7 transmigration tips from the saint chapter 22

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It would have been fine if he were alone, but he wasn’t.

There were seven other people in his group.

Acting independently in a group setting was something to be avoided, but he couldn’t just leave the sleeping child anywhere.

“The little one bawled its heart out and then knocked out.”

Eridian poked the hatchling’s moist nose with a look of disapproval.

The hatchling twitched its nose, sniffing like a puppy.

Seo Woohyun’s lips twitched at the sight.

“Uh, Lord Erdian?”

“Hm?”

“From what I’ve learned, aren’t you the god of war, peace… things like that?”

“And?”

“I was just wondering if dragons fall under your jurisdiction, too.”

Eridian let out a sigh of disbelief. Seo Woohyun seemed to be implying that Eridian had several job titles, including one related to dragons.

The reason for this question was obvious.

“If you’re so worried about it, why don’t you take it with you?”

“It fell asleep on its own, so if I just take it with me, that’s basically kidnapping.”

“Kidnapping? It’s the one who asked to be held and fell asleep. If you don’t want it, just leave it in the corner and go on your way.”

Erdian pointed to a corner of the rest stop.

There were a few boxes stacked there, and it looked like a good place to hide something.

However, it didn’t sit well with Seo Woohyun to just abandon the ten-year-old hatchling, sound asleep in his arms.

He hesitated, biting his lip.

‘Seriously, what’s wrong with me these days?’

In the past, even when faced with situations more difficult than this, he might have been flustered but never as indecisive and lost as he was now.

He would give up what needed to be given up, do what could be done, and figure out his role in any situation to move forward. But now…

“We can always buy supplies elsewhere, so how about we move on? By the way, that hatchling probably won’t wake up until tomorrow morning.”

“If we leave now, we’ll reach the next village by morning, right?”

Erdian glanced at Giselle, who was standing nearby. Giselle, as if waiting for his cue, quickly recited the estimated arrival time.

“Yes. If we depart now, we’ll reach the next village before sunset. We plan to stay there for the night.”

Seo Woohyun had a decision to make: either hide the crying, exhausted hatchling somewhere it couldn’t be found, or take it along without its consent.

He selfishly wished someone would make the decision for him, but his companions were all staring at him, even Erdian, who had an amused smile on his face.

‘It doesn’t make sense to take along a hatchling I just met. We’re not even near the borders of the Duchy of Soznian, and adding a new member to the group would only be a burden…’

Thanks to Erdian’s kindness, Seo Woohyun had been able to enjoy a near-leisurely journey, and he didn’t want to create any more trouble.

He was just along for the ride because he didn’t know much about what was happening.

Seo Woohyun walked over to the boxes stacked near the wall.

The hatchling, fast asleep, had drooled all over its mouth. The soft, rhythmic sound of its breathing unsettled him.

But taking the child along had never been part of the plan.

He placed the sky-blue hatchling in the gap between the boxes and the wall.

He picked up the clothes scattered on the floor and dusted them off, covering the curled-up child like a blanket.

Then, he turned to Erdian and Giselle and spoke.

“Let’s go now. We can’t delay any longer.”

“Understood.”

Giselle nodded. Erdian approached and wrapped an arm around Seo Woohyun’s shoulder.

Since the rest stop was empty and a sound barrier was in place to prevent any noise from escaping, his usual tone slipped out naturally.

“Woohyun, are you okay with heading straight to the carriage?”

“Yes. I’ve shaken off the motion sickness. We can buy supplies at the next village. I’ve already wasted too much time here.”

“Alright. Raullet, go prepare the carriage.”

“Yes, sir.”

Seo Woohyun glanced up at Erdian, who was patting his shoulder.

He still found it a bit strange that Erdian’s eyes weren’t their usual golden color beneath his long eyelashes.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You were just standing right next to me, so I looked.”

“You’re shy, aren’t you?”

“…I’m not shy.”

Seo Woohyun always found himself confused by the way Erdian casually made such comments.

He knew Erdian was fond of him, but it was unclear what kind of affection it was.

“Alright, if you say you’re not, then you’re not.”

Erdian’s fingers, with a trace of some ambiguous emotion, brushed against Seo Woohyun’s cheek before pulling away.

Seo Woohyun rubbed his now warm cheek and turned to look behind him.

