Chapter . 43
"...So you had to witness your Mother's final moments... I am sorry......."
To him, what meaning would it have even if Father truly cherished Ilaves?
"...You think I only saw the end, right? Since I didn't see the entire event, you think it still doesn't serve as evidence?"
Michelon looked at me with suspicion.
"...Is it true that you only saw your Mother dying? Did you perhaps hear what command Father gave?"
"......."
I pointed to the shattered characters where my name had stopped, unable to proceed further.
"Was this command... Biological Transformation Magic?"
"I saw the result of that magic with my own eyes."
"Then you should do it even less—"
"You think I'm crazy, don't you?"
Redness spread through Michelon's golden eyes.
"But if things stay like this, I have to live in hiding without moving an inch until I grow up."
That was true. But he couldn't stay in the egg either. He had already been trapped in the barrier for a long time without his mother dragon's protection. It was better than being trapped longer like before the regression and then forcibly growing rapidly as soon as he came out, but living in hiding with me while waiting for adulthood was also difficult.
"Besides, unlike other times, not only the heirs to the throne but the Emperor himself is targeting me. But I will absolutely never contract with the one who caused my Mother's death."
"......."
"If I can transform into a human in the meantime, I could kill the Emperor with my own hands. Like all other assassins."
It wasn't the time to point out to him, who vowed to avenge his Mother, that he could die for the exact same reason as his Mother before he even tried. He chose this even after seeing the terrifying result of that magic. At least for now, I had to listen to his feelings first.
"There's no need to wait until the dragon's growth is complete. Instead of being chased by the one I will kill, I will be able to chase him. He won't even dream that I have transformed into a human."
Michelon's eyes burned.
"Don't you want to see what face he makes the moment he realizes that you and I succeeded in what he failed at, even at the cost of losing a Guardian Dragon? Not only is it darkest under the candlestick, but he will have fallen into his own trap!"
"......."
"It's not bad for you either, Leontes. Your father, having lost a dragon, is targeting the dragon that should be yours. Someday you have to confront him."
Then he added.
"You said you would become the Emperor. Then accept your unavoidable destiny."
When I closed my eyes again, Michelon's gaze felt sharp enough to pierce even my lowered eyelids.
"Michelon."
Calling his name with my eyes closed, that brilliant dragon who had fulfilled my life's command in exchange for his barely gained freedom appeared vividly before my eyes.
"Leontes."
At that call, I opened my eyes again.
"We will consider Biological Transformation Magic, as you wish."
"Yes, Leontes!"
Michelon shouted passionately.
"But it is not for your revenge."
"What are you doing? If you intend to tell me not to kill your father instead of casting that magic on me, forget it!"
The furious Michelon spat out his words.
"I also agree with your accusation that my father is responsible for your Mother's death. Revealing the truth of your Mother's death is not just your task, but my task as the one who will succeed Father as Emperor. For that task, it is certainly advantageous for you to transform into a human. As you said, instead of living in hiding, you will become freer."
I hoped Michelon would enjoy even a little bit of freedom by becoming human.
However, Michelon turned away even though he understood my words.
"...If we reveal the truth like that, and it turns out your father did kill my Mother?"
"Then he dies. However, if he is responsible but not to the extent of death, he will receive the next level of punishment. Following the laws of Armatia, the Emperor's status will not be considered."
"My Mother couldn't refuse his command, so what more truth is needed!"
"If he intended to kill your Mother deliberately, he will also be deliberately killed. But if not, he will not be deliberately killed either."
"Even if it wasn't deliberate, do you think he didn't know how dangerous that command was? Yet it is clear he forced Mother to satisfy his greed! How can you talk about passing judgment when you don't even know what it means to obey a command while your brand is being stabbed with a sword!"
Faced with Michelon's anger, I recalled my own long-standing question.
What Michelon must have thought of me, commanding him while stabbing his brand with a sword.
I had desperately wanted to know since that time, which now feels like a distant past.
However, the answer was actually too obvious.
In the end, I claimed to want to know, but I closed my eyes to the truth.
I answered.
"If it was a command, it was deliberate."
Michelon inhaled sharply for a moment, then asked again with sharp eyes.
"...Then... if... it wasn't deliberate, what is the next punishment?"
"As the Emperor of Armatia, the sin of causing the death of Armatia's Guardian Dragon for matters unrelated to the protection of Armatia is heavy. He will be confined for life until he dies, and his existence will become a secret, just like the death of the Guardian Dragon he hid."
"...Then he will be erased from all records? Whether it was a command he gave himself, or a command the Late Emperor gave him, or any other book that mentions him, he will disappear forever from all records, so that no one speaks of him again, and furthermore, the fact that he existed will be forgotten forever!"
In front of Michelon's burning eyes, I slowly nodded.
"Not bad but... why make such a promise at the risk of danger? Even without such a promise, I would contract with you as long as you use that magic. Honestly, aren't you resentful? That you suffer losses because of your father's sin?"
His golden eyes examined me thoroughly.
"Father's sin was committed within Armatia, using the laws of Armatia. If I inherit the country and laws as Father's successor, it is naturally my responsibility."
