Chapter 7

The spirit froze as if Kinaine had struck it. Its wide-open beak perfectly displayed its bewilderment.

"Do you understand what you're saying?"

"Of course."

"Then you're not stupid, you're insane!"

The spirit barked fiercely.

"Not just anyone can become a dragon's bride. You have to compete against formidable candidates and win the bride selection! Above all, you can't even register as a candidate!"

"Why not?"

"Because only omegas can become bride candidates!"

All dragons were alphas, and dragon brides were omegas. It had always been that way since the world was created.

Therefore, only omegas could become dragon bride candidates.

'It's ruined.'

The spirit, Kor, despaired.

It would have been better if he was an invalid covered in boils. Better than a beta who was completely useless.

Eyes full of resentment turned toward the human before him. The human, who didn't even know what he had ruined, had an infuriatingly calm face. Though Kor wanted to split his head and body in two right then, there was nothing he could do after promising not to harm him.

'But other humans are a different matter.'

Kor's eyes glowed with murderous intent.

First, he would tear apart the owner of that dress this man was wearing. None of the living beings in this mansion would see tomorrow's sun.

Just as Kor was about to put his thoughts into action, leaving Kinaine behind, the con artist spoke.

"That's perfect then. I'm an omega too."

"What?"

After flinching briefly, the crow became angry again.

"You're lying again! I can't sense any pheromones from you, do you think I'll fall for it again?"

"That's because I'm controlling my pheromones."

"Such lies..."

Kor couldn't finish his words. Because at that moment, he smelled the pheromones flowing from Kinaine. Though it was a very faint scent suggesting a recessive trait, it was definitely omega pheromones.

Realizing his words were true, Kor was bewildered.

"...What. I mistook an omega for a beta?"

"Recessives have weak pheromones, making them easier to hide."

At those words, Kor couldn't hide his astonishment. Recessives were easier to hide their pheromones?

'It's the complete opposite.'

If dominant pheromones were like steadily flowing river water, recessive pheromones were like water in a cup held by someone on horseback. Though less in quantity than dominant pheromones, they were much harder to control.

A recessive omega controlling pheromones to this degree was like riding a horse while keeping water from spilling from a cup. It was practically an art.

'What exactly is this one?'

Only then did Kor realize that the human before him was something extraordinary.

"You... what exactly are you?"

"My name is Nine, and I'm a mercenary. Soon to be a dragon bride candidate."

It was a brazen answer, but this time it didn't anger him.

Kor stared intently at the human.

Now that he knew he was an omega, he could see it. Indeed, his appearance was too good for a beta.

'But being better than a beta isn't enough.'

Choosing a human as a dragon bride candidate was already a big decision. Let alone a recessive omega - it was absurd. The other bride candidates would all be the most dominant of dominant omegas.

But was there any other choice?

Kor had been banished from the Spirit Realm, Solem, long ago and sealed in a deep forest in the human realm. Though his punishment period had finally ended, the chains of the seal remained, preventing him from straying far from the forest.

However, he still retained some of his authority as leader of the winged tribe, one of which was the right to select dragon bride candidates.

Kor had waited a long time, judging that he could return to the Spirit Realm on the day of Runamoon using this.

The problem was that omegas were rare in both the Spirit Realm and Human Realm, and they had no reason to enter the deep forest where Kor was sealed. The client's daughter was a dominant omega discovered after a long wait. If he missed this chance, who knew how long he would have to wait again.

Kor's gaze turned to the window.

"...The Runamoon has risen."

The twin moons that appeared once every seven years were emitting bright light. To humans it might just be two moons in the sky, but as a spirit, Kor could feel it.

Finally, the gate to Solem had opened.

Kor turned his head to look at the insolent human.

Even with his powers restricted in the human realm, he could still massacre all the humans in this mansion tonight. But if he did that, he too would gain nothing.

"Though it irritates me that things are going according to your plan, fine. Very well."

The crow's eyes glinted coldly.

