"That's not important."
After answering Olesha's question, Lily, transformed into Catania, slowly turned her neck to look at the back of the head of the Imperial Emperor named Modrek, her movements leisurely as if watching a play.
Lily now had not a shred of mercy for this Emperor. She was certain that even if she grabbed his head and ripped out his spine right now, she wouldn't hesitate for a moment, because he didn't deserve it.
This Emperor's evil deeds had exceeded her imagination. He thought he could gain Blood Scythe's recognition by offering more blood, but was only creating more meaningless slaughter.
But of course, Lily wouldn't feel any guilt about this. Although Azicat now counted as herself, and Blood Scythe was also something she had left behind.
But the beginning of all this was still this Emperor's greed.
She would definitely kill him, and soon, as long as everything was ready.
"Where are the other clan members now?"
Withdrawing her tail from Olesha's hands, Lily didn't notice Olesha's somewhat reluctant gesture—her fingers tightly gripping Catania's tail, looking like she wanted to grab hold of Lily's tail tip.
"Uh! At... most are still on Dragon Island. Some were captured by the Empire to serve as mounts. They... they've all been marked by Blood Scythe."
Olesha put away her hands with a slightly red face, fidgeting before placing them at her sides like standing at attention, her tone hurried.
"Marked. I see. Then I understand."
"What do you plan to do?"
"Very simple. Kill the Emperor, retrieve Blood Scythe."
"Wait! You... won't you do something? If you just retrieve Blood Scythe... the clan members who have already been marked by Blood Scythe... and even other humans, will still be drained dry!"
Suddenly, Catania glanced at Olesha. That still cold, emotionless gaze made Olesha instinctively fear and want to submit.
"Azicat, like me, did not die."
"What?!"
Olesha's legs, which had barely steadied, almost gave out again. Azicat, that demon, the true ancestor of all blood clans, the Demon King of blood.
She didn't die either?!
"She won't stand by and watch. She might even be thinking right now about how to make the Empire pay for their presumptuous actions."
"That demon... will you continue the war with her?"
Olesha mustered all her courage to face Catania's golden pupils, spitting out each word with difficulty.
She didn't dare think, didn't dare imagine that possible future. If that demon really had returned too, that war would inevitably continue. In that case...
It would be even worse than being a dog under this Emperor...
"You're afraid, Olesha."
"I! I..."
Olesha shamefully lowered her head. She wasn't just afraid—she was scared to the point where her legs went weak.
Even though she had never seen Azicat, never truly experienced that war, those mountains of corpses and seas of blood, the chasms and lakes carved out by dragon breath.
Everything showed what a brutal battle it had been.
"The proud dragon clan should not lower their heads for anything. You disappoint me greatly, Olesha."
"I... I... I'm sorry..."
"You shouldn't apologize to me, because now you are the Dragon King, not me. But you are indeed too weak."
"I! I'll still work hard! I! I'm still young! I have a long road ahead! I..."
"No need to say more, because I have no interest in how you turn out."
No... interest...
Olesha's expression became dejected. Although the name of tyrant appeared in every book that recorded Catania's name.
But when truly experiencing it, she still inevitably felt surprised.
That arrogance wasn't something put on for show, but something carved into her bones. None of their clan members recorded in books as evil dragons by humans or other races could compare to her.
Olesha even felt that Catania's gaze had never focused on her—she was looking at this world, not at the tiny ant that was herself, a small dragon.
Powerlessness, immense powerlessness filled Olesha. It seemed that her only hope, this true Dragon King from ancient times, wasn't so willing to help them either.
Olesha's tail, extending from under her dress behind her back, also dropped heavily to the ground in dejection.
But suddenly, a long tail with pure white scales completely opposite to her black scales actually caught hers from below and slowly began to intertwine with her tail.
Olesha's face instantly turned completely red, because this behavior, among the dragon clan, was no different from sword to sword, shield to shield.
If this wasn't flirtatious behavior between two lovers who were mutually attracted, then it could only be extremely inappropriate sexual harassment.
"You think very badly of me, don't you? I can tell."
"This... I just..."
Olesha instinctively wanted to pull her tail away, but Catania's strength was much greater than hers—the more she pulled, the tighter it became.
"A thousand years ago, I had already reached the end of my path. There, only that bloodthirsty demon still pursued me relentlessly."
"Could you... please loosen your tail first..."
Olesha suddenly thought that Your Majesty Catania was, after all, an ancient being from a thousand years ago. Maybe she simply didn't know the meaning of mating? That's why she was so unrestrained?
Right, it must be like that. Then she should... should try to appear calm too...
"Since I've finally awakened, I don't want my side to forever have only that pink-haired fool."
Pink hair? Referring to Azicat?
"However, the only one who can control Blood Scythe is still herself. It seems I must temporarily cease hostilities with her."
"You! You plan to make a truce with that demon?!"
"Heh, you're very surprised."
"How could I not be surprised! That! That's that demon! Your Majesty, you absolutely cannot compromise with her!"
"First, I'm not your majesty. Just call me Catania. Second, my will doesn't need your understanding."
Although Olesha still had things to say, she ultimately held them all back.
"I... I want to ask something..."
"What?"
"Do you... do you know... the meaning of... mating?"
"Heh, what do you think it is?"
"What do I think? It's... it's..."
"Very intimate behavior. That's what you think, right?"
"You! Since you know! Then why!"
"Maybe that's exactly what I mean."
"Ah?!"
Olesha wanted to retreat, but was pulled back because of her tail.
"This Emperor isn't completely tasteless. At least the clothes he prepared for you are very beautiful."
"Beau... beautiful?!"
"I like them very much."
"You like them very much?!"
Like them?! Is it the kind of liking I'm thinking of?!
In an instant, Olesha had already thought of what to name their children. Don't ask how they'd be born—that's not important.
"Didn't anyone ever record that I've lived for over a thousand years and never had a companion?"
"Who would know such things!!!"
"By the way, help me put this thing on the Emperor."
"What is this?"
"A tracker."