DSB 108

[No! I can’t let you get close to the rift!]

“I have to do what I’m paid to do. I recommend not interfering. If you don’t want to get in trouble.”

[I will bite and kill anyone who approaches the rift, as commanded by the Demon God!]

“…Can you subdue me with force?”

I don’t have a hobby of bullying weak children.

The dragon heard Lebel’s soft muttering. He snorted in exasperation, then puffed out his chest and shouted.

[I am much stronger!]

“Well, didn’t you feel my demonic energy?”

[Do you think that body can handle it?]

“Your head is quite good.”

“Grrrrrr….”

He was bigger than Lebel, but it felt as if Lebel was arrogantly looking down on him from above. The dragon exhaled hot breath.

Yutis noticed the flames hovering around the dragon’s mouth and drew his sword. Immediately, a breath of scorching heat flew towards Lebel, but Yutis easily cut it down.

The dragon’s expression, blinking stupidly, was revealed through the split breath.

[Again, I got blocked by a human again… !]

The dragon lashed out like a child, unable to control his anger. Seeing as this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, it seemed he was indeed a victim of Yutis’s ancestor.

His teeth were chattering so loudly, it didn’t seem like he’d shared his power willingly. He was definitely ripped off.

“Yutis, I’ll take care of it.”

Lebel conjured a flame from his palm, even larger and more intense than the dragon’s. The pillar of flame rippled and swayed, threatening to burst into the sky at any moment.

The dragon, who was dazed with eyes wide open, was hit without being able to dodge, as expected of a large target.

Flames rose up the dragon’s body, burning his scales. A large flame raged within the cold cave.

“My wife, wouldn’t it be better if you could give him some leeway?”

“I did it moderately.”

Indeed, the flames engulfed his entire body, but it didn’t burn him severely. Though a demon, the dragon’s hide was as tough as a real dragon’s.

[Oh, it’s hot! It’s hot!]

But the dragon, with a sad expression on his face, trembled in pain, saying it was hot, and then blew his breath to put out the flames.

If it had really been unbearable, he wouldn’t have acted like that.

He was called the northern demon and was known in legends, so Lebel had expected something impressive. Instead, he was just big and full of demonic energy, nothing but a kid.

It seems like he’s been here alone for a long time, so he wondered if he ever got hurt in a fight or had a conversation with anyone.

Feeling like he was bullying a weak child, Lebel withdrew his flames. As the flames faded, the dragon whimpered, complaining of the stinging pain, and licked his burned skin.

Meanwhile, Lebel stood before a rift emitting crimson aura. The dense demonic energy was so intense that its impact on the outside world was minimal only thanks to the barrier.

Lebel placed his palm on the split area.

The way to close the rift is simple: Just like it had been torn open by force, it could be closed by force.

The demonic energy that crossed over to Middle Realm is forced back into the Demon Realm, where it is then sealed. While easy to say, it’s actually quite difficult. It’s literally interfering with the world.

However, Lebel, who had received the power of two gods and once managed both the Demon Realm and the Celestial Realm while traveling between them, could do it.

The rift that was leaking the energy of the Demon Realm began to absorb the surrounding area and Lebel’s demonic energy.

[Huh? Huh… ? What are you doing?!]

The dragon was started by the sight of the rift swirling and tried to block it, but the strong wind blowing around the rift made it impossible to approach.

Lebel forced even the wind that was pushing him away inside. As he did, the rift shrank more and more. Once it condensed down to a tiny point, it vanished completely.

Yutis picked up the wind-blown coat, dusted it off, and placed it back over Lebel’s shoulders.

“Are you done?”

“Yes. It is sealed.”

Lebel shook his hand with his characteristically indifferent expression. The dragon, watching from behind, gaped in amazement.

The dragon ran over with heavy steps, looking around where the rift had vanished like dust, searching for any place where ominous demonic energy might still be leaking, but there was nothing left.

It was the moment when he, who had been unable to leave this space due to the rift, was freed.

[Oh, it’s really sealed…? I tried to close it so many times but it didn’t work…!]

“Because you’re young.”

The dragon, resenting Lebel’s confident words, clenched his jaw, remembering how completely outmatched he had been. Then, realizing his reason for being here had vanished, he collapsed to the floor in despair.

Then Lebel reached out his hand to the dragon.

