Chapter 71: Twisting Two Fates (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 71: Twisting Two Fates (3)
As Murakan finished explaining the situation, Quicantel blinked in surprise.
[…This is certainly a grave matter. Let’s move first, Murakan. There’s an island not far from here. Follow me.]
Quicantel took flight, pulling ahead. Instead of following immediately, Murakan took a moment to speak with Jin.
[Whew. That was a close call. We both almost died back there. Kid, you alright? I didn't expect you to pull off Sword Liberation like that.]
“I don’t think I’ll get a Spirit Energy Overload like last time, but it feels like every bone in my body is shattered. What about you? It can’t feel great getting ambushed and thrashed by an ex-girlfriend.”
[The dragons of Olta always think they’re so exceptionally noble. If their pride is even slightly wounded, they all act like that. I knew that when I dated her, so it’s my own damn fault.]
“I thought you’d be angrier. That’s unexpected.”
[The more mature one is supposed to be patient. Which means you don’t have to worry about being patient for at least another ten years. Anyway, I’m glad this wasn't a wasted trip. We found the kidnapper as soon as we arrived. Buretta, huh…]
Jin had already asked Murakan about the Wind Dragon Buretta during the Runcandel banquet, on the day Andrei Zipple had been turned away at the gates.
According to Murakan, Buretta was slightly younger than him and held the third-highest status among the dragons of Melzaier, the Wind God.
[This might involve more than just Buretta; the Wind God himself might be involved. I can smell a conspiracy from a mile away. Let’s get moving.]
It took no time at all to catch up to Quicantel. She seemed to be matching her flight speed to the slightly exhausted Murakan, suggesting she hadn’t truly intended to kill him from the start.
The two dragons landed on a deserted island in the waters near Viment. As soon as they touched down, they shifted into their human forms.
Jin couldn't help but flinch when he saw the transformed Quicantel. The image of the crazed dragon firing Breaths just moments ago was gone, replaced by a woman so breathtakingly beautiful that he could hardly recognize her.
“This is a deserted island. Back in the ocean, other dragons might have overheard us.”
Quicantel didn't seem to trust the Earth Dragon Labus or Untiel very much. Or perhaps she simply didn't consider them her equals.
Murakan shrugged.
For some reason, Quicantel said nothing more and simply stared at Murakan for a long while. It was a gaze that was hard to decipher—somewhere between a glare and a lingering look.
Murakan didn't look away, either.
What is this? Should I give them some space?
Just as Jin was thinking that, Murakan broke the silence.
“We didn't come here for a staring contest. Just explain exactly when Buretta took Latri.”
Quicantel bit her lower lip and sighed.
“Buretta took Latri a year ago.”
It matched the timing of the disappearance that Casimir had mentioned.
“Luring him away with the promise of teaching Dragon Language Magic… that’s a dirty trick.”
“But Murakan, why are you so sure Buretta is harming Latri? He really could be teaching him Dragon Language Magic.”
“Quicantel, the current Contractor of Az Mil is so young she can’t even control her authority.”
“What? Then she’s in danger without her Guardian Dragon.”
“Buretta wouldn’t be ignorant of that. Even if he didn't know, Latri would have told him. He would have said he’d learn Dragon Language Magic later and asked to be sent back for now.”
“Hmm, that is certainly strange. If his intention wasn't to kill the Contractor of Az Mil, he should have sent Latri back a long time ago.”
Quicantel furrowed her brow.
In truth, the danger facing the Contractor of Az Mil wasn't a major concern for her. The one she was sworn to protect was Enya, not the Contractor of Az Mil.
However, Quicantel recalled that Buretta had also shown interest in Enya.
“But how did you know Buretta was involved with Latri?” Murakan asked.
“Buretta stopped by Viment briefly when he was taking Latri away. He claimed it was to introduce Latri to me, but in reality, he was there to see Enya.”
“Who’s Enya?”
When Murakan feigned ignorance, Quicantel unexpectedly revealed Enya’s identity as the Contractor of Olta.
“Anyway, Buretta was quite blatant about wanting to meet Enya personally. I refused several times, but he was unpleasantly persistent.”
“With your personality, you just let him keep pestering you? You only gave him a polite refusal? What’s the matter, Quicantel? Are you afraid of the Zipples now?”
“Hmph, it’s not that I’m afraid of the Zipples. I had no choice. The Viment high command already knows Enya is a contractor, and many of them are in league with Andrei Zipple.”
Enya’s official status, on the other hand, was that of a scholarship student at the Magic Academy.
If Quicantel had picked a fight with Buretta out of annoyance, the Zipple spies within the academy could have made life difficult for Enya.
“…If I had acted on my temper and put Enya in a difficult spot, I would have failed as a Guardian Dragon. Regardless, hearing about Latri makes me think Buretta’s attempt to approach Enya back then also had some foul intent.”
“Ha! And you were just trying to kill my contractor a moment ago.”
“I didn't know there was a human on your back. If I had known it was the Contractor of Solderet, I wouldn't have gone that far.”
