Chapter 109

Tuesday, the Last Week of May.

I spent the entire morning scouring every sunlit spot on the Academy grounds.

I was searching for Monastrell.

Monastrell is, in truth, a dragon and dragons, like reptiles, possess certain cold-blooded traits.

Being ectothermic, reptiles cannot regulate their body temperature internally and instead bask in sunlight to warm themselves.

Of course, in her current human form, Monastrell didn’t need sunlight to regulate her body heat.

Still, I was certain the habit and fondness for sunbathing remained deeply ingrained in her psyche.

After all, one reason Monastrell earned the nickname “Crazy Bitch” in Candela of Judgment was her odd tendency to sunbathe completely nude anywhere on campus.

The first place I checked was the Academy library’s rooftop.

Technically, it was off-limits, but with Monastrell’s exceptional physical abilities, there likely wasn’t a single place on campus she couldn’t reach.

The rooftop’s wide-open view and serene atmosphere made it an undeniably tempting spot for a nap in the sun.

But she wasn’t there.

Next, I searched the small artificial lake located to the north of the Academy.

I walked along the lakeshore, where the sun glittered warmly on the calm surface. Since classes were in session, the area was nearly deserted, making it an ideal sunbathing candidate.

But instead of Monastrell, I stumbled upon a pair of students skipping class for a secret date.

I would later learn that this spot was a well-known rendezvous point among students.

Startled by my sudden appearance, the couple quickly ran off, and I found myself oddly apologetic as I turned toward the next location.

After checking a few more places, noon finally arrived.

They say the darkest place is right under the lamp.

I ended up finding Monastrell in the central courtyard of the First Magic Department.

In other words, that crazy dragon had the audacity to lie there, bare-chested, right in the middle of the garden surrounded by classrooms where students were actively attending lectures.

“Monastrell.”

“Don’t block the sun. Get lost.”

As I mentioned, it was noon.

There wasn’t even a shadow to speak of that could be blocking her sunlight….so really, that was just her way of kicking me out.

“If you really need warmth that badly, I could roast you with my magic until you turn into charcoal. How about that?”

Annoyed, Monastrell sat up.

As she shook her head roughly, her long black, chain-like curls fell forward, covering her body.

She growled like a lion.

“Just lying in the sun, and someone shows up to dig my grave? You got a death wish?”

I hadn’t come for a petty verbal spar to see whose pride would crack first.

I hadn’t forgotten why I came looking for Monastrell.

There was a question I wanted answered.

“Tell me…what are you, really?”

“Someone who fucking hates you.”

“……”

I had braced myself for some rough language, but this was still a new level of hostile.

My head throbbed, and I pressed my temples with my fingers.

Seeing this, Monastrell bared her fangs in a fierce grin.

“What’s with that shocked face? Don’t tell me… you actually thought I liked you or something?”

I clenched my teeth, determined not to get swept up in her pace.

“I heard it was you who rescued me and brought me home after I collapsed in the Caraphine explosion.”

“Hah, that little brat snitched on me, huh? I told her I’d rip her tongue out if she blabbed.”

“An empty threat, coming from the likes of you.”

“Well, true. The Winter Winslet I know would’ve gotten your maid to talk. Whether through torture or truth serum. Honestly, I didn’t expect the secret to stay hidden for long.”

It was a frustrating misunderstanding, but for Dahlia’s sake, I decided not to correct her.

Monastrell spoke again.

“So what now? You here to say thanks or something?”

“As if.”

Truthfully, I was grateful. But thanks to Winter Winslet’s “personality”, those words weren’t something I could say aloud.

“There were parts of your actions I found… suspicious.”

“I think so too. I should’ve just let you die right there and turned you into a bloody pulp.”

“…That day, I was in disguise. How did you recognize me? How did you know it was me lying there, and how did you manage to carry me back to my home? How did you get to the explosion site before anyone else? And how did you do it all without being seen?”

“I just happened to be in the area by coinciden—”

“Spare me the nonsense about being in the area by chance! You were watching me. From the moment I left the Academy…no, perhaps even while I was still there. I just didn’t notice it until now.”

“Do you have schizophrenia or something? Thinking the whole world is out to watch you.”

“……”

I swallowed the anger rising in my throat and continued pressing Monastrell.

“I’ve suspected for a while now. You kept showing up everywhere I went.”

