Even If I'm Reborn as a Cute Dragon Girl, I Will Still Make a Harem-Chapter 112Book 6: : Ember
Beyond the galaxy, an ancient, unadorned bronze longsword appeared as if it had crossed countless stretches of space and time, descending upon this place without warning.
The bronze longsword was unimaginably massive. Endless chaotic qi coiled around it, while brilliant great stars, like flickering fireflies, rose and fell in tandem with that sea of chaos.
At the tip of the bronze longsword sat an elderly man cross-legged, bearing the air of an immortal sage. His brows and beard were both white, and his aged face carried an authority that needed no anger to assert itself. His wide taoist robe fluttered in the cosmic gale, yet not a hint of him wavered.
The Sky Ruins Deity Lord.
“So I am the first to arrive?”
The Deity Lord slowly opened his eyes. In the instant they opened, it was as if newly formed chaos settled throughout the universe, and boundless radiance scattered in all directions. Yet in the very next moment, he reined it all in, making him appear no more than an ordinary old man.
“Where are those other old things?”
His long brows lifted slightly as he looked toward the Thoughtless Deity Lord, who was sprawled comfortably atop a dead star, calmly observing the unfolding drama from the sidelines.
“And what are you doing?”
“They’ll probably need some more time,” the Thoughtless Deity Lord replied lazily, reclining in her lounge chair as she watched the scene with great interest. “As for me, can’t you tell? I’m just watching the show from the sidelines.”
“Nonsense!” The Sky Ruins Deity Lord was enraged by the Thoughtless Deity Lord’s slovenly demeanor. His face turned solemn as he spoke righteously, “A great enemy stands before us, and the safety of the Great World hangs in the balance. You are the Thoughtless Deity Lord, the object of faith for countless beings. How can you act so frivolously at a time like this!”
“Oh, oh, you’re amazing. So responsible,” the Thoughtless Deity Lord replied, casting him a sideways glance before pointing toward the massive formation in the distance. “If you’re so capable, then you go on ahead. The Dragon Queen and a complete Dragon Eater are both in there. Pick either one and fight them. I truly believe you’ll have a bright future. Go on!”
“…A complete Dragon Eater?” The Sky Ruins Deity Lord’s stiff old face twitched.
“Mhm.”
“…And the Dragon Queen is at full strength as well?” The Sky Ruins Deity Lord subconsciously plucked out one of his own whiskers.
“Not quite at full strength, but probably not far off.”
“……”
Under the Thoughtless Deity Lord’s teasing gaze, the Sky Ruins Deity Lord let out two awkward dry coughs.
“Ahem, ahem. Very well, very well. The enemy is numerous while we are few. Charging in recklessly would indeed be unwise. I shall observe for now and make my decision later.”
With a sweep of his sleeve, the Sky Ruins Deity Lord stored the bronze longsword away.
Then, with a turn of his body, he too arrived on this star with an excellent vantage point. Using an array that concealed his presence, he gazed toward the center of the battlefield.
“Eh? Why is Dragon Ancestor Gerald here?”
“Well… that’s a long story.”
“Eh? Why does the Dragon Queen want to kill Gerald? Aren’t they of the same race?”
“Well… that’s also a long story.”
“Eh? Then why is the Dragon Eater helping Gerald? Wasn’t she raised by the Dragon Queen?”
“Ahem… that one is an even longer story.”
“Eh? You’r—”
“Enough with the ‘ehs’ already! Aren’t you annoying? Can’t you just watch for yourself?” the Thoughtless Deity Lord snapped, feeling like she was being endlessly pestered by a fly.
“No, I merely wished to say…” The Sky Ruins Deity Lord turned his head and looked at the Thoughtless Deity Lord expectantly… at what she was enjoying. “What you’re watching seems rather entertaining. Care to let me join in?”
“……”
***
“What freedom? What sacrifice? I never wanted those things in the first place, and I do not care about them at all! What right do you have to ignore my wishes and force these things I never needed onto me?”
Lilith struggled and shouted in fury, her eyes bloodshot. Yet no matter what she did, she could not slow the Dragon Eater’s steadily advancing soul combustion.
“But I care.” The Dragon Queen smiled as she gazed at Lilith. This queen, who had always been unyieldingly strong, now had tears glimmering in her eyes. “Your freedom and your happiness are the most important things to me. For them, I am willing to sacrifice everything.”
“Why! Why do you get to decide! You are not even my real mother. You have no right and no qualification to sacrifice anything for me. Stop it! Stop right now! I order you to stop!”
“I’m sorry, Lilith.”
The Dragon Queen cruelly turned her head away. “This is not the time for childish tantrums. After this, you may hate me or resent me if you wish, but this one thing is non-negotiable. It must be done.”
“A child? You still think I’m a child? But I’m not a child anymore, Mom. I’ve grown up. I can tell right from wrong. I can stand on my own. I have my own thoughts, and I want to walk my own path. Mom, I’m not a child anymore.”
“In my eyes, you will always be a child. That is a mother’s privilege, even if… that mother is nothing more than a counterfeit.” The Dragon Queen no longer looked at Lilith.
Instead, she turned around and stared into the distant heavens, speaking to the Dragon Eater. “Speed it up a little. Sky Ruins has already arrived. The other Deity Lords are probably not far behind.”
“You’re as cold as ever to anyone other than Lilith. Do you think refining soul fire can just be sped up on a whim?” The Dragon Eater could not help but give a bitter smile.
Even so, she hugged Lilith even tighter.
“All right, Lilith. Endure it a little longer. It won’t be this gentle next.” As her words fell, the sacred flames burned ever more fiercely. Gone was the warmth like a spring breeze. In its place was a harsh, sandstorm-like agony, each sharp thread piercing directly into Lilith’s soul.
It was as if something were being brutally forced into her soul, merging with it until the two could no longer be distinguished.
Yet Lilith seemed oblivious to the excruciating pain. Tears streaming down her face, she pleaded with the increasingly faint and translucent girl before her.
“Please… stop. It took me so long to finally think of you as a friend… you can’t be this cruel to me. Beef noodles… don’t you like beef noodles? I can take you to eat lots and lots of beef noodles… and if you get tired of them, I can eat other things with you too… Please… don’t do this… you don’t even know your own name…”
After the piercing pain came an overwhelming vertigo. It was as if an invisible giant hand tore Lilith’s soul from her body, flung it violently into the high heavens, then smashed it back down from an immeasurable height.
Then it was thrown into a centrifuge, everything spun apart into scattered fragments.
Finally, it was dropped into a boiling cauldron, stewed in searing heat until everything fused together perfectly.
At the final moment before her consciousness faded, Lilith heard the last murmurs of the girl who was about to vanish completely.
“Thank you, Lilith. Because of you, my ending does not feel quite so pathetic. I’m happy that I could become your friend, and I’m even happier that I could die for a friend.”
“Lilith, you don’t need to feel guilty for me, nor do you need to grieve for me, because my death leaves no regrets.”
“I’ll tell you a secret. Back then, I didn’t just eat beef noodles. I also petted a really cute kitten. The kitten’s fur was so soft and smooth. It felt wonderful to touch…”
“As for my name… just call me Ember. The final ember left behind after an entire race burned itself out, after all false love and hatred had dissipated. And from the embers that are me, a spark named Lilith will be born.”
“Lilith, don’t cry anymore. From this moment on, you will be reborn, becoming a true Dragon Eater, a truly perfect Dragon Eater without any flaws. From then on, no one will have the right to stand in your way. At that time, you will be free.”
