CH 4

Note : so when the text is coloured it means flashback or the situation is going a little crazy. Blue is for Eleanor and Purple is for Mir.

Also italic words will be the sfx, inner thought, flashback, or something okay? for the bolds will be notes and spells, remind you that this is an korean novel not japanese, and i’ve been using -san and -sama stuff because i dunno what those are in korean.

——————————————————————————————————————

Unfortunately, it looks like I got caught up in something crazy.

“What is it? It’s embarrassing when you look at me like that.”

I said it like that, but she just smiled and stared at me without any change in expression.

The subjugation of Mir was somehow settled, but personally, I was caught up in a bigger problem than that.

“Harold…”

Paulo caresses the back of his neck with a uneasy expression as if he was in trouble.

He seems to have something he wants to say, but he can’t come up with an appropriate word, so he keeps opening and closing his mouth.

I know… Now, the situation is crazy…

Mir, The Devourer of Darkness… A dragon that had lived since ancient times and once covered the sky as a massive creature, had now transformed into a woman of a lesser stature than myself.

After turning into a human, she said that she fell in love with me, and that she would make me her black knight, and has been following me ever since.

Mir, who eventually followed me to the guild hall, sits next to me and repeats the boring lines to the point that I’m tired of it.

“Why are you refusing my offer? If you serve me, all the forbidden magics and darkness in this world will grant you strength.”

Also, people who have gathered around me are eager to hand over this bombs to me.

Undoubtedly, she’s an old dragon…. She was a dangerous existence that could easily crush even a fleeting human life when a whim occurred.

If there was a chance to pass on such a dangerous existence to someone else, it would be wise to persuade them to the best of my abilities and avoid further involvement. I would’ve made the same decision.

“Why me in the first place..?”

“Why do I have to repeat myself so many times? How many times have I told you that I fell in love with your formidable power from the moment I laid eyes on you?”

I tried to convey my disapproval in some way, but she didn’t seem to notice. As a dragon in human form, she lacked the understanding of social cues and norms.

However, I couldn’t express my disapproval straightforwardly because I couldn’t even fathom the kind of trouble I would face if I were to outright reject her.

“What do you think, Harold? If it’s you, I think it’ll be fine. She seems to have taken a liking to you and hasn’t shown any signs of hostility.”

Then the impatient expedition leader tries to hand over everything to me with a clear line.

“……”

After that, I closed my mouth tightly and ran my hand through my hair in frustration.

To be honest, I never wanted to have her by my side either.

I have quite a lot of reasons, but the biggest reason is that the goddess I serve…

(“Harold… in our shrines dating is forbidden. I won’t allow it. It is natural to have a relationship but you are not allowed even to have s*x or relationship with a woman, so always keep that in mind.”)

Even now, the image of the goddess who might be eagerly waiting for me in the temple flashes through my mind.

Of course, having a romantic relationship with a woman is a normal thing, but even me getting to know a woman makes her jealous.

So she created a law that never existed before to hold me. The mere thought of her expression when she finds out I have a woman by my side sends shivers down my spine.

Anyway, if she catches even a hint of another woman’s scent on me, she’ll start interrogating me like crazy. Do I really have to accept Mir’s suggestion?

It’s terrifying to even imagine what will happen the next day, so I should stop thinking-

“I understand that it’s difficult for you as well, but for now, I would appreciate it if you could handle it… Many people have already sacrificed themselves, so I can’t allow any further harm to be done.”

As if agreeing with the leader words, the other adventurers also nodded their heads slightly and wanted to hand over everything to me.

These mother*ckers!-

Honestly, it feels unfair that nobody is on my side, and I want to dislike everyone here. But if I try to see things from their point of view, I can understand why they feel the way they do. It’s a complicated mix of emotions inside me..

“Ah, I have heard that humans stroll together down the streets when they harbor affection for one another?”

But whether she’s tired of waiting anymore or really wants to spend time with me, she grabs my wrist and walks out of the guild hall.

Contrary to her seemingly delicate appearance, she possessed a strength that could render an ordinary adult male powerless, effortlessly lifting them up as if they were a mere toy.

I was pulled towards Mir against my will, feeling the concerned gazes of the people inside the guild hall as it rapidly faded into the distance.

◆◆◆

“Hmm… Humans these days, they are truly peculiar. It is quite baffling.”

Upon arriving in town, she glances around frantically with her eyes twinkling.

However, her expression remained unchanged, still wearing that faint smile on her face.

“Hmm… So what course of action do you suggest now? You possess a better understanding of human culture than I do, so I shall follow your lead.”

I now understand the frustration and shame of not being heard and being pulled along without much say. It seems that you’ll eventually give up because you know they won’t listen to you.

“What are you doing? I said I will follow your lead, but why do you remain silent?”

To be honest, I’m not even sure what to do from now on…

Back in my original world, where I had lived for nearly 30 years without ever being in a relationship, I was completely clueless about what to do on dates. Forget dates, heck I didn’t even know how to interact with the opposite gender when we’re hanging out.

