Chapter 73

The day of the second test.

The bride candidates gathered again at the same place where the first test had been announced.

Servants watching the bride candidates from afar let out exclamations of admiration.

"They're truly remarkable beauties whenever you see them."

"To think only one of them can be chosen as mate, if I were Lord Dragon, my heart would ache quite a bit."

"Shh, be careful saying such things carelessly, your tongue could be cut off too."

Even to the servants working in the dragon palace, the dragon was a fearsome being. Even more so because they had experienced him up close.

Though the atmosphere became more subdued when talk of the dragon came up, the servants' gazes remained fixed on the bride candidates.

The bride candidates, having lived their entire lives as dominant omegas, were used to being stared at as if people were enchanted by them, so they didn't find others' gazes uncomfortable.

In fact, for the bride candidates, it was stranger when people didn't look at them. Like a certain dragon, for instance.

Just then, someone clicked their tongue as if in pity.

"Oh my, looks like he's finally arrived."

Only then did the other servants' gazes turn to the black-haired man who had just taken his place.

"His assigned palace is over an hour's walk from here, so he can't help being later than others. Moreover, I heard his attending servant was so upset they didn't even go out to guide him."

"That one really lacks responsibility. Even if they hate humans, still."

Those who heard the situation all clicked their tongues similarly while watching the human.

The bride candidates, perhaps stimulated by how the dragon hadn't even glanced at them, were dressed much more splendidly than before. They stood proudly as if competing, with their servants and guards lined up behind them. With such people right beside him, how diminished must the human feel, who had only two people total between his servant and guard?

One servant unconsciously muttered while watching this scene.

"At first I was indignant that a mere human dared to aim for the bride position, but now I just feel sorry for him."

"Me too..."

Gazes of a different temperature than when looking at the other bride candidates turned toward Kinaine. Some servants shook their heads, saying if it were them, they would have given up long ago since there was no possibility at all.

Just as everyone was sending sympathetic looks to the human bride candidate.

"Nine!"

The tailed tribe bride candidate, who had been standing with an undisguised bored expression, brightened and ran toward the human.

He circled around the human like a puppy meeting its owner, examining him. His five tails wagged so vigorously that observers felt dizzy watching.

After circling the human for a while, the tailed tribe bride candidate stopped, seemingly satisfied, and nodded.

"Good, your appearance isn't bad. The strong perfume smell is a minus point but... I think I know why you put it on."

"I'd appreciate if you pretended not to know about that..."

"Of course, I should grant your request. We're friends after all."

"We are?"

"You know what? I never listen to what others say, but I'm very good at listening to friends."

"...Of course, we're friends. We are."

Hahaha, laughter spread out. Though the servants were too far away to hear their conversation, seeing them chatting while smiling warmly at each other, they thought the two must certainly be close friends.

To them, this was strange.

They had clearly seen the tailed tribe bride candidate cursing at the human as if he would devour him during the first test. When had they built such friendship?

But that wasn't all.

"Why don't you tell me what you're talking about so enjoyably?"

"May I join the conversation too?"

Before they knew it, the horned tribe and scaled tribe bride candidates had come over to join.

The bride candidates had gathered around the human, the most insignificant among them.

The servants exchanged bewildered looks at this sight.

What in the world was going on?

Of course, Kinaine didn't care how the servants viewed him.

He was busy slowly examining the bride candidates chattering in front of him.

"All of you go away. We're having a private conversation between friends right now."

Ilya of the tailed tribe.

'Clever and quick-witted. Though he can be willful, probably from being raised pampered, he has a charm that makes it impossible to dislike him despite that.'

Soon Kinaine's gaze moved to the red-haired horned tribe member.

"What? Since when did you become friends? Let me join too!"

Prim of the horned tribe.

'Open-hearted and optimistic. Such a personality would be fun to have around. And since the horned tribe are all physically strong, they would be helpful in many ways.'

Even as Kinaine was lost in thought, the bride candidates continued their conversation endlessly.

When Ilya bared his fangs at Prim and growled at him to go away, Prim teased him, asking if he was afraid of losing his friend.

"You...!"

Just as Ilya was about to explode, taking the joke as a challenge, someone else stepped in with perfect timing.

"Prim, don't do that. Isn't this Ilya's first friend besides us? It's natural for him to cherish them."

Kinaine's black eyes took in the image of the last remaining bride candidate.

Biche of the scaled tribe.

'An extraordinary beauty who could make anyone fall for him. A kind and thoughtful personality... or so it seems.'

Just then, as if feeling the gaze, Biche turned to look at Kinaine with a gentle smile.

"Nine, I see you've become friends with Prim. If you're Prim's friend, you could be my friend too. I hope you'll consider us friends as well."

It seemed there couldn't be anyone in the world who wouldn't feel attracted to this beautiful man speaking kind words with a smile. Kinaine also sent him a smile full of goodwill.

"Thank you for your kind words."

Though in reality, there wasn't even a bit of goodwill.

But since it was the same for Biche, it couldn't be called deception.

Biche's acting was perfect. His only mistake was not knowing that Kinaine was a black mage.

Due to black magic's influence, Kinaine could instinctively detect others' negative emotions. Thanks to this, he had known the moment their eyes met.

That this man hated him more than anyone else here.

'It would be best to be careful of those whose true feelings differ from their words.'

Though this probably wasn't something he should say... well, what did it matter? After all, he wouldn't be the one to become Asad's mate.

Kinaine tried to think objectively. The fact that he was hated didn't pose any particular problem for becoming Asad's mate. Rather, on the contrary, Asad, who couldn't hide his true feelings and showed them plainly, might need a mate with a personality like Biche's. They would complement each other's shortcomings.

In the end, the choice was Asad's.

'Anyway, one of these three will become Asad's mate.'

His chest stung at the sudden thought, but Kinaine habitually ignored his pain.

The bride candidates were all rare beauties and had their own charms. When he had thought of them as competitors, their strengths had only felt threatening, but now he rather thought it was good.

Since they were such charming beauties, Asad would probably take back his words about not caring who became his mate as long as they bore children.

'Like we once did, they might end up falling in love with each other.'

Of course, thinking such thoughts still made his heart ache unbearably... but nevertheless, his wish for Asad to find a good mate remained unchanged.

What did his own pain matter? He would die soon anyway, and the pain would disappear with him. But his lover would live forever, so he only wished for his eternal happiness.

"Hahaha!"

Prim's cheerful laughter shattered Kinaine's reverie.

"Nine, you're amazing. Ilya is really picky about who he keeps around because of his fussy personality, and while I've been following him around since childhood, how did you become close to him?"

Saying this, Prim approached Kinaine.

"Anyway, I've been wanting to talk with you."

With traces of laughter still on his face, he extended his hand as if asking for a handshake.

"I thought I would definitely win the first test. Looks like I underestimated humans too much. I reflected on that. I'm sorry!"

Kinaine grasped the hand extended before him. Though Prim didn't seem to be applying much force, he could feel strong power in the clasped hands.

"I was lucky."

"That's skill too. Since we're on the topic, how about having a match with me sometime?"

Just as Prim was tempting him with sparkling eyes, suddenly lightning struck from the clear sky and hit the ground between Kinaine and Prim.

"Gasp!"

Fortunately, both Kinaine and Prim had good reflexes and dodged, but if they had been even a little slower, they might have been struck by the lightning and burned black.

Though Prim seemed startled, Kinaine had a good idea who was behind this sudden small disaster.

After all, as far as he knew, there was only one being who could do such a thing.

"...You seem very close?"

The man standing askew on the platform growled while fiercely glaring at Kinaine.