DMHS 41

The pillar that supported the Goddess Temple. The Inquisition Court under ‘Celestia Grand Cathedral.’

A man in high priest’s robes sat modestly on the seat for criminals.

Soon after, a man wearing a splendid golden mask entered the court. The sound of shoes echoed loudly in the quiet space.

Tok. Tok. Tok.

The masked man sat with his legs crossed on the second-floor seats where the audience would normally sit. The priest opened his mouth.

“How did the matter go?”

The masked man answered.

“It went well. We succeeded in turning the land of Chronos into a demonic realm.”

“Then from now on we can begin in earnest…!”

“No. It is too early to rush. There was a variable we did not anticipate.”

“What is that?”

The man stroked his jaw beneath the mask. His slanted lips drew an arc.

“It seems the dragon’s mate is not an ordinary human.”

“You mean Kian Semes? That is impossible. Even if it is troubling that he is the only survivor of the Semes family, he is not someone with any special ability.”

“Perhaps he hid his ability.”

“That is impossible.”

“Or maybe another person has been pretending to be a Semes.”

A faint smile appeared the priest’s face, which had been stiff from the start.

“Master, have you also been reading those popular novels lately?”

“Novels?”

“The stories where Hero Yan travels the world under another human identity and saves the world.”

The masked man clicked his tongue.

“To think you even have time to read that garbage. You must have plenty of leisure.”

“That is…”

“There is no need to excuse yourself. The ‘Day’ given to us is not far off.”

The masked man lifted his gaze.

Maybe the clouds had cleared, because from the window the bright light poured in and revealed the design engraved on the mask. It was a dragon with two heads.

“You are right. I was short-sighted.”

The priest looked at the eagle carved on the court wall, the eagle carrying an olive branch in its beak, and muttered darkly.

“Everything is all according to His will…”

The man also repeated his words.

“Everything is all according to His will…”

***

At the same time. A city near Chronos.

“Welcome to the West!”

“We sincerely welcome Gold Dragon Lucien and his companions!”

“This way! The village chief is waiting for you!”

Lucien and his party were receiving unexpected grand hospitality…

The beginning of it was simple.

After leaving Chronos, they searched for a village to stay in as the sun was setting.

But in the western border region, there were no big cities except for Chronos. At most, there were only small villages, sometimes shown on maps and sometimes erased.

“There is a village nearby. I do not know if people still live there, but let us go.”

Frederick, holding the map, guided the party.

Contrary to their hope that even one or two households might remain, the village was lit brightly by magic stones and bustling with noise.

It was strange that most of the people walking in the streets were sturdy men.

It was also suspicious that the same tattoo was drawn on their arms.

It was also concerning that when they entered the village, the men glared at them with eyes full of hostility.

‘Tonight we sleep under a roof.’

No one could break Lucien’s will.

Lucien, who had walked into the thieves’ den, revealed his identity proudly.

“I am Gold Dragon Lucien. I am on a holy journey for my coming-of-age ceremony. The village must serve us with all its best tonight.”

“……?”

“……?”

The thieves, who had been carrying goods in wooden crates as if they had just returned from a big raid, showed confused eyes.

Frederick quickly stepped in to grasp the situation.

“That is right! I am a mage of the Erlesia family, the great master of the Third Tower. Today is a glorious day when you can serve both Dragon Lucien and me, so hurry and prepare dinner!”

“……”

“You are still dawdling? Can you not even prepare hot bath water! Where is the village chief?”

The thieves flinched at Frederick’s harsh shout.

“S-sorry. We did not recognize your esteemed selves and committed rudeness.”

“Bah, you cannot even speak properly! Hurry! I said bring out a lavish feast!”

Frederick behaved like a tyrant as if he was used to it. The thieves, overwhelmed by his force, answered “Yes, yes!” and welcomed Lucien’s party.

The village quickly became noisy.

Someone hung a necklace of flowers on them. Another offered them tea with an excellent fragrance.

The party was guided into a building that had been cleaned and polished. Before them appeared the one called the village chief.

His rugged features, hands like pot lids, and the knife scars across his face made it clear he was the thieves’ leader.

“Welcome. We were unprepared to receive such noble guests on such short notice. I ask your understanding.”

