TEB Side Story Ch 4

“What do you mean by that…?”

As both Renard and Liev tilted their heads in confusion, the divine dragon clicked his tongue again.

“It seems that a magic crystal has solidified in a very small crack that formed when the soul was twisted and reattached. It will come out on its own when the time comes.”

“Excuse me…? I don’t understand.”

“What is that?”

Just as Liev was about to ask politely, Renard, as always, asked directly.

“Tell me.”

Liev tried to give Renard a hint by pulling on his sleeve, but it was a futile attempt.

“Why, don’t drag it out, just tell us. We don’t want to stay here any longer.”

Even though it was Mahatra whose sleep was disrupted, Renard’s confident attitude made Liev uneasy, as if he were walking on thin ice, but Renard didn’t seem to care at all. I’ll have to give him a proper scolding when we get back, Liev thought as he sighed and watched the two dragons. Mahatra responded with a face that said he hadn’t expected much.

“The reason you’re suffering from symptoms like nausea or a slight fever is because there is magic within you that hasn’t circulated properly and has become stagnant. Normally, it should naturally seep through the body and be absorbed, but as mentioned earlier, it’s stuck in a crack. It won’t remain like that forever, so you just have to wait until it comes out of the body.”

It was a clear explanation that this was not a pregnancy, whatever it was.

“Then…”

As Liev cautiously moved his lips, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his chest, Renard once again intercepted the turn.

“If you’re going to explain, do it properly. How long do we have to wait for it to come out of his body?”

At Renard’s pressing question, Mahatra sighed with his fingertips on his forehead.

“It won’t disappear in a day or two. It took time to accumulate like this, so naturally, it will take even longer to disappear.”

Liev was silently shocked by this bolt from the blue. Does this mean he has to continue feeling nauseous and uncomfortable for months? Right now, even swallowing water is a struggle, let alone eating anything. Renard, noticing Liev’s pale face, pressed Mahatra for answers.

“That’s not possible. Fix it right now. You can do it.”

Although Renard’s attitude seemed like a tantrum, Liev didn’t feel like stopping him this time. Couldn’t it be removed immediately, just like when the dragon heart was directly implanted in his body? As he was about to speak, feeling an unpleasant sensation as if his stomach were on fire, Mahatra poured cold water on the situation again.

“Well, I’m not sure if this is something I can handle.”

“Excuse me?”

Liev unwittingly made another foolish reply.

“There’s no such thing as a task the old man can’t do. Just take it out with your hand, like last time.”

As Renard recalled the moment when the dragon heart was extracted from him and asked, Mahatra shook his head with an expression of fatigue.

“It’s different this time. The location isn’t good, and if I, who inherently contain a different kind of magic, were to touch it, it could twist his soul again. It’s safest to wait for time to resolve it.”

“Ah…”

Liev sighed at the firm explanation. Mahatra, who had been taking a breath, added,

“Or, there are ways to take it out.”

At the glimmer of hope, both Renard and Liev perked up their ears, and Mahatra spoke with a weary expression.

“If you do what you’ve been doing so far, it shouldn’t take that long.”

Do what we’ve been doing so far? The explanation was so vague that they couldn’t understand what could possibly help with removing it. As they both tilted their heads again, Mahatra’s long sigh scattered over the dry desert.

***

And a short while later, back at the villa, Liev still couldn’t lift his head, his face flushed red. It was hard to keep his composure with shame and embarrassment.

Renard, who thought he would be okay, seemed concerned about Liev’s embarrassment, continuously sneaking glances at him and checking on him. Liev, feeling even more embarrassed by that consideration, spoke first.

“Forget it, don’t worry about me. It’s not your fault this happened, it’s just my constitution, so there’s nothing we can do.”

As Liev muttered in a deflated voice, Renard immediately objected.

“How can I not worry, when Liev is having a hard time and not eating properly?”

While pouting his lips and looking at Liev with a face that seemed to be complaining, that look was somehow… cute. Making Liev feel sorry for worrying him. It was a mixture of emotions.

“Anyway, it’s not your fault, so don’t take it too hard.”

As Liev smiled bitterly and tousled Renard’s hair, Renard stealthily approached and hugged Liev. Warm and broad arms. The familiar scent sweetly tickled his nose. Liev patted Renard’s back, who seemed more shocked than himself, and then suddenly, he felt a familiar bulk at his waist and raised an exclamation point above his head.

“Hey, I was just comforting you!”

Why are you getting hard at a time like this? Just as I was about to scream in frustration, Renard hurriedly explained.

“But Mahatra said earlier! The more I do it, the more it helps.”

While saying this, he blushed slightly and coughed, seemingly embarrassed that he had become erect in this situation. However, it didn’t subside. Liev pressed his throbbing forehead and closed his eyes.

Why does the method that helps have to be like that…

According to Mahatra’s explanation, the source of the magic that has settled inside Liev fundamentally comes from Renard, so when Renard is close, they naturally attract each other. The lump of magic that has settled inside Liev is larger than an egg but smaller than a baseball. For now, having Renard continuously stimulate the direction that functions as an exit to draw it out… could be helpful.

Why is that the method? Just hearing it makes his face burn, and he wishes he could hide in a mouse hole.

Liev, who was kicked out and told to hurry up and leave quickly without bothering him anymore, felt frustrated about why this had happened and at the same time felt a strange feeling. It’s a relief that it’s not… something like pregnancy. But a tiny part of him felt a little empty, wondering if he had been hoping for it without realizing it.

It’s because you kept talking about laying eggs…

He don’t know how I truly felt about it (though he is the one who vehemently denies it), but maybe Renard was hoping for it. I wonder if he feels disappointed. While Liev twitched at the lips that sneakily approached his neck while being tightly embraced by Renard, the same thought wouldn’t leave his mind. It’s not like brooding over it alone will produce an answer. Liev shook his head towards the floor, then finally gathered his courage and looked at Renard.

“……?”

Suddenly, Renard looked surprised as Liev jerked his head up, tilting his head like a puppy and looking at Liev. At that dumbfounded gaze, Liev felt an indescribable feeling and asked,

“Aren’t you… disappointed?”

At Liev’s sudden question, Renard tilted his head to the other side and asked back,

“What?”

No, asking like that makes me embarrassed. Liev, feeling shy about saying it himself, blushed up to his neck and replied,

“You kept saying you were going to make me lay eggs. I thought you…might feel disappointed about it.”

The more he stammered the explanation, the hotter he felt, his face burning up. If he said he was disappointed, it’s not like he would give birth anyway. Liev felt a prick of guilt and looked away, only to receive an unexpected response.