I Received System to Become Dragonborn-Chapter 949: Doubt

The cafeteria’s stillness was broken when a new figure walked through the doors. He moved quietly and barely drew attention from the others like the four of them before. But Erend noticed immediately.

He glanced up and saw Conrad’s a tall, composed, and distant figure as he took a tray and got his lunch in silence.

Without a word, Conrad made his way to an empty table at the far end and began to eat with a quick and reserved manner, his eyes lowered as if he had no desire to engage with anyone.

Erend’s munching on his food becomes slower. He remembered the conversation they’d had years ago when Conrad had come to him in private and asking—no, pleading—for help.

He had wanted Erend to use his own Magic to try restoring Conrad’s lost Magic power. But Erend had refused. The power wasn’t something he could just grant to someone like Conrad.

Conrad had looked angry then. Angry, but also hollow and sad. Like a man already broken and just realizing how deep the cracks ran.

He’d walked away that day with a stiff nod of half acceptance and half defiance. Erend still couldn’t tell what he had truly felt. Now, watching him again in this place involved once more in this kind of experiment, the unease returned.

Conrad had always carried the edge of a desperate man. During the time he accidentally ended up in the Eternal Earth, he’d met an Elf woman who was cast out of her palace, driven by revenge.

She had used Conrad, manipulating his lost soul into her plans. The scheme failed, but Conrad had fallen deeply in love with her.

What followed after her disappearance was years of wandering, searching, and losing.

Now he is back here.

Officially, Conrad was here because of his experience. He’d worked on earlier versions of the project, he knew the protocols and understood the risks. On paper, he was valuable. But Erend couldn’t trust him fully yet.

He seemed eager to join again, too eager. Like a man with something to prove or reclaim. Perhaps he thought this project was his last hope to restore what he’d lost which was his Magic and his purpose. That kind of desperation could drive a man to do anything.

Jessica followed Erend’s gaze and said softly, "He’s changed now."

Erend glanced at her.

"He used to be in the special forces," she continued. "Now he just sits in front of a computer all day. Before this, he barely spoke to anyone. Thomas said that."

Billy scoffed. "If I couldn’t contact my girlfriend for years, I’d probably go weird too."

Jessica gave him a dry look. "You know it’s more complicated than that."

"I know," Billy muttered. "That’s why I don’t want him here. He looks like someone who might break. What if he messes up?"

Erend didn’t respond, but their concerns mirrored his own.

Adrien finally said, "We’ll keep an eye on him."

Lunch ended quietly after that, and the four of them returned to work.

—

By late afternoon, the sunlight slanted through the high windows in amber hues. The day’s interviews were finally over.

Erend stepped out of the evaluation room, stretching his arms overhead and letting out a breath.

It had been long and boring. But it is important. So he didn’t complain.

As he headed down the hall, he noticed Conrad walking alone toward the smoking area. Their eyes met briefly.

Conrad stopped in front of him. "Can we talk?"

Erend nodded. "Sure."

The two of them walked quietly to the edge of the compound, to a corner of the outdoor smoking zone where no one else was around.

They sat down on the bench. The hum of base activity in the background.

Erend waited. Conrad lit a cigarette, then exhaled slowly.

"I’m not here to cause trouble," Conrad said finally. "But you already know that’s what everyone’s thinking, don’t you?"

Erend said, "Yeah," without hesitation. His voice was calm and firm. "But no offense, Conrad. Do you realize you were the one causing the trouble a few years back, right?"

Conrad looked at him, the glow of the cigarette dimming in his fingers. He let out a slow breath.

"It’s not purely my fault... but yeah," he said with a bitter smile. "I was at fault too. I accept that now."

Erend nodded slightly, the silence between them lingering like the fading smoke in the air.

"So... is that all? Or is there something else you want to talk about?" Erend asked.

Conrad looked at him directly now, no longer avoiding his eyes. Erend can somehow see the feeling inside the man’s eyes. His soul was hurting and he lived his life in pain until this point.

"I just want you to believe me," he said. "I’m not here to stir up or mess up anything. I’m not here to manipulate anyone. I want to help make this project into success because I also know what danger you think will happen. But I have to admit that I joined this project because... I still want to restore my Magic. But not for power or revenge or some revenge."

Erend nodded slightly but he didn’t speak. He let him continue.

"I want to restore it so I can talk to Elis again," Conrad continued. "That’s it. Nothing more. I’m also tired of the fighting, you know?"

Erend’s gaze didn’t shift. "So that is the reason you joined this project."

"Yes," Conrad admitted without hesitation. "It’s the only thing I want."

He looked away for a moment, then sighed. "You still don’t trust me. I can see it. That’s fine. If it helps, you can keep watching me tightly. Keep me under your radar. I won’t do anything wrong. I just want... a chance. Or a way back to talk to her."

Erend didn’t answer right away. The air between them hung heavy, the years of doubt not something that could be swept aside with a few words. But the honesty in Conrad’s voice wasn’t easy to ignore.

Erend couldn’t imagine if he also can’t talk with Aurdis for so long.

"I’ll be watching," Erend finally said.

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