Chapter 95

When had he lost consciousness? When Kinaine opened his eyes again, he was lying on a bed surrounded by treasures.

'What is this...?'

The large room was bright with light emanating from all kinds of treasures.

Kinaine blinked.

Judging by appearances, this seemed to be a storage room. There were no signs that anyone had lived here. Though there was furniture, rather than being for daily use, they were more like artworks that could be displayed in a museum. Even the bed he was lying on was too splendid for ordinary use.

Come to think of it, the furniture Asad had given him had been like this too.

As Kinaine recalled those items that had seemed so out of place in the old palace, he belatedly remembered losing consciousness before the demonized dragon.

"Asad..."

What had happened to him?

This was no time to be dazed. Kinaine hurriedly got off the bed. At that moment, his foot touched something and he nearly slipped.

Having fortunately maintained his balance, he picked up the culprit that had almost made him fall. It was a glowing orb as big as a human head.

"It's a night-luminous pearl."

Kinaine muttered with a slightly nauseated expression. This treasure, which shone brightly without oil or fire, was said to be worth enough to buy a castle even at the size of a coin. It was so hard to obtain that even the royal family rarely had them, and Kinaine had only seen small ones from afar a few times, never one this size. No wonder the room was so bright despite having only two windows, and those barely the size of a palm.

Kinaine looked around the room where priceless treasures lay scattered about like roadside pebbles.

Large boxes were stacked haphazardly on one side, but belying their original purpose, they had long been buried in treasures. They looked as if they were already full with contents spilling over.

Though piled up like troublesome antiques, each item was an extremely precious treasure when examined.

But Kinaine's gaze didn't linger long on the treasures.

Two palm-sized small windows on the wall.

Only one door?

Kinaine approached the door, careful not to step on any treasures.

And the moment he tried to grab the doorknob.

"Ah."

He quickly pulled his hand away. Black electricity crackled threateningly.

Kinaine read the faint magic inscribed on the doorknob. He was no longer surprised by his ability to read magic. However, it bothered him that someone had placed magic to prevent the door from being opened.

Because as far as he knew, only one being could cast such magic.

That made it even more incomprehensible. What he had faced wasn't the silver dragon, but a being who had lost his original color, stained with betrayal, anger, and hatred.

Then why hadn't he ended Kinaine's life and instead imprisoned him here?

Unable to open the door and leave, all Kinaine could do was wait.

How much time had passed like that? Finally, the door opened.

"...Asad."

Sitting on the bed, Kinaine called the name of the one who entered. Asad was still covered in black scales. No, he looked even blacker now, as the silver that had been slightly present when first seen had almost completely disappeared.

Asad stood like a statue right in front of the door, quietly turning his head toward where Kinaine was. As if doing so would let him see.

"What are you doing? Why did you keep me here?"

"I had no choice. Because I couldn't kill Your Highness."

Asad muttered in a low, hoarse voice.

"This body has restrictions. Preventing dragons from harming bride candidates."

He had tried several times while Kinaine was unconscious but failed each time. Yes, that's why he couldn't kill him. The only reason he couldn't lay hands on that traitor was... because of that restriction.

"But don't feel relieved. Once I become a complete magical beast, I can break free from the restrictions."

"What do you..."

Kinaine, about to say something, flinched as he saw the silver scales near Asad's cheek turning black.

"Asad, stop thinking about me. If you keep recalling it, you'll lose your reason again and truly become a magical beast."

If Asad's demonization was due to hatred toward Kinaine, it would be better not to think about him anymore.

'Asad, I didn't betray you. It wasn't me who stabbed you then.'

How nice it would be if he could say those words. But the current Kinaine wasn't prepared to risk his life to tell the truth. He couldn't leave Asad like this and die.

So Kinaine said something else.

"It's fine if you resent me. But your hatred toward me is hurting yourself. You were living well without taking revenge on me."

"You must be afraid of my revenge."

No, what Kinaine feared wasn't revenge but Asad losing himself and becoming a magical beast like this.

