~Chapter 109~
[Since the sinner has come, I must go out and greet him.]
The one who answered my doubts was the dragon.
Now I realized—the dragon had the ability to speak without opening its mouth. Its voice sounded as if it came from its body, from the earth, or from inside my head.
This time as well, the dragon blinked slowly, mouth closed.
[The time has come to fulfill an old promise.]
“Promise…?”
Beside me, Calix muttered in confusion. Hearing his small voice, the dragon turned its head toward him.
At that moment, I wished—just for a brief second—that Calix would never know the truth about our past lives. No matter how long ago it was, wasn’t it too cruel for him to learn? If he knew that the reason we were bound to the dragon now was because of sins we committed in a previous life, would he be able to stay calm? I didn’t want Calix to blame himself.
But in the end, for forgiveness, we had to face the truth. Knowing that, I stayed silent.
The dragon did not hesitate.
[Your sin was being blinded by greed, and driving your mate to death.]
Its unwavering voice echoed in the cavern, flat and emotionless, as if stating the obvious.
Calix’s body froze. Did he understand? Somehow, I couldn’t bear to look straight at his face.
The dragon then turned to me.
[Your sin was being deceived by your mate, and coveting divine power.]
“Rena, what does that mean?”
“….”
[I suppose that is punishment enough.]
“Rena, what does it mean?”
“…That is…”
I faltered, glancing at the dragon. It only stared back calmly, as if leaving the choice to me.
Finally, I exhaled and confessed.
“This is why you couldn’t sense magic, why you were bound by the ‘contract.’ In our past life, we sinned. It was something I did, but you said you would take the punishment instead. That’s why you and your descendants were born without magic…”
“Not that.”
Calix curved his lips into a crooked smile—the one he wore whenever he didn’t like something. He lowered his head to meet my eyes.
“Then does that mean I deceived you and made you die?”
“That’s…”
[That is exactly what it means.]
The dragon answered instead. Calix’s head snapped around.
[In your past life, you made the child learn my true name—never realizing you yourself had been deceived by something wicked.]
“Then… are you saying Rena really died?”
[You already understand. Do you need another explanation?]
“That was all in the past!”
I hurried to speak, afraid of what Calix might think.
“It was ages ago! Another lifetime! Strictly speaking, it wasn’t even us. And the dragon says we’ve already paid the price, so now all we have to do is…”
The words ask for forgiveness caught in my throat.
Calix’s face—storming with anger, shock, fear, and guilt—made my chest tighten.
“…Did you already know this?”
“No. I only just learned.”
“Then you must hate me.”
His voice sank low. I shook my head quickly.
“I don’t even remember it.”
“But I killed you.”
“You didn’t kill me. I just died on my own. And besides—it was our past life. It has nothing to do with us now.”
I wasn’t sure if I should say such things in front of the dragon, but since it stayed silent, maybe it was fine.
Calix fell quiet, troubled. Then, after a long pause, he turned to the dragon.
“…It’s true. In my past life, I committed a sin that cannot be washed away.”
I held his hand tightly as he knelt on one knee.
“I’ve come to settle that sin and beg forgiveness.”
[At last.]
The dragon smiled faintly, satisfied.
“Though blinded by greed, I have already lost Rena. I believe I have suffered enough punishment.”
He bowed his head, speaking calmly.
“Now, please—heal Rena’s heart.”
“…Ah.”
I had even forgotten about that. But to Calix, it was the most important thing.
The dragon tilted its head curiously.
[Heal her heart? What do you mean?]
“When you leave, her magic will run out one day. Then her heart will fail.”
The dragon shifted its gaze to me, as if weighing his words. Slowly, it nodded.
[So that’s what you meant. That heart—I altered it myself, so I could recognize her when she was reborn. Only because her soul is the same could I do it.]
“Then please fix it.”
[Strange. You mean to give up her vast magic?]
Calix answered firmly, without hesitation.
“If it means she will be safe.”
[Her magic won’t run out in this lifetime.]
“Even so—I don’t want it to happen in the next one. Or the one after that.”
His words were absolute.
I quickly added my voice.
“Me too. I’d rather live safely than with too much magic.”
The dragon spread its wings slightly, watching us both.
[If that is your wish, so be it.]
It spoke again.
[I will give you my heart.]
“…Eh?”
I jumped.
“What do you mean, your heart? The dragon’s heart?”
“That will solve it?”
“If you give me your heart, what happens to you?”
[It’s been a while since I heard that name.]
“No—that’s not the point right now!”
I panicked, but Calix stayed calm, thinking seriously. Then he asked:
“…If you give it, Rena will truly be safe?”
[She doesn’t seem in danger now, but yes.]
“Then I accept.”
“Wait! What about me?”
Calix glanced at me.
“What about you?”
I marched forward, standing beneath the dragon’s massive form. Looking up, I shouted:
“If you give me your heart, what happens to you?”
The dragon lowered its head until its golden eyes were right in front of me.
[You ask the same thing again. Does it matter?]
“Of course it matters!”
I couldn’t ignore it.
“Can you live without a heart?”
The dragon blinked slowly, and for an instant, I saw the god from my memories inside those eyes.
[To me, a heart is meaningless. And soon I will leave this place, so I need it even less. This body is nothing but an empty shell.]
I let out a deep sigh of relief.
“Good. I’m glad.”
Still, something weighed on me.
“Then… when you say you’ll leave… what does that mean?”
Please don’t tell me it means death. I didn’t want that.
The dragon replied calmly:
[It only means I will return to where I came from. Do not worry.]
I sighed in relief again.
[Strange. I told you, you are not the same child. Only your souls are alike.]
“I know. But I saw the memories. I can’t just pretend I didn’t.”
The dragon chuckled softly.
[Even reborn, you are still kind.]
Before long, our talk ended. Calix came forward, quietly taking my hand.
The dragon looked down at him.
[Calix Axel Hertrio. I accept your apology. You and your descendants are freed from this duty.]
“…Thank you.”
[And you, Regiana Rohello Troxia. You…]
Holding my breath, I waited. After a long silence, the dragon said simply:
[Live well.]
“…Huh? That’s it?”
“Ah, yes. Thank you…?”