"I hope you'll be as clever in Solem as you were before me."

Having changed back into his original clothes, Kinaine came out of the mansion. Soon, the crow that had been circling above his head landed on the ground.

From the body covered in black-purple feathers came a cracking sound like breaking bones.

"Get on my back."

Kor, now too massive to be called a bird, spread his wings.

"Please wait a moment."

Kinaine went back into the mansion to find the client. The client, who was with his daughter in the sealed room, startled at the sight of Kinaine.

"Wh-what happened?"

"The request is complete. Your daughter is safe."

Only then did the client breathe a sigh of relief and check on his daughter lying in bed. Indeed, her complexion had visibly improved.

"Thank you, truly thank you."

"Please send the request fee to the guild. And..."

Kinaine hesitated before adding:

"May I ask one favor?"

"Just name it. You saved my daughter, I'll grant anything."

"Please tell this to the Guild Master: 'Nine has left to find a way to liberate Jinaks.'"

"..."

The client's eyes trembled visibly. He too seemed to know about the tragedy that occurred in Jinaks.

Well, who wouldn't?

Kinaine remained expressionless even under the appraising gaze.

Hasan, who had become king, had destroyed all records of the evil black mage. The portraits showing his appearance had also vanished in flames.

Now people only remembered the atrocities the black mage had committed, not knowing who he had been in the past. Thanks to this, Kinaine could walk around without hiding his face. Of course, this was also because people wouldn't think a black mage known to be dead would be walking around perfectly fine.

"I will do so."

Finally, the client nodded without asking anything.

After delivering his message to the client, Kinaine came back outside.

"I thought you had run away."

"How could I? Though not as much as spirits, I too value promises."

He couldn't run away after making a promise with the spirit. Hadn't he seen what happened to the client's daughter?

"A liar sure knows how to wag his tongue."

The deceiver had no right to respond to that. Instead of prolonging the conversation, Kinaine carefully placed his hand on Kor's back.

"Then, excuse me."

Kinaine mounted Kor's back. Though it felt different from riding a horse, he quickly found his balance thanks to Kor's massive size.

Kor took off without a word. They gained altitude instantly.

Soon, the night sky full of stars came into view. It was a sight he had never seen before.

"I am Kor. Leader of the winged tribe, one of the four races of Solem. I will be your patron from now on, so remember it well."

"Yes. I look forward to working with you, Lord Kor."

After being briefly captivated by the night sky, Kinaine gathered his thoughts at Kor's words. This was no time to be entranced by beautiful scenery.

"Lord Kor, do you know anything about black magic?"

"Black magic... Even I don't know much about what humans created. But one thing is certain."

Kor declared in a low voice in response to Kinaine's question.

"Black magic is a power that should not exist."

That was something Kinaine knew better than anyone. He thought such power should not exist, should vanish from the world. That thought had never changed since switching bodies with Hasan.

"A power that distorts order and changes the predetermined flow. In this world, only dragons are permitted such power."

All magic in this world originated from dragons.

Even magic's protection of spirit covenants was the work of one of the previous dragons.

Magic was the exclusive property of dragons alone. The gods loved dragons and gifted them magic. Thus, dragons became sacred and omnipotent beings.

"Could a dragon break black magic?"

Though Kor seemed to wonder why he would ask such a thing, he didn't probe deeper, apparently not curious enough about the circumstances.

"Though I've lived over a thousand years, even I don't know what dragons can't do."

A thousand years? While Kinaine was still surprised by the spirit's age, Kor added:

"I don't know what you want to do, but whatever it is, you'd better not ask the dragon."

"Why is that?"

"Because dragons generally have nasty personalities."

Kinaine was stunned by the unexpected answer.

"Well, I don't know about this generation's dragon, but if you don't want to die, it's better not to say anything that might upset them."

Kor warned.

"Dragons take what they want, they don't give you what you want. Dragons show mercy only to their mates. Remember, to all other beings, dragons are no different from unpredictable disasters."