Chapter 151
“Keu… kukuk…”
Agrisen’s creepy, chilling laugh brushed past my ears like a knife. The black flames soon shaped into the form of a man’s upper body, and within them, I could clearly see Agrisen’s face.
“…How are you all doing?”
“You bastard!”
The curse slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. Agrisen chuckled in amusement.
“Are you cursing at me? But since this isn’t a real conversation, I can’t hear you. So, no matter how dirty you make that cute little mouth of yours, you’ll only be wasting your breath.”
Unable to hold back, I rushed forward like a moth to a flame, reaching toward the black fire. But Winter grabbed me and pulled me back. Even then, I couldn’t suppress my anger—I picked up whatever I could and hurled it at the fire, shouting:
“What nonsense are you spouting? Get lost! Die, you bastard!”
“Didn’t I say, don’t curse? You’ve gotten quite a sharp tongue, haven’t you? Regression really does make people nasty.”
The black fire shaped like Agrisen grinned widely, so vividly that I could see the deep lines in his face.
While I fumed, Winter, ever the experienced regressor, asked calmly:
“How are you still alive?”
Agrisen snapped his fingers.
“Of course you’d ask how I survived. Don’t rush—I’ll explain everything. That’s what this letter is for.”
It had only been a few days since he was released from prison, but Agrisen looked like a completely different person. Before, he was half-dead, his eyes empty. Now, his voice brimmed with energy and life.
“I swear, there’s no one more curious than me in this world. I always had to dig and dissect everything that sparked my interest, but after being locked in that white room for so long, now even the smallest things make me want to tear them apart to see what’s inside.”
He threw his head back, spreading his arms wide, breathing deeply as though savoring freedom. Then, slowly, he looked back at us and smiled.
“If I feel this way, how about you, my friend?”
He looked directly at Winter, as if he knew exactly where Winter stood.
“You always liked new, strange things too, didn’t you? Poor friend—you must have been so bored, seeing the same world again and again for thousands of years. The little miss was right. I only regressed for ten thousand years, but you—you’ve lived through countless millennia.”
The black flames floated closer, whispering to Winter.
“We were good together, weren’t we, my friend? I know you enjoyed those days with me. I’m certain now—you liked being with me.”
“Utter nonsense,” Winter replied.
But in that fleeting moment, I thought I saw a cold, dangerous excitement flicker in his eyes. I quickly turned away, pretending not to notice. Winter’s time with Agrisen was a part of him, and if he didn’t want me to see it, then it was only polite to look away.
The black fire flickered, then flared brighter above the letter. Agrisen folded his arms, his tone softening.
“…That’s why I’m sending this letter. I escaped using a method you don’t know, and I know you won’t let me go easily. But I don’t want to be hunted by you.”
His smile faded.
“After ten thousand years in that white room, I won’t let myself be captured by you again. What I mean is—I don’t intend to cause trouble anymore.”
To my surprise, Winter’s face broke into a genuine smile. He even laughed out loud, wiping tears from his eyes.
“Really… you’re hilarious.”
It was pure laughter, without mockery—so genuine that it almost felt kind. Mesmerized, I forgot my earlier promise not to look at Winter’s expression and stared at him, captivated.
Agrisen stroked his chin and tilted his head.
“You’re laughing at me? But I thought you of all people would understand. After ten thousand years locked away, now everything feels overwhelming—air, sea, mountains… It’s all beautiful. I don’t feel the need to risk angering you by continuing my experiments.”
Winter laughed again.
“You? Stop your experiments? What then, farm the land and live like a peasant?”
But Agrisen spoke seriously, as if considering it.
“…Maybe. Even fishing sounds fun.”
Winter chuckled under his breath, then swept his hair back. His smile thinned, and a faint killing intent rose in his eyes, tinged with excitement.
“Agrisen,” he said quietly.
“You’re so amusing, I don’t want to let you go. You’re making me want to track you down, just for the fun of it.”
“….”
The flame-Agrisen swallowed dryly.
“…Let me explain, then. How I survived—it’s simple. When I stole a fragment of your soul, I happened to gain one of your abilities.”
Winter’s eyes narrowed.
“Dragons don’t need incantations for most magic. They can use it silently.”
Agrisen nodded.
“Exactly. I used silent magic. In the sea.”
Winter gave a bitter laugh.
“Damn it…”
I bit my lip. But how he escaped the ocean didn’t matter compared to what he said next.
“Kukuk… of course, it hasn’t all been good for me. Along with this half-baked regression power, I’ve had some… unfortunate side effects.”
He unbuttoned his shirt. The black flames revealed his chest.
“See this?”
He chuckled, but we could not. Winter’s expression hardened.
“This… can’t be…” I whispered.
Because what we saw was—
“Scales,” Agrisen said. “Dragon scales, growing on my body.”
Indeed, patches of scales had appeared on his chest—and I recognized their shape. They were dragon scales.
That insane mage had even managed to copy Winter’s divine gift.
“Ah, don’t misunderstand. It doesn’t mean I’m turning into a dragon like you. I just look… uglier. It’s just like with regression—I couldn’t copy it perfectly.”
He buttoned his shirt back up, smoothed it down, and smiled casually.
“…So again, don’t chase me. I’ll stay quiet, live my life, and keep your secret. Oh, and about Materia…”
He trailed off, hinting that he knew who I was.
“‘Let’s not interfere with each other,’ huh…” I thought.
I glanced at Winter. He shook his head, unimpressed.
“Agrisen, how long do you plan to pretend this is just a letter, not a conversation?”
“……”
Agrisen flinched. I glared at him.
“I knew it. Coward. You’re lying just to watch the Archduke’s reaction.”
“Even this trivial detail is a lie. Why should we believe you when you say you won’t become a dragon?”
Agrisen clicked his tongue.
“Kikik… But wouldn’t it be troublesome for you if I revealed all your secrets? It would be just as troublesome for me, of course.”
I glared harder.
‘We have to catch him. We can’t just let him slip away again.’
Finally, I said aloud:
“No. You’re wrong.”
It’d be pretty wild if he did actually turn over a new leaf, but obviously, I’m not holding my breath or hoping for it. He’s a baddie with a capital “E” in evil.