Episode 71
Chapter 24: Twisting Two Fates (3)

As Murakan quickly explained the situation, Quikantel blinked in surprise.

“…This is definitely serious. Let’s move somewhere more private, Murakan. There’s an island not far from here. Follow me.”

Quikantel took off, flying ahead, but Murakan didn’t immediately follow. Instead, he paused to speak with Jin.

“Phew, both of us nearly died back there. Kid, are you alright? I didn’t expect you to pull off that sword release so well.”

“I don’t think I’m about to have another spiritual energy overload like before, but my whole body feels like it’s been shattered. How about you? Getting beaten up out of nowhere by an ex can’t feel great.”

“The dragons of Olta are all a bit prideful, thinking themselves especially noble. Even a small blow to their pride sets them off like that. I knew what I was getting into when I met them, so I have to accept it.”

“I thought you’d be a bit angrier. That’s surprising.”

“Adults are supposed to hold back more. So, you don’t have to hold back for at least the next ten years. Anyway, it’s a relief this wasn’t a wild goose chase. You found the kidnapper right after arriving. Buretta, huh…”

Murakan had already asked about the wind dragon Buretta during the Runcandel banquet—the same day Andrei Ziphl was turned away at the door.

According to Murakan, Buretta was a bit younger than him and ranked third in status among the dragons of Melzayer, the Wind God.

“This might not just be about Buretta. The Wind God himself could be involved. Something smells fishy. Let’s catch up.”

It took no time at all to catch up with Quikantel. She seemed to be flying at a pace that matched Murakan’s exhaustion, suggesting she never intended to kill him from the start.

The two dragons landed on a deserted island near the Bimant sea area. As soon as they touched down, they transformed into human forms.

Jin couldn’t help but flinch at the sight of Quikantel’s human form. The fierce dragon who had been breathing fire moments ago was gone, replaced by a breathtakingly beautiful woman—so stunning it took his breath away.

“This is a deserted island. Back at sea, other dragons might have overheard us.”

Quikantel didn’t seem to trust the earth dragon Labus or Untiel much—or perhaps she simply didn’t consider them her equals.

Murakan shrugged.

For some reason, Quikantel didn’t say anything more and just stared at Murakan for a while. It was hard to tell if she was glaring or just looking intently.

Murakan didn’t avoid her gaze either.

‘What is this? Am I supposed to step aside for a moment or something?’

Just as Jin thought that, Murakan broke the silence.

“We didn’t come here just to awkwardly stare at each other. Tell me exactly when Buretta took Latri.”

Quikantel bit her lower lip once and sighed.

“Buretta took Latri a year ago.”

That matched exactly the time Kasimir had said Latri disappeared.

“She lured Latri by promising to teach her dragon speech magic… That’s a nasty crime.”

“But Murakan, why do you think Buretta is harming Latri? She could genuinely be teaching her dragon speech magic.”

“Quikantel, Az Mil’s contractor is too young to control her powers.”

“What? Then isn’t it dangerous without a guardian dragon?”

“Buretta must know that too. Even if she didn’t, Latri would have told her. She’d say she’ll learn more dragon speech magic later, so just let her go for now.”

“Hmm, that is strange. If Buretta didn’t intend to harm Az Mil’s contractor, she should have sent Latri back long ago.”

Quikantel furrowed her brows.

For her, Az Mil’s contractor’s danger wasn’t the main issue. Her true charge was Enya, not Az Mil’s contractor.

But Quikantel recalled that Buretta had shown interest in Enya as well.

“How do you know Buretta took Latri?”

“When Buretta took Latri, she stopped by Bimant briefly. She said it was to introduce Latri to me, but really, it was to see Enya.”

“Who’s Enya?”

Murakan feigned ignorance, and Quikantel surprisingly answered straightforwardly: Enya was Olta’s contractor.

“Anyway, Buretta was pretty blatant about wanting to meet Enya in person. I refused several times, but she kept pestering me to the point of annoyance.”

“You just let her cling to you like that? You only said no? What’s going on, Quikantel? Are you scared of Ziphl now?”

“Hah, it’s not fear of Ziphl. I had no choice. Enya’s status as a contractor was already known to Bimant’s higher-ups, and many of them are in league with Andrei Ziphl.”

Enya, on the other hand, was a scholarship student at the Magic Academy.

If Quikantel had fought Buretta just because she was annoyed, Ziphl’s lackeys at the academy could have caused Enya trouble.

“If I acted on impulse and Enya got into trouble, I’d be disqualified as a guardian dragon. Anyway, hearing about Latri, it seems Buretta’s attempts to approach Enya back then had some shady motive.”

“Hah, and you just tried to kill my contractor.”

