Chapter 55: A Renegade
idVcTNAfter the meeting ended, Ruri slipped away without Zed or Arwen noticing and headed somewhere.MBXWfn
EkcdShe already knew what the Grand Council hall was like.OunQAP
2JOv3That was why she knew where the humans gathered and also where the Dragon Spawn gathered.tUXMNKr
PRtqPUnlike humans, the Dragon Spawn stayed away from social life.Xxs3e6d
ZzhmThey were not weak enough to flatter anyone and form factions, and besides, it was a matter of pride as dragons.2aa1L6s
3TXcIgARuri headed to the second floor.m25
i744rKVAs she climbed the spiral staircase, she saw twelve doors around the center.zWL
2OrbThe twelve dragons of the Serdes continent.RF7uaV
USFF2dXBoth evil dragons and guardians were all there.IFOCT6
SYnOf course, Godwin also had his place.1WR
SdMy1Ruri raised her gaze toward the great door with the emblem of Silverwind.mapLmD
J4e“……”X8aa
hol4Those sharp horns and that slender body.mzqkQU
WUyqPhJA figure whose ferocity no one could deny.nlI4wu
WNb5Even though more than a hundred years had passed since he left this world, his image still remained.s0X
D7S1bAnd that presence weakened Ruri’s heart.03c
UfG91oThe loyal servant of Valdrova’s castle.D65ezu
CITYWO6The steadfast maid who controlled the wind and spoke her mind was no longer there.0TLs
zEdqThe young woman, clutching her chest with both hands, could only open the door with difficulty.7tV
vdHFLWnCreeeak—8KbB0
zBNrCThe sound of the hinges stretched out.IwgMs4
9UdnM3tWhat appeared was a long corridor.W096
niDAnd at the front, soldiers guarding it.hzBkvnY
3KtO0ESilverwind warriors.1xfNp
GN7The conversations they were having stopped.GVoNhX
XOUxXpSTheir gazes turned toward Ruri.JTZ7
riQThe atmosphere froze instantly.vEgRcVe
Pe4bkN“And who are you, brat?”ckm
NBlOne of them, without much thought, approached with an arrogant attitude.klM6Q
PLRSzfZ“You smell like someone with Silverwind’s blood, but I’ve never seen you. Where did this spy come from?”Nyvrm
kdmNW9“……”8PWV9e
0GhvV“If I’m talking to you, answer. Or do you want me to play rough with you, huh?”OVM
KLd8“Enough.”wz3M
MmBuViYThe one who broke the tension was a man seated with a staff.hHca3V5
i05TmobHe was the leader of the group.n737Tow
uh2“Don’t worry, captain! Do you think I’d cause trouble by killing someone inside Blancaros’s domain?”rIGntp1
8dN“Be grateful we’re in Blancaros’s domain. Outside, not even your bones would remain.”KYb
A97“What are you saying? Do you think I’m so useless I can’t even handle a girl?”nN3zKCl
LKW“You could handle a girl.”ghrx6
8ZDyHis eyes settled on the maid.YhcLa
42d4oW“But I don’t think you could handle a mobile brigade commander.”uiDqDi
lNoe“A mobile brigade commander…?”SBEs1z7
gBuMkThe confident man’s face filled with fear.613Xd
XLTq8“Could it be… the… Cutting Wind Ruri…?”G4jU9M
gkf3He turned his head, in disbelief.DnM7c
UoLPHe had never seen her face, but her reputation was known.FA2
V0tiEvpAny Silverwind Dragon Spawn would have felt fear upon hearing that name.Emf8
ij2NThe man stepped back stiffly.w3NUq
NXP5The hand he had extended trembled as he withdrew it.Pf9A
DIskMljRuri walked through the space he had left open and approached the man with the staff on his shoulder.F1lUMR
U6Y4They looked into each other’s eyes.xYR
kZJ94oWThey had known each other for a long time.dIHitDm
tGdP“It’s been a while, Percival.”j0Zlcq
