Raising Villains the Right Way

The gauntlet dyed black.

From ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍there, a Black Dragon burst out.

Alon, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Penia, and even Evan, who had been pulling the carriage, were all left stunned by the sudden appearance of the ‘Sin of Pride.’

“It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍worked—!”

Seolrang ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍shouted cheerfully with a carefree smile, not even responding to the sin’s words.

Alon, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍still dazed, called out to her.

“Seolrang?”

“Hm? What is it, Master?”

“What exactly happened here?”

“Hmm—”

It was a bewildering situation.

Everyone wore expressions demanding an explanation.

Seolrang thought quietly for a moment.

“As for what happened—”

She soon began explaining.

As he listened to everything, Alon slowly stared ahead.

More precisely, at the Black Dragon flowing out like a specter from the black gauntlet in Seolrang’s hand—

No, at the Sin of Pride.

How long had he been staring at the dragon like that?

“So.. I didn’t mishear, right? You’re saying the Sin of Pride had already been attached long ago......?”

“Yeah, but?”

Just like Alon, Penia asked in shock, and Seolrang replied with a face that seemed to say, ‘Is there a problem?’

The explanation lacked coherence, but for now, Alon looked at the sin.

“Do you perhaps intend to converse?”

It was a cautious question, but the Black Dragon simply stared straight at Alon without much reaction.

[It doesn’t matter.]

“It’s unexpectedly friendly.”

As Penia muttered, the Sin of Pride tilted its head.

[We have always been friendly toward humans.]

“Are you serious?”

[Isn’t it better for humanity to continue living rather than be destroyed?]

At that answer, Penia made a dumbfounded expression.

After waiting a moment, Alon brought up the main point.

“Please explain.”

[There’s nothing much to explain. I moved to carry out my objective, and in the process, you returned, causing failure. As a result, a divine-blood fell. And—]

The Sin of Pride’s furrowed gaze turned toward Seolrang.

[-How much power have I lent you until now, and yet how can you treat me like that!? Apologize!]

Its voice was filled with indignation, as if offended.

“Did you perhaps do something?”

At that, Penia showed curiosity, and Seolrang shrugged calmly.

“Hmm— before I gained power, I couldn’t separate it, so I left it alone, but after gaining power, I could separate it, so I split it off.”

[You didn’t split it off, you shoved me into a dark storage room, didn’t you?]

“Hmm~ did I?”

[Kraaaaaah!!!]

For some reason, the Sin of Pride screamed in a way that felt similar to Basiliora.

Watching it, things felt oddly strange, but—

“......Uh, anyway, since we’ve implanted the sin into the artifact, it seems we’re halfway there.”

Leaving behind Seolrang, who unintentionally provoked it saying ‘So noisy~,’ and the raging Pride, Penia summarized the situation for now.

Alon nodded as well.

“That’s true. It seems the next step will have to be done later.”

“I think so too. After all, you said that affinity is somewhat important.”

“That’s right.”

“Well, in some ways, they do seem close.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, and also—”

Penia trailed off and shifted her gaze toward Seolrang.

Alon also looked at Seolrang’s face.

Just quietly.

Before long, Alon’s group arrived at the small village ‘Shu,’ located near the labyrinth city Lartania beyond the ruined Ashtalon.

“They’re holding a festival?”

“Indeed.”

A festival was in full swing in the village.

Despite being a small village, quite a lot of people were coming and going, and the scale of the festival was considerable.

The group was briefly surprised, but Evan, who had quickly looked around, commented.

“Well— around this time, it’s definitely a period when festivals are held.”

“You knew?”

“Somehow. This place is quite famous among mercenaries.”

“Among mercenaries?”

At Alon’s question, Evan nodded.

“It doesn’t seem particularly special.”

Alon turned his head.

Right now, it was crowded because of the festival, but judging by the village itself, it was small, so it felt strange.

At that, Evan shrugged and added.

“On the surface, maybe. First, this village is known for its beer.”

Evan pointed with his thumb toward the vast farmland in the distance.

“Second, this is the birthplace of the Mercenary King.”

“....The Mercenary King?”

“Yes. Well, it’s already been over 20 years since that person died, but when the Mercenary King was alive, there was always a festival in the village. That tradition continued.”

“So it’s not just a village festival, but a festival for mercenaries.”

“Pretty much. It’s like a holiday that every mercenary celebrates.”

“That is quite interesting.”

At Evan’s explanation, both Alon and Penia nodded with interest.

“Shall we stay here for today?”

“The sun is about to set, so that would be best.”

The sunset was approaching.

It seemed better to stay for a night.

“That’s nice, we can enjoy the festival too.”

“Mm— it’s my first time seeing a mercenaries’ festival, so I’m interested.”