“I’m sure.”
A brief silence followed.
“Murakan.”
“Speak, kid.”
“In Enya’s case, her contract is already known to the Viment authorities, but the Contractor of Az Mil hasn't been revealed to the world yet.”
Jin deliberately avoided mentioning Yuria’s name. He didn't trust Quicantel that much yet.
“Then how did he approach Latri in the first place? Seeing as he hasn't sent him back, he clearly knows about the existence of the Contractor of Az Mil. He even seems to know that the contractor is young.”
“That’s true. Hmm… while I was asleep for a thousand years, did someone invent some kind of magic to detect contractors?”
Quicantel shook her head.
“There’s no way such magic exists. Whether it was a thousand years ago or now, no one can recognize a contract until the contractor manifests their authority.”
“You never know. I hate to admit it, but those Zipple bastards are a formidable bunch.”
“Even if such magic existed, what would they gain by finding contractors…?”
“They gain two major advantages,” Jin answered for her. “A contractor outside of their control is a threat, so they can eliminate them in advance. Also, if a contractor dies, it creates an opportunity for the Zipples to form a contract with that god themselves.”
Quicantel turned her head toward him.
“…Just for that? They already hold immense power. One or two contractors wouldn't be much of a threat.”
“I don't know about dragons, but human greed for power knows no bounds. And if enough of those individual contractors gather together, they can certainly become a threat.”
It was a difficult concept for Quicantel to grasp. She couldn't imagine a family already at the pinnacle of the world going to such lengths.
However, Murakan nodded as if he agreed.
“It’s possible. I know the Zipples' greed better than anyone. So let’s assume this: First, they have a way to detect contractors. Second, they intend to eliminate any contractors who aren't Zipples.”
“Wait. Why jump to such an extreme conclusion? We can just meet Buretta and ask him.”
“Stop being so naive, Quicantel. If you were a kidnapper, would you just cooperate if we asked? Get your head in the game. From where I’m standing, that kid Enya seems to be in danger too.”
It wasn't just that Enya seemed to be in danger; she was definitely in danger.
In a few years, Enya would be murdered by the Zipples, and not a single line about it would appear in the news. Instead, a pure-blooded Zipple would become the new Contractor of Olta, and the news would be plastered all over the world.
As a regressor, Jin was certain. That was the history he had lived through in his previous life.
“As long as I’m watching, Enya is not in danger. No one will be able to harm her until she is fully grown.”
Stop being so frustrating and wake up! If you leave things as they are, Enya will die, Jin thought, biting back the words.
Instead, Murakan raised his voice.
“Quicantel, it doesn't hurt to be careful. You can't be stuck to Enya’s side twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. Just leave Viment. As long as she’s in that academy, Enya’s every move will be reported to the Zipples.”
“That child has never left Viment since the day she was born. Besides, her entire family is here. Are you telling me to uproot her entire life over an uncertain and slim risk?”
“You can only enjoy a life if you’re still breathing. This is advice given for old times’ sake. The choice is yours, I guess.”
“Um… Lady Quicantel, please listen to me for a moment.”
Quicantel turned her gaze to Jin.
“Murakan and I are going to find Latri now. By any means necessary. But if we find Latri imprisoned or injured, and I inform you of that fact… what will you do then?”
“Then…”
Quicantel gritted her teeth.
“I would have to take Enya into hiding.”
“Then hide her in advance. Once something has already happened, it’s too late, no matter how fast you are. Please, make a wise decision.”
“The kid is right, Quicantel. Move the Contractor of Olta and her family to another region first. We’ll meet Buretta, judge for ourselves if he’s trash or not, and let you know.”
Quicantel could no longer cling to her pride. Not only was there nothing wrong with what they said, but she could even feel their sincere concern for Enya’s safety.
They seem more worried about Enya’s safety than I am, and I’m her Guardian Dragon… I should reflect on that.
Whew.
Quicantel let out a sigh and nodded.
“Fine, I’ll do that. And I’ll help you two as well.”
“Ah, forget it. We’ll handle it ourselves. Do you think I’ve become so weak that I can't handle one measly Wind Dragon? Buretta is a dead man.”
“…And how exactly do you plan on meeting Buretta?”
“How else? I’ll release my energy and call him, just like I called you.”
“Do you even know how many dragons the Zipples have right now? Besides, are you really going to take a Runcandel into the Zipples' main base?”
Jin and Murakan both looked at Quicantel in shock.
“Why the surprise? I felt an energy from the kid similar to Temar’s. Did you really think I wouldn't recognize that much?”
“Hmm… Quicantel. You’re still good at keeping secrets, right?”
“I still have some loyalty left toward Temar. Being with his distant descendant brings back old memories.”
Temar, Murakan, and Quicantel used to spend a lot of time together—back when Murakan and Quicantel were dating.
“Anyway, I’ll be the one to call Buretta. He’ll respond to my call easily enough, if only because of Enya. After that, you two can dig the truth out of him yourselves.”