Sreung.
With a sudden, sharp gaze, Nike drew her sword.
Thud.
The evil hand has taken a step closer.
- [Ruler of Darkness], [God of the Underworld].
“...”
Nike could not stand the chilling title that had been used to refer to him all this time and clenched his fist tightly.
- How dare you treat me like a slave... and enjoy being treated that way?
“...? You called me without my permission!”
Whether Nike was getting angry or not, Ratan approached relentlessly, stomping and continuing to speak.
- As of today, the great [blood pact] I forcibly made with you has ended.
Nike began to lure the approaching Ratan by backing away while keeping his gaze fixed on him.
- You worthless human being...
Whoosh!
Ratan's arm was swung.
Nike lightly dodged the heavy movement.
- Receiving my [worship of obedience]!
Whoosh!
- Playing the ridiculous role of [King of Beasts]!
Whoosh!
Ratan's excited gestures never reached Nike.
- Today, I will avenge all the humiliation of the past!!!
Aaaargh!
Eventually, the roaring demonic beast charged forward, but soon...
It tilted and stopped.
On top of the bulging mound of earth.
It is because he found Vania standing majestically.
A spine-chilling silence descended.
Nike could not bear to look at Vania, who had even stepped onto the dirt stage, perhaps for the sake of a spectacular performance.
He knew that she didn't want to show herself 'educating' Ratan.
So he was planning to try and solve it on his own...
Ratan, who has been playing the role of a loyal servant so well until now, is, as expected, a demon.
As soon as he thought Vania was dead, he bared his claws without hesitation.
But can she subdue Ratan with words alone?
Suddenly, Nike felt ominous.
It has been quite a while since Vania has shown her face to Ratan, and she is currently unable to provide physical training.
Thinking that Ratan might continue to rampage, Nike straightened his sword and prepared to face him.
"I hid on purpose to test you, but as expected, you betrayed my trust."
Vania muttered.
Ratan just remained hardened.
“Did you think an ordinary human couldn’t survive here?”
At that moment, Ryan walked out from behind the pile of dirt.
...You woke up in the meantime. Nike was surprised.
Of course, Ratan was even more surprised.
"You knew I wasn't an ordinary human."
Vania slid down from the pile of dirt and approached Ratan.
Drip.
Drip.
Drops of sweat poured down the jaw of the monster consumed by primal fear.
Ratan neither cried nor groveled, begging for mercy. He felt that even if he did, there would be no leniency this time.
Vania approached the giant beast closely without showing a hint of fear.
Raise your hand.
Ratan squeezed his eyes shut.
However...
There was no pain even after waiting.
Ratan quietly opened his eyes.
Vania stood frozen, looking up. For some reason, she bit her lip and hesitated.
"The reason I haven't come to see you all this time is that at some point, I stopped wanting to cause you pain."
Everyone froze at Vania's voice.
Of course, Ratan.
Nike, too, and Ryan, too.
“Everyone said we should hurt you periodically. At first, I thought that was right, too. But it seems you’ve become one of us humans now...”
- ...
“...I didn’t want to cause you any more pain. You keep helping us and making sacrifices, so why should I go out of my way to hurt you?”
- ...
“Actually, I was hoping you might have become sincere like me...”
Vania, who had been speaking in a wet voice, looked up at Ratan again.
Around that time.
Nike looked back at Ryan. Ryan was looking at Nike as well. They were both thinking the same thing.
Is this really acting?
It seems like there's a bit of sincerity in it.
“Since you don’t listen... I have to hurt you. That’s how I have to make you obey...”
Vania wiped her eyes with her sleeve, as if she were finally going to cry. Seeing this, Ratan flinched.
“I can’t do that. I just can’t...”
At that time.
There was a sound in the distance. "Vania," Ryan called out. She turned around without doing anything in the end.
“Your Highness, are you alright!”
“My Lord! My young lady!”
The Imperial family and Belzer's knights arrived in Shacht as the rear guard.
Nike raised his hand to them as a sign that he was fine, and looked at Ratan.
For some reason, Ratan just stood there blankly, his expression unreadable.
The knights tensed up at the sight of Ratan, who had been released. They exchanged wary glances, ready to draw their swords at any moment.
A long silence fell...
Thud.
Ratan suddenly knelt before Nike.
- O [King of Beasts], a [blood renewal] with [your humble servant]...
The reporters began to roughly clean up the land devastated by the landslide.
And the professors who came together...
Surprisingly, they were conducting research while surrounding an 'unbound' Ratan.