Alon’s group decided to stay overnight in Shu and enjoy the festival.

“Alright then, let’s get a room first and move.”

Evan immediately moved the carriage.

Perhaps excited about the festival, he even whistled quietly.

Contrary to their concern that rooms might be hard to find due to the festival, Evan skillfully secured an inn room.

“Alright, I’ll go have some fun!”

And without even looking back, Evan headed outside.

From the gap in his pocket, Blackie and Basiliora—who hadn’t been able to come out because Seolrang was around—were seen secretly hiding.

Glancing at that, Penia rolled her eyes for a moment.

“Lord Alon, I’ll go out too.”

She then followed after Evan, who had already gone ahead.

And then.

“Master! Let’s go look around together!”

After the others left, Alon, who had been watching them for a moment, turned to Seolrang.

A familiar smile lingered on her lips.

“Yes.”

Alon went outside the inn with Seolrang to enjoy the festival.

“Wow!”

As soon as they stepped onto the street, Seolrang exclaimed in admiration as if she had been waiting for it.

Everything fascinated her, and she busily turned her head here and there among the many people.

Alon walked through the lively village, taking care of her.

“Beer! Have a cup of beer!”

“This side is cheaper than over there!”

“Skewers~! Get your skewers!”

Just as Evan said, perhaps because it was famous among mercenaries, most of the people on the streets were mercenaries.

People wandering around with smiles on their faces, enjoying this rare peace.

Watching them, Alon turned his gaze to Seolrang walking beside him.

There was a smile on her lips.

Her eyes busily looked around.

Sway, sway—

Her tail swayed constantly, showing her mood.

Still, the same as always,

“Ah, Master! Should we eat that?”

“Sure.”

Alon turned his gaze toward where Seolrang pointed.

There was a small stall selling skewers.

“Let’s go.”

“Wow~!”

Excited by Alon’s answer, Seolrang ran toward the stall.

Alon followed behind her.

After that, he continued to enjoy the festival with Seolrang.

“Master! Look at that!”

They watched a wandering magician’s play in the middle of the street.

“Mm— this is delicious, Master!”

“I see.”

They went around eating delicious-looking food from stalls.

“Fireworks!”

“They’re small, but yes.”

At the small village square, although much smaller compared to the fireworks he knew, they still watched fireworks.

And as the sky became completely dark and the Blue Moon rose,

“That was fun!”

Alon and Seolrang returned to the inn.

Unlike the noisy outside, the room was quiet.

“Master, you had fun too, right?”

Seolrang’s voice echoed in that silence.

She was smiling.

With the same smile as always.

With the same gaze as always.

As always, swaying her tail, asking for Alon’s thoughts.

And as Alon quietly watched her.

“Seolrang.”

He slowly opened his lips.

“Hm? What is it, Master?”

Seolrang tilted her head.

Looking at her, Alon continued.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

At that, confusion filled Seolrang’s face.

Because what Alon had just asked was an abrupt question that lacked context if it referred to today’s events.

“Hm? What do you mean, Master? What happened? Did something happen to us?”

Muttering to herself, ‘Did something happen?’ and tilting her head, she looked just like herself.

The slight sideways movement of her eyes.

The way her lips gathered slightly in the center.

Even the exaggerated tilt of her body.

Everything was like her.

Too much like her.

So much so that it made one wonder if Alon himself was mistaken about something.

...............However, even so, Alon’s gaze did not waver.

If it had been the first time, he might have wavered a little.

He might have wondered if he had seen wrong, or misunderstood.

In fact, he had done so before.

But he had already reached a conclusion.

What had first been suspicion.

But now, a fairly certain conclusion.

Therefore.

“Then why—”

Alon calmly spoke the truth.

“Are you acting?”

Perhaps an uncomfortable truth.

Seolrang looked at Alon with the same questioning expression.

Alon also silently met her gaze.

At times, silence had been peaceful, but now it felt suffocating.

Yet Alon neither spoke further nor turned his gaze.

They simply exchanged looks.

Without a word.

Quietly.

Alon could not tell what emotion had flashed across Seolrang’s eyes for a brief moment.

It seemed like a certain emotion appeared for an instant, but he couldn’t read it.

The emotion that passed through her eyes was too faint and too quick for him to grasp.

After that suffocating silence passed.

Seolrang’s atmosphere slowly began to change.

The eyes that had clearly held joy and curiosity just moments ago became emotionless as if it were a lie.

The corners of her mouth, which had curved showing her fangs, closed calmly.

The tail that had never once stopped since the moment she met Alon lowered quietly.

And.

“How did you find out?”

A calm voice of Seolrang—one Alon had never heard before—reached his ears.