Chapter 13

Яεα​đ оｎ Κ​αţṚ​ėɑⅾɩṅǵĊаϝе​

Thud. Thud.

Kairos walked through the forest, overwhelmed by mixed emotions.

He was currently heading to Lucy’s house.

His golden eyes stared intently at Lucy’s back as she walked ahead of him.

‘Is this really okay?’

Kairos had promised to grant Lucy anything she desired in exchange for sparing his life.

He could teach her magic or give her enough wealth to last a lifetime.

But all Lucy wanted was for him to heal her grandfather.

Normally, healing magic could only be used by beings with divine power, but Kairos was a dragon.

Dragons could use any kind of magic.

Even dark magic, like Lucy’s.

So healing Lucy’s grandfather wouldn’t be difficult for Kairos.

It was incredibly simple.

The fact that such a simple task was the price for sparing his life was something Kairos couldn’t accept.

A dragon’s life was more valuable than anything else.

Fortunately, Lucy had said she wanted something more in addition to healing her grandfather.

It was something Kairos had never expected.

‘…A friend.’

What Lucy wanted was to become friends with Kairos.

Kairos was baffled.

Dragons didn’t have friends. They lived solitary, noble lives.

Of course, they met their kin during mating seasons, but that wasn’t friendship.

They were merely fulfilling their roles out of necessity.

So Kairos didn’t know the exact meaning of a friend.

‘What is a friend?’

Is it someone you’re always with?

Like a guardian?

“…”

No, a guardian isn’t a friend.

A guardian is just a subordinate who follows orders.

Kairos’ expression grew complicated. He glanced at the being walking beside him.

It was the Death Knight, Darcan.

“Hey.”

“?”

When Kairos called, Darcan turned his head.

“What is it, dragon?”

“I have a question, undead.”

“Ask away.”

“…”

Kairos frowned.

It irked him how the undead spoke so arrogantly.

If it were up to him, he’d blast Darcan away with magic, but for now, understanding the true meaning of friendship was more important.

“What is a friend?”

“A friend?”

Darcan tilted his head, causing his armor to creak.

“Well…”

Darcan recalled his days as a human.

If he had to define a friend…

“…It’s someone you play with.”

“Play?”

“Yeah. Someone you have fun with is called a friend.”

“Having fun together… But what do you play?”

“It varies. What do dragons do for fun?”

“Dragons don’t play. What even is playing?”

“…”

Darcan’s blue eyes widened slightly.

He was baffled.

How could they not understand each other at all?

Are dragons naturally a bit dull?

If it were up to him, he’d rather stop the conversation and admire Lucy’s cute back.

But it was hard to ignore Kairos’ piercing gaze.

“Playing is doing something enjoyable.”

“Something enjoyable.”

Kairos muttered quietly.

“So a friend is someone you do enjoyable things with.”

“Exactly.”

Kairos finally seemed to understand.

“That’s not hard.”

Whoosh!

Suddenly, Kairos kicked off the ground and dashed forward.

He scooped up Lucy, who was walking ahead, and soared into the sky.

“…”

Left alone, Darcan could only stare blankly.

“!!”

Lucy’s eyes widened, and she squirmed in Kairos’ grasp.

He had suddenly picked her up and soared high into the sky.

“W-What are you doing?”

Lucy tightly gripped Kairos’ clothes.

The forest rapidly shrank beneath her feet. The wind whistled sharply past her ears.

It was so high.

Yet Kairos continued to climb higher, unfazed.

Soon, they rose above the clouds.

Lucy trembled. She had never been this high in her life.

“…”

Lucy couldn’t understand why Kairos was doing this.

Sure, she had destroyed his golem, but hadn’t they agreed to become friends after that?

Why had he suddenly brought her this high up…

“…Are you trying to kill me?”

At Lucy’s question, Kairos tilted his head.

“Kill you? I’m just granting your wish.”

“My wish?”

“You said you wanted to be friends.”

“What does that have to do with—”

Lucy couldn’t finish her sentence.

Kairos had suddenly shot forward like an arrow.

Lucy clenched her eyes shut and gripped Kairos’ clothes even tighter.

The wind howled fiercely.

The air brushing against her face was as cold as ice.

“How is it? The feeling of flying above the clouds!”

Kairos spoke in an excited voice.

“This is what I enjoy the most!”

“…”

Lucy cautiously opened her eyes.

Pure white clouds surrounded them.

The sun shone through the gaps in the clouds, reflecting off the cloud tops and sparkling like a silver sea.

To see the clouds up close like this, when she had only ever looked at them from the ground…

And to be flying above them.

Lucy was speechless.

It was truly breathtaking.

Scary, but undeniably a spectacle she wouldn’t easily see again.

After flying above the clouds for a while, Kairos gradually lowered his altitude and descended to the ground.

