The Kingmaker System
Chapter 280 - 279. My Burden (1)

Chapter 280: 279. My Burden (1)

The child’s cries were weakening, his small body trembling as if each breath was a battle he was losing. His eyes, barely open, flickered with pain, and the sight sent a pang of helplessness through me. My hands, steady despite the chaos in my mind, cradled him closer.

Steam rose from his scales, curling in the air like a sinister omen. I clenched my jaw, suppressing the growing dread that clawed at my chest. My patience, already fraying, was one scream away from snapping.

With no other choice, I turned inward, reaching out to the ethereal presences that had guided me before.

"Help me out here!" I demanded, my voice resonating with desperation.

A moment passed before the familiar response of the system lit up in my mind.

[Goddess of Wisdom says it’s impossible for them to interfere.]

"Impossible?" I snapped. "You interfered when the Aqua Dragon’s Presence first attacked me!"

[Defender of Divine Glory explains that at that time, you required their aid.]

"And I don’t need it now?" My voice cracked as I looked down at the child writhing in agony. "I need your help—he’s dying!"

The system’s response came swiftly, calm in the face of my rising panic.

[Goddess of Wisdom says there will be sacrifices in your quest.]

My breath hitched, anger flaring in my chest. "This isn’t a damn quest—it’s a child’s life!"

[Goddess of Wisdom advises you to keep your cool.]

"Keep my cool?" I hissed through gritted teeth. "If you don’t provide me with a solution now, I’ll destroy this entire kingdom!"

The room fell eerily silent for a moment, save for the child’s labored breaths. My threat hung in the air, raw and unfiltered. Then, the system chimed again, this time with a different message.

[Hint: You have one unused reward from Giver of Gifts.]

My heart skipped a beat, hope sparking amidst the chaos. "Giver of Gifts!" I shouted, clutching the child to my chest. His small body was radiating unbearable heat now, the steam curling thicker with each passing second.

[Giver of Gifts clarifies that she cannot save the child or undo the curse.]

The hope fizzled out as quickly as it had ignited. My frustration surged. "Then give me a damn solution! What can I do?"

[Giver of Gifts asks you to make a choice.]

"What kind of choice?" My voice was sharp, teetering on the edge of desperation.

[Goddess of Wisdom warns Giver of Gifts about oversharing information.]

[Giver of Gifts assures Goddess of Wisdom that she knows what she’s doing.]

My patience was hanging by a thread. "What?! What is it?!"

[Giver of Gifts advises you to give the child your essence to stop the present predicament.]

"As if I could do that! He’s refusing it!" I reminded.

I didn’t know why he was not accepting my essence just yet, but I couldn’t let him die like this. If he wanted to die he could do it when he was done experiencing his entire life, not now.

Before I could ask for something else, another notification appeared.

[Giver of Gifts has rewarded you with a special gift.]

[Congratulations! You have received the gift of Connection to Life Energy.]

The description unfurled before me, the words glowing with a faint ethereal light:

[Connection of Life Energy: A mystical bond that allows the Host to link with other beings on a soul-deep level. Through this connection, the Host can sense the other person’s emotions, pain, and energy flows, no matter the distance. The bond resonates with their elemental affinity, enhancing their synchronization and understanding. It is both a shield and a guide, allowing them to share strength in times of need. This connection grows stronger over time, forging an unbreakable link.]

I barely finished reading before my thoughts collided in a torrent of questions. "If I use this, would I be able to break the curse?" I asked, my voice tight.

[Giver of Gifts says you can’t break the curse, but you will be able to hold it down using your Supreme Healing power.]

It wasn’t a permanent solution, but it was enough for now. The child’s life hung by a thread, and this bond would at least give me time. I didn’t hesitate.

"All right," I said, resolve hardening in my chest. "Let’s go with it."

The system responded instantly.

[Do you want to use the Connection of Life Energy?

Yes.

No.]

"Yes!" I said without a moment’s pause.

A new warning appeared, its words stark and unyielding:

[Warning: The entity the Host wants to connect with is bound with a curse. It could be dangerous for the Host. Are you sure you want to proceed?]

"Yes, goddammit!" I shouted, my voice trembling with urgency.

[Connection to Life Energy activated.]

The air around me shifted. A radiant, blue light emerged from my chest, twisting like liquid threads as it moved toward the child. The light touched his trembling form, weaving around him in delicate, intricate patterns. My essence—my very life force—was flowing into him.

