Free Web NovelChapter 7: Not An Ordinary Human (Cont’d)
Seeing me stare face to face with her, Lilia’s face was twisted in annoyance. In fact, her blazing aura surged the more; the intensity eventually began to burn at the floor, at something around.
The roaring sound, the intense — it was nothing to me as my mana matched the power level.
[Flame Magic (S rank): Fully Adapted]
[Damage Reduction: 100%]
The baronesses were intrigued.
"Hmm, I like him already," a baroness whispered, interest in me.
"Seriously, Lilia, is that how weak your magic is? A common human can resist it," another spat out.
But Lilia could see I was not a common or ordinary human. Still, she gritted her teeth, pride holding her back from admitting it.
"How much blood did you drink of the queen? Just to be able to use such magic," Lilia said.
I was done with the confrontation.
"Zero. Fine, you can stand at the door — just wait to hear what your queen has to say." I backed away from her, walking back to the table.
A vein bulged at Lilia’s neck. The failed intimidation got to her. Well, it was her business. I had other things on hand, so I ignored her.
Especially, the new evolution which had just unlocked from adapting to Lilia fire.
[Evolution Unlocked]
[Dragon Scales: -10% Damage Reduction against stronger fire magic]
Though adapting to an S rank fire magic, lower tier will no longer affect me.
But higher tier will, so it was a go head start.
The scales crawled out my skin like a second layer, I studied my hand briefly.
It was a bit opaque, giving my skin a redish color. Before it adapted to my skin taking it’s color and feel.
’That’s much better.’
Not knowing she was going further than just a heat wave, Lilia lifted her palm toward me, gathering flame in a circle — some sort of magic ring forming a molten-like spear.
"You’re going to regret backing me."
The baroness seated at the table sat upright. "Lilia, you’re going too far," a gentle voice among the baronesses cautioned her.
But I could still sense the incoming strike. The pinpoint concentration of mana at her palm, the fine refinement of perfect mana control — to spare her the praise. freewebnσvel.cѳm
Yet I didn’t defend, putting my trust in Aria to stop Lilia. For the second chance, it was my way of testing her trustworthiness, and also showcasing how the queen valued me.
I know I hate being someone’s property, but sometimes you have to use your shameless title to get what you want.
Just as the spear was about to shoot out of Lilia’s palm, Aria moved smoothly and caught the spear mid-air with fluidity.
"Lilia, I think that’s enough. The queen has kept Lord Amor in my care — to protect at all cost. If you’re planning to kill him—"
Aria then gripped the spear. Its heat slowly ebbed as it turned to nothing but ash, slipping from her fingers, drifting into the air.
"—you’ll have to kill me first."
Aria added, locking her eyes on Lilia.
It didn’t take long for Lilia to humble herself. Her mana calmed down, and she turned away.
"Hmph." Folding her arms.
Watching the scene was satisfying. Now I had more faith in Aria. She might not be devoted to me, but her loyalty to the queen — to follow the queen’s word to the end — was something I could use for now.
Her command was to protect me. Knowing fully well the queen’s words could probably change if they found a cure to their curse. One that isn’t me.
I wiped the smirk off my face, clearing my throat before addressing the baronesses.
Just as I was about to speak, my eye landed on a baroness standing away from the table. Her presence, compared to the other eleven seated around it, didn’t speak of authority — more like someone with little to no right to be in this room.
No wonder I didn’t notice her at first.
The black cloak over her, with her wings out. And one of her horns broken.
’Wait, what?’
Like she noticed my stare, she turned her gaze — just enough that she could see me. Our eyes met.
A dark purple.
I felt my soul flinch at her intense stare. She was just looking at me, yet I could sense her stare went deeper. My heartbeat grew faster, fear crawling across my skin like thousands of insects.
Quickly, I tore away from her gaze. A heavy feeling lifted off my chest.
’What just happened.’
I peeped at her again. ’That must be who Aria told me about. I can’t scan her mana. The assassin?’
"How long are you going to stand there?"
"Why do you look like you just saw a ghost?"
"I think he looked into Vi’s eyes. Ha!."
The room was pretty bored. Hearing the complaints of the women seated at the table, I quickly composed myself.
I took a sharp exhale before moving on.
"My name is Walter... and I assume you all know my position in this kingdom."
"The queen’s pet?" Leinax replied jokily.
"No. Your last hope. I’m your last hope against the curse upon the dragons preventing you from having offspring. For that reason alone, I’m here."
Suddenly I had the room’s attention as everyone quieted down.
"Without me, your race will soon be history. But with my seed, which adapts and overcomes, I’m your last hope. For such, I need a favor."
"Disgusting." A baroness clad in shiny armour, with a blade at her side, spat. She looked at me with disgust.
"I didn’t expect you to boldly spit out such vicious words before us. What do you take us for — to rush to grant you a favor for what, sex?"
"And you’re nothing but a human the queen bought. If the queen wanted, you could be caged and milked for your seed like a farm animal," another added.
"To be clear, that’s entirely impossible."
"Do you dare?" Leinax smiled.
I paused, then exhaled.
"I don’t doubt the queen’s ability to get me caged, but—" I raised a finger. "My seed becomes ineffective if just extracted from me. My ability only works when I’m willing. It activates, adapting to my partner — at climax it perfects, and immediately immunises them. But if I’m unwilling, I can prevent that from happening, essentially deactivating my magic."
I then smiled at Lilia’s earlier words, now fully grasping her question. freёweɓnovel.com
I turned to her. "It seems you’ve heard the news." I walked up to her. "I wasn’t given this power by your queen — I awakened it."
"Aria, is he speaking the truth?" Lilia asked, not taking her eyes from me.
All eyes turned on Aria, standing just by the door, composed. She nodded.
"Amor here hasn’t taken any blood from the queen yet, and as we can all see, he possesses mana."
The room went still instantly before murmurs began to spread.
’A human that can use magic naturally — he has to be a half-cast.’
"That’s right." I turned to the congregation of baronesses.
"I’m not an ordinary human, as I said earlier. So your earlier option of treating me like a damn bull? It’s in the bin."
I walked back to the table, slamming the queen’s letter on it.
"Now, before I open this — here’s my favor. Or call it a condition."
"Before I engage with any of you, you must offer something in return. Either magic techniques, a political position in your constituency — or information on who tried to murder me yesterday."
I looked around, receiving no response or reaction.
"No surprise no one is surprised at the mention of the assassination attempt. So you all already know, right? Someone tried to kill me because they believed I was tainting the dragon bloodline."
I pointed my finger around their circle. "Someone here knows."
"So what — someone tried to kill you?" a green-horned dragon replied. "How does that have anything to do with us?"
"Well, I wouldn’t have added a condition to get a night with me."
"No one wants a night with you. If the queen wants the dragon race out of extinction, she should take you to the villages — I’m sure she’ll get plenty of volunteers. Why exactly are you here?" the armoured baroness replied, her tone still disgusted.
But it was time to play my final card. The very thing that would get them scrambling to me.
I picked the letter from the table, raising it once more for them to witness the royal seal. Still present on the envelope.
"To answer that question, we’ll have to read the queen’s letter. Her ultimatum."
