Chapter 83

The day before the dragon's birthday banquet.

Invited guests began arriving at the dragon palace one by one.

"It's been a while since I've been to the dragon palace. This place changes so much each time I visit, it doesn't feel like the same place."

A woman with long flame-like red hair muttered. Upon reaching the entrance to the dragon palace, she dismounted from the back of a giant tiger spirit beast and showed her invitation to the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper bowed deeply without properly examining it. Everyone knew who she was without checking the invitation.

"Welcome, Lady Igni."

"Yes, keep up the good work."

Igni, leader of the horned tribe, took back her invitation and tucked it into her clothes.

Suddenly tilting her head back to look up, she saw a gloomy, cloudy sky. Igni clicked her tongue. She knew who was responsible for affecting the dragon palace's weather.

'What reason does he have to be in a bad mood after inviting people to his own birthday banquet?'

She had barely taken a couple of steps while grumbling inwardly when the gatekeeper's voice was heard from behind. It wasn't directed at her.

"Lord Kor of the winged tribe...? Is it really you? Ah, yes. Invitation confirmed. Please enter."

Even without looking, she could tell the gatekeeper was flustered. The voice that held even a hint of wariness was completely different from the attitude just moments ago when he had bowed to Igni without even checking her invitation.

What a tragic fate that fellow has. Igni clicked her tongue inwardly.

Originally, the winged tribe was famous for their arrogant, overbearing nature, living off their own pride. One could guess their personality just from how they lived gathered in canyons so high that none without wings could reach.

The first winged spirit who claimed the canyon as their territory wouldn't have known. That his tribe would lose their wings in the distant future, and thus never be able to return to their territory.

'Of course he has no choice but to cling to the dragon.'

A miracle was needed to regain their wings and revive their tribe.

How could she not understand Kor's desperation? However.

'I'm just as desperate.'

For a brief moment, deep worry crossed Igni's face.

Sensing Kor entering the palace, she strode over to him.

"Kor! Meeting you here again."

Igni's face had brightened as if the shadow that had fallen over it had been a dream.

"I heard rumors that you've been busy lately! Running around trying to gather the scattered winged tribe, they say."

Kor slightly avoided Igni's attempt to put an arm around his shoulders and moved forward.

"Yes, but it's not as easy as I thought. Even when I manage to find them, they're all too afraid of the dragon to return to the canyon. Even though spirits grow weak and lose their essence when away from their territory for too long... There are no spirits left who can properly handle the wind."

Four hundred years was a long time even for spirits.

Though longer than humans, spirits' lifespans were also finite. A spirit's lifespan varied depending on how close they were to their essence. Those called great spirits like Kor and Igni lived for ages because they were closer to their essence than anyone. But most ordinary spirits were not.

Most who remembered Kor's face were dead. The rare survivors lived hidden in shadows, unable to escape their trauma, and young winged tribe members born after the previous dragon's death considered their wings only as useless burdens.

Kor ground his teeth, recalling the miserable state of the winged tribe.

"Basar... I hope that bastard's end was truly wretched."

"Now, now, don't speak blasphemy. The gods will hear."

Igni hurriedly stopped Kor who was cursing while carelessly using the previous dragon's name.

The gods never blamed dragons no matter what crimes they committed. The implication was that even the previous dragon who had neglected his duties and thrown the spirit realm into chaos would be cherished by the gods. It was an affection incomprehensible to those who weren't beings of the divine realm.

"This is the dragon palace of all places. Be careful. ...And as you wished, Lord Basar's end was miserable. Not only was he betrayed by his mate, but he was ultimately killed by his own child."

"I heard the rumors. They say this generation's dragon is extremely cruel."

"There are some unknown reasons behind those rumors, but that's the result."

Igni shrugged.

"There are some issues with the current Lord Asad. But still, he's a dragon, so wouldn't everything be resolved if he gets a proper mate? Just think if our Prim becomes his mate. No need to worry at all."

"You're confident."

"What about you? Are you really confident?"

Just by lowering her voice one tone, Igni instantly changed the light atmosphere. Her red eyes watched Kor.

"Kor, you once made a wrong choice in bride candidate. We all had to bear the consequences."

Kor's footsteps stopped. Igni continued.

"But this time your chosen bride candidate is even a human. Do you really trust your judgment?"

"I don't."

Igni made a dumbfounded expression at his resolute answer. Oh my, she hadn't expected him to admit it so readily.

"Well then..."

"I judged humans to be inferior beings to spirits, likely to harm the spirit realm. Nevertheless, I chose a human as bride candidate because I had no choice in order to return here. Even after returning to the spirit realm, I didn't think a human could truly become the dragon's bride."

