Ch.136Chapter 136

When do humans feel the most crisis?

When their lives are threatened?

No.

When their goals become hopeless?

No.

When they read inscriptions on the floor?

No.

“Zmi҇͂͗̓̈͆́͒̋ya҉̧̯͔͎̭̜͉͈̩͈̗ fon҈̨̛ o̵̢͠ḑ̸҇i̸͢͡n̶͢͞o̷̧͝k̴̡͠a҈̕͢ya̸͜͝”

It’s when they start hearing the name of an Outer God whispering their own name.

Right now, I’m trying my best to maintain a poker face pretending not to hear, but perhaps because of my reaction earlier, The Dragonslayer seemed certain and kept whispering her name into my ear.

I couldn’t escape.

She was holding me tightly like some attachment doll while whispering into my ear.

I’m not having strange thoughts.

No, I’m trying not to have them.

Being embraced in a noble lady’s arms, feeling her softness, hearing her whispered tones, and feeling like I own the world.

I’m not having such strange delusions!

…Ahem, anyway.

The biggest problem was this.

I couldn’t hear everything she said, but that didn’t matter.

The name part that I shouldn’t be able to hear was coming through clearly.

If only I could hear her blessing instead!

Then I could just pretend not to know and call her when needed!

What’s more infuriating is that I thought only The Dragonslayer’s mind was romance-novel-obsessed.

It seems her entire concept was that of a genuine noble.

The “von” in her name typically indicates nobility.

I wonder how the world of Outer Gods really works.

At this rate, she seemed determined to hold onto me and whisper until she achieved her goal even if Rondan were to perish, so I opened my mouth while breaking into a cold sweat.

“Um…”

The Dragonslayer looked at me with sparkling eyes.

She seemed full of expectation that I would finally call her name, but I was planning to be a bit tricky.

“Von…?”

I carefully pronounced “von.”

If I could claim that was all I heard, it would somewhat explain my surprise, and I might be able to deceive her.

I looked at The Dragonslayer, hoping she would just let it slide.

But The Dragonslayer merely covered my mouth with her index finger.

Confused, I stared at her as she began shaking her head.

“My husband.”

“…”

“That is not the answer this lady wished to hear.”

“…!”

Suddenly, I felt goosebumps all over my body.

I had to admit it.

I felt completely psychologically cornered by The Dragonslayer.

“Or perhaps. I see. There was such a method.”

“…?”

“You must have depleted much of your power from using the dragon’s strength so often?”

“…!”

I couldn’t even react.

By the time I understood her words, The Dragonslayer’s teeth had already sunk into my neck.

A sensation both refreshing and stinging.

But the warm energy flowing in made my entire body feel languid.

Unlike last time, however, it felt like a much larger amount was entering.

W-wait.

If this much comes in, I might end up breathing fire!

Like filling up at a gas station, I could feel the energy cut off precisely when The Dragonslayer had transferred the maximum amount she could.

This is bad.

Isn’t this basically like having an entire dragon inside me now?

“…Done.”

I’m, I’m terrified.

Is this how a condemned prisoner feels with their head in the guillotine?

No, that would be better.

At least it would be over in an instant.

But this, if I make one mistake…

However, The Dragonslayer showed no intention of understanding my feelings as she brought her mouth to my ear again.

“Zmi҇̏̔̋ya҇͂͗̓̈͆́͒̋҈ fon҉̧͔̞͒́͋̑͒͡ o̵̢͠ḑ̸҇i̸͢͡n̶͢͞o̷̧͝k̴̡͠a҈̕͢ya̸͜͝”

The voice was clearer than before.

Now it was almost as distinct as when I heard Neutrice.

But I continued pretending not to hear.

Surely she would let me go before I died.

Seemingly realizing my resolute attitude, The Dragonslayer frowned in frustration.

“E-even now you persist in resistance!”

“…”

“Ugh, my husband is truly cold-blooded!”

Now she was on the verge of tears.

And then she used her ultimate technique.

“Does… my husband dislike this lady so much?”

Seeing her about to cry made my heart feel torn.

No, it’s not that I dislike you.

Come to think of it, isn’t this also completely my selfish perspective?

An act of hurting those around me to achieve what I want.

Just as my heart was weakening…

Scratch, scratch.

I could see words being inscribed somewhere.