The hatchling, whom he’d just met today, was still fast asleep behind the stack of boxes.

It was time to say goodbye to the young dragon who had cried itself to sleep after being caught stealing his wallet.

The dragon, who had grumbled with a pout and eventually passed out from exhaustion.

‘Maybe we’ll meet again if fate allows it.’

Seo Woohyun hesitated for a moment before finally turning his head. His companions were all waiting for him to make a move. He swallowed nervously and took a step forward.

But after just two steps, he heard a rustling sound behind him.

Startled, Seo Woohyun turned sharply, as if he’d committed some crime.

But the hatchling didn’t emerge from behind the boxes. It seemed the sound came from the child shifting in its sleep.

“…….”

“Woohyun.”

Erdian gently patted Seo Woohyun on the shoulder again. Seo Woohyun stood frozen in place, pale as a sheet.

He couldn’t say a word. He wanted to speak, but no sound would come out.

What right did he have to linger here any longer?

Yet his feet remained rooted to the ground.

The child had run away from home, scared of being abandoned by a family that didn’t come looking.

Perhaps that’s why Seo Woohyun saw a reflection of his younger self in the child.

He knew he had been abandoned when left alone in the city.

Still, out of a faint hope, he had told the police his home address and his father’s name.

But all that came of it was his father’s angry response.

He’d spent days in an orphanage, half-believing in a miracle, thinking his father might come for him.

But in the end, like the crying hatchling, his fears had turned to resentment.

‘I don’t want to leave like this. I want to at least say goodbye properly.’

Though they had only exchanged a few words, Seo Woohyun had developed a soft attachment to the child.

He chewed on his lip before finally muttering in a weak voice.

“I’m really sorry. I… I can’t leave it here. Can we stay for just one night? I don’t mean to take it with us, but I want to say a proper goodbye when it wakes up. If I leave like this, it feels like I’m abandoning it, and I just… I can’t.”

He couldn’t even finish his sentence properly.

He knew he was being unreasonable. He had sworn he wouldn’t cause any trouble, yet here he was, making things difficult.

He was the one responsible for delaying their journey from the start.

If he hadn’t gotten motion sickness and stopped in the village where his wallet was stolen, none of this would have happened.

But it was too late; the words were out, and there was no taking them back.

‘Ah, seriously…’

Seo Woohyun’s expression crumpled with frustration, and Erdian gently patted his shoulder.

“There’s nothing to apologize for. I’ve told you several times that we have plenty of time. Raullet, go find us a place to stay. We’ll leave tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m sorry. Because of me… I won’t let this happen again.”

“It’s fine. While Raullet finds us a place, why don’t you go pick up that little one again? It has a nasty habit of tossing and turning in its sleep.”

“…Alright.”

Seo Woohyun quickly walked back to the boxes.

The legs that had been so heavy now moved as if they’d never been weighed down.

When he picked up the hatchling again, it was warm to the touch.

Wrapped snugly in its clothes, the child looked like a big bundle of laundry.

“If I wrap it up like this, do you think it’ll suffocate?”

“I doubt it. From the sounds it’s making, it seems to be breathing just fine.”

Erdian glanced at the hatchling nestled in Seo Woohyun’s arms.

It was a clever little thing.

Though it had acted tough after being caught, it had trembled and quickly sought to confirm the social hierarchy, sensing that Seo Woohyun had a soft spot for it.

‘It realized I was going easy on Woohyun and tried to cozy up to him.’

Erdian had tried to scare the hatchling into recognizing its place, but it had quickly figured out Seo Woohyun’s status.

On top of that, it had shamelessly clung to Seo Woohyun, calling him “big brother” and tugging at his heartstrings with its tears.

Seo Woohyun had already grown attached to the hatchling. He held it close, his hand gently stroking it in a way that showed a deep fondness.

“It’s just a kid. It’s only ten. I feel bad for scolding it.”

Seo Woohyun, cradling the small bundle protectively, naturally sat down beside Erdian. As he placed the hatchling on his lap, it let out a soft murmur in its sleep.

“Mm…”

The sound was so cute that the tension in Seo Woohyun’s face melted away. Erdian’s smile deepened as he watched him.

It was much better to see Seo Woohyun smiling than looking pale with anxiety, as he had just moments ago.

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