The World Mistakes Me for Terminally Ill - Chapter 80

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The World Thinks I’m Terminally Ill Episode 080

14. Masquerade Ball

After seeing Melina off, I finally had some time to myself.

I called for the one I had been waiting to confront.

“Kaiseus.”

When I called him ‘Kaiseus’ instead of ‘Kai’, the covenant ring flinched and trembled.

I crossed my arms while looking at the fidgeting ring.

“Aren’t you coming out quickly?”

[Ahem, my body isn’t feeling well-]

“Oh really. If you don’t come out by the count of three, I’ll get rid of your apple basket. Three, two, one-“

[Waah!]

Kaiseus hurriedly did a forward roll and appeared.

I smiled mischievously and lifted the baby dragon up by his sides.

“Now, shall we have a sincere conversation together?”

[S-save me…]

“Yeah, I won’t kill you. I’m just going to talk.”

[Uwaaah!]

I dropped Kaiseus, who hated baths, into the bubble-filled bathtub with a splash.

Just like a winged cat, as expected. He even hated water just the same.

“Oh my, look how dirty you are.”

[My body is naturally black so it’s fine!]

“Is that something to be proud of? Huh?”

When I scrubbed him like doing laundry, Kaiseus hurriedly hugged a yellow duck toy tightly and floated around in the bathtub.

“Are you really a dragon? What kind of dragon can’t even swim?”

[My body isn’t a water dragon!]

“Then what kind of dragon are you?”

[A black dragon…?]

Not knowing his own career path, he tilted his head in confusion.

I laughed at the absurdity and lifted his clean body from the bathtub, vigorously drying him with a thick towel.

Kaiseus shook his face and wings with a flutter, then held out his adorable jelly paws.

[I’m going to wear red pajamas!]

Though he was a different species and not human, since he was an intelligent being with self-awareness, I thought it wouldn’t be right to leave him naked, so I bought him exclusive pajamas.

Since then, he developed this hobby of choosing his own clothes.

‘When I first commissioned this, Madam’s eyes sparkled as she said, “Considering the Crown Prince’s measurements, the baby will probably grow quite big too,” which made me a bit flustered.’

I didn’t know, but apparently in the Northern Region, it’s traditional to tailor clothes for babies before they’re born. As a wish for them to come into the world safely.

It would have been awkward to deny it there, so I had no choice but to nod awkwardly.

Thanks to that, Kaiseus’s wardrobe was now packed full of all kinds of splendid pajamas.

“Raise your arms.”

[Hooray!]

As I was putting on the red pajamas Kaiseus had chosen, his body got stuck halfway when it should have slipped in easily.

We both went ‘?’

“Kai, did you gain weight?”

[G-gain weight! I built muscle!]

When I looked at Kaiseus suspiciously, the baby dragon cried out pitifully as if wronged.

I had thought he could fly a bit longer lately—he could now fly 10cm—and while his wing area seemed to have gained some muscle, other parts were chubby.

Especially his belly fat. Looking at his round tadpole belly, I learned that even dragons could develop belly fat.

“Did I give you too many special treats lately…”

[No. Just a little. Just a little.]

Kaiseus desperately tried to hide his belly fat, probably afraid his apples would be taken away.

I smiled softly.

“That’s right. Kids are supposed to be chubby and cute anyway.”

[Right, right. My body is cute. I’m not fat.]

Having been brainwashed by me constantly calling him cute, Kaiseus now proudly acknowledged the fact that he was cute and lifted his chin smugly.

I smiled and patted his head, then finished dressing him.

I had to unbutton one button, but so what. He’s cute.

“Kai.”

When I gave him an apple as a reward for bathing well, Kaiseus, who had been rolling around hugging it, turned to look at me.

I organized my thoughts and then spoke.

“Where did you come from?”

[Huh?]

“You’re not mentioned in the original story. Isn’t it strange that you, who aren’t a character from the original, suddenly appeared before me telling me to change the future?”

At my words, Kaiseus’s movements stopped abruptly.

I carefully observed his reaction.

“And to me, with whom you had no connection, for reasons you can’t tell.”

I could secretly probe Kaiseus without asking him directly.

Since he has childlike aspects, if I questioned him repeatedly in roundabout ways, I could probably find out the truth.

But-

“Kai. I’m not blaming you.”

