Chapter 68

As Asad tried to kiss him again, Kinaine raised his hand to cover his lips.

"What are you doing?"

Asad asked as if dumbfounded. Fortunately, he didn't seem angry.

"Won't you lower it?"

When he shook the hand holding Kinaine's chin, Kinaine's head shook with it. As Kinaine still stubbornly refused to lower his hand despite the shaking, Asad smirked.

"What are you trying to do?"

Only after he finally released his chin did Kinaine lower the hand covering his mouth.

"I... don't want to do this with Lord Asad anymore."

"That's funny. You're the one who enjoys it more."

"That's because of the pheromones..."

"Whether it's because of pheromones or cock, fact is you loved it. I know it wasn't just me who enjoyed it, you know? Don't lie."

Though he spoke firmly, his words had no effect on Asad. Seeing him speak with a smile instead of his usual irritation, it was clear he wasn't taking his words seriously. He wouldn't act like this unless he was confident that Kinaine didn't dislike being with him.

Suddenly, memories of himself from last night naturally came to mind.

...Was it natural for him to think that way?

The problem was that this body was particularly weak to pleasure.

Touching his heated earlobe, Kinaine needlessly blamed his body.

As Kinaine fell silent with his complicated feelings, Asad smiled like someone who had won and slipped his hand around Kinaine's waist, lifting him up.

"What...!"

No, hadn't he been picking him up like a child since last time? Even with his great strength, as a proper adult, Kinaine felt somewhat embarrassed.

However, before he could protest, he found himself sitting on Asad's thighs as he sat on the bed.

Startled by the position that anyone would see as concubine-like, Kinaine tried to get down, but couldn't move because Asad had his arm tightly wrapped around his waist. It seemed he was the only one bothered by this position.

Kinaine swallowed a sigh and began trying to persuade Asad again.

"Isn't it contradictory to say you hate humans but enjoy doing this with me?"

"So what if it's contradictory? I do what I want to do."

In front of the dragon's words about doing what he wanted, all persuasion became meaningless.

Then he would have to change tactics.

"Then please make me your bride."

"That's not possible."

A cold answer came immediately. I knew it would be like this. Kinaine thought he should play his strong hand now.

"If I can't be your bride, then I don't want to do this. Why should I do it when I get nothing out of it?"

Kinaine hoped his tone would sound thoroughly vile.

Indeed, there was a reaction to these words as thick veins stood out on the arm holding his waist.

"Since you want it so much, should I pay you?"

"Yes, please do."

"..."

The silence was long, as if he hadn't expected such ready agreement to being treated like a male prostitute.

"You vulgar bastard..."

Soon a low growling sound was heard. Being behind him made it feel like being watched by a beast from behind, causing fear.

It was another situation where being strangled wouldn't be strange. Though there were restrictions so he wouldn't die, it would still hurt a lot. But what did pain matter?

Just as Kinaine steeled himself.

"Ugh!"

A sharp pain shot through his shoulder. Asad had bitten him like a biting animal.

When the teeth that had been gnawing for a while finally released, they left a wound beaded with blood. Kinaine could feel Asad looking down at the wound he had made.

After a brief silence, Asad blurted out.

"What do you want?"

"What?"

"Tell me. What you want."

Kinaine lost his words. This wasn't the development he had expected.

While he was blankly stunned, a hand suddenly slipped between his clothes.

"By the way, why are you so cold? Were humans always this cold?"

Though it wouldn't have been strange for him to rage about killing him immediately, this sudden teasing was unexpected. The problem was that his sensitive body naturally flinched because the hand exploring his upper body was hot.

He couldn't let this continue. Kinaine desperately grabbed Asad's wrist.

"I-it's because I washed with cold water."

"Why? Do you like that?"

"...It's not that I like it, there's only cold water here."

Why would Kinaine want to wash his body with ice-cold water? Cold water was like poison, especially when his body temperature was dropping more and more as his condition worsened. But there was no choice since only cold water came out in the bathroom.

"No wonder your face was so pale, so that's why?"

Though it wasn't just because of washing with cold water, Kinaine let Asad misunderstand.

Suddenly his shoulder felt heavy. It was because Asad had rested his chin on it. Stretching out his arm in that position, Asad made it so Kinaine could see his hand.

On his palm lay a transparent bead.

"Then how about this?"

