Chapter 110

Was that a rejection?

At the unexpected answer, Asad frowned.

"...Going back? Why? You weren't even living well in the human realm."

He had said he was a mercenary in the human realm who would do anything for money. Just looking at his body covered in scars, one could guess his life hadn't been smooth. What reason could there be to return to such a painful life when he had the chance to stay in the dragon palace?

Moreover, he had gone blind. Humans persecute and torment those different from themselves. Such humans were as terrible as the magical beasts currently running rampant in the human realm. If he returned to the human realm, he wouldn't be able to avoid torment.

No matter how he thought about it, there was absolutely no reason why Kinaine would want to return to the human realm. Yet why was he refusing?

Asad's expression, which had been lost in thought, suddenly brightened as if a light had been turned on.

"Ah, I understand. It's about money. Humans love money. Don't worry about that. Servants receive monthly wages."

Asad glanced at Kinaine's expression. Nothing could be read from his composed face. Asad hurriedly added.

"Well, I could give more than that."

This time, Asad thought Kinaine would surely nod. No, perhaps he might even smile brightly. How could he not be happy about easily earning lots of the money he liked?

His heart pounded with anticipation. Asad waited for Kinaine's reaction with a flushed face.

"I'm sorry, Lord Asad."

But instead of a bright smile, what came back was a calm rejection.

Having not expected the same answer again at all, Asad wore a dazed expression as if he'd been struck.

"What, why? Did you leave something good in the human realm? If not, why insist on going back?"

Unlike the questioner, the one answering maintained a peaceful expression.

"Of course, the dragon palace is a good place. I just feel more comfortable in the place where I was born and raised."

"If you go there, you'll...!"

Asad couldn't continue and only moved his lips silently.

If you return to the human realm, you might die.

No, you'll definitely die.

Originally, Asad wasn't the type to hold back what he wanted to say. But for some reason, it was difficult to speak the words now.

Because it was he who had endangered the human realm by neglecting the magical beasts.

If Kinaine were to resent him, asking 'why did you do such a thing'... just imagining that scene made his blood run cold.

His clenched fists grew increasingly pale.

...Fine, there was still time. Since the foolish human seemed unable to make good choices, his wise self would have to guide him to the answer.

Asad carefully made plans in his mind.

Having left early in the morning, Asad returned to the ruined palace around lunchtime. His face was as triumphant as his stride.

The plan was perfect. Soon Kinaine would break his stubborn insistence on returning to the human realm.

Entering the palace, he smelled food, suggesting they were in the middle of a meal. As a dragon who could live on just nature's energy, Asad didn't need to eat. Though he enjoyed it as a hobby, he had never joined such occasions as sharing meals with others felt unpleasant to him with his obsessive tendencies.

But today, for some unknown reason, curiosity drew him to the dining table.

At the same time, Asad's eyebrows twitched fiercely.

"What is this garbage? Why are you eating such things?"

Watery soup and hard bread. The food laid on the table was garbage that couldn't be called food by Asad's standards.

First, Asad snatched away the utensils Kinaine was holding and threw them to the floor. Kinaine, who had been eating soup, wore a startled expression at this sudden treatment.

"No wonder. Eating this trash is why you're so skinny. Who cooked this?"

Like lightning in the sky, a fierce light gleamed in the dragon's golden eyes.

Unable to bear the dishonor of starving a bride candidate, Ramu quickly cried out.

"This was the best we could do!"

"The best? This?"

"Th-that's..."

Though there was much to say, the words wouldn't come when the dragon glared. Rahu stepped forward in place of the frightened Ramu.

"It's because the main palace won't give us proper ingredients! Ramu did nothing wrong!"

Though Kinaine's situation had improved when he scored well in the selection tests, it was only briefly. The servants who returned to the dragon palace heard news that Kinaine had placed last in the second test, and lowered their expectations, thinking a human could never become the bride after all. The result appeared in food baskets that had become light as feathers again.

"What?"

Only then did Asad realize the situation.

Though he hadn't specifically ordered them to starve the human, the main palace servants were accustomed to reading the dragon's moods and moving like his hands and feet. Moreover, with the dragon disliking humans and growing increasingly irritable day by day, they must have wanted to quickly drive out the cause.

Before, he wouldn't have cared whether the human starved or not. But now it was different. Seeing him put food that barely qualified as such into his thin body made his insides burn.

How dare they...

"You, wait."

Asad disappeared from that spot instantly. Though the dragon's sudden actions weren't unusual, Ramu worried as she picked up the fallen utensils and placed them on the table.

"Lord Asad's expression was terrible, I hope nothing serious happens?"

"..."

"Lord Nine?"

"Ah."

Kinaine, who had been dazed, blinked.

"Are you alright? You've seemed out of it lately."

"Sorry, I was just thinking about something. What about Lord Asad?"

Since the day he broke the winged tribe's curse, Kinaine had often been dazed like this. Sensing he wouldn't answer even if asked, Ramu just shook her head.

"Never mind. More importantly, have you packed your belongings?"

"Yes, Rahu helped me."

"To think I could be of help to Lord Nine! I'm truly happy!"

