"Apep, you're awake."
"Guwu… what's wrong with me?"
The Dragon King opened her eyes and looked around in confusion.
Leon sighed inwardly. The Grass Dragon King had astonishing vitality; even after receiving that fatal blow, she had survived.
Apep was now ready to heal herself.
The wounds she had suffered from the fierce battle had basically disappeared.
"Although I cast several advanced healing spells on you, Dvalin said you didn't need them. You can regrow, like a plant swaying in the spring breeze."
"…Is that so? So it was you who helped me."
Apep felt a strange yet gentle magical power flowing through her body and immediately realized it came from the young man before her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have woken from her coma so quickly.
"Hmph~ Don't expect me to thank you, human."
"Oh, really?"
"In fact, I haven't even shown my true abilities yet."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, but still—you did very well. You are the strongest person I've ever met."
"Okay, okay, I get it."
Leon folded his arms and looked at Apep with a subtle expression, wondering what was going on.
This dragon treated him far more politely than she ever treated Dvalin.
Apep, too, was sizing Leon up.
At that moment, Leon stepped down from the enormous mecha and stood before her in his fully human form.
Driverless, Shouki knelt on one knee not far away, facing Leon.
Like a loyal giant knight, waiting for the command of its master.
After a wary glance at the mech, Apep turned her attention back to Leon.
He had just defeated her.
Apep acknowledged Leon's strength.
"ROAAAAAAARRR—!"
Suddenly, she roared in pain.
Leon didn't flinch, but he couldn't help frowning. He could feel that Apep was being consumed by a curse—a disease that no healing magic could cure.
But perhaps not wanting to appear weak before the boy who had just defeated her, Apep clenched her teeth and endured the pain.
Leon injected magic into her head. Though it couldn't heal the curse gnawing at her, it did ease the dragon's pain somewhat.
"This is the forbidden curse Dvalin spoke of?"
"Yes… this is the source of the agony that has tormented me for thousands of years."
"I'm sorry. I can't cure you."
Leon shook his head, admitting this was one of the rare things beyond his power. Apep stared at him in surprise.
"Human, I am astonished you would even try to save me… your enemy, just moments ago."
"We had fun, didn't we?"
What a classically arrogant way of shaking his head.
Leon remembered a common term from the manga he had read in his past life.
Tsundere.
For all the tsunderes in the world: as long as it isn't an outright denial, it's an affirmation, 100%.
And if it is a clear denial… then there's a 200% chance it's actually a yes!
Leon thought it was ridiculous—but it also made sense.
Though Apep said nothing, her tail was wagging like that of an eager puppy, which explained everything.
"By the way, I heard from Dvalin that dragons have a tradition of forming contracts with the humans who defeat them. Is that true?"
"That foolish dragon must be talking about the days when relations between humans and dragons were at their best. Hmph~ It's nothing but an outdated custom. Your name is Leon, isn't it? Though I acknowledge you, it's a pity I cannot be your companion."
Apep turned her head away arrogantly.
"As a noble, powerful, and beautiful dragon, how could I lower myself to associate with a human? I'm not like those other ancient dragons who compromise with humans, and besides…"
"It's still because of the taboo, isn't it?"
"…Yes. I'm not in any condition to travel with anyone now. This curse gnaws at my soul constantly and could drive me into a frenzy at any moment."
Apep's expression softened with regret.
In truth, it was remarkable she had endured this long, without being reduced to nothing more than a raging beast.
The main reason was that she was the Grass Dragon King, the original master of all vegetation, who ruled over the concept of "Adaptation."
In the past, Apep had been green in color, but after coming to the desert, she changed her scales to sandy yellow to blend with her environment.
Though the forbidden curse could not be completely "adapted" to, compared to other beings, her resistance to it was already at the highest level.
Even so—
At times, she still lost control, as she had today.
This taboo curse not only tortured her soul but also magnified her negative emotions many times over.
"There's no cure?"
Leon asked with a frown.
He might have traveled three thousand kilometers to get here, but he didn't want that fight to have been in vain. And more than that… he didn't want to see Apep continue to suffer.
Apep remained silent for a while.
It seemed she was debating whether or not to reveal this to the boy before her. But remembering that he was the one who had defeated her, and that he was different from the humans she'd known before, she finally decided to speak.
"I have no cure. But I know of a woman who might."
"What woman?"
"A queen known as the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. Thousands of years ago, at the cost of herself, she nearly eradicated all taboo curses from this land."
Leon frowned. Did that mean she was gone? Then how could they deal with this?
Apep shook her head and continued.
"I made a pact with her. She said she would find a way to eradicate the curse completely. Even if she is no longer here, her successor is certain to complete the task."
"Ah, I see. So you've been waiting for someone all this time."
Leon nodded, showing he understood more or less.
"Then, who is this successor? Why haven't you gone to her yourself?"
"The Lesser Lord Kusanali, ruler of the land called Sumeru… or she should be. But now, hehe~ she's been imprisoned by her own people. What can she possibly do if she can't even protect herself? She could not fulfill the pact."
Apep spoke with a scornful smile. Leon wanted to roll his eyes.
"What happened? Why would the people of that land imprison their own ruler? Did she do something wrong?"
Leon asked, confused and surprised to learn that a nation's ruler was locked away by her own people.
"I don't know. I don't concern myself with human affairs."
"I know! I know what's happening! Your Highness, listen to me, the people of this Sumeru City are nothing but lawless fools! Conquer that place at once!"
At that moment, the blonde-haired girl suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She raised her hand with a grim expression, teeth clenched.
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."