“Hah. So you’re accusing me of tailing you just because we ran into each other twice? I told you before….that’s just your inflated ego talking.”

“Only once.”

“What?”

“We’ve only met once. At Keith D’Alembert’s exhibition. That’s the only time I saw you face-to-face. The second time you’re referring to…”

Crack.

I conjured a mask of ice with my magic. The very same one I wore whenever I disguised myself as Nice Goodman.

“…was when I was wearing this mask, concealing my identity, in front of the orphanage in High Chapel. But you just admitted, with your own mouth, that we met twice. You still think you can lie to me and get away with it?”

“Shit.”

Monastrell spat on the ground, cursing under her breath.

“Well damn, you really are sharp as hell, aren’t you? You got me.”

“What are you hiding from me? Speak.”

“Hide? Me? What would I possibly hide?”

Monastrel let out a snort of laughter.

It was a mocking laugh.

“You know, I’m not really trying to hide anything. Wanna know why? Because even if I don’t tell you a damn thing, you still can’t do anything about it. Unless I speak, you’ve got nothing. What, you planning to get on your knees and beg?”

“No, personally… I think I’d enjoy it more if the roles were reversed.”

“What?”

“I’ll make you kneel, slam your face into the ground, and keep you there until I get the answer I want.”

Monastrel’s face twisted in sheer disgust.

***

Dragons are considered the primordial beings of magic—its original source.

To mages, dragons are practically akin to spiritual parents of their kind.

But humans, by nature, develop inferiority complexes when confronted with those superior to them and the mages’ envy of dragons eventually gave birth to… rather twisted ambitions.

At some point in the past….during the so-called Golden Age of Magic, Eusebonaf Kinchillianu Pilach, the 17th Head Librarian of the Third Great Library, Karaf’s highest magical institution, shared the following thought with his fellow mages:

If we, the greatest human mages, pool our strength, surely we can bring a single dragon to its knees, can we not?

Many agreed with this ideology.

Exactly one year later, the 18th Head Librarian was sworn in at the Great Library of Karaf.

At the same time, many mages of powerful factions were subsequently inducted into the Hall of Honor. Proof that a massive generational shift had swept through the world of magic.

In other words, every last mage who joined Eusebonaf in his attempt to challenge the dragons… ended up dead.

The few survivors of the dragon subjugation force later insisted that the only reason the operation failed was because Karaf’s most brilliant mage, Geronimo, hadn’t joined the expedition.

But the truth is, Geronimo was simply too intelligent to even consider fighting a dragon.

To mages, dragons were and historically have always been on an entirely different level.

Which is why, when I boldly declared that I’d force Monastrell to submit through sheer strength, her reaction made perfect sense once you knew what she truly was.

“You arrogant little bastard…!*”

It probably wasn’t even personal.

To a dragon like her, the idea of a mere human mage challenging her was just… laughably primitive.

“You’re going to force me to my knees? That has to be one of the top five funniest jokes I’ve ever heard in my life. Fine, come at me. I was getting bored anyway.”

“You’ve chosen a difficult path. You should’ve just answered the question.”

“Unless your precious fiancée is by your side, how does a mere mage expect to fight me one-on-one? Do you actually think you can take me on?”

Monastrell let out a low growl, her lips curling downward. I gathered my magical power throughout my entire body.

This would be our second clash.

The first happened on the day I first reported to the academy after becoming possessed.

That time, the match ended with Monastrell’s victory by decision.

My dragonslaying magic and her brute strength were evenly matched, but honestly, if Josephine hadn’t shown up midway, there’s a good chance she would’ve snapped my neck first.

But this time, things were different.

The reason? Pure instinct.

After surviving the Caraphine explosion, I realized my ability to sense and control magic had improved to a staggering degree.

I don’t know why.

Maybe I awakened after a near-death experience.

Whatever the case, in my current condition, I had a strong feeling I wouldn’t lose to Monastrell.

Fwoooosh.

Just lightly priming my magic circuits was enough to feel the mana within my field begin to swirl in response.

Seeing this, Monastrell rolled her eyes in exasperation.

“Ha, this is exactly what’s wrong with the Winslet family. They think their magic is all about their own talent. Sometimes, you’ve got to stomp them down a bit and remind them of their place.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I might not hold back so well this time. You might die if I go too far. So grit your teeth.”

[Warning]

[A death flag has been raised.]