RGS Vol 7 Part 9

The Duke 50fa654740 eats rotten 8f7d665b9f meat?c4d7a8b077f3acd15fde

Everyone who heard Abel’s words 4a49020bda had the same blank expression. They were so focused on connecting the hawk’s herb to the b37ddbb963 black potion that they had never anticipated this at all. It was the first thing b4fd90b017 they should have suspected.f33ec4a643886b1e9dd3

“Yes, that’s right. The reason Truyde has c7845d0786 a hawk’s herb might a896dea52f be because he eats c1c8c0b6cb rotten meat.”25eb87f2172c6b76936b

Melmond was the first to 4d340a1123 return to reality and spoke 67180b184b again, revealing his doubts.fb0f8ce657152b5bad41

“But why e764d6eea7 does he 46b5d4f082 eat rotten 63b47290f7 meat?”777f2b8d92a830d3c324

He asked Abel, but as he 8111645c56 was the one who had asked cf6ca74eed that question first, he had not fba5451d01 expected an answer right away. However, Abel was 819eb39d4b thinking a little 8f2803dbb3 deeper.6e80fd984a23be6cb4c4

“Well, if the Duke really 0e8cc5b17a eats rotten meat, it seems f6795474a9 like it might be related 8a186e34f8 to the black potion.”a50d8314f03072ba0f45

“Young Master, what 42b2c6001f connection is there?”7b5cb892f47288eea320

The butler, clearly confused, asked bdcd3b0ee4 immediately, but Abel kept his 9876ec24f9 mouth shut, finding it difficult 76265657c0 to explain his guess easily. To others, Truyde, d3fbe9df7e rotten meat, and 6dad7c41ae the black potion b913db0897 seemed completely unrelated. So, they just waited for an 5b3b57068f answer as they looked at Abel. However, Abel’s gaze was fixed on the fc750aef49 book he had been reading since earlier. After a while, 4be7079383 he said something f3705b15e2 completely out of 3c7252ece2 the blue.50572e1bbe6d6e4febb0

“This book seems to be 26b1754e82 a bit different from other 85ee2c5027 books after all.1f4b757ca0e214e77850

As he picked up 12a274f929 the book, Melmond’s face 9c91d3ad4e instantly distorted.dcb1567806d93d7c2534

That was the blasphemous 7d5a79fa1a work that called the 9458263f66 dragon a mongrel.bc8eeb69e0e78369a74f

“Hand it over. I’ll burn it.”8df4923345f6876e4525

As he reached out to snatch it, Abel panicked 2d2e6291f9 and hastily opened the book to a specific page. And after a 534339fe00 moment of searching, 0835c9b13f he looked up.9bd6fadb478f36c62b46

“Look here af6bc1acde as well. In fact, this passage isn’t a54863535b just about the dragon, but d1d7ae864d also about the knight who 75fea3a4e9 saved the country. It’s written 281747fe9b differently from 0cc973d37d what we 320f3c394f know.”7c91186ae9edcd64ed85

Abel held out the book for them to see, but d3cf6e7987 no one had any intention of looking at it.d743d7986a4c55cc7b21

Fool me once, ea72c7a5a2 shame on you; b92c2d38b1 fool me twice?05381593c9bb8d95fa48

Everyone’s eyes showed strong resistance, but 44b98751f5 Abel, undeterred, began to continue reading 9ef66763c3 the section about the knight aloud.dd7d213059fd842976e6

“Hmm, the knight is known 54b9bf5348 to have a very brazen 1bb0d9fb99 and shameless face. Thus, he was the only one who could d7ba635bb9 withstand the dragon’s cold insults and threats. As a result, he persistently visited the dragon and fcb1b606a5 bothered him, creating an incredible fortune where the dragon db36687144 had no choice but to help him. Furthermore, due to his groundless confidence in his 225fffa815 appearance, even though he was over 30 years b993311e3c old, he shamelessly claimed that he looked like fb101a9152 he was still in his early twenties. His only cfc194c0fa redeeming quality 2f0cd6e13b was his 3187af4c25 good personality.”0a0870af6be325ace811

