Chapter 85

# Chapter 85: <Meeting Again?>

"Hey, how is this brat here!"

A coarse and undignified word slipped out of Beinion's mouth reflexively. As the hood slowly slipped off, revealing his face, his expression was pale with fear.

The black dragon slowly flapped its wings and approached him.

"Why are you so surprised?"

An innocent voice reached Beinion's ears.

"Is it because I don't have blood on me—strange?"

The black dragon's face showed no emotion, despite the tone of its voice. The black dragon, Raon, slowly approached Beinion. Raon's surroundings were filled with his own black mana.

Beinion took a step back.

"Choke!"

He stepped back again, stepping on the bodies of his suffering subordinates.

"Beinion Sten."

The dragon spoke. Beinion hadn't seen a talking dragon in four years.

And it called his name.

The dragon before him was different from the one that used to bleed and be whipped. Though its size remained the same, the once-tamed dragon now stood before him as a superior being.

"Didn't you think I'd come back?"

He didn't. Beinion only thought he needed to retrieve the dragon and properly train it. It was a foolish thought. His feet trembled as he took another step back. He couldn't help it.

"Ah, no, what is this?"

A dark red mist approached him. The mist slowly rose from his legs, enveloping his body like a snake coiling around him. But he couldn't escape.

"Nice to see you."

The dragon, with a dry voice, bound Beinion's limbs with mana, preventing him from moving. The snake-like mist rose to just below Beinion's chin.

"Choke!"

One of his subordinates groaned once more before falling silent.

Sssss. A wind sound, similar to the hiss of a snake, hit his ears. Despite his usual elegant appearance, Beinion's face was terrible.

"No, no, this can't be."

The mist rose to his nose.

This was the first time he had experienced such a thing. Bound and helpless, Beinion was powerless.

The dark red mist slowly enveloped his nose and face. Beinion tried not to breathe, but eventually the mist seeped into his nose.

He felt suffocated. At that moment, he could see the dragon's distorted face through the mist.

"I'm very glad to see you, Beinion Sten."

"…Choke!"

Raon could see Beinion's face in the dark red mist. Beinion, who had absorbed the weak poison mist from On and Hong, was trembling.

Raon untied the mana ropes that bound Beinion.

Thud. Beinion, poisoned, fell to the ground. He had already lost consciousness.

Raon quietly looked down at the fallen Beinion. At that moment, a hand stroked the dragon's head.

It was Kael. He had lightly jumped from the rooftop railing to the ground, and now he looked at Raon while watching Beinion.

Raon's voice was heard.

"He's weak. Very unsatisfyingly weak."

Kael smiled bitterly. The voice sounded quite sad. But Kael asked,

"Do you want to stop?"

"No. I'll do the same to him."

Without a moment's hesitation, Kael tapped the black, round head. He looked around and said,

"Let's start."

Thud, thud. The cats On and Hong, who were on the roof, lightly jumped down. As On manipulated the mist, it slightly cleared, revealing Chuihan.

"Everyone is waiting at the entrance of the alley."

Kael, seeing the black dragon Raon gradually becoming transparent, gave instructions.

"Bring them in."

"Yes."

Soon, two small carriages entered the alley, filling the space. One person got out of one of the carriages.

"Um, good morning. Young Master."

"Take him away."

The mad priest, Cage, swallowed hard as she saw the two subordinates of Beinion, who were poisoned and lying on the ground, and Beinion Sten, who was carried on Chuihan's back.

She couldn't see what had happened inside the alley, as the thick mist had obscured her view and Chuihan had guarded it.

"No, no, this can't be."

The mist rose to her nose.

This was the first time she had experienced such a thing. Bound and helpless, Beinion was powerless.

The dark red mist slowly enveloped his nose and face. Beinion tried not to breathe, but eventually the mist seeped into his nose.

She felt suffocated. At that moment, she could see the dragon's distorted face through the mist.

"I'm very glad to see you, Beinion Sten."

"…Choke!"

Raon could see Beinion's face in the dark red mist. Beinion, who had absorbed the weak poison mist from On and Hong, was trembling.

Raon untied the mana ropes that bound Beinion.

Thud. Beinion, poisoned, fell to the ground. He had already lost consciousness.

