[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
w
Chapter 69: Are You a Reincarnation?
“Thank you.”
“Alright, get home safely.”
After escorting Isabel, who seemed a bit down, back to her room,
I made my way to where Sharin had taken Hannon.
It was an empty room at the inn.
Whether she rented it or snuck in, I wasn’t sure,
but I decided not to dwell on it.
“You flirt. You leave me to do the work and go off to play with another woman!”
Sharin greeted me with an exaggerated complaint.
“Isabel and me?”
“I’ve always wanted to say that once in my life.”
Glad I could grant her wish.
Ignoring her for now, I looked down at the unconscious Hannon.
“Hannon, you’re awake.”
“Oh, caught me?”
Hannon suddenly sprang to his feet.
Knowing how quickly he recovers, I figured he’d wake up soon.
“I didn’t expect things to escalate this much. I’m sorry.”
I had no intention of subduing him with ancient dragon magic.
When I offered him a sincere apology, Hannon scratched his head.
“Like I said before, I don’t really care what you do with my identity.”
He smiled cheerfully, sitting cross-legged on the floor.
“What I was curious about was your identity. But it turns out I got to see something even more interesting.”
Hannon glanced at Sharin, who was beside him.
“That just now... that was ancient dragon magic, wasn’t it?”
Since it had already been exposed, there was no point in denying it.
Hannon interpreted our silence as confirmation.
Whether he found dragon magic fascinating or not,
I decided to drop the subject and turned to Sharin.
Sharin shrugged and left the room, giving us privacy for the conversation.
I made a mental note to treat her to an extra ice cream later and sat down across from Hannon.
Hannon didn’t try to run away this time.
He must have had enough of being frozen mid-escape.
“Hannon, as I said before, I can be of great help to you.”
I understood why he didn’t trust me.
I had used his identity without his permission.
For that, I owed him countless apologies.
But that was precisely why I needed his cooperation even more—
so that he could understand my actions.
“Let me give you one reason why you can trust me.”
I hadn’t planned to reveal this, but
it seemed like the only way to convince him.
“The Duke of Robliage has allied with Demon Sovereign.”
This was information even the First Prince didn’t know yet.
If he did, everything would have been overturned by now.
However, one person did know.
The person in front of me—Hannon.
Hannon’s eyes opened wider than I’d seen all day,
staring at me in shock.
Hannon couldn’t reveal to anyone that the Duke of Robliage had allied with Demon Sovereign.
A restriction bound him, making it impossible for him to act on that knowledge.
So, I had said it for him.
“Of course, there isn’t solid evidence to make it public yet. And I assume the same goes for you.”
The Duke of Robliage was more meticulous than expected,
leaving no evidence that could harm him.
So, only Hannon and I knew about this.
“That’s why I came to Zerion Academy in your guise.”
This was information no one else knew.
When I shared it directly, Hannon stared at me, dumbfounded.
It was only natural for him to be shocked.
Hannon stayed silent for a long time,
and then, as if he had gathered his thoughts, he spoke.
“I’m into exploring ruins, you know.”
It was a vague thought, but...
I, too, found myself in a similar situation.
‘I was suddenly possessed by Vikamon’s body.’
What if... this was the goddess’s will?
The moment that thought crossed my mind, my head grew cluttered.
And Hannon read my reaction.
It was my mistake for failing to manage my expression.
"Right? There’s something familiar in the fragments of your memory, isn’t there?"
"Hannon, that’s just..."
"It’s fine. You don’t need to explain!"
Hannon’s eyes already showed no intention of listening to any excuse I might make.
"You know, I want to bring down Duke Robliage, just as you said."
A deep grudge flickered in Hannon’s eyes.
"So, I’ll do anything to achieve that."
Hannon's obsession with legends and relics was also thanks to Duke Robliage.
There were old records stating that heroes had driven Demon Sovereign into the Demon Palace.
Using that, Hannon had been digging for information.
And now, before Hannon, stood one of the heroes who had sealed Demon Sovereign and prevented the Great War—Zerion’s reincarnation.
Of course, this was merely Hannon’s wild speculation.
‘Someone who could resolve all of his grudges and trauma at once.’
Perhaps Hannon just wanted to believe I was Zerion.
Living a life chasing relics and legends to vent his grudge must have been exhausting.
Seeing an opportunity to escape that pain, he probably wanted to grab even a rotting rope.
"Hannon."
It’s a misunderstanding that I’m Zerion’s reincarnation.
But one thing is certain.
"I also want to eliminate Duke Robliage."
Duke Robliage is someone who must be defeated to prevent the bad ending.
The final villain.
To bring him down, I, too, would do anything.
I extended my hand to Hannon.
"So, how about we help each other until then?"
Hannon stared at my hand for a moment, then smiled brightly and shook it firmly.
"This is so classic! It feels like being asked to join a hero’s party!"
...Is he really doing this because of his grudge?
I couldn’t shake the unease that he was just a legend geek losing his head and helping recklessly.
"For now, you don’t want your identity revealed, right?"
At least he seemed to be thinking rationally.
"That’s right. I still have a lot to do."
"Then I’ll handle things on the First Prince’s side. It won’t be a problem for me to act."
"And no saying things like I’m Zerion’s reincarnation?"
If he did that, who knows what absurd misunderstandings might pile up.
Hannon stayed silent, staring at me.
As I tensed my gaze, Hannon smiled mischievously, as if joking.
"Knowing a secret really does make your lips itch."
He’s someone who unnerves people with ease.
I just hoped the main story wouldn’t be too derailed.
"Well, I’m done here, so I’ll get going!"
I had no reason to hold Hannon any longer.
As I was about to let him go, I suddenly remembered something I hadn’t asked.
"Hannon."
"Yeah?"
"...How’s Nikita doing?"
Hannon was with the First Prince’s faction.
He must have heard something about Nikita by the time he sought me out.
"Nikita Cynthia is dead."
Hannon added what everyone knew.
"So, she must be learning new talents in the heavens, studying magic with her brother and assisting in his magical research."
Hearing that, I unknowingly smiled.
That was enough.
I gazed out the window.
The summer sky was truly blue.
I hoped Nikita would soar high, fully embracing the talents she couldn’t achieve in life.
I wished for her future to be filled with happiness.
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
w