Chapter 11 Part 7
Arken couldn’t believe it. He kept examining Emilio again and again, insisting that he needed to be kept under observation for several days.
“I would recommend you rest somewhere away from the capital or the Magic Tower while we monitor you.”
“Even the priest said there’s nothing wrong, so what….”
They had already summoned someone from the temple to examine Emilio, in case the dragon had cursed him.
From a human perspective, it might seem ridiculous—but from Kirthalros’s point of view, it was only natural.
Dragons were a species that exploited humans without ever thinking of it as exploitation.
To them, it was simply the natural order—that a stronger predator consumes those weaker than itself.
And since those “insects” had dared to band together and oppose him, it was only right, in his mind, to take revenge.
Anyway… the dragon is dead.
To carry out this operation, many high-ranking mages had suffered internal injuries, but with potions and a few weeks of rest, they would recover.
The fact that there were no casualties at all moved Emilio more than he expected.
Because he had set up a barrier, the shockwaves of the battle hadn’t spread outside, and the ball taking place in another part of the main palace had continued as if nothing had happened.
Aside from a very small number of people, none of the guests visiting the imperial palace knew anything about the incident.
Until the Harvest Festival ended, this matter would not be made public.
Only afterward would it be revealed—to display the authority of the imperial family.
“If the capital hadn’t been at risk, I would’ve liked to fight it myself….”
At Emilio’s regretful muttering, one of Arken’s disciples shot him a disapproving look as he passed by.
Arken let out a small chuckle.
“Even so, you played a part in making sure the dragon couldn’t escape.”
“Well, yeah, but! This might’ve been my last chance to fight a proper dragon.”
Compared to ancient dragons, the ones that still remained were like children next to adults.
Kirthalros had been a being too great to die in a place like this.
But Arken shook his head.
“Dragons are arrogant and cruel creatures. It’s fortunate we were able to end it here.”
The founding emperor of this Empire was said to have slain six dragons and saved the continent.
The current capital and imperial palace had been built by rebuilding the cities those dragons had reduced to ashes.
So hunting another dragon now carried great significance.
“If this is announced to the public, no one will dare challenge His Majesty’s authority.”
“That’s true.”
The fact that the dragon had actually tried to abduct the Empress would be buried.
Rahil would never want her name dragged into something like that.
Emilio, just in case, asked a few of his disciples and a priest to accompany him.
As Arken had suggested, he didn’t plan to leave the capital—but he also had no intention of returning to the Magic Tower.
There was still the matter of the dragon’s palace, and since the temple was nearby, he planned to remain in the capital for the time being.
When he said this, Arken simply nodded, as if he had expected it.
“I will inform His Majesty.”
“Please do.”
As he turned away, Emilio touched his forehead.
The fact that he couldn’t feel anything at all there—made him uneasy.
***
‘I’ve never once been someone’s first choice.’
That had been true for her parents, and for her lovers as well. There had always been another child they cherished more, or a woman they couldn’t forget—yet they chose her as a substitute.
In the beginning, no one ever spoke the “truth.” No one wanted to admit they were second best. Even as they took everything from her, even as they wanted to be her number one, they still treated her that way.
She had cried countless times, watching their backs as they turned away from her. Eventually, even her tears stopped coming.
She had friends, but their comfort could never heal all her wounds. Because she never gave up on loving and being loved, new wounds kept piling on top of the old ones.
In the end, when she gave up on being loved and remained alone, she thought she had finally found some kind of freedom. As for her parents and siblings, she had accepted that they were simply that kind of people—but the one thing she regretted was never having a child.
‘Maybe… a child born of my own flesh and blood would have given me the love I wanted.’
That was why, if she were to be born again, she wanted to have a child.
But then…
‘It couldn’t have been for my sake.’
She didn’t believe she was loved by a god. But neither did she think she was hated. She had only ever wondered—if a god loved everyone, then perhaps that meant no one was truly loved in particular.
The god of her world had sent her soul to the god of another world with ease.
Not even a fragment of her will had been included in that decision.
“What is it that you want from me?”
After a long silence, when she finally asked, the god of that other world seemed to quietly look down at her. The voice of the god was deep and benevolent, but because it was meant for another soul, it felt painful to hear.
—Take upon yourself the scars etched into this child’s soul. If you do… this soul will be able to be reborn in the world you came from…
A faint light stretched into the darkness, as if pointing somewhere across the continent.
—And you, too, will be able to receive a new body and be reborn in this world.
The crouched soul before her stirred her pity—but she herself was afraid.
She felt that once she was cast into that world, there would be no one there to protect her.
The god before her was not a god who loved *her*, but one who loved another soul.
And just look—
Even that soul, which had received the god’s love, had returned so deeply wounded.
*But… how could I possibly refuse this?*
If she refused, she might be punished by an angered god.
She had always known she was never someone’s first choice.
“…I’ll do it.”
She said it aloud, but she was afraid. That fear turned into tears and spilled down her face. She had thought no one would care—
But then light approached her.
—The world has changed. You, too, will be able to find peace here. However… since you have given up your rightful turn for the sake of another soul, I will grant you… gifts.
She understood then.
She had been chosen because her soul bore a similar hue to the crouched soul, and because it had been her turn to be reborn.
If she gave up that turn, she would have to remain asleep for a long time.
But she had already made her choice.
So she accepted the exchange—taking the place of the other soul that rested in the god’s embrace.
The scars left upon that soul were transferred to her as well.
As she drifted into sleep beneath the god’s touch, the final voice she heard was distant.
—The first gift you shall receive is…
***
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