Chapter 171

Asad brought all the materials needed to make the fake body within a month in earthly realm time. Maira could easily guess that Asad had been moving without even a moment's rest. This was because these things were difficult to obtain in such a short period even for a dragon, and Asad's condition was in shambles as a result.

Maira clicked his tongue.

"I've checked the materials. Nothing's missing. Why don't you rest a bit now? How long has it been since you last slept?"

Even for a dragon, as a living being, food and sleep were essential. Though one wouldn't die without them, it would inevitably strain the body.

"Forget about that and just make it quickly."

"At least tidy up your appearance. Even if your mate returns, if he sees you as you are now, he'll be frightened and run away."

"......"

Asad remained silent, perhaps unable to refute this fact. His appearance was already no different from a magical beast. Even when Helio had half his body covered in black scales, it wasn't as terrible as now. Though Kinaine was brave, Asad couldn't guarantee he wouldn't be frightened seeing such an appearance.

A moment later, a faint light illuminated the cave. When the light disappeared, Asad had returned to being a beautiful silver-haired man. But he couldn't deceive Maira's eyes.

"Are you planning to use an illusion?"

Asad hadn't eliminated the demonic energy; he had merely overlaid his previous appearance on himself. Just as he had appeared as Rahu before, he had now changed his external appearance to how he looked before being contaminated by demonic energy. But his essence was still contaminated by demonic energy.

"If you don't really want to become a magical beast, you should focus on eliminating the demonic energy. I'll help if needed."

"His Highness opening his eyes takes priority."

Maira could guess Asad's inner thoughts. If Kinaine didn't open his eyes, Asad felt there was no need to eliminate the demonic energy.

Currently, Asad was maintaining his sanity with the sole determination to revive Kinaine. But if all flames of hope were extinguished, his heart would be plunged into darkness where not even an inch ahead could be seen. That would ultimately mean the destruction of the earthly realm.

Maira said no more and began making the fake body. The completed body had a human form but was as crude as if a child had molded it from clay. Seeing the flat face without facial features, Asad looked at Maira with suspicious eyes.

"Is it really finished?"

"Yes, what completes this body is the soul. Give me that in your hand."

What Maira pointed to was the sword Kinaine had used during his time as a prince. Asad's face darkened as he held the sword.

The feeling of betrayal he had felt when Kinaine had pointed this sword at him was as vivid as if it had just happened. But the emotion Asad felt now wasn't betrayal. It was anger directed at himself for not recognizing his lover.

Suppressing the urge to turn the blade toward himself, Asad placed the sword in the doll's hand.

"An object frequently used during life, and someone with deep ties to him."

Maira's gaze turned to Asad.

"Call your mate's name."

Asad's lips parted.

"Kinaine."

A heavy silence descended. Cracks appeared on Asad's face, which had been tinged with faint hope. As if thinking his voice had been too small, Asad lowered his head and brought his lips to the doll's ear.

"Kinaine... Your Highness..."

His trembling lips called Kinaine's name repeatedly, but no change occurred in the doll.

"Please..."

Watching Asad kneeling before the doll and pleading, Maira shook his head inwardly.

So it's not working after all?

It was as expected. The pain experienced during life affected the soul. Asad's mate had gone through things that could have shattered his soul into pieces. Moreover, such a wounded soul was difficult to summon because it no longer had any attachment to life.

"Your Highness, it's me. Please, give me just one more chance."

"Stop it. Your mate is already..."

"Your Highness..."

Asad, as if not hearing Maira's words, continued to call Kinaine while embracing the doll.

As Maira was about to approach to dissuade him, at that moment, someone pulled at his collar. It was Shinsurial, who had been standing quietly without making a sound until now.

Since losing consciousness due to Asad, Shinsurial had been staying in the demon realm with Maira. Though Shinsurial had contributed to awakening him from his dream, Maira held no ill feelings toward him. Rather, he even felt some pity.

The conversation Maira had had with Shinsurial flashed through his mind.

'Shinsurial, I've never told anyone, but I used to occasionally see brief glimpses of the future. It's an ability that disappeared after I became one with Adel... but at that time, I also saw the future of Asad and you.'

'Really?'

'You're not surprised.'

'How could I not know that you're a special being? So, does Lord Asad safely become a complete dragon?'

'That I don't know. What I saw were a few things that would happen to Asad and... Shinsurial, your death.'

Shinsurial hadn't asked about his end. Maira thought that Shinsurial would probably have some idea of what kind of death awaited him. After all, it wouldn't be difficult to guess the form of one's death after incurring the wrath of a being who could kill him at any time.

The reason Asad hadn't killed Shinsurial was because of the 'oath' he had made before bringing him to Maira. Shinsurial would be thinking that when the effect of that oath expired, he would meet his death at Asad's hands.

'But that doesn't seem to be the end you expected. At the moment of your death, you seemed greatly shocked.'

Maira had wanted to say that, but Shinsurial was faster.

'I've lived long enough and I'm not afraid of death. What I truly fear is Lord Asad choosing the wrong mate and meeting a miserable end. Like you, Maira.'

Maira had looked down at Shinsurial quietly. It was a statement that could be taken as an insult, but he felt only sadness and pity for Shinsurial's actions.

That was why. That was also why he had spoken again.

'Shinsurial, have you never doubted yourself?'

Shinsurial was missing an important truth. Maira thought he should know the fact. Of course, as expected, Shinsurial neither believed the truth nor abandoned his plans.

Probably even after this... it would be difficult for Shinsurial to realize it.

Is that why you meet such an end?

Maira suddenly realized. For the future he had seen to come true, Asad's mate had to open his eyes. Then...

"It's working."

Shinsurial's voice cut off Maira's thoughts. Maira turned his head following Shinsurial's gaze and saw what he was looking at.

The face of the doll Asad was embracing was slowly changing. A prominent nose rose from the flat face that had no contours, and full lips and sunken eyelids appeared. Hair grew where there had been nothing, and the body, which had looked like a lump of mud, gradually changed until it finally looked like a complete human body.

"Your Highness...?"

Perhaps hearing Asad's trembling voice, the densely packed eyelashes quivered finely. The doll took a long time to lift its eyelids, as if it were doing something very difficult.

Asad watched, barely able to breathe properly.

Eventually, clear black pupils captured Asad. Asad stared blankly at the doll. The doll tilted its head slightly, then released the sword it was holding and reached out toward Asad. A cold hand with no warmth caressed Asad's cheek. Only then did Asad realize that he was crying.

"Your Highness... Your Highness!"

"Gasp!"

Unable to contain his overwhelming emotions, Asad embraced the doll. At the strong force, the doll made a sound as if suffocating and repeatedly struck Asad's back as if asking to be released.

Asad loosened his arms embracing the doll and rubbed his tear-soaked face against its neck.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. I was wrong."

"What... did you do wrong?"

"The things I did to Your Highness. How dare I to Your Highness..."

"Is 'Your Highness' my name?"

"......"

Asad raised his pale face. And only then did he realize that the doll's face resembled neither Kinaine nor Hasan. The doll had a face that seemed strangely mixed between the two. Most strange of all was that he was looking at Asad as if he were a complete stranger.

The doll, with a troubled expression, gently pushed against Asad's chest and asked.

"Who are you?"