Chapter 25

How could he make this human suffer the most?

Thinking about pain naturally made him recall what he had experienced in the human realm.

Asad couldn't remember everything that had happened in the human realm. What he remembered were only fragments of pieces. However, they were strangely vivid and not difficult to recall.

There, humans had starved him, made him sleep in dark and cold places, and subjected him to verbal and physical abuse. Among these, the most painful moments were when they gave false hope only to take it away again.

They would say they would feed him if he carried all the mountain-like heavy loads, if he split all the firewood, if he cleaned the filthy stables - but then they wouldn't.

Humans tormented Asad, who had lost his strength, in such ways.

Asad, a dragon who was a supreme being from birth, learned about pain like this.

Recalling memories of the past made the human before him seem even more hateful.

Perhaps this human coming to the spirit realm was also a chance for revenge gifted to him by the gods.

Since Asad, who shuddered at humans, had no intention of setting foot in the human realm, he wouldn't have had any chance to meet humans. Yet here a human had appeared before him.

He should return the pain he had received from humans.

Thinking this way, the unpleasant feeling wrapping his body disappeared and pleasure took its place instead. A picture-perfect smile finally appeared on his beautiful face that had been crumpled with irritation.

Targan, who had been silently watching this from the side, flinched.

'It's starting again.'

Targan cast a pitying look at the human standing with bowed head. Having watched over the dragon from the closest position, he knew well what the dragon's smile meant.

Asad took one step closer to Kinaine.

"How is it, do you like this palace? I chose the place that suits you best."

"Yes. I like it."

Asad's eyes narrowed at the immediate response. What was there to like? Only vermin and rats that liked damp, dark places would like this palace.

However, instead of arguing this, Asad said something else.

"If you like it, shouldn't you express gratitude? Do humans not know how to say thank you?"

"Thank you."

"It doesn't feel very sincere."

"..."

"Just saying it isn't enough."

Kinaine remained silent with his head bowed. He couldn't tell what the dragon wanted. The certainty that a wrong answer could lead to irreversible consequences prevented him from speaking carelessly.

Asad asked again.

"You actually don't like it, right?"

"No. I do like it."

"No, you don't. From what I can see, you don't like it right now."

"..."

"But what can we do? This is the only place you can stay. All the other palaces are already in use, you see."

Hearing Asad's words, Targan unconsciously furrowed his brow.

It was nonsense. Because dragons built new palaces each time like throwing away old clothes for new ones, there were an enormous number of empty unused palaces. Enough for not just the bride candidates but also all their servants to each live in one and still have leftovers.

However, the dragon's face as he lied was so brazen it seemed pointless to point it out.

"Hah, nothing can be done."

The dragon spoke in a theatrical tone, as if regretful.

"If you dislike it here so much... you'll have to leave."

"...!"

At those words, Kinaine raised his head in shock.

Leave this place? It was like a bolt from the blue.

How much luck had been needed to get to this position? The dragon was Kinaine's last hope. He couldn't lose it so meaninglessly here.

Kinaine spoke hastily.

"No, that's not true. I do like this palace. Sincerely."

"I told you it doesn't feel sincere."

"..."

"You should leave tomorrow morning? What's the point of staying long in a place you don't even like."

"..."

After staring at the dragon blankly, Kinaine immediately fell to his knees.

Huk, Ramu behind him swallowed a breath.

Kinaine bowed deeply, touching his forehead to the ground.

"Lord Asad. I am truly grateful that you have granted me this palace."

"..."

"If my words sounded insincere, it was entirely my fault. Please forgive me."

It was an indifferent voice without any trace of resentment or anger.

"..."

Asad glared at Kinaine's prostrate form.

He had thought he would feel good seeing a hated human crawling like an insect, but why? He didn't particularly feel that way. Rather, he even felt unpleasant.

Probably because of seeing such a servile appearance without any pride or dignity.

Did they like money that much?

Asad spat out:

"I don't need a bride with cheap knees."

"I apologize."

Kinaine spoke still with his forehead to the ground. Watching this with cold eyes, Asad opened his mouth.

"You're really grateful to me?"

"Yes."