7XwlZc6“It’s been a while, commander of the First Mobile Brigade. Well, you’ve retired… should I say former commander? No, not that either.”kGF
DDiCDThe cordiality in Percival’s voice had dried up.TnOH
5TtC“The only word that suits you now is traitor.”0EA
IDxERTTraitor.s9F
vBkTThat word pierced Ruri’s chest.f5AAVR
BnO9zBut she had already accepted it.RifXV
jE0ZuQA“What did you come for?”XRD
7wDYvV“I came to see Lord Goz…”JY9p
xdggE“Then you came in vain. Go back.”pt8clgW
CYlido“I want to talk.”zoes
ufryClang!7sCf
tLTtThe black staff struck the ground.9OIAO
fdq“It seems that in these two hundred years you’ve forgotten many things, Ruri Silverwind. Since when do the proud children of Silverwind talk instead of fight?”xZY
fR7ZDhg“……”SsQkj4N
G1MFThe Silverwind were warriors by nature.UUhZ
ytPt56They were the ones who hunted demons and frost giants beyond the wall of ice.wlrEgS
5Urnj6More than words, they understood the language of the body.KhJBQ
VoR4K“I understand.”icE6mo
GULdsQ4Ruri knew it better than anyone, so she lowered her head and took a step back.zSt1
Wf0She turned and began to walk away.h0za
JfSZP“Wait.”9YA0B
cxtgk82Percival stopped her.z31Bvjr
qKsThe foot she had lifted remained suspended.liMn
y4kjBA“Go in.”NRQuaf
RTCBNn“…?”PznYU5
aGiPkla“The leader has permitted it.”U30cy
2a8MRShe could not believe it, but soon understood it was true.JRFzQ
WNUEThe door that seemed never meant to open for her began to open.DS5W
SV3Ruri stepped forward again.iFiUT
y1zt4GAn even stronger pressure crushed her as she crossed the threshold.xTye
8GxThe hostile gazes felt like spears piercing through her.d45Txfu
njXGAWith that weight on her shoulders, she moved forward.x4Bn3Ha
WfRyOwIt was a place similar to a royal audience hall.5Wia
Yxp9vA single throne in front of the entrance.oTJ
d8qydAnd seated there, a huge man, like a bear.f5D
dYSHe was not like the soldiers at the entrance.AmgQ
NR9A luxurious fur coat, golden rings.kZ5L
5wnrVmAnd on the exposed skin, magical tattoos engraved through rituals covered his entire body.tlT4J
0ISEverything was exactly as she remembered of Goz Silverwind.PR8j
qgsUZ1‘Nothing has changed.’mEH
x8V7QbvAt that moment, Ruri felt a completely different pressure from back then.qkh
1wEB4WEven among Dragon Spawn there were hierarchies, but they were not absolute.GiFQ
cvIHowever, what she now felt was standing before an absolute authority.DwB
VS8The instinct sleeping within her gave her the answer.O8vFY
VUua‘The… essence of Lord Silverwind?’6UNGo
o5oAfter Silverwind’s death, Goz, the leader of the Silver Dragon Spawn, had absorbed the dragon’s essence.iYVB
uEh0‘But it’s unstable.’t0H42n
hO5P5P8He had absorbed it, but had not fully assimilated it.WUpsn
MplVqUHe had not managed to fully integrate Silverwind’s power into his body.KhJ5p
8JbKZThat was why he could barely remain standing on his two legs.bd2KyR
D9E“Valdrova.”9LNd
HTbbLLHe opened his mouth.RxM52N
ldEQkOThere was no greeting.FDs
1BK0“Is Valdrova well?”3Rwn6J
LKUtHe swirled the whisky in his glass.CmA6
CTphQkmRuri nodded.4a2x3FG
57Ohl7“Yes. She is driving out the monsters of the Far East and fighting day and night to protect the continent.”9Scfi
UiD“I see. It must be thanks to you taking good care of her.”zxm
1KKXBg“……Yes.”wIw8E
8kiGfcv“Are you proud?”e5CX
Bfm“……”JYI
CdNRuri could not answer easily.sUbH
milaGGoz’s cold gaze pierced her.N0tNGsG
