#185

Since deciding to leave, Cullen had been engrossed in preparations. Given the season, food wouldn’t be hard to find anywhere, but he had to prepare for isolated times.

A few days passed as he prepared preserved foods, dried rations, and dried grains. He visited the village once every three or four days. Selem, whose face had become familiar, greeted Cullen warmly and even packed him baked bread.

The Dragon followed him every time he went to the village, but Cullen deliberately didn’t speak to him. For nearly a week, despite being close, they hadn’t exchanged many words. The Dragon simply stood behind Cullen like a shadow.

He couldn’t ignore his presence, but Cullen decided to follow Lasano’s advice. Even if he couldn’t prevent him from being by his side, he felt it was right not to want to get closer to the Dragon himself.

However, sometimes Cullen didn’t know what he was doing. He thought everything would become clear if his emotions disappeared, but that wasn’t the case.

Today was the day of departure. Two days prior, he had been informed that three horses had been prepared thanks to a special arrangement by Hope’s father. With the horses ready, all that remained was to leave.

Because of that, Cullen had woken up early. As Cullen was doing a final check in the warehouse, Lasano approached him. He was already packed for departure. He wore only a light leather bag, as when he first appeared, not looking like a traveler.

“I should say my goodbyes.”

Cullen, who was cleaning a rough weapon bought from the village, paused at his words. For reasons he didn’t understand himself, he had assumed Lasano would be going with them.

“……Are you going separately?”

He asked softly, and Lasano nodded. His face looked as if it were obvious.

“I came here following the goddess’s instructions. Regardless of whether I trust the gods anymore, the path she presented is my only salvation. If the purpose of coming here was to help Cullen-nim’s resurrection for Kiyen-nim, then the objective has been achieved.”

Certainly, Lasano was a traitor and no longer a priest, so even if he were part of the group, he wouldn’t be as useful as before. The thought that he might still have the power of Akesis he used crossed his mind, but… even while reaching that conclusion, something felt off.

“Where do you plan to go?”

“I suppose I must go wherever my feet take me. If I do, she said she would grant me what I desire someday.”

Lasano said so, gazing into the air. Looking at his vacant eyes, Cullen felt a sense of déjà vu.

“Didn’t you say you don’t believe in the god Aksha?”

“But I cannot die. It is the wish of the one who died in my stead.”

Just as he was about to say that it wasn’t necessary to hear it, Cullen suddenly realized. It was probably because Arne, who said those words, was a significant person to Lasano.

While lost in thought, Lasano asked.

“And what exactly are you planning to do, Cullen-nim?”

“……I intend to eliminate as many Demonic Beasts as possible. They say the world has become more dangerous than before.”

“Is there a need for that? If you wanted to do something else, there would be plenty. Haven’t you sacrificed enough?”

He wasn’t wrong, but Cullen wasn’t that kind of person.

“I have power, and it is natural for those with power to help others.”

Then Lasano examined Cullen with a puzzled look.

“It’s confusing when you’re like this.”

As if asking with his expression, Lasano rubbed his chin.

“I believe human goodness and conviction are ultimately based on emotions. Compassion and chivalry—these cannot be achieved by reason alone. In my eyes, Cullen-nim doesn’t seem unable to feel emotions, but rather……”

His red eyes pierced through me, watching me.

“You just seem to be blocking them.”

Since that point was ambiguous even to me, Cullen cut off the conversation.

“It’s just your speculation.”

As he cut off his words decisively, Lasano laughed. Stepping back, he truly seemed about to leave.

“Have you said your goodbyes?”

Though it felt strange to let him go, Cullen asked that for now. He had no reason to stop him from doing what he intended.

“No, we haven’t spent enough time together for that. It just seems better for us to disappear. Well then, I hope we can meet again alive.”

Lasano bowed his head elegantly, just as he had when he was High Priest. It was a gesture similar to the night he first greeted me.

The time that had passed since then flashed through my mind. It was a period filled with doubt and distrust, and the outcome was similar, but there was undoubtedly a bond in between.

At that moment, a small figure suddenly burst out from behind.

“Where are you going?”

White, who had appeared from nowhere, looked at Lasano with a puzzled expression. He wore a rare look of distress.

“My, you’re up early.”

“We don’t sleep. I was wondering why you were so busy this morning……”

Saying so, White carefully held onto Cullen. His hand, gripping the hem of his clothes with great caution, was different from Cat’s. He looked like he had mustered courage despite his hesitation.