Knights were keeping a close watch so they could subdue it at any moment, but despite that, it was an absurd situation.
Ryan watched the scene from a distance, barely managing to hide his astonishment.
It seemed that Ratan was moved by Vania's tearful acting.
They had been having a minor headache periodically because of his ill-mannered attitude, so this was a huge gain.
However, one thing he's concerned about is.
“...I didn’t want to cause you any more pain. You keep helping us and making sacrifices, so why should I go out of my way to hurt you?”
Vania patted Ryan on the shoulder and gave him advice.
“Get a grip, okay? Beasts aren't human. We need to establish a clear hierarchy. Even if that guy pretends to listen now, tomorrow he'll act like nothing happened and throw a fit!”
It seemed like there was no need to worry about Vania.
But now...
“...Vania must not let her guard down. I’m worried because she’s too soft-hearted.”
The problem is that Nike found out his girlfriend isn't soft-hearted!
“Vania, I understand...”
Ryan tried to stop her belatedly, but.
"Just wait until my body gets better."
"Stop!"
“I’m going to tie that bastard upside down and throw him in the purification fountain for 24 hours straight, pulling him out and making him spit blood out!”
Vania shook her jaw back and forth, vowing revenge.
“I will avenge today’s humiliation!”
“Ah, stop it!”
"Stop it!"
Ryan gestured behind him with his chin. Vania turned around. Nike was standing there.
“...”
Vania checked and immediately turned back to look at Ryan. He had his eyes tightly closed, as if he realized he was in trouble.
'What to do.'
Ryan felt sorry for Vania, who failed time and time again at pretending to be innocent to her boyfriend.
But...
'It probably won't matter.'
Nike was looking down at the back of Vania's head with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
Ryan is convinced.
That it would be okay even if Vania pooped right in front of his eyes.
The crazier one in the relationship is, no matter how you look at it, the boyfriend.
"Your Highness."
Vania, who had been frustrated, soon regained her composure, turned around, and spoke brazenly.
While showing Nike the fourth finger of her left hand, on which the engagement ring is worn.
"You can't take it back."
"I have no intention of backing out."
With a sudden, sharp gaze, Nike drew her sword.
Thud.
The evil hand has taken a step closer.
- [Ruler of Darkness], [God of the Underworld].
“...”
Nike could not stand the chilling title that had been used to refer to him all this time and clenched his fist tightly.
- How dare you treat me like a slave... and enjoy being treated that way?
“...? You called me without my permission!”
Whether Nike was getting angry or not, Ratan approached relentlessly, stomping and continuing to speak.
- As of today, the great [blood pact] I forcibly made with you has ended.
Nike began to lure the approaching Ratan by backing away while keeping his gaze fixed on him.
- You worthless human being...
Whoosh!
Ratan's arm was swung.
Nike lightly dodged the heavy movement.
- Receiving my [worship of obedience]!
Whoosh!
- Playing the ridiculous role of [King of Beasts]!
Whoosh!
Ratan's excited gestures never reached Nike.
- Today, I will avenge all the humiliation of the past!!!
Aaaargh!
Eventually, the roaring demonic beast charged forward, but soon...
It tilted and stopped.
On top of the bulging mound of earth.
It is because he found Vania standing majestically.
A spine-chilling silence descended.
Nike could not bear to look at Vania, who had even stepped onto the dirt stage, perhaps for the sake of a spectacular performance.
He knew that she didn't want to show herself 'educating' Ratan.
So he was planning to try and solve it on his own...
Ratan, who has been playing the role of a loyal servant so well until now, is, as expected, a demon.
As soon as he thought Vania was dead, he bared his claws without hesitation.
But can she subdue Ratan with words alone?
Suddenly, Nike felt ominous.
It has been quite a while since Vania has shown her face to Ratan, and she is currently unable to provide physical training.
Thinking that Ratan might continue to rampage, Nike straightened his sword and prepared to face him.
"I hid on purpose to test you, but as expected, you betrayed my trust."
Vania muttered.
Ratan just remained hardened.
“Did you think an ordinary human couldn’t survive here?”
At that moment, Ryan walked out from behind the pile of dirt.
...You woke up in the meantime. Nike was surprised.
Of course, Ratan was even more surprised.
"You knew I wasn't an ordinary human."
Vania slid down from the pile of dirt and approached Ratan.
Drip.
Drip.
Drops of sweat poured down the jaw of the monster consumed by primal fear.
Ratan neither cried nor groveled, begging for mercy. He felt that even if he did, there would be no leniency this time.
Vania approached the giant beast closely without showing a hint of fear.
