- il y a 11 heures
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00:00The day after the war ended, my two unhatched dragon eggs were stolen.
00:04I searched across the continent for two whole years with my badly wounded body.
00:09It was not until I was bound to the stake that I saw the nun, Linnea,
00:13carrying my children before the king and falsely claiming they were a miracle bestowed upon her through prayer to God.
00:19She climbed over my bones and forged a holy sword with my children's dragon, scales and blood,
00:25while I was burned alive as a heretic.
00:31When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the very day my wife had died in battle.
00:36The nun on the neighboring stone cot held out a cup of holy water with a smiling face.
00:40Knight Gideon, you must be exhausted after driving away those evil dragons.
00:45Have some holy water restore your strength.
00:47I stared at her face. Both hands clenched tightly around my sword hilt.
00:51She was the thief who had stolen my dragon eggs in my previous life.
00:54Knight Gideon, you're finally awake.
00:56Nun Linnea sat beside my stone cot, holding up an earthenware cup filled with water.
01:01The battle has only just ended. You must be exhausted. Have some holy water.
01:06In an instant, I felt the blood in my entire body turn cold.
01:09This face, I had seen it countless times while I burned in the flames.
01:12She stood on the steps of the royal city, holding my two precious dragon, eggs,
01:16declaring herself the chosen daughter of God.
01:19The king believed her.
01:20The night order believed her.
01:21Every ignorant.
01:22Commoner believed her.
01:23She wore magnificent silk and lived in the highest tower of the temple,
01:27while my children had their still-growing scales forcibly stripped away to forge weapons of slaughter.
01:34Gideon.
01:36She extended the earthenware cup closer.
01:39My hand trembled beneath the fur blanket, scales nearly breaking through, my skin beyond my control.
01:44But I forced myself to endure it.
01:45No need. I was just wounded. I can't drink anything.
01:49The smile at the corner of her lips stiffened for an instant.
01:52Then she put on that compassionate expression again, rose to her feet, and walked toward the hearth in the corner.
01:57Then I'll bring you some warm baked flatbread.
01:59Sister Linnea, there's no need to trouble yourself.
02:02How is that any trouble?
02:03She forcefully placed the wooden tray beside my pillow, then bent down to straighten my blanket.
02:09You drove away those evil dragons at the front line and saved the entire kingdom.
02:12As a servant of God, caring for you is my duty.
02:15As she spoke, however, her gaze kept drifting toward the straw nest behind me.
02:22I can manage on my own.
02:24As though she had not heard me, she pulled over a wooden chair and sat beside my bed.
02:29Gideon, I never expected you to bring back two eggs this large.
02:33Are they eggs from some magical beast?
02:35Where is your commander?
02:37Why hasn't anyone from the night order come to collect you?
02:40Killing intent surged violently from the depths of my heart.
02:43This was exactly how she had pried out my circumstances in my previous life.
02:47Back then, I had just survived a brutal battle.
02:50My wife had died protecting humans and I was covered in wounds.
02:53My mind clouded and unclear.
02:55Whatever she asked, I answered truthfully.
02:58Like a fool, I told her these were my wife's belongings and that the night order would not reach this
03:03remote monastery for several days.
03:04Thinking back now, I had been unbelievably stupid.
03:07They are busy with military affairs and clearing the battlefield.
03:10They will come in a few days.
03:11Busy?
03:12No matter how busy they are, they can't just leave injured man here alone.
03:16Night, Gideon.
03:17Surely they haven't abandoned you.
03:19How will you get through tonight then?
03:21You are badly injured.
03:22You can barely even turn over.
03:24What if wild beasts break in at night?
03:26How about this?
03:28Tonight, I'll move these two eggs to my room for safes keeping so you can rest without worry.
03:33She bent down, reaching directly for my children.
03:37Don't touch them.
03:38An old monk praying on the bench opposite immediately rose to his feet.
03:42Gideon!
03:43What are you doing?
03:44Sister Lenena is trying to help you and you use violence against her.
03:49Several wounded soldiers nearby turned their heads as well, looking at me with obvious displeasure.
03:54The priest in the corner pointed his staff directly at me.
03:57You crude brute.
03:57A nun is a servant of God.
03:59You are blaspheming the divine.
04:01Linnea clutched her wrist in pain.
04:03Night, Gideon.
04:05Even if you do not trust me, you cannot hurt me like this.
04:10I only saw you carrying these two heavy eggs alone and having difficulty moving around.
04:16I merely wanted to help shoulder the burden.
04:20The old monk immediately echoed her.
04:36Linnea wiped the corner of her eye and waved her hands repeatedly.
04:39Forget it.
04:41Do not blame him.
04:43He has just come back from the battlefield and was deeply shaken.
04:47His nerves are too tense.
04:49He keeps thinking everyone is trying to arm him.
04:52A soldier beside us snorted.
04:54Being shaken gives him the right to hit people.
04:57Who here hasn't been to war?
04:59The priest darkened his face.
05:01I think he is simply an ungrateful wretch.
05:05Leaning against the cold stone wall, I pulled the straw nest containing the dragon eggs directly
05:10into my arms and guarded it tightly.
05:12A faint warmth still lingered on the surface of the two eggs the remaining.
05:16Warmth of my wife's life.
05:18I did not close my eyes for the entire night.
05:20In the middle of the night, Linnea used lighting the candles at the altar as an excuse.
05:24As she passed my bed, she deliberately stopped.
05:26I abruptly opened my eyes.
05:28My gaze cutting into her like a blade.
05:30Under the dim firelight, my murderous stare clearly startled her.
05:33She muttered.
05:34Under her breath before hurrying away.
05:37The next day, Linnea did not come near me at all.