“If you have nothing to do, come with me.”

The dragon blinked his large eyes as he looked at the hand suddenly thrust out in front of him.

[You want me to go with you?]

“There’s nothing to do here. Wouldn’t it be fun to see how far the people you empowered can go?”

Lebel’s gaze landed on Yutis. Yutis smiled awkwardly as both Lebel and the dragon’s gaze fell on him.

[What? Why would I?! I hate that guy!]

“I understand that you’re not in love, as the Demon God said. But there must have been a reason you gave him power. And it’s a power that runs through his bloodline, one that won’t fade no matter how many generations pass.”

A newborn demon gave power to a human. No wonder the Demon God talked about love. Demons didn’t share their power. They always craved more, never gave what they had away, and took from others.

But the demon in front of him had given power to Yutis’s ancestor.

[I lost the fight so I had no choice… !]

“But it’s still too much.”

Even though the target was dead, the power was passed on to his descendants. It was as if a contract had been made. A thought flashed through Lebel’s mind.

Well, a contract. Not bad.

The dragon, who had been mumbling, opened his mouth to speak.

[I gave it to him because he seemed troubled. He said the demonic beasts were giving him a headache. The reason they’re getting stronger is partly because I didn’t protect the rift well. That human asked me to come with him, but… I couldn’t leave because of the rift. That’s why I gave it to him.]

Although he’s a demon, he had the appearance of a dragon. Dragons had long been praised by humans as the most powerful species.

Moreover, since they could communicate with humans, anecdotes about them and humans can be found in ancient books. If the first lord was seeking to seize control of the North, the dragon’s presence would undoubtedly have been a significant boost.

And this child wanted to help humans, but he couldn’t leave this place, so he gave him power.

It’s fortunate that he wasn’t completely robbed.

Then wouldn’t Lebel’s proposal be more appealing? Even though he displayed hostility, he must had felt some sympathy or favor toward humans to give one power.

“You. How long has it been since you were born?”

[Me? I didn’t really count.]

The dragon scratched his cheek. Then, Yutis spoke from beside him.

“…The first lord of the family lived about three hundred years ago.”

“He’s still a baby now, but he must have been even more of a baby then.”

“Baby… what are you talking about?”

Yutis couldn’t quite figure out how that huge dragon could possibly be a baby. Then the fact that he was a demon, and something Karon often said, suddenly crossed his mind.

“My wife.”

“Huh?”

Lebel turned to Yutis. His eyes were shaking, as if he had been in a great shock.

“Is a three hundred year old considered a baby?”

“It is. Demons have a different lifespan than humans.”

How old is Lebel? He’s never really wondered, but it suddenly occurred to him. Could it be that because he hadn’t even come close to 300 years yet, he seemed young in Lebel’s eyes. Was that why Lebel didn’t rely on him?

“My wife, I may not be a hundred years old, but I’m not a baby. I’m a grown man, your husband. If you have any concerns, you should always feel free to discuss them with me.”

“I never thought of you as young.”

Even though you think I’m fragile.

“And there’s no one I rely on more than you. Why do you think you’re here with me?”

“Then I’m glad.”

Yutis spoke softly, his voice laced with a smile, as if relieved. Lebel shrugged and pointed to the dragon.

“And look at that. It’s different. He’s lived for hundreds of years, yet he acts like a child.”

Yutis saw the dragon pouting, asking, “Why am I a baby?” At first glance, his fierce face seemed threatening, but as they talked, he realized he was no different from a child.

Despite being a demon in the form of a dragon, said to be the world’s most powerful species, Yutis didn’t even feel scared. Yutis nodded, like he realized something.

[What are you nodding your head for!]

The dragon suddenly became angry, but when Lebel raised an eyebrow, his shoulders slumped and he became quiet.

“What’s your name?”

[I don’t have one…]

The Demon God is good in every way, but he lacked attention to detail.

“If you follow Yutis, I’ll give you a name.”

[No! I like it here!]

“You’re going to keep staying in a place with nothing? Since you were born into the world, don’t you have anything you want to do? Since it’s a rare life, you should enjoy it. You shouldn’t just sleep in a cave like this.”

Lebel also lived a busy life when he was just born. After that, everything felt meaningless and he just lived a lazy life. Then, he came to a completely different place and discovered something precious, and has been living happily.