The reason I didn’t do that was because he clearly held goodwill toward me.

I didn’t want to deceive someone who was favorable to me. I looked at him as he cowered and said.

“You told me about the original future for my sake. You’ve been a great help to me too. That’s why I’m curious. If you can tell me, would you?”

Kaiseus, who had been reading the mood, asked hesitantly in an uncertain voice.

[…Was I helpful?]

I smiled and poked the baby dragon’s cheek.

“Of course. You were tremendously helpful.”

[Really?]

“Really.”

[For real?]

“For real.”

At my conviction, he slightly spread his wings that had been cowering. Then, confirming that I wasn’t angry, he gathered courage and began to speak.

[As the golden human said, I don’t appear in the original records. I want to tell you the reason too, but if I do…]

“If you do?”

[Then I won’t be able to see the golden human anymore.]

I opened my eyes wide.

“You mean you’ll disappear?”

[I don’t know exactly. But probably. They said too much ‘paradox’ would occur and causality wouldn’t allow it.]

Divine revelation, something like that perhaps.

‘But isn’t learning about the future already a problem in itself?’

I couldn’t know those standards, but since Kaiseus, who knew much more about the world’s causality than I did, said so, I had no choice but to believe him.

While I was seriously pondering, Kaiseus, who had been reading the mood, spoke as if he had made up his mind.

[I just… wanted to have lots of conversations.]

What could that mean? After pondering, I asked.

“With me?”

[Yeah.]

Kaiseus nodded with eyes sparkling with excitement.

[I wanted to have so, so many!]

So that’s why he had told me all those stories.

Not knowing the exact circumstances, I couldn’t completely understand his words, but seeing his pure and innocent childlike expression, I thought, what did it matter.

I smiled and said.

“Thank you for being honest with me, Kai.”

Kaiseus flapped his wings joyfully.

[Then will you give me more apples?]

“If you eat too many at once, your stomach will hurt. Eat that first and we’ll have more later.”

[Okay!]

We sat facing each other and had snack time.

It was a peaceful afternoon.

Fifth month in Lunein.

The aftermath of the etiquette education incident didn’t end with simply restoring order to the Northern Region.

“In 10 minutes, we’ll begin the performance of [The Butterfly’s Lover] at the theater! Only two seats left! Come witness the Legend of the Moon that brings eternal love!”

“Us, us!”

“No, we were here first!”

Because the promotional play I had requested from the theater troupe became a huge hit.

The one with the content that ‘lovers who promise their love under the moon while exchanging mooncatchers will surely be united.’

You might wonder what connection that has to the etiquette education incident—

“They said this was adapted from Bella’s story at the castle, right?”

“That’s right. They said she was wearing a crystal butterfly necklace when she collapsed that time too.”

“This is a secret, but that necklace was actually a gift from the Crown Prince!”

“Kyaa! Really? Then it’s a token of love!”

Thanks to the crystal butterfly necklace I had worn doing its job as excellent publicity.

‘To be precise, it was because the boutique madam enthusiastically spread the word that ‘the necklace was a gift from the Crown Prince and Bella treasured it so much she never took it off.”

I had only asked her to casually mention it while promoting the mooncatcher, but I didn’t expect her to spread it with such dedication.

Thanks to that, [The Butterfly’s Lover] play that premiered in the Duchy became established as a must-see date course among couples.

The mooncatchers that began selling as accessories were also soaring in popularity day by day.

‘Though it’s a bit awkward that rumors spread about Shubel and me being some kind of passionate couple that not even illness could separate.’

I could feel culture and arts gradually blooming in the once desolate Northern Region.

Someday it would fully flourish and develop the Northern Region’s unique value. I thought that day might not be too far away.

‘Anyway, that’s what happened before.’

Thinking of Lunein from 5 months ago, it could be called remarkable progress, but there was still a long way to go.

What I wanted was overwhelming prestige that wouldn’t be scratched even by accusations of treason.

For that, I also needed to deal with the dark mage issue threatening the estate’s safety…

“Master, are you alright?”

I was examining the new masquerade ball invitation that the capable underworld leader had managed to steal when Erban asked.

Wondering what he meant by alright, I looked up to find fresh green eyes before me.

Tap.

Erban pressed his forehead against mine and asked with an innocent expression.

“You don’t look well. Are you hurt somewhere?”

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