When Asad grasped the bead, white light soon enveloped his hand. It was a gentle and sacred light, completely unlike its owner.

When the light disappeared and Asad opened his palm again, a bead containing a soft glow appeared.

Like someone showing magic to an innocent child, a playful voice bored into his ear.

"What's this?"

"Heating magic... isn't it?"

"What, how did you know?"

The voice that had been full of playfulness deflated as if losing steam.

Even the one who had given the correct answer was surprised.

'How did I know this?'

Though he didn't know why, he could immediately tell what magic was cast on the bead just by looking at it. Come to think of it, it had been the same when he saw the jar that had sealed the magical beast.

'Is it related to black magic after all?'

He couldn't think of any other reason.

Though Kinaine had tried to investigate black magic in every way possible, what he had discovered was very little compared to his efforts.

What he had learned so far was that black magic was a power that existed only for destruction, and was related to the demon realm. As evidence, black magic didn't work on magical beasts. The reason Kinaine couldn't use black magic against the magical beast in the first test wasn't just because of others' eyes, but also because of this.

Kinaine stared at the bead wrapped in sacred light with complicated eyes.

'They said dragons are guardians who protect the two worlds from the demon realm.'

If he found out that he was a black mage who was surely connected to the demon realm, how would the dragon react?

The dragon already hated him for being human. Revealing himself as a black mage in this situation would surely be like stirring up a hornet's nest.

He should keep being a black mage hidden. And the fact that he could recognize magic too.

Kinaine resolved. Of course, this resolution also included a bit of not wanting his lover to find out he was a black mage.

"...I just guessed from our conversation earlier. I'm surprised I was right. So such magic exists."

"Looking at you sometimes, you don't seem stupid, so why do you do foolish things?"

Every time he coughed up blood, he had made excuses about bumping into something or biting his tongue, and the misunderstanding was growing deeper. Having nothing to say, Kinaine awkwardly said "I know, right?" and tried to change the subject.

"Now that I've inscribed the magic, if you put this bead in water, it will become warm."

Asad placed the bead on Kinaine's palm.

"Is this enough payment?"

Though his tone was harsh, it ultimately meant he wanted to continue mixing bodies with Kinaine.

Not having expected the dragon to react this way, Kinaine lost his words in confusion.

Perhaps misinterpreting his silence, the dragon continued speaking with somewhat urgent colors.

"You don't like this either? Then what should I give you?"

When they first met, he had been a dragon who strangled him, spoke abusively, and said he would make him live worse than death.

That dragon's attitude had changed after mixing bodies. Though his gaze still seemed as cold as eternal snow when looking at him, it would suddenly heat up as if it had never been cold.

It was bewildering how he had changed. Had intimacy with him been that good? But...

"You should have spoken when I was trying to negotiate."

When Kinaine didn't answer, Asad finally spat out the words as if his patience had run out.

"...I don't understand why you're doing this to me. Lord Asad could have anyone you want."

Wouldn't it not matter if his partner for mixing bodies wasn't him?

As already stated, Kinaine didn't want to continue this relationship with Asad anymore.

Because he felt sorry for the future bride? No, that was an excuse.

Actually, it was for himself. Though it felt wonderfully like floating when mixing bodies with him, an unbearable sadness would rush in afterward. If he were an ordinary person, he could cry and be done with it, but he couldn't do that, could he? That's why he didn't want to continue this relationship anymore.

But naturally, Asad didn't know his earnest feelings.

For some reason, after falling silent for a moment at Kinaine's words, he spoke in a light tone.

"...Do I have to? I'd rather not increase the number of people who don't know their place."

Though his tone somehow seemed forced to be light, Kinaine thought it was just his imagination and let it pass.

Asad grumbled.

"Fine, just tell me what you want. I'll grant anything except nonsense like making you my bride. If you want these beads, I can make dozens more."

"I don't need dozens."

"Why not? You could sell them and make lots of money that you love? The magic will continue as long as I don't die."

...The magic remains as long as he doesn't die?

As he thought about what he had just heard, Kinaine urgently asked back.

"Th-then conversely, if you die... does the magic disappear?"

"Yes, magic disappears along with its caster when they die. Though it might take some time depending on the type of magic."

Which meant.

"But why is your heart racing again?"

The way to undo the black magic cast on Jinaks was...