Ramu looked at her blood relative with an expression that said 'what's really wrong with him' before turning her gaze back to Kinaine.

"It feels strange that you're leaving soon. Once you return to the human realm, it will be hard to meet again, won't it?"

At Ramu's gloomy voice, Kinaine smiled. However, he didn't say they could meet until the end. Because it would become a promise he couldn't keep.

Kinaine lowered his eyes and sank into thought.

'I've done what I could.'

On the day they discovered the winged tribe's secret, Kor had left the dragon palace. It was to tell the truth to winged tribe members wandering outside their territory.

Before Kor left, Kinaine had given him a small note while saying goodbye. He had deliberately written it because of the dragon's keen hearing. Though he wasn't sure if Kor could understand human writing, he believed Kor would find a way.

The note described what had happened to Rahu. And that there was a black mage inside the dragon palace.

As a great spirit, Kor would try to protect the dragon for the spirit realm's sake too.

'This is all I can do. If only I had a little more time.'

They say dogs know when they will die and leave their master's side. Kinaine too felt death's shadow more clearly as it approached moment by moment. He could be certain. That he had less than a season left.

In his heart, he wanted to personally remove the dangerous elements around Asad. But he had to acknowledge he lacked the strength to do so. All he could do was entrust it to someone he could trust.

"But why does Lord Asad stay by Lord Nine's side? Does he want to torment you until you leave?"

"No, Lord Asad feels sorry toward me. That's why he's deliberately paying attention to me."

"Um... that sounds like Lord Asad has feelings for you."

"Hmm?"

"How could a dragon without a heart feel complex emotions like guilt? I think it's not because of guilt, but because he has some other thoughts."

Come to think of it, they had said dragons had no heart until they took a mate. That they were beings unable to cherish or love anything. Asad's recent actions had felt quite affectionate, making him forget. That all his words and actions were merely interest, or duty.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Ramu tilted her head.

"Why is he knocking?"

But it wasn't Asad at the door. Seeing who it was, Ramu frowned.

"Why are you here..."

Smiling awkwardly was Neil, the servant in charge of supplying living necessities to the winged tribe's bride candidate. Though servants carrying food stood in line behind him, only Neil entered Ramu's eyes.

Having previously had an argument with Neil, Ramu's feelings toward him weren't good. She glared at Neil with blazing eyes.

"You didn't show your face at all after that day! Did you come to mock us after hearing we're leaving?"

"H-how dare I do such a thing! It seems there was some misunderstanding, so I came to apologize. I'm truly sorry!"

But Neil's attitude was completely different from before. His previously haughty demeanor was gone, and instead of arguing back at Ramu's rough manner, he only repeatedly apologized submissively.

"What's this, why are you suddenly like this?"

Even Ramu was confused by the unexpected situation. But looking closely, Neil's condition was strange. His skin was sickly pale and his whole body was covered in cold sweat. He looked as if greatly frightened by something.

Ramu quickly realized what had made the arrogant servant so scared.

She shouted loudly as if for others to hear.

"You're sorry? Just what are you apologizing for? For not providing proper food and making us starve every day? Or for coming here after hearing strange rumors and insulting Lord Nine?"

"Ah, no, please be quiet!"

"What did you say back then? Did you ask if we would really sell spirits as slaves to the human realm if we became the dragon's bride? You said so many rude things I can't even remember them all!"

"What did you say?"

At the chilling voice, Neil's body, which had been trying somehow to stop Ramu's mouth, froze like a statue.

"L-Lord Asad."

The golden eyes looking down at Neil were cold and emotionless. Even looking at an insect would show more emotion than this.

Dragons were never merciful beings. Moreover, this generation's dragon was the mad dragon about whom ominous rumors never ceased.

Neil realized his life was beyond saving. Indeed, Asad reached toward Neil without a moment's hesitation.

It was at that moment.

"What's happening?"

A calm voice came from inside the palace. At the same time, the cruel hand about to burst Neil to death stopped in mid-air.

"...You're for later."

At Asad's gesture, Neil vanished from that spot as if he had never existed.

"We shouldn't spoil your appetite. What are you doing? Everyone come in."

"Yes, Lord Asad!"

Servants carrying food dishes entered the palace endlessly. Soon the table was piled high with food. Not satisfied with that, servants brought in another table and placed food on that too.

After all the servants had left, Asad quickly sat Kinaine down and took the seat beside him. Then he picked up meat cut into bite-sized pieces and brought it to Kinaine's lips.

"Here, eat. It will be a taste you've never experienced before."

After hesitating briefly, Kinaine opened his mouth.

"How is it, delicious?"

An expectant voice was heard. Kinaine slowly chewed what was in his mouth. The meat was so tender it could be swallowed without much chewing.

"...Yes, it's delicious."

"Really? Try this too. How is it?"

"It's delicious."

"Of course. Where else would you eat things like this? You can only eat this here. You'll never eat it again if you return to the human realm. It's delicious, right?"

"Yes, it's delicious."

Though in truth, he couldn't taste anything at all.

But Asad's happiness was enough.