Chapter 87

“Hmph. Be quiet! Father has forbidden singing!”

Lun glanced up at Ferdikion, who cautiously opened his hand.

“Yeah. And I know it’s a very precious memory to you.”

“...You.”

In contrast to his curt reply, something seemed to well up in the boy’s throat, and he bit his lip.

Ferdikion, with a guarded look, spoke each word slowly.

“I’ve never heard of a brat like you. To know about Mother and to exist...”

Phasyas had long since removed everything related to Kuzna.

To prevent him from being ensnared by pointless past and to focus on his current duties.

Yet, to know about Kuzna’s song and her magic casting...

It had to be true that he knew about Kuzna and Ferdikion.

Lun met Ferdikion’s red eyes.

“This song and casting, I also heard and learned them. I’ve known about you for a long time. And I want to help you in your difficult situation. Believe that much.”

At this point, Ferdikion had no choice but to ease his doubts.

Mother Kuzna’s song and magic casting.

These were things that no one who didn’t know about her, or at least about Ferdikion, could mention.

“Really... you know about me?”

“Yes.”

Lun chuckled and crossed his arms casually.

Indeed, it seemed Ferdikion’s reaction was still raw and sharp, but there was also a hint of innocence.

Meanwhile, Ferdikion stared blankly at Lun, thinking.

‘This fairy really... came to help me.’

After Mother Kuzna’s death, Ferdikion believed he had no one on his side.

Never in his life.

Proving his worth as a ruler of fire was Ferdikion’s only goal in life.

But he decided to believe this fairy a little.

“Alright... I understand.”

‘Good.’

Lun cast his gaze on Ferdikion’s injured cheek.

“Sit down for a moment.”

Lun pointed at the bed with his chin.

Though he had taken on a human form, the burn marks remained on Ferdikion’s cheek.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to heal you.”

Lun pointed to his own cheek.

Ferdikion rubbed the spot Lun indicated with the back of his hand.

A little blood came out, but Ferdikion wiped it off his collar with a look of irritation.

“Hey, don’t rub it. I’m trying to heal you.”

“Hmph! A proud Red Dragon doesn’t fuss over such small injuries.”

Upon hearing this, Lun was taken aback.

‘If it were Christina, she would have surely scolded him for being unreasonable.’

Thinking of Phasyas, Ferdikion’s guardian, Lun shook his head inwardly.

“I can’t just stand by and watch you hurt, even if this is an illusion. Besides, I have something to talk about. Sit down quickly.”

It was impossible to feel at ease leaving a burn mark on a child’s cheek, even in an illusion.

It was also a way to gauge the minimal trust needed to entrust his wound.

‘After all, showing an injury can sometimes feel embarrassing.’

Though annoyed by the comment about his age, Ferdikion narrowed his eyes but eventually replied curtly.

“...If you try anything funny, I won’t let you off.”

“Why would I?”

The young fire dragon, despite his fierce look, slowly sat down.

Lun used a spell to reduce the pain and heat.

‘At least he’s showing it.’

Though a young hatchling, as a dragon, the wound would heal in a few days even if left alone.

But seeing him offer his cheek so readily, it seemed his guard was significantly lowered.

“Did you only get hit on the cheek? Show me if you got hit anywhere else.”

Ferdikion hesitated at Lun’s words.

When their eyes met, the boy rolled his eyes and slowly took off his shirt.

Lun, trying not to show his concern, inwardly sighed.

Burn marks and scars marred the boy’s body, some even raw and peeling.

‘The father must have been cruel to his own child.’

Lun knew that Christina had gradually offered help to Ferdikion.

But with Phasyas as the primary guardian, her assistance must have had limits.

Suddenly, Lun recalled his first meeting with Ferdikion.

‘After living like this for a few hundred years, it’s no wonder our first meeting was like that.’

At this point, he even thought their first meeting was relatively mild.

Lun cast healing magic on the old wounds, and Ferdikion watched silently.

Feeling the gaze, Lun focused on the wounds and recalled the immediate problem.

‘Since I’ve intervened, I’ve prevented him from being consumed by unhappy memories. Now, I need to make Ferdikion realize this is a false illusion.’

He had already guessed.

At this time, Ferdikion’s only goal was to prove his worth as a ruler to Phasyas.

But his desire to be recognized by his father was always betrayed.

This memory must have created this illusion.

‘Phasyas... indeed, he’s the problem.’

Painful and difficult memories are not easily forgotten or overcome.

Even after a long time, they still had an impact.

‘For a long time, Phasyas was both a hated figure and someone Ferdikion wanted to be recognized by. If I can break this cycle, it would be for the best.’

Realizing this world was created by Ferdikion’s most powerful and negative memories.

If he could see through Phasyas as a fake, and break free from the false Phasyas, the illusion would shatter, and Ferdikion’s future would be much freer.

“Alright. The scars will remain, but it won’t hurt anymore.”

As the pain subsided and the healing was complete, Ferdikion’s expression relaxed.

Lun seized the moment when the mental barrier had slightly lowered and asked gently.

“Just curious, do you like your father?”

“...I respect him.”

An ambiguous answer, avoiding the direct question.

“Have you never felt that your father is unusually harsh?”

“Shut up.”

It was definitely a hit.

Ferdikion’s voice betrayed his discomfort, but Lun remained calm.

“Not asking for nothing. The one you believe to be your father is under a curse.”

“A curse?”