Moreover, in this unfamiliar place with its distinct culture and technology, it was challenging to come up with ideas on how to navigate and engage in activities. The differences from my original world added another layer of complexity to the situation.

Damn… What should I do…

In the midst of my desperate contemplation, I noticed Mir’s intense gaze fixated on something.

? What is she staring at?

I looked carefully in the direction she was looking, and there was a crepe shop.

Does she want to eat that food?

“Come with me, Mir.”

“So… huh…?”

This time, I hold her hand and lead her to the front of the store, and she, who has been confident until now, shows a look of surprise at what has happened, and then blushes and shyly shrinks.

“Wait a minute, Harold… I’m a little surprised when you hold my hand so suddenly…”

What are you talking about? You were the first to act unilaterally.

Unable to fully grasp Mir’s words, I raised an eyebrow and watched as she averted her gaze, looking away.

Arriving at the store, disregarding Mir’s words, I proceed to order the simplest menu item available.

“I’d like a crepe, please.”

I hurriedly ordered a crepe and quickly handed over the exact amount to pay. Soon, a delicious-looking cheesy crepe was served right in front of Mir.

“Oh… What kind of delicacy is this? The sweet aroma is already tickling my nostrils, and I can hardly resist it!”

“This is a food called crepe, just think of it as a dessert that humans enjoy.”

Upon hearing my explanation, her mouth began to water uncontrollably, causing drool to escape. Unable to resist any longer, she took a big bite of the crepe and savored its delicious taste..

“!!!!”

In that moment, she opened her eyes wide, her lips quivering slightly. Her gaze fixated on the crepe, her eyes turning a pale color as if a wave of madness had washed over her.

“What do you think…? Do you like it?”

I grew curious as she remained silent, not providing any answer to my questions…

flash!

“Wow!!!”

She raises the crepe high in the sky and shouts out loud enough to attract the attention of those around us

“Harold! This crepe or whatever it is! It is truly magnificent! I have never encountered such a decadent and addictive sweetness in all my thousands of years!”

The contrast between her childlike behavior and her appearance as an adult woman drove me to frustration and embarrassment, causing me to feel increasingly flustered under the watchful eyes of others.

“Hahahaha, thank you young lady, this is the first time I’ve ever heard such a high praise.”

The owner aunt makes another one and gives it to me while listening to Mir’s words and smiling as if she is in a good mood.

“This is on the house! Eat well!”

“I’m sorry, aunty….”

I bend my body 90 degrees to apologize, but the aunty shakes her head saying it’s okay

We’ve not only been causing commotion, but we’re also getting free food too… I’m really sorry, aunty!…

“No worries, honey! Business is doing well lately, so there’s plenty to go around. You two lovebirds go ahead and have a good time! Enjoy each other’s company, and don’t you worry about me. Haha!~”

However, unlike my feelings, she’s saying it’s okay and began to misunderstand my relationship with mir.

“Thank you, but we’re not in a relationsh-“

puck!

“ugh?!”

Suddenly, something is forcefully shoved into my mouth, causing me to choke in pain.

As I look at the cause of the pain, Mir, she glares at me with a displeased look.

Whis is she looking at me like that?

Just as I was about to speak, something was forcefully shoved into my mouth, leaving me unable to utter a word.

The sweet scent instantly filled my mouth, overwhelming my senses.

Mmphfhh!

“Mir!… what-“

She forcefully continues to stuff the crepe she was eating into my mouth, all the while speaking to me in a unhappy tone.

“Everything is progressing smoothly… Why do you insist on uttering those meaningless words? Just savor this crepe in silence.”

There are a lot of things I want to say because of this weird situation, but Mir just keep shoving the crepes to my mouth..

“……”

I kept my silence as I chewed on the creamy and sweet crepe, watching Mir walk to somewhere else.

With no knowledge of her destination, I had no option but to follow her, hastily swallowing the remaining crepe in my mouth.

Her next stop was the town square, where a play was taking place.

“Harold! Why are humans gathered here in such numbers? And what is the purpose of those people on the stage?”

When she asked that, I proceeded to give her a brief explanation about the concept of theater and the purpose of the people on the stage.

Mir then proceed to observed them with great interest, her eyes fixed on the performance unfolding before her.

“My love! Where are you?!”

“Don’t leave me!!”

The content of the play unfolds a love story between lovers like Romeo and Juliet, but the ending is an ordinary parting story that is treated as a tragedy.

“I’m sorry… I can’t be with you…”

“No! Please don’t leave me!!”

The story is really predictable, but it’s fun to watch…

“Human man, you idiot… Why did you make such a choice…”

Mir was tearing up and grinding her teeth in anger.

Mir, who is now feelin emotional, seemed to fully grasp the characters and their feelings portrayed in the play. She showed as much sadness, if not more, than the actors themselves.

