my wrist perfectly and looked so simple and elegant that I felt no discomfort wearing it.

The problem is that if I get stuck with it, it wouldn't be a legendary equipment item on my wrist, but a real silver bracelet.

What should I do with this? In the midst of my panic, Song Cha-hyun's voice echoed around me as she announced that we were finally entering Area 5.

“Valkyrie 1st and 2nd units forward! The rest of you, prioritise guarding the support team!"

"Understood!"

"…"

I discreetly pulled down my sleeve to hide the item. This wasn't about sneaking it away; it was just a matter of delaying the voluntary report for now. With that thought in mind, I entered the portal leading to the 5th Area.

The warp portal I entered through was underwater, so I had worn my diving suit along with breathing apparatus, and the diving gear I used when collecting materials.

When I went through the portal and entered the 5th Area, it felt very strange. However, most of the raid group members seemed unaffected, except me, perhaps because they were used to it. Even Eden, who was here for the first time, was like me.

[This is so amazing, Yi-jin-ah!]

[…]

Because we were underwater, we couldn't hear each other's voices, but instead, text appeared in a chat-like window next to me. This was also thanks to an item. I blinked and looked at Eden, who was moving freely underwater.

Maybe it was because he was used to flying, but his movements underwater were also unusual. Moving underwater didn't feel natural to me, and I felt awkward, as if I was the only one struggling.

[What's wrong? Can't move?]

[Hm.]

[Should I help you?]

[How?]

I tilted my head, and Eden swam closer, then wrapped his arm around my waist.

[First, relax your body. You’re too tense because you are underwater.]

[Ah, is that so?]

That's actually great advice coming from Eden. If it weren't for those nosy hands, I thought. Feeling a bit uneasy, I decided to go along with it, and his hand gradually moved up.

[Yeah, don't be nervous and relax. Try swinging your arms more naturally.]

[Mm…]

As I followed Eden's instructions, I started to feel more comfortable moving in the water. It seems that flying in the air and swimming underwater are somewhat similar.

[Thank you.]

I sincerely thanked him, because Eden was really helpful this time, and he looked at me strangely.

[If you're that thankful, then… Uagh!]

[Kkyaa!]

Just as Eden’s face was getting uncomfortably close, Yong-sik swiftly pushed him away. As if hit by Yong-sik's tail, Eden traced his face with his hand.

[This damned lizard bastard…!]

[Lizard? Did you mean my Yong-sik?]

[Ah, this item is defective. Weird words pop up, haha…]

[…?]

As I looked at Eden suspiciously, Yong-sik, slightly biting my diving suit, began to swim. Yong-sik was a better swimmer than Eden. Realising this, I grabbed Yong-sik's tail and moved more comfortably. I couldn't believe I tried swimming alone when I had something this good. Shaking my head, I followed Yong-sik, and we finally entered the Sea Dragon's territory.

[How dare you lowly humans…]

[…!]

Surprisingly, the Sea Dragon, the boss monster of the 5th Area, could speak human language. Because it's underwater, his words just floated around.

[The great Sea God shall bestow a curse upon you!]

The Sea Dragon's presence was truly extraordinary. I could feel tremendous pressure even from a distance.

As soon as he finished speaking, the elite monsters around him rushed toward the Valkyrie members. I felt like I was watching an introduction video when you enter a dungeon in a game.

[They're coming!]

[If they get closer, cast an AoE!]1

[Someone time it!]

[5!]

The Valkyrie members began fighting in earnest. Kang Yoo-hyun, Song Yoo-bin, and Han Yeo-reum approached behind them.

[Hunter Han Yi-jin!]

Sung Yoo-bin smiled brightly and looked at me.

[Yes, I'll cast the skill.]

[Thank you.]

[…]

I tried to apply my skill to Sung Yoo-bin first, but someone's gaze was so stinging.

Kang Yoo-hyun, what is wrong with him staring at me like that?

After a bit of contemplation, I opened my mouth to speak to him.

1. Area of effect: an attack or defense, such as a spell or special skill, that affects all characters within a specified range of the target place or character, rather than affecting only a targeted character.

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