Chapter 135

I Married the Dragon I Killed
Chapter 135: Hug Me

— Me?
— …Who else would she summon besides Ferda-nim? It’s not like she knows anyone else.
Ruri replied bluntly.
It was a stupid enough question to understand why she was annoyed.
— Understood.
Ferda finished changing his clothes faster than usual and headed to the lair.
A gigantic iron door, too large for a human body.
It was the first time he had visited this place since the first time she suffered from blood qi.
Ferda knocked on the iron door carefully.
Then someone opened the door as if they had been waiting.
— Ferda-ssi.
Valdrova, who opened the door and came out to greet him, was wearing a dress, not armor.
Ferda almost lost his speech from the feeling of his soul leaving his body, but regained his senses and offered his greetings.
— I pay my respects to the Archduchess. Thank you for inviting me to the Great Dragon’s Nest.
— It is nothing. I just wanted Ferda-ssi to come here at least once…
Shyness seeped into her fragile voice.
That soft voice resonated in Ferda’s heart.
Ferda turned his eyes to observe the place.
This place was large, dark, and dry.
But it was Valdrova’s room.
His fiancee’s room.
In other words, a woman’s room.
Although it was far from a room where an ordinary woman would live, he felt nervous.
— M-may I ask what reason you called me for?
He stuttered without realizing it, showing how nervous he was.
Valdrova did not mind and replied.
— It’s just that… I heard you are going on a campaign. You are going where the large monsters are…
— That is correct.
Ferda thought she might be anxious, so he added:
— But there is no need to worry. Their numbers have significantly decreased, so the human forces alone are sufficient.
— Yes, I trust Ferda-ssi. That is why I called you.
Valdrova fiddled with her fingers.
— For such a Ferda-ssi… I wanted to help so I could be of support.
Help? How?
When Ferda posed that question with his expression, Valdrova cleared her throat and relaxed her neck.
Then, as if acting in a play, she extended both hands forward.
— Ferda!
She shouted.
— If you complete the campaign safely and return, I will give you the treasure I cherish most from my hoard…!
Ferda watched her in silence.
Valdrova hesitated, then extended her hands again and said:
— N-no, nooo…
Realizing the reaction she was expecting, Ferda bowed his head.
— I am deeply moved that you value my merit and grant me a reward.
Only then did the awkward atmosphere dissolve.
— However, there is no need to give from your treasure.
— But other dragons do it like that. They say that if you do their work for them, they give good items…
— That is someone else’s story. Am I not Your Highness’s fiance?
Then she made a gesture as if the world were collapsing.
“Did I say something wrong?”
— If you are my fiance, does that mean you don’t need my treasure or anything?
— I meant that I will do it even if you do not give it to me.
— Ah.
Valdrova finally understood the words.
She covered her face with her hands.
The shame of misunderstanding the words and the embarrassment of the offer to dedicate himself blended together, warming her face.
— Even so, I want to give it to you. Ferda-ssi worked hard even when I was not around… Is that okay?
— Yes, refusing further would also not be appropriate treatment for a fiance.
— Y-yes…
The words cut off.
It was a situation where both were at a loss for words.
— Master.
Ruri interrupted.
— How about deciding on a gift to give Ferda-nim?
— Eh? Ah, yes! Right!
She nodded her head vigorously and cleared her voice.
— M-my storage… would you like to see it?
“Is an erotic demon possessing her?”
Those words were trying to be interpreted in another direction.
— If you allow me, I will gladly accompany you.
— Yes, then come with me.
Valdrova led the way to the treasure vault.
When they reached the entrance, Ruri stopped following them and bowed deeply.
— I hope you both enjoy your leisure time together.
Only the two of them entered the vault.
The treasure vault connected from the lair was properly furnished, unlike the cave-like lair.
— Wow…
Actually, Valdrova was more excited than Ferda, who was visiting it for the first time.
— Coming in human form makes it look like a lot. I only saw it as a dragon, so I didn’t think there was so much…
— Is that so?
— Yes, yes, it is a lot, right?
— Yes.
Honestly, he wondered if it was really that much.
It might be a lot for a human, but for a dragon, it was very little.
Normally, dragons possess treasures dozens of times larger than what is piled up here.
Evil dragons openly plunder as a daily routine.
Those guardian dragon bastards also take enormous amounts of gold and relics under the pretext of protection and development funds.
But the infamous Valdrova did not commit such thug acts and only hid away, so there was no way treasure would accumulate.
Valdrova fiddled with a gold coin and spoke.
— I heard you are using this money to build Ferda-ssi’s village.
— That is why I always feel sorry toward Your Highness.
— Eh? Why?
— Well, I am using Your Highness’s things…
— Why is that bad? I just like it.
An aura that radiated like morning sunlight.
He could feel that she was smiling with delight.
This woman was simply happy about the fact that her things were being used.
