171 – Demodoras (3)
The hug ended shorter than expected.
Walk slowly into the wide open arms…
width-
That’s it.
‘It’s dull.’
Compared to the swirling emotions, it is an infinitely simple process. No, that feeling gradually became calmer.
Are you trying to maintain some sort of line? However, assuming that is the case, it cannot explain the calmness of the mind.
but,
Even in the process of reading emotions that were difficult to understand, one thing became clear. The person who resembles Demodoras is forming a very rough relationship with the human in front of him.
“thanks.”
Siron touched his burning face and spoke softly. Demodoras was intrigued by that fresh appearance and raised one corner of his mouth.
“What are you so thankful for?”
“Thank you for doing me a favor.”
“What. To be honest, it’s okay to listen or not. Then it’s axiomatically right to listen.”
“…”
“Did you think it was surprising?”
“No, it isn’t.”
Shiron shook his head in a more relaxed mood.
The fire dragon, Demodoras. A dragon that killed as many allied forces as one-horned Yuma in the past, and an evil dragon that couldn’t forget the grievances of the past and would cause an earthquake enough to collapse the mountain range.
So, Shiron wanted to kill Demodoras, but he felt no remorse. Even if I had a conversation, it was because the root of it was malicious, so I thought I would get angry someday.
However, the Demodoras he was currently facing was clearly different from what Siron knew.
“You have converted. Whatever the reason, what matters to me is now.”
“Aren’t you asking why?”
“I’m curious, but I think I’ll end up regretting it if I ask.”
The word angel came out of Demodoras’ mouth a little while ago. Siron was able to predict who visited this place 500 years ago.
‘Yura. Yura went here.’
Siron lowered his gaze and stared at Latera. The little angel, who had been silent earlier, was blushing and fidgeting.
‘Yura has changed so many things.’
“And, even if you ask me why you converted, nothing will change, right? You are a generous person who would give your heart to someone who almost killed you. And on top of that, you also do me a favor.”
“It’s not a person, it’s a dragon.”
“Whatever.”
“You… have developed quite a crush on me.”
“I am the one who makes sure I get my blessings.”
“is it…”
Demodoras touched his chin as if he was thinking after hearing Siron’s words. Then, as if he had some funny idea, he chuckled and took off the coat he was wearing.
“What are you doing?”
“It was a sudden thought, but I didn’t want to give my heart to you.”
“what?”
What kind of bullsh*t is this? Siron widened his eyes and was astonished. Latera, who was blushing next to him, also glared at me with a twinkle in her eye and a look full of hostility.
“How! Are you changing your words now?”
“Don’t get me wrong, you’re half an angel. I also had some expectations when you heard that you would definitely get the reward.”
“…”
“I don’t want to give you my heart, but I want to make a contract to leave it to you for a while.”
After Demodoras finished speaking, he created a black blade. The blade, imbued with tremendous power at the tip, penetrated between the pure white breast peaks and spewed out a dark, slimy liquid.
Demodoras put his hand through the black gap, waved his hand a few times, and then pulled out his clenched fist.
Distorting his face from the pain of having his organs pulled out alive, Demodoras held out a lump that repeatedly contracted and relaxed.
“A contract? Rather than that, is it the heart? Rather than the heart…”
“Isn’t it beautiful? Just like a jewel.”
The black jewel wriggled here and there, growing bigger and smaller… Siron looked closely at Demodoras’ hand with curious eyes.
“I’d like to show you in more detail, but there’s no time to waste. Since my heart was taken out, I’ll only be able to remain in human form for about three hours. I’ll have to do a transplant before then.”
“No, what is a lease? Shouldn’t that be explained to you and your heart ripped out?”
“I’m not saying I’m going to give you my heart for the rest of my life, but I’m saying I’m going to give it to you for a set period of time.”
‘Is it time attack again…’
Siron was conscious of the devil’s mark engraved on the soles of his feet. A gruesome contract that promises to take your eyes and arms if you fail to kill the demon within a set time.
“How many years has it been…”
“You smell strongly of the devil. You most likely made the contract through a soul or an equivalent body part. I do not want my heart to fall into the hands of devils, so I will only lend it for a shorter period of time.”
“…Make it 20 years.”
“Okay, after 20 years, you come here yourself and return the heart.”
Demodoras smiled and nodded in satisfaction. 20 years will pass in just a few nights of sleep. I don’t know what it would be like for humans, but for dragons, it would be no different from a fleeting moment. But Demodoras is a dragon. She wanted to get something more from Siron.
“And, let’s find a living dragon together.”
“…Aren’t all dragons extinct?”
“We didn’t go extinct. Aren’t I shamelessly still alive here?”
