RHH | Chapter 5.9

Absalom, who had turned the cold food into something freshly made, carried the tray to the bed. Leehwan was leaning against the headboard, staring at him. Seeing his disheveled state made his throat dry.

“Once a thief learns, he forgets the dawn.” It was a saying Leehwan had told Absalom, claiming it was a proverb from his homeland. Absalom agreed with that sentiment.

Still, he pretended nothing was wrong and approached. As he set the tray on the bed, Leehwan’s gaze clung to him intensely.

“I can’t do more. I’m hungry.”

The words stung. Absalom awkwardly rolled his eyes. Then Leehwan smirked. The slightly mischievous smile was unbearably attractive. Without realizing it, Absalom swallowed hard and his face turned red.

“You said you’re hungry. Let’s eat quickly.”

“Right.”

Leehwan chuckled softly and reached for the food. Absalom, pretending to eat, kept glancing at him.

Leehwan always told Absalom he was beautiful. But in Absalom’s eyes, the truly beautiful one was Leehwan. Even the scars Leehwan disliked looked radiant to Absalom.

If I gave up all my draconic powers, could I follow Leehwan? It was a thought he shouldn’t entertain, considering his purpose for being born.

But once awakened, desire ran wild on its own. Perhaps it was a reaction to being suppressed for so long. But Absalom didn’t care.

In fact, it might be better to create a new dragon than to keep one who has realized its desires as a watcher. If I were to be banished from this world as punishment, I would be truly happy. Just imagining it brought a wave of intense happiness.

“Ah, here. Just a moment.”

Absalom touched Leehwan’s lips as if something was stuck. Then he licked his finger. In truth, he wanted to push Leehwan down, kiss him, and thrust into his tight, hot place. But he couldn’t let Leehwan go hungry, so he decided to settle for this.

Hiding his true intentions, Absalom smiled gently. Leehwan narrowed his eyes.

“What kind of sinister thoughts are you having?”

Ah, caught again. Absalom deliberately widened his eyes. Leehwan tore off a piece of bread and said.

“Enough already. If you keep this up, you’ll die of overexertion and be ashamed even in death.”

Overexertion? Leehwan muttered to himself before putting the bread in his mouth. Absalom stirred the soup with a spoon.

‘Tell me everything. So I don’t misunderstand, tell me properly.’

It was what Leehwan had said when urging Absalom to reveal the truth. A sharp thorn pierced Absalom’s heart.

Since the empire had already secured the red stone slab from Elburz Island, Leehwan had to aim for another relic. The remaining relics were the divine weapon, Deiustellum, owned by the empire, and the marble decorating the depths of the papal palace.

Leehwan examined the fastest route from Irmen to the papal palace. No matter what, the only way was through the empire.

Considering the danger, going around the empire would take several times longer. Thinking of the anxiety and unease Absalom would feel during that time, it seemed better to cross the empire, even if it was a bit risky.

Do we really have to go this far? Absalom said it was fine, but Leehwan felt even more sorry. The scales of his heart had already tipped significantly. Leehwan took his eyes off the map and sank into thought.

Meanwhile, Absalom got up from his seat. Leehwan followed him with his gaze.

“I’m going to the market.”

“I’ll come with you.”

Leehwan got up and grabbed his coat. Though he said it was cold, Absalom didn’t actively stop him.

As they left the inn together, the harsh winter wind enveloped them. Leehwan hunched his shoulders. Then Absalom took Leehwan’s hand and placed it in his coat pocket.

“My body temperature is higher.”

His narrowing eyes were charming as he said that. Leehwan, who had been quietly watching Absalom, wriggled his captured hand. Absalom’s face immediately showed hesitation.

“Uncomfortable?”

Instead of answering, Leehwan interlaced his fingers with Absalom’s. Then, feeling awkward for no reason, he glanced at Absalom. His fair cheeks were completely flushed.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

The shy, trembling voice contrasted with the firm grip of his fingers. The perfectly interlocked hands were delightful. Sneaking a glance at each other, they both stepped forward at the same time. Maybe living like this here wouldn’t be so bad. Leehwan suddenly felt that keenly.

As a port city, the market was incredibly bustling. With the crowd so dense, Leehwan and Absalom had no choice but to let go of each other’s hands. The fleeting touch was regrettable. Leehwan clenched his fist as if holding onto Absalom’s warmth.

While Absalom haggled skillfully, Leehwan looked around other stalls. Fish, which he had only encountered as dried seafood inland, was being sold cheaply. If it was safe to eat raw, he could buy rice and vinegar to make sushi.

Suddenly, Leehwan realized he had never thought like this before. Before the regression, just blending into this world was overwhelming, and after the regression, he was too busy pushing this world away.

How much could change depending on one’s mindset. Leehwan felt as if he had just awakened.

“Caught today. Very fresh.”

The shop owner spoke bluntly. He was an old man with a gruff expression, not unlike Leehwan. Feeling oddly comfortable, Leehwan asked.

“Can it be eaten raw?”

“Are you a sailor?”

The old man looked at Leehwan as if he had seen it all.

“You’re not a sailor, yet you want to eat raw fish?”

“Do sailors eat it?”

On ships, it’s sometimes difficult to start a fire, so they eat it raw, but not on land. After hearing the old man’s explanation, Leehwan said.

“In my hometown, we eat it raw. If prepared well, it’s delicious.”

Then Absalom lightly tapped Leehwan’s shoulder.

“I’ll go over there for a bit. You’ll stay here a little longer, right?”

“Why are you going alone? We came together, so we should move together.”

“You look happy right now. Your hometown’s food, huh? I’m a bit curious too. You’ll make something delicious, right?”

Absalom had been solely responsible for their meals. Though he never complained, Leehwan felt sorry about it. But every time he tried to push Absalom aside and cook, it only resulted in wasted ingredients.