05:40By the evening of the third day, she approached me again, carrying a bowl of thick meat stew.
05:45Gideon, I'll pretend what happened the other night never took place.
05:49You lost too much blood.
05:51You need some meat stew if you want it to recover quickly.
05:54Take it away.
05:55Look at your complexion.
05:56You're paler than a corpse.
05:58I said take it away.
05:59She stood there stiffly for a moment, then slammed the wooden bowl onto the stone table
06:03with a cold laugh.
06:04Fine.
06:05I'll leave it here.
06:06Drink it if you want.
06:09I stared at the bowl of stew.
06:10Once everyone in the monastery had gone to evening prayer, I picked it up and poured the
06:14entire bowl into the gutter outside the window.
06:17After two sleepless nights in a row, my wounds began to fester.
06:20The high fever made my head feel as though it were splitting apart.
06:22I was a dragon, capable of taking human form.
06:25But in order to maintain my disguise as a human knight, I had suppressed all my regenerative
06:29abilities.
06:30At that moment, my body was no different from that of an ordinary human.
06:34Just as I was about to reach my limit, a military physician pushed open the door and entered.
06:39He examined my wounds.
06:40His brow deeply furrowed.
06:45This can't continue.
06:47Your wounds are already infected.
06:49When exactly are the knights coming?
06:51Linnea immediately leaned in from the side.
06:54Exactly, Gideon.
06:56Look at what you've done to yourself.
06:59Let me keep those two eggs for you.
07:01You need complete rest.
07:02My head swam, crushing exhaustion tangled with my terror of losing my children.
07:07The physician continued urging me from beside the bed.
07:10I gritted my teeth and rasped.
07:11It's none of your concern.
07:15None of my concern.
07:16The physician was beginning to get angry.
07:18You're treating your own life like a joke.
07:19If you don't want to die, then find someone to watch these things for you.
07:23I leaned against the stone wall as darkness repeatedly blurred my vision.
07:29Find someone?
07:30Who could possibly guard against Linnea's greedy hands?
07:33I took a deep breath and forced myself to stay conscious.
07:36Physician.
07:36I called out to Hymash, prepared to leave.
07:38What is it?
07:39I need to go to the post station in town and send a letter to Captain Three of the Order.
07:44Could I trouble you to watch these two eggs for me only for a little while?
07:47Well, you must not let anyone near them.
07:50The physician paused in surprise, then nodded.
07:53All right, go and come back quickly.
07:55Supporting myself against the wall, I forced myself upright.
07:58Every step sent searing pain through the sword wound on my back, as if it were being torn open anew.
08:03The post station was only a few hundred steps from the monastery.
08:05Yet by the time I reached it, cold sweat had soaked through my clothes.
08:09The owner of the station was a one-eyed, retired soldier.
08:12I handed him a silver coin.
08:14Use the fastest raven you have.
08:16Deliver this letter into the hands of theory, Captain of the Royal Knights.
08:20As I watched the raven fly into the sky, I caught sight of the alley outside.
08:25The station from the corner of my eye.
08:27The physician whom I had repeatedly warned not to leave, even for a single step,
08:31was being tugged toward the tavern by an old beggar in a tattered cloak.
08:34My mind exploded with a deafening buzz.
08:37It was a trap.
08:37I sprinted back toward the monastery without a thought for anything else.
08:41My wounds split open, blood soaking through the bandages, but I felt none of the pain.
08:45Out of my way! Move!
08:48I knocked pedestrians aside and kicked open the monastery's heavy doors.
08:53The main hall was empty.
08:55The windows stood open.
08:56Cold wind poured in, making the candle flames tremble.
08:59I rushed toward my bed.
09:01The straw nest was empty.
09:02Only a few scattered strands of hay remained.
09:05My children, my dragon eggs, were gone.
09:07The scene before me overlapped with my previous life, and despair swallowed me like an icy sea.
09:13In my previous life, I drank the bowl of soup Linnea gave me.
09:16When I woke up, the straw nest had been just as empty.
09:19I drew the longsword at my waist and staggered out of the monastery.
09:23Not in the corridor.
09:25Not in the prayer room.
09:27Not in the cellar.
09:28Not in the bell tower.
09:30I searched every corner and kicked open every door.
09:32The monks and wounded soldiers in the monastery were alarmed by me,
09:35and they all accused me of going mad.
09:37When I returned to the main hall, the physician whom the old beggar had lured away was running back inside.
09:42His fake flushed red.
09:44Gideon!
09:44Why are you out of bed?
09:45Your wound is bleeding!
09:47I grabbed him by the collar, slammed him hard against the wall,
09:49and pressed my blade directly to his throat.
09:51I told you to watch my things.
09:54Where did you go?
09:55The physician turned deathly pale with fright.
09:57Just now, an old beggar said he was starving to death and begged me to buy him some bread.
10:02I only went to the tavern.
10:03It was really only two minutes.
10:05Two minutes.
10:06My eyes were bloodshot, and a beast-like growl rumbled from my throat.
10:10The two eggs are gone.
10:11They're both gone!
10:13More and more people gathered around us.
10:14The abbot of the monastery approached under the escort of two knights.
10:20Outrageous!
10:20How dare you use violence in this holy place!
10:23I flung the physician aside and pointed my sword at the abbot.
10:26Someone has stolen my belongings.
10:27Seal off the monastery immediately.
10:30No one is to enter or leave.
10:31The abbot frowned.
10:33What nonsense are you talking about?
10:34This is a monastery.
10:35Who would steal your two worthless bird eggs?
10:37It was Lenunna.
10:38My voice was ice cold.
10:39The nun named Lenunna.
10:41She has been staring at my eggs ever since I woke up.
10:43Now she is gone, and so are my eggs.
