How can he call himself a friend and not show his face in a crisis like this? Kanut listened to him and ended up like this! He never thought that Dragonas would betray him and take away the rights of the bell from him… … !
It was then.
“Gasp.”
Kanut suddenly froze, his body still in the act of screaming.
His arms stiffened, and his body ceased to obey. Cold sweat streamed like rain as the blood in his veins reversed course and his organs quivered. Kanut couldn’t control his trembling body and finally collapsed on the floor. A tremendous sense of loss overtakes him. The abruptly severed connection pierced his heart painfully.
“Drago… … nas… … .”
Why? Why did the energy of Dragonas disappear? This is not merely being kicked out of the position of guardian. It is a complete disconnection. The reason for his existence is gone.
“Annihilation…?”
Kanut muttered, his mouth agape. It was the moment.
“Ding dong dang. That’s correct!”
Shoes entered the field of vision of Kanut, who had fallen to the ground.
A cheerful and lively voice. It was Aragorn.
* * *
Aragorn was in a very good mood. He was able to get hold of the chalice, and now he could fill his hungry stomach. His visit to Kanut before heading to Peridot was merely a brief stop for a meal.
“Hello, my friend. It looks like things have gone downhill for you, huh?”
Chuckle. Aragorn couldn’t hold back his laughter. Kanut looked at him with a vacant expression, unable to understand why such a thing was happening to him.
Foolish and disgustingly so.
“Your role ends here.”
“My connection with Dragonas has been lost! How did this happen? How could you do this to me…….”
“Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute. Did you think you’d get away with anything? You get punished for doing bad things, you know.”
Aragorn chuckled and taunted Kanut.
“Originally, I was going to let you and that crude group of people you created into Terran… but something more interesting happened, so I don’t need you anymore.”
Originally, the plan was to bring Fata-Morgana to Terran to shorten Titania Oberon’s lifespan. But, as luck would have it, she came to the desert herself. It didn’t matter whether it was Dragonas’ arrangement or a coincidence. Only the results matter.
It’s a bit unfortunate that Dragonas got rid of the evil spirit that prevented her from extending her lifespan, but he’ll have to give up. The Sun God’s descendant would not fall to the same fate twice.
‘Well, draining her lifespan and letting her have the bell, both are solved.’
Who would have thought that the stupid desert dragon would hand over his treasure so easily. It was a bit unexpected, but it turned out as he intended. Of course, Dragonas would think that he had kept the treasure out of his hands, but… Well, is that really the case?
“The dragon has been hiding the painting wizards from my sight all this time. I must make him pay for preventing me from feeding on the souls that rightfully belong to me.”
Aragorn bent down willingly and ran his tongue across Kanut’s dark skin. At the same time, he pressed and squeezed his shoulders, making it impossible for him to escape. Not that there was anywhere to run anyway.
“You must have thought you were righteous at first.”
“… … !”
“Then you gradually began to turn your back on goodness in favour of your own goals.”
Slowly, black smoke in the shape of wings rose from Aragorn’s back. It covered Kanut’s eyes and choked his throat, causing fear.
“W-what are you going to do!!”
“What am I doing? Hmm, well, now that your corruption has fully ripened, it is time for harvest.”
“Aaaah! No, no, please no!”
Kanut’s screams did not escape the dungeon. Aragorn opened his mouth wide and ripped out half of his soul. It was so rotten, yet sweeter than any other sinner’s. It was so sweet that his teeth chattered, and he barely managed to swallow it in one bite.
“Alas, I’m full.”
Eventually, Kanut’s pupils became empty. Though he was alive and breathing, he was as good as dead. Aragorn held his head high and could not help but feel satisfied with his satiety.
“Ha, I’ll come back and finish the rest when I run out of energy. Take care until then.”
Aragorn smiled and kicked Kanut with his foot.
But there was no response. Though his mind was alive, most of his body’s functions were rendered useless. Perhaps leaving him in that state to live a long life wasn’t a bad idea. Like a lunchbox, he could come back and eat when he got hungry someday.
Aragorn laughed to his heart’s content and flew up into the sky. His whole body is brimming with power. He was getting more and more ready to face Rekiel.
* * *
Is there anything lovelier than spending the night with your lover?
I was lying down on the sofa, caressing Lacius’ strong forearms. Lacius would also look at me and occasionally smile. We appeared peaceful on the surface, and our hearts were also in peace. However, the conversation we had was not anything but ordinary.
“I don’t know what the demon’s exact intentions are. It could be that he wants to devour my soul.”
“Soul?”
“Yeah, that’s how demons usually are, right? And that young demon seems to have some relation with people’s lifespan. He probably put that thing inside me to shorten my lifespan….”
But there’s one thing I can’t understand. What is the reason I am special? Does my soul taste more delicious? It’s possible, but it’s not a satisfying answer.
“I was told that the amount of death increases as long as I live, but Dragonas also told me not to be sorry about it.”
“Of course there is no reason to be sorry. There is no reason why you should die.”
Lacius was firm and cold. He talked in a somewhat surprisingly cold manner, but then continued speaking in a slightly repressed tone.
“Sacrificing the few for the many is not something you should do. Even if it ever comes to that, don’t even think of doing it.”
“Yeah, I know. I have no intention of sacrificing my life either.”
What kind of person would do that? It’s human nature. If there is someone who points a finger at me for being selfish, I would ask them, Are you willing to die right now so that people you don’t even know can live?
Is there anyone who can sincerely answer that? Life isn’t some manga or movie with powerful women as its protagonist, and it will never be one. If there had been, they would have already been made saints.
“Then it means that you will be safe only if we eliminate the Demon of Scales named Aragorn.”
“That’s right.”
Whether it’s a dragon or a demon, it’s unrealistic. But it’s already happened.
“What is the probability that Dragonas and the demon are on the same side?”
“Well, probably none.”
“Okay. It would be easier if we only had to deal with demons.”
Lacius looked out the window with a cold gaze.
Since I was lying on his thighs, I was able to clearly see his jaw line and narrowed eyes. Although he definitely won’t tell me, I know he’s thinking about getting rid of the demon. Of course, I’m thinking the same thing.
‘I don’t know what kind of resentment you have towards me… … .’
The altar is already broken, and I don’t want to cut short my lifespan just to meet the demon.
“They say the demon crawled into the world of darkness to escape the light of the Sun God.”
“… … Yes, the demon possessing Giogio also said that. He called the descendant of the sun god unsightly.”
“Yes. Don’t worry, Shay, I’ll find him.”
Lacius said sweetly and leaned down to kiss my forehead, a warmth radiating from the spot where his lips touched me. Happiness bloomed like a fever flower.
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