Hadn't Asad been living well after forgetting his time as Helio? If only that spirit beast hadn't transformed into Kinaine's sword, he could have continued forgetting.

'That spirit beast...'

Prim had definitely said it when introducing it.

That 'it had the ability to transform into whatever it swallowed.'

But how had a spirit beast that should have only been in the spirit realm somehow swallowed his sword, of all things?

Moreover, for it to transform coincidentally in front of Asad... it couldn't be mere chance. It couldn't be coincidence.

Looking at it carefully, there were many strange points. Kinaine smelled conspiracy. After Asad safely returned to his original form, he would definitely find out and punish whoever had plotted this scheme. If he still had time left to do so.

"...Are you saying I'm not worth your concern?"

Of course, getting Asad back to his original form came first.

But even trying to think positively, the situation wasn't good. His very existence seemed to be continuously stimulating Asad's demonization.

"Asad..."

"Why do you call me Asad instead of Helio?"

Kinaine was startled to see black liquid trickling from one of Asad's eyes and tried to approach him.

However, before he could take a step, Asad shouted.

"Don't come closer!"

Though startled, Kinaine stopped in place and answered calmly.

"Because Asad is your real name. Helio was the alias I gave you. Now that I know your real name, I should call you that."

"Lies. You just dislike Helio, don't you? Because such a hideous monster doesn't suit you."

"That's not possible. I've never thought of you that way."

Kinaine made a pained expression, but Asad couldn't see it.

His sight still hadn't recovered, and his headache had become even more unbearable. Asad shook his head violently.

"Lies. Everything you say is lies."

All he could see was pitch darkness. His soul was trapped in endless self-loathing and sense of betrayal, unable to escape. Because the current him was trapped in that memory of being stabbed to death by the prince's sword.

At the moment the sword pierced his heart, he had desperately wished for one thing...

"Ugh"

But he couldn't remember what it was.

Asad clutched his head and staggered. Black liquid flowed endlessly from his eyes. It looked like tears, or perhaps blood.

...Ah, was there any need to remember? That wish must have been to take revenge on the traitor and destroy this world full of nothing but pain.

He couldn't contain his contempt. But he couldn't tell whether it was directed at himself or the prince.

"But what can I do? The beautiful dragon you want is sleeping. As long as I'm awake, he will never wake up."

The pure and clean dragon who knew nothing, who had all memories of betrayal's wounds erased, was sleeping deep inside. The current self making noise above the surface was merely the dregs of memories deemed unnecessary for existing as a dragon and discarded. Mixed with anger and hatred.

"You mean, if you sleep he'll wake up? Can you control it?"

"Yes, for now. But I won't do that."

"...You really intend to become a magical beast like this?"

"Yes, I'll become a magical beast and destroy everything. Including Your Highness."

"Asad, don't ruin yourself because of me."

It was as if he was worried about him. But that couldn't be.

"Don't pretend to care about me. Of course Your Highness wants the dragon to wake up. Since the awakened dragon won't remember Your Highness, you might be able to save your wretched life."

He wanted the prince to know he wouldn't be fooled by his pretense anymore. Asad spoke coldly.

"No more hovering around and insulting me when I can't remember anything. You must have enjoyed it until now."

"About that, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel that way."

"Then why did you appear before me again?"

A brief silence fell between them. After a moment, Kinaine's voice was heard.

"At first, it really wasn't intentional. But staying even after I knew it was you... yes, that was my fault."

Kinaine continued. His tone was calm.

"Asad, you said you can't kill me. It's alright. You don't need to do anything. I'll leave soon."

"...Leave? Where to?"

"Far away. I won't return again. So don't torment yourself over someone like me. Forget everything about me."

His head felt like it was about to split. Asad was now flowing black liquid from both eyes. Kinaine fell silent. He had finally realized that the situation worsened the more he spoke.

"I used to think Your Highness knew everything. But that was a delusion."

The being who was neither dragon, nor magical beast, nor human chanted gloomily.

"Your Highness... you can't go anywhere."