“Since you’ve experienced my healing, you should have felt it. I handle dark magic, so I can quickly detect related powers.”

This world was created from Ferdikion’s most powerful and negative memories.

If he outright told Ferdikion that Phasyas was fake and Ferdikion couldn’t accept it, he might rebel and see Lun as a liar.

‘The best way is for Ferdikion to realize on his own that this isn’t his father.’

Lun, standing calmly, placed his foot on Ferdikion’s knee and looked up at him.

Ferdikion, who seemed ready to pounce, had a fierce look.

“Don’t say such disrespectful things. The idea that Father, the ruler of fire, is under a curse and dark magic is absurd.”

Ferdikion’s voice, though small, carried an intimidating presence.

But Lun smiled inwardly.

‘Thanks for answering as I expected.’

He calmly extended his hand and made a heartfelt proposal.

“Check it out yourself. It was a power so intense that it could overwhelm the fire energy.”

Lun’s goal was one.

To make Ferdikion realize this wasn’t his real father.

‘No need to persuade him. Just show him directly. Once he realizes this is a false father, it will be impossible for him to believe in this illusion or deceive himself.’

Ferdikion’s eyebrows twitched, and his eyes turned fierce.

“If you’re lying, I’ll kill you.”

The small boy looked quite fierce.

Though chubby, he seemed to have a strong presence that would grow more powerful as an adult.

Of course, to Lun, he was just a puppy.

‘Besides, with the scent box... he can’t even think of harming me subconsciously.’

Unintentionally, Ferdikion had been exposed to the ‘scent box tainted by darkness’ while in Christina’s lair, practicing with Dura and having various conversations.

No matter how much he threatened, it wouldn’t affect Lun, and Ferdikion’s threat of murder was not scary at all.

“Do as you please.”

Lun, giving a relaxed answer, moved to the table to avoid the boy who seemed ready to pounce.

There was no need to argue here.

Once Ferdikion realized Phasyas was fake and that his current suffering was an illusion, everything would fall into place.

‘The more painful the memory, the easier it is to be ensnared. I’ve seen this often when exorcising possessed people.’

On the other hand, there was an interesting point.

Whether Ferdikion was a vessel that would remain a small king of a minor domain or grow into something greater.

This was also a good time to test it.

Meanwhile, Ferdikion was confused by Lun’s calm response.

‘Could... this little guy be telling the truth?’

The guilt of doubting his father and the intuition that Lun was telling the truth.

These two conflicting feelings intensified his confusion.

You were deceived

Reading the young fire dragon’s muddled mind was not difficult for Lun.

‘After all, he’s a creature of action. Just planting doubt is enough. The real danger is after he realizes the truth. If he still wants to fall into the illusion despite knowing, I’ll have to pull him out forcefully.’

It was a method he didn’t want to use.

If he woke Ferdikion while he was still in a state of doubt, panic, and guilt over disloyalty, it could have a negative impact on his future growth.

‘Dealing with the power that connects to the mind is exhausting.’

Lun turned to Ferdikion from his seat on the table and spoke.

“Be prepared.”

“What for?”

His gaze on the young boy was calm.

He paused for a moment, then let the words out in one breath.

“The choices and responsibilities for your actions are all up to you. Your father won’t take responsibility for the results of your life.”

‘I’ll absorb the power, but how he deals with the memories that left scars is Ferdikion’s job.’

A life without Phasyas.

It was a story Ferdikion had never even imagined.

The complex emotions about his father, once a source of fear, flashed and disappeared on his face.

Ripple

Lun felt a slight nausea.

The world wavered like a mirage in mist.

A strange forest emerged, and Lun’s body felt as if it were being pulled out of water.

‘Indeed, touching Phasyas’s existence is causing the illusion to push me out.’

Lun decided to play his last card.

Slowly, he opened his small hands and cast his gaze on the young boy’s face.

Flare!

Living flames formed a small heart-shaped symbol and rose.

The unmistakable seal of fire rose from Lun’s hands.

The young successor of fire muttered, “This can’t be...” in shock.

“Ferdikion, believe me. The fire pactbearers never turn their backs on their kin in crisis.”

The seal of fire, sensing Lun’s sincerity, burned with a crimson flame.

The young successor of fire, seeing the burning seal, clenched his fists and looked at Lun with tense eyes.

“This is your chance to prove you are a great member of the fire clan. I’ll help you. As a member of the clan.”

Ferdikion’s face became complex after hearing the oath of the fire clan.

After a moment of calm, Ferdikion bit his lip.

“Just what... are you?”

Lun read the fleeting emotions on Ferdikion’s face.

‘Panic, doubt, a faint guard, anger, and hatred...’

The emotions changed rapidly. But Lun didn’t avert his gaze and calmly watched him.

“You won’t believe me anyway.”

“Doesn’t matter. Tell me.”

The seal of fire, which would trigger a severe penalty for betraying the fire clan, was in play.

Facing the wavering young fire dragon, Lun calmly revealed the truth.

“Your brother.”

“...”

Ferdikion immediately looked as if he were seeing a madman.

Feeling betrayed by the rare trust he had placed, he didn’t say anything but his eyes were already spewing curses.

“Lying to avoid speaking is not good.”

Ferdikion, with a biting tone, finished buttoning his shirt.

If he were in the same situation, Lun would have thought it was nonsense.

He just shrugged.

He didn’t expect Ferdikion to believe him anyway.

“Still, since you swore by the seal of fire to me... at least check it out.”