Chapter 90

Something was wrong with Asad.

The moment he recognized the situation, Kinaine ran toward him without a moment's hesitation.

However, before he could take even one step, a strong force grabbed his waist and pulled him back.

"Have you lost your mind!"

Kor shouted as if dumbfounded. Even then, Kinaine's gaze remained fixed on Asad as if nailed there.

"Lord Kor, Lord Asad is..."

The beautiful man who had looked like he stepped out of a sacred painting no longer existed.

His skin, once white and transparent as ice, was now covered in black scales, and his silver hair that had seemed woven from moonlight had turned black as if dipped in ink. Even his eyes, which had always received praise for their beauty, had lost their original light and were dyed in pitch-black darkness.

"Let me go!"

"Let you go what? What could you possibly do!"

It was then that shadows extending from Asad covered the banquet hall.

Crash! The banquet hall's ceiling collapsed. Through the gap, the sky thick with black clouds was revealed. Rain that had started falling at some point poured directly into the banquet hall, ruining all the carefully prepared food. However, no one paid attention to that.

Everyone was staring at the hole in the ceiling. More precisely, at the being that had destroyed it.

"Wh-what is that?"

Someone muttered in a frightened voice.

'That' which had destroyed the banquet hall and cast dark shadows everywhere was a being they had never seen before.

Its body covered in pitch-black scales was similar to a snake's, but its size was as massive as a mountain. Moreover, with evil and ominous energy flowing from its entire body, it wouldn't have been strange to call it a magical beast.

But that was... a dragon, wasn't it?

That realization made everyone hesitate. Seeing people lingering without fleeing, Kor shouted.

"What are you all doing? Run away immediately!"

As if understanding Kor's shout, the black snake raised its tail and brought it down.

Boom!

With the thunderous sound, everything beneath was instantly shattered. Those watching turned pale. Only then did people realize the situation and begin to flee.

"Th-the dragon has gone mad!"

"Everyone run!"

The black snake pursued them leisurely. It seemed to know they couldn't escape from it no matter how they tried to run.

Its massive body caused great damage to the surroundings just by moving. All manner of objects and buildings were destroyed, and the ground was gouged out. However, an even greater threat was the demonic energy flowing from the dragon. Even at this considerable distance, the evil energy made their skin tingle - if it touched them directly, unimaginably terrible things would happen.

"Ahhh! Get out of the way!"

"You bastard, don't push!"

The banquet hall that had been full of music was now filled only with screams. The spirits caught in the chaos were busy pushing each other while fleeing.

It was then.

"Everyone stay calm!"

At Igni's resounding shout, the spirits' movements momentarily stopped. Their terror-stricken eyes took in the sight of the leaders standing without fear.

"You have nothing to worry about with us here. So everyone maintain order and head to the bridge!"

Seeing the leader acting so composed as if not afraid of this situation at all, the banquet hall that had been like pandemonium regained some calmness. Though the spirits were still terrified, they made an effort to head calmly toward the bridge.

The rain fell harder and harder. The banquet hall was located on a small island in the middle of a deep lake, and to reach land, they had to cross this bridge. If they had been in the same state as before, many would have been injured fighting to cross the bridge first. But fortunately, they were now calmer than before and discussed rationally how to cross the bridge.

"Since the bridge isn't wide and we need someone to grab hold of in case something happens, how about crossing in groups of three?"

"Good idea."

Just as the first line was about to cross the bridge.

As if it had been waiting for this moment, the black snake's tail struck down toward the bridge. A water column shot upward as the bridge split in two and sank into the water.

Everyone froze at the unexpected situation. Deep despair settled on the faces of those who realized what had happened. The only bridge to land had been destroyed - what could they do now?

Just then, a scaled tribe servant ran out with a terrified face.

"Then we could swim, even if we have to swim..."

"You can't!"

The person standing right beside grabbed the collar of the one who looked about to jump into the lake.

"What!"

"Look at that!"

Looking where the finger pointed, they saw the black snake had already submerged itself in the lake. Demonic energy flowing from its massive body was turning the lake black.

The spirits knew well what this phenomenon meant. What had happened when the previous dragon, heartbroken by his mate's betrayal, had abandoned his duty of protection? Magical beasts had run rampant, and the demonic energy flowing from them had polluted the world. The same calamity was happening here again.

"If you go in there, not even your bones will remain!"