Ferda simply liked that pure appearance.
— Please only say such things to me.
— Why?
— If you say that to that little assistant, she will obviously glare at you and lash out at you.
— Ah, t-that is true! I will do so!
Valdrova nodded repeatedly, showing fear.
Like that, the tour of the treasure vault continued again.
Ferda followed Valdrova and looked around.
“There isn’t a single usable thing.”
Dragons have collecting desires, but most collect things related to their phase.
Iorga collects items related to water and magical tools; Silverwind collects items related to wind and steel products.
Following that pattern, Valdrova should naturally collect items related to fire or weapons.
But no items worthy of the Phase of Power were found in Valdrova’s collection.
He thought at least a lost or sealed magic sword would exist, but…
Wondering if there really was not even a single one, he looked around and finally discovered a weapon.
— That is…
No, it is a weapon, but it was questionable whether to truly call it a weapon.
It was an ordinary spear, extremely worn down.
Gray of indeterminate material, contrasting with the room that shone brightly in gold.
— Do you want it?
Valdrova asked, seeing him stare intently.
— May I ask what that is?
— It is something I used a long time ago.
— How long ago?
— Umm… that is to say… approximately a primordial era?
An ancient relic of a different scale.
— It is the weapon I used when fighting against the chaos that covered the world. It is an item that has been with me all my life.
Literally an object that shared her birth story.
Since the conversation had leaned toward weapons, Ferda went with the flow and asked her:
— Are there no other weapons besides that spear?
— Probably not…? Since then, I have never used something called a weapon in my life… Even if I used one, they all broke with a single strike, so I didn’t even touch them.
— I see.
Those words sounded less like weapons were useless and more like she was afraid the weapons would break.
— If you want it, I will give it to you.
— No. How could I receive an object that has been with Your Highness all your life?
It was an object with many stories, so he could not ask for something like that.
Above all, it was useless.
— Does Ferda-ssi want to receive something like a weapon?
— I was hoping for it a little.
— There won’t be a weapon… umm, then, shall I give you the material instead?
— Material, you say?
— Then… shall I pluck my reverse scale and give it to you?
A dragon’s scales are, naturally, formidable materials.
They are difficult items to handle, but just one can create a historical relic.
Some dragonkin receive scales and craft weapons or armor with them.
The efficacy of a dragon’s scale is proportional to its size, and that is the reverse scale.
The reverse scale covering the weak point behind the ear is the largest.
Saying she will give that means she trusts him enough to entrust her life to him.
— If Ferda-ssi wishes, I can give it to you.
— I will only accept the sentiment. Please take care of Your Highness’s body.
Ferda declined the offer naturally.
The tour resumed.
Valdrova half-guided, and every time something interesting caught her attention, she immediately felt curious and rushed over to see it.
Ferda walked past the gold that was only meant for gazing, attempting to find magical artifacts.
— Eh?
An object with a shape he had never seen before, as unusual as the spear, appeared in sight in this room.
It was a large frame.
A frame the size of a painting that would be placed in the most visible spot upon entering through the castle entrance.
“She doesn’t seem to have the hobby of collecting art…”
Wondering what kind of painting it was, Ferda turned the frame over.
— Ah, that is…!
Valdrova tried to stop him belatedly, but Ferda had already turned the frame.
— Ah.
He could understand why she had overreacted.
Because what was drawn in that frame was Valdrova herself.
A painting of her wearing a dress, letting her long red hair fall, smiling at the painter.
Her mouth was definitely smiling.
But her eyes were torn by something large and sharp, which could not be seen.
While staring in silence at the painting where half of her face had been shredded, Valdrova spoke.
— That… I received it a long time ago… I accidentally sc… scratched it.
…
— The painting… I didn’t like it very much either. So I just left it abandoned in the vault.
She explained in a nervous voice, trying to gloss over the situation with laughter.
But Ferda knew.
How terribly clumsy her lie was.
If she didn’t like the painting, she wouldn’t have just left it there instead of throwing it away.
— It is ugly to look at, and it is a scary painting, as if a ghost were going to come out, so stop looking and search for something else.
Valdrova grabbed Ferda’s collar and pulled lightly, urging him.
Ferda did not respond or react.
That painting whispered something to Ferda.
Her lived life and her desires.
And even her emotions trapped in endless contradictions.
As he kept looking at that painting, his danjeon, beneath his chest, moved strangely.
Is this regret, or a yearning affection?
— …One has appeared.
— Yes?
— Something I desire has appeared.
Ferda looked at Valdrova and asked:
— If I return safely, can you give me this?
— Y-yes?
Valdrova became flustered.
— W-why? The painting is broken, and keeping something so horrible, Ferda-ssi…
Valdrova’s words faded more and more.
Ferda’s pupils stared at her intently.
Although he said nothing, only looking at her, she hesitated more and more, as if being pushed back.
