Joshua looked at with a grim expression.
“The Emperor won’t just let this go.”
“I can’t let it go either!”
‘I can’t let Mari die like this.’
Of course, I’m not a good person.
I have no justice or conviction.
If I were a good person, I wouldn’t have been handing out bribes all this ti.
I don’t want to be good only when it suits .
But I do know one thing.
Leaving an innocent child to die is sothing only trash would do.
And no matter what, I can’t stand to see Grimier kill the child to achieve his goals.
Suddenly, the ground trembled faintly.
All the strong ones beside looked out the window at once.
They sensed the approaching source of power.
“It’s Lagon...”
“Yeah.”
“...”
Balzac spoke, Joshua answered, and Richmond quietly stared out the window.
‘Good thing Masah was sent away early.’
If she had been here, she might have fainted.
Strong sparks burst from the seal surrounding Mari.
“Ugh!”
Cain Lord barely blocked the sparks after pouring his mana into ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) it for a long ti.
“Fine, summoning a dragon is one thing. But what are you going to do after calling it?!”
Dad, supporting Cain Lord with mana, looked at .
Cain Lord shouted,
“The Gate of the Four Beasts is already open! Our only job is to stop the impurities coming out! So Mari’s body doesn’t get taken!”
“Think of it like that,”
I grinned and said,
“Simply put, it’s like a strong wind blowing on the opposite side, so we can’t close the door here, right?”
“What’s blowing inside the Gate isn’t as easy as a strong wind—”
MBTI type T, huh...
I nodded at Cain Lord, who corrected properly, and said,
“Well, then all we have to do is close it from the other side.”
“The other side? You an inside the Gate?”
Cain Lord gasped, made a mistake, then furrowed his brow deeply.
“It’s hard enough to stop it, but how could we enter there! Even with a dragon’s power, only those connected to the linked dinsion can go inside!”
In other words, only Earthlings can go to Earth.
I said confidently,
“There is soone who can enter.”
“...What?”
“Huh?”
“What...?”
“Wait.”
“You don’t an?”
Dad, the brothers, and Alexis looked at .
Han Jihyuk’s face stiffened.
“Could it be...?”
“Yeah, soone who was Earthling before—”
He crossed his arms in an X and stepped back with a start.
“I-I still want to live!”
“...”
“N-no, that’s not how it is. Even if I’m used like a tool, I’m not really a tool—”
“...Not you.”
Han Jihyuk looked at and said “Huh?”
I pointed at myself with my index finger.
“...!”
“...!!”
Dad, the brothers, Alexis, Cain Lord, and even Han Jihyuk all gasped.
“You’re crazy?!”
Balzac yelled loudly.
Joshua, unusually excited, shouted too.
“You might not co back!”
“That’s why I’m going with Lagon.”
“What?”
“The Gate might throw out, but Lagon will repel it.”
I’ve never seen dragons appear on Earth.
Besides, this Gate was opened by Jörmungandr.
Any other dragon would definitely be repelled.
I tied my hair and said,
“I just have to grab the doorknob and get bounced back.”
I could feel Lagon above the manor.
Since Lagon was still a young dragon, not big like others, he could perch on the manor.
I jumped out the window.
‘Good thing it’s the first floor.’
Lagon growled and lowered his neck.
I patted Lagon’s scales and said,
“Push inside there. Can you do it?”
The world shook loudly as the cutest Lagon howled fiercely.
I shouted inside the room.
“Uncle! Get ready!”
Cain Lord looked at Dad.
“...Your daughter’s crazy.”
“She’s smart. I trust my daughter.”
“Damn it...”
Cain Lord shouted at .
“Begin!”
“Yeah!”
“5, 4, 3...!”
I dashed inside the room again.
Leapt over the window and charged into the seal.
“...1!”
Cain Lord, family, and Alexis cut off their mana briefly.
At that mont, whoosh! I floated.
Startled, I looked back to see the light flowing out of Lagon becoming a small dragon carrying .
‘This cutie! When did you learn to do this?’
Light poured from all over his body.
It was so bright it hurt my eyes.
But soon, a black door appeared ahead.
From inside the door flowed a flickering yellow light.
‘There!’
I tapped Lagon’s neck who carried .
“Let’s go, Lagon.”
Grrruuurk!
Lagon roared sharply and charged toward the door.
The wind swirled fiercely.
The force was so strong Lagon staggered.
‘Source of power! I have to find the source... see!’
I unleashed mana toward that place.
Then...
“Huh?”
“Grk...”
The wave suddenly stopped.
‘Success?!’
Just as I was relieved.
My body wobbled. A strange unease surged.
“Ah, wait a mont.”
The door really closed, right?
‘No way sothing bigger is waiting...’
Then.
The wind blowing out suddenly changed direction.
Whoooosh!!
Like a vacuum cleaner, an imnse gale tried to suck in.
“W-wait, wait! Lagon!”
“...Grk?”
“I’m getting sucked in! I’m gonna die! Hold , Lagon!”
“Grrruk!”
Lagon barely grabbed with his claws as I floated and was pulled toward the door.
“Waaah! Lagon!”
“Grk! Grrruurk!”
Was I imagining it, or did Lagon’s, no, precisely ‘Lagon’s soul’s’ eyes seem to scold ?
Geez, this master always does dangerous things!
...That was the look.
“L-Lagon, I’m getting sucked in!”
“Grrrrrrrr!”
“Ah! Lagon!”
[Geez!]
...What?
Letters appeared over Lagon’s body.
It seed to be because of the blessing strengthened by the land of blessings.
“L-Lagon?”
[Master, idiot, idiot master!]
“Id-idiot?”
[Lagon told not to be dangerous. But master is always dangerous.]
“...Sorry.”
