Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Magic Stones (1)
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The Absolute Ruler of Darkness gazed past Shasha's slightly surprised face at the leader of the Tiinus Merchant Group.
Or, to be more precise, she spotted the blatantly obvious traces of a 'contract' that anyone could see.
Of course, others might not notice, but the Absolute Ruler of Darkness, who had spent a long time around that guy, could easily discern it even through the crystal orb.
Right there in the merchant leader's eyes, she could see the aura emanating from the Tiinus group head.
...Same as always, lurking in the shadows like a pervert.
Clicking her tongue in disdain, the Absolute Ruler felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest, wrinkling her brow without realizing it.
As she questioned this fleeting emotion, she soon realized its source.
...I can't see it myself.
It was envy.
As far as the Absolute Ruler knew, that sleazy half-human, half-dragon's contract allowed sensory sharing with her partner.
In other words, unlike the responsible Crimson Scale Dragon who had to watch from afar through someone else's body, she was indulging in guilt-free pleasure up close.
"Hah."
Scowling in irritation, the Absolute Ruler turned to Shasha.
Shasha wore a baffled expression.
"...By any chance, do you know a spell for sensory sharing?"
A pang of envy and unfairness toward the dragon reveling in carefree bliss slipped out as a question.
"Figures... Unlike her partner, you're not much help..."
Shasha's flustered expression prompted a response laced with petty spite, though it wasn't her fault.
By the time Shasha looked both confused and unjustly accused, Adria had already slipped out of the Absolute Ruler's view and reached the merchant group's office.
"Haa..."
The moment she stepped inside, Adria let out a deep sigh and spoke.
"Dragon, why did you have to tremble like that?"
The reason Adria had stuttered when first meeting Kim Hyunwoo was that she wasn't controlling her own body at the time—the Crimson Scale Dragon had temporarily taken limited control.
Knowing this, Adria had done it to give Lartania's lord, who lit up just at the sight of the dragon, a chance to converse, even briefly.
Of course, the excessive trembling had led to an immediate switch back...
"Hard?"
"Your body is back in the lair..."
Adria sat at her office desk, responding to the Crimson Scale Dragon, who spoke as if she'd been utterly scorched despite not uttering a single word.
"Even so, not managing a single word won't do..."
"Just to ask... did this happen before too?"
"Yes. Ten years ago."
"Then why not chat like you did back then?"
"..."
Adria pondered with a strange look as the dragon's voice turned sullen. After a moment's thought, she replied.
"Hmm, that doesn't seem like a good idea. Your ultimate goal is to build affinity and earn the lord's forgiveness, right?"
"Then we need to start practicing now."
Adria hummed thoughtfully before continuing.
"Setting greetings aside... You couldn't even manage that because you didn't know what to say, right?"
"How about starting with a topic you like?"
"Yes. Conversations usually start by tossing out a topic. If talking like old times is tough, begin with simple ones like that."
"Next time should be easier. We're preparing a gift the lord will love, and he even said it'd be nice to meet you. So we have to practice, right?"
"..."
Adria wondered if the dragon—whose voice swung wildly between gloom and glee like bipolar disorder—was okay.
With a sigh at the dragon's musing, Adria turned to her work.
She had to fulfill her guardian dragon's wish, but also run the merchant group.
Duke Randaron's office overlooked countless barracks, but since his return from the Norba Kingdom, it had become a suffocatingly heavy space.
One wrong word, and eight secretaries and maids had already died by his hand.
Soldiers, maids, and attendants near the office could barely breathe freely.
The source of this oppressive atmosphere, Duke Randaron, said,
"I'm extremely pissed."
He was meeting someone in a dark red hood.
His appearance was hidden.
But a few things were clear: the voice from under the hood grated like scraping metal, it belonged to a man, and he was utterly unaffected by the duke's heavy mood.
"Then, do I look any less furious?"
"No, I imagine you're plenty angry. Being openly checked like that."
Grimacing at the raspy voice, Duke Randaron snapped,
"Hey, how long do I have to endure this humiliation? How much more squealing from those weaklings do I have to listen to?!"
Growling, the duke pressed on.
But the hooded man remained relaxed.
"Just a bit longer."
"Hah, a bit longer? Do you know how long I've waited already?!"
"Of course. You've faithfully followed our orders—from assassinating the previous duke to everything since. You've been exemplary in your patience with our plan."
Flashing sinister fangs and a thick smirk through the hood, as if mocking him, the man soon stood.
"So, just a bit longer. Yes... one month should do it."
"...One month?"
"Yes. After a month, we begin. Everything will be ready by then."
"...What preparations?"
Duke Randaron questioned.
The man in the hood, still baring sharp teeth, replied,
"Preparations for you to become king. And for us... to reveal ourselves and rule the world."
About two weeks passed since then.
A time that felt long if long, short if short.
But to Kim Hyunwoo, a month wasn't that long.
The past two weeks had been packed with tasks, and he only noticed the month's end because
a notification signaling the end of the labyrinth city popped up before his eyes.
"...Why pop up at 21 hours, not 24?"
"Huh? Why?"
"...You pop up all of them?"
Surprised at Loria's sheepish admission that even minor alerts were her doing, Kim Hyunwoo made a curious face for a moment.
"It's fine."
He waved it off casually to the apologetic Loria.
If it were a real emergency, it might've been disorienting, but he was okay now.
The labyrinth package ending was expected, and he'd prepared for it.
Thus,
"Guards."
"Yes!"
"I'm giving a speech in the square. Gather some people."
"Understood!"
Kim Hyunwoo stood, saying that.
"Alright, shall we head underground?"
He stepped toward the massive stockpile of magic stones.