#179

At the mention of divine power, Lasano looked intently at Cullen. As if he could guess something just from the question, he returned the question.

“Is this about Lord Cullen?”

He had always been perceptive. Cullen nodded, with no intention of denying it.

Although it was a sensitive topic that could be dangerous, Lasano would likely know more about divine power than the Dragon. Even though he was a former enemy, the reason he turned his back on his comrades was because of Zarkas. With Zarkas gone, Lasano was not a significant threat. He had nothing left to protect or accomplish, so there was no risk he wouldn’t take.

Not because he trusted Lasano, but because he was useful, Cullen decided to continue his questions.

“Something strange happened during the day. While tending to the wound of an injured person I met on the road to the village, I felt a peculiar energy when I touched the wound. The other person seemed to feel it too, as they said they felt much better after I touched it.”

As he listened to the explanation, Lasano’s fingers, resting on his chin, tapped rhythmically.

“You touched the injured person? This must be why Lord Kiyen returned in a foul mood.”

“Don’t speak of unnecessary things.”

Cullen felt uncomfortable at the mention of the Dragon. He thought of the Dragon’s retreating back, which had silently led him all the way back. The reddened eyes and unstable expressions he had been showing since his revival were also bothersome.

The throbbing of the scar briefly returned. He resisted the urge to press his chest hard. A faint suspicion suddenly arose.

Could it be that he was… feeling emotions again?

His current state was ambiguous. Compared to before, he was experiencing no agitation. Even Lasano, if encountered by his past self, would have been met with anger.

His betrayal had affected many things. The series of events that arose from the division of the party, including Arne’s death, stemmed from Lasano’s choices. At least, he would have reacted with some action.

However, looking at Lasano, Cullen didn’t even feel that anger. There was no joy, nor resentment. But why did his body react whenever he saw the Dragon’s actions?

Perhaps the goddess’s Golden Seal had not yet fully permeated. That was a possibility. Or perhaps it was because the other party was the Dragon. It was an uncomfortable thought.

Cullen did not want to experience the loss and despair that had painfully filled him again. The joy he had painstakingly built had crumbled too easily, and the unhappy emotions that took its place remained for a long time, leaving scars. Cullen no longer had the strength to heal those wounds.

If he were to fall in love with the Dragon again, or if he were to gain someone precious and then lose them… he surely wouldn’t be able to bear it. He had to avoid his emotions returning at all costs.

“Your expression is serious. I understand. I’ll stop joking.”

As Cullen’s thoughts led him to a serious expression, Lasano straightened his posture. At that, White, who had been braiding his hair beside them, extended her arm as well. The child looked at Lasano and Cullen once, then cautiously interjected.

“Divine power is the exclusive domain of the goddess. Only those chosen by the god Aksha can use it.”

Forgetting that the child was a Dragon due to her young appearance, Cullen gazed at White and pondered for a moment. Did the young Dragon also look like this in the past? Was she alone like this?

He quickly dismissed the unnecessary thoughts. Those were assumptions that held no relevance at the moment.

“However, there are those who possess faint divine power even if they are not High Priests, Lord White. Common Priests are a prime example. They don’t have the same hair and eye color as High Priests, but they can use a weak divine power that slightly alleviates injuries.”

White tilted her head. Her eyes, with fluttering white eyelashes, turned to Cullen.

“That too, from birth…”

White, who was about to calmly refute, suddenly realized something on her own and her eyes widened slightly.

“That’s right. Lord Cullen, since you were reborn, such a thing could happen.”

Seeing White find the answer herself, Lasano shrugged.

“It feels strange to hear you speak like that in a child’s appearance.”

“Age holds little meaning for Dragons. There is only a difference in power before and after becoming an adult; concepts like age and time are not very useful to us.”

Lasano smiled bitterly at White’s words.

“Still, time has meaning.”

“Why?”

“Because there are many cases where important things that couldn’t be realized immediately are learned later through experience. Emotions, experiences, all are connected to the flow of time. That cannot be ignored.”

At Lasano’s words, White fell into thought. While the child remained silent, Cullen asked,

“Then, is there a possibility?”

Lasano asked, as if confirming something.

“What did it feel like?”

“It felt like a refreshing energy flowed from my hand and transferred to the other person.”

Hmm, Lasano slightly furrowed his brow. After a moment of thought, he spoke.

“That description matches the use of divine power. However, Common Priests do not feel such distinct divine power. Furthermore, prayer is essential. That is how they prepare medicine or tend to the injured. Only High Priests can wield power without any prayer.”

“But my appearance hasn’t changed.”

“That is true. Silver hair and red eyes have always been a tiresome exception, applied without fail.”