Having read this far, Abel slowly raised his b1d087ee50 eyes, finally feeling the intense gaze on him, 6247deec6d and asked in a tiny voice.18349cb93617e0d379e5

“Doesn’t this seem 1a91a02de3 somewhat written realistically?”250d98713b91ce649456

“No.”17921c779cee86f2decf

Nani expressed 693e1e0b9f his anger, 30b1bef076 shaking his e6fb81cb70 head. To him, the legendary knight f2df68805a was a brave and beautiful 56090b5516 man who subdued the dragon.86bc9440ae2fb27ec3ed

“The knight who saved the country had a 6267d9751c face as beautiful as a flower and was fa0f206307 braver than anyone else, not to mention he e72ea68cd9 was the best swordsman on the entire continent! Even the dragon fell for him and 5c1769c60b had no choice but to love him! He was so perfect that a group of people jealous of him slandered him ebace9558d and spread nasty rumors, causing him to receive no reward despite saving the country! You must not 1508d2651a believe such content! Even if it’s you, 973b7c9bb0 Abel, if you insult ca4e310d3a the knight, I will 6ea5d01afe truly get angry!”ee9c64d4d5fe9f648214

As Nani suddenly sprang up to his feet, Abel hurriedly ebf2149108 closed the book and apologized in a timid voice. Only then did Nani, still fuming, 0f1eb7e896 grumble and sat back down but c4fb437b4d turned his back on Abel as 0c60683dbe if he was sulking.c84f51ad892667704b0c

While the butler patted Nani, Abel quietly 00603443ac took something out of his pocket. Although he should have given up on the bc86931e19 book’s content by now, Abel held the wooden 077f61428c pendant and stared at it silently. Noticing this, 51caabf70a Melmond frowned.285b7dad38050d4e0d6a

“Are you really going c2cc636501 to believe that book d0fe5ffe21 and try it out?”25d4f013e9d768f502d4

“Uh, well, whether 6642745136 it works or 7b519eec5e not, there’s nothing 91857d086d to lose, right?”b851e8d2682505c5c551

Abel stammered while glancing nervously 1b56abdc3c at Nani’s expression, then added a4163be2b8 as he held the wooden e2dadff48a pendant with both hands.bcc0e1fd77779b0e5d82

“If the wooden pendant has been passed down 7e4df421cb through the Regas for generations, I think the 8998926057 first Regas who used this was not the 7f093bf8ca King’s Regas but the Dragon’s Regas, the knight. So, he called out 7581c2d2e3 the dragon’s name while 7692b8be2c holding it. But I don’t think cb135fb81d that it necessarily has bf1e231e37 to be a name. It might have been 1b86b1d947 a nickname the knight a4f0a48ef3 used to call for 600d7f57c2 the dragon back then.”3c17ca31fdd7a6acc1e3

Although his words seemed plausible, the eyes 4818496a4a of the three who were looking at 375b04f8ed Abel were filled with a dumbfounded look.1f6d6de9e34ec2269eac

So, the 5a0dcb29c7 nickname was eabf84f1b2 ‘Gechaban’?132a6b770631cd25c6eb

[T/N: Gechaban – Mongrel]df492e0acc7396e5c3ee

However, amidst their disbelief, Abel 1cea1c6dd7 sincerely called out to the c5cff1d0fe dragon with the wooden pendant.  Calling out the nickname the 6b464c80d2 knight had supposedly used.b810264612990ebb2206

“The untamable 2f72d8d9cb dog, Chaban, 2c99fd1400 The untamable 00677308db dog, Chaban.”7502b209fc15cbe31ac2

A moment of 841cf21b8d tension flowed along b77ab3bb45 with the silence. However, as they had anticipated, 4f69293a67 neither Abel nor the wooden 14661ee4af pendant showed any change.016608503f6cd65b3c99

Of course, eee3ff71fb it was b89749e4f1 only natural.0b9e93038ef9056e85bd

As they all shared the same thought, Melmond bbc5f77c29 stepped forward to console Abel as their representative. That’s when Abel and c0a40d5780 the wooden pendant suddenly 3d2a0fde86 started to become as f9970204e7 transparent as water.eccf0ffc257ef7ccc34e

