Chapter 9

As cherry petals danced in the wind, Nectar hurriedly continued, perhaps thinking I had fallen out of sorts due to my speechlessness.

"In fact, what I've been researching all along was a method to解除隶属的诅咒. After seeing the method to解除拉瓦的诅咒, I found a way to invalidate the contract by exploiting its underlying mechanism. However, without my staff, I lack the overwhelming magical power necessary for this. But I thought that if I could use a part of your body, a magic creature, I could directly supply the required magic power."

"......I pledged to respect your will as long as you fulfill the contract. If you, who have sincerely kept this promise, wish to go, I cannot say no. But doing so will break your magic circuit, you know?"

Indeed, a scale from me, being a part of me, could be used as a purer magic material than any ordinary magic stone. Moreover, to me, it's just a scale. Like hair or nails, it regrows every few years (even though I look like a reptile, I don't shed my skin), so I practically have an abundance of them. Picking them up wouldn't involve any transaction or cost.

However, using them directly would be a significant problem. Even without a staff, I can use magic. But the reason Nectar insists on using a staff is that when a human tries to perform large-scale magic, their body, especially their magic circuit, cannot withstand the enormous magical power.

The relationship between magic and the user is similar to that between electricity and electrical appliances. The spell is the circuit, and the magic is the electricity needed to make it work. You need to supply the appropriate voltage for the appliance. For that, you can use a voltage adapter.

A spell's suitability is determined by how much freedom the magic circuit, which acts as a voltage adapter, has. I don't need a staff because dragons themselves serve as voltage adapters. Humans, regardless of individual differences, don't have magic circuits that can directly draw magic power from a crystal. Therefore, they use a staff to handle the conversion, amplification, and control.

If a human tries to forcibly draw magic power from a lump of magic, what would happen?

It's like trying to plug an appliance with a different voltage directly into an outlet without using a voltage adapter. In the case of magic, the user can adjust to some extent, but handling an enormous amount of magic that wasn't originally intended is difficult, and it puts a significant strain on the magic circuit, with no guarantee of survival. Once a magic circuit is broken, it cannot be repaired. At worst, a magician might lose the ability to even sense magic, which is fatal.

Despite this, Nectar nodded firmly, as if he understood.

"If I can free the first one, I can teach the spell to other magicians with staffs, and they can safely free the others. An ordinary magician might not be able to activate it alone, but I'm confident that Kail can. It only needs to be activated once. I can endure that. If there's a price I can pay, I'll pay anything. Please, can you give me permission to go help my friends?"

I exhaled, not realizing I had been holding my breath. The wind from my dragon lungs stirred Nectar's flaxen and pale pink hair, but he didn't look away.

"......I thought you wished for me to解除your curse."

His expression of surprise and disbelief revealed that he had never considered this. He said, with genuine curiosity:

"This is a problem of the human world. It would be presumptuous to ask an unrelated person like Rawa to solve it, even after borrowing your wisdom. Human problems should be solved by human hands."

I know how rare it is for a human to think this way. If he wanted a scale, he could have just looked for one; they're scattered around. I wouldn't have been angry even if he had taken one without asking.

"Then, what about the ley line fissure? Regulating the magic flow is my duty. Asking you to seal it first, even if it means slightly altering your schedule, might hurt a magician's pride, but it's not an unreasonable request."

I was aware that this was a somewhat mean-spirited question, but I couldn't help asking.

Of course, I would do it if asked. Even if I felt regretful, it's my responsibility. As expected, Nectar's brows furrowed in distress.

"Indeed, that's true. You are very kind. Even knowing that we have recklessly interfered and caused damage, you don't get angry. You close the fissure with your artistic magic manipulation and restore everything as if nothing happened. But once that's done, you will leave this place, won't you?"

I was confused by what Nectar was trying to say.

"Well, that's true. Once it's regulated, the land will maintain it. Then, I'll have no reason to stay here and will move to another place."

"I didn't want that."

I was taken aback by Nectar's pained expression.

You don't want to part ways with me?

"I know. Even now, innocent people, especially Kail and the others, are in danger. Returning the magic flow to normal will resolve more than half of the current situation. But the time I've spent with you, this miraculous encounter, has been so enjoyable and happy that I wished it could continue forever."

Nectar spoke as if confessing a sin.

"Your golden eyes made me forget the desire to disappear. Talking with you reminded me of the joy of magic. Being told by you that I was fine as I am gave me a sense of acceptance and peace."

"Spending time with you made me want to live."

"This time won't last long. Once you leave this land, I will never see you again. The end will come someday. Even if I understand it in the back of my mind, I wanted to postpone it as long as possible. I didn't want to let go of this dream-like time with my own hands."

I felt the same way.

I realized I had been muttering to myself, moved by Nectar's confession. I was lonely, and it was nice to have someone who would listen to my words and engage in conversation.

I wished Nectar could always be there.

Ah, that's right. I had been so absorbed in the fun that I hadn't noticed. The adjustment of the cycle was almost complete, and only the ley line fissure remained.

"That's why I deliberately used vague expressions and added detours to the conversation to make it take longer. I thought that as long as the pledge wasn't fulfilled, I had a reason to stay by Rawa's side. I acted on my ego without considering the sacred pledge, defiling it. I am not worthy of the pledge you made. It would be presumptuous of me to even desire a part of your body."

His confession made me realize what I had been fixated on.

So, I was envious.

Nectar and Kail's bond is deep. Of course, it is. They have a history that spans years, unlike my mere few weeks.

