The World Mistakes Me for Terminally Ill - Chapter 6

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The World Thinks I’m Terminally Ill Episode 006

Anyway, he also explained that while it had no magical curses or blessings, it was a ring made from the horn of the dragon Kaiseus.

“Dragon bone never melts, he said.”

I glinted my eyes ominously.

Right now I’m fine even when coughing up blood, but you never know what might happen.

If push comes to shove…

“Let’s grind it so fine that not even particles are visible and scatter it in the sea. Then say I lost it.”

The Duchy House would be turned upside down if they found out the heirloom disappeared, but it can’t be helped.

Despite such a fatal flaw, I just need to become important enough in the Duchy House that they can’t persecute me.

‘In the end, it’s back to gaining favor.’

Having reached that conclusion, I groaned and rubbed the wet towel someone had covered me with—

“…?”

Tremble tremble.

The ring shook.

I mean, the ring shook.

The ring on my hand actually shook?

‘What the hell is this.’

When I stared at it in disbelief, the trembling ring suddenly stopped as if playing innocent.

I narrowed my eyes.

“My body must be weak. I’m seeing things now.”

Then I gracefully rose from my seat and headed to the display case.

The display case held my lovely collection that I’d brought from the Seton Estate.

Among them, I picked up a crystal hand hammer that sparkled like glasswork.

“Do you know what I hate most in this world?”

Humming a tune, I forcibly removed the ring that somehow didn’t want to come off my hand and secured it under the hammer.

“Ghosts. They can’t be valued monetarily.”

And the moment I raised the crystal hammer high—

[Waaah!]

Suddenly the ring rolled around on its own and escaped from my hand.

It went *poof* and transformed into something.

A black, plump body, cute little red eyes, a pair of adorable wings fluttering behind its back, and a stubby tail.

Two horns protruding sharply from its head.

‘Or is it 1.5?’

The mysteriously translucent left horn was cut clean through the middle.

I looked at ‘that thing’ with an incredulous expression.

“Lizard?”

[I-I am not such a lowly creature!]

“Oh my, it even talks?”

[Hup…!]

The lizard covered its mouth with its pink jelly-like paws.

I gazed at the pathetic ring imposter with a crooked smile.

“As I thought, it’s an apparition. I should get rid of it.”

When I approached, the lizard flapped its wings frantically as if trying to escape.

However, the tiny wings were completely useless compared to its plump body.

It barely managed to float about 3cm in the air before plopping back down.

I immediately grabbed the lizard by the scruff of its neck and headed to the window.

I threw the door wide open.

[Waaaaait!]

“Got something to say, ring imposter lizard?”

[I’m not a lizard!]

“Then what are you?”

The lizard lifted its small face and declared proudly.

[I am Lord Kaiseus!]

Lord… Lord… Lord…

The lizard’s words echoed.

“Oh, really?”

I smiled sweetly and held the lizard out the window.

Whoooosh—

A fierce wind blew from below. Even though it was spring, the Northern Region’s wind was quite harsh.

“Well then, farewell. Imposter and identity thief lizard.”

The triumphant lizard’s cute wings drooped.

[…Save me, human.]

“So you’re really saying you’re the dragon Kaiseus?”

I sat on the bed with my legs crossed, looking at the black lizard in front of me.

Since the lizard was only about a span and a half in size—two spans including the horns!—I had no choice but to place it on the table for eye level.

‘No matter how I look at it, it’s suspicious.’

My intuition was telling me this lizard was connected to my coughing up blood.

So I gave it a proper scare.

The lizard, no, Kaiseus quickly nodded.

[To be precise, I’m Kaiseus the Second. I inherited that name.]

“I don’t understand a word you’re saying.”

[As expected, humans are slow-witted…]

“Choosing your words carefully would be good for your well-being, flightless lizard.”

Kaiseus looked at me like I was a villain and trembled.

[Evil human…]

“If you’re a dragon, why can’t you fly in the first place?”

[That’s because I’m not fully grown yet. When I’m fully mature, you humans won’t even be able to look up at me!]

