On the Brink of Explosion
Uwooowww
The way Aquir had howled like a beast began to slowly fade away.
His body, tainted by dark magic, was gradually recovering under the blessings of the Gold Dragon.
Rune, sensing it might take some time, pulled out his Mokoji Stone.
What are you all up to?
Heungmi is with Uncle Jed and Dullahan, enjoying the moon!
Correct. The moon is truly beautiful, isn’t it? A bit eerie, though. Rand-nim hasn’t come back yet, but I’m sure he’s fine. When will Rune-nim and Perdikion-nim arrive?
Rune glanced at Belianus and Aquir once more, then tapped his Mokoji Stone.
It’ll take a while. Belianus had a request for me.
A request?
Rune briefly explained the current situation.
Given how difficult it would be to mention the dark magic infiltration, he simply said he was treating his daughter and taking care of his son.
Kya! This scent is fascinating! It smells so intriguing! It’s a pity there’s no body to examine! If only there was even a hand, I could have done some research! What a waste, but there’s nothing to be done about it.
‘The way the words are appearing feels strangely faster.’
With no body, the flow of thought went straight to the text.
In a way, it felt like Jed was talking right beside him.
Speaking of which, the situation looks a little suspicious. The surroundings are tidy and neat, like the home of a high-ranking noble, but they’re actually the residence of an Elf administrator. I don’t know the Elf system well, but I guess he’s the second-in-command of the Elf royal palace. I wonder why all the children of such a person ended up sick. Anyway, from what Heungmi-nim said, he seemed quite strict in character, but since he healed his own son, he might side with Rune-nim!
In a sense, they were achieving similar results.
Those who received the Dark-stained Scent Box’s benefits would grow strong loyalty to Rune and find it hard to disobey his orders.
‘He seems to have a strong, rigid personality, so the influence might not be overwhelming, but he accepted it himself. Some effect is to be expected.’
Perdikion added while watching Rune’s Mokoji Stone.
“These guys are speaking too casually.”
“Jed doesn’t know the full details, and he’s not the type to speak directly to kids. It’s a heavy topic, so once this situation is sorted, I can tell him. The actual situation can wait until we return and explain it ourselves.”
“...Rune, you’re still just a kid.”
“...”
‘That’s true.’
Rune didn’t deny it, instead showing a slightly embarrassed expression.
Perdikion coughed lightly and continued.
“I understand. From your view, Heungmi and Baekya were born later than you.”
“Those two... they do look young.”
Including past lives, they were beings born a thousand years too late, yet their actions carried the pure innocence of childhood.
But what Perdikion truly wanted to say came next.
“Still, a moment ago, I feel like I helped as your brother. Isn’t that right?”
It was easy to sense the hidden meaning behind his denial.
‘Indeed, it would have been hard to hide his dragon lineage even when meeting the Elf King. Since we had no choice but to reveal it, it might have been better to tell them earlier. Otherwise it could have felt like deliberate concealment.’
Perdikion, confident in his decisive action as a powerful one, had made the right choice.
‘If he hadn’t known the situation then, it might have been too late to undo the result.’
Some things become irreversible the moment they are missed.
Thinking about it, Perdikion’s actions had genuinely helped.
Rune accepted his intention with genuine gratitude.
“Indeed. Thanks to you as brother, the work has progressed efficiently. A good judgment.”
“I just weighed the options, that’s all... But I’m glad it helped you.”
Perdikion kept his expression stiff to hide his joy.
Rune wasn’t unaware of the subtle signs — the slight curl at the corner of his mouth, the air of superiority.
‘Fortunately he accepts me. If I showed my own awareness here, he might feel quite embarrassed.’
Pretending not to notice, Rune turned his gaze away and touched the Mokoji Stone.
“After treating my son, I’ll have to talk more with Belianus. Since the conversation might take time, please reassure Rand-nim and make sure Heungmi and Baekya get some rest first.”
“Hic, Rune-nim must be tired too. Heungmi will wait. Please come quickly.”
“Hehehe! Don’t worry, Rune-nim! This Jed can put the kids to sleep with one word! Did I mention it? Once I start talking to the dwarves, they fall asleep so easily! Just hearing my voice makes them relax!”
‘That might not be the same meaning.’
The rough-voiced dwarves working in the forge might have listened to Jed’s nagging with one ear and slept with the other.
Jed, who once kept Dullahan up all night with endless gossip, was something Rune had expected to be closer to reality.
But Heungmi was a light sleeper, so Jed’s storytelling with his unique charm would likely suit her perfectly.
‘Good results are good results.’
Rune wrapped up the conversation and closed the Mokoji Stone.
Then he turned to watch Aquir, who was now murmuring softly in words instead of beast-like sounds.
