Hate me, Miss Witch!

Chapter 429 - 218: Become My Dragon Knight (2-in-1) (Part 2)

"Long ago, I whispered similar sweet words to a young Silvia."

"At that time, I didn’t pay much attention, because back then, I thought the Echo of History was just a shadow of the past, and everything I experienced was nothing more than a fleeting game. Once said, no one would hold me accountable in a mere game."

"But the truth was quite different."

"My few casual words back then became the shackles and obsession that troubled her for life."

"They left her confined in the cold, desolate Tower, burying herself for five hundred years."

"Silvia once mentioned, she no longer minded my deceit from back then."

"Yet, even now, I somewhat regret my past actions."

"When a woman loves a man, the cost is often much greater than when a man loves a woman..."

"Sometimes, that cost could mean a lifetime."

Shiayar reluctantly withdrew his hand and said sincerely.

"That’s why since then, I made a certain resolve..."

"If it’s an enemy, it doesn’t matter, for throughout history, all’s fair in war. To achieve ultimate victory, I’ve never hesitated to employ any despicable means to win."

"However, when it comes to friends, to those I care about, it’s different."

He smiled, "Actually, my way of knowing whether I’ve genuinely taken someone into my heart is quite simple."

"And that is, whether I’m willing to lie to her..."

"Even though I previously intended to give Silvia a surprise, I regretted my actions as soon as I pretended to have amnesia."

"Likewise—"

Shiayar looked at the girl in the black dress before him, "You too are someone I wouldn’t deceive with lies."

"I have always regarded (Night) merely as a simple Pet Beast."

"However, without a doubt, ’Augustina’ has already found a place in my heart."

"This bond might have started in the Third Era of Escarnia, when you stood beside me as the King of the Imaginary Zone, Isadella, and the shattered Crimson Red Moon."

"Or perhaps it started even earlier, at that Borgia family’s banquet when you killed Guderian for me, a seed was sown unnoticed even by myself..."

Shiayar’s reply was earnest as he gazed at the dark golden dragon eyes of the girl in front of him, without a hint of evasion.

"You are different from Ennie, Isadella, and Silvia..."

"Ennie goes without saying, both His Majesty and Silvia Babe, I’ve spent long periods with them in the Echo of History, forming enough of an emotional foundation."

"The start of destiny may be due to a beautiful encounter akin to divine inspiration, but the cultivation and blossoming of feelings... necessitates a lengthy period for fermentation."

"Previously, we only interacted as Beastmaster and Pet Beast, or as customers and the proprietress of the Dark Shadow Council... but never truly as a man and a woman."

"In the Abyssal Depths of the First Era, you accompanied me, taking care of me for a full five hundred years... I’ve kept it all in my heart."

"Honestly speaking, I was very touched, yet that period could hardly be considered a normal relationship between lovers."

"Therefore, I won’t pledge those lifelong promises as they’re simply false..."

"But I believe, that’s not too big of a problem either."

Shiayar smiled.

"Since there are no memories, let’s create new ones together."

"Since there is no accumulation of feelings between a man and a woman, then let’s gradually accumulate them."

"Honestly, confirming a relationship and then cultivating feelings, for me, is quite a new experience."

"However, precisely because I haven’t experienced it before, it instills an eagerness to try it.

"So, would you like to give it a try?"

The glow of the setting sun intertwined with candlelight.

Against that crimson backdrop, Shiayar reached out a hand toward Augustina.

"Starting today, from this moment, no longer as Pet Beast and Beastmaster, but as equals in a relationship between a man and a woman..."

"To get to know each other anew, to encounter each other anew, and to gradually accumulate memories—"

"To become acquainted again, to understand each other again..."

"And then, to fall in love."

The light of the sunset gradually faded from Augustina’s eyes.

In the Silent Forest, the shadows of ancient giant trees extended slowly, as the final glow of dusk set the sky ablaze like flames.

In that increasingly dense night, Augustina’s eyes had never been brighter.

Tsk.

She sighed softly.

"Is it... worthy of calling you my Contractor, my master?"

Although Shiayar spoke of being unwilling to lie, unwilling to utter sweet nothings or words of tender emotion.

Yet, the ripple left in Augustina’s heart by those words just now.

Was far more melodious than any sweet nothing.

"However..."

"In the end, it’s just empty words without proof."

"I’ve waited for so many years now... don’t think you can dismiss me so easily."

In Augustina’s eyes, those dark golden dragon pupils seemed like flowing magma surging on.

"Since you mentioned, to first establish the relationship between us, and then slowly accumulate feelings."

"Then, in the relationship of lovers—"

"There are certain things that can be done only between lovers, right?"

So Augustina softly, like a little cat, slowly approached Shiayar.

Within those dark golden beautiful eyes leaped a wary gleam, carefully examining Shiayar’s expression.

Although she was a Dragon of the Night that stood over the ages, living from the First Era to the present, yet this was her first time being so close to someone...

In the data Augustina collected, Shiayar’s most formidable trait was not his talent, nor his character... even though in these aspects Shiayar had already surpassed most Legendary beings and Thrones.

His most formidable ability was disguise.

By means of disguise, he could deceive strong enemies within the Echo of History, causing Fabled Creatures with ranks far above him to fall in his hands, like Norton, like Guderian, like the Crimson Red Moon...

Therefore, Augustina was uncertain if Shiayar’s words now were another disguise, a perfunctory one.

She feared being rejected.

The distance between them was only a step apart, yet to Augustina, it felt like a long journey.

Until, the young man before her opened his arms and embraced her.

In that instant, the candlelight extinguished.

The faint night filled the Silent Forest once more.

They had embraced like this before.

Early in this dream’s onset, Augustina had awakened in Shiayar’s embrace.

Only at that time, she was in the identity of Enola.

Her heart was full of nerves from pretending to be someone else, coupled with the possessiveness twisted by obsession, every action needed to be contemplated repeatedly, solely to replicate the words and deeds of that golden-haired girl.

But not as she was now.

Relaxed, with an open heart.

The embrace felt warm.

Far more beautiful than what Augustina had imagined countless times in her dreams.

Crack—

This was the sound of something breaking.

At that moment, Shiayar sensed his 4th Soul Pact, which had always been void and empty, wrapped in darkness, suddenly had cracks spreading wide.

And brilliant light radiated.

The 4th Soul Pact, compatibility rate reached one hundred percent.

This was something Shiayar had never imagined before.

After all, his 4th Soul Pact had always been abnormal, unusable; he had long planned to abandon this Soul Pact for life.

And as a true throne, the Pure Blood Dragon of the Night spanning the ages.

Augustina’s Soul Pact compatibility reached the pinnacle, bringing Shiayar unimaginable enhancement.

Allowing him, after those five hundred years of time, having been stuck for so long, to breach through a new height in his rank.

"Even if it’s just in your dream right now, it’s okay..."

"I want it, as the proof of lovers."

An ethereal voice echoed in Shiayar’s ear, the body in his embrace becoming increasingly warm.

Snow-white arms encircled Shiayar’s neck, breath fragrant as an orchid.

She softly spoke in Shiayar’s ear:

"Tonight, become my Dragon Knight."