fX4Xa“Have I asked a difficult question?”A0JLeWK
EeX“No.”3YLB
IWlj9R“Then why don’t you answer?”GSX9UOG
OUOLike a rope that finally snaps under an unrelenting storm, she answered.ZJd
wVsRy“……It is something I feel proud of.”0CA
Ze05nR“I see.”EBkm6
pwHjpcCrash!jYXUm
ul3GOpThe glass shattered in his hand.hACB6
PQgy10gThe atmosphere froze completely.luG74
4FA3Ruri’s body also tensed under that gaze.b9Ns
u9QGG“Then tell me, with what face has a traitor who has served that woman so well come here?”OKIy
jTozLN0Everything around her was hostile.BJKbe
IZhiUVEven so, Ruri spoke.5EFvgG
wneShe had come for this.gBZrM
nx8lZYT“Do you still hate Lady Valdrova?”mmsFgaF
bggEmGoz’s gaze turned fierce.8WHX
NPfc8QB“I understand that you call her that. But in front of me, do not refer to that woman as lady again. You are a Spawn who inherited Silverwind’s blood. Your only lord is Silverwind.”37vxxh
gKF1rf“I am a Silver Dragon Spawn, yes—but now my lady is her.”FbGhytz
vPtEP“Before that woman is your master, your lord is Silverwind. Who was Silverwind?”Pf5BTZu
GkHKJ“The great lord of wind and steel.”9hs
M5Y“That’s right. He was the owner of a speed no one could surpass. He never hesitated.”ER7kyk
3GPAZRThe veins in Goz’s neck stood out.hMPwXWr
FjBEg“And yet…”6Wv7I
aQQSQRuri felt it in that restrained voice.RXdIHxC
Yku“And yet!”5yWAoO
9PeQHqHe was still sharpening the blade of his revenge.NGRe
jZwT“She tore out his throat! That woman! She sank her fangs into his neck and ripped apart his artery! I saw that slaughter with these eyes! I felt it with this chest!”YOY
oo9z5“……”PLcy
1qCCv“You ask me if I hate her? The hatred I feel for her still burns within me.”QCPr
KRlRuri shut her eyes tightly.3SnVJ
GJdEvery time he shouted, the emotions overflowed and she could not contain them.Svy
ZFiGoz snorted upon seeing her suffering.v0u6i
6juz6“In this chest still lives the death of that lord… but it seems that in you it does not.”KQUG01p
TZOOp“I saw it too. I felt it too. And that pain… I still feel it clearly even now.”IzDsV6V
v8N5eXRuri had also participated in the war against the demons.Up2
mWmRWShe had also witnessed Silverwind’s death.WriQg7g
kibAs a Spawn, she felt the death of her lord and mourned him.JGf
AnxDZeS“I also came to blame my lady.”KBg1GL
ZHj35KLIt was inevitable.Kq5xPg
vtTlpCQFor Ruri, Silverwind was like a father.3g1LOp
WA94XmIt was natural to hate the one who led him to his death.J6qz2f
Qvz“But… I cannot hate her.”yESd
3Jt“No. That is not so.”CHBkmp4
ArdGoz denied it.Ky9BN
Lan“If you had fully felt what we feel, you would have abandoned that side.”st0
1e7IPI7“……”vFGy7ak
yYiP0jW“You were only a little distant, and even so you were tainted by her. You forgot your origin.”VzCKN
GvDFGoz took another glass and poured himself more whisky.v5XWt
TH2qx“Valdrova is still our enemy. As long as she exists on this continent, Serdes, our hatred will not end. This is the will of all Silverwind.”vxt
jUXC“I see…”PsFEg4
m5qLVrIt was expected.WGoqe
MMysShe already knew it was an illusion.SrQvBex
kXw“But… I will give you an opportunity.”9CtLHS1
V9z9Opportunity.svMcVL
Fxp9IHURuri raised her head.htM6
Y6S“What do you mean?”yjCcM1c
iHWxyIGFor an instant, she had hope.xA6
TbfgnwwPerhaps she could soften that hatred toward Valdrova.RZa13F
rrw3zvgGoz extended his hand toward her.3RpEad
NuKFBA“Ruri Silverwind. Return to the bosom of the clan.”rnB9