Raise your hand.
Ratan squeezed his eyes shut.
However...
There was no pain even after waiting.
Ratan quietly opened his eyes.
Vania stood frozen, looking up. For some reason, she bit her lip and hesitated.
"The reason I haven't come to see you all this time is that at some point, I stopped wanting to cause you pain."
Everyone froze at Vania's voice.
Of course, Ratan.
Nike, too, and Ryan, too.
“Everyone said we should hurt you periodically. At first, I thought that was right, too. But it seems you’ve become one of us humans now...”
- ...
“...I didn’t want to cause you any more pain. You keep helping us and making sacrifices, so why should I go out of my way to hurt you?”
- ...
“Actually, I was hoping you might have become sincere like me...”
Vania, who had been speaking in a wet voice, looked up at Ratan again.
“...No, that wasn’t it. The only one who came to care about you... It was me.”
Nike looked back at Ryan. Ryan was looking at Nike as well. They were both thinking the same thing.
Is this really acting?
It seems like there's a bit of sincerity in it.
“Since you don’t listen... I have to hurt you. That’s how I have to make you obey...”
Vania wiped her eyes with her sleeve, as if she were finally going to cry. Seeing this, Ratan flinched.
“I can’t do that. I just can’t...”
At that time.
There was a sound in the distance. "Vania," Ryan called out. She turned around without doing anything in the end.
“Your Highness, are you alright!”
“My Lord! My young lady!”
The Imperial family and Belzer's knights arrived in Shacht as the rear guard.
Nike raised his hand to them as a sign that he was fine, and looked at Ratan.
For some reason, Ratan just stood there blankly, his expression unreadable.
The knights tensed up at the sight of Ratan, who had been released. They exchanged wary glances, ready to draw their swords at any moment.
A long silence fell...
Thud.
Ratan suddenly knelt before Nike.
- O [King of Beasts], a [blood renewal] with [your humble servant]...
***
The reporters began to roughly clean up the land devastated by the landslide.
And the professors who came together...
Surprisingly, they were conducting research while surrounding an 'unbound' Ratan.
Knights were keeping a close watch so they could subdue it at any moment, but despite that, it was an absurd situation.
Ryan watched the scene from a distance, barely managing to hide his astonishment.
'Was the key to taming them a reward rather than a punishment?'
They had been having a minor headache periodically because of his ill-mannered attitude, so this was a huge gain.
However, one thing he's concerned about is.
“...I didn’t want to cause you any more pain. You keep helping us and making sacrifices, so why should I go out of my way to hurt you?”
He was worried that Vania's acting might be half-sincere.
Ryan observed Vania lingering near the professors conducting research, talking to, laughing with, and playing pranks on Ratan.
“I think I need to speak firmly to Vania. We are in a position where we must make Ratan obey us, not be swayed by him.”
Nike seemed to share a similar thought and immediately urged Ryan to do so.
“Are you trying to avoid me because I’ve come to manage the demon beasts? If that’s the reason, there was no need to avoid seeing Ratan for a whole year, was there? Come to think of it, you could have just asked Merchen to do it separately.”
That was true!
Anyway, Ratan's education was a kind of 'torture,' and no matter how bad a guy he was, Vania wouldn't have been doing it with a sound mind.
“It’s a relief that the conciliation worked, but Vania must not let her guard down because of it. I’m worried because she’s too soft-hearted. Ratan might seem obedient right now, but it could just be an act. After all, he is a sentient being.”
That's obvious.
Ryan scratched his head and called out to Vania.
“Vania!”
Vania, who had been playing with Ratan, turned around and came scurrying over, neatly buttoning up Nike's oversized jacket.
"Why?"
"Were you serious earlier?"
"Earlier?"
Vania just blinked her eyes while mulling over Ryan's words.
“Of course... yeah, it’s true that the monster is suffering. It doesn’t feel good to torture it with your supernatural powers, either...”
"Dad."
Vania called.
Just then, Nike was also coming from behind, as if he were about to say something to Vania himself.
"Trouble?"
However, Ryan immediately had his attention stolen by Vania again.
"Did you just say it was trouble?"
This was because she poked Ryan's chest with her index finger and started speaking with an angry expression.
"...Yes?"
“It’s because of that monster. He came to get rid of it because it’s a nuisance to Wassenberg. We almost died just for the fact that we were raising it.”
“...”
“Trouble, my ass. The real trouble is for the horses panting as they carry the Prince and that heavy pig-monster to the battlefield. All that guy does is roar and control the monster on the battlefield, so what kind of hardship is that?”
