Acnologia fell asleep in the hot spring because the soak was too comfortable. Irene waited for three hours, thinking Acnologia had left, and finally mustered the courage to come in and check.
Then she saw Acnologia completely naked. His solid muscles made her heart flutter. Since her eyesight was quite good, she could see the part submerged underwater clearly, causing her face to flush scarlet with shame, and she quickly covered her face.
Acnologia noticed Irene the moment she entered. Seeing her face bright red with shame, covering it, yet still peeking through her fingers, left him speechless.
If you want to look, look. If not, then leave. Is covering your ears while stealing a bell interesting?
Since he had been completely seen, he didn't care. He stood up directly from the water, his magic power surging throughout his body to evaporate the water, and then he slowly dressed.
"Lord Acnologia, why are you like this..."
Irene was so embarrassed she didn't know what to do; her head felt hot. But she didn't leave; she just stood there covering her face, her mind clearly elsewhere.
Acnologia said indifferently, "You are the one looking at me, I am not looking at you. I'm not forcing you to look."
It's quite a bargain for you to see such a good figure.
"Ah... you don't mind?"
Irene's heart thumped. She hesitated, wanting to take her hands away, but felt it would be too blatant.
She realized that Lord Acnologia was still very charming.
"Take your hands down, I've already dressed!"
Acnologia put on a new set of clothes, and his presence immediately improved; he could be described as very handsome.
"Oh, alright..."
Hearing this, Irene slowly lowered her hands, the expression on her face suggesting she hadn't quite had her fill.
"Regarding the previous discussion about resisting the Dragon race together, what are your thoughts?"
Acnologia didn't feel he needed help. His visit this time was purely to see Irene, or perhaps to consider changing her tragic fate.
He had nowhere else to go. Normally, he just hunted dragons everywhere, sleeping wherever he stopped. The Dragnof Kingdom could serve, at most, as a temporary foothold.
Irene immediately said, "I hope you can become the Great General of the Dragnof Kingdom and resist the Dragon race with us. In the past, you were alone, and if you were besieged, there would be great danger. We hope to advance and retreat together with you."
She believed the Kingdom still possessed considerable strength. Fighting the Dragon race alone could never compare to fighting as a collective.
Acnologia shook his head slightly: "What I enjoy is hunting dragons, not waiting for them to come knocking. When facing the Dragon race, numbers are meaningless. The most important thing is absolute power."
"In the Dragnof Kingdom, there are only ten individuals, according to my perception, who can stand against a dragon. Although you are the strongest, you can only face a mid-level dragon, and this is merely facing it, not defeating it."
"As the founder of Dragon Slaying Magic, you are pathetically weak!"
His words were merciless, like a knife plunging into Irene's heart.
Irene showed a bitter expression. How could she not know? Although she was the founder of Dragon Slaying Magic, her talent lay in Enchantment Magic, not Dragon Slaying Magic. Furthermore, she usually had to handle state affairs, and her training had gradually become slack.
"I beg you to protect the Dragnof Kingdom. If you have any need, the Kingdom is willing to offer everything!"
Irene knelt on the ground. At this moment, she understood: the Kingdom needed Acnologia, not the other way around.
"It seems you have thought things through..."
Acnologia looked at her deeply and said, "I agree!"
Irene showed joy: "Thank you!"
"You're welcome. There is something I need to remind you: Dragon Slaying Magic is far from as simple as you think, and I am indeed a monster—and so are you, eventually."
"As long as I can protect the Kingdom, I am not afraid even if I turn into a monster!" Irene said seriously.
"Are you not afraid of turning into a Dragon?"
"A Dragon?" Irene hesitated slightly, but then immediately became firm again.
Acnologia didn't speak again. He knew that Irene ultimately underestimated the hatred her subjects held for Dragons. Even she, who sacrificed everything for the Kingdom, would be ruthlessly abandoned by the populace once she turned into a Dragon.
Although part of it was due to the scumbag's guidance, fundamentally, the Human-Dragon War in this world was too brutal, and almost no one could accept a monster like a Dragon.
So, will Irene still become scarlet despair?
The Next Day
In the Royal Palace, Irene announced that Acnologia would become the Kingdom's Great General, holding equal status to her, and Acnologia's commands would be her commands.
"Your Majesty the Queen, I disagree. Acnologia is an outsider and does not deserve this level of trust!"
A Kingdom General stepped forward and spoke with a cold expression.
Although the outside world spoke of Acnologia as a god, he was also among the first to learn Dragon Slaying Magic and believed he was no weaker than Acnologia.
At the very top of the Royal Palace, two Thrones were placed, one for Irene and one for Acnologia.
He sat on the Throne, looking down at the General, and beckoned with his finger: "Come, kill me, and you can take this seat."
Irene looked nervous: "Lord Acnologia..."
Acnologia smiled faintly: "This world ultimately respects the strong. There's nothing wrong with him thinking I shouldn't sit here. If he has the strength, I would even shine his shoes."
Seeing the tense atmosphere, the surrounding people quickly backed away. They also wanted to see what abilities Acnologia truly possessed.
"Heh... Lord Acnologia sees things clearly. Then this General must be rude!"
The General laughed loudly, his body darted out, his hand forming a claw, and instantly appeared before Acnologia.
"Blood Dragon Claw!"
Just as the General was about to strike, he suddenly felt a chill in his waist, followed by a sharp pain.
He looked down and saw that, at some unknown point, a hole had appeared in his waist, and in the hand of Acnologia, who was sitting on the Throne, appeared a bloody kidney.
The General collapsed onto the ground, bleeding profusely, convulsing for a few minutes before kicking the bucket.
Irene's heart trembled. She hadn't felt anything before, but only now did she realize that Acnologia might be even more ferocious than she had imagined... The generals and soldiers below were terrified, retreating several steps with trepidation. They hadn't even seen when Acnologia had attacked; they only saw the General leap onto the high platform and then die.
"A mere extra who doesn't even deserve a name, who gave you the courage to strike?"
Acnologia sneered, kicked the corpse down the steps, and casually tossed the kidney onto the body's head, where it bounced twice.
He looked down at the terrified crowd and said indifferently, "If you want to fight, come at me all at once. Don't waste my time. Those who acknowledge me, please kneel before you speak."
A silence fell below. At this moment, even Irene dared not speak.
Acnologia frowned slightly: "Don't make me repeat myself!"
His voice was icy, and everyone felt as if they had fallen into the Nine Nether Cold Abyss, chilled to the bone.
Soon, soldiers knelt one after another. Those who were still standing quickly reacted and knelt down after seeing the people around them do so, from the lowest soldiers to the Dragon Slaying Generals.
Acnologia stood up, glanced at Irene, and said indifferently, "A country cannot be managed well by mercy alone."
Having said that, he stepped and turned to leave.
He possessed not only the kindness of Aegon but also the cruelty of Acnologia.