TSPCD 06

Chapter 6

The Dragon of the Imperial Palace (3)

The Emperor, who had followed right behind Ethan, hurriedly entered the basement.

“Ethan!”

“You came at just the right time, Your Majesty. Please take the child and wait outside.”

“Are you insane? If the dragon population becomes too small, the ether will become even more unstable than it is now!”

The Emperor tried to persuade Ethan in sheer horror.

Dragons were among the beings that maintained the balance of elemental ether. If their numbers dropped too low, the already unstable world was highly likely to become even more precarious.

However, Ethan’s murderous intent showed no signs of abating. In his eyes, a cursed dragon was merely a dangerous hazard that could go on a rampage at any moment. Besides, it wasn’t as if this was the last dragon remaining.

“That’s why I suggested we restrain it somewhere far away from the Imperial Palace at the very least!”

“If we restrain a dragon that could go wild at any moment somewhere other than the Imperial Palace, innocent people might end up getting hurt!”

“Which is why I’m saying we kill it right now!”

The voices of both men grew louder and louder.

It was the same in the past, but on this issue, their opinions had always conflicted. Until now, Ethan had respected the Emperor’s authority and willingly yielded his stance.

But now? A child’s life was at risk of being snuffed out at any moment.

“Prospective Duke Ethan Ibek. Withdraw your ether right now and put down your sword!”

“I will not obey. Go ahead and lock me in a dungeon for lèse-majesté if you wish.”

Ethan’s gaze locked onto the prominent reverse scale at the nape of the dragon’s neck. The dark green ether gathered around him began to emit a sharp, fierce glow. He was set to pierce that reverse scale and take the dragon’s life at any given second.

“An-dae-ae!” (No-o-o!)

At that violent pressure, Bel squeezed her eyes shut.

And then—.

“Don’t do it!”

The once dark room was suddenly filled with brilliant starlight. Everyone swallowed their breath at once. Even the dragon.

“Ayah, an-dae!” (It hurts, don’t!)

Pahaaaang—!

With the sound of bursting air, Ethan’s ether was forcibly dismantled.

Ethan stared with wide eyes at his own ether scattering away like mist.

‘Does this make any sense?’

A mere two-year-old child. A child no bigger than a pebble who couldn’t even speak properly had just interfered with his ether. Furthermore, this starlight filling the room was undoubtedly…

“…The Star Clan.”

It was the unique ability possessed only by the Star Clan, who were believed to have been wiped out.

The look in Ethan’s eyes as he stared at Bel changed completely. The Emperor, who had witnessed this miraculous sight as well, also turned utterly pale.

“Your Majesty, the basement is dangerous!”

The sound of people rushing over from outside could be heard.

“Ethan.”

Emperor Fiderion called Ethan in a low voice.

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Block the entrance! I don’t care if you break the basement!”

The Emperor commanded like thunder. Ethan’s body reacted instantly to his order.

Ether gathered at the tip of his sword once more, then curved into a crescent shape and struck the ceiling.

With a tremendous roar, the area right in front of the entrance collapsed. It was a resolute declaration that no one would be permitted to enter.

Bel’s body wobbled from the structural vibration and almost tumbled backward, but the dragon gently supported her back with the side of its claw. Thanks to that, Bel plunked down onto the floor safely instead of falling on her bottom.

[Master of this place. Why did you order the entrance blocked?]

“Has your sanity returned?”

[Only for a brief moment.]

The dragon nodded its head slightly to prove its harmlessness. Meanwhile, Ethan approached Bel, intending to carry her away.

“Bel. Come here.”

“Shier!” (No!)

However, Bel rejected Ethan. It was her way of expressing dissatisfaction toward him for trying to attack the dragon even after she had told him not to.

“Come here. You’ll get hurt.”

“Shier-er!” (No-o-o!)

Despite her firm refusal, Ethan scooped the child up and tucked her under his arm. Bel kicked her arms and legs frantically, but it was no use.

“Ewaaaang!”

The child threw a tantrum, on the verge of tears.

“Nappu! Ajossi!” (Bad! Mister!)

Naturally, Ethan ignored her.

Taking a quick glance at the commotion, the dragon asked the Emperor again.

[I shall ask once more. Why did you order the entrance blocked?]

“If this child belongs to the Star Clan, the fewer people who know this fact, the better.”

[Why?]

“Those Who Dwell in the Dark Night will target the child, so she must be protected.”