Yet today, for the first time, Absalom asked him to cook. Leehwan readily agreed.

Absalom’s back disappeared into the crowd. Leehwan watched him until he was out of sight before turning back to the old man.

“Your companion is quite handsome. Your lover?”

“Yes.”

Lover. The word alone was sweet. Leehwan smiled subtly.

At that moment, the air stirred strangely. It felt similar to when Absalom used magic. Leehwan turned toward the direction.

Against the clear winter sky, a black orb appeared. Sensing danger, Leehwan stepped back. But it followed him rapidly.

Pop!

The orb burst in front of Leehwan’s nose. Black smoke spread instantly. It was a familiar sight to Leehwan. But unlike when he slashed monsters, this smoke was too thick and strong.

The smoke enveloped Leehwan. Moving as if alive, it quickly penetrated through his nose, mouth, and even his pores.

Heat spread from his chest throughout his body. His strength drained, and his throat itched. Leehwan spat out what surged up his throat. The bright red blood was stark.

Memories of the time before the regression, now distant like a dream, surfaced. The symptoms he experienced shortly before his death were exactly like this.

‘Why.’

No, the reason didn’t matter. What was important now was that someone was trying to harm Leehwan. He drew his sword. But his weakened arm hung limp.

His trembling knees finally hit the ground. Leehwan barely lifted his heavy eyelids. In his blurry vision, he saw shimmering golden hair. Leehwan murmured with his fading consciousness.

“Lucien.”

His vision turned black.

The moment Leehwan sensed something was wrong, Absalom also noticed. He turned around urgently and headed toward Leehwan. But he stopped after only a few steps.

At some point, the area had become isolated from its surroundings. In the stillness, a teenage boy landed in front of Absalom, stepping on the air.

The white robes fluttering in the wind were dazzling. The boy slowly opened his eyes and looked at Absalom. It was an overly dramatic, yet fitting action. Absalom uttered his name.

“Iella.”

The golden hair shining under the sunlight and the pale face were merely beautiful. But that wasn’t Iella’s true form. Absalom stared directly into Iella’s ever-changing eyes, the only thing truly his.

“Which poor human have you devoured this time?”

“What a strange thing to say, young dragon. Humans are beings I created. For the owner to use them as they please can hardly be called devouring.”

Iella shook his head as if disappointed and scanned Absalom. His face showed clear interest.

“By the way, young dragon. You’ve done something quite amusing. Did you like it that much?”

Iella’s eyes were fixed precisely on Absalom’s heart. Absalom glared at Iella.

“Everything went as you wanted, didn’t it? Leave him alone.”

His voice, seemingly angry, hid unease. Iella, noticing this, laughed aloud.

“Should I laugh at you for being blinded by a trivial foreign object, or marvel at how much you’ve discerned with those distant eyes…”

His opal-like eyes sparkled. At that moment, black smoke rose in the distance.

“Leehwan!”

Just as Absalom turned pale and tried to move, invisible ropes bound him tightly. Only one being could do this. He gritted his teeth.

“Iella!”

“Do you really think everything went as I wanted?”

Iella approached Absalom. His expressionless face resembled a finely crafted marble statue.

“Now you understand too. What it feels like to lose the only being you’ve given your heart to in your long life.”

His voice, devoid of emotion, somehow conveyed pain. But Absalom had no room to feel such things.

“If you lay a hand on Leehwan, I won’t let it go.”

No matter the punishment, if even a single hair on Leehwan was harmed, he would kill Iella. As Absalom glared with murderous intent, Iella sneered.

“All bark and no bite, huh? You’ve been struggling since earlier, yet you can’t even break my barrier. What do you think you can do?”

“We’re both weakened, aren’t we?”

Absalom growled lowly. Iella frowned and raised his nails.

“True. I used a lot of power summoning that thing and bestowing blessings. But, arrogant dragon, even in this state, you can’t do anything to me.”

His long nails slowly traced Absalom’s pale face. A red line of blood dripped from the groove running from his forehead, past his eye, to his cheek.

Iella flicked the flesh caught in his nails and dispelled the barrier. Noise and presence returned instantly. Absalom sensed something ominous among them.

“I’ll give you two days. Run diligently to the Imperial Palace.”

As Iella’s form dissolved into the air, a searing pain slashed Absalom’s side. Absalom looked down. A dagger covered in Iella’s curses was visible.

Screams erupted from various places due to the daylight stabbing. Absalom stared at his attacker. It was the knight always by Lucien’s side.

Having achieved his goal by stabbing, the knight let go without hesitation. Gritting his teeth, Absalom gripped the dagger’s hilt and pulled it out in one swift motion.

He threw the bloodied dagger aside and turned. Holding his wound with his hand, he entered a secluded alley. The moment he tried to use magic to stop the bleeding, a sharp pain erupted in his stomach. Iella’s curse had activated.

The curse on the dagger caused the body to rot the moment magic was used. It was a rather petty curse for a god to place on his antithesis, the dragon. Moreover, the curse itself wasn’t very strong, so it could be undone with time.

Yes, time. That was the problem.

With Absalom’s current power, it would take three to four days to undo the curse. But Iella had only given him two. He didn’t even want to imagine what awaited him after undoing the curse and rushing there.

Absalom gauged his remaining magical power. It was like a well that had run dry. If he had known it would come to this, he wouldn’t have tried to break Iella’s barrier. But even if he went back, Absalom would do the same. Leaving Leehwan in danger was impossible for him.

After roughly stopping the bleeding, Absalom turned toward the empire. With his remaining power, he could only move a few kilometers. Still, he activated his magic.

Absalom’s body gradually faded and then disappeared. His faint moans also subsided, leaving only silence in the alley.