Page 62

w

Chapter 61: A World Heading in an Unexpected Direction

Tack-tap.

In a pitch-dark room,

a man stared at a monitor.

He sometimes grumbled, sighed,

and yet, occasionally laughed as if something amused him.

I quietly watched his back.

His right arm was utterly shattered.

His expression was abnormal, too.

Facial paralysis.

‘Back then, he didn’t look like this.’

Perhaps because it was a dream.

I’d always thought of his arm and face as something that had been broken long ago.

"Is it fun?"

Without thinking, I opened my mouth to ask.

The man, still staring at the screen, replied.

"It’s my favorite game."

Hearing that, I smiled faintly.

"Well, then, that’s good."

I still love this game.

Flash!

My eyes shot open.

A ceiling came into view, sweat dripping down my face.

‘...A hospital room?’

Realizing where I was, I exhaled lightly.

‘Someone found me.’

I remembered collapsing on my way up to the fourth floor of the Demon Dungeon.

Afterward, I’d planned to recover and return,

but it seemed I’d lost consciousness completely.

‘That was too close.’

I’d given everything I had to counter the ancient dragon’s magic,

but I should’ve saved at least enough strength to retreat.

‘I underestimated the situation.’

I chastised myself.

Had no one found me, I might have died then and there.

‘What about Nikita?’

Did Nia manage to regroup with her?

She might resent me for keeping Nia’s mission a secret.

‘And now that they’ve discovered I’m a Vikamon...’

She might be upset that someone who cared about her had gone so far.

‘I should’ve remained Hannon for as long as I could.’

Sighing inwardly, I acknowledged my mistake.

‘Let’s assess the situation first.’

I thought as much, but the moment I tried to get up—

“Huh?”

I realized something was holding me down.

It felt strangely soft, accompanied by the sweet scent of roses.

Curious, I turned my head to see a familiar face.

A woman whose beauty radiated a decadent charm, much like a long-haired Persian cat.

The third imperial princess, Iris Hysirion.

She was clinging tightly to me.

“…Uh, Iris?”

I called out to her in surprise.

“Mm.”

Iris tightened her embrace, showing no intention of moving.

Why was she sleeping in my hospital bed?

Utterly baffled, I felt a piercing gaze behind me.

The back of my head practically burned under its intensity.

Unable to resist, I slowly turned to look.

Standing there was a girl with peach-colored hair.

Her eyes twisted with fury, resembling those of a demon.

I knew well why she was looking at me like that.

Hania Rapidedia.

The daughter of the Imperial Knight Commander,

and one of Iris’s admirers.

“You’re awake?”

Hania greeted me with a smile so menacing that it made me flinch.

“…I couldn’t stay asleep forever.”

“I could put you to eternal rest, though.”

“No thanks. I’ve still got things to do.”

Hania snorted.

“Can you explain what’s going on?”

I still couldn’t understand why Iris was lying in my hospital bed.

When I asked, Hania pulled her knees to her chest.

“A team trying to break through the ice wall on the fourth floor recovered everyone after the wall shattered. During that process, it was also discovered that Nikita Cynthia had targeted Lady Iris.”

“And Nikita herself?”

“She’s gone. According to investigators, she failed the assassination attempt and was ultimately consumed by the ancient dragon’s magic.”

That wasn’t enough for me.

Sensing my dissatisfaction, Hania added more details.

“They also found traces of the dragon’s magic vanishing. No body was recovered, but the conclusion is that Nikita Cynthia is dead.”

Finally, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, it seemed the conclusion was that Nikita had died in this incident.

‘Undoubtedly, the First Prince’s faction was involved.’

Nia had likely made an active appeal for help.

“Nikita Cynthia is alive.”

Suddenly, Hania sharply asserted.

My eyes slowly turned to meet hers.

Her gaze bore into me, searching for the truth, determined to root out lies.

Faced with her piercing eyes, I smiled faintly.

“Who knows?”

“Don’t smile at me with that face.”

Come to think of it, I was still in Hania’s form.

This was a private room, so Hania must’ve dropped her disguise as Hannon.

“I swore to eliminate anything that could harm Lady Iris.”

Hania had taken up the sword for Iris.

Her blade moved only for Iris’s sake.

Nikita had targeted Iris’s life.

If I hadn’t been there, she might’ve succeeded.

“Hannon Irey.”

Hania’s murderous intent seeped into her words.

“Is Hannon an enemy of Lady Iris?”

After Nikita, it was now Hania threatening my life.

I had defended Nikita.

Hania knew this.

If I were an enemy, she would eliminate me without hesitation.

“No.”

I had no intention of becoming Iris’s enemy.

Although she plays the role of the boss in the final chapter,

I will save her for Lucas.

Hania fell silent for a moment upon hearing my firm response.

Then, she exhaled once and withdrew her killing intent.

"Then that's fine."

