[BL] After SSS-rank mage reborn as the Legendary Craftsman

Chapter 39: (Sep02) Abyss Kang Ian

Kang Ian, who was given the title Abyss by the Crying Ghost Guild, is a hunter possessing the supernatural ability to control gravity.

The moment they saw him appear, the hunters standing around immediately became excited, they quickly huddled together to gossip about Kang Ian.

”It’s Abyss Kang Ian!”

”I can’t believe we get to see him here today!”

”Did the guild master of Crying Ghost Guild really come to Dong-San city? What is he doing here?”

Whispers rang out continuously, quickly spreading throughout the street.

Unlike Black Dragon Kai and Moon So Yeon who were both quite low-profile, Kang Ian was one of the five strongest SS-rank hunters of humanity and was famous. His reputation had long surpassed the scope of the Crying Ghost Guild, becoming a name that almost every hunter had heard of.

Moreover, among those five, Kang Ian was the only one who could still be considered a complete human being, so his reputation was even better. The other four, although they still had human forms, could no longer be called pure humans.

Kang Ian walked up to Moon So Yeon, bent down to pull her up, and set her aside. His movements were neither hurried nor cautious, as if saving her from Kai just now was merely an unavoidable annoyance.

Moon So Yeon was still holding her neck, coughing continuously.

Kang Ian looked at Kai, his platinum eyes half-closed from exhaustion.

”Hello.”

He spoke a single word listlessly.

Kai did not respond. His vertical golden pupils kept staring at Kei, and the dragon scales on his neck had not completely disappeared.

Kang Ian also paid no attention to that attitude. His gaze shifted to Kei, who was standing beside Kai, then narrowed slightly.

”We meet again, newly awakened Craftsman.”

His voice was flat, with no clear curiosity or friendliness.

”Have you made anything interesting yet?”

Kei was startled, he just remembered who Kang Ian was.

He immediately stepped forward, instinctively blocking in front of Kai.

A small person like him standing in front of a man over two meters tall looked completely unconvincing. The scene was even somewhat comical.

But Kei did not realize that.

He only knew Kang Ian was very strong, strong enough to easily make Kai release Moon So Yeon. If the two really fought, Kai might get hurt.

Kei did not know if the man behind him was the little black dragon that had died in his memories.

He could not confirm it yet.

However, just by seeing those golden pupils and hearing him call his name, Kei could not stand still and watch Kang Ian hit him.

”Hunter Kang Ian...”

Kei lowered his head, not daring to look directly into those platinum eyes.

”This matter is just a misunderstanding. I apologize for getting Miss Moon So Yeon involved in this. Could you let this go?”

Kang Ian quietly looked at Kei.

The atmosphere around immediately became silent.

The hunters watching also unconsciously held their breath. They did not know why an ordinary person dared to stand in front of Kai, nor did they understand why Kang Ian seemed to know him.

Moon So Yeon, standing nearby, was also stunned as she looked at Kei. Her neck still stung, but the words just spoken made her unable to help but freeze.

Kei was protecting Kai?

Clearly, the one who almost strangled her earlier was Black Dragon Kai, yet he was not afraid of Kai at all?

Kang Ian tilted his head slightly, his gaze passing over Kei before stopping at Kai behind him.

”You’re shielding him?”

”...”

Kei clenched his hands tightly.

”He didn’t mean it. Kai just thought Miss Moon So Yeon wanted to harm me.”

”So he choked her just because of a misunderstanding?”

Kang Ian asked in a flat tone.

Kei did not know how to answer. He could not say that Kai might be the little black dragon who once sacrificed himself for him, so that was why Kei did this, because he himself was not even sure about that.

After a moment of silence, Kei could only lower his head even further.

”Either way, it’s my fault. If I had explained earlier, she would not have had to fight him.”

Kai behind him suddenly stirred slightly.He looked at Kei’s back, then at Kang Ian, who was standing across from him. Kai’s hand instinctively clenched, and the black scales on his neck let out a very faint clicking sound.

Kei immediately sensed it, Kai was angry.

He turned his head and hurriedly said:

”Kai, no more fighting.”

Kai looked at him, the anger in his eyes instantly softening, though it seemed reluctant and full of discomfort.

Kang Ian witnessed the scene, and his usually drowsy eyes flickered with a trace of thought. He looked at Kei for a moment longer, then turned his gaze back to Kai.

”Interesting.”

Kang Ian said, his tone still as flat as ever.

”Who are you to make the Black Dragon Kai listen like this? Do the two of you have some kind of close relationship?”

Kei grew even more flustered.

”It’s not what you think...”

He didn’t know how to explain, so he could only try to stand in front of Kai as a shield.

Kang Ian didn’t press further. He turned his head to look at Moon So Yeon, who was rubbing her neck, then looked back at Kai.

”Let it go this time.”

Moon So Yeon’s eyes immediately widened.

”Council head?”

Kang Ian sighed.

”You’re still alive, that’s enough. Don’t keep fighting. And from the start, attacking without asking for a reason was your fault, Moon So Yeon.”

Moon So Yeon pressed her lips together, clearly unwilling to accept it, but she didn’t argue back.

Kei silently breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that. He remained standing in front of Kai, only relaxing his body slightly after making sure Kang Ian truly had no intention of continuing to attack him.

But at that very moment, Kai leaned down, bringing his mouth close to Kei’s ear.

”Kei...”

His low voice carried a rare hint of hesitation, along with a childlike delight.

”Are you protecting me?”

Kei frozen.

He didn’t know how to answer.

Because even he himself couldn’t tell whether he was protecting the Kai of the present, or trying to protect the black dragon that had died long ago in his memories.