Chapter 45

[Translator – Clara][Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 45: Purification (3)

“Get away! I said get away!”

The echoing sounds of brutal beatings reverberated throughout the underground. Without mercy, Zikermann stomped on the woman clinging to the handle.

“You filthy wretch, not even fit to be a slave! How dare you cross my path…!”

Despite the excruciating pain of broken bones and ruptured organs, she remained stoic.

He kicked her, struck her with chains, but she showed no sign of letting go.

“Heh, heh…”

Struggling for breath, Zikermann finally retrieved a small dagger from his pocket.

“This is why scum like you don’t belong! You should live according to your station! Your inappropriate behavior only hastens your demise!”

Swoosh…

Realizing that beatings wouldn’t pry her loose, Zikermann aimed the dagger at the woman’s throat.

“Consider yourself lucky! Instead of being worthless in the hands of someone like you, I’ll help that grow up in a better place! You should thank me even in the afterlife!”

With maniacal laughter, Zikermann mercilessly swung the blade down.

Clang!

But the blade hit not the woman’s neck, but a dull metal surface.

Sensing something amiss, Zikermann slowly looked at his right hand, trembling with anticipation.

“Gahhh…!”

A torrent of blood gushed from his severed wrist.

Before he could scream, a blunt force silenced his vocal cords.

Thunk!

His unbalanced body lurched forward.

“Zikermann Albas. One of the three major figures on the continent and a pillar of the Ushif Empire…”

A voice, unfamiliar to him, echoed from somewhere.

“Murder, extortion, monopolizing the empire’s business districts, and even operating slave markets against imperial law…”

These were the atrocities Zikermann had committed.

Though he wanted to say something, all that came out was a feeble moan.

“Enough reason to die, right?”

Zikermann strained to lift his head, desperation written on his face.

But the enigmatic voice continued without pause.

“I’ll give you one minute…”

“…?”

“Just one minute. Use it to reflect on your crimes and wrongdoings. After that minute, your pain will vanish completely…”

Zikermann understood the implications.

Wasn’t this an ultimatum to kill him after the minute passed?

“But during that minute, you won’t die no matter what happens. Of course, there may be pains worse than what you’re feeling now…”

It was an incomprehensible situation.

With all hope extinguished, Zikermann barely managed to raise his head.

“…?”

A face filled with inscrutable calmness stared back at him.

Yet, Zikermann knew this was no ordinary boy.

‘Mist…?’

In the depths of despair, he realized that the worst minute of his life was about to unfold.

* * *

Was it luck, or should I even call it that?

Never in my wildest thoughts did I expect him to show up willingly.

With the target right in front of me, there was no need to waste time.

After allowing him only a moment for reflection, I swiftly cut through his heart, ending his breath.

I rose from my spot and glanced towards where the woman lay.

“Huuhhh…”

She seemed still alive, judging by her state.

With tearful eyes, she continued to stroke the box. Was the child she desperately called for inside it?

Approaching her, I whispered, “I’m sorry… Truly sorry…”

Her gentle voice and tear-filled eyes revealed her deep emotions.

She was aware her time was running out.

Is it pitiful? Well…

Honestly, I’ve been numb for a long time.

When I first started this, I was enraged to the point where everything in the world seemed despicable.

The harsh laws of the world behind aristocratic fences.

As I grew accustomed to it, my eyes and lips drew into a straight line.

There were too many in this world who met a miserable death like the woman before me.

She had inadvertently caught my eye, just like the countless others who had passed through my hands.

“My child… My child…”

“…?”

I was slightly taken aback.

She thrust the box into my hands, something I never expected.

As I looked into her eyes, wondering what she meant…

Thud…

Her face fell lifelessly to the ground.

She had breathed her last.

If I leave her body like that, no one would care for her body anyway.

I gently raised my hand over her head.

Hiss…

Mist flowed from my hand, enveloping her body warmly before dissipating into thin air.

[Why not pray for her salvation?]

“I don’t think it’s necessary to that extent…”

I can’t guarantee that the other side is better than this one.

The purification task is complete; now only reporting to the boss remains.

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It’s a bit ambiguous to call it loot.

[I felt the energy from outside, but it feels much clearer inside this box. Could this be the special item the scoundrel mentioned?]

It was in Zikermann’s hands, and he had tried desperately to snatch it from the woman.

Besides, since Kaeram felt a clear energy, could this item inside the box be the special product that’s going to be auctioned today?

I decided to check it out.

As soon as I reached out to inspect it…

“What… What’s this?”

There was a distinct movement inside the box.

What’s going on? Did someone inside really hear?

A strange feeling came over me, as if I shouldn’t touch it carelessly.

[Is, is this…?]

Kaeram seemed surprised too.

The recent movement seemed to have made the energy more definite.

[What are you waiting for? Open it quickly!]

Regardless of my feelings, Kaeram urged me to open it.

Well, I’ll take a look, but there doesn’t seem to be a real child inside this box without even a breathing hole.

What on earth could be in it?

Thud!

I was frozen in shock.