Raon quietly looked down at the fallen Beinion. At that moment, a hand stroked the dragon's head.

It was Kael. He had lightly jumped from the rooftop railing to the ground, and now he looked at Raon while watching Beinion.

Raon's voice was heard.

"He's weak. Very unsatisfyingly weak."

Kael smiled bitterly. The voice sounded quite sad. But Kael asked,

"Do you want to stop?"

"No. I'll do the same to him."

Without a moment's hesitation, Kael tapped the black, round head. He looked around and said,

"Let's start."

Thud, thud. The cats On and Hong, who were on the roof, lightly jumped down. As On manipulated the mist, it slightly cleared, revealing Chuihan.

"Everyone is waiting at the entrance of the alley."

Kael, seeing the black dragon Raon gradually becoming transparent, gave instructions.

"Bring them in."

"Yes."

Soon, two small carriages entered the alley, filling the space. One person got out of one of the carriages.

"Um, good morning. Young Master."

"Take him away."

The mad priest, Cage, swallowed hard as she saw the two subordinates of Beinion, who were poisoned and lying on the ground, and Beinion Sten, who was carried on Chuihan's back.

She couldn't see what had happened inside the alley, as the thick mist had obscured her view and Chuihan had guarded it.

"No, no, this can't be."

The mist rose to her nose.

This was the first time she had experienced such a thing. Bound and helpless, Beinion was powerless.

The dark red mist slowly enveloped his nose and face. Beinion tried not to breathe, but eventually the mist seeped into his nose.

She felt suffocated. At that moment, she could see the dragon's distorted face through the mist.

"I'm very glad to see you, Beinion Sten."

"…Choke!"

Raon could see Beinion's face in the dark red mist. Beinion, who had absorbed the weak poison mist from On and Hong, was trembling.

Raon untied the mana ropes that bound Beinion.

Thud. Beinion, poisoned, fell to the ground. He had already lost consciousness.

Raon quietly looked down at the fallen Beinion. At that moment, a hand stroked the dragon's head.

It was Kael. He had lightly jumped from the rooftop railing to the ground, and now he looked at Raon while watching Beinion.

Raon's voice was heard.

"He's weak. Very unsatisfyingly weak."

Kael smiled bitterly. The voice sounded quite sad. But Kael asked,

"Do you want to stop?"

"No. I'll do the same to him."

Without a moment's hesitation, Kael tapped the black, round head. He looked around and said,

"Let's start."

Thud, thud. The cats On and Hong, who were on the roof, lightly jumped down. As On manipulated the mist, it slightly cleared, revealing Chuihan.

"Everyone is waiting at the entrance of the alley."

Kael, seeing the black dragon Raon gradually becoming transparent, gave instructions.

"Bring them in."

"Yes."

Soon, two small carriages entered the alley, filling the space. One person got out of one of the carriages.

"Um, good morning. Young Master."

"Take him away."

The mad priest, Cage, swallowed hard as she saw the two subordinates of Beinion, who were poisoned and lying on the ground, and Beinion Sten, who was carried on Chuihan's back.

She couldn't see what had happened inside the alley, as the thick mist had obscured her view and Chuihan had guarded it.

"No, no, this can't be."

The mist rose to her nose.

This was the first time she had experienced such a thing. Bound and helpless, Beinion was powerless.

The dark red mist slowly enveloped his nose and face. Beinion tried not to breathe, but eventually the mist seeped into his nose.

Kael had promised not to kill Beinion's subordinates, and Cage and Taylor trusted him because he was a man of his word, which allowed them to plan this.

"We have to trust him."

Cage steeled her resolve. They needed to move quickly from today.

"Everyone is in the carriage?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go."

Her carriage left the alley in the opposite direction of Kael's.

Kael's carriage headed to the opposite side of the Sten Manor, a luxurious area where wealthy residents, baronets, and knights lived.

The streets were clean, and the mansions exuded opulence and wealth.

Clack, clack. Kael's carriage, running through the early morning mist, stopped in front of a mansion. The main gate slowly opened. Creak, clank. The sturdy iron gate opened, and the carriage headed to the back of the mansion.

