episode_0157

《The contract is complete.》

“Thank you.”

Leo made a contract with Bertain.

I looked down at my arms.

The senses that had been paralyzed as a result of swinging the Dragon Sword were returning.

《Someone has to do it, but… Ugh, no. It’s a terrible thing to nag after the contract has already been signed.》

Bertain shook his head.

“How’s Boldred?”

“Yes, Your Majesty is in good health.”

“It must be health. That’s not what I asked.”

“… ?”

Leo blinked as if to ask what was wrong.

“Are you ready to hand over the throne now?”

“… … ”

Leo answered with silence.

Berthain’s sighs grew deeper.

《Haa… That fool. He could have backed out by now. The children of the children of the children of the people who lived back then would have already died.》

“I agree.”

“Then why didn’t you speak out more frankly?”

“How could I dare to break the will of the noble one?”

《That’s true, but… . 》

Bertain now felt that the situation was returning to normal.

Look at Leo’s polite attitude.

Humans were originally beings who had to serve dragons and be polite to them.

Or seal Bertain in a cave like the second generation.

It’s not like I’m going all out and begging for a contract termination like Ellen.

《…I don’t know why this is only happening to me.》

Bertain felt wronged.

This wouldn’t happen in a bloodline that received the power of another dragon.

Why is it only Berthain who is suffering like this?

“… … ”

Leo chose to remain silent instead of saying, ‘Considering your ancestor’s violent nature, it seems that way.’

When I think about the story of Berthain that I heard from the Emperor, there was no one as bad as him.

-Leo. If you ever meet Jim’s close friend, you’d better not bring up the Bucklin family story.

-Can I ask why?

-Because Jim’s close friend tore him to pieces.

-… …

A dragon that lives for eons needs something precious to survive.

Whether it’s treasure, knowledge, or some belief.

It is said that to live an excruciatingly long life, a fanatical obsession is essential.

In Berthain’s case, it was love.

-It’s not easy for a lonely race to fall in love. They must have felt affection that is so heavy that it’s unimaginable by human standards.

-But why the ancestors of the Bucklin family…?

-Because Bucklin caught that guy looking at another dragon.

Berthain’s wrath at having her purity trampled upon was unstoppable by any being.

Bucklin was torn to pieces without even being able to resist.

Even though they were the same dragon, the difference in level was truly enormous.

-I was still upset and it was difficult… .

Berthain, whose eyes had rolled back, destroyed everything around him.

Even the demons that were targeting the continent at the time were so afraid that they could not approach.

-If it had been left as is, probably all species on the continent would have gone extinct.

-But how have you maintained the empire until now?

-Because Jim sent his friend to the dimension where demons live.

The emperor felt sorry for the innocent races suffering, so he pushed Bertain into the Demon Realm.

At that time, the number of demons was reduced by more than half.

The demons who were severely beaten by Bertain closed the gates of the demon world and hid.

-If I had gone over there with my friend and swept them away, we could have completely exterminated the demons. I’m sorry I let them run away.

-… Is that why you have been in office for hundreds of years?

-yes.

The emperor showed no apology to the demons.

Originally, dragons and demons were ancient species that did not get along well.

At that time, he regretted not being able to completely eradicate the demons and was only ruling over humans.

Leo was trembling with the dragon’s madness as he recalled the conversation he had with the Emperor.

“Aren’t you thinking about something extremely impure just now?”

Bertain asked in a gruff voice.

“I was thinking about the story of my ancestors that His Majesty had told me.”

《Boldred? What did he say?》

“… … ”

The Emperor had told him not to bring up the story of the Bucklin family, so he became cautious.

He was torn between the Emperor he was loyal to and his ancestors who had made a contract with him.

“Okay. Well, I guess we talked about Berkeley.”

“… Yes.”

Leo looked at Berthain.

If he showed even the slightest bit of anger, I would take Elin and run away.

《Do you have anything else to say?》

But Berthain’s feelings were not shaken at all.

Leo put down the hilt of his sword and asked.

“I have a question.”

《Tell me.》

“… Haven’t you made a contract with the descendants of Berkeley now?”

