The Dragon Lord's Aide Wants to Quit [BL] Chapter 399: Who Told You That?

Simon, his vision still swimming, slowly came to the realization that had he bothered to lift his head and look at their faces instead of their attire earlier, he would have identified them sooner or later.

After all, even with a peculiar case of amnesia, recognizing these two individuals would hardly be a challenge.

Their golden hair seemed to possess its own luminescence, even in the dimness of the room, and their eyes held no trace of calculation regarding a person's value. The sheer presence radiating from them was enough to make even a CEO like himself feel a sense of unease.

This person—

The Dragon Lord himself.

Simon found himself staring, mouth agape, at the two figures standing beside his bed.

Beside the Lord stood a face that had been ubiquitous throughout Eryndra for an extended period, making recognition almost unavoidable: the Dragon Lord’s rumored partner.

Though his hair was significantly longer than depicted in the ubiquitous posters and videos Simon had encountered, there was no mistaking him – he had to be the Dragon Lord’s aide.

Normally, their presence wouldn't have caused such a stir. However, their intense, unyielding gazes fixed upon him were undeniably unnerving.

Then, as if to shatter the palpable tension that had descended upon the room, Riley Hale finally broke the silence.

"This is the Dragon Lord, Kael Dravaryn, and I am his aide, Riley Hale Dravaryn. And if you're curious, you are currently at the MBE for a number of reasons."

That statement arrived completely out of the blue.

"What?! The MBE?"

The Dragon Lord’s recognized partner offered a slow nod. "Indeed. And based on the information we've gathered during your unconscious state over the past few days, you are Mr. Simon Mercer."

He even knew his name!

"Y-yes. Yes, that's me," Simon stammered, a blend of disbelief and trepidation coloring his voice as he struggled to grasp the unfolding situation.

"Naturally... However, Mr. Mercer, if you would indulge us for a moment..."

"We would simply like to understand how a human such as yourself abruptly transformed into a fully-grown red dragon in broad daylight, subsequently attacking the MBE?" Riley inquired.

He maintained a businesslike smile, his demeanor remarkably composed, his tone purely inquisitive rather than accusatory. Nevertheless, Simon felt as though he’d been doused with a bucket of ice-cold water.

"!"

"I beg your pardon, what did you say?!" Simon was certain he must have misheard.

"Precisely as you heard. You see, the reason you find yourself here today is that a few days ago, an unregistered dragon, initially identified as a completely human individual, unleashed fiery destruction upon the entrance of the Ministry."

"!!!"

That single statement contained a multitude of bewildering revelations.

An unregistered dragon?

Breathing fire?

And of all places, at the Ministry itself?!

"N-no, that's impossible. A dragon? How could I possibly be—" Simon clutched his head, his hands trembling as he attempted to process the preposterous news.

Yet, just as the assertion seemed utterly inconceivable, fragmented memories of the event began to surface. His eyes widened, and he remained momentarily stunned.

"No, I—I might have actually transformed."

The attack.

He finally understood that his survival was a direct consequence of transforming into something he couldn't comprehend.

"The last thing I recall is being at home and under attack. I had been isolating myself because I'd been experiencing inexplicable bodily changes..."

"And now you're telling me I turned into an actual fire-breathing dragon?"

Simon observed as the Dragon Lord's aide glanced briefly at the golden dragon before returning his attention to him.

"Indeed. Now, whether that outcome is unfortunate or fortunate is another matter entirely."

"...?"

Mercer pondered the potential for good fortune in his situation but couldn't formulate any coherent thoughts before the imposing aide spoke again.

"However, if you are willing to cooperate with us, we may be able to assist you in comprehending what has transpired."

"Huh? Help me?"

"Yes, Mr. Mercer. We are genuinely interested in providing assistance."

"...Unless you can assert, with absolute certainty, that there is nothing unusual about an individual who has lived as a human for an extended period suddenly transforming into a dragon."

"In that case, we would be perfectly content to proceed with the trial without further inquiry."

"!!!"

It was readily apparent that he, too, was deeply unsettled by the turn of events.

Who wouldn't be, under such circumstances?

Living his life already feeling like a substantial part of it was missing, only to suddenly morph into a dragon, was not an experience that would inspire confidence in anyone.

The predicament was that he possessed absolutely no understanding of how to explain his situation, nor any certainty that he would be believed.

Even if he desperately wanted to cooperate, how could he possibly do so when his only response was a resounding "I have no idea."?

Simon's head throbbed with a growing sense of distress.

But unbeknownst to the red dragon, there was an individual in the room with considerable experience in precisely such matters.

Truthfully, if he sought help—or even just someone who could possibly understand him—who better to turn to than Eryndra's original anomaly?

Then again, confined within a room with these two individuals right after being accused of criminal acts, what other option did he have?

Even if they demanded his internal organs or his entire fortune, would he have the right to refuse?

However, who could have predicted that their request would be so simple as to ask for an alternative name?

"Mr. Mercer... by any chance, do you have another name you go by?"

"Huh?"

Another name?

No?

What reason would he have to use a different name?

Simon's forehead creased in thought. He had never found himself in a situation where he needed to conceal his identity with an alias, unlike common criminals, so why—

But his contemplation was cut short as the aide, who had been studying him with intense curiosity, suddenly spoke, "Perhaps I should rephrase my query..."

"For how long have you been aware of your name as Simon Mercer?"

"Oh, and an even more pertinent question... who exactly informed you that you are Simon Mercer?"

"!!!"

The patient, who was unequivocally certain he was the very Simon Mercer in question, felt as though he had been struck by an exceptionally powerful bolt of lightning.

The sensation of those words electrifying his mind made him feel on the brink of complete mental breakdown.

Because, upon reflection... he recalled seeing it on the hospital wristband.

It was merely a name accompanied by a file, which he received when he personally inquired about his identity.

He then simply accepted that he was Simon Mercer.