TSMMT Ch 134

Set Free, Once Again

[Dianna] "Why... why is he wearing this collar?"

She stared at the dragon, whose eyes remained closed. Adelheit responded in a puzzled tone.

[Adelheit] "Is there a problem?"

[Dianna] "Did you... turn the dragon into a slave?"

A wave of nausea washed over her at the sight of the restraint collar around his neck. The bloody, bound state of the child echoed memories of herself and Guiscard, making her head thrum with dizziness.

[Adelheit] "Dian, that dragon tried to kill you. Why do you wear such an expression?"

She struggled to find a response. She knew he was right. She kept reminding herself that this creature had attempted to murder her and severely wounded Guiscard.

By all logic, executing the beast was the proper choice. She recognized her own hypocrisy. Yet, why did witnessing this scene turn her stomach?

Noticing her reaction, Adelheit's eyes darted nervously before he let out a resigned sigh.

[Adelheit] "Dian, when do you think slavery began?"

[Dianna] "..."

[Adelheit] "The history of humans enslaving fellow humans and humanoid races began with humanity's inception."

[Dianna] "..."

[Adelheit] "This restraint collar is a remnant of lost ancient magic, preserved in its most complete form. That proves human dominance over others hasn't changed across eras."

[Dianna] "..."

[Adelheit] "However, I didn't intend to make him a slave. To be precise, this magic has been a sophisticated spell used to restrict captives since ancient times. The moment it is worn, the wearer can't manifest their power if the binder wills it so."

[Dianna] "..."

[Adelheit] "That is why I used the restraint. I have no desire whatsoever to use a dragon as a slave."

Is that true? Is it really?

Dianna looked at the dragon's cruelly fixed state and pondered. His wounds hadn't even been properly treated. The gash visible between his open garments remained raw red.

Adelheit was her benefactor. A good person. Yet, why was this man, who treated her with such kindness, acting like this?

[Dianna] "Adel, so did the dragon give you a satisfactory answer?"

[Adelheit] "No, not at all. He is completely uncooperative, refusing to speak."

[Dianna] "Is he conscious?"

[Adelheit] "Not right now. In truth, he is barely conscious."

[Dianna] "I will speak with him alone."

He raised a displeased objection, yet remembering her conditions, he nodded reluctantly.

[Dianna] "And if you have the key to the restraint collar, could you give it to me?"

[Adelheit] "What...?"

He wore a troubled expression. But she remained firm.

[Dianna] "Adel, if the dragon refuses to speak to you, we must offer something in return."

[Dianna] "..."

[Dianna] "Please."

[Adelheit] "It was useless."

That meant he had already threatened the dragon. Suppressing a surge of revulsion, she stared at him.

[Adelheit] "Ah, please, Dian. Don't look at me like that."

[Dianna] "..."

The silver-haired young man lowered his violet eyes. That bashfully wounded expression was, strangely enough, merely because he didn't want to hand over the key.

[Adelheit] "Alright, fine."

Sighing, he handed over the key from his pocket. As Dianna gripped it, he clasped her hand tightly.

[Adelheit] "Dian... can you make me a promise then?"

She expected him to urge her never to free the dragon. But he spoke quietly with an earnest expression.

[Adelheit] "Could you stop being upset with me now?"

[Dianna] "Pardon?"

[Adelheit] "You're upset because I suggested sparing the dragon that tried to kill you, right? I know… I know you have every right to be angry."

[Dianna] "..."

[Adelheit] "Still, please understand: I will never do anything to harm you, Dian."

[Dianna] "..."

[Adelheit] "I respect whatever choice you make. Still... please don't look at me with that face. With that unfamiliar look... as if you're staring at a bad person."

[Dianna] "..."

[Adelheit] "Is that why you returned to the capital?"

He appeared nearly on the verge of tears. Looking at his face, Dianna bit her lip, feeling slightly apologetic.

[Dianna] "Alright. I'm not angry anymore, so don't worry about it."

At those words, his face brightened instantly.

[Adelheit] "Really? Does that mean I get to see your smile again?"

[Dianna] "..."

[Adelheit] "Is that a promise?"

As he kept pressing, she wore a baffled expression.

Why did this man act like this only around her?

Looking at him again, it was bizarre. He began talking to her like his usual self.

Fearing he would delve into dragon history again, Dianna finally spoke with subtle annoyance.

[Dianna] "Just go already."

Sensing her faint irritation, Adelheit darted toward the door. Yet he didn't simply leave.

[Adelheit] "Tell me if anything happens. You mustn't feel sorry for him and set him free. You could actually die."

[Dianna] "I understand."

Fearing she might scold him further, he quickly slipped out the door.

Dianna stared at the eyes-closed dragon for a long while. That stillness and serenity felt strangely eerie.

What should I call him...?

Lord Dragon? Do I call him Lord Dragon? But I can't just call him "dragon child" either.

Lost in serious thought, she finally opened her mouth.

[Dianna] "Excuse me..."

I want to bite my tongue.

She had never used such an awkward form of address even with shopkeepers. Dianna felt suddenly embarrassed by the words leaving her mouth. Blushing alone, she observed the dragon's appearance.

Though he shared silver hair with Adel, there was a distinct difference between his silver hair and this dragon's. Adelheit's silver hair had a greyish hue, whereas the dragon's hair was pure, brilliant white. However, a subtle blue sheen ran through his hair, marking him as non-human.

