The Kingmaker System
Chapter 283 - 282. Cursed (1)

Chapter 283: 282. Cursed (1)

I went up to the child’s room after meeting Marvoni. The boy had woken up and seemed to be waiting for me, his small frame perched on the edge of the bed.

As I entered, his head snapped up, and his eyes lit up with recognition. "Lord Dragon," he said, his voice small but steady.

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You can speak now?" I asked, moving closer to him.

He nodded hesitantly. I placed a hand on his head, ruffling his soft hair while letting my mana flow through him. The curse was still there, clinging stubbornly to him, but my mana seemed to have weakened its hold.

"But not much," he murmured, touching his throat as if testing his voice.

I smiled reassuringly. "Don’t worry. I’ll get rid of it completely soon."

The boy looked up at me, his small face scrunched with concern. "Why... are you covering your face?"

"Ah, this?" I said, removing my mask. His gasp filled the quiet room.

The left side of my face was covered in shimmering, iridescent scales that began under my cheekbone and spread down my jaw, neck, and shoulder to my arm.

"I messed up a little, so I don’t look as handsome for now," I said with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "Though, I think it looks kind of cool, don’t you?"

The boy’s lower lip quivered, his small hands clenching into fists. "Is it... because of me?"

I sighed softly, crouching to meet his gaze. "No, it’s not your fault," I said firmly. "This was my choice. Understand? None of this is because of you."

Tears welled in his eyes, and before I could say more, he sniffled and let out a soft sob.

"Oh dear," I muttered, feeling an unfamiliar tightness in my chest. I pulled him into my arms, wrapping him in a firm but gentle hug. He was small and warm, trembling slightly as he cried into my shoulder.

I patted his back, my voice soft. "It’s okay, little one. You’re safe now. I promise we’ll fix everything soon."

After a moment, I added, "When this is all over, we’ll go home. You, me, and Lyall. How does that sound?"

I couldn’t understand children though I knew hugs usually worked on them since it made them feel as if they were safe and warm.

The boy sniffled, his sobs quieting. He nodded slowly, and I felt the faintest hint of a smile against my shoulder.

When he finally calmed down, I sat him on the bed and took the chair beside it. He studied me carefully, his wide eyes flicking to the scales on my face and arm.

"What... did you do?" he asked hesitantly.

"I used a spell," I explained. "It connects my life energy—my soul—to yours. That way, I can hold back the curse for you."

His eyes widened in alarm. "But then... you’re—"

I shook my head quickly. "I’m fine," I said, cutting him off gently. "I’m strong, remember? I have the mana heart of the Supreme Aqua Dragon. This curse isn’t a problem for me."

He didn’t look entirely convinced, but before he could argue, I leaned forward, meeting his gaze.

"Listen to me, child," I said seriously. "I could have hidden all of this from you. I could have left you in the dark, not telling you anything about what’s happening."

He frowned, his small brows furrowing in confusion.

"But I’m not doing that," I continued. "Because you need to understand. Life will get better, and you will find happiness. But life also has challenges, and you have to learn how to face them."

He tilted his head, his curiosity overtaking his worry. "Challenges?"

"Yes," I said, nodding. "You will need to learn how to protect yourself. How to stand strong when things get hard. And one day, when this is all over, you’ll have responsibilities. You’ll have choices to make, and you might even decide to go your own way, far from me and my land."

His eyes widened at that. "Far... away?"

I smiled gently. "Yes. If that’s what you want. But no matter where you go, you will need to take care of yourself. You’ll need to learn how to face the tough parts of life, just like you’re doing now."

He stayed quiet for a moment, processing my words. Then he looked up at me with a determined glint in his eyes. "Will... will you teach me how to fight? How to be strong?"

I chuckled softly, reaching out to ruffle his hair again. "Of course, little one. I’ll teach you everything you need to know."

For the first time, he smiled—small and hesitant, but real. And in that moment, I knew he was ready to take his first step forward.

At night I soared through the skies towards the palace. The chilly wind whipped around me, but I paid no mind to it. I had planted some stuff around which would help me when I had last visited this place personally.

I slowed my flight as I neared the area where I had felt a barrier the last time. However, this time when I reached out, I smirked as there was no repulsion.

It wasn’t easy but with the help of some sneaky and quick on feet people, it was easy to get rid of the orbs that were responsible for the anti mana barrier.

Currently those anti mana orbs were safely in the chest that was in the inn.

I flew right towards the palace this time, sensing for that one void presence that had been on my mind since the time I saw him. If my assumption was right then there were only three kinds of things that have the existence that opposes mana one is aura, other is dead mana and the last one was what I was going to face in this place. The worst kind of enemy.

I stopped when I reached near one particular window and I lowered without hesitation, that person must be expecting me anyways.

The person inside turned his head and looked at me as he held the wine glass in his hand.

"Ah, you’re here, I was waiting for a while now. Care for a drink?" Zale Turquoise asked.

"I knew you’d come when I came to know of the anti mana barrier gone."

I walked in without a word and in a flash I had his throat in my hand and his back slammed against the wall with his legs flailing.

"You are the bastard who casted the dark spell." I sneered.

He coughed and wheezed before a sick grin spread over his lips.

"Y-You figured it out."

"It wasn’t that hard considering your type, the only other being who can act as a repulsion to mana apart from aura and dead mana is you, a demon."

His laughter sounded more like a wheeze as his eyes glowed red, "So, what are you going to do? Kill me? Oh but that would be sad because you can’t."

His laughter was pricking in my ears, I tightened my grip making him wince.

"Ea-Easy there, Dragon." He smirked even after his face starting to turn purple, "Thi-This man is only my temporary vessel and that child with you, still has my spell, you know what I mean, right?"

He laughed again and I could feel my blood boiling. If this bastard does now without undoing the spell then the child would stay with the curse forever and even if I killed this man, this demon would still have another host.

"So-So what have you decided Oh great scion of a Supreme Dragon?" He asked.

His voice, his presence, his existence itself was enough for me to destroy but I held back, I had to.

This bastard was required to stay alive to remove the curse. I let go of his throat and he fell to the ground coughing and wheezing.

"Y-You are not quite a pleasant visitor." He commented as he stood up and walked over to the table where his wine bottle was and sat down on the chair while I stood in my place glaring at him.

"What do you want?" I asked finally and caught the evil glint in his eyes which justified the word that stepped out of his mouth after that.

"Chaos."

"You want to destroy this kingdom?"

"No, the entire human world," he chuckled, "We failed the last time but this time we’ll win."

"The Dragons are still here to beat your ass," I said and he shook his head.

"We have one less Dragon to deal with." He said making me frown.

"You want me to undo the curse on that Lesser Dragon, right?" He asked and I stiffened up tempted to break his neck but I held back wanting to know what he wanted.

"Yes,"

His evil smirk was enough to tell me that it wasn’t anything good.

"Then submit to me,"

"What?!"

"I can sense the curse on you too, I don’t know how but you have the essence of my curse on you. I want you to take that essence and submit to me. If you do that then, I will undo the curse on that child’s body."