“…He was telling the truth.”
Andal brought the child with the dark blue hair and examined her memories that were hidden inside her head. Andal checked the memories that the child was not able to remember. Andal vacantly muttered,
“This kid really is…”
The kid really was the last of the purple humans who Riley and Andal had been searching for, the one with pitch-black skin who was revived numerous times and roared loudly no matter how many times they killed her, the one who infected Andal with the illness.
“Epidemic…”
The red-haired man was staring at the child and saying things that she didn’t know anything about. The child was sitting in the seat quietly, but she tilted her head to the side and as if she was wondering why, asked.
“Are you not feeling well somewhere?”
“…”
“Mr. Andal?”
It seemed he didn’t hear Epidemic’s question. Andal only maintained his silence. He had crumpled his face.
‘Abyss said he had taken her under his wings?’
Andal thought about the little one who had called him ‘a child of lizards’ and what not. Andal was carefully thinking about what he saw in Epidemic’s memories about that little one.
‘It cannot be…’
The little one had abilities that rivaled those of Riley.
‘To think there is another one in existence in this world who is as monstrously powerful as Riley.’
Andal detected an unbelievable amount of mana from Abyss in Epidemic’s memories. Andal muttered with a serious look on his face,
“Should I let our Lord know about this?”
Andal pondered if he should let the Lord of dragons know about what he had just found out. However, Andal casually turned his head after hearing Epidemic’s steps approaching him.
“Excuse me…”
“What is it?”
“… Here.”
What Epidemic had brought was a dish of steaming vegetable soup.
“Soup? Why did you bring this to me?”
Andal had no idea why she had brought him this soup. Andal asked as he tilted his head to the side. Epidemic handed the soup to him as if she was pushing it toward him. She said,
“You couldn’t hear my voice, and you were muttering. I wondered if you were ill, so I decided to bring this to you…”
“You thought I was ill?”
“Do dragons not eat soups like this?”
Epidemic added that this was not a regular vegetable soup but had boiled medical herbs in it. However, her considerations only fanned Andal’s anger. It looked like nothing positive was going to come out of this.
“Do you have any idea how sick I was because of an illness I contracted due to someone? It is like you pass the illness tome and then bring out the medicine… What? Herbal soup? Ugh, you little!”
Andal raised his arm. He was about to strike Epidemic’s head. Ready to endure the pain that was coming, Epidemic closed her eyes tightly.
“…”
“…”
Andal had no idea what had happened to the monster that had poured out the black epidemic. That monster was gone without leaving a trace. She looked like a child who had grown up inside rather early. Having realized this, Andal, who was about to swing his arm at her, lowered his arm. Andal looked like he didn’t feel up it anymore. He had an awkward look on his face.
“Never mind. What good would it do to beat up a powerless human.”
Andal complained inside that he should let out his anger on Riley later instead. Epidemic was cautiously opening her eyes narrowly. Andal asked her something he was curious about.
“Let me ask you one thing.”
“Okay.”
She thought she was about to get beaten. She was relieved to know that it didn’t happen.
“That little one who was sitting in front of the lake. The one you led us to meet. How much do you know… about that kid?”
“Are you talking about Abyss?”
“Yes, that kid.”
Andal stared at her as if he was trying to ask her to explain who Abyss was in detail.
Epidemic hesitated for a moment. She then started to explain carefully.
“He is a good kid. Although he is still very young, he seems to be very grown up, so… Other children and I all follow him as if he is our captain.”
“Hm?”
“He says ‘I’m sleepy’ or ‘I want to sleep’ a lot. He practically has those words always hanging from his mouth. Also, he is always leisurely. I had never seen him get angry once… Somehow, I think he is very carefree.”
She said perhaps Abyss’ character was not becoming of his appearance. She compared Abyss to a grandfather who was sitting on a rocking armchair. Epidemic shrugged and continued.
“That’s all. Sometimes… What did he say? Cola? He said he wanted to drink cola, which was strange. Other than that, I don’t have anything in particular to say about him.”
“Cola?”
“Yes. Mr. Red dragon, do you know about it by any chance? This cola that Abyss mentioned?”