The contents of the box were nothing like what I had imagined.

“An egg?”

It was indeed an egg.

The issue was that this wasn’t just any egg—it emitted a brilliant white radiance.

If an egg emitted such remarkable splendor, then it must be…

[A dragon’s egg?]

* * *

[Translator – Clara]

[Proofreader – Gun]

I had seen a dragon’s egg only once in my past life.

There wasn’t anything particularly special about it. It was just a bit large and mystical.

The awe-inspiring sight of the majestic and colossal dragon ultimately starting from a size similar to a human fetus left a common impression on me.

So, what about the second time I saw one?

Amidst everything else, this thought prevailed.

Why was it here?

“It seems we underestimated Zikermann. Who would have thought he intended to auction off a dragon’s egg?”

The leader stroked her chin, appearing completely caught off guard.

“Was there anything else besides this egg?”

“There wasn’t anything that particularly stood out.”

Originally, there wasn’t much else to see besides this.

“Hmm…”

Her gaze, fixated on the egg, suddenly turned towards me.

“You seem more composed than I expected.”

“Are you talking about the egg?”

“No, about killing Zikermann. At least, he must be the first human you’ve killed since entering this mist. It’s as if it was something you’ve always done, so natural.”

She wore a peculiar smile, one that could be interpreted as either questioning or satisfied.

I didn’t bother to inquire further.

“Well, for now, Zikermann, the target, is dead, and we’ve freed the slaves elsewhere. Besides, we accidentally seized the special item mentioned by Aeru. It seems the operation was successful. Well done, Cyan.”

The mission of the mist ends there.

Once the target is assassinated, the purification task is complete, and we don’t concern ourselves with the lives of freed slaves.

We are assassins, not saviors.

“So, what about this egg?”

“Why are you asking me?”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s the loot you obtained; naturally, you’re responsible. We don’t have the authority!”

I felt somewhat taken aback.

Wasn’t I only supposed to confirm it?

Was there ever an order to seize it?

[Why, why not try growing something like this?]

The perverse demonic sword now throws out absurd remarks.

Could dragon eggs be hatched in the first place?

For dragons, endowed with long lifespans, the time it takes to hatch from an egg far exceeds human lifespans, ranging from 50 to 100 years.

Moreover, I have no idea when this egg appeared in the world.

Unluckily, it might not even hatch, let alone crack.

Even if it’s deemed sacred and noble, it’s currently nothing more than a meaningless stone.

“Could it be born one day, coincidentally hatching at the right time?”

[Maybe we’ll see it after a hundred years? Haha!]

I’m starting to think I should just eat it myself.

After all, even if this egg eventually contains the essence and blood of a dragon, wouldn’t eating it be akin to consuming dragon’s blood?

Even considering it sounded absurd to me.

-Glitter-

Was it trying to catch my eye?

The pure white egg sparkled with a brilliance unseen anywhere else in this world.

* * *

“Master, what is this?”

“A dragon’s egg.”

“Pardon?”

Perhaps thinking he misheard, Brian scratched his head.

“Just put it somewhere safe. It probably won’t crack.”

I handed the egg I was holding to Brian.

“Whoa!”

He recoiled in surprise at its unexpected weight.

“W-where did you get this from?”

“I found it while out for a walk.”

Since I won’t witness this egg hatching in my lifetime, it’s best to lose interest and focus on other things.

Wanting to wash away the sweat, I headed to the shower.

After refreshing myself with cool water and drying my hair with a towel, just as I was about to leave…

“Master!”

Brian’s voice called out to me urgently.

“What?”

“It’s… it’s hatching!”

I momentarily doubted my ears.

“What?!”

“The egg is hatching! It cracked suddenly and…”

“The egg is hatching?!”

What? It wasn’t supposed to hatch for a long while yet, was it?

Wanting to confirm with my own eyes, I hurriedly ran to the living room with Brian.

-Crack… Crack…

It’s real!

It wasn’t just a crack; it was moving around and flailing.

[What is this? Is it really hatching?]

Even Kaeram materialized hastily.

She, too, had no idea it would hatch so quickly.

Everyone watched with bated breath as the egg moved.

Perhaps afraid to touch it, they all broke out in a cold sweat.

-Crack… Bang!

[It’s broken!]

Finally, a divine creature emerged as the shell shattered, emitting a bright light that gradually faded over time.

It seems I’ve experienced everything after all.

Living to see the hatching of a dragon…

“…”

Everyone nodded in astonishment as if rehearsed.

“Master… Is this a dragon?”

Two horns protruding from the forehead.

A pair of wings spread across the back.

And even a long tail extending from below the buttocks.

While it’s undeniably the body of a dragon…

“What kind of dragon is this? I’d believe it if you said it’s a person!”

Kaeram echoed exactly what I wanted to say.

White skin without a single scale.

Delicately crafted hands and feet.

And a face devoid of any unfamiliarity, even if it’s a human.

This is clearly not a dragon…

“A dragon-human hybrid?”

[Translator – Clara]

[Proofreader – Gun]