Chapter 173
From the magic circle, an intensely compressed cold air was unleashed, clashing with an alien aura.
Because both were breath attacks, they formed a perfect symmetry.
However, due to the difference in the density and volume of mana, one side inevitably began to get pushed back.
'... Not much time left.'
While he stalled for time, darkness was splitting apart.
Yet, the Knight of True Flame persistently endured, releasing only breath.
Surely, wasn't he planning to exhaust all his remaining mana by pouring it into his breath?
'So he wants to at least kill me before he goes.'
Even as Alter was gradually forced back, he let out a reluctant chuckle.
He didn't know why, but he was growing strangely calm.
The sense of death closing in on him was fading, and he felt as if he could counterattack somehow.
"Still... I am a descendant of dragon..."
Alter let out a short sigh and summoned up even more mana.
Ice horns and wings began to form, merging with his body.
Of course, since there was only one of each at first, he would still be considered an incomplete dragon.
"It's not over yet. It's only just begun."
Alter controlled his mana and reestablished the magic circle.
At the same time, the cold air thickened, and the white breath was no longer eroded.
Although it was a little late, the form of a dragon was faintly emerging.
"As expected, blood can't be deceived."
Following the surge of mana, Alter brought forth another horn and another wing.
Finally, a pair of horns was completed, and a pair of wings spread gracefully.
Now, he felt he could drive out the breath laced with malevolence.
"Will... Brillie be able to accept someone like me...?"
Murmuring softly, Alter imbued new mana into his breath.
The white breath grew even more brilliant and soon completely neutralized the pitch-black breath.
Not only that—piercing through the black, it finally reached the Knight of True Flame.
"Ugh... Aaaargh!"
The Knight of True Flame froze instantly, leaving nothing behind but inner darkness.
At the same time, Brillie traced a sword strike tinged with lavender light.
The inner darkness was completely annihilated, and the Knight of True Flame shattered into fragments, then began to dissipate altogether.
"Alter!"
Having vanquished the Knight of True Flame, Brillie hurried back to Alter.
Alter gazed at Brillie quietly, and then belatedly opened his mouth.
"... I'm sorry it took me so long to say this. I have inherited the bloodline of dragon. That's how I'm able to manifest breath as magic."
"..."
Despite his internal anxiety, Alter revealed his secret.
Even if no one else knew, he could not hide it from his own wife.
Above all, since they would share their whole lives together, he felt he must be truthful.
"I should have told you before we were married. But I wasn't sure myself, and I hesitated every time."
"..."
"This is related to the Frost Witch, and my mother probably... knew as well. It was only while fighting Benelrode the Incandescent that I finally realized it."
"..."
"By rights, I should become a feat of the Empire. Even if I am human, because I carry the bloodline of dragon. But I do not wish to bring dishonor to my family. So... I'd like you to decide in my place."
Alter answered wistfully, his gaze lowered.
Whether she chose to divorce him or punish him as a feat, he would not object.
He only hoped his family would be preserved, nothing more.
"..."
Brillie slowly approached, gripped by silence.
She stopped in front of Alter and revealed her own resolve.
Alter flinched slightly, then found himself enveloped in a gentle sensation.
"Did you... perhaps want to hear me say I was going to divorce you?"
"..."
"Or did you think, since you're a dragon, I might say I had to kill you?"
"..."
"I haven't heard anything like that. You're just my husband, that's all you need to be."
"But..."
"You could have just stayed quiet... Why bring it up unnecessarily? Besides, shouldn't this kind of thing be said when we're alone? What if someone else heard?"
"..."
Still held by Brillie, Alter quietly closed his eyes.
His wife accepted even his flaws without reservation.
Rather, she was lightly scolding him, which strangely put him at ease.
"You've lived as a human. You subjugated monsters; you slew dragons. Isn't that enough?"
"You don't feel deceived?"
"How could I feel deceived when there's nothing I was deceived about?"
"Are you truly... all right with this?"
"I have always been all right. There's no one like you anywhere."
Caressing Alter, Brillie replied gently.
Perhaps he'd been tormented by guilt because of his secret.
Had he only told her sooner, things might have been easier—why had he suffered so much?
'He just overthinks everything...'
Brillie harbored no doubts about Alter at all.
She just cherished him as a companion and husband.
If things had reached this point, perhaps she too should reveal her own past.
"Did you know? Before I met you, Alter, I had my own prejudices. I tried everything I could to avoid marrying you."
"..."
"It's an embarrassing memory for me, but... I suppose I should tell you now. Now that we've each shared a secret, things are even."
"Then why... did you end up deciding to marry me?"
"Hmm... I think I fell for you without even realizing it myself. Maybe now..."