[…Have all the other members of the Star Clan died?]

“Most likely.”

[I see.]

When he slowly closed and opened his eyes, the dragon’s gaze was fixed on Bel, who was flailing under Ethan’s arm.

[Are you preparing for the day they come searching again?]

“Of course.”

[And you intend to use that child’s power for that moment?]

“No.”

The Emperor shook his head firmly.

“I can’t do that, because the moment I attempt to, I feel like this irreverent duke over here would aim straight for my throat.”

[…Then that is enough.]

The dragon curled the corners of his mouth upward faintly, as if satisfied.

Then, a pure white, silver light burst forth from his entire body. His massive form—large enough to fill the entire basement—shrank down, and soon a human appeared.

Stark white hair emitting a frosty glow, mysterious blue eyes, a height far exceeding that of an average adult male, and plain white garments with no decorations whatsoever.

And the black traces of the curse remaining all over his body.

It was known that dragons never manifested into human form before mere mortals, but the situation was different now.

The dragon walked past the Emperor and stood in front of Ethan. He stared at Ethan for a long moment as if gauging something, then lightly patted the head of Bel, who was currently biting Ethan’s forearm.

“Holy Guardian of the Star.”

At his call, Bel poked her head up.

“I shall die after walking beside you toward the future you must head for. So…”

“Yongyong?”

“Will you liberate me from this torment?”

The dragon asked politely. Bel grinned brightly and gripped his finger tightly.

“Oung!”

At that, Ethan callously slapped the dragon’s hand away.

“Get lost.”

“Berudiii!”

Glaring at Ethan, who was being uncooperative from start to finish, Bel searched for the spirit.

“Doajo!” (Help me!)

“Where on earth are you looking and shouting?”

Just as Ethan turned his gaze toward the spot Bel was looking at in utter bewilderment, the summoned spirit revealed itself from among the stars.

[Foul-mouthed human. Would you mind putting our Baby Star down first? She clearly dislikes it.]

“What in the world is that now?”

Facing the form of the woman who appeared out of nowhere, Ethan’s brow furrowed completely. Verdia knitted her brows as well.

[I told you to put Baby Star down.]

Bel also squirmed, slapping Ethan’s forearm repeatedly.

In the end, the Emperor stepped in to mediate.

“Ethan. Just set the child down for now.”

“Are you telling me to listen to the words of this ghost?”

“It’s clearly a spirit no matter how you look at it.”

“It’s clearly a ghost no matter how you look at it.”

“No!”

From below, Bel shouted loudly.

“Berudi! Byeo! Ai Byeo!”

Pointing at the spirit and then at herself, Bel huffed and puffed.

“See there?”

The Emperor shrugged, siding with Bel.

“She says Verdia is a star, and she herself is Baby Star.”

The Emperor gently slid his hands under the child’s arms, set her down carefully on the ground, and bent his knees to meet her eye level.

“Baby Star.”

“Oung?”

“Are you going to purify the curse?”

“Oung.”

Bel proudly placed her hands on her hips as if telling him to leave it to her. Seeing that, the corners of the Emperor’s mouth curled up softly.

“Then I leave it in your hands.”

“Oung!”

Stepping forward bravely, Bel reached her hand out toward the spirit. The spirit took the child’s hand, and Verdia finally revealed her true form.

A tiny night sky descended upon the basement. A milky-white galaxy flowed, and a light as bright as the sun scattered from the spirit’s body.

[Youngest star born within the calamity. And guardian. I take your hope and dream.]

The flow of starlight grew increasingly fierce.

Kiiiiiiiing—!

[Purify the life of the one who shall walk alongside your brilliant future!]

Noticing that its body was rapidly becoming transparent, the spirit hurriedly left a request with Ethan.

[This child’s power is not yet complete. Once she finishes purifying the pollution, her strength will surely be exhausted, so feed her plenty of high-quality food. Do you understand, foul-mouthed human?]

“My mouth is what?”

[Baby Star. I will disappear for a moment, but I will return to you when night falls. So do not worry, alright?]

Giving Bel a tight hug as a final farewell, the spirit emitted a dazzling light. That light gathered toward the dragon, and he entrusted his body to the light without resisting.

A clear, chiming sound echoed as if glass marbles were clinking together. The starlight that had densely filled the dark room melted away like snowflakes.

The dragon was finally freed from the terrible pain that had tormented him for so long.