I'm Not Your Husband, You Evil Dragon!-Chapter 42: "A Contract in the Shadows"

Location: Underground Black Market Base, Near the Port of Libeus freeweɓnøvel.com

Beneath the decaying warehouses of Libeus, an ominous structure pulsed with the foul scent of crime and corruption. This was The Gravedawn Syndicate—a dark guild known only to the most twisted and desperate souls, where whispers carried as much weight as blood.

The underground base was dimly lit, the air thick with the haze of cigarette smoke and the low thrum of muffled voices. A hooded man limped through the rusted entrance, his boots striking the cracked marble floor in uneven echoes. Paranoia clung to his movements, each step a silent confession.

He collapsed onto a battered leather sofa, ordered a cold coffee without a word, and took a slow, trembling sip. The liquid shook in his grasp, his knuckles white against the cup.

From the shadows behind the front desk, a woman emerged. Her eyes were sharp, her smile sharper. She approached, steps precise, like a blade poised to strike.

"How may I help you, sir?" she asked, her voice smooth but edged with caution.

He didn't look up, just muttered, "I have a target. If you kill him, I'll pay handsomely."

She blinked once, eyes narrowing slightly, then tapped a button on her walkie-talkie.

"Boss, someone's here with a contract offer."

A scratchy voice crackled through the static.

"Who is he?"

"No clue. He's hiding his face."

"Wait there. I'm coming down."

Moments later, a tall man in a tailored suit emerged from a steel door at the back, flanked by two silent killers, their eyes cold and dead. His gaze swept the room before locking onto the stranger.

"There," the receptionist pointed. "Sitting on the sofa. He looks... scared. Or maybe insane. Can't tell."

The boss approached, his steps confident, eyes gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and caution. He lowered himself into the chair opposite the hooded man, who clutched his cup as if it were the last thread tying him to this world.

"Speak," the boss commanded. "What do you want from us?"

The hooded man reached into his jacket—slowly—and pulled out a worn photograph. He placed it on the cracked table, fingers lingering for a moment too long.

"I want this man dead. No matter the cost."

"This guy?" he said, flicking the corner of the picture with his thumb. "He doesn't look like much. Just a regular, weak nobody. Why waste your money on this?"

The boss leaned in. "Who is he?"

"Don't ask questions," the man snapped, his voice suddenly sharp, raw with desperation. "Just kill him. Make sure he dies."

The boss paused, then smirked, leaning back. "You know there's a price for this, right?"

"I'm aware. Money is not the issue."

The boss's eyes narrowed, a flicker of recognition passing across his face as the hood slipped back slightly. He leaned closer, the smirk widening into something darker.

"Well, well... Aaron the baby killer," he chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "Now that changes everything."

He stood, straightening his suit jacket with a sharp tug. "We'll take the job. I'll make sure he's dead by tomorrow."

Yuuta's Apartment – Late Night

I lay in bed, staring at the cracked ceiling, shadows dancing in the corners of the dimly lit room. My thoughts twisted and turned, refusing to let me sleep.

Sister Mary... the one who took me in when I had nowhere to go. She's always been there for me. When everyone else turned their backs, she still prayed for me, still believed in me.

But this feeling in my chest—it wouldn't go away.

Hiding the truth from her... it's like lying to my own mother. I must be the worst sinner in her eyes. Not just for getting married in secret—but for keeping it from her.

Would she accept it if she knew? Would she still see me as the boy she raised, or just another lost soul she couldn't save?

I sighed, rubbing my eyes, trying to push the guilt away.

Then, warm fingers brushed gently through my hair, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts.

"Baka," Erza whispered beside me, her voice low but teasing. "Go to sleep already. Why do you always overthink everything?"

I turned to face her, catching the faint glow of her voliet eyes in the darkness. She was close, her breath warm against my cheek.

"Yeah... you're right," I murmured, my lips curling into a small smile. "I should sleep already. I've got to perform tomorrow at the sports festival, after all."

Erza smirked, her fangs glinting slightly in the faint moonlight. "Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing how my dear husband plays against mere humans."

I raised a brow, a playful glint in my eyes. "You know I am human, right?"

She snorted, rolling her eyes. "Barely. You're an exception."

I chuckled, leaning in a bit closer. "My Queen, always exaggerating."

She gave a small, satisfied huff, then her expression softened. "What is it?"

I hesitated, my fingers brushing the edge of the blanket. "I've noticed something. You never actually use your powers to kill anyone. Like with Aaron, those mall thugs, and all those other times. Why?"

Erza's playful expression flickered, her gaze dropping slightly.

"What do you think I am? A cold-blooded queen?" she said, her voice a little sharper than before.

