CH 24

[Renée’s POV]

“Dragon bones, how many were stolen?”

Stolen? I blinked a few times at Reden’s words and looked at Zion. There was a faint but perplexed look on his dull face.

When the answer did not come out, Reden let out a short breath and continued.

“If you intend to say that only that one thing that Count Sirius was holding is missing, stop and be honest. I have to be prepared or do something.”

Reden, who had been speaking calmly, immediately frowned.

“So why didn’t you write it down properly in the report? How can you cover up against the royal family…….”

“…….”

“Don’t you have a mouth? Say something. When, where, and how many were stolen. Could it be that it was simply lost rather than stolen?”

Reden seemed really angry. I shut my mouth in the middle, not knowing what to do. Then, Zion let out a sigh.

“Just after the conquest of the Bungjo Dragon, some of the Bungjo Dragon bone fragments disappeared. Like someone took it in pieces. The amount lost was insignificant compared to the original bone size. If it’s that big, you wouldn’t know even if it disappeared.”

“So? Is that why you thought the royal family wouldn’t know and didn’t report it?”

“…… We immediately checked the other bone fragments. Knowing that five pieces, including the tainted one, had disappeared, Diwen and I discussed. Whether or not to inform the royal family.”

“The conclusion that came out of the discussion was not to inform?”

Reden made a sarcastic remark as if it were ridiculous. Somehow I overheard an important conversation, and I stayed still, unable to do anything. I felt like I was sitting on a cushion of thorns.

I see. Dragon bones were stolen……. And yet, the Knights of Hugo did not report.

Recalling their report I saw a few days ago, I glanced at Reden.

Certainly, in that report, there were only mentions of the dragon being subdued, and nothing about it being stolen. Reden must have been dumbfounded as the dragon bones were in the hands of an ordinary person out of nowhere.

But who the hell stole the dragon bones and gave them to the common people? Did Count Sirius steal it after all? Against those Hugo Knights?

“We are…”

Zion, who had been silent for a while, finally lifted his lips. His blue eyes were cold like winter.

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“We must not be bound to the royal family, Marquis.”

“…….”

“If this is known, Your Majesty, who wants to make us a royal thing*, will try to get us under his control. Isn’t that right?”

TL/N: I’m guessing like gotta follow all his orders and do things for him

“……I can’t say no.”

“So we decided to be silent. However, we couldn’t stay still, so I divided the Knights into two, one in charge of collecting dragon bones and one in charge of subjugating dragons.”

Reden narrowed his brows endlessly. Zion sighed.

“Since we acted in two groups, we are not claiming that we have done enough. If Your Majesty punishes us for this, we will accept it with pleasure. But we’re not only going to kill dragon bones, but we’re going to subjugate the rest of the dragons.….”

“You’re really crazy. There will be few dragons left in the world because you’ve been subjugating dragons. Why are you so obsessed with dragon subjugation? There is nothing more important than collecting dragon bones now.”

It was radical, but Reden’s words made sense. Zion did not answer. Reden sighed again.

“Consider it fortunate that there were no casualties today.  And you’ll have to prepare excuses for the dragon bone theft, for today’s events, and for what’s to come. Don’t you know that Your Majesty is not such an easy person.”

Zion’s expression became heavy as if he were lost in thought.

Somehow I felt sorry for him, so I lowered my eyebrows, but Reden looked down at me this time. While flinching at the overwhelming gaze, I covered my mouth with my fist and looked up at Reden. Reden’s eyebrows narrowed a little more.

“What is that posture?”

“I’m acting cute. Don’t get angry.”

TL/N: LMAO Image for reference

At my words, Reden slightly opened his mouth as if he was speechless, and then finally loosened the strength that went into his forehead.

“If someone seems to be angry, don’t flatter them and just tell them not to be angry. Why are you trying to flatter the other person?”

“Reden is weak to cute things.”

“…….”

“I’m sorry. I just said it and regretted it.”

In response to the cold response, I spoke in a quiet whisper, and Reden let out a light sigh and grabbed my arm.

“You’re not hurt anywhere else, are you?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Yes, that’s a relief.”

“Waahh. Reden is worried. I’m so happy that you’re worried about me that I’ll have to consider getting hurt in the future.”

Reden immediately looked at me with contempt. Still, he didn’t deny that he wasn’t worried until the end.

When I was so happy that I laughed like a fool when someone called my name from afar.

A clear and delicate voice. I can tell without looking. It was Anastasia.

She must have come right after hearing the news. In the carriage that seemed to have just arrived, she was almost crying. And she got off in a hurry as if she was going to fall, and ran without paying attention to the gazes of others.

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I muttered under my breath at the sight that looked like a scene in a novel.

Oh, I have to say it.

Looking at the fluttering silver hair and the watery golden eyes, I vowed.

Let’s talk about it today. I’m sorry I hit you, and thank you for helping me yesterday.

When I thought I was going to die because of the half-dragon, I regretted not apologizing and thanking her, so I thought I should do it before I regret it more.

Apologize. And let’s say thank you.