Lasano lightly touched his eye area and crooked his lips. Lasano’s past, which he had momentarily forgotten, flashed through Cullen’s mind. The silver-haired child, crawling and begging for his life, dying…

Recalling that made him feel uneasy. It was the same feeling he had when his chest ached while looking into the Dragon’s eyes.

There must be an issue with the Golden Seal. He had to find a way. Cullen’s expression hardened as he thought this.

“Still, there are always exceptions, aren’t there?”

Lasano said, then pointed to the sky with his finger.

“Lord Cullen is a being resurrected directly by the goddess. It is clear that Aksha’s power was involved in that process, and if it remains, it is highly possible it could manifest in the form of divine power. Even if not, Lord Cullen’s life, which Lord Kiyen….”

Lasano stopped speaking there. Cullen, looking at Lasano who had suddenly cut himself off, asked. Come to think of it, Cullen didn’t know how the Dragon had saved him. When he asked, the Dragon had evaded the answer.

“What did he do that I came back to life?”

Lasano feigned contemplation. He slightly furrowed his brow and parted his lips.

“Lasano, speak. Hiding something doesn’t help. It didn’t in the past either.”

As if Cullen’s words had touched a nerve, Lasano’s expression slowly hardened. Lasano, who gazed at Cullen with a subtle look, opened his mouth after a long silence.

“Lord Kiyen, his own….”

Lasano’s words did not finish. The Dragon, entering as the cabin door opened, stopped him.

“That’s enough. Don’t speak useless words and shut your mouth. I told you so.”

The Dragon spoke to Lasano with menacing eyes. His low voice sounded like a beast’s growl. A night breeze with a bitter sensation blew from behind the Dragon, filling the cabin. Even though it was spring, the night air was quite cool.

“But there’s nothing to be gained by hiding it.”

Lasano objected, but the Dragon did not back down.

“Nothing changes even if you know. That is my choice, and my business. Do not interfere. If you have any guilt towards me, that is the best you can do. You haven’t forgotten what you did, have you?”

For a moment, Cullen had a sharp edge that hadn’t been seen in a while. Seeing the Dragon react so obviously sensitive, Cullen decided he had to know the reason.

“I want to know. I need to know the price for saving me, so I can offer a fitting price…”

“No price is needed.”

The Dragon replied in a pained tone. He turned sharply and looked down at Cullen.

“No price is needed. I simply wanted you to live. You don’t have to do anything.”

“But…”

If he were to believe those words, the Dragon’s voice kept echoing in his head.

“That was the condition I wanted from the start. I cooperated with you for my liberation. I never cared for you. I never enjoyed the moments I touched you. You are the most terrible Larkan among Larkans. You have no idea how disgusted I was enduring you.”

The Dragon had wanted a price from the moment they accompanied each other. Since he had spoken it himself, it was surely the truth.

“You weren’t like this in the past. Our companionship began due to a transaction, and you said you cooperated with me for your liberation as well.”

Cullen spoke calmly to make him understand the facts. The Dragon looked at Cullen with a tired expression. He seemed crushed by something.

“You… you say that because you believe I always speak only the truth.”

The Dragon whispered softly.

“Yes.”

“Then what I am saying now is also the truth. If what I said back then was sincere, wouldn’t what I’m saying now also be sincere? The past contract is over. I ended it myself through my foolishness. This is separate from saving you now.”

It was hard to refute the words spoken so quietly. It was an irrefutable counter-argument.

“Still…”

As he was about to speak again, something bothering him, the Dragon stopped him.

“It’s not something important to you. You, anyway…”

The Dragon’s voice cracked. He took a deep breath and barely managed to continue.

“You don’t care about me anymore. You don’t feel anything. It’s not something you need to know. So don’t ask. Not of me, and not of him.”

Hearing those words only intensified the churning in his stomach. He could no longer bear it.

Cullen made a decision. Interacting with the Dragon affected the Golden Seal. The numbness he had thought of wasn’t like this. He wanted a calm heart, no matter what he heard. But now, he clearly felt discomfort. An unknown discomfort.

He shouldn’t be close to the Dragon.

It was right to leave. At least until the Golden Seal was properly settled.

“Are you saying you don’t want anything from me?”

“Yes.”

Cullen wet his dry lips. He didn’t like changing his decisions much. He had decided to stay by the Dragon’s side until his guilt disappeared. He intended to do so as a price for being saved. But in this state, it was dangerous.

“Then will you let me leave?”

He had made his decision. He would leave the Dragon. If he left only until the Golden Seal was completely settled and then returned, it would be fine. A brief separation would be a mere moment for the Dragon, so he would likely find it acceptable. He thought so.

“…You, are going to leave me?”

However, the answer he received was not that.