"Are you serious? You can just use that magic and leave me alone, not caring whether I kill the Emperor by myself or not. That would be better for a soft guy like you, wouldn't it?"
Michelon endlessly doubted me.
"You might die."
"So? I'm prepared for that."
"If you are prepared for death, I hope you die trying to realize justice, not because you failed in revenge. I will become the Monarch of Armatia, and you will become the Dragon of Armatia. Therefore, you will enact justice, not revenge."
Silence flowed. When my heart was beating endlessly, Michelon wailed.
"...Where is justice in this rotten country!"
"If there isn't any, we start it."
That was all I could say to him.
Michelon looked at me, then collapsed on the spot and cried. Dragon tears dripped onto the Throne Magic Circle where we stood, spreading like waves of gold.
I couldn't move an inch. I had long been sweating cold sweat like rain. My upper clothes were soaked, and chills ran up my spine.
I revealed my intention to become a monarch, and with that mindset, I delivered my first judgment. Unlike the judgments of the scarecrow tyrant who created all sorts of wrongful victims before the regression, the first true judgment.
Was I right?
...A foolish thought. Although not a monarch, could I have done well with my first judgment made with a monarch's responsibility? Even doing it a hundred times wouldn't be enough.
However, in front of the tears shed by the first person to appeal their grievance to me, this wasn't the time to collapse while sweating cold sweat.
My vision was dizzy, but I bit my lip and slowly knelt. Steadying my trembling body, I carefully reached out to the sobbing dragon. Only when I was sure he felt my presence but didn't avoid it did I finally embrace him.
Michelon cried in my arms for a long time. I listened silently to the sound of his weeping.
I hope a day comes when we can cry together someday...
***
After soothing Michelon's pain, it was my turn to ensure he wouldn't suffer greater pain.
"How heartbroken would your Mother be if you died from the same cause as her?"
"Mother is dead. If she had wished for how I should live, she shouldn't have died."
...It wasn't easy...
"You, surely you don't want to die like your Mother, do you?"
"Don't talk crazy. Do you think I'm that weak?"
Michelon got angry abruptly.
"I did, you know."
"......."
"When Mother died, I often thought I wanted to die with her. It was the same when my nanny died. I understand if you felt that way too."
"...If you thought that way, why did you live?"
"My nanny said so. That if you live, good days will come. If you meet bad people, you will also meet good people."
"You believed that?"
"You don't know unless you live. If you die, you won't know at all."
"So, did good days come after living?"
"Yeah."
The days I fought together with my dragon.
The day I killed the tyrant.
"...Just because it was true for you doesn't guarantee it will be for me. And there's no reason my Mother would think the same as your nanny."
"Right, that's why you have to live your own life. I can't live it for you."
Michelon glared for a while before abruptly saying.
"I have no intention of dying. I also know how dangerous that method is."
"Then why do you insist on that method?"
"Why don't you try guessing?"
A challenging gaze. But before I could try to guess, he shot back quickly.
"If I become human with that, I don't need to rely on you. If I stay hidden with your help like this, I'll end up contracting with you even if I hate it, but if I become human, I can run away."
"You wish to be equal to me. I wish for that too."
And I have no confidence in raising you either.
"......."
Michelon had a dubious face but didn't refute.
"But the risk is great."
Michelon breathed fire with his eyes.
"You would find it wasteful to lose a dragon you finally obtained. But I'd rather die than risk contracting with my Mother's enemy."
This meant, in the end, Michelon doubted me. Even if he didn't deny my sincerity towards him, whether I could safely protect him from my brothers, and of course the Emperor, until he grew up was another matter.
'Honestly, I'm not confident either.'
In that respect, this desperate strategy was certainly a breakthrough. Even Father wouldn't think Ilaves's son hid himself in the way Ilaves died. Beyond being prepared for death, it was a path to catch the enemy off guard.
When my answer was delayed for a moment due to thinking, Michelon spoke hurriedly.
"Of course I will contract with you. I won't run away either. As long as you don't break your promise."
"My condition is not the contract."
"Then what is it?"
His eyes widened in panic, which was cute. I wish his actions were cute too.
"I will lead this magic thoroughly. You must follow my words unconditionally. If I say we stop, we end it immediately. No objections."
"...You, surely you aren't planning to just pretend to do the magic and cut it off midway?"
"If I judge it to be dangerous, I stop immediately."
"How do I know if you'll just pretend and quit before even trying properly!"
"If you cannot trust me, I shouldn't perform any magic on you."
Michelon glared. I stared back. This wasn't the time to soothe and coddle him.
"...Fine. But you better not deceive me."
"You shouldn't lie to a child."
"I'm not a child! What are you, an adult?"
"My soul is sufficiently mature."
"Just a precocious brat!"
Just because we decided didn't mean we could perform such magic right away.
First, we returned, and I locked myself in the bedroom, scraping together all my knowledge for research. I set up various hypotheses and conducted small experiments, but discarded them all, leaving only one.
"What is it?"
Michelon asked.
"Actually, it's an application of what I originally intended to do."