Chapter 144

To have the same dream as someone else. Could such a thing be possible?

But soon Kinaine inwardly shook his head.

Having experienced too many things to dismiss it as a far-fetched imagination, and having even experienced his body being switched with someone else's, it was difficult to assert that it was absolutely impossible.

Besides, that wasn't very important. Not in the face of the fact that Asad had begun to remember the past.

He must have been dazed for a moment. Asad's voice, which had been buzzing, began to sound clear again.

"Anyway, this ring was originally mine, right? I thought maybe my past self had sealed memories in it, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I feel like I can sense something when I concentrate, but it's too damaged to... Hmm?"

"......"

"What's this, it's more scratched than yesterday. I was told it was incredibly sturdy..."

The voice examining the ring paused briefly before continuing.

"Come to think of it, how did you recognize me? I was completely different then from now. Even I feel like that wasn't me, despite being conscious that it's a memory of my past."

Perhaps because he hadn't recalled many memories, fortunately, no negative emotions could be felt from Asad. It might also be because he already knew that he had been bullied in the past, being called a monster.

But that was only a matter of time. The memories Asad would recall in the future... even if they were a past Kinaine wanted to return to, they wouldn't be the same for Asad.

Kinaine lowered his eyes.

"It's the same for me. Helio and Lord Asad feel like different beings. So..."

Kinaine unconsciously stopped speaking. It was because Asad was still fiddling with his ring finger. A hand where only scars and calluses remained instead of a ring mark.

Kinaine briefly held that hand to stop it, and began to fiddle with Asad's hand. Asad flinched momentarily as if he hadn't expected Kinaine to do so, but he didn't withdraw his hand.

Soon, cold metal was felt at his fingertips. After confirming the ring, Kinaine opened his mouth.

"Is it really necessary to remember?"

"What?"

"As you said, Helio... can be considered a different being from Lord Asad. Also, those memories are just a fleeting moment, like a speck of dust compared to the long time remaining ahead for Lord Asad, aren't they?"

"...What are you trying to say?"

"You said it before, Lord Asad. That if something was precious, one should have kept it well."

'Who would believe you saying it was precious after losing it?'

Those were the words Asad had said to Kinaine when he lost the ring. Only upon recalling how vividly they remained in his mind even after time had passed did he realize that those words had wounded him.

But what did that matter? If he could just turn Asad's heart now, even reopening his own wounds was nothing.

"If those memories were precious to Lord Asad, you wouldn't have forgotten them."

"......"

"Were there any problems after losing your memories? No, if there had been, you would have tried to find them long ago. Rather, weren't you suffering because you couldn't forget all your memories of the human realm? Hating humans and being angry at your own powerlessness."

"......"

"I don't know why you suddenly want to find your memories... but there must be reasons for everything you've forgotten."

Kinaine's two fingers carefully touched the top and bottom of the ring.

"Just forget useless things like the past. With good things right in front of you, why do you insist on looking back?"

If Asad would just say he would do so, Kinaine was prepared to take the ring from its original owner without hesitation and completely destroy it. So that Asad would never find his memories again. So that he wouldn't even have the opportunity to do so.

But instead of doing what Kinaine wanted, Asad removed Kinaine's hand that was holding the ring.

"Lord Asad."

"You truly don't want me to find my memories. Why?"

Why didn't he want Asad to find his memories?

'No one would wish for you to find your memories more than I do.'

From the moment he was certain that Asad was Helio, Kinaine had been wishing in his heart for his lover to return. But he knew he shouldn't want that.

"Lord Asad, you probably don't remember when you turned into a magical beast."

'Why did you abandon me?'

'I'll destroy everything as a magical beast. Even Your Highness.'

'If I become a magical beast, and this world is destroyed because of it. It would all be your fault.'

"He wasn't a magical beast. Lord Asad, he was Helio."

Because he had seen how Asad had changed after finding his memories.

Because he knew how Asad had become and how much he had suffered when he recalled the past memories he had forgotten.

Among many wishes, there is always one that is most desired. For Kinaine, that was Asad's happiness.

If Asad could only be happy by not remembering him, then Kinaine's happiness was for him not to remember.

"The reason Lord Asad suddenly turned into a magical beast at the birthday banquet was because the form that Chirpy, or rather the spirit beast, had transformed into made you recall your forgotten past. If you recall Helio's memories, the same thing will happen to Lord Asad."

This time, a long silence descended. After a while, a low voice was heard from the darkness.

"It seems there were more stories you didn't tell me than I thought."

"...I'm sorry."

"But on the other hand, I also wonder. Is what you're saying now the truth?"

"......"

"Perhaps in the memories I've lost, there's something about you that you don't want me to see, and that's why you're trying so hard to prevent me from finding my memories."

Kinaine's eyes wavered. Though it didn't hurt like yesterday, he felt as if his empty chest was resonating hollowly. But.

Kinaine bit his lip. He couldn't let Asad be in danger.

'If I could just take the ring.'

Kinaine carefully extended his arm, gauging the position of Asad's hand. Fortunately, his fingertips soon touched the back of a hand that was as smooth as silk. Kinaine stroked the back of the hand, naturally searching for the ring.

"Lord Asad..."

He spoke to divert Asad's attention.

But Asad was faster. He immediately grabbed Kinaine's hand and interlocked their fingers.

As Kinaine, now unable to move, became flustered, a voice was heard right in front of his face.

"You're human, a liar, and have too many secrets. There's not a single thing to like about you."

Before Kinaine could freshly feel hurt, the next words followed.

"Yet if I want to grant what you wish."

...What? Surprised, Kinaine unconsciously tried to back away, but the interlocked hands prevented his movement. Even when he belatedly tried to pull his hand away, Asad wouldn't let go.

With no way to resist, Asad's voice flowed into his ear.

"If you tell me not to ask what you're hiding, I won't ask, and I won't be curious about what your purpose is... if you tell me not to search for memories anymore, I won't. If I promise that."

"......"

"Then will you promise too? To answer truthfully to what I'm about to ask from now on."

Kinaine swallowed dryly.

"W-what?"

"Anything."

Kinaine tried to manage his expression. Right now, Asad was promising that if Kinaine honestly answered just one thing, he wouldn't search for his memories.

Asad was a dragon. Dragons always keep their promises.

Whether to steal the ring from the dragon, or to honestly answer the question Asad would ask. Both seemed equally difficult, but... Kinaine soon made his decision.

"Yes, I promise."

Unlike the brief answer, his head was filled with complex thoughts, working busily.

What would Asad ask? Given the significant condition he had set, it would surely be a question difficult to handle. If it was a question uncomfortable to answer, somehow he would have to choose his words carefully...

"Do you like me?"

"What?"

"You promised, so answer honestly."

"...Is that, the question?"

"Yes."

Kinaine blinked slowly. It was a question that hadn't even made it onto the list of potential questions he had been compiling in his mind.

Though he had no idea why Asad would ask such a question, Kinaine could feel relieved in one way.

There was no question he could answer more truthfully than this.

"Yes, I like you."

Kinaine answered.

"From when we first met until now, continuously. So much that there hasn't been a single day I haven't thought of you..."