10:44A priest beside him said disdainfully,
10:46Sister Lenunna has always been devout.
10:48Perhaps she merely went to the back mountain to gather herbs.
10:51Do not slander her.
10:52I laughed in fury and was about to lash out when a thought suddenly flashed.
10:56Through my mind, I turned to the trembling physician.
10:59That old beggar.
11:00What did he look like?
11:02The physician stammered.
11:03Just an old blind man with a lame leg.
11:07Blind.
11:07I gritted my teeth.
11:08Lenunna has an accomplice.
11:10He was the one who lured you away.
11:12Several guards immediately realized that this was a premeditated theft.
11:15Seeing the matter escalate, the abbot had no choice but to order a sergeant.
11:18In order to protect the monastery's reputation.
11:21Half an hour later, two guards caught Lenunna in the stable behind the sand.
11:25Monastery.
11:25Just as she was preparing to flee on horseback, she was dragged in by the guards.
11:29Still wearing that same haughty, hypocritical expression.
11:32I strode over, swung my fist and smashed it hard into her face.
11:35Lenunna screamed and fell to the ground from the blow.
11:38Half her face swelled.
11:39Instantly, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
11:42How dare you hit me?
11:44She shrieked in disbelief.
11:45I stepped forward, pinned her wrist beneath my boot, and aimed my sword directly between
11:49her brows.
11:49Where are the eggs?
11:51Tears streamed down Lenunna's face from the pain, yet she continued to deny it.
11:55I don't know what you're talking about.
11:56I only came to the stable because I was preparing to go into town for supplies.
12:00Why are you blaming me just because you lost something?
12:03The people around us began whispering among themselves.
12:11Time passed second by second.
12:13The guards conducting the search found nothing.
12:16Despair surged through me again.
12:17Just as I was about to lose control and transform into a dragon to tear everyone here apart,
12:22thunderous hoofbeats sounded outside the monastery.
12:24A fully armed order of heavy knights surrounded the monastery.
12:27The tall knight at their head dismounted, his silver armor gleaming beneath the sunlight.
12:32The commander of the knight order, Thierry, my friend from my previous life, and the executioner
12:36who had ultimately ordered me burned to death.
12:38Thierry strode into the hall and frowned when he saw me covered in blood.
12:42Gideon, what happened?
12:42I stared at him fixedly and suppressed the hatred in my heart.
12:45I could not kill him yet.
12:47I needed his power to recover the dragon eggs.
12:49Someone stole my wife's keepsakes.
12:51Two extremely important eggs.
12:54This nun did it.
12:55Thierry glanced at Linnea on the ground and gave a grave order.
12:58Seal off the monastery and everything within one mile.
13:00No one is to leave.
13:02The abbot attempted to protest.
13:03Lord Tiris, you have no authority to interfere with the monastery.
13:07Silence!
13:08Thierry cut him off coldly.
13:09Gideon is a hero of the kingdom.
13:10His affairs are the affairs of the knight order.
13:13Linnea's expression finally changed.
13:15She had thought she was dealing with nothing more than a wounded, down-and-out knight.
13:18She had not expected Thierry to make such a grand display over the matter.
13:21I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging into my flesh.
13:24The eggs have dark golden markings.
13:26They are very heavy, and an ordinary person would have difficulty carrying them.
13:30She cannot have gone far, or else she hid them somewhere.
13:33Thierry turned and ordered his adjutant.
13:35Search everything.
13:36From the cellar to the top of the tower.
13:38Turn over every inch of ground.
13:39Two hours later, the adjutant returned to report.
13:43Commander, we searched everywhere.
13:44Nothing was found.
13:45My heart sank completely into the abyss.
13:47Thierry looked at me, a trace of suspicion flashing through his eyes.
13:50Gideon, are you certain she stole them?
13:53I took a deep breath and forced myself to remain calm.
13:57The beggar.
13:58I suddenly said, find that old beggar.
14:01Thierry immediately sent people into town to search for him.
14:03Before long, the lame old beggar who had pretended to be blind was dragged.
14:07Out of a dilapidated mill by the knights, he was thrown onto the floor of the main hall,
14:11and several shining gold coins fell from his clothes.
14:14At the sight of the old beggar, Linnea's body gave a violent shudder.
14:17Thierry drew his sword and held it to the beggar's throat.
14:20Speak.
14:20What is your relationship with this nun?
14:23Where are the stolen items hidden?
14:25The old beggar was so terrified that he wet himself, then spilled everything at once.
14:29Mercy, my lord.
14:30I'm her uncle.
14:31She told me to disguise myself as a beggar and lure that physician in a way.
14:34She said that knight had two valuable magical beast eggs,
14:37and that selling them on the black market would fetch a huge sum of gold.
14:41Where are the eggs?
14:41I roared.
14:42In the dry well behind the abandoned monastery, wrapped in black cloth.
14:48Before he could finish, I was already sprinting toward the back courtyard like a madman.
14:52The dry well was bottomless and reeked of decay.
14:55Without the slightest hesitation, I grabbed the stones in the well wall and slid down.
14:59In a dark damp corner at the bottom of the well, I found the black cloth bundle.
15:03I pulled back the cloth.
15:04Two dark golden dragon eggs lay quietly inside,
15:06their surfaces smeared with mud and cold to the bone.
15:09Trembling, I clutched them tightly to my chest,
15:11and at last tears burst from my eyes.
15:13Lost, then found again.
15:15In this life, I have finally protected my children.
15:17Thierry stood at the well head,
15:18watching me climb up with that black cloth bundle clutched in my arms.
15:23His gaze fell in the corner of the exposed dragon egg,
15:25a greedy glint flashing through his eyes.
