The student representative general election and the opening ceremony of the military academy exchange program were just around the corner.

While each candidate was campaigning hard and many students were seen training in gym uniforms rather than school uniforms, I decided to leave school a little early.

Usually, leaving school meant going back to the dormitory, but today was different.

But that didn’t mean I was going to the tiger mansion.

‘The tigers didn’t ask me specifically, so I don’t need to tell them, right?’

The tigers didn’t ask me about my schedule or wonder about it, so I wondered if I needed to tell them.

However, somehow I ended up in a good place to talk, so I decided to reveal my early plans and destination.

I spoke at a time when I wouldn’t interrupt the tigers’ conversation.

“Starting tomorrow, it will be difficult to make time due to the school schedule. So I’m going to visit Mr. Yongjegeon in the hospital today.”

It was lunchtime.

The tigers arranged for Kim Shin-rok to eat lunch with them as a protest, saying that he didn’t like the fact that he commuted to and from Yonggung.

At first, they were going to leave the place for the tigers to eat together, but the white tiger said, “This is a good place to reveal your plans. You should come instead of refusing.” in a place that Hwang Ji-ho could hear.

When Hwang Ji-ho heard that, he said, “What were you trying to refuse again? Come.” and dragged me over, so I ended up here.

Originally, there was no need for me to come here, and I didn’t really need to reveal my plans.

However, since I was already here, I told him my plans after school today, and the tigers were furious when they heard my plans.

“Jo Ui-shin, do you really have to go? I hope you don’t waste your precious time.”

“My son has been held captive for several days, and you want me to send Jo Ui-shin too? White tiger, don’t keep your mouth shut, and speak up.”

“I listened to your request to keep quiet because I would be upset if I spoke.”

“What favor did you listen to when you said everything you wanted to say?”

That was right.

The white tiger didn’t talk much today, but he would blurt out things that would make you upset.

While the older tigers were talking nonsense, Eunho, who was eating properly and neatly, said.

“Hyung Uisin, then hurry up and come back and eat dinner together at the dormitory.”

As expected, Eunho was different from the other tigers.

However, even if he hurriedly left school, he would have to attend afternoon classes and go home, so it would take quite some time.

Since Yongjegeon is currently asleep in the Yonggung, it would be difficult to make it on time unless he borrowed Jecheondaeseong’s shadow cloud.

Considering that, it was hard to say yes easily.

Eunho read my worries and made another suggestion in a soft voice.

“If you’re so tight that you can’t even eat dinner, how about postponing the visit? I’m worried because Eui-shin sometimes skips meals.”

“That’s a tough call. Considering the round trip time, there’s no time to eat dinner, so I’m just telling you not to go.”

“That shameless Yongjok might hold Eui-shin hyung back by offering him dinner.”

Listening to Cheong-ho, it seemed like Eun-ho made that suggestion because he didn’t want me to visit him.

It seemed like the tigers were saying that because they didn’t like the fact that Yongjok monopolized Kim Shin-rok using Yongje-geon as an excuse.

However, even though they were dissatisfied, Hojok didn’t do anything like raiding the Yonggung Palace to recapture Kim Shin-rok.

Kim Shin-rok’s worries grew deeper day by day due to his worries about Yongje-geon, but his physical condition didn’t deteriorate.

Even Andain said, “I’m glad you’re taking care of your health,” because she could tell just by looking at how well he fed and cared for him.

“These days, Yeom Jun-yeol is at school late, and he’s so devoted that he even sent his own dragon clan to take Kim Shin-rok.”

Since he was so devoted to those he recognized as his family, I had no doubt that he would take good care of his real family, Yong Je-geon, but I wanted to visit him in the hospital at least once.

Even though everyone said it wasn’t my responsibility, I was the one who suggested the plan, and I had to see the results of that plan myself.

It was the worst thing a knight could do to turn a blind eye to a plan that went the way he wanted.

While I was lost in thought for a moment, the tigers chattered about me.

“Baekho, say something. What’s Jo Eui-shin planning?”

“It’s just as you expected, so why bother?”

“......Jo Eui-shin seems to be planning to visit Yong Je-geon in the hospital.”

“If you must go, it would be better to have someone by your side. Baekho, who is a water man, can’t go. He’s really useless.”

As Jeokho said, Hwang Jiho went with him instead of the useless white tiger.

Jeokho had a mission in progress, and Cheongho was busy preparing for the Taeho Kwon event, which was included in the military academy exchange competition.

And Eunho had work for the leadership team, and as a member of the clan, he was refraining from full-scale activities, so Hwang Jiho was the only one left by the law of elimination.

‘Hwang Jiho must be busy, but it would be okay if he was a clone.’

Considering that the fatigue and damage from the clone would affect the main body, he wanted to just let them rest, but it didn’t seem like the tigers would listen.

As he tried to organize his thoughts, the white tiger interrupted him again.

“It’s not a clone, it’s the main body.”

What was that?

It was too much trouble to say it out loud, so he asked the white tiger for additional explanation in his head, but there was no answer.

He was just trying to laugh because he thought it was funny that I was repeating the same thoughts over and over again.

Luckily, Hwang Ji-ho answered first before I could say anything, feeling very hurt.

“I guess you answered Jo Ui-shin’s thoughts on your own. I can guess the context, but I’ll tell you that you always act like a savior when it comes to important matters.”

It was important to visit Yong Je-geon.

The white tiger laughed when he thought of this.

Hwang Ji-ho saw that expression and sighed, narrowing his brows.

