His pale eyes appeared even more transparent in the sunlight. They resembled a cloudless sky or perhaps a crystal-clear lake where you could see to the bottom. Yet whenever I looked into his eyes, I couldn’t shake the peculiar thought that his gaze was cold as ice.

Strictly speaking, however, Lerrhagen wasn’t so much cruel or heartless as he was simply indifferent. Throughout recorded history, there were no accounts of Lerrhagen carrying out executions, and surprisingly, during his long existence, his only enemies had been the demon folk—despite the fact that every being on this earth must seem insignificant to him.

Lerrhagen was undeniably powerful, and he himself surely knew it. Nevertheless, he never seemed to have disregarded life. This realization struck me with renewed surprise.

And now he claimed to be worried about me.

Of course, I had known from the beginning that while everything about this situation was significant to me, to him it was merely a small part of his existence. Despite that…

“Why are you worried, my Lord?”

I deliberately asked Lerrhagen with a casual expression.

Lerrhagen gave no response to my question. After what felt like an eternity, he turned his head.

“I wonder.”

His answer was characteristically ambiguous. Come to think of it, his responses to “why” questions had always been vague. Back then, I had assumed I was merely his entertainment, that he only cared about what he could gain from our arrangement.

“I’m curious about something—have you ever seen me before? I mean, before the day we first met.”

“No.”

“Really? Never?”

“Never.”

This time his answer was quite definite.

I felt increasingly puzzled. But at that moment, I recalled what he had said the day he gave me the whip.

“You mentioned before that I might resemble someone you know.”

“Did I?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t remember. You may be indifferent, but you’re not stupid.”

“And what of it?”

“Could this person you know be one of your disciples?”

I recalled my conversation with Hasis from a few days ago. Lerrhagen’s first disciple had also been bound through a contract, just like me. Though Hasis had said it had nothing to do with me, perhaps there was some resemblance between me and this first disciple.

Lerrhagen remained silent at my question. After some time, he slowly rose and finally answered.

“I wonder.”

“…You won’t answer this either?”

“Humans are naturally different yet similar.”

“…”

“It means nothing.”

After saying this, Lerrhagen suddenly vanished. I frowned at his obvious attempt to avoid our conversation.

‘What is going on?’

But no amount of pondering yielded any answers. Eventually, I clicked my tongue inwardly and left the garden.

* * *

The place where Lerrhagen reappeared after vanishing from the garden was none other than his lair. Devoid of any signs of life, it was majestic and beautiful but not particularly warm, and though it was so vast that its boundaries were invisible, he stood alone within it.

This made sense because unlike humans and other races who mostly lived together in communities, dragons typically chose solitary places to dwell. Their indifference toward their own kind—meeting perhaps once every few centuries merely to confirm who had died—could be said to have been learned from Lerrhagen himself.

This was completely different from the intense self-love of the demon folk. Lerrhagen, the first of the first race created by the divine, in some ways resembled the divine most closely while simultaneously possessing a distinctly different temperament.

Perhaps that was why, despite being universally praised as godlike, Lerrhagen himself never considered himself omnipotent. Or rather, there had been a time when he did believe in his own omnipotence, but eventually he realized it was all false, deceptive, and impossible—and by the time he realized this, someone had already died before him.

– If I die…

– …

– …don’t be sad.

– …

– Because I won’t be sad either.

Lerrhagen traversed the long corridor. There had once been a time when laughter echoed through this place, when a figure with small, quick steps would occasionally flit by, when a chattering, mischievous child had existed here. But all that was in the past now, and all that remained was a desolate, cold wind.

Lerrhagen suddenly recalled the small child who had stood before him earlier. Luxurious golden curls flowing down, fluttering butterfly ribbons trembling, round eyes and stubbornly closed lips. Purple eyes sparkling under the bright sunlight. Lerrhagen furrowed his brow at the face that briefly overlapped in his vision.

Humans are such curious beings. In exchange for their brief lives, they gain the opportunity to live infinitely. They achieve what they set out to accomplish and then face death. Their newly gained lives begin again, and the same cycle repeats…

“Meaningless.”

Lerrhagen murmured, lifting his head slightly. At that moment, the previously silent lair was disturbed by a presence, followed by a fluttering sound as a large golden hawk landed on his shoulder.

[My Lord.]

Lerrhagen slightly raised his head at the hawk’s call. Between the elegant white decorations, the clear sky was reflected.

After some time, he slowly spoke.

“Where?”

[Southwest, where Cartrier Forest meets Lake Batrisha. The Demon King’s subordinates are rampaging there. Five humans have already died, including one black mage. Shall I inform the fairy folk to handle it?]

Lerrhagen narrowed his eyes at the question. After a while, he responded.

“No. I’ll go there myself. And inform the clan to eliminate all magic beasts crossing the northern boundary of the continent within two days.”

[As you command.]

With a flutter of wings, the hawk soared into the air. Shortly after, Lerrhagen, his face cold, vanished from the lair.

* * *

Contrary to my concerns that he might have forgotten my request after suddenly disappearing, Lerrhagen quite quickly “delivered” the doll to my room.

“Your Highness, His Majesty has arrived.”

“Yes, I know.”

I glanced at Sela, who was pouring tea into the doll’s teacup without understanding what was happening, then turned my attention to the doll sitting elegantly beside her. After a moment, I approached the doll, infused it with a bit of my magic to control its consciousness, and “I” spoke.

>You may leave now. I have matters to discuss with my daughter.>

Sela smiled brightly, gave a slight curtsy, and left the room. I created a barrier to prevent anyone from approaching the room, then drew a summoning circle with my magic.

The previously quiet air suddenly gathered into a bright, mirror-like circular light. A few seconds later, an unfamiliar scene appeared in the previously silent light cluster.

Simultaneously—

“What is this really! I’m dying of busyness and you have to contact me like this? Even if I was once affiliated with the Arsis Empire, I’m the Tower Master now!”

>You’ve grown quite arrogant. Have you forgotten who funded the reconstruction of the Magic Tower?>

“Your Majesty is truly the sun that watches over all people. Contacting me despite your busy public duties. What can I do for you?”

The sharp-tongued woman who shouted as soon as the connection was established was none other than Viole, the Master of the Magic Tower. Recruited from the Academy’s Magic Department with a high salary after my coronation, she had also entered as the previous Tower Master’s disciple with my recommendation.

Among mages, she was unusually interested in power and wealth, which was precisely why she had become the youngest Tower Master ever, surpassing many more experienced mages. Of course, the main reason was also her genius.

Since I had contributed significantly to her current position, Viole instinctively deferred to my words. Though occasionally, she would act somewhat impudently, like now.

I observed Viole wearing a robe through the magic sphere. Her busyness was clearly no lie, as mages were rushing around her.

<I contacted you because I have questions.>

“What on earth… Oh my, is that little lady beside you the rumored Princess? Oh, how adorable. She’s so dignified, just like Your Majesty.”

Viole’s face was clearly full of intention to flatter the princess. However, I didn’t find it particularly unpleasant. Her blatant flattery was rather endearing compared to the nobles’ suspicious vigilance.

<Since you’re busy, I’ll get straight to the point. Have you visited Death Gorge since the explosion there?>

As soon as “I” finished speaking, Viole’s face showed understanding.