Either way, it was all or nothing — I wanted to clout him, but behind Jed there were big men posted. They looked like the sort who could pull off a floral shirt and a dragon tattoo.
I rubbed my face dry and sorted my thoughts. Stall for time. If there’s a commotion back at the facility, it might pull eyes away from Varen.
“How did you know?”
There was no hiding the tension in his voice. My palms are soaked with sweat.
Jed tilted his head at my question, then drew a marble-sized orb from his pocket. The crystal bead glowed faintly.
“Have you really lost your memory? Wasn’t this your idea?”
“...What?”
“It’s a device that links to the dragon’s chains and shows absorbed mana. The bead’s light went out — means the dragon escaped.”
Figures I’m the one who uses his head for the worst things.
Ceryl is completely the wrong fit for me from one to ten. I want to flip off the author who shoved me into a character this infuriating.
Jed folded his arms and grinned.
“I keep saying it. There are a lot of eyes on this place.”
“...So there were a lot watching me too?”
“I warned you to move in daylight. You looked busy every night.”
The Noak patrol had to guard more than Varen and the cell. I didn’t expect to be tailed.
I took steady breaths and scanned behind Jed. All faces I’d never seen before. Two of them were the men who’d visited the cell last time. It wasn’t a surprise.
One difference: they weren’t wearing facility uniforms anymore. So there’s no need to pretend anymore.
Their clothes varied, but they all wore the same armband on the left sleeve — a simple symbol of a dragon head and a longsword. Dragon Hunters.
I cannot, under any circumstances, let them reach Varen. I have to stop them here, no matter what.
“Sorry I couldn’t tell you earlier the dragon had gotten out.”
I screwed my face up and put my hand to my waist, wiping the cold sweat off my palm.
“I never meant to make this mistake. I feared if I admitted losing the dragon, my ability would be devalued.”
“Hmm. You hid it for reputation?”
“Yeah. To restore my honor I thought I at least had to find traces of the dragon. Otherwise I’d lose face myself.”
Please buy it, please. Just once, let this slide.
Jed stroked his chin with his fingertips. That calculating look of his swept me clean; I couldn’t take a breath in peace.
“Ceryl, I’ve seen what you showed us. One mistake won’t ruin your reputation.”
“Good, then.”
“Of course. You’ve killed hundreds of monsters up to now. And wasn’t the plan to feed the dragon monster corpses—your idea too?”
Not me.
I clenched a smile and swallowed the urge to shout. First priority: get these bastards moving down the mountain.
But Jed’s eyes were still full of suspicion. I need something to move him.
“I learned the dragon’s name.”
Jed’s face shifted immediately. Curiosity and pleasure lit a nervous excitement across him.
“Of course, Ceryl! I knew you’d pull it off. A honey trap did the trick?”
That “honey trap” bullshit. I smoothed the expression on my face and forced a stiff smile.
“Right. Since there are ears about, let’s move somewhere quiet first.”
There were about twenty Dragon Hunters. Just «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» picturing those hulks swarming Varen makes my head swim.
He doesn’t know how to fly, he can’t use fire. With nothing but pride—if my cute dragon falls into those thugs’ hands there won’t even be bones left to pick.
But contrary to what I wanted, Jed barked orders to the men.
“Search the area. I have business with Ceryl...”
“South-east! South-east!!”
I cut him off in a panic. Cold sweat is sluicing down my back.
“Traces of the dragon head southeast.”
“You said you couldn’t find a trace?”
“Well...not certain. But I think I found—something that might be the dragon’s trail.”
“Hrm, Belzena is to the northwest, isn’t it?”
“...Ah, maybe he’s trying to double back. To shake a tracker.”
I stammered, more flustered than I sounded. Even to me I don’t sound convincing.
The Dragon Hunters snorted. One scoff set the rest off; they all tittered and glanced at me.
I squeezed my eyes shut against the irritating noise.
Focus. How do I protect Varen. Think. Don’t give up—keep thinking.
They’re mercs Jed hired. I don’t need their trust. Whatever happens to them, I only need to handle Jed.
How did Ceryl earn Jed’s trust so far?
I opened my eyes and squared my chest.
“I stake Aylos’s honor!”
Not my family, but I’ll borrow it for now.
“I am Ceryl Aylos. I stake Aylos’s honor and speak only the truth.”
“...Go on.”
“The dragon is heading southeast. It’s been three days since it escaped, but it still can’t fly. It shouldn’t have gone far. We can catch up to it now.”
The tittering died. The mercenaries murmured among themselves at my boldness.
Most importantly, Jed dipped his head and the corner of his mouth lifted.
