CH. 528: Apology

Tiamat returned to the Underworld to remind the Devil Emperor of the promise he made and forgot. She should have expected this type of forgetfulness from Ddraig's friend.

But a surprise awaited her in the Underworld.

An aura that should have vanished from the face of the earth — the draconic aura of her old friend filled the palace. This aura wasn't faint, like the aura she once sensed from Asahi's gauntlet.

Ddraig was alive.

Ddraig's aura fluctuated wildly when Tiamat closed in on the palace, confirming her suspicion.

'You thought you could fool me. How negligent of you to release your full aura.'

She got an easy entry into the palace, possibly because of her amiable relationship with the Emperor. She reached the door that housed Ddraig, the Devil Emperor, and some others. The room wasn't that big by the dragon standards, which made her narrow her eyes.

'Ddraig can't be here... except if—'

"Asahiiiiii, why are you doing this?"

"You said you'd try to meet Tiamat. Why are you scared? I'm here."

While listening to the drama taking place on the other side, Tiamat reached for the door.

"Stop..."

The cold voice prompted Tiamat to turn, and she saw a blonde-haired girl standing there with barely concealed rage in her golden eyes. Tiamat raised a brow. The girl before her didn't come from a devil or angel bloodline. She was a normal human, yet the power surging in her seemed divine in nature.

'What is going on with this girl?'

As much as she wanted to decipher the girl's mystery, she lacked the time to focus on anything but Ddraig.

"Cute Miss, I have come to meet His Majesty, the Devil Emperor. Can I go?" she asked with a refined smile.

She didn't enjoy harming children, so she took a friendly approach.

"Ais! There you are!" Haruhime arrived by Ais' side and warily gazed at Tiamat. "Are you Otou-sama's wife?"

Tiamat frowned. "Who is your father?"

"Asahi Onii-san is her father."

"Asahi? Isn't that the Emperor?" Tiamat rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Just say so if you're the princess."

"P-Princess? I can't be a princess... I am an adventurer!"

"But you are one..." Ais said. "A real princess..."

Tiamat ignored the friends and opened the door. A silver-haired woman with dragon's features whined as she pounded the Devil Emperor's chest.

Venelana rose from her seat and nodded respectfully. "Miss Tiamat."

"T-T-Tiamat. What are you doing here?!" Serafall freaked out to see yet another dragon. "Are you trying to attack His Majesty?"

She was ready to fight if Tiamat did so much as nod her head. Tiamat instead smiled and shook before she slowly turned her head. "Ddraig."

Ddraig visibly shivered, tightening her arms around Asahi as if trying to return to his soul. He patted her back, encouraging her to face Tiamat.

"You can do it."

Asahi couldn't understand this deep-rooted fear of Tiamat. Ddraig had surpassed her peak, hovering between the Heavenly Dragon Class and the Dragon God Class.

'What did Tiamat do to her?'

(She is scared to admit her lies about her death.)

'That's... cute.'

Shizuka quietly patted Venelana's shoulder, who was lost in the conflict between two dragons and Asahi.

"Let's leave them. Follow me," Shizuka whispered.

Venelana wanted to help Asahi but there wasn't anything she could do. Dragons were unpredictable — she had learned it firsthand from her friend Ruby.

So she followed Shizuka out of the room, dragging Serafall with her.

"Ddraig, look at me."

Tiamat grabbed Ddraig's shoulder, forcing Ddraig to face her. Ddraig's face was refined and mature, contrary to Tiamat's mental image of Ddraig's human form — a muscular woman with thin clothing like an Amazonian warrior. And Ddraig's body provoked lust as if made to seduce.

Once Tiamat got over her surprise, she spoke, "You feigned your death for the sake of hoarding my treasures. You're an awful person and a coward‌..."

"I am not a coward," Ddraig retorted, furious. "Fight me if you think I'm a coward."

"You got more courage in your new body, huh?" Tiamat assumed a chilling smile that sent shivers down Ddraig's spine. "Or it's because you found a mate."

Ddraig's eyes wandered unconsciously. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"His scent is all over you, and your scent is all over him. Your aura is also coiling around him possessively. I have only observed that in dragons who are mates. Your lies are pathetic, Ddraig. What happened to the Red Dragon Emperor?"

Tiamat laid Ddraig out for yet another lie.

"Yes, he is my mate," Ddraig admitted begrudgingly before sighing and assuming a softer expression. "I'll return all of your treasures. I promise."

"You... still don't get it," Tiamat said with a rueful smile. "I should have expected it."

"That's kinda true," Asahi agreed with Tiamat. "Her head is filled with fighting and, well, spanking she gets from me."

Asahi and Tiamat joined hands in giving Ddraig accusatory glances. She still couldn't comprehend their reactions.

Ddraig yelled, "What did I do now?!"

Tiamat sighed and left the room. Ddraig glanced over at Asahi with an almost teary-eyed look that pleaded for help. He wanted to leave her clueless, letting her figure out Tiamat's real reason for her fit of anger. Then again, he would be a bad husband if he didn't point his wife in the right direction.

(Musclehead Ddraig, you never learn, do you?)

Surprisingly, Ddraig nodded, as if accepting Klyscha. "I am thickheaded."

(...A hint. Remember Ruby's challenge.)

Ddraig frowned, contemplating with all of her brain power. "Ah, I get it!"

She dashed for the door to chase after Tiamat. She was still lingering in the hallways with Ais and Haruhime.

"Tiaaaaaaamat, wait!"

Tiamat didn't flinch when Ddraig crashed into her like a cannonball. "What is it?"

Ddraig rubbed her cheeks against Tiamat. "I'm sorry."

"What?" Tiamat blinked her eyes. "What has gotten into you?"

"I should have told you everything. I was scared you would curse me for dying without returning your treasures... I was afraid of coming off as a sore loser."

"Idiot, I don't care about that," Tiamat whispered, smiling a little. "I was wallowing over your death, but I held back my rage. You died on a battlefield as you always wished with no regrets..."

She could have waged war against the Biblical God if Ddraig wasn't an extreme battle maniac. That type of revenge would be dishonorable to Ddraig.

"I'm sorry for lying like that," Ddraig apologized again. "After dying, I recognized that words impact more than fists..." she recalled Ruby's provocative words and Klyscha's daily teasing. "I promise to find your treasures on my own without Asahi's help. Your hoard will be back."

"You are showing consideration for someone's feelings. You matured."

"It's a positive change." Ddraig chuckled. "At least I feel like it is."

"It only took thousands of years."

"Shut up!" she shouted with a red face.

Ddraig dragged Tiamat around the palace before bringing her out. Tiamat led her to her place in the Underworld, the Valley of Dragons. While Ddraig was flying in her human form, she took the chance to talk to Klyscha.

'Klyscha, can you hear me?'

(What is it?)

'I'm sorry for leaving you like that. I was impulsive in my decision.'

(Well, I never took offense to anything.)

'You never do. I...' Ddraig took a deep breath before yelling inside her head. 'I'll join you after my treasure quest is finished! Let's get along in your room!'

(The miracles my love brings with a good night of fucking brings. He is truly amazing.)

'...'