CH…15
Why is he even alive with a hole like that in his chest?
Barberi didn’t know the exact reason. She had never even bothered to think about it.
Because he’s a dragon, maybe?
Her mind just accepted it with that much. Dragons were beings that existed outside human common sense.
But Sharon didn’t know that fact. Barberi had only introduced Kur to her as just a magician.
“Sharon, actually…”
Barberi, holding Kur by the collar, hesitated in thought.
She tried to imagine what would happen if she told Sharon the truth.
Dragons were objects of fear. At the same time, they were objects of hatred.
At the mere rumor that one had appeared, humans would immediately form a subjugation force and try to kill it.
So what if people found out that a dragon was in Rondar, and in a weakened state at that?
Humans from across the continent would unite to kill him. That would truly be a troublesome situation.
Numbers always win in the end.
“The truth is… this is…”
So what excuse should she make about that hole?
Barberi thought for a moment, then spoke heavily.
“It’s fashion.”
Kur’s eyes widened at her answer.
“What kind of nonsense are you spouting now?” he asked in a low voice so Sharon wouldn’t hear.
“Kur takes great pride in his magic. He thinks he’s the best in the world.”
Ignoring him, Barberi continued. It wasn’t entirely untrue, so the words flowed easily.
“But magic isn’t something people can see unless you show it, right? So he worried about how he could display his greatness.”
Barberi released his collar, then grinned at the still-confused Sharon.
“In the end, he decided to make this hole with magic. An illusion spell.”
She poked her finger into his chest. It looked like it went in, but of course it was only an illusion.
Barberi boldly insisted, shameless as ever. Sharon still tilted her head, not quite convinced.
“If it’s to show off, shouldn’t it be somewhere more visible?” Sharon asked reasonably. In fact, she hadn’t even noticed the hole in Kur’s chest until now.
“He says it wouldn’t be stylish if it’s too obvious. The real charm is when you see it by chance.”
“Why would I ever do something like that…”
Unable to take it anymore, Kur tried to object, but Barberi covered his mouth with her hand.
“Shut it. Better than having your true identity exposed, isn’t it?” she whispered like a ventriloquist.
Kur scowled at her. If it had been a plausible excuse, fine. But who in their right mind would believe someone made a chest hole because it looked cool?
“Oh, I see!”
But Sharon believed it.
Kur looked at her in disbelief as she nodded slowly.
Seeing her lie work, Barberi got excited and piled on even more.
“And the fact that the hole is black means a Black Flame Dragon lives inside.”
What the hell is a Black Flame Dragon now?
Kur’s head hurt from the growing layers of her fabrication.
“See? It’s pitch black, right?”
Barberi gestured for Sharon to look closer.
“It really is black. But what is a Black Flame Dragon?” Sharon asked.
“Don’t ask me,” Kur snapped irritably. Barberi answered instead.
“It must be something very dangerous. It’s a dragon, after all.”
Does she even intend to hide his identity? She’s literally saying he keeps a dragon in his chest!
Kur thought this was completely backwards.
“I don’t know exactly either,” Barberi admitted. She had only heard about such a thing during her time on Earth.
So there really are dragons in this world!
The bitter memory of telling Yoo Chaerin that once, only to be mocked as an idiot because it was fake, briefly crossed her mind.
But since that knowledge was useful now, she was rather pleased.
“Don’t dig too deeply into secret backstories. It stops being cool that way!” Barberi warned in a lowered voice.
And Sharon fell for her flimsy excuse.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“Kur really believes he’s raising a Black Flame Dragon, so we need to treat it that way too,” Barberi told her seriously, then gave Kur a benevolent smile.
Sharon tried her best to comply.
“It must be hard raising a Black Flame Dragon in your chest.”
“Yes, yes. Kur must have a hard time,” Barberi nodded repeatedly.
“The only hard thing is you,” Kur muttered, unable to hold back anymore.
After that, whenever Sharon happened to glimpse the hole in Kur’s chest, she pretended not to see it.
Then one day—
“Um, Mr. Kur.”
She called him carefully, as if deliberately choosing a time when Barberi wasn’t around. She seemed about to bring up something Barberi shouldn’t hear.
Perhaps it was because Barberi, who had promised to protect Medo, only ever trained herself instead.
Kur noticed the anxiety on Sharon’s face and guessed.
“What does the Black Flame Dragon eat?”
But her question was completely unexpected. Kur bit his lip, remembering that ridiculous lie.
So she wasn’t just humoring Barberi. She genuinely believed it.