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ a802797d52 ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖bbce6dc41f4b61f1a0ab

Truyde had one vividly clear ddeab5815b memory from his childhood.df775b7c859750b0ed4d

It was when 0c6c67b376 he was about c0a254b155 five years old.0fca640e24ab8e380429

His father, whom he had barely seen before, e4a81b3a6a took him by the hand and led him e237fd5007 into the forest where their ancestors’ graves were. There, he handed him 06aaf0305c a piece of meat 0011eede01 about the size of 492d9b2424 two fingers and commanded.9ac0c1ae1f4bb2888bcb

‘Eat it.’8a46424527fa987193c5

Although Truyde was young, he felt b55ded820f that he should not eat this. It wasn’t just because the rotten-smelling black 331a734a00 raw meat was disgusting and revolting. He just 03e24ea3f0 felt that 478867bcd2 way. No one had told him, but a sense of dread d9aa2328da filled him, making him certain he should never eat it. He trembled.d11eccf9bcda3e89d882

I don’t want 5ffe4fbc15 to eat it.4f414af40a61aaea87d3

He shook his head abdff9c6a1 and tried to step 8fffcc18c9 back, but his father edf41cd813 reached out. The rough hand grabbed the c641ec87b9 child’s slender neck tightly.2d588435fbb4477eb35f

“Gah!”221a8e3211d20736cfaa

Unable to breathe, his mouth opened 97c7e0f3b8 instinctively, and his father shoved the 2f1067660f meat into his mouth. The child gagged, trying to 992bfb8696 spit out the disgusting thing. His father then used his other hand 35e0a64a50 to close his small jaw forcefully.e8b9cd604cd1bcc38606

“Chew and swallow. Only by eating that can f56961ba49 you become the heir of fe637ba83a the Truyde family.”d0434364a73683ae73f4

The cold voice, devoid of any emotion, etched itself into ea9b704801 his mind even in the midst of the tormenting situation. The rotten meat filled his forcibly closed mouth, making 5a0d223860 him feel like he was going to vomit. Then his father’s 9849bf4859 command echoed in d1f8503020 his ears again.c3901bb38b7b2bac823d

“Eat.”4564c6326f393817295a

At the same time, e5c1f5d733 the hand holding his 2ba660ebc4 neck tightened its grip. The child c48aa77c1e was seized 1985435246 by fear. If he didn’t eat the meat, a4e7ba79ab his father would kill him. He had d237249e55 to eat e4018e12f4 it. As he tried to a62cad681c move his mouth forcibly, 6edf3883f4 the hand on his 5b98b39174 jaw fell away. Every time he chewed, the nauseating smell 1f1030bded spread within him making his head spin, 7d884c33b6 so he swallowed it without chewing much.643c4a6e595368c5a81a

After confirming he had swallowed it, his father released him 6bf54745e6 and stepped back, but the child was too busy coughing 9cd74ad130 and choking on the ground to notice it. However, there wasn’t 63113e4f68 much time to b5ad055ee9 rest.828d46fc3ae81c7945db

His father grabbed his arm 94470814b5 and forcibly lifted him up, 98d43eaf95 dragging him to the stone b5b1601c4d structure around the tombs. As he rummaged through the bushes, looking 0c23bd77c2 for something, he roughly pulled the child 535c72af4c who was lying down weakly.4f77334de43210cb21bd

“Look at this 5f078f32fb plant carefully. Notice the shape of fa6eca9a50 the leaves, the way 3610b81591 the stem splits, and a94e26b672 its unique scent.”70af14ab7362979c8435

After making him look at 72d0f7ab64 the herb, he pulled it 51a92e5484 out by the stem and a88e6544f5 handed it to the child.832448951f2734371e71