“Dinner first. Bath later.”

“Ah, understood. Please wait a moment.”

The boss flustered and stepped back.

Lucien looked at his mate and Daisy, who sat blankly like the thieves who did not understand what was happening, and he thought.

‘The blue-haired one is sharper than I expected.’

Frederick leaned comfortably against the sofa and laughed.

“Finally I feel satisfied! This is the kind of journey I imagined! From now on we do not have to stay in shabby inns. We can stay in each village chief’s house instead. Hahaha.”

‘So that was not it.’

Frederick had not understood Lucien’s intention. He had simply always wanted to do this.

No wonder he was so skilled at ordering people around…

At that moment, a girl carefully opened the door and came in.

“Dinner is being served.”

The girl placed the tray she carried down one by one before the party. Lucien stared at the girl.

Brown hair, brown eyes. Her hair and eyes were common colors, but her white skin and neat features made her stand out.

What drew attention even more was her frightened manner.

Lucien knew who would never overlook such a weak person. As expected, Kian spoke to the girl as she put down the tray.

“All the dishes look delicious. Thank you. What is your name?”

“My name is Mila. I had to prepare in a hurry, so it is not much…”

“How long have you lived in this village?”

“A week? Ah, no. A year, no… I have lived here since I was born.”

“Where are your parents?”

“My father passed away. My mother is with me… she is imprisoned.”

Another girl who had come in together pinched Mila’s thigh under the table. Startled, Mila corrected herself.

“S-sorry. I misspoke because I was nervous. The village chief you just met is my father.”

The whole time Mila was speaking, Lucien was watching Kian.

At a glance, Kian looked like he was smiling and chatting with a village girl. But in Lucien’s eyes, Kian’s expression would turn cold at times.

His mate was angry to the very top of his head.

‘Why is he angry?’

Lucien wanted to know what was in Kian’s mind.

‘Because the thieves dragged the girl here by force?’

But things like that were common in the world these days.

These were bandits who used an entire village as their base.

They were not like those who just hid on mountain paths to rob travelers’ pockets. A small village with a few households could be looted entirely in less than half a day.

‘They kill the men and make the women and children slaves.’

On the way here from the capital, the party had passed through many empty villages left after bandit attacks. So what happened to the girl now was not unusual. It was something that happened often.

After finishing dinner, the party was guided to a large mansion.

The thieves seemed to think it was better to provide lodging than to fight and create trouble with a party that included a mage and a knight. They could keep their identities hidden, and the party would stay for only one night, so it was beneficial for both sides.

Lucien shared a room with Kian.

There was a bathroom on each side of the room, so they washed at the same time.

For the past few days they had only camped outside. Now, soaking in a tub heated by magic stones, Lucien’s whole body grew relaxed. He curled his body and dipped his head under the water.

Gurgle.

‘Kian…’

When he thought of his partner, hot blood ran through his veins.

At the same time, his surroundings turned dark as everything blacked out.

He had experienced this many times, so he was used to it. He blinked slowly, and the world gradually brightened, revealing a new scene.

An empty field after the harvest. A man stood against the backdrop of the setting sun. With the red sun behind him, the man’s blond hair swayed pleasantly.

Lucien recognized the familiar face and frowned. No wonder, the man had the exact same face as Lucien.

The man smiled with raised lips and spoke.

“Have you chosen?”

“……”

“You are still a tight-lipped child. I told you, it is not a hard decision. You only need to pick one of the two.”

In the man’s hand were two orbs. Their colors kept changing, reflecting the violent energy boiling inside them.

“Look. Which one pulls at you?”

On the night he married Kian, Lucien had first met this man.

It was not a dream or a hallucination. This place was simply another dimension.

Lucien answered honestly.

“Neither of them.”

“Still?”

“Still.”

The man lowered his eyebrows, showing a disappointed look.

“You are an empty child. When will your heart finally fill with every kind of emotion?”

The man always treated Lucien like a child. Lucien replied stiffly.

“My feelings for my mate are already overflowing.”

“Those are only good feelings. But humans are not like that. They love and hate at the same time, they crave while resenting. They despair and hope together. They devote themselves in front while betraying behind. One day you too will know those kinds of feelings.”