Kaiseus puffed up with pride.

“And you call that something to brag about.”

I was a bit incredulous but became genuinely curious and asked.

“Then how old are you now?”

[100 years old!]

Watching Kaiseus proudly spread both tiny front paws wide, a certain possibility suddenly occurred to me.

‘He inherited the name? And if he’s only 100 years old now.’

With a sinking feeling, I asked.

“Are you the dragon who made a contract with the Lunein Duchy 100 years ago?”

[That’s right.]

“The dragon who started the Thousand-Year War?”

[That was my predecessor. Kaiseus the First.]

My mind spun rapidly.

I stared intently at Kaiseus’s severed horn.

Realizing where I was looking, Kaiseus rubbed his severed horn with his cute jelly paws.

[That ring was made from this horn, yes.]

“…Why? You didn’t continue the war like your predecessor.”

Because you’re still young? To build up your strength?

I looked at Kaiseus suspiciously.

Right now we were sitting face to face peacefully, but my opponent was a (self-proclaimed) dragon. According to legend, the king of demons who brings blood and slaughter.

To my question, Kaiseus answered sulkily.

[I am a pacifist.]

What?

[Don’t treat me the same as my predecessor just because I inherited the name! It’s unpleasant.]

A pacifist dragon lord, I was at a loss for words.

“…Do you also eat vegetables?”

[How did you know?]

Kaiseus arrogantly swaggered, saying his favorite thing was red, round fruit, and he would graciously accept it if I specially offered some as tribute.

I quietly raised my hand.

Thwack!

[Waaah! Why did you hit me!]

“Because your mouth doesn’t seem peaceful at all.”

When I gave him a flick on the head, Kaiseus teared up slightly and covered his head with his short arms, making an aggrieved expression.

How is this supposed to be a dragon lord?

I clicked my tongue and organized the information.

“So you’re the second-generation dragon lord advocating for peace, and you were gloomily disguised as a ring?”

[Ugh, gloomy!]

“It is gloomy. If you’re a pacifist, why were you disguised as a ring anyway?”

[That… that was our covenant from a hundred years ago.]

“Covenant?”

Kaiseus looked up at me intently.

[Eternal rest to this land.]

What came from Kaiseus’s mouth was a majestic voice that seemed to resonate with the soul, different from his previous complaints.

[I promised the Lunein Duchy a hundred years ago. In exchange for helping inherit this name, I would bring peace to this place.]

And it was exactly the same voice that had urged me to change the future and pay the price.

“-You.”

[Hmph, now you understand how great I am…]

“Where does such a tiny thing get off acting all grown up?”

When I smiled and gently patted his smooth head, Kaiseus’s face crumpled miserably.

I learned for the first time that dragons could make such expressions.

“Anyone can see that nobody would believe you if you appeared in that body, so that’s why. Well, it was the right strategy. I wouldn’t have believed it either.”

[Grr…!]

“So why me specifically?”

[…]

“What’s the reason?”

Why did you tell me about the future?

At my words, Kaiseus kept his mouth tightly shut for a moment, then opened it with a sigh.

[Because ‘that person’ wanted it.]

“That person? Who is that person?”

[I can’t tell you.]

“What?”

[I said I can’t tell you.]

With that, Kaiseus shut his mouth tight like a 100-year-old baby dragon.

I was dumbfounded, but since the stubborn baby Lizard showed no signs of opening his mouth, I gave up.

[I’m not a lizard!]

“Ah, okay, okay. Little one. Is that better?”

[It’s Kaiseus!]

“Yes, little Kaiseus. But wait, can you actually read my thoughts?”

[…I can’t help it. The ring’s owner can be heard.]

I was amazed that it even had Bluetooth functionality.

“But little one.”

[…]

“Are you sulking?”

[…Why!]

“What did you mean when you told me to ‘pay the price’?”

Even if I got to know the future, suddenly coughing up blood was too much, wasn’t it?

At my question, Kaiseus answered in a still sulky, grumpy voice, as if he was still upset.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————