*** MC POV ***

I changed my mind.

Living together with Bianca was fine and all.

But when she insisted that we stay close 24/7, I just knew that something had to change.

‘At the very least, I don’t think the relationship we have is healthy.’

Don’t be mistaken; I think of Bianca as a good person and a benefactor.

Her actions and words have proved her character to be good.

Her existence is a blessing, not just to me but also to the people around us.

‘Didn’t she even help a stranger rebuild his home today?’

And she even refused payment when she saw he didn’t have that much wealth to begin with.

But this and that are different.

‘Just because she’s a good person, that doesn’t mean it’s okay to invade my privacy.’

So, I will definitely talk to her about it today.

If she didn’t stop even after I said this much, then I could only take a drastic measure.

‘A boycott… No, would a silent protest be enough?’

Didn’t Nelson Mandela make a nonviolent protest to change the world?

‘If he can do it, then I can do it too.’

Right, let’s find Bianca and give her a piece of my mind.

“Bianca.”

It was when I opened the door to the kitchen, expecting Bianca to be there, helping my mom like always.

“Huh?”

Where is she?

Was my confusion apparent?

Mom tilted her head and called out to me.

“Raon? Were you looking for something?”

“Mom, where is Bianca?”

“Bianca? Oh… right.”

Mom began with difficulty.

“Bianca, she… she left this morning.”

“She… left?”

“Yes.”

“Did something happen?”

“Well...”

"..."

I wonder what happened?

It would be nice if Bianca said something to me before she left at least.

Of course, it’s not like Bianca is obligated to tell me about everything she did, but still...

‘I guess even Bianca has to leave my side someday.’

I heaved a sigh and looked out the window.

‘I should’ve expected it.’

It’s normal for anyone to have urgent business at times.

‘This is a good thing. ‘

After all, I achieved my goal without difficulties.

‘At least, that’s how it’s supposed to be, but what is this?’

This strangely defeated feeling of mine…

‘Give me back my resolve.’

In the end, I was worried for nothing after all.

“Ah, that’s right! Come to think of it… Bianca left something for you.”

“She did?”

“Wait for a bit, okay? It should be somewhere around here.”

Mom went to the living room and opened a drawer.

She took out a piece of paper and gave it to me.

I tried to read it, but…

“Uh, mom.”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Nothing’s written here?”

I showed her the paper I was holding.

I have checked both sides; it is just a blank piece of paper.

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“Really? That’s weird. She definitely said she left a message.”

“A message…”

“Well, she’s human too. She must have forgotten to write it down since she was in a hurry.”

“Hm…”

A message.

I don’t think she would forget something like that, no matter how much in a hurry she was.

‘Huh? Wait a moment?’

Is it a message that only I can read?

“Thank you, mom. Do you mind if I take this?”

“Oh, not at all, sweetheart. That paper was meant for you in the first place.”.

I told Mom I was going to my room and locked the door.

Then, I looked at the paper again.

[White Dragon Vision].

Immediately, as if the previous sight was a lie, words appear where there was none before.

[Raon,

It pains me to say this, but something important arose, and I must leave you for a moment. I can’t say when, but please know that I really, truly, seriously will try my best to come back as soon as possible…]

The message kept going on and on, telling me how regretful Bianca was to leave me behind, how much she would miss me, how to take care of myself so I don’t get hurt, and so on.

‘It’s like she’s my guardian.’

That might be close to the truth, actually.

[An important guest has come.]

‘A guest? Who was it?’

As I read the message, my smile gradually stiffened, and I opened my eyes wide at the last paragraph.

“...! This is!”

[The black dragon, Nicht.]

It was a familiar name to me.

To be precise, it’s the black dragon that would kill Bianca in the original game.

[So please don’t worry about me and continue your practice.]

How can I not worry?

Now that I know Bianca might die, I can’t stay calm and continue my practice.

‘This is not the time for practice.’

Still, if two dragons fight each other for real, then there’s not much I can do to help with the fight.

