Chapter 156

"What...!"

That was the last word the man shouted before losing consciousness.

"......"

Tiron stared at the man who had fainted in a ridiculous posture, dumbfounded. To him, who couldn't follow the situation with his eyes, it seemed as if a wind had blown by and suddenly the man had fainted.

Kinaine, who had knocked the man unconscious by striking a vital point, approached Tiron. Since he was no longer keeping his eyes closed, Tiron quickly noticed the change.

"Your eyes..."

Seeing that one of Kinaine's eyes was shining brightly in golden color, Tiron stepped back. It was strange enough that the colors of both eyes had suddenly become different, but above all, the focus in his eyes was clear. Kinaine was clearly looking at him.

"...You can see."

"Tiron, wait."

Though Kinaine tried to say something, Tiron didn't listen. Tiron's eyes, looking at Kinaine, were clouded with a mixture of surprise and betrayal.

Was he trying to deceive him again? With what purpose? But amidst these suspicions, the conversation between the king and Kinaine that he had heard then chaotically overlapped.

Tiron backed away to avoid getting closer to Kinaine, his face contorting with an emotion that might have been anger or something else.

But before he could take two steps, his back hit something. It was hard, so at first he thought it was a wall, but given the remaining distance, that didn't make sense. The back of his neck grew cold. Then what was this?

"What's this?"

"Gasp!"

Tiron jumped in surprise at the low voice that came from what he had thought was a wall.

The silver-haired man who grabbed the back of his neck as he tried to escape frowned.

"Why is the doctor here?"

That was what Tiron wanted to ask. Why was the dragon here?

Could it be that the estrangement from the dragon was also a lie?

Tiron glared at Kinaine. As always, Kinaine wore an indifferent face that made it difficult to read his true feelings. However, Tiron could sense that Kinaine's gaze changed when he shifted his eyes from him to look at Asad.

Somehow, he felt dumbfounded. That guy...

"Lord Asad, please let Tiron go."

"Would that be alright? It would be troublesome if he goes out and talks about what happened here."

Though the tone was casual, at that moment Tiron realized that the dragon intended to kill him to silence him.

He had already realized that the dragon, despite his title as a protector, was far from merciful or benevolent. For the dragon, harming him would be no different than a human stepping on an ant.

Cold sweat ran down his spine. Tiron barely opened his mouth.

"I-I will absolutely not speak of this. Please believe me."

Kinaine gestured toward Asad as if to say "see?" However, instead of releasing the doctor, the dragon merely smirked.

"Nine, humans are untrustworthy beings. They will lie as much as needed to get what they want. He might be sincere now, but once his life is saved, he'll think differently."

Asad released his grip on Tiron and approached Kinaine.

Looking at Asad's back, Tiron struggled. Though there was clearly no hand holding him anymore, his entire body couldn't move, as if bound by invisible ropes.

Having magically bound Tiron, Asad calmly approached Kinaine and peeked over his shoulder.

"If you don't want to do it, I'll do it. That doctor..."

Asad, who had visually confirmed the intruder that Kinaine had been shielding with his body all this time, twisted his lips. He was the source of the unpleasant smell that had been lingering in the room.

"And this guy too."

"......"

"I'll erase them both without a trace of their existence in this world."

Though he didn't know what had almost happened to Kinaine, the mere fact that an unfamiliar alpha had entered the room where Kinaine was present was reason enough for punishment. The golden eye looking at the alpha took on a cold light.

However, before Asad could act, Kinaine blocked him.

"Please don't."

"What, are you actually protecting that bastard?"

"No. I just don't want Lord Asad to dirty his hands because of such a human."

Kinaine answered firmly. However, Asad still wore a displeased expression. In response, Kinaine spoke again.

"Ah, come to think of it, I wanted to ask something. Yesterday's alcohol, did it perhaps..."

"Isn't your time almost up? This isn't the time to be doing this."

Asad hurriedly cut him off. Even as he did so, he didn't forget to kick the man once. The man flew like a ball and hit the wall.

"I knocked him out because he was trying to regain consciousness. I didn't kill him."

Asad muttered as if making an excuse under Kinaine's staring gaze. Though he hadn't killed him, Asad could hear the sound of several of the man's bones breaking. Before Kinaine could notice this fact, Asad hastily snapped his fingers.

A fog-like white light enveloped Kinaine's body. Simultaneously, Kinaine's appearance began to change rapidly. His black hair turned brown, and his distinct features changed to become so nondescript that they wouldn't leave an impression on anyone.

After carefully examining his work, Asad nodded.

"Can you manage?"

"Yes."

"If there's a problem, then I'll do as I please. And as for the doctor... this should do."

"Mmph? Mmph!"

Tiron was bewildered. His upper and lower lips were stuck together as if glued, and wouldn't separate.

"It's better than dying, isn't it?"

At Asad's nonchalant words, Tiron's shoulders slumped. Kinaine's gaze at Tiron was complex. However, he had no energy to spare for other concerns now.

"Chirpy, come here."

Chirpy flew over and transformed to wrap around Kinaine's left wrist. It was in the form of armor covering from the wrist to the shoulder. It seemed to be mindful of the injury to his shoulder. Kinaine gently stroked the armor, conveying his gratitude.

It was time to move now.

* * *

Servants moved busily, dressing the king in armor.

Hasan observed himself in the mirror. A perfectly balanced physique, broad shoulders, developed muscles. A faint smile spread across Hasan's lips as he looked at the image that was the very epitome of a dominant alpha.

The man reflected in the mirror looked like a winner to anyone.

"It's all done, Your Majesty."

"Good work. You may leave."

After dismissing the servants, Hasan turned away from the mirror and asked the knight standing behind him.

"How did it go?"

"We confirmed from the doctor that he administered the medicine. Though he seemed unable to speak, perhaps shocked by the scene in the room..."

"I thought he would be pleased."

Hasan smirked. He had already investigated the doctor's background. A foolish man from the capital who had rushed outside the barrier to save people. If he had lived normally, he would have probably spent his life saving others. But the power of anger could make even such a person willingly harm others.

Hasan didn't trust humans. What he believed in were things like jealousy, anger, and hatred.

In any case, hadn't the doctor been able to take revenge thanks to him? He should have been more than pleased to humiliate his enemy, but the doctor seemed as weak-hearted as he looked.

"We also confirmed that no one else left the room, and we've strengthened the security."

"My opponent?"

"He arrived a short while ago and is preparing, I'm told."

Hasan nodded. Two people couldn't exist in the same place. He had been cautious just in case, but now there was no reason to doubt anymore.

The recessive alpha he had brought in without others noticing was a nobleman notorious for his dirty tastes, so what was happening in the room was obvious. After all, the current Kinaine was just an omega.

He had used this method partly because he wanted to make Kinaine realize that fact. It would be good if he could taste even a little of the wretchedness that Hasan had felt while looking at his dominant alpha brother.

Also, he could definitely distance him from the dragon's attention. The dragon would not look back at an omega who had been touched by another alpha. He really wanted to see the expression on Kinaine's face when he was mercilessly abandoned by his lover.

"Bring the sword."

At Hasan's command, the knight brought the sword, kneeling on one knee and presenting it respectfully.

This sword was the one the real Kinaine had used, and Hasan had continued to use it without changing it. At first, it was to look like Kinaine, but as he used it, it now felt like his own.

No, it truly was his now.

Hasan picked up the sword. He was no longer thinking about his opponent. His mind was filled with thoughts of the wish the dragon would grant him.