“Eat it.”1e95df084dfe1307de44

At the second command, the child f02a39f8ab gave up any thought of resisting, 524ba6f0a4 and with trembling hands, he shoved 6d57be6760 the herb into his mouth. It was much 00903277d5 better than eating 0a76331b0a the rotten meat. Just as his father said, the 4e95c3ec35 herb had a distinctive scent.51e230c1486e0073eab6

“Remember this well. From now on, after eating 9f34cf2b6e the meat I give you, 21c522e290 you must eat this herb 5e540a2642 to avoid getting sick.”3a0d907d597b75039285

Avoid getting sick?c1322446f523c112e230

When the child asked weakly, his b917b004b0 father let out a sinister laughter. His voice was 54a1a77572 filled with sarcasm 25ab92ab92 aimed at no 38a7d1acf3 one in particular.63175d9880eecdc4e651

“It would be the most absurd thing if you got an upset 240d0ba010 stomach from eating rotten meat after becoming immune to all poisons.”1171316678fb3ee191f5

Although the child still didn’t fully understand, he seemed 486b1d8bcf to know that he must eat this herb. The child put the remaining herb in 2564455b25 his hand into his mouth and chewed 2c914b38bb it thoroughly before swallowing it.6db693cab1fd0fa11812

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ 3c60512774 ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖14cefc1813248b881904

Although his father said that eating the herb abe7e12031 would prevent illness, Truyde had to lie in ea72b1a7dc bed with a high fever for a week cd1960957c after eating the meat his father gave him. It felt as 6c00c7efe5 if his entire 896de58197 body was being 0e60a81795 torn apart. The heat was so intense f45077df84 it seemed like it would 94138eeaac burst through his skin shaking 774fa41898 the insides of his body. It was all because 4442d8108c of that meat.10a08dfaf46e50462b5e

Delirious with fever, the child 5e22102e68 muttered nonsense and burst into 23c553c1e6 tears, saying that the meat 53a499b10a would kill him. After losing consciousness several times from the unbearable force, the fever finally subsided 9300024777 after a week, as if it had been absorbed into his body. During that week, his father locked his sick young 11397c9548 child in a room, forbidding anyone to enter.2a2fda3ed3c6d7fd2d07

When the child finally regained 561524f928 consciousness, his father came in 9ffa4aaf4c holding a small dagger. Seeing the gleaming dagger 3eb726a6ab in his father’s hand, ad72ea0fef the child trembled with 70603f704e fear. However, his father roughly grabbed e03a083849 his trembling son’s arm and d412969e12 then spoke gently. The secret of their family d613a6b92a flowed from his mouth like f7dd8e7e9b a beautiful fairy tale.73cfd3b7ee345c014cb0

“Once upon a time, there was a b8498bb7e1 king who lost his beloved Regas early. The king of this country inherited the power 7172764a62 of the dragon to protect his country, but ed4fc5e1a7 he also inherited the dragon’s ferocity and cruelty. Thus, an evil c74b943a2a dragon in human 620cfc7851 form was born. To control his 8f42dd90d7 temper, he needed 38530d3f9f a Regas. The problem was that 9442baf3f8 only one Regas could bc8f748cff tame the king. If that Regas died before 83b2f30a4f the king, the king would fef5de495a give up everything and choose c3b91fa11a death himself. Because the Regas was ce295c9a64 everything to the king. One day, the king’s d96202c2d1 Regas died too early. The still young king turned his 7f5bc479fb great sorrow into anger and directed 432bedc9e3 it in another way. Instead of ending his 7d51e7e814 own life, he destroyed 8273d84ab7 everything around him. He took lives indiscriminately, a95023834f both human and animal. Human civilization, such as cbb7ea50ae buildings, was not spared. This dark age continued 34718e35ca for several years.”668e137c0b38a105ffb1

The child, forgetting he was still held in his 8d9f3cc2ef arms by his father, became absorbed in the story.ad159110e0107930554a

“Then shouldn’t 8e6d491b22 the king 5d74df276d be eliminated?”2c35085bd0a8e2f6d9ab

At the bold 361ccde6fd question, his father daa1eb7cee twisted his lips.d4aa801800f665dd771e

