DMHS 77

‘It’s because of the elixir.’

Kian shifted the blame to the elixir and cleared his throat.

“Hm hm. Please forget what I just said.”

“Stop.”

Kian obeyed Lucien’s words without resistance.

“Look at me. Lower your head a little.”

“Yes.”

Lucien’s hand held Kian’s chin. Before Kian understood the situation that was unfolding, Lucien’s grinning face came into view.

“That side’s me must have been quite into you. Are you disappointed because I don’t like you?”

“That isn’t it.”

“Yeah. I couldn’t see it well earlier because it was dark, but seeing you in the light you really do have a handsome face like you said.”

Lucien squinted his eyes. It was a gaze appraising an object.

He put more strength in the hand holding Kian’s chin without thinking. Their faces were close enough to feel each other’s breath. Lucien’s eyes glinted and he asked a question.

“Shall I give you a kiss?”

Kian stared into the other’s eyes without a word. When he confirmed the mischief filling Lucien’s eyes, he laughed. Now he was certain.

‘This person isn’t my Lucien.’

“That’s enough.”

Kian tried to move back, but Lucien’s movement was faster.

“What’s wrong? Earlier you asked if I didn’t want to make you my mate.”

“That was a joke.”

“Don’t act regretful. If I get a mate maybe my thoughts will change. Instead of destroying this world I might choose another way.”

Kian couldn’t let Lucien’s last words pass carelessly.

“Why does Lord Lucien want to estroy the world?”

“Because that’s my work.”

“What…?”

“Mm?”

Lucien swept back his bangs with a bright smile.

“You didn’t hear anything from that side’s me?”

“No…”

“I slipped up. Take it as if you didn’t hear what I just said.”

Kian curled his fist.

“What will you do if I can’t let it pass?”

“Kiss me. And stay in this world as my mate.”

“That can’t happen.”

“Then I can’t either. This talk ends here.”

Kian licked his dry lips with his tongue. His head was tangled.

‘Lucien’s work is destroying the world. I’ve never heard that. Right now that kid is only thinking of finishing the coming-of-age ceremony and crossing over to the Dragon Realm with me.’

Kian recalled the characteristics of parallel worlds.

‘This Lucien here isn’t the Lucien I know.’

Kian was the same. The Kian of this world would be working somewhere in the kingdom now.

He might be shoveling snow piled to his waist in a northern mountain village, or he might be catching fish in a fishing village, but unless he became the dragon’s mate he wouldn’t come to the Delia Tribe’s temple.

‘The two worlds are similar but they’re different spaces.’

Kian calmed his mind again. He would draw information from this Lucien, but he must not get swept away.

However that wasn’t as easy as he thought.

“Instead I’ll tell you another story. The reason I came here was because I got an invitation. For a cult it had a pretty plausible prophecy book. ‘Dawn is born from the heart of darkness,’ it said. It called my birth and a disaster like the Blood Harvest Festival signs of destruction.”

Kian’s heart started to beat. He thought he knew what prophecy book Lucien had seen.

‘It’s the book that was placed next to the Fourth Tower Master’s corpse.’

Kian had come this far also to find a clue related to that.

He wanted to reveal the identity of the one who murdered the Fourth Tower and left ominous words in the kingdom’s western scripture.

Kian feigned a calm voice to hide his tension.

“Do you know who sent that book?”

“No idea.”

“What are they planning to do by calling Lord Lucien here?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then why did Lord Lucien come here?”

“To kill.”

Kian answered without thought.

“Right. I also agree that we have to wipe out the cult. Their goal seems to be to turn the surface into a demon realm. But isn’t it too much to kill all of them?”

“Mm? I’m not trying to erase them because they’re a cult. They keep sending strange things so it’s annoying. Annoying things must be erased.”

‘Ah, this guy was originally like this.’

Kian learned Lucien’s true nature after a long time.

‘Come to think of it recently he’s followed me well. He helped investigate the Tower with me, he even came to the west…’

If a third party saw it they would say he was playing the role of a ‘dragon protecting the kingdom’ properly.

Suddenly his insides itched.

‘He’s matching himself to me.’

Kian tilted his head back and looked up at the ceiling. His emotions overflowed suddenly.

‘I miss him.’