She accepted it surprisingly easily.

"Don’t misunderstand. It’s not because I trust Hannon."

Hania’s eyes landed on Iris.

"Iris is extremely sensitive. She never shows weakness in front of anyone she feels hostility from."

I agreed with that.

Iris always presented herself as flawless to others.

However, the Iris currently behind me had no intention of getting up, still lost in her sleep.

"But she shows that side to Hannon. That’s proof that Iris feels no hostility whatsoever from you."

Iris, infused with the power of Malice,

is likely more sensitive to hostility and ill will than anyone else.

Hania’s assessment was undoubtedly correct.

"Of course, even considering that, this situation is—"

Crunch

Hania’s teeth ground together as if they were about to break.

"Hard to comprehend."

She struggled to contain her anger while looking at me, held in Iris’s arms.

Don’t get angry.

It’s scary.

"This is beyond my control. Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m in this situation."

"Iris hugged you because she thought you were warm and fell asleep like that."

As if I were some kind of warm puppy she wanted to cuddle with while sleeping.

I was dumbfounded, but I vaguely understood the reason.

'The flames that were absorbed into my steel skin remain inside me.'

The steel skin had absorbed the flames for quite a long time.

To prevent it from melting, it had the property of releasing heat.

However, the flames penetrated even that property and deeply embedded themselves in my body.

As a result, my entire body emitted the warmth of those flames.

'It’s a good way to suppress the remnants of the ancient dragon.'

The remnants of the ancient dragon had seeped into my body.

Having already awakened once due to it, it would eventually move to devour me.

For the time being, this warmth might help suppress it.

"So, until Iris wakes up, just stay like that."

She essentially told me to act as a heater.

"It’s been a while since she’s slept so peacefully."

Hania looked at Iris with a mix of pity and concern.

She was the one who had watched Iris struggle with nightmares for the longest time.

So, if Iris could sleep comfortably, Hania would do anything for her.

I was also aware of Iris’s struggles with insomnia in the Demon Dungeon.

Reluctantly, I decided to stay still until Iris woke up.

Anyway, due to her nightmares, Iris never slept for long.

It wouldn’t take much longer for her to wake up.

"More importantly, Hannon, you and I have a problem to solve."

"What problem?"

Was there still an unresolved issue?

When I looked puzzled, Hania smiled faintly.

w

"Well, we’re officially a couple now, aren’t we?"

Oh.

"Wasn’t that just for show in front of Professor Barkov?"

"Yes, that’s all it was."

Hania rested her chin on her knee, smiling brightly.

But her smile carried a hint of irritation.

"Until Professor Barkov started spreading rumors everywhere."

I could roughly guess what had happened.

Barkov, that bastard.

He really messed things up.

"So?"

"Since the rumors are already out, there are a lot of eyes on us. For now, it’s better to keep up the act. Eventually, the rumors will fade, and we can pretend to break up then."

"Barkov’s causing trouble for everyone."

I had already decided to help Hania with this.

Hania and I were in the same martial arts department.

Acting as a couple together wasn’t particularly difficult.

"Are you okay with the rumors, though?"

The rumors surrounding me were never good.

While my skills had gained some recognition,

most of the martial arts department still viewed me negatively.

Especially the magic department—they were practically my sworn enemies.

Being associated with me could tarnish Hania’s reputation.

"Rumors about Hannon? I don’t care. Hannon isn’t that kind of person."

"Considering all the trouble I’ve caused, it’s hard to say I’m not."

I’d clashed with Isabel enough times to prove otherwise.

"I’ll judge that for myself."

Hania didn’t seem to care about such things.

"Besides, you should be more concerned than I am, Hannon."

"Concerned about what?"

Hania smiled faintly.

"There are a lot of people at the academy who like me, you know."

She said it with absolute confidence.

The problem was, she wasn’t wrong.

Hania had a way of attracting people, regardless of age or gender.

There were plenty who harbored feelings for her.

"I can’t guarantee how those people will react."

"Taking a beauty comes with its burdens, huh?"

"…Pfft, yes, I am quite beautiful."

Hania’s pride was evident, but I rested my head back on the pillow.

'A few days off, and then it’s the second semester.'

The first semester of my second year had been full of ups and downs.

Now, with it over, I thought about the fourth act that was about to begin.

I decided to get some proper rest to prepare for it.

At the time, I had no idea.

This contract relationship with Hania,

wouldn’t just be a problem for the people who liked her.

* * *

Iris finally woke up,

and after safely returning to my dorm, the day passed.

The scale of the events had been so large

that even back in the dorm, I collapsed into a deep sleep.

And the next day—

"Ugh."

I woke up with a throbbing pain in my right eye.

"What’s wrong, Hannon?"

Card, hearing my groans, asked while yawning.

"Ah, it’s nothing."

I quickly answered Card and hurried to the bathroom.

I was about to splash water over my throbbing eyes when I froze.

