Chapter 27

Though Jet had served the dragon for several years, the expressions he had seen on Asad were limited.

Among them, the one he had seen most often was a furrowed face that made no attempt to hide his displeasure, as if extremely irritated. He usually wore this expression after having nightmares, and anyone who disturbed him at such times never met a good end.

The next most common was the mischievous smile before disposing of someone he disliked. Asad had worn such an expression even when cutting out the tongues of the elder spirits who dared speak about his qualifications as a dragon.

It wasn't strange that people whispered about mad dragons when he smiled as if enjoying himself while cruelly spilling blood.

'He's not one to hide his emotions depending on the situation.'

The dragon was a supreme being. Who would dare say anything whether he frowned all day in a bad mood or giggled while committing slaughter?

Therefore, he felt no need to read others' moods or hide his emotions.

That made this even more incomprehensible.

Jet returned his tilted head to its original position and stared intently at the dragon's furrowed brow as if it were some unknown entity.

There were wrinkles in the perfectly sculpted, straight brow. Even those looked like intentionally created artistic traces, truly demonstrating his remarkable beauty, but what Jet focused on was why the dragon had furrowed his brow upon hearing that the human had collapsed.

'I thought he would surely laugh at hearing the human had collapsed.'

It was natural for Jet to think this way.

After all, wasn't it the dragon himself who had made the human kneel outside until he collapsed?

"Why did he collapse?"

"Pardon?"

At the questioning tone that suggested incomprehension, Jet unconsciously asked back in confusion.

The wrinkles in the dragon's already deep brow grew even deeper.

'Oh no.'

Just as Jet hastily bowed his head, an icy voice followed.

"Don't make me repeat myself."

"I apologize."

This beautiful dragon had very few things he liked but many he disliked, and one of those was being made to repeat himself.

Fortunately, seeming to have no intention of scolding further, the dragon returned to the original topic.

"It's not like he was standing, he was lying down. In that position, isn't it practically the same as lying down?"

"..."

Jet was dumbfounded.

How could comfortably lying on one's back be the same as kneeling prostrate as if bowing?

But the dragon showed no awareness that he was talking nonsense.

"Is that all? He drank water when thirsty, ate when hungry, and went to the bathroom when needed. After doing everything he needed to do, why suddenly collapse?"

"..."

Seemingly ignoring the speechless Jet, Asad continued:

"Do you think it makes sense to collapse from just that much? Teiran would be fine doing that for a month. It must be fake illness."

It's Targan, not Teiran.

Jet swallowed the words that had risen to his throat. Though he felt indignant at the look that suggested he was seeing the world's biggest fool, Jet suppressed his emotions and answered calmly.

"Lord Asad. Isn't Targan from the horned tribe? He would be fine even standing still like a tree for not just one month but one year."

Trying not to sigh, Jet continued:

"But humans are different from spirits. Their bodies are softer than fruit and break easily. How could it be otherwise for a race that doesn't even live 100 years?"

"100 years?"

Asad asked back as if he had heard something absurd.

Since he not only hated humans but also hadn't inherited necessary knowledge from the previous dragon, it wasn't surprising that he lacked common sense, so Jet wasn't particularly shocked.

"What... living less than even insects."

His muttering voice somehow sounded shocked.

'Still lives longer than insects though, doesn't it?'

It wasn't strange that to a dragon living an almost eternal life, insects and humans might seem similar.

As if coming to his senses belatedly, Asad spoke irritably.

"Even 100 years is too long for mere humans. Living just one or two years and dying would be better for the world. No, it would be better if they didn't exist at all."

It was a voice full of obvious hatred. No matter how much Jet soothed him or spoke well of humans, the dragon's hatred would never be erased. Just as the past that had already happened couldn't be changed.

"If that's what Lord Asad thinks, then it must be so."

Jet complied obediently. Though he felt sorry for the human being tormented without any crime, mere shallow sympathy wasn't enough to make him feel the need to protect them by going against the dragon's mood.

"But why pretend to be sick like that? What's the aim?"

Seeing Asad's attention still focused on the human, Jet glanced at him and urged:

"Why does that human matter? They'll fail this test and be eliminated anyway. Then they won't be protected by the restrictions anymore, and you can dispose of them as you wish, Lord Asad."

Failing the test meant they would no longer be a bride candidate. It meant they would no longer receive the protection of the restrictions.

Jet had stopped Asad not for the human's sake but to protect the bride candidates who had the possibility of becoming the dragon's mate. Honestly, if not for that, he wouldn't have cared what happened to a mere human.

"So please, let's go. The bride candidates are waiting..."

"What if they pass the test?"

"That won't happen."

He had seen the human's condition clearly with his own eyes yesterday. Though Asad said it was fake illness, if he had seen that appearance that was no different from a dying corpse, he would have admitted his words were wrong.

'They were definitely in no condition to even get out of bed.'

In that state, they surely wouldn't even be able to appear at the test, let alone take it.

Not participating in the test meant automatic disqualification. It was natural for Jet to be confident the human wouldn't pass the test.

'Fake illness, really. If that's fake illness, then I'm from the horned tribe, not the tailed tribe.'

However, moments later.

Jet had to regret his words.

"Didn't you say they absolutely couldn't do it?"

Asad twisted his red lips in mockery.

Usually such words would have made his blood boil, but this time he didn't even feel angry. That's how shocked he was.

"How in the world..."

Jet's eyes, larger than ever, stared at the bride candidate standing before them.

The bride candidates facing the first test had maximized their own charms like flowers in full bloom welcoming spring.

The horned tribe's bride candidate drew attention by showing off his healthy physique, while the tailed tribe's bride candidate exuded vivaciousness and intelligence. The scaled tribe's bride candidate had maximized his uniquely mysterious atmosphere.

Though their charms were all different, they were alike in being beauties that were hard to take one's eyes off. How much more so when these beauties, already lovely without special adornment, had dressed up elaborately to try to catch the dragon's attention?

But the gazes of the dragon and his close aide were fixed not on any of them, but on the human man wearing the plainest purple clothes.

"This can't be..."

Jet muttered unconsciously.

Contrary to expectations, the human looked very healthy. Their skin that had been deathly pale was now glowing beautifully as if it had never been otherwise, and their cheeks even had a healthy pink flush.

Though they had definitely been staggering, unable to even stand properly. The human standing as straight as if they could be in a textbook even seemed somewhat composed.

"I told you."

The dragon didn't look back at the shocked Jet. His gaze hadn't left the human since first seeing them.

Without even realizing it himself.

"That it was fake illness."

Perhaps because his prediction had been right? His tone even sounded somewhat pleased.

* * *

'I'm dying...'

Kinaine was in a dreamy state as if having a dream.

Even in that state, he could persistently feel the gaze fixed on his face.

Though his vision wasn't blurry, he could well imagine how the dragon was looking at him.

After all, the dragon always had the same eyes when looking at him. As if looking at the most unpleasant thing in the world.

He must be angry that someone he had hoped to never see again had appeared like this. Even tiny insects smaller than fingernails become annoying when they keep hovering around, so how much more irritating must it be when something much larger keeps lingering?

The moment his focus, which had been blurry like something diffused in water, briefly returned, he met those golden eyes staring intently at him.

At that sight, a gentle voice calling "Kinaine" came to mind.