Chapter 88

The golden eyes that glanced at Kinaine rippled with some emotion for a moment, but their gazes never met again.

The selection that had briefly paused in the cold atmosphere resumed with a single halfhearted gesture from the dragon. In the end, the demonstration of the scaled tribe's mysterious clam concluded with copying Prim's jeweled ring.

"Now it's my turn!"

Igni jumped up from her seat.

"At least her spirit is first place."

Kor muttered in what was rather too loud to be a whisper. Though Igni must have heard him, she showed enough composure to grin and wink at him. Despite their bickering, the two seemed to get along in their own way.

"Why are you smiling?"

"It's nothing."

Kinaine shook his head. He had just remembered the past.

'I used to have similar friends too. I wonder how they're doing.'

The faint smile melted away like snow. The friends he had been close with since childhood had been deceived by Hasan and participated in the black mage subjugation. When Kinaine had fallen from the cliff after being stabbed by Hasan's sword, they had stood behind Hasan. Those days of swimming and shooting arrows together with friends had become something that could never return.

As Kinaine was briefly lost in memories of the past, his eyes fell on Igni and Prim. Prim held a golden cord in his right hand, and the gift tied to its end was indeed something that would draw any eye that existed.

Igni opened her mouth with bold energy.

"Lord Asad! Congratulations on your birthday. The gift prepared by the horned tribe is a spirit beast that cannot be seen anywhere else."

It was a black-furred saber-toothed tiger with golden patterns, its fur as dark as the night sky. It had a pointed single horn on its forehead and golden eyes. Though it was a spiritual beast that exuded an intimidating presence just by looking at it, Asad's eyes regarded it with indifference.

"Isn't that just the spirit beast the horned tribe uses for riding? Apart from the black fur, I don't see anything particularly different."

"This one is no ordinary spirit beast. Prim, show him."

"Yes, Lady Igni."

Prim approached the spirit beast. He held a beautiful wine cup in his hand.

"Show us your talent, come on."

The spirit beast, which had been yawning continuously and scratching its side with its foot while pretending to be distracted, opened its mouth wide as if it had no choice when Prim urged it. When Prim threw the cup into its mouth, the spirit beast swallowed it as if it were a tasty piece of meat.

The next moment, bright red flames engulfed the spirit beast's body.

"Gasp!"

"My goodness!"

Sounds of surprised inhales came from several places. But what happened next was even more surprising.

Where the flames disappeared, the huge beast was nowhere to be seen, and instead lay a black wine cup engraved with golden patterns.

Igni explained with a smile.

"This one has the talent to transform into whatever it swallows. Being a spirit beast born from flames, it likes metal objects and often eats them. Though it's a wine cup now, it can also be weapons. Weapons transformed this way follow their master and never break under any impact. Also, since it can transform into various forms, it has many uses."

"Hmm, interesting."

Though his initial reaction had been indifferent, Asad nodded after seeing the spirit beast's ability. Though he didn't particularly need weapons, it was certainly a special spirit beast that couldn't be seen anywhere else, as Igni had promised.

'Well... I'm feeling somewhat nervous.'

Though Kinaine was generally not the type to get nervous, perhaps because he had seen such impressive things continuously, he felt an inexplicable pressure.

"Now it's our turn."

Kor's expression was also stiff, seeming to feel similar pressure.

Kinaine and Kor headed toward the platform where Asad sat. Though it was clearly the closest distance among the bride candidates, it felt incredibly long. Sharp gazes clung to them throughout their walk.

"Lord Asad, congratulations on your birthday."

"Congratulations."

Kinaine followed Kor in greeting as others had done before, then opened the box he was holding.

"This is the gift prepared by the winged tribe."

Surprise spread across the faces of those who saw the fabric in the box. Though it wasn't a striking color and had no elaborate patterns, it kept drawing gazes and made one want to touch it. As far as they knew, there was only one such fabric.

"This fabric was made by processing the hide of a spirit beast that once lived in the winged tribe's territory."

Kor continued with the same explanation he had given to Kinaine before.

"This fabric not only makes its wearer appear beautiful, but also cannot be pierced by any blade and doesn't burn in fire. It's cool when worn in heat and warm when worn in cold, making it a treasure among treasures possessed by the winged tribe."

The fabric had a power to enchant others, and everyone couldn't take their eyes off what was in the box.

Except for one person, Asad.

Rather than what was in the box like others, Asad was staring intently at the person holding it. He stared so intensely that one might think he was a different person from moments ago when he wouldn't even spare a glance.

"..."

But that too was brief, and Asad turned his head away from Kinaine with what seemed like startled expression. As if he hadn't been aware at all that he had been staring at Kinaine.

Meanwhile, a servant approached and took the box containing the fabric. All the gifts were neatly stacked on a high table beside Asad. With the bride candidates' test finished, it was now time to announce the rankings for the second test.

But Asad remained silent for a while, staring into space. Finally, Jet approached.

"Lord Asad, the test results."

"Ah, yes..."

As if finally coming to his senses, Asad blinked.

"I'm grateful that everyone prepared gifts so diligently for me. I will gladly accept all the gifts. Now then, I shall announce the results of the second test."

With an expressionless face, Asad pointed to the table where the winner sat.

"First place is Pram of the horned tribe."

Jet quickly approached and whispered in a small voice.

"It's Prim, Lord Asad."

However, no one paid attention to Jet's words.

"Lord Prim! Congratulations!"

"Prim, I knew you could do it!"

The horned tribe was already acting as if they had won the selection. Having placed second in the first test and first in the second test, Prim had become the most likely bride candidate.

In contrast, the atmosphere at the tables where other bride candidates sat was as dampened as if cold water had been poured on them. Asad continued speaking, paying no attention to who was happy or depressed.

"I like that beast's fur. The black and gold go well together. ...Anyway, I said I would give a reward to the winner."

Even the horned tribe's noisy table, excited with excitement, fell quiet. Everyone was curious about what reward would be given.

Asad's voice rang through the quieted banquet hall.

"I will grant one request from the winner. Within what I can grant now."

Those words meant he couldn't grant a first-wish level request that transcended the world's order and was unbound by causality. But that was enough. Even if it wasn't a first wish, the dragon could still fulfill many things.

"Thank you, Lord Asad!"

Prim cried out in emotion. Igni roughly ruffled such a Prim's hair.

The ranking announcements continued afterward.

Second place was the scaled tribe.

And third place...

"Peach of the tailed tribe."

Now even Jet gave up on corrections and quietly clapped.

When third place was announced, the gazes of everyone in the banquet hall converged on one spot.

With first through third place announced, who was in last place was essentially already declared.

"...This can't be."

Kor groaned. His complexion turned pale as if he couldn't believe the result.

The gifts prepared by each tribe were all excellent, impossible to rank against each other. But what could be done? From the start, this second test had no objectivity, and the result depended solely on the dragon's will. Though Kinaine felt disappointed too, he wasn't really surprised.

It would be a lie to say he hadn't anticipated this situation at all. Asad had been desperate to torment him all this time. He had thought that if someone among the four candidates had to receive punishment, Asad would want to give it to him.

"...Fourth place is Nine of the winged tribe."

The fog visible through the windows grew thicker and a sudden chill spread through the room.

Asad's golden eyes stared intently at Kinaine. Though he was announcing the result he himself had decided with his own mouth, he somehow seemed dejected.

"I said I would give punishment to the last place."