If possible he wanted to go back to his original world right away, to lie on the bed and look at Lucien sleeping quietly. It didn’t matter if he did nothing. Just watching Lucien sleeping deeply into the night would make his heart full.

‘I want to see him…’

But since he had come this far, finding the clue was priority. Kian held down the surging emotions and he gave his opinion.

“Then will you help me a little?”

“How?”

“I need information about them. I need to know who they are, what their purpose is, and what they plan to do next. Since Lord Lucien got an invitation, I think you can draw words from them.”

Lucien tilted his head to the side.

“You know this side and your world aren’t the same, right?”

It was a question of how useful the information gained here would be.

Kian had thought about that as well. But Kian still did not know anything about them. Even a small lead that could be a clue would be good.

“Instead of believing everything, I’ll use it as a clue to search for information.”

“Alright. What will you give me in return?”

“What do you want?”

“Your love?”

Lucien curved his eyes without restraint and laughed. Kian almost faltered for a moment, but he shifted the words with a stiff tone.

“You’ve gotten a taste for making fun of me. Stop joking and tell me what you need.”

Lucien laughed out loud, ha ha ha.

“How can I stop when it’s this fun. Isn’t that side’s me mischievous too? When he sees you, his body must itch to tease you.”

“The Lord Lucien I know is kinder than anyone.”

“Ah ha…? The more I hear it the more ridiculous it sounds.”

“Whatever you think, that’s the truth. So, what price must I pay?”

“When it ends, answer the question I ask.”

“Understood. Then I’ll ask for your help.”

The two reached the inside of the cave. The further they entered, the more decorations touched by human hands came into sight.

The narrow passage seemed to widen, and a chapel Kian had seen before appeared.

On the places with cushions, people draped in black robes sat here and there.

On the platform, someone with a hood reached his hand forward and muttered something. It seemed to be a prayer.

The person who finished the prayer noticed Lucien and Kian.

“We have precious guests visiting. Believers, please wait for a moment.”

The man walked and stood before the two. At some point, escorts stood on either side of him.

Kian watched the mouth under the man’s robe. The corners of his lips curved slightly, and Kian found it familiar.

‘Who is it?’

He didn’t need to think long. The man pulled back the hood and revealed his face as he greeted them.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Pearl, son of Asif, and I lead the ‘Heart of Dawn.’”

‘Pearl Asif!’

Kian lowered his head to hide his surprise.

‘He’s the man who competed with Asaad for the chieftain’s seat.’

The face that couldn’t hide a proud smile when the situation ended with Asaad’s confession was still vivid in his mind.

Pearl Asif shook hands with Lucien and introduced the ones beside him.

“They are priests who share my will. By the way, who is the one with you, Lord Lucien?”

“My subordinate.”

“I didn’t know Lord Lucien had someone serving you. Is he someone you’ve kept by your side recently?”

“Something like that. So why did you call me here? I don’t have time, so I want to get to the point quickly.”

Pearl Asif answered in a displeased tone.

“The fewer ears listening, the better. So can’t you leave your subordinate behind?”

“No.”

“Hm, since Lord Lucien says so, it can’t be helped.”

Pearl Asif walked toward the far right end of the chapel. When he touched a carving of two snakes entangled, the heads of the snakes split in half, and a door large enough for a person to pass appeared.

“I have many urgent things to tell you. This way, please.”

Pearl Asif bent his back and went through the door. Lucien and Kian followed behind him, along with two priests still covering themselves in hood.

The secret passage was long. As if traps were set along the way, Pearl Asif counted his steps, stopped at certain places, and touched protruding magic tools on the wall as he carefully went forward.

Kian carved Pearl Asif’s actions into his mind.

“This is it.”

At the end of their slow steps, they arrived at a chapel smaller than the one they had seen earlier. From the floor space where believers could sit, the platform was visible in front.

But unlike earlier, when snakes, thornbushes, and black tulips had been carved, here different symbols decorated behind the platform.

‘Bats, poppies, and evening primroses.’

Pearl Asif sat casually on the platform.

He hadn’t noticed it earlier, but as he sat down, the hem of his trousers under the robe was stained red. His shoes were also splattered with bloodstains all over.

Pearl Asif noticed Kian’s puzzled face, and he also looked at his trouser hem. A fishy smile appeared on his lips.

“I forgot to change my clothes before coming. There was business within the tribe today, so this happened. It isn’t something you need to worry about.”