episode_0171

The hug ended shorter than expected.

Walk slowly into the wide open arms…

width-

That’s it.

‘It’s dull.’

Compared to the swirling emotions, it is an infinitely simple process. No, that feeling gradually became calmer.

Are you trying to maintain some sort of line? However, assuming that is the case, it cannot explain the calmness of the mind.

but,

Even in the process of reading emotions that were difficult to understand, one thing became clear. The person who resembles Demodoras is forming a very rough relationship with the human in front of him.

“Thank you.”

Siron touched his burning face and spoke softly. Demodoras was intrigued by that fresh appearance and raised one corner of his mouth.

“What am I so grateful for?”

“Thank you for doing me a favor.”

“What. To be honest, it doesn’t matter whether you listen or not. In that case, it is utilitarianly right to listen.”

“…”

“Did you think it was unexpected?”

“No, not really.”

Siron shook his head, feeling much more at ease.

Demodoras, the heat wave dragon. It is a dragon that killed as many Allied forces as the one-horned Yuma in the past, and an evil dragon that cannot forget its past resentment and will cause an earthquake strong enough to collapse a mountain range.

So Siron felt no compunction in wanting to kill Demodoras. Even if I tried to talk to him, I felt like I would get angry at some point because the root of it was a malicious scent.

However, the Demodoras he was currently facing was clearly different from what Siron knew.

“You have converted. Whatever the reason, what matters to me is now.”

“Are you not asking why?”

“I’m curious, but I think I’ll end up regretting it if I ask.”

The word angel came out of Demodoras’ mouth a little while ago. Siron was able to predict who visited this place 500 years ago.

‘Yura. Yura went here.’

Siron lowered his gaze and stared at Latera. The little angel, who had been silent earlier, was blushing and fidgeting.

‘Yura has changed so many things.’

“And, even if I hear why you converted, nothing will change, right? You are a generous person who would give your heart to someone who almost killed you. Also, please do me a favor.”

“It’s not a person, it’s a dragon.”

“Anyway.”

“You… have developed quite a crush on me.”

“I am a person who makes sure that I get my blessings.”

“I see…”

Demodoras touched his chin as if he was thinking after hearing Siron’s words. Then, as if he had some funny idea, he chuckled and took off the coat he was wearing.

“What are you doing?”

“It was a sudden thought, but I didn’t want to give my heart to you.”

“What?”

What kind of bullshit is this? Siron widened his eyes and was astonished. Latera, who was blushing next to him, also glared at me with a twinkle in her eye and a look full of hostility.

“How! Are you changing your words now?”

“Don’t misunderstand, you’re half an angel. I also had some high expectations when I heard that I would be sure to get the reward.”

“…”

“I don’t want to give you my heart, but I want to make a contract to entrust you for a while.”

After Demodoras finished speaking, he created a black blade. The blade, imbued with tremendous power at the tip, penetrated between the pure white breast peaks and spewed out a dark, slimy liquid.

Demodoras put his hand through the black gap, waved his hand a few times, and then pulled out his clenched fist.

Distorting his face from the pain of having his organs pulled out alive, Demodoras held out a lump that repeatedly contracted and relaxed.

“Contract? Rather than that, is it the heart? Rather than the heart…”

“Isn’t it beautiful? Just like a jewel.”

The black jewel wriggled here and there, growing bigger and smaller… Siron looked closely at Demodoras’ hand with curious eyes.

“I would like to show you in more detail, but there is no time to delay. Now that my heart has been pulled out, I will only be able to remain in human form for the next three hours or so. I’ll have to do a transplant before that.”

“No, what is a rental contract? Shouldn’t you explain that and take out his heart?”

“I’m not saying I’m going to give you my heart for the rest of my life, but I’m saying I’m going to give it to you for a set period of time.”

‘Is it time attack again…’

Siron was conscious of the devil’s mark engraved on the soles of his feet. A gruesome contract that promises to take your eyes and arms if you fail to kill the demon within a set time.

“How many years has it been…”

“You smell strongly of the devil. The contract was probably made through the soul, or an equivalent body part. I don’t want my heart to fall into the hands of the devil, so I’ll only lend it for a shorter period of time.”

“…Let’s make it 20 years.”

“Okay, after 20 years, come here yourself and return the heart.”

Demodoras smiled and nodded in satisfaction. 20 years will pass in just a few nights of sleep. I don’t know what it would be like for humans, but for dragons, it would be no different from a fleeting moment. But Demodoras is a dragon. She wanted to get something more from Siron.

“And, we will find a living dragon together.”