“Yes. Why, are you worried that I might kill that stupid wise man?”

“It’s more of a curiosity than a worry.”

He made a contract with his descendant who betrayed him and even gave him the title of wise man.

Doesn’t that seem a little strange?

《That must be what you humans think. If you are a descendant of Berklin himself, then it may be fine, but since you just borrowed his power… 》

Bertain was so angry that he tore apart the demons without any regard for them.

He was not a dragon so narrow-minded as to take his anger out on the poor descendants of Bucklin.

“You are merciful.”

“I know this too. That’s why I let that cheeky brat live.”

Bertain gestured to the fallen Elin.

“I don’t even want to see you, so take me away. Don’t come here again.”

“Is it okay if I don’t pay the price?”

《Where is the time for that now? The demons are about to be resurrected? Even though it may be a bit shabby, if it can withstand the strength of this body, it will definitely be of great help.》

“Hmm.”

Certainly, Ellen will be a great force.

Until now, I thought that the Secret Service and Luke alone could solve this.

Seeing you fighting the dragon, I think I need to ask Elin for help.

“Okay, then I’ll leave.”

“Yes, poor descendant. What was your name?”

“This is Leo.”

《Leo… Leo. Yes, even if everyone forgets, remember Boldred and this body.》

“It’s an honor.”

Leo heard the same thing from both dragons.

After bowing deeply to Bertain.

I tried to lift Elin up and leave the cave.

Kwak.

The change happened then.

“… Put it down.”

Elin, who had been unconscious for several days, grabbed Leo’s wrist.

“What happened?”

I was really surprised though.

It wasn’t clearly revealed by Leo’s dry face.

《Huh… I guess I have to admit that you’re really tenacious, you’re on a dragon level.》

Rather, it was Bertain, who was behind, who was more surprised.

It wasn’t impossible for Elin to regain consciousness.

This cave is filled with Berthain’s mana.

Because Elin can also operate some parts.

Of course, it was by no means easy, just not impossible.

Elin, determined to save her teacher, absorbed the mana from the cave and healed herself.

It is said that a will as strong as a dragon burned even while unconscious.

“Let go.”

widely!

Elin slapped Leo’s hand away.

I corrected my posture.

My body creaked as it reached its limit several times.

The will contained in his eyes still burned brightly.

“Elin. Are you trying to fight your ancestors any more?”

《At this point, aren’t you mistakenly thinking that you’re a really small dragon??》

Bertain was dumbfounded.

Even if your body recovers, it’s still like that.

You’re going to attack me again?

“Don’t call my name.”

Elin coldly shot Leo a look.

Shudder.

Leo hesitated, though.

He immediately grabbed Elin’s wrist.

“I know how you feel. You must be worried about Luke. But fighting your ancestors is crazy… .”

“… What are you doing now? Playing the role of oppa?”

Swish.

Leo missed Elin’s wrist.

Elin’s eyes were filled with contempt.

Because the sins already committed are too deep.

I couldn’t look Elin straight in the eye.

“… I know I have no right to tell you what to do.”

“If you know, don’t interfere.”

“But I don’t want to fight my ancestors anymore – huh.”

Chorus!

A chain stretched out from the air and grabbed Leo by the neck.

Kuk.

He squeezes hard as if he doesn’t want to hear any more.

The gushing magical power proved that Elin was still alive and well.

Elin, who approached Leo with strides, let out a cold voice.

“Do you know why I kept you alive?”

Elin hated Leo.

Having been abused as a child, Elin had only two places to turn to.

The only nanny who treated me warmly.

And Leo, who didn’t say anything insulting to Elin or even touch her.

The nanny was kicked out of Berthain for being kind to Elin.

Then one of the candles of hope went out.

“I wish you could have stayed by my side.”

But even Leo left Bertain.

“From then on, my life was hell.”

Users who consistently ignore you.

Gerald, who would pick fights and run errands when he was bored.

Clavel, who even took Elin’s meager meals as a joke.

Natia, who was forcing herself into manners that were useless and magical knowledge that she couldn’t use.

Carl Chad, who would come every night to beat me with a rage doll.

