NOVEL NEXT Chapter 68: Magic Stones (1)
The Absolute Ruler of Darkness looked past Sasha’s somewhat surprised face to see the head of the Tienus Merchant Group.
No, to be more precise, she saw the unmistakable signs of a ‘contract’ visible to anyone.
Of course, other humans might not know, but the Absolute Ruler of Darkness, who had been with him for a long time, could easily discern it even from beyond the crystal ball.
After all, she could see the aura emanating from the head of the Tienus Merchant Group right away.
‘…Always the same, secretly voyeuristic from behind, whether in the past or now.’
Thus, as the Absolute Ruler of Darkness clicked her tongue in thought, she unconsciously frowned, feeling an uncomfortable sensation in her chest.
Feeling curious about this fleeting emotion, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness soon realized where it stemmed from.
‘…Because I cannot see it.’
It was jealousy.
According to the Absolute Ruler of Darkness, that shady half-human, half-dragon contract allows for the sharing of consciousness with the other party.This means that the Crimson Dragon, unlike herself burdened with responsibilities, enjoys the carefree pleasure of observing him very closely through another’s body.
“Ha.”
With that, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness, frowning as if annoyed, soon looked at Sasha.
[?]
Sasha wore a puzzled expression.
“…Is there a magic like sharing consciousness?”
[…Yes?]
A question popped out unintentionally, driven by jealousy and unfair feelings towards the dragon enjoying carefree pleasure.
[…As far as I know, there’s no such thing as magic for sharing consciousness.]
“As expected, you’re not as much help as the other partner…”
Upon hearing that, Sasha, who had a startled expression, responded, and the Absolute Ruler of Darkness, though it wasn’t Sasha’s fault, spoke in a tone that seemed to carry a strange spite.
[…Yes, what do you mean??]
As Sasha wore a puzzled and somewhat wronged expression, Adria, who had already moved out of the Absolute Ruler of Darkness’s view and reached the Merchant Group’s office, said:
“Haah…”
As soon as she entered the office, she sighed deeply and spoke.
“Dragon Lord, why did you stutter so much?”
The reason Adria stuttered when she first met Kim Hyunwoo.
It was because, temporarily, the Crimson Dragon was the one controlling her body, and not Adria herself.
Knowing this, Adria did so to provide even a slight opportunity to talk with the Lord of Lartania, whom the dragon adored just by watching.
Of course, she had to switch consciousness immediately due to excessive trembling…
[So, something- that, talking a bit-]
“A bit?”
[Embarrassed, or not knowing what to say, as if I’d turn to dust and disappear on the spot…]
“Your body is in the lair, though…”
[It felt like my spirit was fading…]
Despite not being able to utter even a single word, the Crimson Dragon spoke as if she had been ‘burned to ashes’, to which Adria responded while sitting at the office desk.
“But what will you do if you can’t even say one word…”
[But, still, my mind goes blank in front of the Master…]
“May I ask if it was the same before?”
[Huh…? Yes, before?]
“Yes. Ten years ago.”
[It wasn’t like that ten years ago.]
“Then, how about trying to communicate emotionally like back then?”
[I can’t do it like that time… Just standing in front of the Master now feels like my heart might burst.]
“……”
[Maybe, it’s better just to watch…]
Hearing the dragon’s voice in a peculiarly sullen tone, Adria pondered with a strange expression before speaking as if she had something on her mind.
“Hmm, that doesn’t seem like a good idea. After all, your goal, Dragon Lord, is to build up affection and receive forgiveness from the Lord, right?”
[Right…]
“Then you need to practice from now on.”
Adria said that, then hummed in contemplation as if pondering once more before speaking.
“Leaving greetings aside… In the end, the reason you couldn’t even greet him properly is because you didn’t know what to say, right?”
[Yes, that’s right… If I say something wrong…]
“How about trying to talk about a topic you like?”
[A topic I like?]
“Yes. Conversations basically start by throwing out a topic. If it’s difficult for you to talk like you used to, start with very simple conversations in that manner.”