The protruding fangs had returned to their normal size, and the faint discoloration on his skin was fading back to normal.
Every so often, pained groans escaped him.
He would wipe cold sweat from his brow and scratch at the floor.
Yet despite it all, Aquir stood his ground in silence, eyes meeting Belianus’s with quiet endurance.
‘Impressive. Even as his own child, this scene wouldn’t be something ordinary eyes could bear.’
Strictly speaking, the recovery process was a painful sight for any living being.
Dead flesh shedding, new flesh growing.
Pus and rotten blood being vomited, new blood filling the gaps.
The face of someone torn between the instinct to kill and the elf’s own self.
To an ordinary person, he would have seemed less a son and more a vessel for a demon.
Belianus’s face, pale with fatigue and set in grim lines, showed how deeply painful and shocking it was to watch.
‘He possesses a strong will. He’s unlikely to be a mere administrator.’
Belianus’s eyes, filled with firm belief and support, sparkled with hope as he gazed at his son’s transformation.
Rune felt a quiet satisfaction.
‘Looking back, we’ve unexpectedly gained an ally.’
Belianus’s request had been impulsive and private.
As someone who valued dignity enough to end his life as an elf, he would surely repay this private aid.
‘And as an elf royal official, he’ll be busy for a while.’
Among the things Belianus would hear, elf secrets would surely be included.
Aquir’s treatment was one thing, but before speaking, Rune had waited until the box’s influence was strong enough to ease any reluctance.
***
Belianus himself carried his unconscious son up the stone stairs one by one.
He was taking Aquir to the most comfortable, well-ventilated room after passing the dangerous crisis.
His muscles were still not fully recovered, so his clothes were soaked with sweat and his legs trembled.
As he opened the wooden door at the top of the stairs he had climbed on the way up, the guard turned and gasped in shock.
“By the heavens, what is this? Belianus-nim and even Aquir-nim!”
“Quietly. Do not tell anyone. Go ahead.”
The guard elf, standing at the entrance to the stone stairs, pressed his lips tight and nodded firmly.
Rune examined the body on Belianus’s back.
Dark magic had so severely tainted him that faint scars remained.
Yet his breathing was steady, and exhaustion would recover with rest and hydration.
With enough rest, he would fully heal.
Belianus reached the door to the room, changed his son’s clothes, and stepped inside, saying he would call again later.
‘The remaining dark magic is mine now, so there should be no problems... but another worry lingers.’
Outside the room, Rune recalled the tense scene from the underground chamber earlier.
Belianus had endured until Aquir fell unconscious from exhaustion.
He had collapsed too.
Rune had seized the gap and approached both of them.
Then, carefully, he gripped the hand Belianus had extended and examined the unconscious Aquir.
‘Hmm.’
Tuk.
When Rune touched the back of Aquir’s hand with his index finger, Perdikion immediately glared at him as if he wanted to rip it away.
Instantly, the Dragon Fear command struck him.
[Rune, what are you doing?]
[It’s fine. You know it too. Those exposed to the box cannot feel hostility toward me.]
[I’ve never used this on an enemy. Moreover, the one who was turned into a demon.]
Perdikion immediately grabbed Rune’s shoulder and tried to pull him back.
At that moment.
Thud.
Belianus, who had been thought unconscious, grabbed Perdikion’s ankle.
Both of them were startled by the unexpected action and stared at him.
Belianus opened his eyes wide and looked at Perdikion.
Then he shook his head slightly but clearly.
“Let go.”
It was a command mixed with Dragon Fear.
But the firm-faced elf trembled all over and continued shaking his head, as if nothing else remained.
The atmosphere turned dangerous in an instant.
Rune poured a small amount of his own darkness into Aquir’s body.
‘! Found it.’
Dark magic overpowered by Christina’s power was detected.
Rune swallowed the power with his darkness and began reclaiming it.
But Perdikion could no longer tolerate the scene.
His face twisted in rage, and the young heir of the Red Dragons clenched his fists as if making a decision.
Soon he pulled a sword from his dimensional pouch.
“If your son harms my brother, I will cut off his hand.”
A declaration of no room for negotiation.
After a few heartbeats between Perdikion and Belianus’s tense breathing.
“It’s done. The dark magic has been reclaimed.”
Rune quickly withdrew his hand and stepped back several paces.
Perdikion, checking on his brother, also sheathed his sword after a moment.
Even now, the situation was on the brink of explosion.
‘Right now, with the son’s emergency, he might lack the mental space to question me. But I wonder how I’ll explain it later.’
The time Rune spent checking and reclaiming the dark magic was no more than the time to drink a glass of water.
They had fought together in the Water Lair, so he had expected some leeway, but Perdikion’s speed had exceeded his expectations.
“Please come in.”
While Rune was lost in thought, Belianus opened the door and stepped out.