"But why? To me, it looks like you're just trying to get past this situation by kneeling a bit. Though your knees aren't worth even that much."

"No. I am sincerely grateful."

"I just can't trust human words..."

Asad dragged out his words.

"Then I'll think about it and come back, so stay like that until tomorrow for now?"

After a moment of silence, a calm answer came.

"Yes. I will do so."

Hearing the answer, Asad smirked. It wasn't a pleasant smile.

"You heard that? Targan. Watch well until I return. So I can believe those words."

"...Yes, Lord Asad."

Though Targan was flustered at suddenly being assigned the role of watchman, Asad's orders took precedence over everything for him, so he complied without objection.

"Well, good luck."

After giving his halfhearted encouragement, Asad immediately turned and left the palace.

"L-Lord Nine!"

Only after the dragon was out of sight did Ramu, who had been stamping her feet behind him, run to Kinaine.

"It's alright, Ramu."

Kinaine spoke still in the same position. Unlike just before when he had deliberately kept emotion out of his voice, his tone was gentle as if trying to reassure Ramu. Though his expression couldn't be seen with his forehead to the ground, Ramu could tell he was smiling.

"It's fortunate we weren't driven out, isn't it?"

"But...!"

"I'm fine so don't worry. Rather, it's fortunate we got off this easily."

If they had been caught eating the spirit beast, wouldn't they have faced something much worse?

Kinaine thought calmly, not knowing that the dragon had deliberately not mentioned it planning to use it as grounds for tormenting him later.

"It's late, so let's go in and sleep."

"How can I go in alone!"

"Please just go. Honestly, it's a bit embarrassing having someone see me like this."

His tone was indifferent, not seeming embarrassed at all. Ramu bit her lip hard, not wanting to cry.

"Why, why does the dragon..."

"Ramu."

Kinaine gently cut off her words.

"Go inside. It's embarrassing with you here."

He was worried Ramu might say something that would upset the dragon's mood. Though the dragon had left, wasn't his subordinate, the horned tribe man, still here? He didn't want to earn more hatred when he was already disliked.

Finally, at Kinaine's persuasion, Ramu went into the palace.

"The weather's cold, isn't it?"

"..."

Targan startled at Kinaine's friendly voice. Though it sounded like an ordinary greeting just hearing the words, wasn't the one giving the greeting kneeling with his forehead to the ground?

"What is your name? I am Nine."

"...I am Targan."

"So it's Lord Targan!"

Targan couldn't hide his bewilderment at the ordinary conversation continuing so inappropriately for the situation. Something felt strange, but since it didn't suit his personality to ignore someone speaking to him friendly, he ended up exchanging a few words.

After they had talked for a while, Kinaine brought up his main point.

"Lord Targan is quite high-ranking in the dragon's palace, right? You seem like Lord Asad's right hand, something like that."

"...Something like that."

"Ah, then could I ask one favor? It's a very simple thing..."

Before Targan could refuse, Kinaine continued immediately.

"It's just that food isn't being delivered to my palace. It seems to have been omitted somehow, but everyone seems too busy to check. It's fine for me, but my servant is just a child as you can see? It's when she should be eating well."

Targan recalled the young servant he had just seen. She certainly was young. If she were from the horned tribe, she would be about five years old. Of course, being from a different tribe, she would be older than that.

"So could you look after this? Even if just for tomorrow, if it's difficult."

"I'll... see to it."

Since it wasn't particularly difficult for Targan, he readily nodded. It was also because he shared the horned tribe's trait of cherishing children.

However, he had questions about the human before him. Did they not realize that the one in the most trouble right now wasn't the young servant who might go hungry for a few days, but themselves?

"...Lord Asad probably won't come tomorrow either."

Targan carefully spoke, wondering if the human might be harboring false hopes.

"Yes, I know."

"...You know? Then why."

Why don't you get up and leave, why choose a path of self-torture - these were what Targan was asking.

Targan didn't know. That for Kinaine, kneeling here for days on end was less painful than doing nothing.

Because what Kinaine wanted wasn't a peaceful and happy life.

What he wanted was atonement.

And to follow his lover.

That was all.