“Why…why do you think that?” Park Noah stuttered, at utter loss over the revelation.

“The records indicate that the imprint takes place when the hatching period is near. At that time, the dragon begins to resonate with the humans who came into contact with the egg. And within in a month, the dragon chooses only one person to be its master and breaks off the connection it had with others.” Kyle Leonard explained clearly.

“I’m aware of that. But what does it have to with my current situation? I was the only one who made contact with the egg.”

“No,” Kyle Leonard immediately negated her statement. “You weren’t the first one to come into contact with the egg, miss Park Noah.” 

“What?”

“Where did you say you found the egg?”

“In the corner of the market…” Park Noah trailed off. It was only then that she realized, goosebumps forming all over her body. 

I missed that fact. Unless the egg rolled all the way to the capital, there must be people who have touched the egg!

The investigator faced Muell, who was listening intently to their heated conversation. “You said you heard a human voice before you came out of the egg, didn’t you?”

“Did you?” Park Noah iterated. Mu nodded anxiously, fumbling his fingers. 

With that, Kyle Leonard came to a conclusion. “Then, the first contact must have been the thief who stole the egg from Laurent’s fortress. It was probably during that time he began to become conscious.”

Kyle Leonard’s theory was actually rational. It would not be ridiculous to assume that there were many who possibly imprinted with the dragon. 

“Mu, was the voice you heard from a woman or a man?” Park Noah asked Mew urgently.

“Uh…”

“Was it like my voice, or was it like this guy’s?”

Mew seemed to recall, and gave his answer. “It was similar to Noah’s voice.”

A woman. Lenia?

“Oh…crazy.” Park Noah’s mind began to spin as numerous thoughts began to overwhelm her. No. Noah. Think calmly. She shut her mouth and forced herself to think straight for a moment.

Park Noah instantly thought of the heroine, Lenia, since she was the only female character in the novel whom she knew. However, the course of the story took a drastic turn the moment she found the dragon egg. Was the original plot relevant to their present situation still?

Besides, why would the heroine steal the dragon egg that rightfully belonged to her and leave it on the corner of a market for somebody else to pick up? It made no sense. Lenia Valtalere was merely a naïve countess until she had imprinted with the dragon. In addition, she belonged to a wealthy family. Hence, it is absurd to suspect her.

Yet Park Noah’s instincts screamed at her. Isn’t it too eerie to be a coincidence? Lenia Valtalere was the rightful master of the dragon!

“I’m sure I imprinted on Noah.” Mu’s voice penetrated the swarming thoughts of Park Noah. Brought back to reality, she turned her head and looked at the little child. 

Hesitation was no more in the child’s face. Mu looked at her with determination. “I’m the one who places the carved seal among the humans who have touched the egg and started resonance with me. I chose Noah, and Noah gave me a name and accepted me. So it wasn’t a failure.”

Convinced that the child was right, Park Noah relaxed a little. The imprint was definitely a success. 

There may have been someone who the dragon recognized unconsciously as its master, perhaps the cause behind the complications. But definitely, Park Noah was who Mu chose to be his master.

“Then what should I do?” Mu asked.

“With the exception of Park Noah, you must stop the resonance with the human being you’ve come into contact with.” Kyle Leonard answered.

That means I’ll be like this all the time unless we find the egg thief. Park Noah sighed and shut her eyes, already feeling the imminent fatigue.

A myriad of questions loomed in their minds. Who was the first to come in contact with Mu? Was the voice he heard really belonged to the heroine, Lenia Valtalere?