Chapter 231: The Power of the Black Dragon (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 231: The Power of the Black Dragon (4)
“Screams?”
As Jin tilted his head in confusion, Misha scooped Murakan up into her arms.
“Meow?”
[Miya?]
“And under no circumstances are you to enter this room.”
Just what kind of treatment was she planning?
His curiosity was piqued, but Jin decided not to ask. Since she was the only one in the world capable of restoring Murakan, worrying was pointless.
Whatever the method, it’s clearly going to be an incredibly agonizing treatment. Hang in there, Murakan.
Murakan, nestled quietly in Misha’s arms, had no inkling of the pain that was about to befall him.
“I’ll leave him in your hands, Misha.”
“See you later.”
Click!
The sound of the door closing felt unusually heavy. Jin and Shuri blinked at each other.
Then, only a few seconds later, a scream erupted.
Kyahaaaak!
The sharp, frantic screech of a cat in agony pierced through the firmly closed door. Kyahak, Kyaaaak! Startled, Shuri began scratching at the wood as if pleading for it to be opened. The noise was enough to make one’s skin crawl.
[Miyaaa…!]
“Hey, Shuri. Misha is just treating Murakan. Don’t worry.”
“…It seems she’s started.”
Quicantel, who happened to be passing through the hallway, came to a stop beside Jin.
Though Jin had just told Shuri not to worry, he couldn't truly feel at ease himself. He was about to ask Quicantel if everything would be alright. Since she had spent the night talking with Misha, he figured she might have heard something more.
However, Quicantel’s expression was grim.
She stood with her arms crossed, biting her nails. She looked beyond anxious—she looked almost guilty, like someone who had committed a crime.
“Quicantel?”
“Phew, I hope the idiot can endure it.”
“Endure what?”
Anxiety began to spread through him like a poison.
“Ah, did Misha not tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“This treatment isn't just about returning Murakan to his original form. If it were only that, there would be no need to worry. Misha plans to restore Murakan’s old power as well.”
Kyahaak! Kyaaaak!
Murakan’s screams continued to echo from behind the door. There was also the sound of something like gears grinding, but Misha’s voice was nowhere to be heard.
“When you say he has to endure it… does that mean Murakan could die if something goes wrong?”
“Ah, no, it’s not that. If his life were on the line, Misha wouldn't have proceeded without telling you.” Quicantel waved her hand dismissively.
“Then what is it?”
“She said that if the procedure fails, his life won't be in danger, but he’ll lose all the power he has left.”
Jin’s eyes widened. For a moment, a surge of anger toward Misha rose within him. If the procedure carried such a risk, she should have at least consulted him or Gilly.
But on the other hand, it made sense.
Murakan… he would have definitely said yes, even with those risks.
The stories Jin had heard—from Murakan himself and those around him—described a level of strength that couldn't even be compared to his current state. He had been capable of going toe-to-toe with Temar Runcandel. It was said he overwhelmed every dragon in the sky. The martial prowess Jin had witnessed firsthand when Murakan faced Paitel’s avatar in Julian was nothing short of terrifying. The title ‘Great Black Dragon’ was more than fitting.
Yet, that same Murakan was currently in a state where he couldn't be considered stronger than Quicantel—or even Jin, the very person he was supposed to protect. If they were to face a life-or-death situation, it would be Jin protecting Murakan, not the other way around.
There was no way Murakan wouldn't want this procedure.
While not every guardian dragon in the world was stronger than their contractor, the general mindset of guardian dragons was that they should at least be ‘sufficient.’
As if reading Jin’s thoughts, Quicantel spoke again.
“Misha acts like she hates Murakan, but she came running the moment she heard something was wrong. She’ll do her best, so let’s just wait quietly for a few days.”
“What did she say the success rate was?”
“She said it’s about fifty-fifty.”
“That’s not too low, then.”
“Goodness, what is that noise? It sounds like a cat screaming in agony. Could it be Murakan…?”
This time, it was Gilly who had stopped in the hallway.
When Quicantel explained the situation, Gilly’s face turned pale. Jin took her trembling hand. She reached the same conclusion as Jin: she wondered why they hadn't been told beforehand, but then realized Murakan would have certainly made this choice himself.
None of the three could bring themselves to leave the hallway.
Naturally, their companions began to arrive one by one, and the crowd in front of the door grew.
“Oh, Lord Murakan…! It hurts just listening to it. Young Master, how worried you must be.”
“Young Master, Gilly. I’m sure he will overcome this.”
“Please, have something to eat while you wait.”
By lunchtime, all their companions had gathered in the hallway. The screaming continued relentlessly until nightfall, punctuated by the dull thuds of something breaking and the sounds of rupturing flesh.
And just before midnight, for the first time, the companions heard a groan that was unmistakably human.
“Ugh, aaargh!”
It was a completely different sound from the ear-splitting screeches from before; it was definitely Murakan’s voice. From then on, cat screeches and human screams alternated as Murakan was forced to shift between his human and cat forms mid-treatment.