15:27In my previous life, it was he who discovered the peculiarity of the dragon eggs.
15:31And, in order to gain immense power,
15:33conspired with Linnea to frame me and put me to death.
15:36Gideon, is this the keepsake you mentioned?
15:38He stepped forward with feigned concern, reaching out to touch it.
15:41I turned sharply, evading his hand.
15:43Don't touch.
15:44Thierry's hand froze awkwardly in mid-air, and he let out a dry laugh.
15:48You're too tense, old friend.
15:51Since the items have been recovered,
15:53what do you plan to do with these two petty thieves?
15:55I turned my head to Loyoke at Linnea and the old beggar,
15:58pinned firmly to the ground by the knights.
16:00Linnea had lost all her nun's arrogance by now.
16:02Her hair was disheveled, her face smeared with dirt.
16:04Sir Gideon, please forgive me.
16:06I was blinded by the devil.
16:07I am a believer in God.
16:09You cannot kill me.
16:10She screamed, crawling toward me.
16:12I kicked her away with one foot, looking down at her from above.
16:15You stole the possessions of a hero of the kingdom.
16:20According to the kingdom's laws,
16:22your hands should be cut off,
16:24and you should be exiled to the wilderness.
16:27The abbot grew anxious from the side.
16:28Gideon, she is a nun after all.
16:31Hand her over to the inquisition for trial.
16:33I let out a cold laugh.
16:35Hand her over to the inquisition?
16:36Then she would only need to pay an indulgence to regain her freedom.
16:40Thierry.
16:40I looked at the knight commander.
16:41Since you are here, you will carry out military justice.
16:45Thierry narrowed his eyes slightly.
16:47He knew I was forcing him to show his hand.
16:49If he did not punish Linnea severely,
16:51his authority within the knight order would be damaged.
16:53Men.
16:54Thierry ordered.
16:55Cut off one hand from each of these two.
16:57Strip them of their church association,
16:59and throw them out of the town.
17:01No, you cannot do this to me!
17:03Linnea burst out with a blood-curdling scream.
17:05Accompanied by two screams,
17:07blood stained the stone floor of the monastery.
17:09Linnea and the old beggar were dragged out, like garbage.
17:12Watching the despair in her eyes,
17:14I felt not a shred of pity in my heart.
17:15This is only the interest.
17:17What you owed me in my previous life,
17:18I will collect bit by bit.
17:20A few days later,
17:21my injuries had slightly stabilized,
17:22and I returned to the royal city with Thierry's knight order,
17:25carrying the dragon eggs.
17:26Thierry arranged a mansion near the inner city for me.
17:29On the surface, it was preferential treatment,
17:31but in reality, it was to keep an eye on me.
17:33He sent several so-called servants to take care of me,
17:36all of whom were actually his spies.
17:38One of them, a maid named Anna,
17:40appeared meek and submissive,
17:41but her eyes always secretly sized up the box
17:43holding the dragon eggs whenever I left the room.
17:45I did not expose them.
17:46I merely laid hidden draconic magic traps around the box.
17:50Day after day passed,
17:51and the color of the dragon eggs grew deeper and deeper.
17:54I knew they were about to hatch.
17:57That evening,
17:57Thierry,
17:58under the pretext of celebrating the victory,
18:00invited me to his residence for a banquet.
18:02I knew this was absolutely a trap,
18:04but since he had made his move,
18:05I naturally had to accept.
18:07At the banquet,
18:08the nobles of the royal city toasted and drank.
18:10Thierry walked up to me with a wine glass,
18:12all smiles.
18:13Gideon,
18:13you live alone in that large mansion,
18:15without even a close companion.
18:17I heard those land eggs of you,
18:18there's a very special.
18:19Wind them over to me.
18:20I will ask the Y alchemist to exam them for you.
18:22He was finally showing his true colors.
18:25I swirled my wine glass,
18:27looking at him with a faint,
18:29mocking smile.
18:30Thierry,
18:30those are my wife's keepsakes.
18:32Whoever touches them,
18:33dies.
18:34Thierry's face instantly darkened,
18:36but he quickly masked it again.
18:39Just a joke between friends.
18:41Just then,
18:41a guard rushed into the banquet hall in a panic,
18:43and whispered a few words into Thierry's ear.
18:46Thierry's expression changed drastically,
18:48and he looked sharply at me.
18:50I knew the show had begun.
18:51The magic trap I had set in the room had been triggered.
18:54I threw down my wine glass and strode out of the banquet hall.
18:58Thierry followed closely behind me,
19:00with a unit of his personal guards.
19:02When I kicked open the door of the mansion,
19:04a pungent smell of burning assaulted my nostrils.
19:06Inside the room,
19:07that maid named Anna was lying on the floor.
19:10Her hands were severely burned.
19:11The flesh curled back,
19:13emitting a foul stench.
19:14She writhed and wailed on the ground in agony.
19:17The box holding the dragon egg sat intact on the table,
19:19surrounded by a faint shimmer of red light.
19:22That was a draconic defensive ward.
19:24Any touch carrying malicious intent
19:26would be retaliated against by the fire of dragon breath.
19:33What is going on here?
19:35Thierry looked at the maid on the floor.
19:37His face livid.
19:38I looked at him coldly.
19:40It seems your servant is not very disciplined.
19:44Thierry.
19:44Your person tried to steal my belongings.
19:47Thierry gritted his teeth,
19:49forcing himself to appear calm.
19:53This wretch dared to do such a thing.
19:56Men, drag her out and behead her!
19:58Wait.
19:59I cut him off,
20:00walked up to Anna,
20:01and stepped on her charred hand.
20:03She let out a scream like a slaughtered pig.
20:08Speak.
20:09Who ordered you?