A gentle breeze welcomed their landing.

Rustle—

As Kairos’ feet touched the ground, a small cloud of dust rose.

“…”

Lucy carefully stepped out of Kairos’ arms.

Her legs wobbled, and she staggered for a moment.

Her body had been tense from flying so fast through the sky.

“Master, are you okay?”

Darcan approached and asked.

Lucy’s hair was disheveled from the wind, and her cheeks were flushed red from the cold air.

“What on earth was that?”

Darcan protested to Kairos.

“How dare you hold the Master in your arms? Even I haven’t done that yet!”

“We simply enjoyed a pleasant activity together.”

Kairos answered nonchalantly.

“That’s what friends do.”

“…”

Lucy looked at Kairos with a dumbfounded expression.

The reason she had suggested becoming friends was because she thought having a dragon as a friend would be useful.

She hadn’t meant she wanted to fly through the sky for fun.

Though it was fun.

Lucy smoothed her disheveled hair and straightened her clothes. Darcan quickly approached and reached out his hand.

“Let me help you.”

“It’s fine.”

Lucy stopped Darcan’s hand and picked up the fruit basket that had fallen to the ground.

Kairos watched with a strange expression.

“Was it not enjoyable?”

“…”

Lucy looked at Kairos.

“It was fun.”

“But your expression doesn’t look good.”

“I was just a little surprised. I didn’t expect to suddenly fly through the sky. It’d be nice if you gave me a heads-up next time.”

“Hmm.”

Kairos crossed his arms.

Giving a heads-up meant reporting to her, didn’t it?

He didn’t like the idea.

A dragon reporting to a human?

Dragons flew whenever they pleased.

But…

“Understood.”

Kairos nodded. He didn’t like it, but Lucy had spared his life.

If that’s what she wanted, he could oblige.

“Next time, I’ll report before flying.”

“…Okay.”

Lucy nodded and started walking again.

“You’ve worked hard, Darcan.”

Upon arriving home, Lucy spoke to Darcan.

“You can go back now.”

“Understood, Master.”

Darcan knelt on one knee.

“It was an honor to serve you. If you call me again next time—”

Lucy waved her hand, dispelling Darcan’s summon.

Whoom—!

Darcan’s body dissipated into black smoke.

Kairos, who had been watching indifferently, turned his gaze to Lucy’s house.

“Is this where you live?”

“Yes. I live here with my grandfather.”

“It’s really small.”

“…”

Lucy walked toward the house.

Her hand reached for the doorknob, but she paused for a moment.

“Kai.”

Lucy turned to look at Kairos.

“My grandfather is an ordinary human. He doesn’t know I can control undead. So keep it a secret. And of course, the fact that you’re a dragon too.”

“…A secret?”

Kairos frowned.

“Dragons don’t keep secrets…”

“Friends keep each other’s secrets.”

“…Understood. I’ll keep it a secret.”

“Thank you.”

Lucy opened the door with relief. The small, old wooden door creaked as it swung open.

“…?”

Lucy’s eyes widened.

Her grandfather was lying on the kitchen floor.

Cooking tools were scattered around, and half-sliced mushrooms lay on the cutting board.

It seemed he had collapsed while cooking.

Lucy hurriedly approached her grandfather.

“Grandfather.”

His face was pale.

Cold sweat dotted his forehead, and his breathing was shallow and irregular.

“Grandfather.”

Lucy shook her grandfather’s body.

He only swayed limply, showing no response.

“Is this the human?”

Kairos approached and asked.

“The one you asked me to heal.”

“Yes. Please heal him.”

“Understood.”

Kairos reached out his hand toward the grandfather.

A golden energy spread from his hand and seeped into the grandfather’s body.

The grandfather’s breathing gradually stabilized, and color returned to his pale face.

A moment later, his eyelids slowly opened.

“…Lu, Lucy?”

“Grandfather.”

“What happened…”

The grandfather looked puzzled.

“I was cooking, and then…”

“You collapsed. Your injuries were severe.”

Lucy examined her grandfather’s face.

There had been wounds on his face, but now they were completely healed.

The grandfather seemed to feel the change in his condition as he got up and moved his body around.

“Oh… No wonder I feel better, Lucy.”

At her grandfather’s words, Lucy smiled faintly.

A single healing spell had completely restored his body. Magic truly was amazing.

“By the way, who are you?”

The grandfather asked Kairos.

“What’s your relationship with our Lucy?”

Kairos answered with a slightly haughty expression.

“We’re companions who enjoy pleasant activities together.”

“…?”

The grandfather’s face stiffened.

“P-Pleasant activities? What exactly are you talking about?”

“That.”

Kairos raised the corner of his mouth.

“Is a secret.”

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Using friendship as a means to interlock a dragon… hmm…

A clueless arrogant dragon.