TEB Ch 109

He was the main character in the story, but it seemed like he was observing Liev’s actions and sometimes pushing him to solve things himself. Liev couldn’t help but wonder what his intentions were. Of course, he still didn’t understand everything, but if Mahatra’s earlier words were true, it would make a little more sense. 

So I came here in the first place to save Renard?

He was still very confused. He wanted to shake Sigrid by the collar and demand an explanation, but he was still hanging in the air, with a dragon holding him by the collar(?). 

As Liev tried to struggle out of the hold, Mahatra suddenly approached Renard and reached out his hand. And suddenly, a strong, muscular arm and hand pierced through Renard’s chest and tore into his flesh.

“W-What…!” 

When Liev gasped in shock, all the dragons, including Mahatra, had a calm expression. Except for Pompere, who looked very dissatisfied. 

[They’re all too soft.] 

Ignoring Pompere’s complaint, Mahatra finally grabbed something and pulled his hand out. 

[“gasp…Ah, what are you doing…?”] 

Renard’s body suddenly went limp, and he fell to the floor with a thud.

“Renard~!”

Liev looked around helplessly at the sudden situation and looked at Renard. He was still bound tightly by an invisible force and couldn’t even move a finger. He thought that maybe they were trying to scold Renard.

But the atmosphere suddenly changed to horror, and Liev struggled even harder to break free from the unknown force. Are they trying to kill both of them? Or…?! That’s when Mahatra glanced at something on the palm of his hand and walked towards Liev again. He grabbed something from Renard and reached out to Liev’s chest with it. “Is he trying to kill me too? I didn’t want to die like this. Why did I struggle to escape from that castle earlier? No, at least I was able to meet Renard for the last time, so maybe it’s not the worst outcome.

Liev’s mind was filled with various thoughts, and before he could even process them, he felt a strange sensation spreading from his chest. It wasn’t painful, but it felt like someone’s hand was digging through his organs and creating space inside.

[What are you doing to Liev?]

Before all of these bizarre actions could finish, Renard broke free from the dragon’s bindings and quickly ran towards Liev. But Mahatra raised his staff and hit Renard’s head before he could reach Liev.

[“You’re so reckless. Didn’t I tell you to control your temper? If you keep doing this, it won’t just be you, but this guy will be in big trouble.”]

Mahatra scolded him and clapped his hands. Liev, who was released from his bindings, stumbled forward and would have fallen if Renard hadn’t caught and supported him. The one dragon and one human were still confused about what was happening, so Mahatra explained everything to them.

[I have implanted your dragon heart into this human body. From now on, you will share your fate, including your lifespan. If you cause another rampage like this one, this human body will not be able to withstand it and will burn along with it. The pain that this human will feel will also become solely yours.]

What kind of absurd statement is this? Before that, Liev doubted if he had heard the previous sentence correctly. Sharing fate? That’s impossible… The human body cannot handle such a thing. No matter how much of a dragon he may be, he cannot permanently solve the problem of a weak vessel. Is there perhaps another way? Questions swirled in his mind, but he hesitated to ask, his words caught in his throat as Mahatra looked at him with a sour expression.

[“Ah, aging is said to be the greatest blessing for humans, right? It’s a pity, but there’s nothing you can do. You said you would take responsibility, so you must be prepared to bear it yourself.”]

And as if that was the last act of kindness he could offer, Mahatra added with a slightly annoyed expression,

[“Now go. Ask the “Creator” directly for any remaining questions.”]

“Yes?”

The moment Liev uttered another stupid answer once again, his vision suddenly went dark. And when it brightened again, he was facing the forest, where smoke was rising from the ruins of the collapsed castle. And in the chaotic scenery, there was the most precious being of all. Liev sat down in a daze for a moment, then quickly regained his composure and headed towards Renard.

“Are you okay, Liev!?”

Before Liev could reach Renard, Renard leaped up almost as if he were flying and hugged Liev. It was still confusing as to what had happened, but the warm body against his skin was real. Liev embraced Renard with his whole body.

For some reason, he suddenly felt like crying. He couldn’t tell if it was from the relief of returning safely or from finally letting go of the anxiety he had been carrying. When Liev shed tears without realizing it, Renard, who felt hot tears flowing down the back of his neck, panicked, grabbed Liev’s shoulder, and pulled away to check his face. Renard asked, not knowing what to do.

“Why, why are you crying? Do you not want to be with me?”

Instead of answering Renard’s question, Liev turned it back on him.

“Why did you try to attack me earlier?”

He just suddenly remembered about that. Of course, it was probably an order from the bald man who was now unconscious, but he wanted to hear Renard’s own reason for resisting the order. Then Renard heisted, lowered his gaze to the floor, and muttered like a child, confessing a mistake with his mouth.

“I was just… confused and angry. I thought you had lied to me by telling me you would never leave again. So I thought if I ate you, we would become one, and we would never have to be separated again.”

“What?”

Liev was shocked by the sudden confession. This was not what he expected. Liev stopped crying and looked at Renard with wide eyes. Renard rushed to explain,

“But I snapped out of it right away! If that happens, I won’t be able to touch or talk to Liev anymore! That will never happen again!”

Liev’s voice rose in frustration.

“Fool, listen to me properly when I say it! Why do you always only hear what you want to hear? You can tell when I’m lying, so why can’t you believe me?”

Liev was so dumbfounded that he started crying and ended up laughing. Renard pouted his lips and protested.

“Liev deceived me and left me!” 

“That was then! It’s different now!” 

In the end, when they started talking again and raising their voices, he was so dumbfounded that his tears dried up. Liev laughed with an empty sigh. Renard frowned, showing his dissatisfaction, and asked.

“What’s making you laugh? You said that if I cry and then laugh, horns will grow on my butt.” 

Liev laughed again at his words. He remembered when he told him that, but he still remembers it. Of course, since he’s a dragon, he probably won’t forget easily, but Liev wiped away his tears and said, 

“I was just anxious. I thought that you had no choice but to follow me because of the imprint.”

“Why would you think that? If I only saw you as my guardian, why would I want to mate with you? Even though I’m a dragon, you can only do that with your mating partner!”

Renard seemed to be trying to prove his love for me, but his choice of words was a little strange, so I laughed first. What does he mean by “mating partner”? Not lovers? In the end, Liev had to nag at him like his guardian again.