“You might be the only surviving dragon.”
“That’s something to think about later. There will be another way then.”
“…”
“If you’re done talking, get off your ass quickly. It’s already been a while.”
At Demodoras’ words, Siron took off his clothes and threw them away. It was so cold that frost formed when you exhaled, but Siron barely felt the chill.
“Turn your back and it will sting a little…”
Deeply-
“hmm?”
“Why again?”
“you…”
Demodoras frowned as he looked at his back without a single drop of blood. He clearly pushed his heart in with all his might, but his skin swallowed it without any resistance, as if it were an amorphous monster.
A slime, a homunculus, or a chimera with similar characteristics. Demodoras couldn’t figure out what the hell this human was doing to his body.
“…it’s done. It doesn’t matter.”
“What’s up, you’re crazy.”
“Okay, so check it out.”
Shiron clicked his tongue and closed his eyes at the scolding he received. Certainly, I felt a foreign body sensation that had not existed before remain in my chest.
But I didn’t feel uncomfortable or anything. A refreshing sensation spread throughout the body, as if a stiff muscle pain was relieved, to the point that I wondered if it was the feeling of a clogged blood vessel opening.
“Something… cool.”
“Is that all? Try using magic.”
Yes, it’s magic.
A long-cherished wish that I was possessed by in a fantasy-like world and could not actually write about. In order to check on him, I had to see if he could use magic right away.
However, a problem arose that I could not address. Siron stuck his finger in the air and gave it some strength before turning his head towards Demodoras.
“Why are you doing that? Is there some problem?”
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“Magic… how do you use it?”
“Starting with that, you really tried to kill me without a plan.”
“Why isn’t there a solution? Even if it’s not about grafting, learning magic from Seira is enough.”
“Who is Seira?”
“There you are, the greatest wizard in the world.”
“…That’s a name I’ve never heard of.”
Demodoras sneered at Siron.
“You don’t have to lie out of shame.”
“There is? He was cursed to be forgotten by people…”
“That’s right. Mortals always make mistakes. Telling lies to avoid an immediate crisis is also a foolish thing that mortals often do.”
“That’s because I said no.”
“Being the greatest wizard in the world is also a problem. No, honestly, it’s a bit unpleasant.”
Demodoras felt the fire in his heart that he had forgotten grow bigger.
“This body is alive and well, but you’re the greatest wizard? You don’t even have the arrogance of a frog in a well.”
“You can’t use magic anymore, right? Then not right away.”
“…When you come to return the heart. Bring someone who is Seira or something.”
“Okay, then you two can either compete or figure it out on your own.”
“…First, let me teach you a simple chant.”
Demodoras cleared his throat and grabbed the back of Siron’s hand.
“I will start by being conscious of the mana that resides at my fingertips and chanting.”
“Is it necessary to chant?”
“If you are a talented person or someone who has been skilled in mana for a long time, there is no need for chanting. You can awaken mana with a simple hand gesture or specific action. Chanting is just a kind of auxiliary device that embodies mana more according to the caster’s will.”
If you want to shoot a fireball, just imagine it accordingly, extract the appropriate amount of mana, and process it. Demodoras’ explanation was easy to understand even for a layman.
“Follow me, …light that embraces the darkness.”
“…the light that surrounds the darkness.”
“Reveal.”
“Reveal.”
Wow-
As soon as the short chant ends.
A small blob of light rose from my fingertips. I don’t feel any warm or sacred energy. The light that coldly illuminated the darkness was not holy power, but clear magic.
“Magic…”
“Wow, that’s amazing, hero! You succeeded in one go!”
Latera jumped up and down as if it were her job, and Siron looked at his fingertips with an ecstatic expression.
Although it was a shabby light compared to the divine power that the holy sword was emitting, I felt indescribably moved, perhaps due to the recoil of not being able to use mana.
“The transplant was a success.”
Demodoras patted Siron’s back with a satisfied smile. A warrior who is so happy that he succeeded in just one luminescent spell. I felt somewhat proud of the sight, which was completely different from the way I was pointing the knife just a moment ago.
It is rewarding to be a teacher. But unfortunately, this is the end of my role as a teacher.
“Now, try to get out. I have to lock the door.”
“…Thank you. I will definitely come back.”
“Yes, be sure to come. This is my first time teaching magic to someone else, so I feel a bit regretful.”
But removing the shadow of death comes first. Demodoras tried to erase his regret.
Thankfully he’s finally connecting the dots and has figured out that Yura was there. Quite a bit lame that the heart is only being loaned to him though. However, I guess by that time he really won’t need it if he has already solved everything requiring the usage of mana.