“I’ve only been preparing meals for you, but shouldn’t I be feeding Mr. Black Flame Dragon too?”
She thought pies alone had been enough, but if he had something like that inside him, she would’ve given more.
“Hasn’t he been lacking food all this time?”
She asked out of sincere concern.
What kind of naive fool is this?
Kur, who would normally want to kill anyone who mocked him, found himself speechless.
“It doesn’t need separate meals. But let me give you some advice.”
He didn’t care if other humans got fooled by Barberi. But the human who baked pies… he felt a sliver of pity for her.
She made pies too well to be deceived her whole life.
“It’s best if you don’t trust Her Majesty to be a good person.”
“Sorry?”
“She’s a thug.”
The word made Sharon gasp. She rolled her eyes quickly, searching for a reply.
“Can you really say that about Her Majesty?”
Even if he was the second most powerful after her, and supposedly housed a Black Flame Dragon in his chest.
Sharon nervously checked that Barberi wasn’t around to hear.
“I… I know she’s not entirely good.”
If she were, she wouldn’t have taken her hostage to threaten Medo. Sharon admitted that much.
“She’s even worse than you think.”
“Did she do something to you?”
His reaction seemed strange, so Sharon asked.
“She didn’t keep her promise to me. She probably doesn’t even remember it.”
“What kind of promise?”
Kur fell silent for a while, as if remembering something, then finally spoke.
“In any case, don’t expect her to keep promises.”
He changed the subject and said no more. His profile looked lonely as he recalled the past.
The conversation ended there, but Sharon couldn’t stop thinking about his words.
“Maybe he was just trying to stir up trouble… but…”
From what she had seen of Kur over the past month, he wasn’t that kind of man.
He always complained about Barberi, but stayed by her side. He even helped with her training by sitting on her back during push-ups.
There was clearly some deep story between them.
“What promise could he mean?”
Sharon grew curious. So when Kur didn’t come downstairs, she took the chance to ask Barberi.
“Like you promised me, did you also promise Kur something?”
“Promise?”
The sudden question left Barberi blank. Had she promised him something?
But once she bit into her bread, the memory of their alliance returned.
“I promised to give him something.”
She dipped her bread into soup and answered casually.
“Why?”
“No reason. I was just curious how he became your subordinate,” Sharon muttered, averting her eyes.
“I can’t tell if you two have a good relationship or a bad one.”
“A bad one,” Barberi answered without hesitation, surprising Sharon.
“He doesn’t stick with me because he likes me.”
She pointed at Kur as he came downstairs, making Sharon nervous that he might’ve overheard.
“But what can you do. A promise is a promise.”
“What are you talking about?” Kur asked, clearly missing the earlier part of the conversation.
“Sharon thinks I might not keep my promise.”
“I—I never said that!” Sharon stammered, embarrassed since it was true she had worried about it. Barberi smirked at her fluster.
Mortified, Sharon decided it was best to ask directly.
“Your Majesty, when will you protect Medo?”
A few days ago, a bounty hunter had infiltrated their hideout. He was skilled, and many were injured.
“At this rate, something terrible might really happen to him.”
She appealed, holding back her emotions. Barberi chewed her bread silently, then tapped the table lightly.
“Fine. My body’s mostly healed anyway. I’ll start guarding him tomorrow.”
Sharon’s face lit up, and she repeatedly thanked Barberi.
The next day, Barberi headed to the underground passage where Medo stayed, just as promised.
“From today, Her Majesty will be guarding you,” Sharon explained proudly. But Medo’s expression wasn’t good.
Barberi, supposedly there to guard, didn’t bother hiding her annoyance, and Medo kept looking away, sniffing disdainfully.
“You said you couldn’t serve under me because you’re a king. But you’ll guard me?”
His tone was laced with mockery. Barberi’s lips twitched.
“I begged her to do it,” Sharon quickly tried to mediate.
Barberi approached Medo with a faint smile and extended her hand.
“….”
Medo just stared at it blankly, just as Barberi once had.
“I’m not desperate enough to need protection from a crazy woman.”
“Medo.”
Sharon tried to stop him, but Kur grabbed her arm.
While Sharon turned in surprise, Barberi drew her sword.
“Good. I didn’t come here to guard you anyway.”
She lunged at Medo before she even finished speaking.
“I can’t stand leaving debts unpaid!”
Medo swiftly drew his sword and blocked her attack. As the sudden swordfight broke out, Sharon screamed.
“See? I told you. She’s always been a thug.”
From behind Sharon, Kur looked oddly proud.