“…Aren’t all dragons extinct?”

“It did not go extinct. Aren’t I shamelessly living here too?”

“You may be the only surviving dragon.”

“That’s something to think about later. There will be another way then.”

“…”

“When the story is over, take off your shirt quickly. It’s already been quite a while.”

At Demodoras’ words, Siron took off his clothes and threw them away. It was so cold that frost formed when you exhaled, but Siron barely felt the chill.

“Turn your back and you will feel a slight sting…”

Deeply-

“Hmm?”

“Why again?”

“You…”

Demodoras frowned as he looked at his back without a single drop of blood. He clearly pushed his heart in with all his might, but his skin swallowed it without any resistance, as if it were an amorphous monster.

A slime, a homunculus, or a chimera with similar characteristics. Demodoras had no idea what this man had done to his body.

“…It was done. That’s not important.”

“What, I’m so tired.”

“Now that it’s done, please check it out.”

Shiron clicked his tongue and closed his eyes at the scolding he received. Certainly, I felt a foreign body sensation that had not existed before remain in my chest.

But I didn’t feel uncomfortable or anything. A refreshing sensation spread throughout my body, as if my aching muscles were being relieved, to the point where I wondered if it was the feeling of a blocked blood vessel being cleared.

“Something… it’s cool.”

“Is that all? Try using magic once.”

Yes, it’s magic.

A long-cherished wish that I was possessed by in a fantasy-like world and could not actually write about. In order to check on him, I had to see if he could use magic right away.

However, a problem arose that I could not address. Siron stuck his finger in the air and gave it some strength before turning his head towards Demodoras.

“Why are you doing that? Is there any problem?”

“Magic… how do you use it?”

“Starting with that, you really tried to kill me without any plan.”

“Why aren’t there any measures? Even if it’s not a transplant, you can learn magic from Seira.”

“Who is Seira?”

“There you are, the greatest wizard in the world.”

“…That’s a name I’ve never heard of.”

Demodoras sneered at Siron.

“You don’t have to lie out of shame.”

“There is one? He was cursed to be forgotten by people…”

” was done. Mortals always make mistakes. Telling lies to avoid an immediate crisis is also a foolish thing that mortals usually do.”

“That’s because I said no.”

“It is also true that he is the greatest wizard in the world. No, honestly, it’s a bit unpleasant.”

Demodoras felt the fire in his heart that he had forgotten grow bigger.

“This person is alive and well, but is he the greatest wizard? There is no such thing as the arrogance of a frog in a well.”

“You can’t use magic anymore, right? Then not right away.”

“…When you come to return the heart. Bring someone here who says he is Seira or something.”

“Okay, then go ahead and have a match between the two of you, or figure it out on your own.”

“…First, let me tell you a simple chant.”

Demodoras cleared his throat and grabbed the back of Siron’s hand.

“I will start by being conscious of the mana that stays at my fingertips and chanting.”

“Is it necessary to chant?”

“If you are talented or have been skilled in mana for a long time, there is no need for chanting. Mana can be awakened with simple hand gestures or specific actions. Chanting is just a kind of auxiliary device that implements mana more according to the caster’s will.”

If you want to shoot a fireball, just imagine it accordingly, extract the appropriate amount of mana, and process it. Demodoras’ explanation was easy to understand even for a layman.

“Follow me, …the light that surrounds the darkness.”

“…Light that surrounds the darkness.”

“Reveal.”

“Reveal.”

Wow-

As soon as the short chant ends.

A small blob of light rose from my fingertips. I don’t feel any warm or sacred energy. The light that coldly illuminated the darkness was not holy power, but clear magic.

“Magic…”

“Wow, that’s amazing, warrior! You succeeded in one go!”

Latera jumped up and down as if it were her job, and Siron looked at his fingertips with an ecstatic expression.

Although it was a shabby light compared to the divine power that the holy sword was emitting, I felt indescribably moved, perhaps due to the recoil of not being able to use mana.

“The transplant was a success.”

Demodoras patted Siron’s back with a satisfied smile. A warrior who is so happy that he succeeded in just one luminescent spell. I felt somewhat proud of the sight, which was completely different from the way I was pointing the knife just a moment ago.

It is rewarding to be a teacher. But unfortunately, this is the end of my role as a teacher.

“Now, go out slowly. Because you have to lock the door.”

“…Thank you. I will definitely come back.”

“Yes, please come. This is my first time teaching magic to someone else, so I feel a sense of regret.”

But removing the shadow of death comes first. Demodoras tried to erase his regret.