“Isn’t Lasano coming with us?”

“I am an uninvited guest. I only stayed here for a short time out of kindness, and I will be leaving.”

When Lasano replied like that, White’s eyebrows drooped, which was rare. His eyes beneath his white brows looked like a puppy’s.

“Come with us.”

The child asked frankly. Knowing Cullen was the decision-maker, he looked at Cullen and said again.

“I like Lasano. He’s kind.”

“Me?”

Lasano asked, looking bewildered, and Cullen couldn’t agree. Only White nodded.

“You played with me. You stayed by my side more than the Guardian.”

It seemed the child had come to regard Lasano as a guardian during that short time. While an awkward stalemate ensued, Black and Cat appeared, and finally, the Dragon also appeared. They were all dressed simply for a journey. However, the wings that were always visible were gone.

“What is it?”

The Dragon, who appeared silently, asked. Although he had been avoiding making eye contact recently, his complexion was so unusually pale that he couldn’t help but look.

His cheeks seemed sharper than before, and his face looked weak. This was the first time I had seen him like this. It was as if… he was lacking energy.

As he thought about the cause, White asked the Dragon.

“Can’t Lasano-nim come with us too?”

Then the Dragon looked at Cullen.

“If Cullen wants it, I don’t mind.”

Ever since he said he would grant me everything I wanted, he had never expressed his own opinion. He acted like a child afraid of being abandoned.

Lasano shook his head at the Dragon’s words, but Cullen had no reason to reject him. If he used the power of Akesis, he could be an asset. After a moment’s thought, Cullen revealed a card to persuade him.

“I intend to eliminate Demonic Beasts for the future.”

“Did you say for the future?”

“Yes. It is said that human souls mix into the flow and reappear in the world in the same form someday. I had a brief conversation with the goddess. I didn’t hear much, but my family… and all the people I cherish will be reborn someday.”

Cullen spoke firmly, as if reminding himself of his purpose.

“I am stepping out for a world like that. I hope the world where my loved ones live will not be chaotic.”

At the mention of returning to the world, Lasano froze. After a moment of silence, he wore a troubled smile and finally nodded.

“In that case… there is no other way.”

White’s face brightened. Seeing that, Cat quickly ran over and stood next to Cullen. Black, with his usual calm expression, stood beside the Dragon. Once things were roughly settled, Cullen nodded.

“From now on, we will go down, get the horses, and head straight east. It’s the closest place, and we can hear the situation from Ulli, who has dealt with Demonic Beasts for a long time.”

At the mention of Ulli’s name, the Dragon flinched. However, instead of saying anything, he waited for Cullen to move. Pretending to ignore it, Cullen left the warehouse. He took in the house, which felt empty now that preparations were complete. A strange sensation followed.

It was a place that held only pain, yet the memories accumulated over a short two weeks… were surprisingly present.

Moving his feet, which had stopped as if caught, Cullen started to lead the way. The group left the cabin, with the Young Dragons in between.

Since it was their first time descending the mountain, the three Young Dragons seemed excited. Before Cullen could stop them, they ran off quickly. Cullen gave them a warning once. After that, they kept their speed such that they wouldn’t stray from Cullen’s sight.

Black simply watched Cat and White, who were running ahead, and stayed silently by Cullen’s side. Silence hung between the two walking at the very back. Black was particularly quiet among the children. He was so quiet that it faintly reminded him of himself when he was young.

Once they entered the village, the two children went wild. White dragged Lasano, and Cat dragged the Dragon, excitedly watching the people. As Cullen was about to go to Hope’s father to get the horses, Black spoke for the first time.

“Um, Cullen-nim.”

At his young but quiet voice, Cullen looked down at the child. He didn’t have his purple eyes, but Cullen felt a sense of kinship from his calm expression. Looking closer, he saw a faint worry.

“I think we should make the Guardian eat something.”

At the foreign words, Dragon and meal, Cullen slightly frowned.

“I know Dragons don’t really need to consume anything.”

“Yes, Dragons shouldn’t. Me and the other kids, and originally the Guardian too……”

Black said, looking at the Dragon being led by Cat.

“Something changed after Cullen-nim arrived. I can feel it. An unstable energy. Originally, he would eat simple things like honey, but he hasn’t touched anything for over a week.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Cullen saw the Dragon, whom Cat was leading, stagger.