“Baekho, I know even if you don’t show it off like that. Jo Ui-shin, I didn’t say that the visit to the Yonggung Palace or its purpose was important. I’m acting like a savior of the Hojok because my companionship with you, the benefactor of the Hojok, is important.”

Hwang Ji-ho spoke as if he was telling a very obvious fact.

“If you’re going to deal with those shameless dragons, it’s better to be a savior.”

* * *

“The benefactor of the Yongjok has come.”

“How dare you call me the benefactor of the Hojok with this body in front of you.”

“We also welcome Hwangho. Stay comfortably and then go.”

Hwang Jiho responded as soon as he saw Hwangryong who came out to greet him.

For some reason, Hwangryong treated Hwang Jiho as if he was a freebie who came along, but he seemed to welcome him anyway.

Hwang Jiho seemed to have come as himself because he was more comfortable when arguing with the Yongjok.

Meanwhile, Kim Shinrok watched the conversation between Hwangryong and Hwang Jiho with an awkward expression.

He would sometimes stare at a building in Hwangryong Palace, and it seemed like that was where Yongjegeon was.

Hwangryong saw Kim Shinrok’s gaze and figured out what he meant.

“It would be better to go see Jegeon first. Jeho must have been worried about Jegeon’s condition while he was at school.”

“How are you today? You said your complexion got better yesterday and the day before.......”

“Je-geon’s condition is getting better and better. It’s all thanks to you.”

Kim Shin-rok’s expression softened at Hwang-ryong’s affectionate words.

The nobles were making a fuss about not letting Kim Shin-rok go, but seeing this scene, it seemed better to commute here.

Although Jeok-ho and Ung-nyeo would take good care of Kim Shin-rok, Kim Shin-rok didn’t want to disturb them since they had only just met.

Also, Yong Je-geon was right nearby, so he could check his condition with his own eyes, and there were Yong-jok’s female priestesses who would respond if anything happened, so he could worry less.

While moving, Hwang Ji-ho asked him various questions to see if the Yong-jok was really treating Kim Shin-rok well, and there was nothing to find fault with.

It seemed that the Yong-jok really cared «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» for and liked Kim Shin-rok.

When he heard the details, it seemed that Kim Shin-rok’s residence was in a better location than Yong Je-geon’s, and that they prepared meals to suit his taste.

Whew!

As we approached Yongjegeon’s residence, the number of cloud dragons increased.

Most of the cloud dragons tilted their heads as if they were hesitating when they saw me and Kim Shin-rok, and then flew in on the clouds and settled around us.

The cloud dragons liked to fly between me and Kim Shin-rok.

I wondered why they were hesitating, but it seemed like they were wondering which way to fly.

“I heard that Yongjegeon is still sleeping, but is that different from being in a deep sleep?”

“No. The merciful Dragon King does not give false hope. If he was in a deep sleep that requires waiting indefinitely, he would not have said that he would wake up soon.”

Hwang Yong answered Hwang Ji-ho’s question as if water was flowing.

My heart sank at the words deep sleep, but when Hwang Yong firmly spoke, I felt relief.

I could hear the faint sound of Kim Shin-rok exhaling the breath he had been holding, as if it was not just me.

When they reached Yongjegeon’s residence, Unryong wrapped the jade handle with clouds and opened the door.

The jade-colored Yeouiboju, a jade-shaped ornament symbolizing Yongjegeon, and the bed caught their eye.

No matter how soundly Yongjegeon was sleeping, they would have been able to sense his presence, but Yongjegeon, who was sleeping on a silk needle, did not move at all.

‘He’s really asleep.’

Considering Yongjegeon’s usual personality, it wouldn’t have been strange if he had done something stupid like hiding somewhere and pretending to disappear when he found out we were coming and then waiting for a reaction.

However, Yongjegeon just lay there with his eyes closed.

His long hair, which had been loosely tied up, was scattered on the silk, but not a single strand moved, so it seemed like time had stopped around him.

I heard he was seriously injured, but now he had no external injuries at all, so he really seemed to be sleeping.

Kim Shinrok quietly looked down at Yongjegeon, who had no intention of opening his eyes.

I also couldn’t say anything and just looked at Yongjegeon.

“I saw Yongjegeon sleeping well. Jo Ui-shin, you should go back now.”

“You’re already going back? I’m preparing a meal for you and this child.”

“Jo Ui-shin is very polite and can’t eat in front of someone who’s sleeping soundly like that.”

I couldn’t refute that.

Seeing Yongjegeon sleeping like that, I didn’t think he would be able to eat.

But that was Yonggung.

It seemed the same whether I ate at the Tiger Mansion or at the Hwangryong Mansion.

I was about to say that, but before that, I sensed a very slight movement and turned my head.

Even though it wasn’t windy, Yong Je-geon’s eyelashes fluttered a little.

“Yong Je-geon!”

Kim Shin-rok, who saw this before me, quickly called Yong Je-geon’s name.

Following his eyelashes, Yong Je-geon’s eyelids fluttered slightly and then slowly opened.

Kim Shin-rok couldn’t take his eyes off the scene where light returned to Yong Je-geon’s eyes.

It felt like he could hear the voice of Hwangryong, who was rolling his feet on the clouds, ordering Yunryong, who was delighted, to call a shaman from far away.

Yong Je-geon, who opened his eyes, blinked his unfocused eyes and looked at Kim Shin-rok.

“Jeho.”

If he had woken up after such a long sleep, his throat would have been hoarse, but Yong Je-geon’s voice was the same.

As soon as he woke up, Yongjegeon said proudly, “I had a dream.”