TTDBK 04

Episode 4

“Wow, really? I’ve been dying to kill Grock myself, but if you do it for me, that’d be perfect!”

That was the first thought that shot through Baberi’s head, but she was far too suspicious to accept Kur’s proposal at face value.

This is what happens when your life is one long string of betrayals. Poor me.

The self-pity lasted only a heartbeat. Baberi lifted her chin toward the dragon and demanded,

“Why exactly are you trying to make a deal with me?”

Anyone who dangled an appealing offer right from the start was usually a conman. Baberi had learned that lesson the hard way, after surviving far too many phishing calls back in Korea.

“What’s in it for you if you kill Grock? What could you possibly gain by forming an alliance with me? And wait—hey! What do you think you’re doing?”

Kur had suddenly started undoing the buttons on his shirt. No matter how loudly she yelped, he ignored her, baring his chest without hesitation.

A neat black hole marred the center of his flawless white skin. The contrast made it look even darker.

“My magic hasn’t regenerated since you left me this wound two years ago.”

Baberi narrowed her eyes. There was no mistaking it—that injury was her handiwork.

So this was all about revenge after all. Damn it. Before I can gut that bald bastard, I’m the one who’s going to get eaten.

She braced herself for him to say as much, but instead Kur continued,

“I’ve been supplementing with magic stones, but it’s nowhere near enough.”

He looked down at his own chest with a bitter expression. He was always drained, always weary. For some reason that look made a bead of cold sweat trickle down Baberi’s back.

“Uh… sorry about that, Kur. But you know, I never actually wanted to fight you in the first place. It was Grolock who threatened me into it.”

She rushed to explain that she hadn’t fired that ballista out of spite. Kur only gave a dry laugh.

“You told yourself you’d slit my throat for the sake of your career.”

Why did dragons have to have such good memories?

Baberi clicked her tongue inwardly.

“Did I say that? Can’t recall. Maybe you misheard?”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

He scoffed and began buttoning his shirt again.

“I wouldn’t waste time on something as unproductive as revenge against someone who left me with only this minor wound.”

Minor wound? He can’t even recover magic anymore!

Baberi rolled her eyes. Clearly he was posturing. But the important part was that he wasn’t actually plotting revenge. That, at least, sounded promising.

“So you’re saying you don’t want to kill me? Not even a little?”

“There is someone I want to kill. But I’ll take care of him myself. My reason for joining forces with you is different.”

Right. Different—like making sure I let my guard down before stabbing me in the back.

Baberi studied him closely, hunting for any sign of a lie.

“To recover magic on my own, I’d need the Desert’s Heart. That’s what I want from you.”

At last, she understood.

On the continent of Almeria, only four S-class magic stones existed. Three were lost to history, nothing but legends. The only one whose whereabouts were certain was the Desert’s Heart—national treasure of Tiris, kept by none other than King Grock.

“If it’s the Desert’s Heart you’re after, why not just kill Grock and take it yourself? What do you need me for?”

Kur sighed.

“If it were that simple, I wouldn’t be here begging alliances with humans.”

Unlike ordinary stones, S-class stones recognized their owners. They only worked in the hands of the rightful master, and ownership transferred only at the master’s death.

If Baberi killed Grock, she would become the new owner. But if Kur killed him, the stone would remain inert. He was a dragon, not a human.

“For me to claim it, I’d have to receive a living transfer from the current owner.”

In other words, his plan had three steps: recruit a useful human, forcefully kill Grock, and then get the new owner to hand over the stone.

“Other methods exist, but they’re far more complicated—borderline impossible. Not worth discussing.”

His look made it clear: Do you get it now?

Baberi nodded slowly.

“So that’s why you’re desperate for a human ally. I see. I’ll think about it.”

She tried for a sweet smile. In reality it looked more like the grin of a scam artist, but Baberi was convinced she looked angelic.

“So… how about getting me out of here first?”

She jerked her chin toward the boulder pinning her. Her arm felt as if it had been dipped in fire.

Kur gave her pallid face a cool glance and smirked.

“I’ll free you when you accept the alliance.”

Baberi clicked her tongue. Sweat slicked her back—this wasn’t good. She forced herself to keep smiling.

“Trying to play chicken with me, huh? That won’t—”

Her words broke off as her head spun violently. Her tongue went numb, slurring the words.

“I’ll… kill the king myse—…”

And then darkness swallowed her.

***

When Baberi snapped awake, drenched in sweat, she was lying in a bed.

Kur sat wordlessly in a chair by the fireplace, watching her with eyes sharp enough to cut. She froze.

“Your hair is shorter.”

At last he spoke. Her brows knitted. He was right—her golden hair that once fell to her waist now stopped above her shoulders. Not her choice. Returning to Tiris had left her like this.

“Whoever chopped it off, I’m going to repay the favor someday. With interest.”

Her list of enemies kept growing—Grock, the court wizard, and now whoever had butchered her hair.

Keeping her eyes on Kur, she twitched her hand beneath the blanket. The trembling had lessened, but her arm wasn’t strong enough for the ballista yet.

If that lizard attacks me now, can I even fight back? Not like this.

Her anxiety must have shown.

“If I’d wanted you dead, you’d have never woken up. As long as the alliance holds, you’re safe.”

“…I haven’t actually agreed yet.”

“Then agree now.”

His tone was commanding, which set her teeth on edge.

“Wouldn’t be wise to refuse. I don’t know what you’ve been doing these past two years, but your condition is abysmal.”

She flinched. He’d hit the mark.

“Especially your right arm. That poison has caused permanent paralysis. Can you even fire a ballista like that?”

Baberi silently cursed Grock. Ordering her to slay a dragon and then poisoning the very arm needed to wield her weapon? Genius. She longed to spit her fury aloud but held her tongue. Better he not know the truth.

“Want to test it? Maybe put another hole in your chest—it might cool you down.”

She smirked to hide her nerves. Kur only snorted.

“In that state, you couldn’t even break through Tatarra Castle’s guards.”

Bluffing was pointless; he’d already seen through her. She sighed in defeat.

“So the mighty dragon plans to help this weakling out of pity?”

“If you hand me the Desert’s Heart, yes.”

Baberi fell silent, weighing her options. Attacking Grock in his fortress, guarded by those ridiculous blue-uniformed knights, would be near impossible alone. But with a dragon at her side? One roar above the castle and panic would scatter the guards. In the chaos, killing Grock might even be easy.

Still… could she really trust Kur not to betray her? If she were him, she’d never forgive the woman who had left a hole in her chest. She’d return the favor—twice over.

After a long moment, she clenched her jaw.

If he betrays me, I’ll just put a couple more holes in him. No way I’m going down quietly.

“I have one condition. I won’t kill Grock quickly. I’ll drag it out—make it slow, painful, humiliating.”

Her eyes glinted with cold resolve.

Revenge had to be crafted with precision. And she already knew what Grock hated most.

“I’m going to be king.”

The man despised any challenge to his authority. Taking his throne, his lands, his people—that would shatter him more than death.

Just imagining his lip bleeding from how hard he bit it in frustration made her smile. A brilliant plan. She was a genius.

“Humans and their obsession with power… I’ll never understand it. But if stealing his throne is your way of claiming the stone, fine.”

Kur looked tired of the whole business but nodded.

“Then let’s seal this alliance with a handshake.”

Still sitting on the bed, Baberi extended her hand, tilting her head when Kur just stared.