An ordinary mansion. At the back of the mansion, there was a door leading to the basement.

"Nice place."

Kael, getting out of the carriage, casually commented and looked at the driver's seat. The driver was wrapped in a deep robe.

The hood of the robe slightly lifted, revealing a face.

"Go."

Odeus, with a stern face, bowed and quietly slipped out through the back door of the mansion. He wanted to turn around and look at Kael one more time but restrained himself.

'I misjudged.'

Since it was a task he couldn't delegate to his subordinates, he had to act himself. He understood why Kael had asked him to attend. What they were doing was something he couldn't entrust to subordinates.

'A torture chamber.'

Certainly, the young master was known to be good and self-sacrificing. But the reality was different. Especially Chuihan, who was good and upright, listened to Kael's words.

Odeus thought of his nephew, Vilos, who had said he would follow Kael.

Despite his aged appearance, Odeus' eyes were clear. He hurried. For the next four days, he had to continue serving Kael as instructed.

"Following you without hesitation is the problem."

Odeus muttered in a low voice, making sure no one else could hear, and disappeared into the mist.

When Odeus was no longer in sight, Kael opened the door leading to the basement.

Creak. The entrance door slowly opened with a chilling sound.

"Have you arrived?"

Vicros, standing right at the door, appeared. He had arrived at the mansion much earlier. The son of the assassin Ron, a swordsman, and a chef, he had many titles.

But he also had the title of a torturer.

"Yes. Let's move him."

Kael said. Chuihan, carrying Beinion, headed down to the basement. Vicros, with a reluctant expression, followed behind. He glanced at the black dragon flying above.

Kael ignored Vicros' gaze and looked at Raon. Vicros, who had understood Kael's explanation about the dragon's existence, nodded.

"Blood will be everywhere."

Vicros took out two white gloves. Kael had never read about someone wearing two gloves at once in a book.

"Should I cripple him?"

"Not necessary."

Raon answered.

"Got it. But will the young master be present?"

Hmm. Kael, hearing Vicros' question, let out a sigh and slightly frowned.

'I don't really want to see it, but.'

He had always hated blood and war and wanted to live a peaceful life. But this time was different.

A transparency spell was set up in a corner of the basement. If Kael's identity was revealed, it would be problematic, so he could only secretly watch.

'I can't enjoy a meal while watching torture, so I'll have wine.'

A brutal scene was about to unfold. He would inevitably feel physically sick and angry. In such times, alcohol was better. Kael was about to ask for wine but Raon spoke first.

"I understand. Weak human, don't worry. You don't have to watch."

"Right. It might be difficult for the young master."

Chuihan and On and Hong nodded in agreement. Kael, with a bewildered expression, opened his mouth.

"What are you talking about?"

Kael stroked Raon's head as he passed by.

"I have to watch. If I don't, you'll be alone."

There were times when one had to endure, no matter how difficult. He took a potion from his magic bag and threw it to Vicros.

"If you feel like you're going to die, use the potion. You'll survive the four days."

"Of course."

Vicros, instead of being surprised, nodded as if Kael's reaction was expected. He had been with Kael during the war, so he understood Chuihan and the black dragon's reactions.

"Let's prepare then."

Vicros, as a chef, used his skills to the fullest, setting up a grand banquet in the basement. It was a banquet solely for Raon.

***

"Ugh... Ugh..."

Beinion groaned and tossed and turned. His body felt heavy. Though his limbs weren't bound, the air felt scarce, making it difficult to move.

He soon regained his senses and his thoughts cleared.

"Choke!"

Beinion, startled, opened his eyes. Before him was a grand banquet.

A grand banquet, like one from a noble family, was laid out, and on the table, the black dragon looked down at Beinion.

Swoosh!

Beinion turned his head. The sound of chains clinking came from the shackles around his neck and limbs.

"Ugh, ugh-"

He wanted to speak but couldn't. The magical shackles around his neck prevented his voice from coming out.

Just like Raon, he couldn't make human sounds.

Swoosh, thud!

A whip was being dragged on the ground. It was a large whip embedded with iron and glass.

It was similar to the whip Raon had endured.

A man in a black mask slowly approached Beinion, wielding the whip.

"Start."

Raon said.