mc2The hope shattered.seTQ3
RmB“Does returning mean abandoning Lady Valdrova?”B5XLZt
XU5T3OT“Now that there is a regent, you no longer have a reason to serve that woman.”xfkpk
03Gr2U“……”U4BFKah
7Uw“You have already fulfilled everything Silverwind entrusted to you. So return to the clan and become a warrior. Ruri, the Cutting Wind. Return to your post as mobile brigade commander and take charge of crushing the things that come from the north. If you do that, I will erase the title of traitor that you carry.”mimuV7l
fu3That name that pierced her chest.tqKxb
Lh17But that pain was nothing compared to the responsibility she carried.W8bHOb
vLZtf“I can’t…”KHETquz
ieYIgEThe natural refusal was about to leave her lips.2mCDmC
SOzKbBfAt that instant, Ruri’s body swayed violently.Ckw
WRyAPn“There is no refusal, Ruri Silverwind.”eAm9
Sgp9The presence emanating from Goz crushed her directly.1e9vm
1lxw“In my blood now resides the authority of Lord Silverwind. You know well what it means, as a Dragon Spawn, to oppose that authority, don’t you?”9VqR
ar3VDeath.4CRmsUZ
XBhBYJtFor a Dragon Spawn who disobeys authority, there is only death.55uW3X
Z3gl“It will bring you nothing good to resist that authority. So…”OOoTxh9
hsQGoz’s index finger pointed to the ground.Ims1
lW55RR“Kneel before me and submit.”FwD
VA7wN3yGoz’s words were not an empty threat.kmlqDI
frbimZoRuri, who had not even blinked, began to sweat coldly.eiISSp8
bFR9NShe felt as if someone were squeezing her throat and crushing her heart.RGnJSZ
LzdLIf she rejected his words, the pain would be like tearing out her own heart.Xy69gV
gjY7VEven having absorbed only a minimal part of Silverwind’s essence, that was his power.sF2d
7iI21‘I cannot shrink.’Qu8hVR
16FRuri resisted with all her strength.jKX2e8
uzNKShe gripped her apron with both hands and put strength into her trembling legs.dwEj
jazThat was the best she could do.9UUQc
wTpaOAnd even so, that was all.76H
R2oTxKj“You resist well.”jFnmg
3xMIt was sincere admiration.hencQ
nSFAny other Spawn would have already knelt before that power.ga44
GrYwMVQ“Yes. That is why Lord Silverwind valued you.”yPi7DX9
7YrzQf6But that attitude did not please Goz.a8K0
B2tQMHe did not want to subdue her only with authority.CAiSBT
aVvThat was far from the perfect submission he sought.kxOB4
PXQTUWF“If it is so hard for you to leave, how about I make it easier for you to decide?”tdQL
BVjMQTkGoz tilted his head.JzsQI
e7kL“The regent knows your identity, right? But does he also know why you came to that place?”el5S
iPc9“……!”NHix
4qWhThe calm on Ruri’s face shattered.S0tFE
ZwgS7Her sweaty hands soaked her apron.Hk9iCr
IW7“Do you think that man will protect you even after knowing it?”T2tcswZ
XBkUVPerda Valdrova.djz
ORgyHe loves Valdrova.etNc3i
Ndy5And he has no mercy for those who represent a threat to her.cfFlE
OSPFO1n‘If Lord Perda finds out about that…’j1gn
O6LWhat would Perda do?Zy3lI
YF3UThe will with which she resisted began to collapse under doubt.uUcRmaQ
9FLxbt‘I…’079
LxQhaFear took over.YI6
Lg1IRKcIt pressed on her breathing to the point that she could not even scream.1hhZ
dPAbVg‘What should I do…?’y2SOLAZ
gBqFShe was sinking completely into a thick swamp.hCmqL
LY0OShe screamed silently.aAXQV1
XfBtumcPlease.0Atm
CgasPlease, someone help me.nMUsY4
dsI“Sorry for barging in like this.”pDmGbCW