20:11I lowered my voice,
20:13my gaze sharp as a blade.
20:14Anna convulsed in pain,
20:16her gaze involuntarily flicking toward Thierry.
20:19A flash of murderous intent crossed Thierry's eyes.
20:22His hand was already gripping his sword hilt.
20:24I...
20:25I was just greedy.
20:26I wanted to steal them to sell for money.
20:28Anna cried out desperately.
20:30I released my foot,
20:31stepped back,
20:32and looked at Thierry.
20:33Commander Thierry,
20:34your methods of insubordinates are truly an eye-waken.
20:37Thierry snorted coldly,
20:39and had his men drag Anna away.
20:40He looked at the ward on the table.
20:42His eyes filled with both wariness and greed.
20:45Gideon, what exactly are...
20:47How can an ordinary knight use this kind of alder male jury?
20:51This is a defensive spell my wife taught me.
20:53He did not ask further,
20:55and left dejectedly with his men.
20:57Over the next few months,
20:58Thierry did not make any more rash moves,
21:00but his surveillance on me became even tighter.
21:02I was also content with the peace,
21:04focusing my attention on incubating the dragon eggs at home.
21:07Until one night in late autumn,
21:08accompanied by crisp cracking sounds,
21:10those two dark gold dragon eggs finally hatched.
21:13Two small dragons,
21:14their bodies covered in soft scales
21:16and wings sprouting from their backs,
21:17crawled out.
21:18One had scales tinged with red,
21:20the other with black.
21:21They opened their golden slitted eyes,
21:23and upon their first sight of me,
21:25they let out childish low cries,
21:27stumbling and crawling into my arms.
21:29Holding these two little ones,
21:31I felt a slight sting at the corners of my eyes.
21:33In this life,
21:34Papa will protect you well.
21:35As the young dragons grew,
21:37their appetites became larger and larger,
21:40and the movements within the mansion
21:41could no longer be concealed.
21:43Although Thierry spies could not enter the inner chambers,
21:47they have certainly detected something unusual.
21:50A few days later,
21:52the king issued Dandic summoning Gaul knights,
21:54who had participated in the dragon slaying campaign.
21:58I knew the real storm was coming.
22:00In the great hall,
22:02the king sat upon his throne,
22:07his gaze majestic.
22:10Commander Thierry has reported to me
22:12that you have secretly kept evil monster wilbs in your mannishin
22:16and have used forbidden black magic.
22:18What do you have to say?
22:20Your majesty,
22:21they are not monsters.
22:23They are my children.
22:24The hall immediately erupted in an uproar.
22:27The nobles whispered among themselves,
22:29revealing expressions of terror and disdain.
22:32Thierry stepped forward and loudly declared,
22:34Your majesty,
22:35he is mad.
22:37He actually calls monsters his children.
22:40I suspect he has been infected by a dragon's curse
22:42and must be purified immediately.
22:44Purified?
22:46I laughed coldly.
22:48Thierry,
22:49you are merely coveting my power,
22:51wanting to take my children for yourself.
22:54The king frowned.
22:56Men,
22:57go search Gideon's mansion.
22:59There is no need.
23:00I interrupted the king,
23:02tore off my knight's cloak in one motion,
23:04revealing my neck covered with fine dragon scales.
23:08The scales on the side of my neck
23:10reflected a cold, dark gold light under.
23:13He firelighted of the throne room.
23:15The king abruptly rose from his throne.
23:17The guards drew their long swords in unison.
23:20The sound of scraping metal
23:22as grating as nails dragging across stone slabs.
23:25Thierry stepped back,
23:27hand resting on his sword hill,
23:28yet his eyes held no fear.
23:30Only the ecstasy of someone
23:32who has finally found leverage.
23:34Do you see, your majesty?
23:36He is not human.
23:38He is a dragon,
23:39a conspire of the monsters we have exterminated.
23:42The nobles retreated in terror.
23:44The clergy crossed themselves,
23:46and several timid maidservants
23:48had already run out screaming.
23:49I stood in place,
23:51unmoving.
23:52I am indeed a dragon.
23:54My voice was very calm,
23:55so calm that it silenced the entire hall.
23:58But I am also the one
23:59who blocked the toxic dragon fire breath
24:01for you in the misty swonk.
24:02I was the one
24:03who blinded the head of the evil dragons.
24:06I used this body
24:06to bear the siege for you
24:08for three days and three nights.
24:10In that great battle,
24:12I killed 14 of my kin.
24:14I raised my hand
24:15and tore open the front of my shirt.
24:17Three hideous scars
24:18stretched from my collarbone
24:20down to my ribs,
24:21left by dragon claws.
24:22Even with my draconic power,
24:25they could not fully heal.
24:29These wounds
24:30were suffered in place of you humans.
24:33My wife,
24:35she was also a dragon.
24:38But to put your village,
24:40she was torn to pieces by our own kin.
24:42Before she died,
24:44she left me only one sentence.
24:46Protect our children.
24:47You are standing here now
24:49because a dragon shed blood for you.
24:52And the way you repay me
24:53is by sending people
24:55to steal my children,
24:56wanting to forge swords
24:57from my scales,
24:58wanting to tie me
25:00and my children
25:00to a stake
25:01and burn us to ashes.
25:02The king's face
25:03changed repeatedly.
25:04He looked at Thierry,
25:06then at me,
25:07and finally,
25:07slowly sat back down
25:09on his throne.
25:10Gideon,
25:11do you have evidence
25:12for the thief
25:12to speak of?
25:13Evidence?
25:14I laughed coldly,
25:16untied a leather pouch
25:17from my waist
25:18and poured its contents
25:19clattering onto
25:20the floor of the hall.