Elin couldn’t even resent her cruel fate.

He died in misery day after day.

“Until the teacher came as a tutor.”

Luke shows up and miraculously everything is resolved.

When you are barely able to forget the pain.

Leo reappeared.

When I no longer wish for Leo’s presence.

In its worst form.

“You’ve been a nuisance ever since.”

What Leo, whom I met after a long time, did was kidnapping.

Even though it was only for a moment, the fear of being separated from my teacher still often appeared in nightmares.

He also followed Elin under the pretext of secretly protecting her.

Whatever Leo’s intentions were, from Elin’s perspective, it was creepy.

“When I heard that you were hanging out with the teacher who ran away, I really wanted to kill you.”

The day I encountered Luke and the secret task force at the castle.

There was only one reason why Leo was let go.

“If it weren’t for you, I might not have met you, teacher.”

If Leo had remained, he would have been the next head of the Bertain family.

If all expectations were focused on Leo.

Ellen would have lived a moderately unhappy life in indifference.

Maybe Natia never thought to post a tutor ad.

Even if Luke had come in as a tutor, he wouldn’t have penetrated deep into my heart like he did now.

Ironically, the only thing Elin was thankful for was Leo leaving.

But Ellen’s life was thrown into the abyss and underground.

That’s why I met the teacher and was saved.

“Teacher is my world.”

Luke was a character who could not be defined as a savior.

This is truly the world that gave light to Elin, who had been in black and white.

“I’m saving my world, so don’t interfere.”

“… … ”

Leo was silent.

This is the first time I’ve heard Elin’s feelings.

There was nothing to refute.

From leaving her behind in Bertain to approaching her for kidnapping.

It was all Leo’s fault.

《If you’re going to attack, then attack. Don’t bother the poor descendants.》

Leo offered no resistance at all.

Now Bertain urged them on in an anxious voice.

I just thought they were siblings.

It was because I realized that the relationship between descendants was more serious than I thought.

“That’s right.”

Elin released the chain that was holding Leo’s neck.

Woof-

And then I opened the inventory.

“Just leave this.”

“what?”

“I’ll be back.”

《… No! If you’re going to go, then go! Don’t come back…!》

Bam.

Elin with Leo’s back in inventory.

Leo blinks while trapped in subspace.

“Come out.”

Elin opened her inventory again and sent Leo out.

Crunch.

Handcuffs on the wrists.

I looked around and saw the magic tower.

“Stay here until I come back with the verdict. Don’t make the teacher do anything dangerous… Where did the teacher go?”

thud.

Ellen ran out of the room without saying a word.

“World…Ra.”

Leo leaned his head against the wall and thought.

If you have that much love for Luke.

I really wonder if it’s a small dragon that has inherited Bertain’s personality.

* * * * *

“… That’s how I got locked up. Do you understand?”

“… … ”

Luke opened his mouth in a daze after hearing Leo’s long story.

A huge amount of information.

Even leaving aside Elin’s love, which was much heavier than expected.

Leo being trapped in the tower was a huge problem.

Shouldn’t all the power I’ve given up on after concluding a contract with a dragon be like this?

“But what kind of contract did you make with Bertain?”

“Does it matter? I think I should go save Elin.”

“It’s already too late. Shouldn’t you escape, Leo?”

Luke accepted reality.

All we can do now is for Elin to come to her senses as quickly as possible.

All I could do was hope that Berthain would show mercy.

“Go out and join the secret task force. If you have made a contract, you can break these restraints and get out.”

visor-

Leo responded by ripping the handcuffs apart.

“But if you damage the magic tower, you might actually get killed.”

Leo read it in Elin’s eyes.

That Elin’s final mercy was to imprison him instead of killing him.

“Then what are you going to do?”

“A structure request has been sent.”

“… Yes?”

Before you ask what it means.

Swoosh… .

The wall was rippling.

A small hole appeared.

There was nothing unusual in the building.

It looks like the barrier has been temporarily lifted.

A green bob popping out through a slightly open gap.

“Are you crazy, Captain? Why are you doing this!?”

It was Tristin who broke through Elin’s barrier.