“Right. For everyone to bed860be28 survive, the king 0773e5ce2c had to disappear. However, the king had 133a5fb88c received the power of c0f7cb736b the dragon and was 7c6e3dbe62 immune to poison. Moreover, he possessed an 31b044ac1d immense power that ordinary 5e372ad41d people couldn’t approach. Eventually, the king went mad and couldn’t bear a72daef723 his madness, and he died, but by then, 82a440fda5 the country was already in ruins. If the same thing happened again, 6bd650e88b if the next king faced the d08c3cce2b same fate, the country might disappear. At that time, the only 58420114e4 one who remained by the 0026f000b4 king’s side, the Regas, our 998dd3ed46 ancestor, made a great decision. He decided to create a power to control 4eb4f5b121 the king in case anything happened to him.”bd0700da949ea560b895

“What is 64124c58f8 that power?”0fdcfefcdd50bce5ab30

“Poison. A poison that can control 86ba3f6d4f the king even without the a4311c9554 king’s real Regas.”6ec8915c958c217fdafc

The child remembered his f5083a3002 father’s earlier words and 141fa8f852 asked again.b8788f4b09df5c8f3b92

But didn’t you 484602466e say the king 5b259ce55c was immune to 1714ae1f64 poison?1c634cc1e64d272a282f

His father 04498d949d twisted his 2992dfb6af lips again.59360228d26881e4b34c

“Yes, but our ancestor discovered the only 167186fa1f poison that would work on the king. If other poisons didn’t work, 5f5b5d604c they decided to turn the 627a3baa4e dragon’s power into poison. Whether by heaven’s help or b28cf8ee87 sheer luck, the method our cf88408d23 ancestors chose was effective. So, he sacrificed his own 37e0af79d3 body to create the poison. For the bbac8d1438 sake of 3a0e31d2f0 this country. He became f48423efb8 the poison 3ab7b5228b himself.”04e567b9a88e7c72d72f

Emphasizing sacrifice and patriotism, his 3dd31d3874 father brought the blade to 28671832b3 the child’s slender arm. With just a light pressure, a wound c780a1ae0f opened, and blood began to flow out.e1d11786019034011586

“In your blood contains c085dc19d3 the poison left behind e83f172cad by our ancestors.”53f9db2f8ac33377314a

The child flinched in pain 575c3f2c8f from the wound, but his 603c4c0748 father did not release the 8549f2b271 arm he held tightly.4b10b342e207dd2327f0

“Me, my father, his father, and 8e3f728d47 his father before him… Our family c0965e8922 all had the same blood flowing ff5c85841d through our veins. But it ad857c5d1a wasn’t enough. Ordinary people could be poisoned by our inherited 00f3a47fcd blood, but it couldn’t control the king. To create a stronger 7cad5cbeca poison, we had to 842b0c9b18 consume it.”8aae1feb5009c6d5b349

The child realized that what he referred to was the meat 9aa0745a74 his father had fed him in the forest and asked quietly.82b502a83967db91c214

“That… meat?”9b9efa0a690088044892

“Yes. The only meat that d8adaf681f can control the king, 3180ba85de the meat containing their be3f034bff own power.”92f8638b967a35db6b4e

What kind 9ee9e04c73 of meat 5b23c8c0c3 is it?604cc4423ca3dd0b2419

The child tried to ask 098fefdc04 again but was distracted by c9d2d8aa7c a strange smell. A smell that 8731134691 was more nauseating 51b8f0ec74 than the rotten 22304dc5d5 meat. Following the scent unconsciously, his eyes lowered to his 2f75175699 own arm, where his own blood was flowing. The smell was 0a79571576 coming from beneath ff16b3e373 his torn skin. Along with the d7635fba6e red blood.e321425f0b7aa125d00d

“Look. You have now become 5c32dcbdad the perfect poison. Your blood is now 4327cd7a8a the most precious in 860a14e528 the world. But remember. To maintain the poison’s effectiveness, 83ab904198 you must periodically consume a ffc7277a1f small amount of the meat. The meat of 425b2dffc5 the dead king’s 6798a722b7 corpse.”54d897f670ac0f6fa62f