“I didn’t know you had a human on your back. If I’d known Solderet had a contractor, I wouldn’t have gone that far.”

“Sure, sure.”

A brief silence fell.

“Murakan.”

“Speak, kid.”

“Enya’s contract is already known to Bimant’s higher-ups, but Az Mil’s contractor is still a secret.”

Jin deliberately didn’t mention Yuria’s name—not trusting Quikantel that much yet.

“So how did Buretta even approach Latri in the first place? She hasn’t sent her back yet, so she must know about Az Mil’s contractor. She even knows the contractor is young.”

“That’s true. Hmm… I wonder if, during my thousand-year slumber, some magic to detect contractors was developed?”

Quikantel shook her head.

“No such magic exists. Not a thousand years ago, not now. No one can detect a contractor until they manifest their powers.”

“You never know. Those Ziphl guys are impressive, even if I hate to admit it.”

“Even if such magic existed, what benefit would they get from finding contractors…?”

“There are two main benefits. Contractors outside their control are risks, so they can eliminate them early. Also, if a contractor dies, the god and Ziphl get a chance to form a new contract.”

Jin answered for her, and Quikantel turned her head.

“…All that for such a small reason? They already hold immense power. One or two contractors wouldn’t be a big threat.”

“Maybe not for dragons, but human greed is endless. And if one or two contractors gather into a group, they could be a real threat.”

This was hard for Quikantel to understand. The families at the top of the world wouldn’t go that far.

But Murakan nodded in agreement.

“It’s possible. I know Ziphl’s greed better than anyone. Let’s assume this: first, they have a way to detect contractors. Second, they want to eliminate contractors who aren’t Ziphl’s.”

“Wait. Do we have to think so extremely? We could just meet Buretta and ask.”

“Stop being naive, Quikantel. If you were the kidnapper, would you just talk things out? Get a grip. I think that kid Enya is dangerous too.”

Enya wasn’t just dangerous—she was definitely in danger.

A few years from now, Enya would be killed by Ziphl, and not a single news article would mention it. Instead, a pureblood Ziphl would become Olta’s new contractor, flooding the world’s news.

As a reincarnator, Jin was certain. History had proven it in his past life.

“I’m watching closely. Enya won’t be harmed. No one will touch her until she’s fully grown.”

Jin’s words were on the tip of his tongue: “Stop being so clueless! If you leave her be, Enya will die.”

But before he could say it, Murakan raised his voice instead.

“Quikantel, it never hurts to be cautious. You can’t be by Enya’s side 24/7, 365 days a year. Just leave Bimant. If she stays at the academy, Ziphl will monitor her every move.”

“She’s never left Bimant since birth. Her whole family is here too. You want to shake up Enya’s entire life over a vague, unlikely threat?”

“Life only matters if you’re alive to live it. This is advice from an old friend. The choice is yours.”

“Hmm… Quikantel, please listen to me for a moment.”

Quikantel turned her gaze to Jin.

“Murakan and I are going to find Latri. By any means necessary. But if Latri is found imprisoned or injured, and I inform you, Quikantel, what will you do then?”

“Then…”

Quikantel gritted her teeth.

“I’ll have to evacuate Enya.”

“Then evacuate them in advance. Once the incident happens, no matter how fast you are, it’ll be too late. Please make a wise decision.”

“The kid’s right, Quikantel. First, move Olta’s contractors and their families to another area. Whether Buretta’s a threat or not, we’ll meet him ourselves and let you know.”

Quikantel could no longer hold onto his pride. Not only were their words flawless, but he could even sense their genuine concern for Enya’s safety.

‘They seem more sensitive about Enya’s safety than I, the guardian dragon… I need to reflect on that.’

He exhaled deeply and nodded.

“Alright, I’ll do as you say. And I’ll help you too.”

“Ah, no need, no need. We’ll handle it ourselves. You think just because I’ve weakened, I can’t take down a mere wind dragon? Buretta’s done for.”

“…How do you plan to meet Buretta?”

“What do you mean how? Like you called me, just release your energy and call him out.”

“Do you even know how many dragons are in Ziphl right now? And you want to bring that kid Runkan to the Ziphl headquarters?”

Jin and Murakan both stared at Quikantel in shock.

“What’s with the surprise? I sensed an energy from the kid similar to Temar’s. You really thought I wouldn’t notice that?”

“Hmm… Quikantel, you’re still tight-lipped, huh?”

“I still owe Temar some loyalty. Being with his distant descendant brings back old memories.”

Temar, Murakan, and Quikantel used to hang out a lot—back when Murakan and Quikantel were dating.

“Anyway, I’ll call Buretta myself. Because of Enya, he’ll answer my call easily. After that, it’s up to you to dig him out.”