TopcN3yThe voice that reached her ears was familiar.siwH
6tY3mu“What do you think you’re doing with my servant?”0jGwW
hdA***LOOrEcx
s5MC96oPerda moved in search of Ruri.01oNBnD
BJIkX6RIt was not difficult to find her.Pkx
Y6uShe had said she would go talk to Silverwind.S1B
XYOsSo she had to be behind that great door with the emblem of Silverwind.z1j5c
Fzcx52xPerda stopped in front of it and thought.kb9
vVN6JUG‘Would this be unnecessary interference?’b6wDM
HLvJi5FA servant of Valdrova.FwT
9e7VkelBut also a Spawn with Silverwind’s blood.DeZMHZ
r0MThey might feel hatred toward Valdrova, but not necessarily toward Ruri.MfiUt2
leReLNTThere was no reason for him to interfere in a family reunion.2Rv
IwtCH8But—KHk
hbVtppTHe tried to convince himself, but it was not easy.NJeHVs
NrnHe remembered Goz Silverwind’s expression at the Grand Council.RdSClo
Rcg40iPAnd at the same time, he remembered Erika’s warning.wvxJ
N8LdtCM— The enemy you must pay attention to is none other. It is Silverwind.uUx5f0
QMvb2RDragons are immortal.Y6qJRa
kYZThe grudges they hold never disappear.TR2qLT
jc60FnxAnd Silverwind was no exception.3CE
vWQQTe‘Was it a mistake?’gVY
bbInShould he have refused, even if Ruri insisted?m1B
EQ16ZEven if Valdrova asked him to?RfiM
ZBtRNlJPerda could not erase that thought.SyY91vr
r0NmP6That was why he reached the Spawn resting hall.4dvp6
Zs7There, Silverwind soldiers were guarding the inner door.GN866Pn
irkfwiiAnd a dense dragon pressure.QEwXLZP
Pe5It was obvious.l4gvZ
TeryIoThis was not unnecessary interference.STX
UC1Perda walked toward the source of that presence.n2qgMCE
a1hwTbf“Are you Valdrova’s regent?”ZPn8gq
R2TEGPercival, the Dragon Spawn with the staff on his shoulder, stood up and asked.xCz
CDb4“Is Ruri here?”qtI
O76PsfN“Answer the question.”vbt
6ciUE“I asked you if Ruri Silverwind is here.”42dK
yv5B7TPercival did not step back and blocked his path.ENJt
8Ixa0y“She is here.”yFW
Dla“Then move aside.”8JpM
PtBq“This is a family matter, regent. It is not something you should interfere in.”uJ0M
SVQSOne should not meddle in family matters.CEspQrs
NhcgLy3Especially in dragon society, it was an inviolable territory.YoXwpJ
6mUBut Perda did not respect that boundary.iD7Mc5z
jgqqdC“If you’re going to stop me, you’ll have to break something.”auvG9
UnmiZzPerda’s blue eyes stared straight at him.xHJvsH
xKtJx“Then Blancaros’s Hand will sanction you. Will you be able to bear the disgrace of Silverwind’s descendants causing trouble?”nsiVh
KT4ku2“……”afFwk
uW46ACo“If you’re confident, try it. I am already prepared to lose.”QsrkB
YXhbdHPercival stepped aside.K2Ip
zyZTWith a signal, he also made his subordinates step back.nEV5
o1ByaHNPerda opened the door.dkxKGSC
TlBwkHe saw Ruri.UViY
nrWpDk7Ruri about to kneel before Goz.RAEz3GP
panpRuri suffering.PjNYm3n
pyWCAt that moment, all his thoughts disappeared.fJIVEt
FRDjHis gaze fixed clearly on a single point.gNj
4SzOn the figure of the wretch pretending to be a king.reY
Xu3Z86“Sorry for barging in like this.”yeHxt1
m4EjzpNPerda spat out the anger he carried within.vPE
dHqha“What do you think you’re doing with my servant?”zDF
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationMc comes on always right time.
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationWhy even she came to meet him when she already knew he will do something to her life she is stupid.