“Alright. Who else would I trust but Aylos.”
Relief burst out of me; I returned the smile awkwardly.
“Thanks. Let’s go down and finish this talk.”
“Right. We can’t discuss important matters on a dirt road.”
My legs trembled as I led them downhill. I have to get as far from where Varen is as fast as possible.
Jed followed in silence, the big men behind him. My heart’s going to burst even while I’m at the head of the line.
“Ah, but Ceryl.”
Not far along, Jed stopped me and called me back. He halted his brisk steps.
“You said you’d stake Aylos’s honor.”
I turned stiffly; he was grinning like it was a joke.
“But odd. You aren’t really Aylos, are you.”
Ah... this fucking bastard.
“Hey. If you weren’t fooled, why pretend?”
“Ahahaha! Your reaction is hilarious!”
Thud — a blow landed on the back of my head and my vision went fuzzy. That goddamn face is the last thing I see — then everything went black.
***
My whole body ached. The blow to the back of my head still smarted; arms and legs ached.
I closed my eyes and wiggled fingers and toes in turn. Ten and ten — all functioning. Spinal nerves intact.
I lifted my eyelids slowly. The blurred view showed cold stone floor and a torch on the wall. Legs together, arms tied tightly behind me.
How predictable. Textbook, even.
“Ugh...”
“Hiyung.”
I tried to push myself up and a familiar sound met me. I popped my eyes wide and looked into my pocket: drooping Rami poked her head out.
Footsteps thudded. Jed was walking through the ranks of burly men toward me.
No time to scheme.
If I couldn’t even protect Varen, I can’t lose Rami too.
“Don’t come near!”
Jed stopped dead. Rami peeked out and made a soft hiyung again, trying to crawl out.
“No! Baby, don’t come!! Go back!!”
I yelled with full breaths, desperate. Rami emitted a little hiyuung and slid back into my pocket.
Jed looked down at me, astonished.
“...Did you just call me ‘baby’?”
For fuck’s sake. This is ridiculous.
“Uh, I said don’t come.”
“Hit to the head must have scrambled you. At my age I’m hearing baby talk now.”
I want to kill him. If I ever get a power, he’s first.
But my body wouldn’t cooperate. I don’t want to look up at him from the floor, yet my bound limbs wouldn’t let me move.
Jed crouched in front of me. Oil and leisure ran off his face in abundance.
“You learned the dragon’s name?”
“.......”
“A wizard is on his way. When he arrives you’ll sing anyway, so no need to hold out.”
Damn. I was ready to endure — even if they ripped my nails — and that’s off the table.
If it won’t go my way, I might as well jam one last insult down his throat.
“You want me to tell you? The Dravergh’s name.”
Jed raised his eyebrows, surprised.
“Torture hasn’t even started. No patience, eh...”
“Yongpali.”
“......”
“Yongpali.”
“...Scalecrusher Dravergh?”
Jed’s face crumpled between confusion and embarrassment. Watching his composed mask fall apart made me laugh.
“Puhahaha! You expect me to believe that? All that smart act and you’re the biggest idiot.”
He threw his head back laughing, pressing his forehead to the cold floor.
“Ceryl. You really are entertaining to the end.”
He gave a signal and the men closed in from both sides. Even lying down, they were giants.
“Hey, don’t come. You’re going to use magic anyway! No need to hit... ugh!”
A boot to the head? Coward.
One kick and it felt like my organs would burst free. Then my collar was grabbed and I took a slap to the cheek. Lucky the tongue wasn’t bitten, but my mouth filled with blood.
The kicks and punches didn’t stop. I didn’t grow up pampered, but I’ve never taken a beating like this.
When pain crosses a threshold, the brain cuts the feed — a defense for a weak body.
After enough blows, my mind went hazy. I can’t tell if I’m being hit or if I’m even alive.
Dying under human fists wasn’t in the cards. Still, I hugged a dragon tail and even rode a flying thing — maybe that’s enough.
Ah... but I wanted to see the dragons’ habitat...
Thunk — my body hit the stone. My brow split; blood veiled my sight. I forced my heavy eyes up.
Maybe it’s because I’m dying, but I’m seeing things.
Huge men lay on the floor like I did. I squinted; the scene sharpened.
Two men in facility uniforms were beating the hulks down.
So that’s the ruckus. And who are they?
Faces were blurry, but the colors were clear.
Yellow hair and brown hair.
“Ceryl-nim, snap out of it. We came to get you.”
I’ve bled too much to think straight. Through the wavering senses, one thought surfaced.
Huh. Not idiots after all. They can talk properly.