— Understood.
Valdrova finally agreed.
— If Ferda-ssi returns safely, I will give you this painting.
They say the human heart is cunning; upon hearing the acceptance, he strangely felt a pang of guilt.
Wanting this broken painting might have sounded like asking her to show her flaws.
So Ferda tried to step back.
— If Your Highness does not wish it, I will give up.
— No. It is what Ferda-ssi desires, right? One cannot give an unwanted thing as a gift.
Ferda could know what she felt from those words.
That is why he asked:
— Are you afraid that I will leave?
…
Valdrova could not open her mouth easily.
There was a saying that silence is affirmation.
She was afraid.
Calling him late at night was to soothe her own anxiety.
Offering the treasure was also wishing for him to return alive.
All of it stemmed from the fear of Ferda’s death.
Ferda took her hand carefully at that pity.
— I am Your Highness’s fiance.
He comforted her to ease her anxiety, even if just a little.
— Half of my life already belongs to Your Highness. As long as I live as Your Highness’s fiance, I will only think of you and live for you.
…
— So I will definitely return alive for you.
Valdrova’s hand fluttered in Ferda’s palm.
What expression she was making behind that white mask, Ferda’s imagination could not guess.
— Ferda-ssi. May I ask you a favor?
— Please speak.
Ferda prayed inside.
“Please don’t say not to go. Please don’t say that.”
— Will you… hug?
— …Yes?
Ferda thought he had misheard and asked again.
But Valdrova replied clearly.
— T-that is to say, they say that when a man and a woman hug, good energy emanates. Bad thoughts disappear, and I want to give good energy to Ferda-ssi.
— Good energy… you say.
Ferda brought a hand to his face unconsciously.
The temperature of the skin his fingers touched was hot like a fireplace flame.
“Why am I getting embarrassed and unraveled over something like this?”
“Even when we danced, I hugged her once.”
— Understood.
— Yes…!
Valdrova also hardened her resolve and extended her arms with determination.
Ferda slipped his arms carefully around her neck.
Ferda hugged her first. As they drew close, only then did Valdrova’s hands move to hug Ferda.
Hands shifting from waist to back.
“Warm.”
The sensation perceived through a single thin cloth was soft and warm like that of a baby.
A faint, cozy scent of sunlight emanated from her red hair, making him feel comfortable.
So he worried a little.
It was so warm, he worried she might dislike it for being too cold.
“Warm.”
But Valdrova felt the same.
She learned for the first time that hugging someone could be so warm.
“Similar to when receiving mana, but different.”
When receiving mana, she felt as if something settled down.
But this hug made Valdrova’s chest boil.
“A little more…”
A sprout called greed germinated in Valdrova, like a shy girl.
“I wish the heat would seep deeper…”
She tilted her face toward his chest and pulled him tightly.
Puh-uk!
“…Puh-uk?”
A sound and sensation that ruined the good atmosphere.
Feeling something strange from the sensation of catching on the horns, she lifted her head.
— Eh?
Valdrova blinked.
What caught Valdrova’s vision were two holes in Ferda’s chest.
Those holes were exactly in the chest area where she had wanted to lean.
How were those holes formed?
— Eh!?
No matter how idiotic she was, she had not reached the point of not knowing how this situation had turned out.
This situation was organized into a complete sentence:
— E-e-eh!?!?
Valdrova panicked and shuddered.
— E-e-e-eehhhhh!?!?!?!
— Master, what did you do to make such a fuss…?
Ruri’s eyes widened, thinking it must be a fuss over nothing.
But were there two holes in Ferda’s chest?
Ruri also gasped in shock and screamed:
— What is this?! What on earth…?!
— I-I don’t know!
She wondered if a cursed object had gotten mixed in and he had touched it wrong, but it wasn’t that.
There were exactly two holes in Ferda’s chest.
And exactly two weapons of the same width were attached to Valdrova’s head.
The veins on Ruri’s face bulged.
— Master!!
Ruri shouted.
— How many times have I told you?! Master’s horns are sharp, so you must be careful! How could you think of hugging in that state?!
— S-sorry…
— Don’t apologize to me, apologize to Ferda-nim! Don’t you see that Ferda-nim is out of his mind right now?!
— Aaaaaah! Sorry for being an idiot! Ferda-ssi!
— No, I am…
— Stay still! Shut your mouth! Ah, seriously! How many things have I seen serving Master, why do you always make me…!
Ruri scolded Valdrova while huffing,
And Valdrova apologized continuously, saying she was sorry for being an idiot.
And the victim, Ferda, was actually fine.
Although he was pierced by two horns and a bit deeply, it avoided blood vessels, so bleeding was minimal and there was no pain.
However, the ‘out of his mind’ state that Ruri mentioned, he recognized it himself.
At that moment, he was thinking this:
“That I had no regrets, even if I died right now.”