25:21Gold coins,
25:22secret letters,
25:24a ring engraved
25:25with the crest
25:25of the Thierry family.
25:27This was found
25:28on Sister Lynette
25:29and her uncle.
25:29The stamp on the gold coins
25:31is from the Royal City Mint
25:32and the serial number batch
25:34completely matches
25:35the military payroll
25:36that Commander Thierry
25:37withdrew from the National Treasury
25:38three months ago.
25:39I bent down
25:40to pick up the secret letter,
25:42unfolded it
25:42and held it above my head.
25:44It is written here.
25:45After obtaining
25:46the dragon eggs,
25:47deliver them
25:47to Knight Commander Thierry.
25:49A generous reward
25:50will follow upon completion.
25:51The handwriting can be verified,
25:53the seal compared.
25:54Thierry's face
25:55instantly turned pale.
25:57Forgery!
25:58This is forged!
25:59He drew his sword,
26:00pointing it at me.
26:01Your Majesty,
26:02do not believe
26:03the words of a dragon.
26:04What dragons are best at
26:05is deceiving people's hearts.
26:09Deceiving people's hearts.
26:11I threw the letter
26:12to the ground,
26:12turned around,
26:13and faced the assembly.
26:15When I was risking my life
26:17for you on the front lines,
26:18your Knight Commander
26:19was behind the lines
26:20stealing my children.
26:22When I found my dragon eggs
26:23in the dry well
26:24of the monastery,
26:25your nun was preparing
26:26to sell them to alchemists
26:27on the black market.
26:29The monster you speak of
26:30only did one thing
26:31from beginning to end.
26:33Protect his family.
26:35And the heroes you speak of
26:36only did one thing
26:37from beginning to end.
26:39Murder other people's families.
26:41now tell me.
26:43I stared into Thierry's eyes.
26:45Who is the monster?
26:47The hall fell into dead silence.
26:49The tip of Thierry's sword
26:51trembled.
26:52The king was silent
26:53for a long time
26:54before finally speaking.
26:56Commander Thierry,
26:57what do you have to say
26:58in your defense?
26:59Thierry's face twisted.
27:00He knew he had
27:01no way out anymore.
27:03He suddenly raised his sword
27:04and let out a roar.
27:05Guards!
27:07Kill this vile dragon!
27:08He has bewitched
27:09his majesty!
27:10A dozen personal guards
27:12loyal to Thierry
27:13charged in
27:14from the side door.
27:15Their armor clanging,
27:17their spears aligned
27:18and pointed at me.
27:20With one motion,
27:21I tore away
27:22all the disguises
27:23on my body.
27:24My bones crackled
27:26as they grew.
27:26My skin covered over
27:28with dark gold scales.
27:30My spine extended backward
27:31into a thick tail.
27:33An enormous wings tore.
27:34Threw my robes
27:36and unfurled
27:36from my shoulder blades.
27:38I revealed my dragon form
27:40in the center
27:40of the great hall.
27:41Not too large.
27:43I deliberately
27:43suppressed my size.
27:45But it was enough to...
27:47make those spears
27:48look as ridiculous
27:49as toothpicks.
27:50I lowered my head,
27:52my slitted pupils
27:53staring fixedly
27:54at Thierry.
27:55You covet the power
27:56of dragonhood, Thierry.
27:58You thought that
27:59by burning me alive
28:00and stripping the scales
28:02from my children,
28:02you could gain
28:03eternal life.
28:04become invincible.
28:09Now,
28:10feel it for yourself.
28:18Do you know what dragons
28:20are best at?
28:20Not breathing fire,
28:22not flying.
28:23It's remembering grudges.
28:25Thierry's sword
28:26fell to the ground.
28:27He turned to run,
28:29but my tail
28:29had already swept across,
28:31coiling around.
28:32his entire body
28:34and slamming him
28:35viciously against
28:35a stone pillar
28:36in the hall.
28:37He grunted.
28:39A large dent
28:40caved into his armor
28:41and blood spurted
28:42from his mouth.
28:43guards, guards, guards!
28:46But no one moved.
28:48Those personal guards
28:49who had charged in
28:50glanced at each other
28:51and, ultimately,
28:52one by one,
28:54they lowered their spears.
28:55The king stood up,
28:57his aged face
28:58full of weariness.
28:59Enough.
29:00He looked at Thierry,
29:02suspended in the air
29:03by my tail,
29:04his face covered
29:05in blood
29:06and sighed.
29:07Thierry Breckenhard,
29:09you are suspected
29:10of plotting
29:10against a meritorious
29:12subject of the kingdom,
29:13colluding with evil forces,
29:15stealing the property
29:16of others
29:17and abuse military power.
29:19For these multa crimes
29:21and their combined punishment,
29:22I, in the name of the king,
29:24strip you of your position
29:25as knight commander
29:26and all noble titles.
29:28Thierry's eyes widened.
29:29Your majesty,
29:30your majesty,
29:31you cannot...
29:32I can.
29:34Lock him in the dungeon
29:35to await trial.
29:37All his family property
29:38is to be seized
29:39and all those involved
29:41are to be detained.
29:42The guards finally moved.
29:44They hoisted up
29:45the limp Thierry
29:46and dragged him
29:47out of the great hall.
29:49Three days later,
29:50Thierry was sentenced
29:51to life imprisonment
29:52at the royal court,
29:54stripped of all titles
29:55and property.
29:57Linnea and the old beggar
29:58were each sentenced
29:59to an additional ten years.
30:01of hard labor
30:02for theft and kidnapping.
30:04On the day
30:05the sentences took effect,
30:06I held my two children
30:08and stood
30:09on the walls
30:10of the royal city
30:11watching the sunset.
30:13The red dragon,
30:14I named the little one
30:15with reddish scales,
30:17Edward and...
