This sudden sense of "presence" was so clear that even people in deep sleep were jolted awake in an instant.
It was so majestic, so indifferent; even though they could see nothing when they looked up, every witness knew... He was watching.
It was beyond comprehension, beyond description.
Aside from the clear knowledge that they were being watched, mortals could glean no other information.
"Boom—"
Finally, this eerie atmosphere ended with a dull, heavy thud that echoed across the heavens.
The starry night was torn open, and within a long, diamond-shaped rift shrouded in pale red mist, the outline of a vertical pupil slowly emerged. Although it was utterly foreign, everyone gazing at that vertical pupil could react immediately.
That was the dragon's eye.
Following that, a terrifying dragon's might swept down from the sky. Every mortal, regardless of rank or strength of will, felt an indescribable palpitation of the heart.
It was the curse the evil dragon had cast upon the entire world; any mortal life would inevitably feel fear and panic because of it.
The vast majority of ordinary people collapsed in terror the moment they felt the dragon's might, and even those with some resistance found it difficult to summon the thought of defiance.
The only thing to be thankful for was that the dragon's eye did not immediately bring calamity down upon the royal capital. After forming, this seemingly mindless existence began to trace a crimson trajectory across the night sky, drifting toward the distance.
Wherever it passed, the dragon flame embers falling from the sky melted the frost-covered land.
But this was not a kind act of removing the cold for the people of Midwinter. The land scorched by the dragon flame would turn completely into a wasteland where not a single blade of grass could grow.
The reason the borderlands of the Midwinter Kingdom were uninhabited was precisely because of the ancient dragon's invasion.
Faust, who had been standing on the balcony catching the breeze, saw this scene. Even though he told himself he felt no reverence for true dragons, his body still tensed up instantly.
The prince regent looked up at the dragon's eye, falling into a state of confusion.
"What... what did I do?"
"Faust!"
In the room behind him, Lola's anxious voice called out. The Queen of Midwinter had torn off the cumbersome hem of her long skirt, completely disregarding the elegant decorum she usually maintained as she ran over.
"What? The magic mirror shattered? No, that magic mirror could actually turn into a dragon's eye?"
After Faust learned what had happened from Lola, he became even more surprised.
As far as he knew, the evil dragon that had invaded the Midwinter Kingdom years ago was long dead. There was no way an evil dragon could continue to wreak havoc for so long in this world.
Lian, the dragon lord of the Second Empire, was already the longest-living fallen dragon recorded in history. Of course... perhaps there had been good dragons who lived longer before, but that history had long been erased.
【Hmm... Faust, I see you still underestimate dragons. A fairy of a fallen dragon is a god walking among mortals. Even after death, the remains stripped from a true dragon stay active. Or rather, it needs to stay active, just in case it can still be used? For example, right now.】
"Talk about making the most of everything. One evil dragon can be split into several scripts? You really understand cost-cutting and efficiency, Wheel of Destiny."
Faust couldn't help but grumble in his heart. Compared to her contractor's speechless state, the fairy's mood was visibly excellent.
【The appearance of an evil dragon in the "witches' feast" means the antagonist of this script has shifted. Is it because your act of reforming the Queen of Midwinter caused the script to deviate? So your previous actions were actually well-thought-out after all. I thought you were just satisfying your own tastes.】
【Faust, you guessed right again. You are always right.】
Faust: "........."
"Did I really have that much foresight?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking. I'm truly half a step ahead of fate!"
While Faust was marveling at his own world-shocking wisdom that even the primordial fairy found impressive, Lola was also staring at the young man's handsome face, her cherry lips pressed tight.
She had, after all, been a queen for decades. Although she had reclaimed her youthful mindset during her time with Faust, she still made a responsible choice in this moment of crisis.
Lola took a step forward, held Faust's hands, and urged him.
"Faust, you should leave first. I will try to intercept the dragon's eye."
The cool and beautiful black-haired older sister bit her lower lip and said.
"If even I cannot stop it, then take Selena and leave Midwinter first. The dragon disaster will not last long; the fairies will surely step in to resolve it."
Seeing Faust's eyelids droop as a look of displeasure surfaced, Lola quickly added.
"Of course, I will leave too! I'm only going to delay it for a bit; I have no intention of throwing my life away here."
This woman, who appeared cold and mature on the outside but was surprisingly pure-hearted inside, pursed her lips, terrified that the man before her might misunderstand.
"Good. It seems you actually listened to what I said before."
Faust nodded and said.
"That's a good plan, but I'd like to make a small adjustment."
The man before her waved his hand grandly.
"Why run? The manifestation of the dragon's eye is a good thing. The curse that has shrouded the Midwinter Kingdom and troubled you for a thousand years has finally materialized. By defeating it now, we can perfectly resolve the curse!"
Having spent so much time with Mephistopheles, Faust's perspective had unconsciously become too elevated. He didn't even place a dragon in his eyes, so to speak.
On a regular day, the prince was considering how to scheme against the wheel of destiny and exploit loopholes in the script. He only played high-stakes games and focused on mechanics.
Compared to a battle of wits against the wheel of destiny, no other difficulty felt like a difficulty at all.
After all, nothing with a physical form was terrifying. As long as it could be perceived, glimpsed, and interfered with, it could be defeated and overcome. It was simply a matter of exhausting one's bravery, strategy, will, and luck.
Since it wasn't an existence that was absolutely impossible to defy, why avoid it?!
A crisis was also an opportunity. In the eyes of the audacious Faust, the only thing he saw were the rich rewards to be gained from defeating the dragon's eye.
Seeing the prince so confident, Lola pondered for a moment and asked.
"Are you going to confront the dragon's eye head-on?"
"What else?"
Faust looked in the direction the dragon's eye was traveling and said.
"Wait for it to turn the Midwinter Kingdom into scorched earth? I still want to unite our crowns over this land. Even if you didn't step in, I would go to stop it."
It was unclear if Faust's composure had infected Lola, but being watched by the man's warm and firm gaze, the anxiety in the Queen of Midwinter's heart was soothed.
Lola folded her hands, placing them elegantly over her flat stomach, and said calmly.
"I am the Queen of Midwinter; protecting the kingdom is my inescapable duty. Prince of a foreign land, if you have the determination to seek the hand of 【Snow White】, then be prepared to face death with her."
The 【Snow White】 Lola spoke of at this moment did not refer to Selena.
Faust laughed. "Ha, you and Selena really are each other's half. Even at a time like this, you say the exact same things."
It wasn't the first time the prince had been expected to join a suicide pact. These 【witches】 seemed to love such romantic gestures.
Rate on N.U.