The child gasped sharply, his eyes widening as the golden threads sank into his scales. His writhing slowed, the black mist retreating like a predator sensing a greater power. The curse fought back, surging with defiance, but the bond held firm.

Pain shot through me, sharp and consuming, as if the curse were lashing out against my soul. I gritted my teeth, refusing to let go. I could feel the child’s emotions now—his fear, his pain, his despair—and I clung to them like a lifeline.

"You’re going to be okay," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I promise. You’re not alone anymore."

The golden light dimmed, settling into a soft glow that connected us. The room fell silent, save for the child’s labored but steady breaths. I slumped back, exhaustion washing over me like a tidal wave.

For now, he was safe. But I knew this was only the beginning.

The child’s form also shifted, he went back to his human form and slumped in my arms as he lost his consciousness. I patted his back as I held him close to me.

The child’s trembling body suddenly stilled, his form shifting as the curse’s hold loosened. His shimmering scales receded, replaced by soft human skin. He slumped forward, unconscious, his head resting against my chest. I held him close, my hand instinctively patting his back in a soothing motion, though my mind was far from calm.

A tightness coiled around my chest and throat, not unlike the grip of invisible chains. The curse, now shared between us, made its presence known, a dark weight that seemed to pulse with malice. I could feel it—an unnatural tether binding his soul to mine, and with it, the curse that had plagued him.

This is my burden now.

I glanced down at the child’s serene face, my resolve hardening. Whoever this mage was, he’d just made an enemy of someone far more dangerous than he could ever imagine.

I laid the child gently on the bed, pulling the blanket over him to ward off the lingering chill. For a moment, I stood there, watching his shallow breaths, grounding myself with a slow inhale and exhale. Then, without another glance, I turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind me.

The sound of voices filtered through the walls, guiding me to the next room. As I stepped inside, Lyall and Asher turned toward me, their conversation abruptly halting. Their faces paled as their gazes locked onto me, and Lyall gasped.

"Ma-Master!" he stammered, taking an instinctive step back.

"He’s all right for now," I said, my voice steady. "Arrange some food for him. He’ll need it when he wakes up."

But Lyall wasn’t moving. His eyes darted from my face to my arm, his expression one of shock and... fear?

"What?" I demanded, frowning.

"Your—your face and arm..." Lyall stuttered, pointing at me with a trembling finger.

Confused, I glanced down at myself. The sight made me freeze.

Black tendrils snaked from beneath the sleeve of my left arm, twisting and writhing like living shadows. The curse was not merely a burden; it was manifesting physically. Pulling off my cape and pushing up the sleeve, I revealed the full extent of the corruption. The tendrils coiled around my arm like dark veins, pulsing faintly.

I turned to the mirror on the far wall, and what I saw made my stomach twist. The left side of my face was now covered in shimmering blue scales, glinting faintly in the dim light.

"The hell..." I muttered, my hand brushing against the scales as though touching them would somehow confirm they weren’t real.

Lyall’s sharp intake of breath broke the silence. "D-dark spell?" he stammered, his voice trembling.

"It seems the disguise isn’t strong enough to suppress the effects of this curse," I mused aloud, ignoring his panic.

"Dark spell?!" Lyall repeated, his voice rising.

"Don’t concern yourself with it," I said sharply, turning away from the mirror. "We don’t have time for this. Hurry and implement the next step."

Lyall blinked, startled. "The... the next step? You mean the news?"

"Yes. Spread the news," I confirmed. My tone left no room for argument. "I want it in tomorrow’s newspapers."

Lyall hesitated, his gaze flickering back to the black tendrils on my arm. I could see the questions forming in his mind, but he knew better than to voice them now. After a long pause, he nodded stiffly and left the room, his footsteps hurried.

Asher, however, remained rooted in place, his wide eyes fixed on me. He seemed unable to look away, his breaths coming in short, uneven gasps.

"You..." he whispered, his voice barely audible. "You’re really..."

"Yes," I interrupted, meeting his gaze evenly. "I’m really a Dragon. I wasn’t joking the last time."

The color drained from his face, his lips parting in disbelief. "B-but then why—"

"I don’t have time for explanations, Asher," I said, cutting him off. My voice was firm, though not unkind. "Right now, you need to do what I say. We’ll discuss this later."

He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing as he struggled to compose himself. Finally, he nodded. "What do you want me to do?"