[Lagon said humans mustn’t be eaten. Master, no danger.]
“Yeah, really sorry...”
[Lagon bends his back to protect master.]
“...”
[Blue dragon is angry. Scared, scared. But Lagon, stay strong.]
It seed afraid because it felt Jörmungandr’s wrath in this space. Still, it said it was trying hard.
“S-sorry... but Lagon, could you hold tighter?”
[Geez!]
I deeply felt like a reckless parent.
Lagon’s eyes glead.
He let out a mighty roar and carried back toward the original side.
“Well done, well done! Love you, Lagon!”
[Lagon is trying. Protecting master.]
“Oh, my pretty baby!”
I praised Lagon enthusiastically.
So ti passed.
Whoosh!
As Lagon dragged far away beyond a certain distance, the wind cald.
I used the chance to settle back onto Lagon’s neck.
Holding his neck, I thought,
‘Success...?’
No more light shone from the door.
After a while, a dull thud echoed sowhere.
“Huh?!”
“Kraahk—!”
At that mont, Lagon and I were forcefully bounced away.
I realized as soon as I regained consciousness.
‘I passed out.’
From many experiences, I knew that was the feeling of waking after fainting.
The place I touched was warm and soft, definitely a bed...
I slowly opened my eyes.
“You’re awake.”
A familiar face made smile.
It was Cain Lord.
He sighed deeply, arms crossed.
“Be thankful to Alexis. He let you stay in your room overnight. Your father and brothers were fussing about taking you back.”
“What about Dad and the brothers?”
“At the manor.”
“Why?”
When I asked, he narrowed his eyes and smiled slightly.
“Grimier’s troops were wiped out. They lost all the ships the Emperor provided, and Jörmungandr’s furious storm is coming.”
“...”
Cain Lord and I stared at each other.
Then.
Snick.
Kick.
We burst out laughing simultaneously.
‘It’s a success!’
If my body were in better condition, I would have jumped on the bed.
I laughed out loud and Cain Lord chuckled.
“Can’t survive, really...”
A familiar voice ca from the doorway.
I sprang up.
“Mari!”
“...Are you an idiot?”
Mari crossed her arms and gave a fierce look.
“Why are you staring at with such scary eyes?”
I said, and Mari slowly approached.
“If you thought you were going to die, why try so hard?”
“You’re an. You’re making all my efforts embarrassing.”
“So why even try? What am I risking my life for to you?”
Mari glared at as if to kill.
“I only used you! Took all that support, and I asured just how far this brat could use !”
“I know.”
I can read people’s true feelings now.
Even when we t at the palace on the Empress Dowager’s birthday, Mari was wary of .
“But that’s because it hurts.”
“What?”
“I’m scared of kindness. Afraid to rely on soone.”
“You...”
“I know too.”
“...”
“I know that feeling painfully well.”
“...”
“So I’ll just treat you well. Because when I was alone, so terribly lonely, I desperately needed soone who would treat well.”
“...Why are you doing this to ?”
Mari bit her lip tightly and looked at .
“Why do you treat so well! Why! Why!”
“...”
“Why do you keep treating so well that it makes miserable and doubtful...”
“...”
“Why make want to trust you?”
Mari’s eyes twisted painfully.
I looked at her and smiled softly.
“Sorry, but I’m not just treating you well out of pure kindness.”
“I knew you had an agenda since back ho. Still, no matter the purpose, why risk your life...?”
“...Mari.”
I looked at Mari with gentle eyes.
Mari bit her lip and turned her head away.
I called her once more.
As kindly as I could.
In the voice I wished soone had used with in my first life.
“Mari.”
“...”
“I don’t have friends.”
“...”
“No one treats well without reason. No one is okay with losing out for .”
“...”
“So be the one.”
Mari stubbornly kept looking away; her chin trembled slightly.
Then tears started falling down her cheeks.
“I’m not as good a person as you think.”
“I don’t want friends who are good people.”
“...”
Mari slowly looked at .
In her distorted eyes reflected my smiling face.
She stamred,
“I-I’ll... if it’s okay...”
“...Yeah.”
“Then... be my friend.”
Mari buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
I slowly stood up and embraced her.
“Alright, let’s do that.”
“...Idiot.”
I chuckled.
Cain Lord smiled softly watching us.
“Hmm, friends don’t seem so bad after all.”
—he muttered.
I looked at Mari with a small laugh.
“But do you know what friends actually do?”
“...I’d know if I had friends.”
“What do they do...?”
“Play together? Do things together?”
I humd and raised my eyebrow.
“Then how about we punish those who tried to use your sister to mooch off ?”
“Starting with Masah.”
“Agreed.”
Cain Lord frowned watching our fierce smiles.
“Is that what playing together ans?”
They seed to have classmates but no friends, so they didn’t understand well.
I asked Mari,
“What about Masah?”
“She’s still unconscious.”
“Huh?”
“Apparently fainted from crying.”
“Does she love her sister?”
I thought she only used her.
Because when we t at the palace, I saw.
“She said you’re defective, but why are you the only one getting love?”
Mari looked even weaker than usual, and I thought leaving her with Masah, who thought that way, would only make things worse.
So I brought Masah to the Fla Palace.
Mari sighed.
“It’s not love.”
“What?”
“I'm starting to admit it now.”
Mari gave a bitter smile.
I stared at her intently.
“Why?”
“Masah needs not just a sister, but a ‘sick sister.’”
“I know she wants to live a devoted life taking care of a sick sister. But what can she do?”
“But I don’t want to keep living as the sick sister anymore.”
Mari looked out the door.
Then she muttered wearily,
“All we can do now is give up on each other.”
Masah was a child who couldn’t live without Mari.
She had gained everything by acting the devoted little sister taking care of a sick sister.
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