As the companions grew increasingly distressed, the screaming suddenly subsided, and the door opened. The group caught a brief glimpse of the interior: it was covered in bloodstains, and masses of pitch-black spirit energy floated in the air. They couldn't see Murakan.
“Phew!”
Misha stepped out into the hallway, wiping sweat from her forehead. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the gathered companions, then she shrugged.
“What are you all doing here? Is this some kind of show? I see Quicantel must have told you. If you’re planning to complain to me…”
“I have no intention of doing that,” Jin said. “You decided on the procedure because you know Murakan better than we do. Is he alright?”
“For now. But I have to keep this up for a few more days. We’re not at the stage where we can relax yet.”
The wicked smile she had shown earlier was gone, replaced by a look of extreme exhaustion. If no one else could, Jin, as Solderet’s contractor, recognized just how much spirit energy she had expended. The immense power he had felt when they first met had diminished significantly. She was pouring her very soul into this treatment.
“I’m tired. I need to eat and rest.”
“I will prepare something immediately, Misha. Is there anything specific you would like to eat?”
To Gilly’s question, Misha gave a surprising answer. “Strawberry pie. If you don't have that, any other pie made with tart fruit.”
Siblings were siblings, after all.
*
Misha began the treatment around noon every day and finished around midnight. A week passed in this manner. As time went on, the human screams echoing from the room began to outnumber the cat screeches.
“Today is the final hurdle. I don't know why I have to suffer like this because of my pathetic little brother.” Misha looked at Jin and the others, her face hollow.
Whether he cleared that hurdle or not, Murakan would be a dragon once more and rejoin his companions today.
“Aaaargh!”
As the treatment began, screams more violent than ever before erupted from the room. This time, however, no cat screeches were heard at all. The unstable shifting between human and cat forms had vanished.
There was no way to tell how time passed. Everyone barely suppressed their anxiety, their eyes fixed on the firmly closed door. Even if Murakan lost his power, their attitude toward him wouldn't change.
But would Murakan himself be able to endure that? It was that very question that robbed them of their peace of mind.
“It’s almost midnight, Young Master. Please… I hope he’s safe.”
At that moment, the screaming inside stopped. Simultaneously, the clatter of various tools subsided. The companions held their breath, waiting for the door to open.
Click…!
The person who appeared was a man with long, jet-black hair—Murakan. The moment he saw his companions, he broke into a wide grin.
“It’s been a while, everyone.”
“Murakan!”
“Lord Murakan!”
Unlike before, his voice carried a strange sense of majesty. The moment Jin saw Murakan, he was reminded of their first meeting in the basement of Storm Castle. An overwhelming aura, just like the one young Jin had felt back then, emanated from his eyes and his very bearing.
The procedure was a success. The companions sensed it even before Misha could announce the result.
“Kuhahaha! Yes, I am Murakan!”
Suddenly, Murakan burst into a fit of mad laughter. The companions couldn't help but flinch and step back, driven by the immense pressure contained within it.
Crack, cr-crack… shatter!
It was merely laughter, yet cracks were forming in the thick stone walls of the hallway. This was something that would have been absolutely impossible for the Murakan of forty days ago.
“This is it! This is the one! This is the real me! Kuhu, kuhaha—ack!”
Thwack!
Murakan’s head snapped to the side from a blow powerful enough to kill an ordinary person instantly. Misha had stepped out of the room and delivered a heavy smack to the back of his head.
“Have you lost your mind? Who told you to scream so loudly? My eardrums were about to burst from your screaming for a whole week as it is.”
Murakan whipped around and glared at Misha for a moment, then let out another chuckle.
“Anyway, thanks. I owe you one. Since I’m grateful, I’ll give you a hug! Come here.”
“Get lost.”
“Fine, I was just saying it. I don't want to either. Now then, go back to your house. I need to have a celebration with my friends. I’ll send your fee later.”
“Oh, keep talking. It seems you’ve lost all sense of reality just because you got some of your strength back. Get a grip while I’m still being nice.”
“Aren't you gone yet—Ack! Gack!”
Thud, crack, bam!
Murakan’s body flew across the hallway under a barrage of Misha’s fists. Even at a glance, her punches and kicks carried the power of at least an 8-star knight.
Despite taking the hits, Murakan didn't shed a single drop of blood. The companions couldn't decide whether to be more shocked by Misha’s brutal beating or impressed by Murakan’s durability.
“Only about forty percent of your old power has returned, little brother,” Misha said, tossing Murakan aside after pummeling him about twenty times. “That means you could still die if you mess with me.”
“You… you only restored forty percent on purpose, didn't you? Because if you restored it all, I’d be stronger than you!”
“The nerve of you. I’ll give you five seconds. If you don't prostrate yourself and show some gratitude this instant, I’ll turn you back into a cat.”
“Why should I—!”
The moment Murakan was about to shout back, Jin and Gilly grabbed him simultaneously. Then, they forced him down into a prostrate position.
“Thank you for your hard work, Misha,” Jin said.
“You all worked hard waiting, too. But, as much as it irritates me to agree with that idiot, I really should be heading back now.”