TEB Side Story Ch 3

“What did you do without me knowing!? You said you wouldn’t do it!”

Liev raised his voice in anger at the unexpected betrayal, and Renard also reacted with a matching expression.

“I didn’t do it! It’s not something I can do alone.”

Renard seemed genuinely more frustrated than I was. He was also confused about what had happened and was bewildered.

You really don’t know? But just a few months ago, you were making all those remarks about making me lay eggs… However, seeing him blush as if he were about to cry like a child, it seemed like he was truly wronged. If it had been Renard at the time when he was pestering him to lay eggs, would he have been happy that it finally happened (?).

I’m not sure if this really is the case, but the guy who seemed like he would jump for joy was now red around the eyes, insisting on his innocence, which only made things more confusing.

“That’s not the case? Then why…”

If it’s not pregnancy, then what kind of illness could it be? It was even more incomprehensible. Since absorbing the dragon heart, his body has gained remarkable healing and durability, unless affected by factors like deadly toxins. It may not compare to a real dragon, but it was hard to see it at the level of an ordinary human. So it was strange that he had developed any abnormalities, as it shouldn’t be a disease that humans are vulnerable to. As Liev turned pale and couldn’t continue speaking, Renard spoke first.

“Let’s go see Mahatra. The old man might know something.”

Renard was very concerned about something unknown happening in his body, but he looked pitifully worried about me being anxious, even though he felt unjustly suspected and upset. Liev nodded his head as if to say he understood, looking at Renard’s face, which seemed truly innocent.

“Alright.”

It didn’t seem like the two of them worrying over it would solve anything, so it was better to seek out someone who might know. As soon as Liev nodded, Renard grabbed Liev’s arm and stepped out of the villa.

As soon as they reached the clearing made for easy coming and going, the appearance of the young man, who looked like a young master with his large stature and build, suddenly changed into the form of a monstrous creature casting a huge shadow. The large scales shone more brilliantly and lustrously than before. As Liev’s gaze moved along the spine’s spiky horns towards the fierce eyes, he unwittingly thought, You’ve become prettier… and then shook his head. This was not the time for such thoughts.

“Hurry up and get on.”

Hearing Renard’s voice in his head was strange, no matter how many times I heard it. Liev nodded again and then, with Renard’s help, climbed onto the place where the saddle was set.

“Hold on tight. You won’t fall off, but just in case.”

Then, with a thud, a massive vibration kicked off the ground, and as he soared into the air with his giant wings, creating a whirlwind, Liev shielded his eyes with his hands from the fierce wind that enveloped his body. He looked down at the glossy scales at his fingertips and rested his forehead on the back of Renard’s neck, bowing his head.

What if that really was the case?

He wasn’t mentally prepared, and he hadn’t seriously considered it… Could he really have to lay an egg or something like that? He was in deep thought, but the warmth of the embrace he was tightly holding was so warm that his eyelids began to close. Even though it wasn’t the time for it, he felt like his head was nodding off, so he put more strength into his arms around Renard. Just in case he fell asleep like this, he didn’t want to let go of Renard.

After a while, when the sound of the wind brushing past his ears finally stopped, they were in the middle of the desert, where they had no choice but to flee from the entrance.

“……”

In the middle of the endlessly spread desert, standing like a mirage, was a giant castle that, upon closer inspection, was not a human-made structure but the body of a gigantic creature.

Renard’s body was slowly preparing to descend.

From afar, it looked like a rocky mountain.

Up close, the folded wings and the spiky horns on the back looked like a castle with towers, except for the giant reptilian head that took the place of where a door should be.

[I came because I have something to ask.]

Mahatra lifted his head, which he had been curling up to sleep, to look at Renard, who dropped his heavy body to the ground without even the usual greeting of ”How have you been?” and got straight to the point.

[You’re still so insolent. You haven’t changed your attitude even after being scolded once.]

The ancient dragon, bearing the marks of time all over its body, slowly rose and spread its wings, causing the mounds of sand piled up by the sandstorm to fall away, raising dust. It was so surreal, like a scene from a fantasy movie filled with CGI, that Liev was momentarily shocked, forgetting that this was a world where magic-like things existed.

[Tsk. When will you ever grow up?]

As Liev, who couldn’t understand the conversation between dragons, clung to Renard’s back, all he could do was look up at the imposing landscape. As Liev looked up at Renard, tense under Mahatra’s oppression, Renard shouted in a dissatisfied tone.

[Liev is uncomfortable, so change your form. You look like something out of a horror story.]

The ancient dragon shook its head in disgust at the still disrespectful attitude. Then, after looking at Liev clinging to Renard’s back, it sighed deeply and emitted a dazzling light.

Soon, the massive figure that seemed to reach the sky disappeared, and a golden-haired handsome man with a mysterious appearance was revealed. Renard, seeing that Mahatra had changed his form, also carefully transformed into a human form and gently placed Liev on the sand, as if afraid that he might fly away or extinguish if touched.

Finally freed a little from the overwhelming presence of a great being, Liev awkwardly stood next to Renard and apologized.

“I’m sorry for visiting you so suddenly.”

Although he had been quite flustered when they met unexpectedly last time, this time he felt he needed to be polite, as if he were in the position of a criminal. He wasn’t sure what Renard had just said, but it was clear that his attitude was shameless and lacked any semblance of manners. It wasn’t how he had raised him, but perhaps he also had a significant responsibility for teaching Renard’s character and manners. Anyway, since he was the one who had dropped Renard off to the divine dragon and fled, he felt a bit of guilt.

Especially given the current situation, As Liev was greeted with a cold sweat and an embarrassed expression, Renard abruptly brought up the main point.

“Liev is strange, check to see if he’s not hurt anywhere.”

Startled by Renard’s confident attitude, as if it wasn’t even a matter to ask and Mahatra should naturally cooperate, Liev was taken aback and made Renard bow his head.

“I’m sorry. I’m sure it’s not with bad intentions that he’s saying this. Please let it go.”

“What did I do!?”

Liev wanted to ask who taught him to be so stiff-necked while asking for help.

“That’s enough. It’s not like this guy has been like this for just a day or two.”

Mahatra turned his head away as if he were fed up, and a proud smile appeared on Renard’s lips. What’s there to be proud of? Liev was incredulous, but that wasn’t important right now. A chill ran down his spine at the transparent gaze that seemed to pierce through his stomach. After staring intently as if looking into something for a while, Mahatra huffed a short laugh.

“What is it? Is it dangerous!?”

Renard, seemingly frustrated, raised his voice, and Mahatra sighed deeply.

“It’s nothing serious, but it might be uncomfortable. This guy’s vessel is essentially a twisted body.”

What does he mean by uncomfortable? It seemed like an emergency light was flashing in Liev’s head.