Chapter 59

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 59

Chapter Title: Fucking Thing

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Silver Star's sudden confession left me too stunned to respond or even ask questions.

'What the hell is this all of a sudden?'

Ah, so the activated Toolsep had put me in danger, and that's why Silver Star stepped in so boldly.

Lies.

'How long will it take...?'

What a selfish bastard I am.

Asking something like that when she's trying so hard to act tough.

But was the reason Silver Star didn't warn me in advance really because she didn't know?

Or was it to spare me the agony of conflict?

Maybe I even knew deep down that Silver Star would fall into a deep slumber.

I was so focused on what would help me most that I never considered her.

'Sorry...'

'No. Without you, I...'

Tzzzzzzzt-

A light brighter than the sun burst from the egg.

A blue deeper than the sky engulfed the world.

'Yeah.'

'I won't die until you come back. Hurry.'

Even when she'd barely absorbed a handful of starlight to form the core of divinity, Silver Star slept for days.

This time, she'd poured in all my divine power, the Toolsep, and the full force of her own ability.

It might take months, even years, for her to return.

'At least give me an answer.'

With those wistful final words, Silver Star fell asleep.

I couldn't wake her.

Not even the calamity was something I'd awakened with my own power.

It was possible only because of Silver Star.

'I'll wait until you wake.'

Now, I had one more reason to stay alive.

I felt hurt, sorry, and sad beyond words, but Luke's nature wouldn't let me wallow in sentiment.

'What was that? Pretty sister?'

When I snapped back to reality, there was a woman standing before me.

Silhouetted amid the grayish dust rising from the split rock.

'That body line... No mistaking it for a woman.'

I activated Blue Eye through the haze.

Black hair cascading nearly to her knees, huge black eyes.

Truly perfect...

"Eek-!"

I yelped involuntarily and snatched Yuderg's cloak in a panic.

"Hey-, why take my cloak!"

"You want me to strip mine off, asshole!"

I hurriedly draped Yuderg's cloak over the woman's naked form.

Even bare, she exuded calm serenity.

Her languid gaze, as if she'd lost interest in the world, carried a contagious power of utter helplessness. Helplessness so potent—what a contradiction.

Anyway, that force mesmerized me, half-lidding my eyes without thinking.

"Captain, that look in your eyes is pretty shady."

Yuderg pointed it out with clear displeasure, and Erakins nearby chimed in.

"Drool's about to drip."

Ah, was I doing that?

It was just the intense helplessness making me drowsy.

Without Yuderg and Erakins, I'd have lost consciousness.

"So the captain's a man after all."

Shut it, Fred!

I shook my head vigorously to clear it.

The side effects from the activated Toolsep recovered in seconds.

And as if it had never raged, the Toolsep had quieted. Thanks to Silver Star's tuning.

Even though half its power was gone, it wasn't enough for me to notice.

'I chugged it like an idiot.'

Regulating my breathing like in mana cultivation, I looked into the woman's eyes again.

'Where have I seen eyes like these?'

Obviously, I'd never seen them before.

Yet they felt familiar.

Her large pupils gleamed like jewels, but lacked focus.

'This vibe is just like...'

Aha, she reeks of idiot.

'Lost her marbles? That why she feels familiar?'

I waved my hand in front of her eyes.

"Hey. You recognize me?"

She ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slowly rolled her eyes toward me.

Just in case, I kept Blue Eye trained on her.

She might attack suddenly.

The heat haze that had shimmered like wildfire was gone, and the subtle, searing energy inside her had vanished.

'She's got Toolsep too.'

Hurry up, junkie.

Let's sort this out.

This woman was a dragon.

Awakening, she slurped up half my Toolsep energy.

Silver Star, who could explain why, was asleep.

But it wasn't a total mystery.

'Like jump-starting a dead battery.'

Though she sucked way more than that, anyway.

Now, she's using the absorbed drug energy like a primer to awaken the power dormant within.

'No one else senses it? Only I can because it's Toolsep? Man, it's frustrating without Silver Star.'

The bandits were just awestruck by her beauty; none sensed the power or trembled in fear.

Even the prim Yuderg gaped like he was enchanted, yet chivalrously held the cloak closed over her. His jaw might dislocate soon.

"Goddess—no, fair maiden, how did you end up like this...? Are you alright? I can even give you my pants if needed."

What a load of crap.

Start with your underwear, why don't you.

I silently watched the changes only I could see.

As her power grew, focus returned to her eyes.

'Thinking back to when I was implanted into Luke's body, it's no wonder she's coming to her senses bit by bit.'

When her power finally peaked, I thought I'd hear her voice at last.

But it began to wane again.

'Toolsep alright. Assimilating and vanishing. Still impressive. I struggled like hell to calm my runaway Toolsep, but she just stood there breathing.'