In the mirror.

Something was squirming, moving in my right eye.

Moments later, it became the eye of a lizard, staring back at me with piercing clarity.

My eyes widened in shock.

That’s the remnant of the ancient dragon I had taken from Nikita.

‘I knew the dragon’s remnant had a will of its own.’

But for it to awaken and manifest so quickly despite the lingering heat of the Flame of Wrath...

‘This is bad.’

I had yet to find a way to deal with the remnant.

If it tried to take over, things would get messy.

‘I need to deal with this immediately.’

A thought flashed across my mind.

Someone.

The moment her face came to mind, I rushed to change my clothes.

With the Veil Bandages, I could at least hide the remnant’s activation.

After tightly wrapping my eye, I headed outside toward the women’s dormitory.

On the way, I felt the sharp gazes of the girls glancing my way.

It wasn’t exactly common for a male student to visit the women’s dormitory in the morning, especially not on the first day of classes after the Summer Dungeon event.

Showing up here could only mean one thing: I intended to walk someone to class.

But I didn’t care about those looks.

This level of audacity was routine for me now.

When I reached the dorm entrance, I spotted a maid sweeping the courtyard.

"Excuse me."

"Yes, young master?"

At my call, the maid stopped sweeping and approached me.

"I need to call for someone."

The maid glanced at my name tag, then gave a knowing smile.

"Should I summon Miss Hania for you?"

For a moment, I wondered, Why Hania?

Then I remembered: Hania was supposed to be my girlfriend now.

As expected of a maid with sharp ears for gossip.

The academy students often chatted about various things with their trusted maids.

In truth, the maids probably knew everything about the academy.

"No, not Hania. Please call Sharin Sazaris instead."

"Huh?"

The maid’s eyes widened in surprise, as if to say, Why her?

It wasn’t unreasonable for her to find it strange.

After all, here I was, a man who had just recently started dating, now asking for another woman.

"It’s urgent."

The maid’s initially confused expression turned resolute as she nodded.

"…Understood. I’ll ask Miss Sharin to step out quietly. There are fewer people at the back entrance in the morning, so I’ll guide her there."

It seemed like she misunderstood something, but I had no time to correct her.

She walked off murmuring under her breath, "What a scoundrel of this era…"

I decided to fix that misunderstanding later and waited quietly by the back entrance.

Before long, the maid returned, practically dragging Sharin behind her.

As usual, Sharin looked groggy, clearly not a morning person.

More importantly, she was still in her pajamas.

"Ugh, Hannon, it’s too early for breakfast…"

Why does she treat me like her bread delivery guy?

I looked at her in disbelief, then glanced at the maid, who seemed oddly thrilled.

I couldn’t openly discuss the dragon’s remnant, so I gestured subtly with my eyes.

Reluctantly, the maid withdrew, looking disappointed.

"Sharin."

"Mm?"

"I need your help suppressing the dragon’s remnant. Can you do it?"

"The dragon’s remnant?"

"It’s a curse. It’s carrying the magic of an ancient dragon."

At that, Sharin’s sleepy eyes sharpened instantly.

"…The magic of a dragon? Wait, where is this remnant manifesting?"

"My right eye."

I unwound the bandages.

Sharin grabbed my face firmly with both hands and stared intently into my right eye.

Her face was so close that her faint, distinctive scent filled my senses.

Moments later, her unique starlight-infused pupils began to glow.

After carefully observing for a while, her brows furrowed.

"The dragon’s remnant, huh? It’s certainly intense."

"Can you handle it?"

"Who do you think I am?"

Sharin grinned confidently.

"I’m Sharin Sazaris!"

Of course. That’s exactly what I’d expect from the greatest mage I know.

"But it won’t be solved overnight. It’ll take some time."

"Can I count on you?"

"Sure. I’m interested in dragon magic anyway. I’ll probably learn a lot dissecting the remnant."

Relief washed over me.

Sharin reached out and lightly touched the edge of my eye.

A faint shimmer of starlight flowed from her fingertips.

"I’ll place a temporary seal to weaken its activity. You shouldn’t feel any pain or have issues with your vision."

"Thanks. I owe you one."

"No problem."

After finishing her work, Sharin let out a long yawn.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she turned to me with a curious expression.

"Oh, Hannon."

"Yeah?"

"Bel said—"

"Rin, you—"

Before Sharin could finish, another voice interrupted.

"Ah."

Sharin let out a small sound as we both turned toward the voice.

Standing there was a woman with radiant honey-blonde hair, her eyes wide with disbelief.

It was Isabel Luna.

For some reason, her gaze carried a peculiar, incomprehensible anger.

Sharin and I were practically pressed together, faces close as we worked on suppressing the dragon’s remnant.

It was the perfect scene for a misunderstanding.

"…What are you two doing?"

Her tone was calm, but the emotion behind it wasn’t.

w