"No, no," I said quickly, sensing the tension in her shoulders. "I'm just... curious."

She took a slow, deep breath, her fingers tightening in my hair for a brief moment.

"It's not like I can't kill them," she said, her voice quieter now, a hint of something deeper slipping through her usually fierce tone. "But... whenever I'm with you, something changes. I started seeing things differently. I realized... humans have families, too. Parents. Friends. People who'd grieve if they were gone."

She paused, her eyes flicking up to meet mine, the red in them shimmering like embers.

"I never thought about it before. Back then, if someone got in my way, I ended them. Simple. But after being with you, I started to think... what if someone killed you one day?"

My heart skipped a beat, her words cutting deeper than I expected.

"To the killer, it'd just be another body. But to me... it would be like killing a piece of my soul. You're Elena's father. Sister Mary's adopted child. A friend to people. Someone's whole world."

Her voice trembled, just slightly, the barest crack in her usually unshakable confidence.

"So I learned... one death can affect many lives. That's why I place curse on them instead. I give them another chance. Like those thugs from the mall—they're working at a construction site now."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Wait... how do you even know all this? You talk like you've studied human psychology."

Erza's lips twitched into a faint, almost wistful smile. "We're dragons, remember? We don't just learn how to fight our enemies. We study their lives, their choices, their hearts. That's how we truly understand them."

I just stared at her, my heart swelling with a mix of admiration and affection.

She turned away, pulling the blanket up to her chin, her voice a low grumble. "Baka... don't stare like that."

I chuckled, pulling the blanket over myself as well.

"Damn," I whispered, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. "I never thought... she's not just holding back. She's changing. Being with me has made her more... human."

I closed my eyes, a small smile lingering on my lips.

"Well, I'm feeling sleepy now. Let's see what tomorrow's sports festival brings."

I felt her shift beside me, her warmth steady, her heartbeat a comforting rhythm against the darkness.

(Scene Shift: Yuuta's College Sports Festival)

A hyper-energetic guy probably the Captain of the Art Club, grabbed the mic, his voice echoing across the crowded festival grounds.

"WELCOME, EVERYONE! Finally, our college is hosting the SPORTS FESTIVAL DAY! We've got food stalls, competitions, and exclusive prizes! Participants, please report to your designated clubs! And to all our visitors—enjoy the amazing stalls prepared by our hardworking students!

LET'S SET THE FESTIVAL SPIRIT ON FIRE!"

I chuckled, shifting Elena in my arms. She was practically glowing with excitement, her eyes darting from one colorful stall to the next.

"Papa, look! So many balloons! And stalls!"

Erza strolled beside me, her eyes sweeping over the bustling crowd, clearly intrigued.

"Wow... this is actually pretty cool," she said, a hint of wonder in her voice. "I didn't know humans could celebrate like this."

I smirked. "See? I told you. Humans know how to enjoy life."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," she shot back, folding her arms. "But weren't you the one whining about skipping this?"

I gasped, feigning shock. "Me? Never! I'm here to show you my skills today."

"Oh? Bold words," she teased, flicking her hair back. "So these are all the stalls?"

"Yup." I nodded, gesturing to the rows of brightly decorated booths. "This entire section is run by third-year culinary students as part of their assignment."

Erza raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed.

"Ohhh. Human education is way better than ours."

"Told you, didn't I?"

She glanced around thoughtfully.

"Hm... I might try this concept at my academy someday."

I blinked, nearly dropping Elena.

"Wait... what do you mean your academy?"

Erza gave me a sly smile.

"Oh, didn't you know? I'm the Headmaster of Alden Dragon Academy. This kind of event could really spice up our curriculum."

"WHAT?! You never told me that!"

"I did," she said, flicking her hair over her shoulder with a smirk. "You just forgot. Remember that dumb game show thing? Dragon-something?"

"Oh, come on—"

"Yeah, whatever." She waved me off, clearly enjoying my stunned reaction.

Suddenly, the mic crackled again, cutting through our banter.

"All participants, please head to the Gymkhana!"

I glanced at the nearby sports hall, then adjusted Elena in my arms.

"Okay, I have to go. Cheer for me, yeah?"

Erza crossed her arms, a playful glint in her eyes.

"We'll see if you survive this."

As I made my way toward the Gymkhana, I felt a pair of sharp eyes on my back.

From a distance, Sister Mary watched, her eyes narrowing. She pulled her hood down slightly, her lips moving in a whisper.

"Now's the time to use my special eye... since Yuuta isn't around."

She pressed her fingers to her temple, a faint, mystical glow flickering in her irises.

"All-Seeing Eye, activate."

To be continue....

[End of Chapter].