Chapter 233
Thump- Thump-
I could feel the beat of my heart flowing through his fingers, which were touching my neck.
I could guess why he was doing this.
'He's trying to see if I'm lying in response to his questions.'
It was good that I figured that much out, but the problem was that knowing it didn't change anything.
The opponent was strong enough to suddenly pull out a weapon from somewhere and cut off three people's heads with a single swing of his spear.
That alone was hopeless, but he also freely used a strange technique that paralyzed the body just by poking it a few times with his fingers.
Grit-
'Don't give up just because the power difference is huge. Grit your teeth and hang on.'
'Don't let your guard down just because you received a little help.'
'Everyone except family is our enemy.'
'I have to protect my brother. No one can protect my brother but me.'
I muttered the words I always repeated to myself in times of crisis.
Then, I felt the turmoil in my heart gradually subside.
"Well, it's a bit much to keep calling you Kid No. 1 and Kid No. 2, so first, tell me your and your brother's names."
"...Before that, how about you tell me your name first?"
"My name? Hmm, just call me Crow."
Seeing him think before speaking, it seemed like he was giving a fake name.
But it didn't matter, so I just nodded quietly.
At that moment, his eyes lowered and pierced through me.
It was strange.
He was wearing a mask, so only his eyes were visible, but it felt like I could see his whole face.
A very annoying smile that grated on one's nerves.
'A detestable and annoying guy.'
As I was staring at him with a 'what are you looking at' expression, his head suddenly turned slightly to the side.
"By the way, why are you suddenly changing the subject? Don't tell me you don't have a name?"
Thump-!
'Damn it, he's not just strong, he's also ridiculously quick-witted.'
My heart pounded loudly, shaken by his words while I was already tense.
He must have felt it through the heartbeat transmitted to his fingertips, as he let out a small chuckle.
"What, it seems you really don't have a name?"
"...So what, you got a problem with that?"
At my blunt voice, he nodded his head.
"Of course, I do. If you don't have a name, it's hard for me to call you."
That statement struck me as new.
Until now, I hadn't needed a name.
The only one by my side was my brother, and all the others were enemies with whom conversation was unnecessary.
That's why I only now realized the need for a name.
He muttered to himself, resting his chin on his palm as if pondering something.
"Hmm, for now, I'll just give you any name..."
It was at that moment.
"Ack!"
With a short scream, the guy's head suddenly bent forward as if he had been hit by something.
For a moment, I thought some enemy had thrown something at him, but seeing his calm demeanor, that didn't seem to be the case.
The guy suddenly fell silent and stared at a point in the empty air.
'What is it?'
I narrowed my eyes in suspicion and looked at him.
Then, other strange things caught my eye.
Thanks to the observation skills that had grown as much as my dexterity during my life on the streets, I could see the various fragments of emotion flashing through this detestable man's eyes.
'Surprise? Annoyance? Interest? Amusement?'
It was at that moment.
[Ah, I get it. I was just playing around because I was bored while waiting for you to wake up.]
The guy started spouting words as if he were talking to someone.
[Am I supposed to just stand by and watch until you finish transforming, like some magical girl?]
[Ouch! That hurts! You, this is a breach of contract! You said you wouldn't hit me. No, how is this self-defense!]
[Ah, alright. I'll apologize for messing with them as I pleased, so stop hitting my head.]
'What is this? It's clear he's talking to someone. And what language is that?'
The more I watched, the more things I didn't understand seemed to pile up.
'Is he just crazy?'
Seeing him stare into the void and spout incomprehensible words, I felt I should seriously consider that possibility.
As I was looking at him with suspicious eyes, he spoke in a sigh-filled voice.
[Haa, alright. Since they're the ones you took in, you handle it. But there are things you need to know, so hand them over properly when you're done with your business, okay?]
The guy, who had muttered the incomprehensible words, suddenly closed his eyes.
And when he opened his eyes again.
"You, you..."
I stared at the guy with my eyes wider than they had ever been in my life.
