The Dragon Lord's Aide Wants to Quit [BL]-Chapter 364: Crushed Pride
Well, apparently, not even the wyverns themselves.
Maybe it was due to their countless victories against the known draconic powerhouse and the fact that they’ve been at it for a while, but it seemed like a lot of the wyverns didn’t anticipate the sudden fallout.
Then again, even if they knew, there would still be those who refused to accept it. Those who, even after so many years, would still insist that there had to be a way around the very flaw that a pair of newlywed dragons were talking about.
Like those gathered in a place buried far too deep for light to matter.
Instead of soaring above the skies, creatures beyond recognition gathered in an area where stone seemed to sweat. If only that sweat didn’t carry the clear metallic tang of blood, then maybe it wouldn’t be as alarming as it was when the first lashing hit.
THWAK!
"Oh, I do enjoy this part," she said lightly, her tone almost conversational, as though she were commenting on a minor inconvenience rather than addressing a room full of people who refused to meet her gaze.
More importantly, it was a stark contrast to how the ground was pelted by a blow that could have hit any one of the gathered beings.
"The moment right before someone realizes just how disappointing they’ve been."
Her voice didn’t rise, yet it echoed effortlessly, pressing against the space with a weight that made the torches flicker.
Then her eyes sharpened.
"You failed."
The words were simple, delivered without emphasis, and yet they struck harder than any shout. Then again, it was expected, considering how it carried the same weight as the pelting they had just witnessed.
A subtle shift passed through the room. Cloaked figures stiffened, their silence tightening into something more deliberate, more fearful.
Chancellor Malrik, however, did not immediately react.
He stood where he was, posture composed, chin lifted just enough to suggest confidence without crossing into arrogance, though the slight tension at the edge of his jaw betrayed the calculation already taking place behind his eyes. This was not a situation he intended to lose control of, and as always, his first instinct was to steer it.
"Lady," he began, voice smooth and measured, already shaping the narrative into something he could negotiate, "the matter was more complex than initially presented. There were unexpected—"
"Stop."
She didn’t raise her voice, didn’t really need to, as the word cut cleanly through his obvious excuse.
"I haven’t decided whether I’m in the mood to hear you justify your incompetence," she said, tilting her head as though genuinely considering it. The faint curve of her lips suggested amusement, but there had always been something extremely off about this monster.
If only Malrik didn’t need her for his plans.
Moreover, how dare they all blame him when it was her side that lost that runt?
The annoyed Malrik watched as she began to move, her steps unhurried, almost idle.
"For all that you’re demanding," she continued, her gaze drifting across the room before settling on him again. "We only gave you menial tasks."
Her fingers traced lightly through the air, as though outlining the simplicity of it.
"Dragon blood."
She paused, letting the words linger.
"And even a dollop of a golden dragon’s blood."
Malrik exhaled quietly, the sound controlled, deliberate, as though he were suppressing irritation rather than fear. "With all due respect," he replied, maintaining that same diplomatic cadence, "Subduing any other golden dragon is not as straightforward as you imply."
If it had been so easy, then wouldn’t Malrik have opted to overthrow them on his own?
Why would he even want to deal with such filthy creatures?
But he restrained his anger from showing because there was simply no point in exploding now. At best, he just came here to clear his name.
Considering how much effort it took him to leave his stupid post, they should actually be proud!
"Moreover, my end of the bargain has been completed properly. In fact, not only did I send more than a dollop, but I even sent an entire dragon for it. If your men failed to secure a restrained child, that failure couldn’t possibly be mine."
He made sure to emphasize his point by looking at all those gathered imbeciles.
But there was never any reasoning with someone this deranged, and so the pressure around his throat appeared without warning.
There was no visible manifestation of power, no grand display, only the sudden, absolute constriction that cut through his breath mid-sentence and lifted him off the ground before he could so much as brace for it. His hand rose instinctively, fingers pressing against his neck as though he could remove what wasn’t there, and for the briefest moment, something flickered across his face.
Not fear, but certainly embarrassment.
Because he couldn’t stop it.
Because everyone could see that he, an ancient dragon, couldn’t actually stop it.
His expression tightened almost immediately after, the instinct to regain control kicking in even as his body betrayed him.
He couldn’t even transform out of the hold.
Meanwhile, she watched him with interest.
"Oh," she murmured, a note of genuine amusement slipping through, "that’s new."
Her head tilted slightly, her gaze sharpening as she took in every detail of his reaction.
"You’re not afraid," she observed, stepping closer. "You’re offended."
The word hung in the air between them.
"How unfortunate."
Her hand slipped into her sleeve, and when it emerged, it held a jagged scale, dark and ancient, its surface etched with patterns that seemed to shift if one looked too closely. It didn’t glow or radiate light; in fact, it felt as though the scale was eating the already paltry light around it.
"For someone who prefers using his deceitful mouth," she continued, her tone almost thoughtful, "you should understand that some negotiations don’t involve words."
She moved without warning. Specifically, she moved in a way that even a dragon like him couldn’t react fast enough.
The scale drove into his shoulder with brutal ease.
"!!!"