Maybe she's even more extraordinary than I thought.

Considering how she reined in that immense power in an instant.

Huu-

Finally, a sound escaped her lips.

"You okay?"

I asked again, and she stared straight at me.

Then she spoke.

"Fucking thing."

Pardon?

Hm. Strong first greeting.

Calamity-level, huh.

'Did something go wrong?'

No warnings from Blue Eye?

The disconnect between her looks, voice, and words was disorienting.

I didn't expect gratitude for waking her.

'At least act like you know me.'

If only I could read her mind, but I sensed nothing.

Not because she outranked me.

'Blank slate. Head and heart are empty.'

She reeks hardcore of idiot.

Silver Star would've advised me, but she paid the price awakening this airhead and fell into deep sleep.

"Hey. Try saying something else."

"Fucking thing."

Hm, shouldn't have asked.

"Fucking thing."

She repeated it deliberately, like a kid learning a swear.

"Fucking thing."

How many times did she say "fucking thing"?

Taat-!

Suddenly, she bolted through the open entrance.

"Whoa! She's running away!"

I have eyes, you know!

"My cloak!"

Yuderg reached out, but she was already gone.

Her cloak and hair trailed straight back in the air from her speed.

I blocked the others' view of her retreating figure as I tracked her path.

Not that I wanted her all to myself or anything, but it ended up looking that way.

She left the fortress in a flash and raced across the plain like the wind.

"Everyone, stay here and guard the fortress. I'll be back soon."

"Captain, give it your all!"

"Make history!"

I didn't get what ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nonsense they were spouting, but buoyed by the bandits' cheers, I dashed after her.

'I already know where she's headed.'

If you think I'm chasing her for her looks or that naked body like the bandits do, think again.

'Ugh, her ass is killer too. Wait, no.'

Hold up!

Fwhoosh-!

Light body kicking off the ground, then heavy after leaping to avoid going too high.

'Seems I'm faster than that naked chick. Right, Silver Star?'

Ah, Silver Star's asleep.

I could've caught her but hung back deliberately.

No, not to ogle her ass or anything...

She glanced back once but kept running without a word.

Caught off guard, I raised my voice.

"I'm following 'cause I'm curious where you're going! Didn't wanna run beside you and get in the way!"

Running this fast felt novel.

I'd held back around the bandits, but even at full throttle, I couldn't have matched this before.

'So this is what it meant for Toolsep to activate breaking the seal.'

My body started swelling in places.

Faster to list what wasn't.

If I had to pick ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spots without heat, maybe my eyelids.

'Why's this damn body acting up now of all times.'

Others cultivate mana just sitting still, but not me.

I trained moving early on, taming the berserk drug energy.

So I can control it.

Especially now without Silver Star—I have to.

She told me.

Don't die.

'Did I make Silver Star sleep by doing something stupid?'

No.

I needed a strong ally, so I awakened that naked one.

And Silver Star sleeping was inevitable.

I kept reassuring myself like that.

Even at high speed, my body gradually stabilized.

'Fuckin' "fucking thing."'

It irked me a bit having to backtrack.

Despite the distance, I arrived in one go.

'Knew this'd happen—could've had the bandits wait here.'

Phaaaaa-

I exhaled long, like an old man finishing exercises.

The former-dragon woman entered the cabin.

I yelled after her.

"Didn't touch anything inside! Bandits tried, but I stopped 'em! You listening?!"

Listening?! Listening?!

Only an embarrassing echo shook the woods.

"Fucking thing."

She's swearing again.

"Fucking thing."

Grumbling leaked from the cabin.

I hadn't done wrong, yet I shrank back.

Bored waiting aimlessly, I crossed my arms and paced.

The dry grave caught my eye.

Just a day later, the flowers I'd planted wilted.

"By my command-."

I conjured a small raincloud over the grave.

This trick was getting routine.

Fun too, and barely taxing. Probably because my mana capacity expanded interacting with the calamity.

As the grave moistened, footsteps approached from behind.

"Fucking thing."

Is that all she knows?

The potty-mouth dragon sidled right up beside me.

Startled inwardly, I kept my cool and didn't budge an inch.

'Damn, heart's racing.'

The dragon, eyes on the grave, finally used non-swear vocabulary.

"These the old man and granny?"

"Yeah. I buried 'em. Just ashes left in the bed."

"Hoo-, fucking thing."

I slowly turned to appraise her.

She wore a mini dress like my t-shirt.

It resembled the sack we'd used to move the elders' remains.

Worn with holes, but somehow covered the essentials.

Over it, Yuderg's red cloak, stolen back.

She seemed to like it, fidgeting with the hem while sneaking glances at me.

"Fucking thing. This-."

"Take it."

A mere cloak was a small price for winning favor. Wasn't even mine.