Chapter 22: Who is Reugan?

Tearing the teleport scroll, what appeared before us was the front gate of the old castle — the Dragon King’s residence. As

if he knew we were coming, the Dragon King was already waiting in front of the gate, standing still in the blizzard.

“Welcome. Demon King… and so, even the Blood King has come.”

grandpa

so cold..! Last time I came here, I didn’t even feel the cold..! My teeth were chattering, and my body trembled like crazy.

“That’s because back then, your body was fatter.”

“S-shut uuup!”

Arma looked at me like I was pathetic and then wrapped me in her cloak. Embarrassing, yes, but I had to survive…

” please come in.”

“Let’s talk inside.”

The Dragon King’s gaze was especially sharp toward Arma. Maybe he still hadn’t forgiven her for taking the dragonkin to

the East. I quickly followed behind him — dying from the cold wasn’t an option.

Following behind the Dragon King, I could see how poorly the castle had been maintained. Crumbling walls, collapsed

halls — it all painfully contrasted with the grand, laughter-filled castle I remembered from the past.

‘I always feel sorry… to Grandpa.’

Watching the Dragon King walk alone with no attendants made my heart heavy with thoughts.

He brought us to the dining hall, suggesting we enjoy a meal together… but not a single dish had been prepared.

“…Acting sulky doesn’t suit an adult.”

“I’m not sulking. I’m angry.”

“Same thing…”

He sat down and gestured for us to sit. Once we did, a chilly cold seeped through the room, biting at my skin.

I’d eaten here before, invited by him. I remembered laughing with his family, clinking wine glasses… and I still

remembered his furious sayings about the previous Demon King. He had acted as a guardian to me.

‘**. I will always be on your side.’*

Even before I became Demon King, he cherished me like family. But everything began to change when I conscripted the

dragonkin to fight the Eastern Demon Beast Waves.

Especially after his daughter-in-law died 150 years ago — his resentment toward me only grew stronger.

“I… plan to meet your… the Dragon King’s requests as best I can.”

“Hmph…”

“So please, stop attacking the Empire and instead help me retake the East.”

The Dragon King said nothing, only stared into my eyes. But his gaze now was nothing like the one that used to look at me

so warmly. It unsettled me.

Did I make the wrong choice? But without the dragonkin, the East would’ve already fallen, and the Demon Realm split in

half.

‘Back then, I wouldn’t even have considered this kind of thought…’

I had definitely changed. I’d grown younger, softer. Even speaking in a formal tone like this had become hard.

Was this the side effect of being revived after three months… or was it just my weakness showing now that I’d shed the heavy shell of demonic power?

“My only condition is the return of the Eastern dragonkin.”

“You know that’s difficult…”

“That’s why I’m suggesting we strike the human world.”

He continued calmly, like there was no room for negotiation.

“…Your son, Ragram… I’ll send him back.”

“..?! Demon King!?”

“Let that be enough to appease you.”

Arma looked at me, unsure what to do. Losing the Dragon King’s son might cause leadership issues among the dragons,

but not major ones. There were loyal soldiers who had followed us for centuries, and there were enough capable ones to

take over Ragram’s position.

“I refuse. I want all of the dragonkin returned.”

“Dragon King…”

“Please, return my family.”

This was hard. The Dragon King would never back down from this. But I couldn’t let the Demon Realm collapse either.

“Too much time has passed trying to reach the New Continent beyond the East.”

“I know… but isn’t it more important to stop the mindless demon beasts flooding in?”

“Why won’t you take the faster and easier route?”

“Because even you know that’s not the best path.”

I knew it too — attacking the human world would be easier. With time, we could wipe the Empire off the map. But…

‘There you are again.’

‘…I told you not to come.’

‘Don’t be so cold. It hurts.’

‘Then draw that sword and stab me. You’re a human who came to kill me, aren’t you?’

The wound in my stomach wouldn’t heal. My first death. I knew I would be revived, but the first time was always terrifying.

‘…No, it’s not like that. I brought some bacon a neighbor made. Let’s eat together.’

‘Tch… you’re annoying. Don’t pity me.’

‘Haha! It’s not pity.’

That annoying-faced human handed me bacon and a small piece of bread, then smiled faintly.

‘This is conversation. Isn’t it sad we’re just trying to kill each other when we can talk like this?’

He looked at me with slightly sad eyes.

‘I know how it feels when your people cross into our land. You guys don’t seem all that evil to me. I want to understand.’

He split the bread, placed bacon on it, and brought it to my mouth.

‘So let’s talk. Where are you from?’