Kor started walking again.

"But as I told you, I don't trust my judgment."

Igni blinked while watching Kor's back.

What's this, doesn't that ultimately mean he trusts the human?

"You could have just said that then. You still like speaking in roundabout ways."

"..."

"Hey, Kor. Let's go together. Do you even know the way?"

"...What about you?"

"I don't know. I was following you?"

After talking, they concluded that neither of the two great spirits knew the way. Fortunately, a servant from the main palace who happened to come by guided them each to their bride candidates' quarters.

Since Prim's quarters were on the way to Kinaine's, Kor first saw the palace assigned to Prim. Igni's eyes sparkled seeing the large, magnificent palace.

"Oh, it's so grand! Our Prim has been living well!"

"Well, it's not bad."

"Then I'll go see Prim. See you at the banquet tomorrow!"

"Sure."

After parting with Igni, Kor continued following the servant.

But something was strange. Even after walking for quite a while, the servant didn't say they had arrived.

"Wait, are we going the right way?"

"Yes, we are."

Despite the servant's answer, Kor couldn't erase his dubious expression. For good reason, as the servant was leading him down increasingly remote paths. Looking around at the unkempt surroundings, Kor furrowed his brow.

This doesn't feel right.

"We've arrived."

"...You must be joking."

"Pardon?"

"This is really the place?"

Kor let out a hollow laugh. The servant who had been watching his reaction left as if fleeing, leaving Kor alone to stare blankly at Kinaine's quarters.

Whoosh– Even the sound of the wind blowing through the seemingly crumbling palace was pitiful.

Kor pressed his forehead in frustration.

"This is ruined."

Actually, what he had said to Igni was half bravado.

When he belatedly heard rumors that the dragon hated humans, Kor had barely slept for three days and nights out of worry.

But one couldn't show weakness in front of competitors. Though he had put on airs to not lose in presence, seeing the scene before him made him feel so empty he could cry.

'How much must he hate him to give him quarters where even beasts couldn't live?'

Opening the creaking gate and entering, the desolate courtyard caught his attention next. And what was that hole in the middle of the courtyard? Had someone dug up a corpse?

"Hey, Nine. I'm here."

When he called out in a dispirited voice, a familiar face came running out with a welcoming expression.

"Lord Kor, you're here!"

It was Ramu, the female twin.

"Please come in. Ah, Lord Nine is currently..."

"Then we'll be taking our leave!"

A loud voice cut off Ramu's words. What? Kor craned his neck to look toward the source of the unfamiliar voice.

The source was soon revealed. A group of servants came pouring out of the quarters. It was amazing that so many people had fit inside such a small place.

After the servants left while chattering noisily, it felt as if a typhoon had swept through the palace.

"What in the world is going on? Who were they?"

"Ah, they were servants sent by Lord Asad. He bestowed new furniture here."

"The dragon did? Why?"

"I'm not sure, but I think the items here didn't meet his standards. Well, it makes sense - after always seeing the finest things, these old and shabby items would displease him."

Ramu put her hands on her hips and sighed.

"Honestly, he should just move us to different quarters instead. The floor creaks, the windows are broken letting the wind blow through - what good are fine furnishings inside?"

"...I don't quite understand what you're saying. So, you're saying the dragon came here once?"

Kor asked with a puzzled expression. Wasn't putting them in this remote, distant place a sign of not wanting to see their faces? But he came all the way here and even replaced old furniture with new? By his common sense, the dragon's actions made no sense at all.

Ramu shook her head at Kor's words. Ah, so it wasn't just once...

"Not once, he came every day."

Every day? Why in the world?

Unanswered questions kept piling up. Noticing Kor's confusion, Ramu gave an awkward smile.

"Please come inside first. Lord Nine should be on the second floor."

Following Ramu inside, Kor was shocked once again. The narrow, shabby space was filled with luxurious and expensive-looking furniture that didn't match at all. With broken windows and mold on the walls, the jewel-encrusted high-end furniture like tables and chairs felt out of place.

Climbing the creaking stairs to the second floor, they met Kinaine just coming out of his room. Seeing him after a long time, Kor immediately noticed that Kinaine's complexion was worse and he had lost weight. But his calm expression remained the same as when they first met.

"You've come, Lord Kor. It's been a while. Have you been well?"

"I've been fine. As for you..."

Kor looked at the room visible behind Kinaine.

The first thing that caught his eye was a huge bed.

'How did they even get that in here?'

The bed was so large it nearly filled the entire small room. The platinum bed posts gleamed so brightly in the sunlight it hurt his eyes.

Shading his eyes from the light with his hand, Kor asked Kinaine.

"Just what has been going on here?"