episode_0114

Luke was a patient.

Of course, it’s not just a cold.

A snake coiled within a mana heart.

Of course, it’s not a real snake.

The evil energy that had taken hold through the contract with Bertain was tormenting Luke.

Normally, I would have to lie down and fight the illness.

Since it was Luke, it ended with him spitting up blood.

Ukshin-

The evil spirit squeezes the mana heart as if to move quickly.

“Cool… .”

Luke expertly spits blood into subspace.

Exactly.

A portal was opened.

A huge cave with Bertain sealed inside is visible.

The entrance to the cave is protected by a strong barrier.

3 years ago.

It was a barrier that was much stronger than the one the saint had broken.

Originally, it would have taken years to dismantle the barrier.

Swish.

Luke passed through without incident.

The curse that was attached to the mana heart… Well, it was the snake’s fault.

The interior of the cave has not changed at all.

The air is filled with mana.

A dark space where you can’t see even an inch ahead.

Step by step.

Luke headed straight for the innermost part without even turning his head.

Because I couldn’t see it anyway.

New liquid- New liquid-

When you can feel the regular breathing of a huge being.

“Are you sleeping?”

Luke, who had stopped, raised his head.

《Umm… .》

Eyelids slightly rising.

Blue eyes, slit vertically, looked at Luke.

《You’re already back, and it hasn’t even been that long since you left?》

A voice that made my liver shiver pierced my ears.

When I heard it after a long time, my legs started shaking.

It could be because you’re not feeling well.

“It’s been 3 years.”

“So you just left?”

To a dragon that lives for eons, three years is just a fleeting moment.

Berthain, who had been grumbling that he hadn’t been able to nap, opened his eyes completely.

Whoaah.

The magic stones embedded throughout the cave shone like the Milky Way.

Even though I absorbed all the mana in the cave last time.

It seemed like Berthain was sleeping and spewing out again.

“You’re still alive, how dare you?”

“It’s not like I’m going to die.”

“Not bad enough to kill you?”

Bertain snorted in exasperation.

Luke almost fell over because the wind was stronger than expected.

“Haven’t you been carrying a lump of curses that has accumulated over hundreds of years?”

This was the contract Luke made with Bertain.

Instead of spreading the curse on Elin to the entire Bertain family.

Sealing the curse within Luke’s mana heart by draining his life.

Because it was sealed by the dragon’s power, it didn’t absorb mana or anything.

It was because I kept trying to break the seal and escape, so I stimulated the mana heart.

“If it were any other guy, he would have died the moment he signed the contract. Otherwise, he would have been no better than a living corpse.”

It was Berthain who wanted to see Luke again.

That’s because I thought that would be the last time I saw him.

“It seems like a living obituary these days. It’s getting worse and worse.”

“That’s normal. Soon, your soul will be devoured and you will disappear.”

When Luke disappears, the curse that has been passed down through the Bertain generations naturally disappears as well.

It can completely erase your existence from the continent.

The problem is that too much life was wasted when sealing the curse.

The day the contract was signed, Luke’s fate was sealed.

“Can you tell me how much time I have left to live?”

But it would be a problem if it disappeared too quickly.

At least we get to see Ellen become an adult.

《Hmm…》

Berthain, who had been looking at Luke closely, opened his mouth.

“If you lie still in bed and do nothing, you can live 10 years longer.”

Even if I become bedridden, I only have 10 years left.

Of course I didn’t intend to do that.

“How many years can you live if you keep doing this?”

《Three years… no, I think I can live a little over two years.》

“That’s fortunate.”

Luke let out a sigh of relief.

Bertain frowned.

“Did I speak incorrectly just now? I said I only have three years left.”

“You said it correctly.”

“But how can you say that it’s fortunate?”

It was understandable.

For these people, three years feels shorter than the blink of an eye.

I’m relieved to hear that it’s fortunate.

In fact, it was a way of thinking that even an ordinary person, let alone a dragon, would not understand.

Even from a human perspective, three years left to live was too short.

“There are two years left until the princess’s coming of age ceremony.

Luke smiled, far removed from any ordinary human being.

“Even if you only have two years to live, isn’t that enough time?”

* * * * *

Dragons don’t pay much attention to humans.

After taking a long nap, four generations have passed.