The play depicted a story of family conflicts that couldn’t be resolved, leading to the protagonists going their separate ways.

The male lead married someone else from a noble background, while the female lived a lonely life.

As the play came to an end and people started leaving, the sun had already begun to set, painting the sky with a beautiful orange hue.

“It is truly heart-wrenching… In the end, that man and women cannot bridge the gap between them… How cruel this can be…”

In response to those comments, she started walking without a clear destination. I didn’t know where she was going, but Mir walked confidently with purposeful steps.

“Mir… where are you going?”

I felt strange about the unpaved area where the number of people and the ratio were increasing after moving for a long time, so I asked Mir, but there was no answer.

At one point, a stubborn determination could be seen on her face, and she just followed her without saying a word, holding back the anxiety that was coming from her.

“Why did you come all the way here?”

The place I had to walk for so long was in the forest where no one seemed to come.

For some reason, I gently tapped Mir on the shoulder, which gave off a strange atmosphere, but she didn’t look back at me for a while.

“Harold…”

Mir’s face, as she turned to look at me, appeared unusually pale and had a post-play glow.

I could sense that something had stirred within her after watching the performance. I wondered what kind of emotional transformation she had undergone.

“Yes? What’s going on…?”

When I responded to the voice calling me, she took a deep breath and speak to me with a serious expression.

“Become my black knight… If you make me your master now, I will give you everything.”

This again…

This time too, if we keep going back and forth, it won’t end… I’ll just answer her clearly…

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think that could be possible…”

There was not much change in her expression as if she had expected such an answer, but she sighed and asked another question.

“Why are you rejecting me? Please tell me the reason-”

“Is it because I am a monster? If you desire, I will live quietly… I may be an ancient dragon, but I am willing to obey you… so please.. be my Black Knight…”

The reason I can’t accept her is not because those things…, but the biggest problem is…

“I can’t because I worship a goddess, and she won’t accept it because she prohibits dating as well as contact also relationship with the opposite s*x…”

It’s because of Eleanor… Obviously, if I accept Mir’s offer, things will be really problematic.

“What… Goddess…?”

As she said that, a cold wave began to hit this place, no… to be exact, the chilly atmosphere began to make my spine shiver.

“Mir…? What’s wrong?”

shudder!

Before I could finish speaking, I felt a heavy sensation on my arm, and to my surprise, I realized that black chains were tightly binding me.

“Goddess… Goddess…”

Showing a terrifying obsession while keep muttering the word goddess, she begins to stare at me with dark, empty eyes that resembles the abyss.

“Okay… So the reason you keep rejecting me is because of that goddess…”

It’s so ridiculous that she lets out a dry laugh as if she’s losing her mind, then pulls out a black blade from the air and points it at me.

Until now, I’ve been brewing a cup of “bitter tea” for her… but, in fact, were she aware of it…?

[In Korean slang, the phrase “bitter tea” (써줌차) refers to expressing one’s displeasure or frustration towards someone indirectly or subtly. It implies that while pretending to be kind or accommodating, one actually holds negative feelings or resentment towards the person. So, in the given context, the speaker is expressing surprise and questioning whether others were aware of their true feelings despite their attempts to hide them. Also I don’t understand what the hell this sentence means, my bad.]

“Harold… You have made a foolish choice,  just like that main character in the play…”

Unable to bear the mounting weight of the chains, I eventually found myself kneeling in front of her.

“Yes…back then- no, even now… Those gods were nothing more than cowards… Those pitiful beings who hid behind the weaker ones, accepting offerings and assigning their tasks to others…”

Then she put the blade on my chest and it pierced my heart.

“Ugh?! Huh…?”

However, there was no pain and no blood.

“Are you going to worship such gods?”

But then, I felt a strange sensation deep inside me, as if something within me was being drawn out.

“No… I absolutely despise it… I refuse to be miserable like the woman in that play…”

Was it because of the play earlier…? Why the hell is she acting like this…

huh?!

Then, the extracted thing transformed into something else and seeped deep into my heart.

“Even if I grow weary from battles and my strength wanes in seclusion… I refuse to stoop so low as to lag behind the gods.”

A chill comes to my body… The cold makes me shivers and fear spreads throughout my body.

“So?, what if you have such vows? You refuse to choose me because of such a sassy thing?”

It was only after hearing Mir’s words that I realized… The thing twisting inside me all along was none other than the pledge that binds me to Eleanor…

The oath is now deteriorating, transforming into something else, and overlaying itself upon me… A dark energy swirls within, causing an indescribable sense of unease.

“That stupid thing… I will destroy it…”

My body grows colder… It’s as if the entire concept or thought that resided in my mind has undergone a profound transformation.

“Mir…?”

“If you want, I will let you rule the world… Dragons have that kind of power… So…”

It’s really dangerous beyond this…

That’s the only thought… Really no more!—

“Serve me.”