"Damn it! Why did the dragon turn into a magical beast?"

The scaled tribe servant's resentful gaze turned toward the black snake that had only its head above the water's surface.

"Is that important right now? What do we do? Are we going to die like this?"

Gazes seeking help turned toward the leaders.

Watching this, Igni asked Shinsurial.

"Shinsurial, can you purify the lake?"

Shinsurial nodded.

"Yes, but first we need to get Lord Asad out of the lake. It would be pointless if he pollutes it again."

"But isn't something strange?"

Fei tilted his head and cut in.

"Lord Asad's most unstable period was during rut. Otherwise, he was relatively stable, but to go berserk suddenly now when it's not even his rut cycle..."

"Fei, I know you're curious, but now isn't the time to think about that."

"Mmm, you're right."

At Shinsurial's words, Fei nodded and stepped back. Just then, Kor, who had been standing quietly, stepped forward.

"I'll take the role of luring the dragon out of the water."

"Kor, you?"

"I can fly, so I have the most freedom of movement among us."

The leaders agreed with his words. Among them, Kor was the only one who could freely traverse the sky.

Having gained their agreement, Kor spread his large wings and took flight. The black snake in the lake also rose into the air, pursuing him.

Igni looked at Shinsurial with relief.

"Good. Shinsurial, quickly..."

"Then I'll begin the purification now. Biche, stay by Igni's side. It would be dangerous if you touch any unpurified water."

"Yes, Lord Shinsurial."

After Biche moved far away, Shinsurial approached the lakeside, knelt down, and used his power. As his hands glowed white, the lake's black energy rapidly disappeared.

Shinsurial's gaze turned toward the dragon.

"This is tragic. At this rate, Lord Asad will never be able to return to his original form."

"Never be able to return to normal?"

No sooner had Shinsurial finished speaking than a low, hoarse voice cut in.

"What do you mean?"

Kinaine, who had somehow approached the lakeside, asked with a rigid face.

"...Nine, was it? It's dangerous here, don't come closer."

However, Kinaine closed the distance as if he couldn't hear Shinsurial's warning.

"Is what you just said true? That he can't return?"

"Yes, that's right."

Shinsurial lowered his eyes and answered regretfully.

"Lord Asad is currently in a state where he cannot recognize who he is. Deeply corrupted by demonic energy, he moves only with the desire to destroy this world like a magical beast."

Kinaine looked at the black shadow rippling in the lake with shaking eyes.

So this was what they meant by Asad being unstable. Now he finally understood the words he had heard before.

"Unless Lord Asad remembers who he is, he cannot return to his original form. He was lucky before, but... this is already the third demonization. Can we expect such luck again?"

Though Shinsurial seemed pessimistic, Kinaine couldn't give up.

"Is there no other way besides him realizing it himself? If there's any way I can help, I'll do anything."

"Anything, you say."

Suddenly, Kinaine unconsciously took a step back. He had felt something chilling from Shinsurial. But it disappeared quickly, and Shinsurial continued speaking with his usual gentle and benevolent manner.

"It would help if you could continuously tell him who he is until he recovers his memories. Of course, doing that would stop your breath before long due to the demonic energy."

"..."

"Since that would be impossible... there is another way."

"What..."

"You're still holding that sword."

Kinaine suddenly looked at the sword in his hand. Whether because things had been too chaotic, or because of his habit of not letting go of weapons in crisis situations, he was still gripping the sword. The familiar feel of the handle made his skin crawl.

Shinsurial slowly stood up. Behind him, the now-clear lake was visible.

"Let him rest peacefully, without suffering anymore."

"...What did you say?"

"I know, it must sound cruel."

Shinsurial wiped away his cold sweat. Though his complexion was very poor, perhaps from using too much power, his expression remained peaceful.

"But do you think it's better for Lord Asad to continue living in that state? Forever not knowing who he is, having lost his reason... Isn't the truly cruel thing leaving Lord Asad like that?"

Shinsurial slowly turned around and headed toward those waiting for him.

"If it was something I could do, I would have done it. But the gods placed restrictions on us so we cannot threaten a dragon's life. Only humans are free from that restriction."

Kinaine stared at Shinsurial's retreating back. A voice like singing on the wind reached him.

"Do you know? Lord Asad's scales are hard enough that ordinary things cannot pierce them. But below his neck, there's a small area not covered by scales. Just the size of one scale."