These Lunatics are Obsessed With Me

"It didn't even take that long…”

“…”

When I muttered, Baek Si-hoo's eyes narrowed.

Wait, do I have to use polite language even though I'm mumbling to myself? This darn boomer…

Without backing down from his glaring gaze, I met his eyes for a moment before slowly lowering my gaze. My finger that was bleeding from the monster's bite had somehow completely healed. I thought I was bleeding quite a lot, but maybe because thanks to the defensive item Sung Yoo-bin gave me, I was glad it was over.

However, my hands felt sticky with blood, making me uncomfortable. There was too much blood to wipe it on my clothes or just leave it alone. I moved my hand to see if there was anything I could use in my inventory.

"You…”

“…?”

Baek Si-hoo frowned while looking at my hand. He definitely wasn't worried about my wound, and his expression was scary, as if there was something he didn't like.

"What, why…?"

“…”

No, why does he look so scary? I stepped back, but Baek Si-hoo's gaze followed me. His persistent gaze stared at my blood-stained hand.

I blinked in confusion, and Baek Si-hoo stretched out his hand. His long, smooth fingers held my bleeding hand tightly. My body jumped up in surprise.

“Whoa!"

"…"

Baek Si-hoo ignored my scream. He just stared at my hand without blinking his eyes. And he pulled my hand to his face.

I just looked at him with a stupid expression on my face. His red tongue contrasting with his pale face seemed unreal. Then, sirens went off in my head.

"Hey, Baek Si-hoo!"

I intuitively felt that it would be dangerous to leave Baek Si-hoo like this. I don't know why, but I felt that way. It was when I reached out my other hand to stop what Baek Si-hoo was about to do.

Boom!

"…!"

"…!"

I heard an explosion in the distance. It was a loud explosion, enough to make me and Baek Si-hoo instinctively turn toward the source of the sound.

"What was that?"

"…"

Bright red flames appeared in the distance. My eyes widened in surprise. The ground started to split around the area, and flames began to break out everywhere.

"Uagh, it's hot!"

A searing blaze swept past me. I quickly stepped back, not having time to be puzzled by the sudden change in scenery. Before I knew it, my hand was free from Baek Si-hoo's grip.

"Hey, wait…!"

Baek Si-hoo started running towards the source of the fire. He didn't even stop when I called out to him.

"….! Hey!"

I followed behind Baek Si-hoo. I don't know what is going on. Could it be that a boss monster had appeared? Since this place was called the Realm of Fire, it was likely that the boss monster had the fire attribute. The raging flames were so hot that it felt like it would burn my skin.

Would Baek Si-hoo and I be able to clear it together? Worry began to creep into my mind. If Baek Si-hoo was no match for the boss monster even with my auxiliary skill…

Then both Baek Si-hoo and I would die. I couldn't allow that to happen. I bit my lip and racked my brain. But the more I thought about it, the more I realised that there was only one thing I could do.

[Skill activation condition: Requires direct contact with the target.]

[The more intense the skinship, the greater the effect.]

‘Fuck, damn it…!’

I cursed to myself as I recalled the Catnip's skill description once again.

Kang Yoo-hyun had defeated the Draugr King, an SS-ranked boss monster, with mucous membrane contact. So, how intense of skinship do I have to do with Baek Si-hoo to defeat the boss monster here…?

My head is throbbing. How far will this skill test me? Panting, I finally caught up with Baek Si-hoo.

"Gasp, gasp… Ugh, wait…"

"…"

Breathing heavily, I managed to get behind Baek Si-hoo. Baek Si-hoo, who was standing still indifferently, slowly turned his body around.

"…Han Yi-jin."

"Hm…? No, yes?"

Baek Si-hoo’s voice sounded subdued as I raised my head to answer. Then, I saw Baek Si-hoo with a strange expression. What did he see? Curious, I peeked from behind Baek Si-hoo's back.

"Kkueeek!"

"….!"

There was something curled up inside the flames burning like wood fires. I couldn't even open my eyes properly, and I looked at the whimpering little lizard with astonishment.

[Fire Dragon Salamander

Rank: ??

Level: ??

?? ?? ?? ??, ?? ?? ??

…」

Fire Dragon? Salamander? That small lizard? I stared dumbfoundedly at the salamander, still crying incessantly like a newborn baby. Although the surrounding flames were unusual. And seeing as I can't confirm the rank, it must be at least A-rank… Or could it be…?

