Chapter 68
Once the situation was roughly sorted out, Kaiden immediately started nagging.
“What on earth made you come here so fearlessly? What if you got hurt.”
He seemed very angry. Reina muttered with her momentum deflated.
“I just found out that the village chief’s granddaughter was missing from the list. I came because I was worried you might be in danger.”
“You came because you were worried about me?”
“Yes. I really hate the idea of you getting hurt.”
At the honest answer, Kaiden flinched. The reason she acted recklessly was because of him.
Knowing that fact, the corners of his mouth tried to rise on their own.
He deliberately hardened his expression and said curtly.
“You’re probably the only one in the north who worries about me.”
Of course, the already half-raised corners of his mouth clearly revealed that his anger had subsided.
Michael was quietly watching the scene.
The purple aura that flowed around her the moment Medusa lunged at Reina.
That was clearly the power of Kaiden, the descendant of the dragon.
‘It’s a power that’s hard to believe even seeing it with my own eyes.’
A power that neutralizes the attack of an isolated species monster, and one suspected of mutation at that.
He could understand how Crencia had protected the north all this time.
Moreover, he seemed fine even after grabbing the monster’s core with his bare hands.
Normally, one would be poisoned by the magic and their skin would turn black.
The reason the Emperor was so wary of him was probably because of that power.
Kaiden only seemed relieved after confirming that there wasn’t a single scratch on Reina’s body.
To be so calm in front of a monster.
The same went for Reina, who was surprising.
From the fact that she carried such a terrifying magical tool.
Her actions were bold, as if she knew this would happen.
‘I need to observe a bit more.’
Michael fiddled with the ring on his pinky finger.
The Emperor had ordered him to monitor every move of the two while staying in the north.
Especially to find out how deep their relationship was.
He didn’t seem particularly curious about Reina personally.
Michael felt the same, but after experiencing today’s events, his thoughts changed.
Reina was not as simple as he thought. Her power was the same.
Michael’s gaze turned to Ritsi sitting on Reina’s shoulder.
She seemed unaware, but her divine beast was not ordinary.
What kind of divine beast manifests like a dog protecting its owner.
Moreover, until Ritsi stepped in, he hadn’t noticed its presence at all.
Seeing how its energy often disappeared, it seemed to be controlling its power itself to minimize the physical burden on its owner.
Summoning a divine beast consumed considerable energy.
Arrogant divine beasts wouldn’t listen to the contractor without compensation.
In that regard, the relationship between Reina and Ritzi was special.
That red bird had no hesitation in protecting Reina.
If Kaiden hadn’t protected her earlier, that bird would have protected Reina.
It was proof that the divine beast recognized her as its owner.
What if the Emperor had seen this situation?
He would probably regret sending her to the north.
At that moment, his eyes met Kaiden’s. Seeing the look as if protecting Reina from him, Michael felt like laughing.
It seemed that the divine beast wasn’t the only one protecting her.
Michael became even more curious about Reina. Somehow, it felt like she would do something tremendous.
* * *
Jane, who regained consciousness, remembered nothing. It was the memory loss that humans who had been monsterized typically experienced.
Kaiden decided to protect Jane. There was a tragic incident involved in her becoming the monster’s target.
This incident was concluded as the work of the isolated species Medusa.
The only ones who knew it was a mutated species were those present at the scene that day.
With Medusa dealt with, the delegation also prepared to return to the capital.
Michael called Reina aside the day before leaving.
He suggested a light walk and led her to the greenhouse.
As the awkward walk continued like that. Michael glanced at Ritzi and said.
“It would be good to hide the divine beast if you ever have to come to the capital later.”
“Huh?”
At the sudden advice, when Reina was flustered, Michael continued.
“I’ve long noticed that Miss Reina hasn’t revealed all the power of the divine beast.”
“!”
Reina’s hand trembled slightly. She thought she had properly deceived him.
‘How much does he know?’
It might be words to probe her. Nevertheless, Reina couldn’t control her trembling body.
Michael calmly said to Reina, who was visibly terrified.
“There’s no need to be so wary. I’m just advising you to be careful. Especially, you’ll have to hide Ritsi in front of His Majesty.”
“……What do you mean.”
At the unexpected advice, Reina became alert. Since the Emperor was mentioned, she had to be careful with her words.
When Reina pretended not to know, Michael spoke.
“Let me ask one thing. Doesn’t it strain your body while summoning Ritsi?”
“Huh?”
“Do you know the meaning of Ritsi’s action trying to protect you in front of Medusa?”
Michael laid out questions that she didn’t know how to answer.
When Reina couldn’t give any answer, Michael added an explanation as if he expected that.
“Ordinary divine beasts do not recognize royals as owners. They don’t lend power without compensation. So no matter how great a power a royal has, they can’t control the divine beast freely. Even I have restrictions when using the divine beast’s power.”
“That’s the same for me…….”
“Well. In my eyes, Miss Reina’s divine beast feels a bit more special. It seems like it recognizes you as its owner.”
Michael’s gaze turned to Ritsi. It was still a trivial energy, but he remembered the time it flapped its wings in front of Medusa.
It was clearly an action to hide its power. Perhaps that appearance wasn’t its true form.
The Emperor would also notice right away if he saw Ritsi a few times.
Michael thought that perhaps Reina had fled to the north knowing her ability, but he folded that thought entirely.
Because it was impossible to realize the authority of the divine beast before her twentieth birthday.
“Coming to the north before the ability manifested was a good choice. If your birthday had passed, His Majesty wouldn’t have sent Miss Reina to the north.”
If it was an action done without knowing, it was excessively lucky, that’s what he meant, but Reina was shocked.
Even knowing he couldn’t know, she couldn’t calm down easily.
When her words noticeably decreased, Michael continued the question.
“What did His Majesty ask of Miss Reina?”
“It was just a letter of regards.”
When Reina feigned ignorance, Michael burst into laughter.
“The Emperor is a self-centered person. He wouldn’t have handed me a secret letter just to ask about well-being.”
“Even so, I have no obligation to tell Michael.”
When Reina reacted stiffly, Michael gave a graceful smile.
“That’s a good attitude. If you had readily revealed His Majesty’s secret order here, I would have been disappointed.”
At the attitude openly admitting it was a test, Reina was dumbfounded.
Michael was clearly the Emperor’s man. Yet why was he giving her such advice?
His attitude as if he wanted to help her was confusing.
“Will you report to His Majesty?”
“What?”
“The things you saw in the north.”
Precisely, it meant that she was hiding her power.
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By Anna 💓