Elves or dwarves resembled humans yet differed in ears or height, giving off an odd feel. This dragon, however, mirrored a human perfectly. His chubby white cheeks undoubtedly belonged to a lovely human child.

Long eyelashes and tightly closed lips met her eyes. Gazing at the young child's form, Dianna repeated the address she wished to take back.

[Dianna] "Excuse me..."

At that, the dragon's eyelids twitched.

Is he going to attack me?

She watched him with a frightened look.

The dragon slowly opened his eyes. Only then did she grasp the difference between human and dragon. Looking closely, his pupils were not round like a human's, but slit vertically like a reptile's.

The dragon stared blankly at her. His gaze held neither rage nor hatred toward the human who had imprisoned him. He asked in a quiet voice.

[Dragon] "What is it?"

His dry, parched lips didn't move. Seeing his pained state, she asked.

[Dianna] "Does it not hurt?"

Instantly, the dragon's expression crumbled.

[Dragon] "Thou creature, thou seemest rather foolish among humans. Would this not hurt?"

And here I was worrying about him!

She grimaced. Having gotten off on the wrong foot from the start, she seemed to have been marked as an idiot. Dianna retorted defensively.

[Dianna] "I asked because your wounds haven't been treated at all."

[Dragon] "A dragon's wounds can't be healed by human healing magic."

The conversation felt oddly disjointed, as if it would end immediately if she kept replying with empty acknowledgments.

[Dianna] "I came because I have something to ask."

[Dragon] "The creatures here seem to harbor endless curiosity."

[Dianna] "The man who took your attack in my place is currently lying unconscious."

The dragon slightly raised his chin with an expression devoid of guilt, as if inviting her to continue.

[Dianna] "They say he inherits dragon blood, just like you."

[Dianna] "..."

[Dianna] "And that he possesses an immortal body."

At those words, the dragon raised his head. His eyes widened as he looked at Dianna.

[Dragon] "Ah, no wonder! He is the one who slew Fafnir."

She flinched and nodded. She had assumed the dragon would be enraged at Guiscard for killing his kin. Yet, the dragon maintained an entirely inscrutable, expressionless face.

[Dianna] "He regenerated his body after taking your attack, but he can't regain consciousness."

[Dragon] "..."

[Dianna] "I need help."

She spoke earnestly to the dragon. Remembering Guiscard's motionless face, an unexpected wave of emotion welled up inside her.

[Dianna] "Please help me."

[Dragon] "..."

[Dianna] "Help him wake up."

In the end, this was what she had come to say. Dianna spoke as she looked at the helplessly bound dragon. The dragon remained lost in thought for a long while, staring at her.

[Dragon] "I can't help thee."

[Dianna] "..."

[Dragon] "Creature, I expended all my strength to ensure thy death. Dost thou think even a dragon slayer with an 'immortal' body can recover so easily? Don't even your kind understand this?"

His words were undeniable. Her face darkened.

[Dragon] "I, too, have a question to ask."

[Dianna] "Pardon?"

[Dragon] "Hast thou ever met me before?"

Her eyes widened as she shook her head. How could she have ever met a dragon?

The dragon nodded.

[Dragon] "Indeed. I thought as much."

The dragon winced as he moved, inhaling sharply with a grimace of agony. His open wound remained unhealed, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

[Dianna] "How... should your wound... be treated...?"

She looked at the wound. The dragon tilted his head as if bewildered.

[Dragon] "Creature, that is not for thee to worry about."

[Dianna] "But..."

[Dragon] "As I stated earlier, no creature exists capable of healing me. Because this restraint collar prevents my mana from circulating, the wound fails to heal."

[Dianna] "What happens if it goes untreated?"

[Dragon] "Judging by the blood spilled thus far, I suspect I shall perish in about five years."

Die?

She couldn't comprehend this dragon.

[Dianna] "Are you not afraid of death?"

[Dragon] "I fear the events that will unfold thereafter."

Suddenly, Dianna realized that this dragon was answering every single one of her questions. So she asked the thing she was most curious about.

[Dianna] "Why did you try to kill me?"

[Dragon] "I believed thee to be a rift in time."

[Dianna] "A rift in time?"

[Dragon] "A rift refers to that which prevents time from flowing forward, causing it to repeat. A world that doesn't advance holds no meaning. Stopping and repeating continuously is an error. It must be corrected."

So the dragon had attempted to eliminate the error by killing her.

[Dianna] "I never did such a thing. Repeating time or..."

Though she had made a wish before her death, it hadn't seemed particularly significant.

In contrast to her serious expression, the dragon answered casually.

[Dragon] "I know. I realized it only later. Thou art a byproduct of the rift, not the rift itself."

The dragon's face turned pale. Though emotionless by nature, his expression contorted clearly in pain. His arms stretched to either side prevented him from even curling up to cope with the agony.

A hatchling. A remarkably young child. Dianna kept seeing Guiscard's image overlap with his form. The way Guiscard had suffered in her ducal estate.

[Dianna] "If you are set free, will you kill me?"

The dragon looked into her eyes.

[Dragon] "Thou art not the rift, so no."

Hearing that the dragon wouldn't kill her, she gained conviction for the action she had wanted to take all along.

She nodded and reached her hands toward his neck. The slave restraint unlocked with a click.

[Dragon] "Wait…..creature, art thou mad?"

Stripped of his impassive mask, the dragon looked at Dianna with an astonished expression.

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