Chapter 188

I still remember that child who used to hide in my room, trembling with fear.

No matter how much time passes, I won’t forget it, though not much time has passed yet. Whenever I see Roka, that image always comes to mind. But time flows endlessly, changing everything it touches.

That cowardly girl has now become a wolf overflowing with courage. Whether to call it courage or recklessness is a bit ambiguous.

Still, one thing is certain: her current state is much better than when she used to hide and swing on the swing. At least, that’s how it seemed to me.

“Saint. This isn’t something to discuss so lightly. We need to take the threat of Yanid seriously.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. Even if Yanid following us might be a misunderstanding or not a threat, we should still consider her a potential threat because of how significant it could be.”

Lady Kisea always has a way with words in situations like this. As soon as the Princess voiced her opinion, she immediately jumped in to elaborate.

The opinions were sharply divided, and it seemed like the Princess and Lady Kisea would never change their minds, no matter what.

Their argument was simply to quietly escape. If we slipped away unnoticed, we could avoid the threat of Yanid. We might miss the chance to find out if she’s a threat or not, but at least there would be no danger. We could end the problem without taking any risks.

The Princess, who had already suffered a terrible ordeal, and the wolf, who hated putting herself in danger, were impossible to persuade. Moreover, their opinions had logic and reason.

It’s easier, simpler, and safer to prevent problems than to create them.

I don’t mind inconvenience or complexity, but safety is important. I’m the only one here with more than one life. That’s why I can’t strongly argue for taking risks.

Anyway, they only have one life each. Even though it’s the same one life, Roka strongly argued for facing the threat head-on.

“Running away is really not the answer. Whether we fight or talk, we need to confront it first.”

“If it were easy, I would’ve suggested fighting too. But it’s not easy. You saw it too, she’s incredibly strong. Even if we’re masters, our starting points are biologically different, you know?”

“How do you know she’s strong just from one sword strike?”

“An experienced swordsman like me can roughly gauge the strength of an opponent just by crossing blades.”

The two wolves bickered. The Princess cleared her throat and spoke.

“That Yanid is really strong. Even when she wasn’t in her right mind, she pushed me hard. Now that she’s regained her senses and won’t charge at us like a beast, she’s even more dangerous. Even if she’s not being controlled by Oberta, if she has any hostility toward us, it’s dangerous.”

“If she had hostility, she would’ve shown it by now. We didn’t even notice her presence until recently. We were completely exposed and defenseless. If she hated us, she wouldn’t have held back until now.”

Neither side was willing to be swayed by the other’s opinion. So, the tedious and exhausting debate continued. We couldn’t decide by majority vote either. We were an even number.

[Hey, you’re not forgetting about me, are you?]

No, we’re odd. Thinking about it, we were five from the start. That means the deciding vote falls to Azahadaka. He effectively holds the decision-making power.

[Ardein, let’s go. How long do you plan to live bound by fear?]

“Great one, but…”

[No buts. Dragons do not fear encounters with the unknown. If you treat someone as an enemy without being sure they are one, you’re just turning potential friends into enemies.]

The Dragon’s Sword vibrated. Azahadaka sided with me and Roka.

Right. We don’t even know if Yanid came here as an enemy or a guest. Given the circumstances, the latter possibility isn’t small.

If we judge a guest as an enemy and treat them as such, it might just end in disappointment. But if they end up holding a grudge, we’d be creating a real enemy.

Unless it’s an unavoidable situation in life, it’s better to make friends than enemies. Since she came looking for us, we should at least hear her out.

“Even if the great one’s will is so, I really don’t know. Is facing Yanid really a good idea… But I will abide by the majority decision.”

“No, that’s not it! What right does a sword have to voice an opinion? This resolution is invalid! This is a human meeting, so you stay out of it for now!”

[Such insolence…]

When things didn’t go her way, Lady Kisea resorted to stubbornness.

“Then let’s call in the Hanhyeolma outside. Let’s hear their opinion too. They’ll surely say to run away, right?”

“Sister, stop it. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

Roka patted Lady Kisea’s back.

“Let’s not act so wolfishly. I’m starting to feel embarrassed for you as a wolf.”

Roka’s words finally toppled Lady Kisea, who seemed unshakable. With a tight-lipped nod, Lady Kisea eventually accepted the majority opinion.

“Then let’s go up and check right now.”

We’ve kept our guest waiting in the attic for too long. If it weren’t for the group, I would’ve gone up and invited her down immediately.

The guest who came to our house came for me, but also for her. It’s only natural to welcome her without refusal. After all, even the Princess once came to our house as such a guest.

I’m just sorry for making her wait so long.

Before going, I should put a teapot on the bonfire. By the time I bring her down, the tea should be boiling hot.

*****

-How strange. Clearly, this place exists, but when you go outside and look back, the house isn’t there? It feels like it has no presence at all. As if it really doesn’t exist.

The Evil God muttered. The girl who had broken in through the roof slowly looked around the attic, checking what was there. There wasn’t much. Just a few children’s toys.

Dolls. And poorly made ones at that. Made by rural women, it was doubtful if they could even fetch a coin if taken to the city to sell.

They weren’t brought by Helmut, but by children who used his villa as a playground and left them behind. In a way, this power is summoning a moment from Kyle’s memories.

He too came here to play as a child. Memories always crumble easily, so this power doesn’t last 24 hours.

They disappear as if they never existed, but you can summon them again next time. Then, another memory from the past will be summoned.

-You can’t sell these for money. They’re handmade, but the quality is just too poor.

Yanid tenderly stroked the dolls Oberta had criticized. Tears welled up in her eyes without her realizing it.

-Hey, are you crying? What a weird girl… Why?

She’s past the age to play with dolls. To be precise, there was never a time in her life when she could have played with dolls.

Though they’re just insignificant dolls, they were made by rural mothers for their children. Busy mothers, desperate for a break, might have used their spare time to make these. They contain something the girl yearns for.

Something she never had, and perhaps never will.

Dragons don’t desire such things, but humans long for them. Even if they don’t think much of them when they have them, once deprived, they unconsciously seek them out.

The girl is now a half-dragon. She has both dragon and human aspects.

But she was born human and raised as one. Her body strongly asserts her dragon nature, but her mind remains closer to humanity. She longs for what she never had.

“I’m not crying.”

That void isn’t something you can fill just because you want to. Having weathered all sorts of storms, the girl’s heart had grown cold and hardened. Or so she thought. But…

“I’m not crying…”

-You really are crying. Do you have mood swings? Ha, I must be going mad. I made you a Saint just because you were strong, but now it’s too late to take it back…

Like the soft flesh beneath a crab’s hard shell, her heart was still fragile. She had just covered it with a shell, pretending it wasn’t.

Click.

Even the great dragon’s senses are useless if the user is lost in sentimentality. If you lose focus, even sharp instincts fail to warn of danger.

The moment the doorknob turned, the girl holding the doll and sniffling was startled. So startled that she reflexively spread her wings. Then, the door opened.