For the first time, I took the bread he gave me and chewed. I could finally see his eyes and expression clearly. I still don’t know what that expression meant.

That was over a thousand years ago.

There’s no trace of that human left in this world. He wasn’t a hero, not even a great knight. Just a guard from a now-vanished kingdom. He remains only in my memory.

If not for him, I might’ve destroyed humanity already.

You, who live only in my memory, still hold me back.

Yes, wiping out the human world would be easier. Their environment is better than the Demon Realm’s.

If we moved there, we could let the beasts have the East. But eventually, those endless beasts would overrun the Demon Realm and chase us into the human world too.

It would just be delaying punishment.

“Dragon King, can’t you reconsider? Why do you think I let myself die? I died to stop the heroes from interfering.”

He didn’t reply. Just stared coldly.

“Even if we attack the Empire now—”

“If war breaks out, you’ll pull out of the East.”

“So if that happens—!”

Same argument, again and again. The Dragon King wouldn’t give in.

“I can no longer forgive the Empire for ignoring my letters.”

“I can no longer forgive the humans who climbed over my family’s blood.”

Lightning shot from the Dragon King’s arm, grazing my ear, tearing the wall and my cloak. My skin stung. My ear and cheek burned.

Even after the death of Fire Dragon Regia, he had sent letters to the Empire. But they never listened.

Yes, I too wanted peace between demons and humans. But they had never once listened to us.

They only ignored us. When they annoyed me like the Empire did, gifting them my death once shut them up nicely.

“I have no time left. I can’t stand not seeing my family just to protect the East anymore.”

“Grandpa Paph..?!”

“Even if it’s a short peace, I’ll get my granddaughter out of this harsh Demon Realm.”

“I’ll never let Eleanor be left alone in this wasteland.”

The Dragon King undid his polymorph and transformed into a massive golden dragon. The dining hall couldn’t withstand it — the walls collapsed.

“Grandpa… do we really have to do this?”

“Blood King, you’re part of the problem. Even if you don’t die, will you keep chasing the New Continent forever?”

“Says the one clinging to family.”

-CRACK!!

The Dragon King’s massive hand crushed the Blood King. Her body twisted, limbs mangled beyond recognition.

“T-too much, really~”

“Still can’t beat you, huh.”

Her voice came from the bloody mess. Blood gathered and reformed into Arma again.

“Grandpa Paph. I found the queen of the Eastern Demon Beasts.”

“Don’t care.”

“That means it’s almost over. Will you still keep going?”

“I don’t believe your ‘almosts’.”

“I’m serious, really!”

Arma dodged the Dragon King’s punch to the right.

But fire shot from his mouth, waiting in the spot she dodged into.

“Ah, danger.”

She burned instantly, unable to even scream. But strangely, even her scorched corpse still held onto her axe.

As the Dragon King raised his fist to strike again, Arma suddenly reappeared, dodged it lightly, and plunged her axe into his stomach

Groaning, the Dragon King rolled back. Arma climbed atop him, raising her axe—

Just then, the door to the dining hall opened.

“G-grandpa?!”

“Eleanor…”

Seeing his granddaughter run toward him crying, Arma, fully healed, looked to me.

“Grandpa… let’s stop.”

“I just wanted to…”

“I know. Don’t say it.”

Blood trickled from his mouth. It was clear his time was running out. Would killing the queen end the beast waves like Arma said?

‘I still don’t know enough…’

I saw Eleanor hugging the Dragon King, crying. She looked so much like Regia.

“She looks like Regia.”

“She really does…”

Even Arma, staring at Eleanor, put away her axe.

“What you said earlier — was it true?”

“About the queen?”

“Yeah… if we kill her, will the wave end?”

Even Arma couldn’t say for sure. Who knows if there’s only one queen, given how many monsters swarm us?

Still… even killing one might give the dragonkin time to return to their families.

Then, the Head Maid, silently observing, noticed something.

The dining hall door was slightly open — and someone who shouldn’t be there was watching.

The Saintess was watching everything.

I quickly looked back at the Demon King, but he and Arma were still chatting, unaware.

“Morgan…?”

‘We’ve been caught!!!’

Half my face was exposed — the cloak torn. She recognized me. The Demon King also met her eyes.

“Is it true…?”

The Saintess peeked her head through the door. The Demon King, still on the Dragon King’s stomach. Awkward tension filled the air.

‘How do we fix this…?’

“W-who’s Morgan? I-I don’t know anyone by that name…”

The Demon King flipped his cloak back up, pretending not to know her. The Saintess was clearly confused.

Meanwhile, the Blood King stood by, grinning wickedly at the situation.

‘This is a mess.’