‘At the very least, I should warn her before it comes to that.’

If she’s fully prepared, then she should at least be able to protect herself even in dangerous situations.

‘Right. If I go now, I might be able to catch her.’

I immediately went out and looked around.

[White Dragon Vision]

I was expecting to find traces of Bianca’s mana with my eyes, but–

“…!”

What appeared in my eyes was information about hordes of monsters marching towards the village.

“Skeletons!?”

It was the moment when a second disaster was about to befall the village.

*** Bianca’s POV ***

“What are you doing, Nicht!? Have you gone mad!?”

I thumped upon the black barrier as I saw hordes of skeletons marching towards the village.

“Not only have you dabbled in black magic, you even do necromancy?”

I pulled out the sword and struck the barrier with my full strength.

Not only did the barrier not break, but the black miasma even started to erode my sword.

So, I removed the corrosion and attacked the barrier again.

And again.

And again.

It was not until I lost count that Nicht looked at me pitifully and said.

“It’s useless, Bianca. This is something that took me months to make. Even if it’s you, you would need to keep attacking the barrier for 7 days and 7 nights to break free.”

“Release me right now! Why are you doing this!?”

“You know why, don’t you? It’s because you refused to be mine.”

“Don’t be absurd! You don’t even love me.”

“Love? Is that even important? Think of the future, Bianca. If you and I joined hands, even becoming the next Dragon Lord wouldn’t be a pipe dream.”

My face must have stiffened at that.

“The next Dragon Lord? What are you saying? The current Lord is not dead!”

“But she had been missing for ages.”

“Even then–”

“Someone who ignored her duty is not fit to be a lord. Give it up, Bianca. Among us, dragons, you are the only one who are still waiting for the lord’s return.”

“...”

Lord…

“So how about it, Bianca? If you become mine, then I will spare the villagers.”

“Do you think I’ll accept?”

“Oh, of course you will. Didn’t you even take in another disciple from that village? You must have loved him dearly if you even teach him the sword technique we made.”

“You… How did you–”

“You think I don’t know? I have been investigating you these past few months, Bianca.”

He then shook his head.

“No, not just these few months. I have been watching you from the time we met up until today. Because you are that special, Bianca.”

He came closer and stroked the barrier from the other side as if trying to caress my face.

“You have something that only the Lord should have.”

His gaze was full of madness.

“A gift.”

A unique property of humans and demons.

“It was something no other dragons could have.”

Because dragons were beings that were closer to monsters, although the other dragons would never admit it.

“So I was wondering.”

Nicht smirked.

“What would happen if I put you under my control?”

‘Ah… I see…’

When he asked me to become his, he didn’t mean to ask me to be his bride but to be something else entirely.

‘Nicht…’

The being in front of me was no longer the childhood friend I used to know, and that fact made me feel sad.

“So, how about it, Bianca? Will you be mine?”

My understanding had changed, but the answer was still the same.

“Never.”

Nicht’s face rotted in real time.

“Then, it can’t be helped. The skeletons will destroy the village.”

“No, they won’t.”

“What?”

“Because a hero was there.”

Raon Eva.

He had been extraordinary even before he met me.

But now that he had gone through rigorous training, even an army of undead wouldn’t be enough.

‘There’s one problem though.’

Nicht’s disciple.

One of them went to help the skeletons and followed Nicht’s bidding.

‘Fortunately, his other disciple had left to do other task somewhere. Including Nicht’s strongest disciple.’

Still, even though it’s the weakest, a dragon’s disciple might be too much for the current Raon to handle.

‘Please be safe, Raon.’

It was then.

“Ha… How funny.”

Nicht laughed and glared in the direction of the village.

“Then let’s see what this hero can do.”

Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like Nicht would join the attack.

‘Because he had to maintain the barrier.’

Still, I should also try to do something instead of just hoping for the best.

‘My gift.’

It was the moment when the power I sealed was about to unleash.

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