Moreover, we are of different races. Normally, one wouldn't think of having a normal conversation with someone who could instantly kill them. But this young man with flaxen and pale pink hair cherished the time he spent with me. He said he didn't want to part ways.

If that's the case, it will be fine.

I made up my mind. It wouldn't be right for me to be the only one hiding something after he had spoken so openly.

So, I said it. In modern language.

"......I had a vague idea that you were deliberately making things take longer. I didn't realize you were trying to extend the pledge, but I felt the same way."

Nectar gasped, realizing my secret. He already knew I understood his words.

Dragons have a very high learning ability. I had just lacked enough information, but once I used my memory to decode it, it was quick. Pretending not to understand and convincing the spirits that I still didn't know was a bit challenging, but not impossible.

"Since when?"

"By the time your friends arrived, I understood about 70%. I fully grasped the pattern from your conversations with your subordinates. So, I understood the gist of your conversations with your friends. However, the time I spent with you was so interesting that I kept delaying it, thinking you still had more to teach. You don't need to worry about the pledge. Since the spirit of the pledge didn't punish you, there was mutual agreement. But if it causes trouble for someone, you should stop."

I'm such a fool. I was so focused on the means that I forgot the original purpose. The solution was right in front of me, but my anxiety made things complicated. It's not too late now.

"Rawa!!"

Ignoring Nectar's changed expression as he realized what I was about to do, I focused on the spirit within me and called out loudly.

"I, the Incarnation of Night Born from Lava, acknowledge the fulfillment of the pledge with Nectar Prominent. All the agreements made at that time are hereby nullified, and Nectar Prominent's oath is declared invalid."

As when the pledge was made, a magic circle appeared around Nectar and me, and a light orb emerged from my chest, shattering like fireworks along with the magic circle.

Nectar, who was captivated by the fleeting and fantastical scene, stared at the point where the light orb disappeared, his sky-blue eyes wide with shock.

I, on the other hand, felt an unprecedented tension as I prepared to say what I needed to say. I had never felt such a dry throat in this body, but I slowly asked, trying not to make a mistake.

"Now that nothing binds you, what do you think of me?"

Nectar, unable to grasp the meaning of my question, responded slowly.

"An existence?"

I continued without waiting for his response.

"Considering that I came here for academic research, perhaps I am an observation subject? Or, as a stronger being, I might be a predator. Or—"

"......No matter what you think, to me, you are an irreplaceable and precious person who reminded me of important things. My feelings for you won't change even if the pledge is gone!"

"Is that so?"

His firm words, which he refused to budge on, warmed my heart. That's good. Then, I'm not afraid to say what I need to say next.

"Nectar, I was thinking too much and forgot something important."

"......?"

I should have learned this in my previous life, but I had forgotten. Nectar, who had been biting his lip in anticipation, looked up curiously.

"I believe that a relationship is built by accumulating feelings for the other person day by day.

But at first, I didn't want to let you go because we could understand each other, and I desired a tangible promise through the pledge. You also had an interest in me, but you mistakenly thought that the usual methods wouldn't work due to our vast differences, so you proposed that oath to have a reason to be by my side. There was a simpler way, but I lacked the courage and made a mistake at the beginning. I should have just said this."

Looking at Nectar, who was filled with anticipation and anxiety, I spoke the words.

"Nectar, I'm a dragon, and you're a human, but would you be my friend?"

"!! Yes, Rawa, I would be happy to!"

Nectar's bright smile made me smile naturally.

This isn't a pledge mediated by a spirit, so I don't feel anything special. But I felt a connection, and the warmth in my chest made me want to cry. I tried to maintain a serious attitude and continued.

"Then, it's only natural to help a friend in trouble. In fact, it would be unreasonable not to. So, I will go to seal the ley line fissure."

"That's very kind of you, but—"

Nectar, who had been taken aback by my formal and abrupt statement, looked dejected at the mention of fixing the ley line, perhaps thinking it would mean an earlier parting.

"Friends can meet again even after parting. There's no need to be so down. Fixing the ley line will take time. There are many ways to do it."

"True."

Smiling mischievously, I received a nod from Nectar.

"Since we're friends, I don't mind giving you a scale or two as a parting gift, but wouldn't a staff be better?"

"Yes, that's true. The material must be able to withstand the load of magic control and amplification and have a high affinity with magic. Only special materials like divine silver or old trees inhabited by spirits qualify. However, divine silver is rare, and suitable trees for staffs are managed by the state, making them almost impossible to obtain. If I could get even a branch, I could process and adjust it myself."

The conditions for a staff were the same as what I knew, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Actually, I have a lead on an old tree inhabited by a spirit. You'll have to persuade it, but I can take you there. Would you like to try?"

"I'll go!"

As expected, Nectar answered enthusiastically. I lowered my body to make it easier for him to climb on.

"Let's hurry, it's quite a distance from here. Kail emphasized two weeks, so he must expect something significant to happen by then. Once you've packed, we'll leave."

Nectar rushed to the carriage to gather his belongings but hesitated in front of me, lying on the ground. I thought he was afraid, but that wasn't the case.

"I've always wanted to touch your body—it feels very pleasant."

"......Hurry up and grab the mane!"

The slight touch of Nectar, who had climbed on and caressed my body, made me oddly flustered, and I took off into the sky with a burst of energy.

After that, when I realized the cold and wind pressure and thought of carrying the carriage with Nectar, he surprisingly opposed the idea. We eventually agreed on using overlapping magic to avoid the trouble of carrying the carriage, which was a side note.

Savoring the joy of making my first friend, I raced through the vast, endless blue sky.