[Uhm…]
“Perhaps it will be easier to talk next time. I heard about a gift the Lord likes, so I plan to prepare it. Since the Lord also mentioned it would be nice to meet you, Dragon Lord, shouldn’t you practice?”
[Yes, the Master said he wanted to see me. He…hehe…huhu…hihih.]
“……”
Adria wondered if it was okay, hearing the dragon’s voice in her head, fluctuating between melancholy and joy like bipolar disorder.
[A topic men would like… what could it be…]
She sighed at the dragon’s ongoing voice and started her work.
She had to fulfil the long standing wish of the Dragon Guardian of the Merchant Group, but at the same time, she had to run the Merchant Group.
The office of the Duke of Landaron, with a view of numerous barracks, had become a suffocating and heavy space since the Duke of Landaron returned from the Norba Kingdom.
No wonder, as the number of secretaries and maids who died by the hand of the Duke of Landaron for a mere wrong word already amounted to eight.
Therefore, soldiers, maids, and attendants near the Duke of Landaron’s office could not even breathe freely.
The Duke of Landaron, who had created such a stifling atmosphere, said,
“I am very angry.”
He was meeting with someone wearing a dark red hood.
His appearance was not visible.
However, a few things were clear: the voice coming from beneath the hood sounded like scraping metal, and the person hidden by the hood was a man.
And that he was completely detached from the heavy atmosphere created by the Duke of Landaron.
“So, do I look like I’m not angry?”
“No, I think you have every right to be angry. After all, you’ve been openly checked.”
At the man’s voice, like scraping metal, the Duke of Landaron frowned deeply and said,
“Look, how long must I endure such insults? How much longer do I have to listen to the squawking of those weaklings?”
The Duke of Landaron growled.
But the man in the hood remained calm and answered without losing his composure.
“Just wait a little longer.”
“Ha, just a little longer? Hey, do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting?!”
“Of course, I know. You have faithfully followed our orders, starting with the assassination of the previous Duke of Landaron, all the way up to now. You’ve done well, patiently following all our plans.”
Teasing the Duke of Landaron, the man showed a deep smile with his ominous, sharp teeth visible between the dark red hood, and soon stood up from his seat.
“So, I’m saying to wait just a little longer. Yes, a month… a month should do.”
“…A month?”
“Yes, after a month, we will begin. By then, everything should be prepared.”
“…What kind of preparations?”
The Duke of Landaron’s question.
The man in the hood, still showing his sharp teeth,
“The preparations for you to become King, and for us, who will rule the world, to reveal ourselves.”
He said so.
About two weeks had passed since then.
A period that could be considered long or short.
However, to Kim Hyunwoo, a month was not such a long time.
In the past two weeks, Kim Hyunwoo had so much to do, and the reason he realized a month had passed was because:
[※Caution: 21 hours left on your "Grow a Hero in the Labyrinth Package"!]
An alert notifying the end of the Labyrinth City package popped up in front of Kim Hyunwoo.
“…What’s with it popping up with only 21 hours left, not even 24?”
[I’m sorry.]
“Huh? Why?”
[…I am responsible for the alerts, I made a mistake.]
“…You were the one putting them all up?”
[Yes.]
Kim Hyunwoo, hearing Loria’s somewhat embarrassed admission for the first time and realizing she was behind even the minor alerts, momentarily wore a fascinated expression.
“It’s okay.”
Kim Hyunwoo waved his hand as if to say it was fine to her apologizing.
If it had been a truly dangerous situation, it might have been a bit confusing, but Kim Hyunwoo was okay now.
Naturally, he had anticipated the end of this Labyrinth Package, and of course, he had made preparations for when it ended.
Therefore,
“Guard.”
“Yes!”
“I’ll be giving a speech in the square, gather some people.”
“Understood!”
With those words, Kim Hyunwoo stood up,
“Now, shall we go underground?”
and headed towards the location where a tremendous amount of Magic Stones had been accumulated so far.