30:18The black one,
30:19Nora.
30:20Edward lay on my shoulder,
30:22his tail hooked
30:22around my neck.
30:24Nora, meanwhile,
30:25clutched my collar
30:26tightly with her claws,
30:27her too,
30:28slitted eyes
30:29vigilantly watching
30:30the dense crowd
30:31below the walls.
30:34What are you afraid of?
30:38In this life,
30:40no one can hurt you anymore.
30:42The king summoned me
30:43the next day.
30:44The old king was wrapped
30:45in a thick wool blanket,
30:47looking much older
30:48than the day before.
30:50Gideon,
30:51or rather,
30:53Dragon Knight.
30:57How should I address you?
30:59Gideon is fine.
31:00Gideon.
31:02When I was young,
31:03I fought against dragons.
31:04I saw with my own eyes
31:06the flames breathed
31:06by a dragon
31:07burn an entire city
31:08to the ground.
31:09My father died
31:10under a dragon's claws.
31:11I know.
31:12So when Thierry told me
31:13you were a dragon,
31:14my first reaction
31:15was fear.
31:16But I also remember
31:18it was you who won
31:19that great battle for us.
31:20You are a dragon,
31:22but you chose to stand
31:23on the side of humanity.
31:24I am not standing
31:25on the side of humanity.
31:27I am standing
31:28on my wife's side.
31:29She liked humans.
31:31She believed humans
31:32and dragons could coexist.
31:34And I only wanted
31:35to fulfill her last wish.
31:36The king was silent
31:37for a long time.
31:39She was a kind dragon.
31:42She was.
31:43She was the very best
31:44one in this world.
31:45Then,
31:46in her memory,
31:49I,
31:49in the name of the crown,
31:51appoint you as guardian
31:51of the kingdom.
31:52Your children will be regarded
31:54as lawful citizens
31:55of the kingdom,
31:55enjoying the same rights
31:57as human nobilities.
31:58Anyone who dares to harm you
31:59will be charged with treason.
32:01He handed the scroll to me.
32:03I took it,
32:04saying nothing.
32:05This is not pity.
32:07This is atonement.
32:08We owe your wife.
32:10I looked down
32:11at the neat handwriting
32:12on the parchment
32:13and the bright red.
32:14Royal wax seal.
32:16Thank you.
32:17I should be thanking you
32:19for not choosing revenge.
32:22As I turned to leave,
32:23the king suddenly
32:24called out to me.
32:26Gideon.
32:28Hmm.
32:30You said you remember grudges,
32:32but you also remember kindness.
32:35This is the rarest quality
32:37among humans.
32:38I didn't expect a dragon
32:40to have learned it.
32:41Soon, Edward and Nora
32:43had grown to half a person's height,
32:45able to stand on their hind legs
32:46and spit out fist-sized fireballs.
32:49Every morning,
32:49they would crouch
32:50in the backyard of the mansion,
32:52practicing their fire breathing
32:53at the iron targets
32:54I had prepared for them.
32:56Edward always breathed fire
32:57very seriously,
32:59aiming for the bullseye
33:00with every shot.
33:01Nora, on the other hand,
33:02liked to play tricks.
33:04When she thought I wasn't looking,
33:05she would spit on the targets
33:07and then pretend
33:07she was breathing fire.
33:09I stood on the steps,
33:10arms crossed.
33:12Nora, I saw that.
33:14She turned her head,
33:15blinking her golden slitted eyes,
33:17the picture of innocence.
33:19Don't pretend.
33:19The tip of your tail
33:21is trembling.
33:21Sure enough,
33:22her tail twitched,
33:23and then she huffily breathed
33:25the real puff of flame,
33:26burning the target red hot.
33:29Edward let out a low growl
33:30from the side,
33:31probably mocking her.
33:32I laughed out loud,
33:34walked over,
33:35and ruffled the heads
33:36of the two little ones.
33:38All right,
33:38that's enough training for today.
33:40Go wash your hands.
33:41Mrs. Green made roast meat.
33:43Mrs. Green was my new housekeeper,
33:45a widow in her 50s,
33:47whose husband had died in the war.
33:49She wasn't afraid of dragons.
33:51The first time she saw Edward and Nora,
33:53she just frowned and remarked.
33:54These two little brats
33:55have quite an appetite.
33:57And then tied on her apron
33:58and went into the kitchen.
34:00The apple pie she made
34:01was the best
34:02in the entire royal city.
34:04The moment Nora heard
34:05there was roast meat,
34:06she was the first
34:07to dash into the house.
34:09Edward, however,
34:10walked leisurely,
34:11glanced back at me halfway,
34:13and let out a low cry.
34:14I know, you go ahead.
34:15I waved him off.
34:17The yard fell quiet.
34:18I raised my head
34:19and looked at the sky.
34:21From the distant training grounds
34:22came the shouting
34:23and clashing
34:24of night's drilling.
34:25From the blacksmith shop,
34:27the clanging of iron
34:28being forged.
34:29From the marketplace,
34:30the cries of vendors.
34:32These sounds had been
34:33foreign to me
34:34in my previous life.
34:35Back then,
34:36I could only stand
34:36outside the iron fence
34:38of the castle,
34:39watching from afar
34:40as Thierry and Linnea
34:41held my children,
34:43their smiles so piercing.
34:44Now,
34:45inside the castle
34:46were my children,
34:47and my laughter,
34:49and my home.
34:50At night,
34:51after lulling
34:52the two children to sleep,
34:53I sat alone in the study.
34:55On the desk lay
34:56a yellowed piece of parchment.
34:57It was a portrait
34:58of my wife.
34:59I had drawn it
35:00with charcoal.
