Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: A Bond Revealed Chapter 57: A Bond Revealed Inside his room, Noah stood tall, looking down at Leona, who knelt before him with her head slightly bowed.

"You’re telling me Elijah confessed his love to you?"

"Yes," she answered, her voice soft.

A low chuckle escaped Noah’s lips. "That’s good. Your performance was... excellent, Leona. Truly."

He stepped closer, his eyes calm but unreadable. "I promised you a reward once your job was done. Tell me, what do you want?"

Then, more pointedly, "As long as it’s not freedom, I’m open to anything."

Leona hesitated. The only thing she truly wanted was freedom—but she knew better than to speak that aloud. She could ask to accompany him to the demon continent, but that would be far too suspicious. And so, swallowing her pride, she bowed her head lower.

"I’ll let you decide, Master."

Noah smiled, a satisfied glint in his eyes. "Good choice."

He turned away, thinking. She was his slave—bound to him by contract, unable to disobey. But even so, he didn’t like taking chances. His master had warned him: You know nothing of this world... there are always loopholes. If there was even the slightest chance she could break free without his consent, he needed to be prepared.

Let’s give her something that even after freedom she will choose to be with him.

But what could he give her?

His thoughts wandered to his second talent—his ultimate fusion.

Why not test it again? Today?

He smirked.

"As a beast master," he said suddenly, "is there any beast’s blood you’d like to have? A creature whose traits you wouldn’t mind inheriting?"

Leona looked up, clearly confused. But she answered anyway.

"Of course... A dragon. If I had their blood, I’d become a dragon-demon hybrid. It would be incredible. And taming dragons in the future would become so much easier."

Her voice was filled with longing—undeniably, this was her dream.

"You don’t have dragon blood, do you?" Noah asked.

She gave him a look as if he’d just asked the sky to bleed. "Master, you jest. Dragons? I can’t even imagine acquiring their lesser kin—drake or wyvern blood, let alone a true dragon’s."

She shook her head with a sigh of quiet frustration.

Noah nodded. Of course—dragon blood wasn’t something you just found lying around.

Because dragons... they were monsters.

Take Alice, for example. That girl could kill you with her voice alone. How the hell is that fair?

But life wasn’t fair. Never had been.

"Stay here," Noah said at last. "I’ll find a way to get you what you want. I made you a promise. And you did more than enough to earn it."

Before Leona could respond, he vanished.

Noah appeared in the white realm, his presence distorting the empty void around him.

Elira had given him an artifact allowing him to teleport here freely now. No more summoning rituals. No more waiting.

"You’re early today," a calm voice said behind him.

He turned to see Elira, his master, sitting elegantly on what she liked to call her "space chair." Still, even now, he couldn’t sense it—not with his eyes, his mana, or even his space sense. Nothing.

She was truly beyond him.

He pushed the thought aside and approached. A month had passed since they’d begun their strange yet growing bond. Her affection toward him had reached 60%. But since then... it hadn’t moved.

’I have to find a way’, he thought.

Without a word, he sat beside her and gently laid his head on her lap.

Elira said nothing, only smiled and began stroking his cheek, her touch soft and motherly.

"Do you need something, dear disciple?" she asked.

Few would believe this serene goddess could speak so gently. But no one knew—not yet—of the strange relationship forming between them. Only Ester knew. Of course, she knew—she was his shadow, after all.

"Master, do you have dragon blood?" Noah asked suddenly.

Elira raised a brow. "Why do you need that?"

"I made a promise to reward Leona if she succeeded. That’s her dream. And I... I don’t want to break my word."

He kept his tone honest. She deserved at least that much.

"What exactly will you do with it?"

Noah hesitated. A shadow passed through his eyes.

Elira’s smile faded ever so slightly.

’He still doesn’t trust me’ she thought. A flicker of bitterness crept into her heart.

A notification appeared.

[Elira’s affection for you has decreased to 58%.]

Noah’s breath hitched. What?

He looked up at her and saw it—disappointment, quiet and hidden, but unmistakable. That hurt him more than any blade.

She’d been kind. Too kind. Protective. Generous. She’d given him everything, spoiled him rotten—and yet he’d kept so much from her.

Elira had always told herself to be patient. He was still learning. Still growing. Still adjusting.

He will open himself soon.

But after everything, she had hoped—just hoped—he would finally open up.

Still, he was silent.

In the depths of her soul, the ancient voices stirred.

’Elira, be reasonable. He’s just afraid. It has been only a month.’

’Yes, but damn it, does he even see how much you care?’

’I’ll talk to him, man to man—’

’You’ll scare him with that face. Let me—’

’I swear to the most unholy,’ Elira snapped inwardly, ’if I hear one more word, I’ll trap all of you in the butt of a dog for a month.’

Silence.

’You like dogs—’

’SHUT UP!’

The inner council went mute.

Meanwhile, Noah clenched his fists. He understood now. She’d seen his reluctance. And that small, silent pain—it had cost him.

He couldn’t afford to lose her. Not like this.

So—

’Damn it... so be it.’

He grasped her hand gently and sat up. His voice was soft, but it trembled with honesty.

"I didn’t mean to upset you, Master. I was afraid. This secret... it’s everything to me."

"But I see now, I’ve no reason to hide from you. You’ve supported me, believed in me. You’ve given me everything. And I haven’t given you anything in return."

His silver eyes searched her face, vulnerable and open.

"So today... I’ll bare everything. My heart, my feelings—what I’ve buried deep for fear of rejection or of disappointing you."

Elira blinked, stunned. A blush crept up her cheeks.

Too adorable. Too much for a being at her age.

He smiled, heart pounding.

"I like you, Master. I really do. Use your Soul Eyes, see for yourself."

Without hesitation, Elira activated them. She needed to know.

And she saw it—Noah’s soul. Calm. Clear. Honest.

No lies.

No doubt.

Elira’s heart skipped a beat.

"You see?" Noah whispered. "I love you. I want to be with you. But I thought... I’m not worthy yet. You’re beyond anything I’ve ever known. Your strength, your wisdom..."

He swallowed. "But I can’t wait anymore."

"As for the dragon blood... I need it because I have another talent. One beyond my ice talent."

Elira was now completely focused.

"My other talent is called Ultimate Fusion. An EX Unique Rank."

Her breath caught.

"W-What?"

She stared, stunned. "You... have an EX Unique Rank talent?"

Him too?

No wonder he’d kept it hidden. That kind of power could reshape reality itself.

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And yet... he’d told her. After confessing his feelings, he shared his greatest secret.

Elira’s chest ached—too full, too warm.

All her life, she’d been alone. Always chasing power, always building. Never looking back. Never letting anyone close.

Until Noah.

At first, he was just another promising student. But something about him had cracked open a part of her she didn’t know existed. A desire to nurture, to protect, to love.

And now...

"I love you too, dear disciple," she said, voice trembling with emotion.

[Elira’s affection for you has reached 80%.]

—End of Chapter 57—