Reborn as the Failed Lord with my Resource Gathering System.

[Fire Spear has been selected.]

As he tightened his grasp, Dorian held the spear of pure flame, his eyes never leaving the hatched egg.

Due to the dark mist still dancing around the platform, he couldn't fully see the dragon, but from its shadow, he was able to discern a few things, one of which was its rapidly increasing size.

'Not a single second to waste.'

Punch!

Dorian sent the spear firing towards the shadow.

However, as he threw the spear, he noticed that rather than piercing something, it hung in the air, halting in a single space. Clutching his chin, Dorian instantly knew this was a bad sign. His attack had simply been stopped by the dragon. While he didn't know how, he was certainly sure of this.

Maria picked up on this and instantly began charging forward, Lili moving as well.

Then it happened…

Dorian spotted two green glowing eyes staring at him from behind the dark mist, followed by a thick, chilling voice.

"How insulting…"

'Fuck! That doesn't sound like a damn child.'

Dorian spun around, swiping his hand to the side, a gesture that immediately sent a powerful gust of wind blowing Maria backward.

"Do it now!!!" He yelled at the top of his voice.

"Lord Do—"

Confused as to why he would send her flying, Maria tried to regain her foothold when suddenly, she disappeared.

In the blink of an eye, she found herself standing outside, right in front of Ishtar and the rest of the workers. As she arrived, everyone turned their gazes to her, mirroring the shocked look on her face.

"Wha—how did I?"

From where she stood, she could see the outer wall of the domain, not too far from her. How did she end up outside?

"Maria, what are you doing here? Where is Lord Dorian?" Seraphina took a single step forward, confusion etched on her face.

Maria turned around to look at Seraphina, the rage inside her increasing with each passing second. Ignoring Seraphina's question, she turned to Ishtar.

"Why am I out here?! I should be in there! The egg has hatched, Lord Dorian is in there by himself. Get me back in!" She stormed closer.

Ishtar, who was calm in comparison, simply replied, seated on a small rock with her legs crossed.

"I'm afraid that is not possible at the moment. Returning to the domain is beyond my control."

"What?! Don't mess with me, Ishtar!" Maria moved closer. "You created it, what do you mean it's beyond your control?!"

"You're quite angered. I never took you for the type to get worked up." Ishtar smiled a bit, looking towards Seraphina. "She on the other hand, I expected this from her, but she most likely already has an idea why…"

Seraphina sighed. "Lord Dorian put you up to this, didn't he?"

"Bingo. See, I knew she'd get it." Ishtar closed her hand fan and pointed. "It was his wish that I pull this young knight out when he gives the signal, and he also made it explicitly clear not to listen to your demands. So once again, it is beyond my control."

"Why you—"

Before Maria could act, Seraphina spoke.

"I get that," she moved forward. "But even you must understand that he is up against a creature classified as confidential information by the kingdom. He could die if we are not there to back him up. While I don't like you, I know for a fact you don't want him dead either."

They locked gazes for a while.

"Please, I am begging you. Send me back in," Maria bowed her head.

There was silence for a while, giving way to the crackling sound of the barrier still active behind them.

"I'm sorry. My respect for that man won't allow me to make a move. He does not have me under the influence of the pact. Still, I refuse to interfere with his actions." Ishtar's voice settled into their hearts.

Seraphina frowned, about to speak when Maria suddenly raised her head. Her eyes were empty, almost lifeless, as she gripped her blade tighter, storming towards Ishtar with a rageful aura.

"Wait, Maria!"

Seraphina yelled as soon as Maria grabbed Ishtar by the throat, her blade now aiming directly at the mage's head.

"Send me back in," she uttered yet again, squeezing her grip around Ishtar's neck.

Despite the strain on her neck causing her discomfort, Ishtar still managed to wear a calm look on her face.

"Interesting. I am very intrigued by you," she spoke. "You do this knowing the consequences. Why?"

"Does it look like I care? You can send me to jail or sever my head later, I don't care. Right now, I want only one thing from you. Send me back in, or it's your head that will be bearing the consequences."

Seraphina walked forward a bit. Knowing she felt the same way, she didn't utter a word, and instead chose to see how it was going to play out.

In due time, she witnessed it: the pleasurable expression on Ishtar's face. Her cheeks were red and her eyes were glowing with obsession.

"Will Lord Aurelian die? Or will he tame the dragon? Will you cut off my head for the man you so badly love, or will you give up after realizing there is truly nothing that can be done? Ah ~ so many possibilities, what do I gamble on?"

"What are you…"

"You love this man so much that you are willing to point a blade to my neck. I love him so much I am willing to gamble on his survival. Don't you see? We are the same. We both deeply love this man to death, don't we?"

Ishtar breathed out, holding Maria's hand and moving the blade closer to her neck.

"I only just attained the Lord Rank; as such, my powers are unstable. While I can send a person out of the domain, sending them back in is difficult.

That said, if you were to kill me right here and now, the domain would shatter, and both Lord Aurelian and the dragon would be out."

There was a deep pause.

"So what will it be, maiden in love?" Ishtar's face was etched with ecstasy.

The eyes with which Maria looked down on her were devoid of all emotion and as cold as night.

Left to her, she would cut off Ishtar's head without thinking twice. But Maria also understood that Dorian would never forgive her if that were to happen.

Luckily, in that moment, she could still sense that Dorian was fine and had not been killed.

With slow movement, she released her hold from Ishtar's neck and withdrew her blade.

"My apologies." Maria took a few steps back. "I misstepped. Forgive my outburst."

Ishtar smiled, rubbing her neck. "You apologize now, but I can tell you still have it at the back of your mind to kill me when you've run out of patience."

"I do."

"Hahah, you really are a strange one." Ishtar crossed her legs and opened her fan. "We've both made our gamble. May the best maiden win."

....

[A/N]

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