That's how surprising his appearance was when he opened his eyes again.
The guy's eyes, when he opened them again, were not the same black as before.
The left and right eyes had changed to red and gold, respectively.
But the part that shocked me wasn't that his eye color had suddenly changed.
The pupils were vertically slit, cold and sharp.
It was a type of eye that was all too familiar to me, the same as ours, the half-dragon, half-human.
'How did he do that? Just a moment ago, they were normal eyes!'
I was so surprised that words wouldn't come out, so I just screamed in my mind.
Whether he knew my feelings or not, the guy frowned slightly and fumbled with his own head.
[Hmm, did I hit him too hard? I definitely need to control my strength from now on. Especially before changing bodies.]
He was still muttering in an unknown language, so I couldn't understand the meaning.
But perhaps because of that, the change in his voice was more palpable.
Even though it was the same voice, it sounded like a completely different person was speaking.
It was as if a beast's growl was seeping between the words, and because of that, what touched my neck felt not like a finger, but like a beast's claw.
Because of that pressure, even though a waterfall of questions was pouring out from my chest, I couldn't say a word.
"First, what needs to be done is that."
The guy who muttered that looked down at me and said.
"You said you don't have a name, right? From now on, I shall bestow one upon you."
"...I?"
The sudden change in his way of speaking bothered me, and I said so without realizing it.
Then, as if he had been waiting for those words, he grinned so widely it was visible even through the mask and nodded.
"Yes! My name is Irehgue! It is the name of the one who will be your master from now on, so engrave it clearly in your minds!"
"...What?"
Today, for the first time in my life, I realized that my head could spin just from hearing someone else's words.
And apart from that, I understood.
I didn't know the reason, but the guy before he closed his eyes and the guy after he closed his eyes were completely different people.
If the guy from before was a blood-and-iron mad monarch who wielded weapons like toys, the man in front of me now was a selfish and arrogant tyrant.
'What in the world is this situation all of a sudden?'
As I was pondering how to resolve the current situation.
"...Irehgue, you say?"
A small, but unmistakably familiar voice came from the side.
When I turned my head, my one and only twin brother was standing there, looking this way with slightly dazed eyes.
"You're awake?! Are you okay?!"
"Oh, you woke up at a good time."
An urgent voice and a cheerful voice rang out at the same time.
Their forms were different, but the emotion contained in their words, joy, was the same.
"Eek, shut up and get off of me! And undo this damn thing!"
Of course, No. 1 didn't have the mind to care about such things.
His brother, who had been in so much pain, had regained consciousness.
He wanted to run over right away, hug him, check his condition, and ease his worries.
But the guy on top of him wouldn't move, and because of the strange curse on his body, it was impossible.
At that, the guy chuckled and said.
"Your brother is safe, so do not worry. Still, this is rather unexpected. Although his body has improved, I thought he would be asleep for a while since his mind is exhausted from the long battle."
"My body is overflowing with energy, and it was noisy around, so I had no choice but to wake up."
No. 2 got up and moved his body lightly.
His body was dirty here and there with black ash and the impurities that had just come out, and his hair was matted as if it had been dipped in muddy water, its original color hidden.
But even that couldn't hide the vitality felt in every one of No. 2's movements.
Irehgue watched that scene as if it were natural, and No. 1 watched with tears welling up in his eyes, as if in relief.
After checking his body, No. 2 looked at Irehgue and asked.
"Did you save me?"
"Yes."
"Is there some reason you saved us?"
"Of course."
At No. 2's words, Irehgue smiled and said.
"I saved you because I took a liking to you, and to make you my subordinates."
At Irehgue's words, No. 2's head tilted slightly to the side.
"Us, as your subordinates?"
"No, don't be fooled! This person is just spouting nonsense on his own..."
"Agh, you've been noisy for a while now!"
Irehgue shouted at No. 1 as if annoyed and poked his body with a finger.
Then, No. 1's voice stopped coming out again.
Irehgue, who looked at No. 1 with a satisfied expression, gestured lightly towards No. 2.