But at that moment.

Tiriling.

TL/N: omG IT BACK IT BACK

A sound that I didn’t want to hear penetrated my ears.

Mission failed!

<table>Mission failed!</tbody></table>

<table>‘Instead of killing other people, you killed a strange creature.’</tbody></table>

A red window in front of me dragged me from my dream to reality. My heart, which had been warming up, cooled down in an instant.

Right. I had a mission.

I had forgotten it for a long time, so it didn’t feel real. For a moment, I was very nervous, frowning without realizing it. Soon after, another beep sounded, and at the same time a new window popped up.

Tiling.

<table>‘Penalties are given for mission failure.’</tbody></table>

<table>-Penalty: Seppuku-</tbody></table>

<table>– Time: ?-</tbody></table>

What…?

Seppuku*?

A question mark popped up in my head like the floating question mark next to time.

To cut one’s belly….That?

TL/N: “Seppuku” is a form of ritual suicide that originated with Japan’s ancient samurai warrior class . The grisly act typically involved stabbing oneself in the belly with a short sword, slicing open the stomach and then turning the blade upwards to ensure a fatal wound.

Thinking that it would be a fever or high fever at most, I was very bewildered.

At that time, my eyes met with Zion’s through the red window.

Zion’s eyes were wider than ever. He looked more surprised than I was.

But Zion… It’s like he’s looking at this mission window.….

The thought did not last long. As the mission window disappeared,  I felt a more intense pain in my stomach than ever before.

It was not enough to express it with the feeling of being burned. I felt a clear sensation of cutting through my stomach, no, pain.

Wh, what. It hurts so much. Hurts so much. Oh, my God I think I’m going to die… …

I couldn’t even scream out in agony. The moment I closed my eyes tightly, blood flowed from my mouth before I knew it.

“Renée!”

As soon as I heard Anastasia’s startled voice, I hurriedly covered my mouth.

But it was not enough. The blood that gushed out like a regurgitation flowed from between the mouth and between the fingers even when the mouth was closed.

“Coug…”

As the blood gushed out, the blood fell to the floor in lumps. The dark red blood seemed to turn my vision bright red.

I felt like my mind is going. How can this be, how can this be… …

Why don’t you just kill me?

I cursed at the most disgusting mission countless times and lost all my strength.

The bright red vision turned black.

***

[Third Person POV]

There was a commotion when she collapsed, vomiting blood. No one could move easily. Only Reden held her in his arms when she collapsed.

Anastasia reached for her belly with trembling hands. Then, Reden, who had been silent as if he was out of his mind, shook off Anastasia’s hand.

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Anastasia, surprised, said almost as if she were crying.

“Lord Reden… We need to use healing magic quickly……. Renée is going to die like this…….”

“……It won’t work anyway, anyway.”

“Yes……?”

“The magic doesn’t work on this kid. She’s been like that since she was a kid. Every time she was sick, my healing magic nor my divine power worked. It’s no use anyway.”

Reden’s voice was cold and indifferent. It didn’t seem to contain any emotions.

Zion, who was looking down with bewildered eyes nearby, knelt down like Reden and Anastasia and immediately felt the pulse of her wrist.

“Still……still you can’t stay like this. Calling a doctor right now…….”

“What, what’s going on?”

At that time, Diwen, who had gone to pick up the greatsword, approached.

Reden flinched and hugged her tightly, and Anastasia watched him with sharp eyes.

Diwen was momentarily overwhelmed by the sharp vigilance between the two of them. If he moved from here, it seemed that the two would attack him.

Anastasia glared at Diwen with teary eyes, then clenched her fists with trembling hands and barely turned her head.

“Lord Reden……I have to do something quickly……. Ah, yes……. Call Aiden. He’ll be able to heal Renée.”

There was no reply from Reden. As if possessed by something, he just stared at her collapsed face.

At that, Anastasia shook her fists and did something she would never have thought of normally.

She smacked Leiden’s face with her fist.

Anastasia exclaimed fiercely.

“Wake up, please!”

“…….”

“How did I do that? Why is Renee’s family sitting still!”

The tears that formed in Anastasia’s eyes eventually dripped down. Her face was painfully contorted.

“If Renee dies, I’ll kill them all. I’ll kill them all this time!”

Anastasia, who had been screaming, eventually cried, covering her face with both hands. Reden stared blankly at Anastasia, then lowered his gaze again.

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The pale face, reddish mouth, and nape of her neck, something familiar about her appearance that made him feel uncomfortable was that she was breathing.

It doesn’t matter why it feels familiar.

It was important to be breathing. Only then did his head clear as if a thick fog had lifted. He swallowed dry saliva and blinked his eyes.

“Solen.”

And he called Anastasia. Only then did light shine in Reden’s dry and empty eyes.

“Bring the royal doctor.”

Anastasia, who had barely restrained her crying, stared at him for a moment and then nodded. At that moment, Reden added.

“Prince Burwars.”

TL/N: tried to do the box formatting for the mission stuff like how the previous translator did hehe