“...”
“There is no life as comfortable as that guy's. We give him food and water on time, build him a cage, but didn't you see that ungrateful brat stomping over to catch the Prince the moment he thought I was dead?”
Ryan looked at Nike standing behind him.
He was silently listening to Vania's words.
“My hands were trembling with the desire to beat him up, but do you know how humiliating it was for me to have to act like I couldn't use my superpowers? And what just now? Suffering? Haaah...”
Ryan observed Vania lingering near the professors conducting research, talking to, laughing with, and playing pranks on Ratan.
“I think I need to speak firmly to Vania. We are in a position where we must make Ratan obey us, not be swayed by him.”
Nike seemed to share a similar thought and immediately urged Ryan to do so.
“Are you trying to avoid me because I’ve come to manage the demon beasts? If that’s the reason, there was no need to avoid seeing Ratan for a whole year, was there? Come to think of it, you could have just asked Merchen to do it separately.”
That was true!
Anyway, Ratan's education was a kind of 'torture,' and no matter how bad a guy he was, Vania wouldn't have been doing it with a sound mind.
“It’s a relief that the conciliation worked, but Vania must not let her guard down because of it. I’m worried because she’s too soft-hearted. Ratan might seem obedient right now, but it could just be an act. After all, he is a sentient being.”
That's obvious.
Ryan scratched his head and called out to Vania.
“Vania!”
Vania, who had been playing with Ratan, turned around and came scurrying over, neatly buttoning up Nike's oversized jacket.
"Why?"
"Were you serious earlier?"
"Earlier?"
“Remember when you acted for Ratan? You said you didn’t like being taught, didn’t you?”
“Of course... yeah, it’s true that the monster is suffering. It doesn’t feel good to torture it with your supernatural powers, either...”
"Dad."
Vania called.
Just then, Nike was also coming from behind, as if he were about to say something to Vania himself.
"Trouble?"
However, Ryan immediately had his attention stolen by Vania again.
"Did you just say it was trouble?"
This was because she poked Ryan's chest with her index finger and started speaking with an angry expression.
“Do you know who almost got Dad killed today?”
“It’s because of that monster. He came to get rid of it because it’s a nuisance to Wassenberg. We almost died just for the fact that we were raising it.”
“...”
“Trouble, my ass. The real trouble is for the horses panting as they carry the Prince and that heavy pig-monster to the battlefield. All that guy does is roar and control the monster on the battlefield, so what kind of hardship is that?”
“...”
“There is no life as comfortable as that guy's. We give him food and water on time, build him a cage, but didn't you see that ungrateful brat stomping over to catch the Prince the moment he thought I was dead?”
Ryan looked at Nike standing behind him.
He was silently listening to Vania's words.
“My hands were trembling with the desire to beat him up, but do you know how humiliating it was for me to have to act like I couldn't use my superpowers? And what just now? Suffering? Haaah...”
Vania patted Ryan on the shoulder and gave him advice.
“Get a grip, okay? Beasts aren't human. We need to establish a clear hierarchy. Even if that guy pretends to listen now, tomorrow he'll act like nothing happened and throw a fit!”
It seemed like there was no need to worry about Vania.
But now...
“...Vania must not let her guard down. I’m worried because she’s too soft-hearted.”
The problem is that Nike found out his girlfriend isn't soft-hearted!
“Vania, I understand...”
Ryan tried to stop her belatedly, but.
"Just wait until my body gets better."
"Stop!"
“I’m going to tie that bastard upside down and throw him in the purification fountain for 24 hours straight, pulling him out and making him spit blood out!”
Vania shook her jaw back and forth, vowing revenge.
“I will avenge today’s humiliation!”
“Ah, stop it!”
"Stop it!"
Ryan gestured behind him with his chin. Vania turned around. Nike was standing there.
“...”
Vania checked and immediately turned back to look at Ryan. He had his eyes tightly closed, as if he realized he was in trouble.
'What to do.'
Ryan felt sorry for Vania, who failed time and time again at pretending to be innocent to her boyfriend.
But...
'It probably won't matter.'
Nike was looking down at the back of Vania's head with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
Ryan is convinced.
That it would be okay even if Vania pooped right in front of his eyes.
The crazier one in the relationship is, no matter how you look at it, the boyfriend.
"Your Highness."
Vania, who had been frustrated, soon regained her composure, turned around, and spoke brazenly.
While showing Nike the fourth finger of her left hand, on which the engagement ring is worn.
"You can't take it back."
"I have no intention of backing out."
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