"For now, come over here and sit down."
'No, don't come here, run away!'
At Irehgue's words, No. 1 sent a desperate look and mouthed words to his brother.
"Ah, yes."
But his brother ignored the desperate mouthing and simply went and sat in front of Irehgue.
At that, Irehgue smiled as if satisfied and nodded.
"First, to commemorate you entering my service, I shall give you names."
"Names?"
"What? Don't tell me you have them?"
"N-No!"
At Irehgue's noticeably disappointed tone, his brother quickly shook his head and said.
Seeing that, No. 1's eyes widened once again.
He had never expected to see No. 2 shout like that.
"Is that so? Then it's fine!"
"Phew..."
On top of that, seeing Irehgue's obviously pleased expression and his subsequent words, he seemed slightly relieved, which made me even more suspicious.
'What is it? Something's strange.'
But No. 1's thoughts were cut off by Irehgue's next words.
"Anyway, I plan to give you names and accept you as my subordinates."
'Who says!'
As if he had heard No. 1's inner thoughts, Irehgue continued.
"For reference, you two have no right to refuse. Because I have decided it will be so."
At Irehgue's words, No. 1's teeth clashed fiercely.
Rage boiled up at the sight of him arbitrarily dragging his brother into this, and he wanted to jump out and swing a fist, but his body was still ignoring its owner's will.
It was then.
Flinch-
'Huh, it's moving?'
As if in response to No. 1's desperation, his fingertip moved slightly.
"Hmm?"
And the problem was that Irehgue had also seen No. 1's fingertip move.
"Hmm, although that guy did it lightly, to think it's already coming undone. As expected, you have something about you too."
Saying so, Irehgue pressed No. 1's pressure points again.
"I did it stronger this time."
It was true.
If the previous one was a rope, this one felt like a chain.
No. 2, who had been watching the scene quietly, asked.
"If we become your subordinates, what do we have to do?"
"...You must follow me and do everything a subordinate must do."
It was an answer that anyone could tell he hadn't thought about and had just come up with.
"Okay. I'll do it."
And No. 2 nodded at that foolish answer.
'What?'
Hearing No. 2's words, No. 1 looked at his brother as if to say, 'what are you talking about?'
At that, No. 2 pointed at No. 1 and said.
"So, for now, please let my family go. If I talk to him, he won't resist so much."
"Fine. Since it is a subordinate's request, I shall grant that much."
Pleased with No. 2's answer, Irehgue readily released No. 1's pressure points.
At that, No. 1 sent a look to his brother telling him to get out of here now, but No. 2 placed his hand on No. 1's hand as if to calm him down and didn't get up from his spot.
'Damn it, should I just pick him up and run? No, I can't even escape on my own, there's no way I can escape carrying him! Argh, why is he suddenly acting like this!'
While No. 1 was looking at No. 2 with a complicated expression, Irehgue nodded and pointed at No. 1 and No. 2 in turn, saying.
"Yes, I shall call you Mio and Rwen!"
At Irehgue's sudden words, the two looked at him without realizing it.
Mio's eyes, looking at Irehgue, were shaking with complexity.
It couldn't be helped.
It was the first time someone had helped them.
And it was the first time someone had given them names.
First time after first time happened in succession, so he didn't know how to respond.
"Is there perhaps a meaning?"
"I made it using words from the place I was born."
At the words of No. 2, who now had the name Rwen, Irehgue smiled and said.
"I mixed the word 'Mir', which means dragon, with the words for right and left."
Irehgue said with a confident smile, as if satisfied with the names he had given.
"From today, you two are my right horn and my left horn."
"...We're just powerless kids. We'll only be a hindrance to someone as strong as you."
"It matters not."
At Mio's resistance, Irehgue said lightly.
"Since I have made you two my subordinates, I intend to give you both power befitting my subordinates."
At those words, Mio's first and last act of defiance was broken, and he sighed and lowered his head.
It was a silent expression of accepting Irehgue as his master.