It is a race that is difficult to even take interest in.

Bertain was like other dragons.

I only became interested in the first Bertain family head who lent me his power.

“I just don’t understand.”

That is, Berthain has become curious about humans for the first time in hundreds of years.

“The little one you cherish so much. Didn’t you say that the other guys in the family were bullying him terribly?”

“Yes.”

“Then why do you foolishly want to take the curse and disappear together?”

“That’s the only way for you to become the head of the household. Didn’t I tell you that when we signed the contract?”

Dragons don’t easily forget words they’ve heard once.

“I just asked because I was frustrated, because I was frustrated….”

I just didn’t understand it.

Just let the curse fall on the other family members.

Why don’t we just escape and live together in the mountains for a long time where no one can find us?

《Is there a reason why it has to be made into a house?》

“The princess deserves to be loved by everyone.”

It’s not like Luke didn’t think of a way to escape either.

But what does that mean?

As a child, he was abused by his family and his existence was hidden.

The cursor has to live in hiding for something that wasn’t even his fault.

Isn’t it so unfair?

Luke reforms Bertha from the roots.

I just wanted to make Elin a duke that everyone respected.

《Does the little one know?》

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you know that you have a limited time left?”

“Are you saying I’m crazy? I know you’re going to be worried.”

“Why, according to your logic, shouldn’t I be grateful? Thank you for sacrificing yourself for me?”

“That’s… ….”

I was speechless.

If what Luke thinks is really sound logic.

I can tell this to others as well as Elin.

What the contract restricts from being disclosed is the content of the contract.

Because the fact that it is limited in itself does not limit it.

“You have something that stings you, so you’re pretending to hide it and pretending it’s okay.”

“… … ”

When a person is hit squarely in the face, he or she can’t even make excuses.

Bertain let out a deep sigh as he watched Luke just opening his mouth.

“You idiot. I gave you the title of wise man, but I guess I’ll have to take it back.”

“Is it recoverable?”

“How could that be? I was just saying that.”

Bertain muttered, “What a frustrating guy…” and continued.

“But I guess we’ll have to reveal it someday.”

“I have no intention of revealing it.”

“then?”

“The tutor contract is until the princess becomes an adult. When the contract expires, you have to go somewhere.”

“Is it really necessary to go into such lengths about running away?”

“Please tell me to leave.”

“Tsk, how can you call it quits if you just disappear without saying anything? There’s no way to handle it, so you just run away secretly.”

Luke shut his mouth again.

“A coward who runs away to make himself comfortable. A selfish man who doesn’t think about the people he leaves behind.”

Bertain, who hits the nail on the head.

I felt my stomach to see if there was a hole.

Bertain raised his voice.

《Not recommended.》

“Yes?”

《Based on that kid’s ability, I don’t think you’ll be able to escape. If you get caught, you’ll have to be prepared.》

A question mark appeared above Luke’s head.

I admit that Elin is excellent.

But that didn’t mean it was possible to catch Luke, the escape expert.

Besides, when Bertain saw Elin, she hadn’t even mastered the portal.

What did you see to make that judgment?

“He’s the one who inherited my blood. There’s no way I’d miss him.”

“Isn’t it just a feeling?”

《You’d better not ignore the dragon’s intuition.》

Bertain snorted.

《You don’t seem to have any intention of listening to me anyway, so let me ask you. Why on earth are you doing that?》

Instead of giving advice that no one would listen to, Bertain.

I decided to solve a question that suddenly occurred to me.

《He must be a complete stranger. What on earth is that brat risking his life for?》

Luke placed his hand on his chin and answered with a serious face.

“There are no remaining raw materials.”

“Then are you a distant relative?”

“That’s not it.”

It was one-sided that Luke knew Elin.

The Elins that Luke was unable to save still appear in his nightmares.

Why couldn’t you save me?

If you choke me, I will ask if you chose another Elin instead of me.

It was as good as sleeping that day.

How many times have I failed to save you?

A child that only Luke can save.

That was the way Luke looked at Elin.

“The reason why I risk my life is… … .”

Luke let out a hollow laugh and looked off into space.

[Make her happy.]

It hasn’t been hot since I met Elin.

A phrase that has recently started to appear again.

Looking at it makes me think about my mission.

“I have a duty to make you happy, my lady.”