DRD6

Chapter 6

Her eyes, still facing him, were as if drunk—dark… deep… impossible to read…

“Hey, you two. Look at me, will you?”

Ogotai tilted his head. Helios and Enya were silently, coldly staring at each other. They quickly averted their eyes toward the bewildered prince.

“Sorry.”
“Ah, yes. Please go ahead.”

Helios and Enya spoke in turn. Enya, noticing this, snickered quietly, muttering to herself, “Apologies sure come easily.”

Helios recalled last night, feeling his blood boil and his throat dry. Somehow unable to let it go, he grabbed her sleeve, apologized, and looked at her. Truly foolish.

Ogotai, watching Helios grit his teeth and Enya smirk, spoke quietly:

“…A creature has appeared in the north that I cannot defeat.”

The tense atmosphere sharpened. The prince held a paper from the low table and pushed it forward toward them. Enya picked it up suspiciously. A creature that the Iron-Blooded Crown Prince couldn’t kill?

“March 2, 878: Confirmed appearance of the Spirit-Realm monster, Mongma, between the Ochen Gorge and Naitan River.

June 23, 878: 1st Subjugation attempt—5 allied casualties, failed to eliminate.

August 19, 878: 2nd Subjugation—4 allied casualties, 1 seriously injured (left leg amputated), failed to eliminate.

…”

Helios’ brow furrowed as he read, just like Enya.

Mongma was a rank-6 monster, near the bottom tier, easily killed by someone of Ogotai’s skill. Yet, after 16 attempts, the monster hadn’t been defeated and only caused more allied injuries.

Moreover, winter was just beginning. The subjugation log stopped in August, meaning the great prince had failed to defeat Mongma for half a year.

Ogotai wasn’t joking. He was deadly serious.

“…Mongma’s illusions lure prey and feed on their life force. It’s far stronger than reported.”

Everyone already knew this to some extent. Enya remained silent for a moment, then spoke.

“But Your Highness wouldn’t be harmed. Mongma is only rank-6…”

“No. I am.”

Enya’s jaw dropped backward.

A mere rank-6 monster, yet even Ogotai, the Incarnation of Haun, could be affected. Even Helios seemed unable to understand. Ogotai continued.

“Mongma’s illusions are proportional to the prey’s strength. What it showed me was… immense. I couldn’t escape.”

His last words were almost sweet, as if savoring them. Enya forced herself to ignore the unease threatening her common sense. Surely, Ogotai didn’t fall into the illusion voluntarily. Only a truly insane person could be this reckless.

“Your Highness, even if Mongma is strong, your vitality would purge the monster’s magic before it even touches you.”
“You’re right, sister. Morgerda’s Tower Master knows what she’s saying.”

“You two, indeed…”

Ogotai laughed heartily, leaning back, but suddenly stopped. He straightened up, all laughter gone, and said:

“The problem is me.”
“….”
“I’m weak to temptation.”

Ogotai touched his chin, leaning back, his golden eyes sparkling, pristine and unyielding.

“I willingly reached for the illusions Mongma showed me. No! In fact, I already did!”

Enya’s sense of reason was challenged. Ogotai didn’t resist Mongma’s illusions and allowed his vitality to be drained. Since he possessed vitality that couldn’t be killed, Mongma must have considered him a veritable feast. Imagining Mongma growing stronger over sixteen feedings made her shudder.

“And these injured?”
“They got hurt trying to help me caught in the illusion. My sincere apologies.”

Brazen beyond belief, Enya covered her face.

“Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
“Is there really no way to resist reaching out to the illusions?”
“No.”

Ogotai smiled mischievously. His darkened eyes looked almost fierce.

“You’ll understand when you experience it—desire is hope. When your desire is right in front of you, can you really not grasp it?”

“Respectfully, sir, the desires Mongma provokes are primarily ‘sexual.’ Did it show you naked men and women rolling around?”

“Of course you’re a mental realm mage. How did you know?”

How could you not?

“Haha! Exactly! Enya, you know my tastes well. All sorts of them, exactly!”

Ogotai patted Enya’s slackened shoulders, laughing. She leaned back, exhausted, as if the situation was not worth responding to.

Helios ignored the cheeky Enya and tried to convince his sister.

“Sister. One Mongma is enough for me alone.”
“I agree. After all, he’s the one who killed the Demon King.”

Enya raised both hands in agreement, but the prince shook his head.

“No. I want to finish this quickly. It’s been dragging on for almost half a year. Mongma is extremely strong because of me. And now, it’s gone into hiding.”

The prince then explained the operation. In short: Enya would track Mongma, while Helios restrained his vitality. Once the monster was found, Helios would unleash his power to kill it instantly.

“I myself couldn’t resist, so I want skilled people on this. Helios, I trust you won’t waver, but others… I can’t be sure.”
“…Then me? I’m full of desire, you know.”

Enya pointed at herself. The prince tilted his head.

“You? You just exist barely alive. What desire could you possibly have?”

His tone was as casual as asking if she’d eaten, yet sharp.

Helios’ eyes met hers. Would she cry? Or get angry? Unexpectedly, Enya smiled faintly.

“You’re right, but still, I refuse.”
“Why?”
“As you know, I haven’t contracted with anyone. Why? Because I didn’t want to.”

She rolled her eyes, annoyed.

“I haven’t wanted to intervene. Whether subjugation or domain wars, I’ve stayed out for a long time. My resolve is firm.”

The Tower was created to control mages, a relic made by past guardian gods when they were human. Though now independent, the traces of oppression remained.

For instance, if the Tower didn’t contract with a lord or the crown, taxes would double.

Morgerda Tower and the surrounding forest were Enya’s domain, and the annual taxes were immense. Whether she contracted or not, she had to pay. There was no avoiding it.

“…Pathetic.”

For this reason, she could overlook Helios’ sarcastic remark. As always.

“Now that the contract is done, my work seems finished.”

Enya smiled faintly, her lips curling like sandpaper.

“Then I shall take my leave first.”

Her back left without hesitation, Helios’ cold gaze lingering on her for a long moment.