I Got a Job as the Demon King's Plaything - Chapter 69
The dragon’s voice rumbled through the air, sharp and oppressive. The sheer weight of its presence made the air tremble, and in that instant, Lucas realized the grave mistake they had made.
‘…This is a disaster.’
Facing the dragon in person, Lucas understood Kaplites was far stronger than he had anticipated. Even injured, the difference in power was overwhelming.
He stood in front of his party, shielding them as he glared in the direction of the voice. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, the full form of the dragon became clearer. It took him a moment to understand why only one red eye glowed in the darkness. The answer soon became evident—Kaplites’ other eye was still festering from the hellish flames that had seared it. The dragon’s wound was raw, oozing, and it clearly remained in agony from the injury.
‘To have reduced such a powerful dragon to this state… just how strong is the Demon Lord?’
The tip of Lucas’s raised sword trembled as the realization hit him. Raul, sensing the immense magical power radiating from the dragon, lightly placed a hand on Lucas’s shoulder. As a mage, he too understood the depth of the dragon’s strength.
“Now isn’t the time to fight.”
Lucas sheathed his sword, then called out to the dragon.
“Great Dragon Kaplites, why have you allowed us to enter your lair?”
“You should know that it’s the color of your hair that spared your worthless life.”.
Without thinking, Lucas ran a hand through his golden hair. It was a distinctive trait, a mark of the imperial bloodline. Only those descended from the royal family bore such a brilliant shade of blonde.
“You already realize that you are no match for me. I will let you live, but only if you return to your palace and bring me a way to erase the flames that have scarred me.”
The royal family had been blessed for generations by the Twenty-Nine Gods, and Kaplites believed there might be something in the palace that could counter the Demon Lord’s flames.
Before anyone could respond, a crackling river of lightning erupted between Lucas and the rest of his party, separating them. It was clear—the dragon intended to keep his companions as hostages. Lucas quickly looked back at his team. Jorge, the hot-headed knight, was gripping his sword, ready to charge recklessly, while Raul, despite knowing the futility, was preparing a spell.
No. Lucas couldn’t let his companions die senselessly. In that moment, he revised his plan. Raising his hands in surrender, he called out to the dragon.
“Dragon, you misunderstand. Though I bear royal blood, I am nothing more than a bastard. The Emperor cares little whether I live or die.”
“Then I have no reason to keep you alive,” Kaplites growled.
“But that wound of yours…”
Lucas trailed off, glancing back at his party.
“Sophitia, what do you think?”
The woman named Sophitia, dressed in sacred robes, stepped forward with a pale and nervous expression.
“Divine power is the counter to magical force. It’s worth a try. If you permit me, I will attempt to heal you.”
“…Very well.”
The red glow of Kaplites’s eyes flickered for a moment before his towering figure shifted and shrank, revealing a tall young man stepping out from the shadows. Kaplites had taken a human form.
“This form will be easier for you to work with.”
Sophitia nodded, clasping her hands in front of her chest. She closed her eyes, and after a long, silent prayer, a soft white light began to form between her palms. When she opened her hands, the orb of light floated gently into the air and drifted toward Kaplites’s injured eye, merging with it.
“…!”
As the light seeped into his wound, Sophitia swayed, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She began to stumble, but Lucas quickly caught her before she fell.
“Impressive,”
Kaplites murmured with a smile. Though his eye still wept a slow stream of pus, the pain had noticeably lessened. In Lucas’s arms, Sophitia caught her breath and spoke weakly.
“Tw-two or three more treatments should fully heal it. I need a day to recover between each session to regain my divine strength, but… it will work.”
“I can wait as long as necessary.”
