To be honest, Reiger was quite troubled by Melusine’s current situation.

It’s not like he hadn’t tried to persuade her, but it had no effect.

Of course, even Pasival, who was as close as a brother, failed to persuade her. How could an outsider, who isn’t particularly close and has often been in opposition to her, hope to be effective?

Especially since Aurora was sent away by him personally, with her soul scattered like ashes on the spot. Reiger didn’t choose to hide this from Melusine, so she knows about it.

Under such circumstances, it’s already considerate of her not to hold him as the enemy who killed her beloved, but instead to become melancholic and despondent.

But... can things really stay like this?

Seeing Melusine about to confront yet another approaching abyss creature, Reiger stopped her.

"What’s on your mind right now?" Reiger said with some helplessness, "Are you really planning to go on like this forever?"

"Is there anything wrong with that?" Melusine replied with a question of her own, "Does my personal will matter much to you anyway?"

"I don’t know how to live anymore, what my existence means from now on."

"Therefore, just treat me as a weapon and use me as you wish."

It seems this is the conclusion Melusine has come to.

As a filthy existence formed from the tail end of the dragon of Albion, she originally had no consciousness, soul, or heart.

No, she wasn’t even suitable to be described as a "creature" back then, merely a pile of mud.

Until Aurora fished her out from the Dragon Corpse Swamp, she gained form, identity, and aspirations to continue living as a creature.

In essence, she was born to live for Aurora, for the beloved elf.

Whether she joined Morgan’s ranks, became an Elf Knight, or fought in the Fairy Country, everything Melusine did was ultimately for Aurora.

Thus, when Aurora asked her to massacre the Mirror Tribe, she complied.

Thus, when Aurora secretly planned to betray Morgan, Melusine was ready to follow suit.

She even stood by as her beloved brother extracted the chosen spear, knowing it wasn’t something good, sacrificing her own life to use it.

Her actions were not for anything else, but because Aurora decided it was so, she followed.

Despite appearing so cold, beautiful, and confident — the strongest Elf Knight of Britain — she is, in fact, more impulsive and selfish than Bagster.

Bagster seems brutal, but is actually rational and compassionate, showing empathy to others and to the people. Melusine is quite the opposite. She seems lovable, smart, and clever but is actually foolish and clumsy, having basically no independent thought, always being led by others.

She simply cannot be independent.

She is far lonelier than she appears.

Once no one becomes her anchor, she loses all sense of purpose and goal, floating aimlessly like a rootless duckweed in both body and soul.

This is Melusine, the pitiful and lonely murky dragon.

Now, she has basically given up on thinking and on self, handing everything over to Reiger without any spiritual solace.

She doesn’t even consider herself as a living being now, but merely a weapon.

And the owner of the weapon is Reiger.

That’s why she would say such a thing.

To this, Reiger replied with one sentence.

"Do you think I lack a handy weapon?"

Reiger’s words were somewhat direct, striking at the soul and hitting where it hurts.

This left Melusine momentarily stiff, then her spirit visibly waned.

"...It’s true."

The beautiful dragon maiden spoke with dejection.

"Something as useless as me cannot even be a weapon properly, someone like you wouldn’t need..."

Melusine seemed ready to lose hope.

Seeing this, Reiger rubbed his brow and suddenly spoke.

"I say this not because I mind about you, but..." Reiger looked at Melusine, and surprisingly said, "Let me ask you, have you ever seen anyone happy over their possession being preoccupied with its previous owner?"

These words left Melusine stunned.

"... You actually care about this?"

Melusine looked at Reiger with a somewhat peculiar gaze.

"Why? Is that not allowed?"

Reiger’s eye twitched, but he replied steadfastly.

Melusine’s gaze towards Reiger grew increasingly strange, yet inexplicably bright.

"So, you want me to forget Aurora and think only of you afterward?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

... Is that what I meant?

How come I’m not aware?

Reiger wanted to argue, but seeing Melusine’s brightening gaze, he swallowed his words.

At that moment, Reiger recalled a conversation he had with Morgan not long ago.