– Zmi҇̏̔̋ya҇͂͗̓̈͆́͒̋҈ fon҉̧͔̞͒́͋̑͒͡ o̵̢͠ḑ̸҇i̸͢͡n̶͢͞o̷̧͝k̴̡͠a҈̕͢ya̸͜͝ said this, and seeing her husband’s increasingly troubled expression, she felt elated that her opportunity had finally come.

My husband has always shown weakness to us.

If I can capture his heart with these tears…

“Ah, aaaah! Chronicler, you wretch! Are you betraying this lady?!”

Forgetting that she was holding me, The Dragonslayer quickly jumped out and began scratching at the inscription with her nails.

Why did The Chronicler suddenly interfere with The Dragonslayer?

Wasn’t it The Chronicler who guided her to do that terrible thing, kissing me?

No, that wasn’t important right now.

…This crazy dragon woman.

How dare she play with human emotions?!

If that’s how it is, I’m going to be petty too.

“Hmph.”

“W-what?!”

When I made a sulking sound, The Dragonslayer approached me in panic.

“N-no, my husband. This is that Chronicler wretch distorting things!”

“Hmph!”

Actually, I’m more in the wrong here!

The Dragonslayer had every right to be upset!

I felt that if I pushed any further, I might end up calling her name and ending it all.

Seeing my firm attitude, The Dragonslayer grabbed her head with both hands, apparently realizing it was hopeless.

“Argh! I was so close! Chronicler, you dare interfere with me out of jealousy?! Today we shall settle this once and for all!”

With those words, The Dragonslayer finally disappeared from the room.

Phew.

But why do I feel so uneasy?

This feeling that something else is coming…

Ah, it must be nothing.

Just my imagination.

#

After The Dragonslayer finally left and I regained my freedom, I immediately went to where the prophet grandfather was.

After the heretic suppression operation, the grandfather was recognized for his contributions and received permission to establish his own religion.

Because of this, they had to break one of Rondan’s iron rules, but it seemed the knights had no choice since criticizing someone who helped humanity would inevitably lead to backlash.

I had been too busy to visit recently, but now I could finally do what I had been planning.

It was about The Watcher.

It was time to start investigating.

I had gathered enough combat power to face the Giant of the Snow Mountain.

The Knight Commander and The Advisor had returned.

Five Outer Gods and Neutrice had joined.

Above all, my personal combat power had become ridiculously strong.

Now was the time to minimize variables as much as possible.

It was always those damned variables that caused nations to fall.

The Sui dynasty was crushed by General Eulji Mundeok because they didn’t anticipate the trap he had set at the Battle of Salsu.

Keeping in mind Yeonsangun’s words that “those who forget history have no future”…

Lost in these thoughts, I soon arrived at the cathedral the grandfather had established.

To transform an abandoned building so magnificently—perhaps the grandfather should have been an architect rather than a religious figure.

After shaking off these useless thoughts, I carefully opened the door and entered.

Not a sound could be heard inside the building.

That was to be expected.

Even if people who had held Rondan’s iron rules above the constitution were suddenly told they could believe in gods, who would dare to do so out of fear?

It’s like being told that food you always thought was poisonous actually isn’t, so you can eat it—who would feel comfortable doing that?

“Is anyone here?”

As expected.

Not a single person was sitting in the chairs inside.

Hmm.

Seeing this makes my heart ache in a different way.

I would have thought at least one or two people might visit a building established by someone who contributed to the nation.

As I sat in one of the empty chairs staring into space, I heard a gentle voice coming from somewhere.

What’s this?

Was someone here?

I got up and carefully walked toward the sound, and when I saw the source, I felt my breath catch.

“Hahaha! It’s none other than me, old man! If the commander can come back from the dead, I simply don’t die!”

“Still, seeing you return alive puts my mind at ease. Come visit often from now on. I’m lonely since nobody visits.”

“Of course! Even without you saying that, I was planning to visit every day when I have time! We need to reclaim our past glory, old man!”

The people conversing there were none other than The Advisor and the grandfather.

Seeing this made me feel like I had witnessed something I shouldn’t have, so I carefully tried to back away.

Crunch.

Damn it.

A fallen leaf on the ground made a loud noise as my foot crushed it.

“What’s that? Sounds like we have a visitor?”

“Oh my, I should go check.”

Both of them turned their heads toward where I was.

“…Oh, what.”

“Lord Tanthyn?”

My attempt to escape had come to nothing.