Brillie let her silence convey her feelings.
Sensing the mood, Alter locked eyes with Brillie.
"I look forward to being with you always."
"Yes. Please always stay by my side. That's all I want."
All dragons had perished, leaving not a trace behind.
Of course, monsters still remained, but they could no longer threaten the Agnes Empire.
Though it may be rather late, perhaps now they could enjoy some peace.
'Is it really over at last...? Does this mean I can finally live together with Brillie...?'
* * *
Ru the Luminescent acknowledged the demise of the Knight of True Flame and quietly accepted it.
It was a power born from twisted yearning to begin with.
Absorbing power beyond what one could control inevitably led to self-destruction.
'So, in the end, horns and wings were completed...?'
Only then did Ru the Luminescent come to recognize the descendant of Tiksa.
Though his human bloodline was strong, at last he had managed to embody a dragon's form.
Having reached this level, should he not be considered kin?
'I can't really enforce a rule upon him. Hasn't he lived as a human all along?'
Ru the Luminescent made a tentative judgment and set aside some worry.
The descendant of Tiksa would not threaten this world unnecessarily.
Moreover, since he didn't know of Hazlodein's world, perhaps it was better to just leave him be.
'Now I must choose whether to return to Hazlodein's world or to remain in this one.'
He had survived as the only one among the seven dragons and finished his role as overseer.
He had no reason to remain in this world any longer, nor had he been exiled for any crime.
Though returning to Hazlodein's world would take time in several ways, perhaps he should reconsider.
'If I consider the anomalous factors... Hm?'
Sensing a slight change, Ru the Luminescent swept away the clouds.
A blurry current was leaking from the northern territory.
It was unmistakably dragon mana, leaving no doubt as to its identity.
'Tiksa... to think you would move now...'
Staring toward the snowy plain of the northern territory, Ru the Luminescent wondered.
Could it be that Tiksa the Frostbane was only now attempting to break his seal?
But as for the method, he couldn't speculate, so he decided to watch a bit longer.
'Or had you merely been waiting for this very moment?'
* * *
Alter, feeling rather nervous, paced in circles near the bed.
Now that all problems were resolved, all that was left was to peacefully live married life together in the house.
So, what they hadn't been able to finish before, he had to take care of now.
'I failed during the honeymoon, but now we shouldn't be interrupted.'
Alter still held onto the slip of the tongue from back then.
Though in hindsight it had probably been the wise choice, as a couple, it had merely brought about another difficulty.
If they didn't address it now, it could cause considerable conflict down the line.
'How am I supposed to handle this well? I read some books about it, but...'
A knock sounded from the corridor.
Alter immediately sat at the edge of the bed, and Brillie carefully entered the room.
The two exchanged glances, then each turned their heads away in embarrassment.
"Are you feeling tired at all?"
"I'm fine. What about you, Brillie?"
"I'm... always all right."
Brillie, after briefly gauging the mood, drew near to Alter.
Alter made room for her, glancing over awkwardly.
As always, his wife was dressed in formal attire, but today, for some reason, she seemed especially neat.
"It doesn't have to be today. It's fine later, so if you're having a hard time, just say so."
"No. We can't keep putting it off, can we?"
Alter wanted to see it through, at least for Brillie's sake.
They had already held their wedding—he couldn't make her wait forever.
If they were to prove themselves as husband and wife, they'd have to achieve a result.
"Hoo... All right. It's something we have to do eventually, after all—it shouldn't be delayed."
Brillie lit the lamp and turned off the room's ceiling light.
A gentle radiance filled the room, casting a soft glow within.
Alter, curling up even further, could only stare at the lamp.
"Should we undress together?"
"Eh? Ah... Yes, that's probably best..."
Alter hesitated for a moment, then began unbuttoning his coat.
He could no longer meet Brillie's eyes.
But, after getting into bed, he would not be able to avoid her.
"..."
"..."
The two lay their clothes aside in silence.
Then, under the covers, they couldn't even exchange glances.
They couldn't quite touch skin to skin, and instead, only their pounding hearts could be felt.
"Alter."
"... Yes."
"I am older, so I'll make the first move."
Without waiting for a reply, Brillie took Alter's hand.
Alter was thoroughly flustered, but did not withdraw.
He felt Brillie's touch, and her warmth became all the more vivid.
"I might make a slip of the tongue, so... I hope you'll understand."
"It's the same for me. Please... take care of me."
Brillie met Alter's eyes, though it was difficult, and slowly drew closer.
Then, pressing her lips to his, she began to gently push forward.
Alter, feeling something swell up within him, embraced Brillie tightly.
'Is this how it's supposed to go? Uh... Or maybe not?'