"Um, do you happen to know… Its rating…?”

"…"

Baek Si-hoo, who had been silent, slowly shook his head. That means, it really…

"That one is the boss monster…?"

"…"

I looked at the salamander in surprise. No matter how I looked at it, it didn't seem like a boss monster that would harm people. Far from being a boss monster, it looked weaker than the monster that made my finger bleed.

However, monsters aren't always what they appear to be on the surface. Yong-sik was small and cute, but he could melt the face of an S-class hunter by spitting out a poisonous breath. Furthermore, he could transform into his adult form and even fought against the mid-boss monster in the dungeon in that form.

So, I should be wary of this little lizard. Although I knew it in my head, my hand kept twitching, wanting to touch the crying salamander that was making sounds like "peeak, peeak."

Sreung.

“…?”

While I was desperately trying to decide between reason and instinct, I heard the sound of a sword being drawn next to me. When I looked to the side in surprise, Baek Si-hoo aimed his sword at the salamander.

"W—wait. What are you doing?"

"I'll kill it before it fully awakens."

"You're going to kill it now?"

I was surprised and blocked Baek Si-hoo. It was an action I did before I even realised it.

"Step aside."

"No, let's just assess the situation first…"

"It doesn't seem like there's any need to assess the situation."

"But…"

I was at a loss for words and looked at Baek Si-hoo. He wasn't wrong. It was better to kill the salamander now, because it was a monster after all. Still, for some reason, I couldn't shake off this feeling of reluctance. Somehow, I strongly felt that it shouldn't be done this way.

"Quickly step aside."

"But, just wait a moment…"

There was no way Baek Si-hoo would listen to me. He glared at me as I turned my back to protect the salamander and raised his sword high. Was he going to attack me along with the salamander?

"Ugh…!”

I closed my eyes tightly. I don't understand why I did this when I was too busy trying to save myself. Still, I couldn't move my body, so I just stood there stiffly.

“…?”

However, no matter how long I waited, I didn't feel his sword fall on me. In disbelief, I carefully opened my eyes.

"Kugh…!”

“…!”

Baek Si-hoo's sword was on fire. No, it wasn't just his sword; red flames seemed to be swirling around him. I was taken aback and turned around to look.

"Ppii, ppi!"

"Oh…”

The salamander finally opened his eyes. The bright yellow eyes that looked like jewels were looking straight at me. I stared blankly into those sparkling eyes. At that time, the system's voice rang in my ears.

[The Salamander (Legendary Grade, Dragonkin) recognizes you as its parent.]

[Would you like to register it as your summon?]

[YES/NO]

“…What?"

A summon? This small lizard in front of me, no, the Salamander is a summon? Wasn't it a boss monster?

I tilted my head in confusion. Then, I heard a harsh shout from behind me.

"Han Yi-jin! What are you doing again!"

"Ah."

Baek Si-hoo was behind me. I turned my head and saw him with a not very good expression on his face. Seeing Baek Si-hoo looking angry, I opened my mouth.

"Well, you see…"

I was about to explain the salamander to Baek Si-hoo, but before I could explain it, the voice of the system urging me sounded again in my ears.

[Would you like to register it as your summon?]

[YES/NO]

"Ah, goodness…"

Just like last time, I don't know why the system is so impatient. I sighed inwardly and selected ‘yes’. If I refuse this summon, this cub will be killed by Baek Si-hoo, and it would be good for me to have a dragon species summon whose rank cannot be confirmed even by S-class.

[Please name your summon.]

[(Up to 15 characters including spaces)]

"Umm…”

Come to think of it, I have to give it a name when I register it as my summon. Oh no. I had thought of the name ‘Yong-sik' before, but I couldn't think of a name because it was too sudden.

"Ppii, ppiii."

"Are you… A girl?"

"Ppii!"

I asked just in case after hearing its high-pitched cry, but the salamander let out a long cry as if to answer yes. I guess it would be okay for her to become Yong-sik’s younger sister.

"Then… Yong-sun?"

[…]

The system’s voice suddenly became silent. I tilted my head again because I didn't know why. Then, the system's reluctant voice sounded again in my ears.

[Summon registration for ‘Yong-sun’ has been completed.]