35:01It wasn't very good,
35:02barely capturing
35:03the way she smiled.
35:04They are all doing well.
35:06Edward's fire breath
35:07pierced the third layer
35:08of the iron target today,
35:10one more layer
35:11than yesterday.
35:12Nora is still the same,
35:14being lazy and tricky.
35:15But she's very clever,
35:17cleverer than Edward.
35:18The king came again
35:19last month.
35:20He said he wanted
35:21to invite Edward and Nora
35:22to join the kingdom's
35:24guardian knight order
35:24when they grow up.
35:26I said they can decide
35:27for themselves
35:28when they are older.
35:28Mrs. Green's apple pie
35:30is getting more
35:31and more delicious.
35:32If you were here,
35:34you would definitely
35:34ask her for the recipe.
35:36My voice grew softer
35:37and softer
35:38until it was nearly inaudible.
35:41I miss you very much.
35:43The person on the paper
35:44still smiled
35:45that same smile.
35:46Saying nothing,
35:47I closed my eyes
35:48and pressed the portrait
35:49to my chest.
35:50A slight rustle
35:51suddenly came
35:52from outside the window.
35:53I snapped my eyes open,
35:55my slitted pupils
35:56contracting in the darkness.
35:58But quickly,
35:59I relaxed.
36:01It was Edward.
36:02He had somehow
36:02gotten out of bed
36:03and stealthily pushed
36:05open the study door,
36:06poking half his head in.
36:08Why aren't you asleep yet?
36:09He let out a low cry,
36:11nudged the door open
36:12with his head,
36:13walked to my side
36:14and rested his head
36:16on my knee.
36:17Nora followed in as well.
36:18She had probably woken up
36:20to find her brother,
36:21missing,
36:21and had groggily
36:22stumbled her way
36:23after him.
36:24She yawned,
36:25puffing out a tiny spark,
36:27then curled up directly
36:28on the rug by my feet,
36:30closed her eyes,
36:31and fell asleep again.
36:32Edward looked up at me.
36:33His golden slitted eyes
36:35were astonishingly bright
36:36in the moonlight.
36:37My face reflected within them.
36:39I looked down at them.
36:41Edward's small claws
36:42rested on my knee,
36:43the pulse beneath his scales,
36:45beating rhythmically,
36:46warm and strong.
36:48Nora's tail had unconsciously
36:49coiled around my ankle,
36:51her breathing even and steady.
36:53I placed the portrait
36:54back on the desk,
36:56ruffling Edward's head
36:56with one hand
36:58while gently patting
36:59Nora's back
36:59with the other.
37:01Alright, sleep.
37:03Papa is here.
37:07I picked up Edward,
37:09then bent down
37:10to scoop up Nora,
37:11who was already
37:12sleeping like a dead log
37:14of a dragon,
37:15and carried both children
37:16back to their bed,
37:18tucking them in,
37:19standing by the bedside
37:20watching them.
37:21The moonlight streamed
37:22in through the window,
37:24illuminating the two
37:25small dragon faces.
37:27The girl turned over,
37:28draping her tail
37:29over her brother's belly.
37:30The son grunted once,
37:32but didn't wake up.
37:34After coming of age,
37:36Edward joined
37:36the kingdom's
37:37guardian knight order,
37:38becoming the first
37:39dragon knight in history,
37:41not a knight who
37:41rode a dragon,
37:42but a knight who
37:43was himself a dragon.
37:45At his knighting ceremony,
37:47he breathed fire
37:48and burned down
37:48half the viewing stand.
37:50Afterwards,
37:51insisting it was a sneeze,
37:53Nora chose
37:54to journey far away.
37:55She said she wanted
37:56to see the mountains
37:57and rivers
37:57my wife had once flown
37:59over,
38:00to go to places
38:01where humans
38:02had never set foot,
38:03and to draw
38:04the appearance
38:06of this world.
38:07Every year,
38:08she sent back a letter
38:09and a scroll of paintings.
38:11The paintings
38:11held sunrises
38:13over snowy mountains,
38:15starry skies
38:15over deserts,
38:16and storms
38:17over the ocean.
38:18I hung those paintings
38:19all over an entire
38:20wall of the dining room.
38:22The king had changed twice.
38:23Now sitting on the throne
38:25was the old king's grandson.
38:26He was still young,
38:28but very clever,
38:29and he invited me
38:30to the royal year-end banquet
38:32every year.
38:33Sometimes I went,
38:34sometimes I didn't.
38:35When I went,
38:36I would sit in the corner
38:37and watch those young nobles
38:39toast and drink,
38:41watch them fall off
38:42their chairs in fright
38:43at Edward's dragon breath
38:44fire performances.
38:45Many more years passed.
38:47Edward and Nora
38:48had both hurried back.
38:49The two siblings
38:50crouched in front
38:51of the fireplace.
38:52The dancing flames
38:53reflected in their
38:54golden slitted eyes.
38:56Papa,
38:56what are you thinking about?
38:58I looked at them,
39:00at their scales,
39:01their wings,
39:02their slitted eyes,
39:03at every trace
39:04of my wife
39:04left upon them.
39:05I was thinking,
39:07if your mother
39:08could see the way
39:08you are now,
39:09she would definitely
39:10be very proud.
39:11Edward said softly,
39:13she would be.
39:14Nora rested her head
39:15on my knee,
39:16exactly the same
39:17as she had 15 years ago.
39:19I smiled.
39:20The heavy snow
39:21was still falling
39:22outside the window,
39:24the wind howling,
39:25but inside the house,
39:26it was very warm.
39:27The fire in the fireplace
39:29was bright enough
39:29to last until dawn.
39:31I closed my eyes.
39:32In this life,
39:33everything was just right.
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