Changing the Keywords of the Dark Lords (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13
“…Have you been well?”
Today, Delina headed to where Zen was. She’d heard he was eating now, but she was still worried—and though it was funny to think of him as a “gift,” she felt she ought to take some responsibility for him.
“Whew, you cleaned your plate completely. Tasty, right? I’ve done time in a cell myself, and I know—the food here really is good.”
Zen didn’t look much different. His bandages were still coming undone everywhere, as if he wasn’t getting proper treatment, and there was a scab on his neck. Delina sighed softly as she looked at him.
“Why aren’t you getting treatment?”
“……”
“Well, I understand you’re being cautious… but if you keep this up, you’ll never get out of this cell.”
He’d calmed down a little compared to the first day, but Zen still regarded Delina warily. Delina plopped down right in front of the growling Zen and showed him the bread she held in her hand.
“Do you want to eat some too?”
“……”
“I was planning to eat a bit here myself. Lately, every time I eat, I feel like I’m being watched…”
Ever since the nine-plate incident, she kept glancing around whenever she ate, checking if Calix was nearby. Eating secretly like this was far more comfortable.
“Here, I’ll give you half.”
“……”
“Is this your first time eating bread? I didn’t put anything strange in it.”
Delina took a bite herself, yet Zen didn’t even twitch. Still, Delina remained unfazed.
“If you don’t want it, fine. They say eating lightly is good for you. Though I think you really ought to eat something.”
Instantly, the scent of bread filled the air. Zen sniffed, then opened his mouth slightly and took the bread.
“…!”
After one taste, Zen began eating ravenously. He seemed to have forgotten how to use his hands, devouring the bread from Delina’s fingers with his mouth alone. Delina offered him a cup of water too.
“You’ll choke! Eat slowly!”
In an instant, the entire piece of bread in Delina’s hand was gone. Zen licked his lips as if savoring the taste, then fixed his eyes eagerly on the plate Delina held.
“Look, this is a water cup—you don’t drink by lying down; you hold it with your hand… Wait!”
While Delina was explaining, Zen suddenly lunged for the cup in her hand with a loud clatter. The force knocked the cup sideways, and Zen flattened himself to lap up the spilled water. Delina’s hand moved quickly to open the cell window.
“!”
Zen shot upright and dashed straight ahead—only to slam into the wall. Even pressed against it, he kept trying to move forward.
“?”
His eyes widened in confusion as his body stubbornly kept trying to go forward. Only then did Delina finally catch her breath and look up at the keyword floating above Zen’s head.
She’d suspected it, but she never imagined it was actually an ability that forced him to go only straight ahead…
Nothing about him was quite right. Still, this time it had helped a little.
Delina finally opened the cell door and stepped inside. Zen was still plastered against the wall. Delina glanced briefly at her stinging elbow—the injury she’d gotten just moments ago when Zen tried to snatch the water cup and she fell.
“Look. You charged at me like that and made me get hurt.”
Zen’s eyes darted around guiltily as he looked at the wound on Delina’s elbow, apparently realizing he’d caused it. Noticing this, Delina spoke gently.
“Please don’t eat so hastily. Use your hands and take it slowly, okay?”
Delina then pulled something from her clothes—a sky-blue scarf.
“Grrrrr…”
“Hold still. If you won’t get treatment, at least stop scratching your wounds…”
The wound on Zen’s neck was the worst—likely scratched raw by the collar he’d worn at the auction house. Blood was still oozing from where he’d kept scratching it. Delina wrapped the scarf around his neck.
“There, I’ve wrapped it like this, so don’t take it off before you get treatment. And don’t scratch it either. Understand?”
Of course, Zen gave no real reaction to Delina’s warning. He just stared quietly at the scarf wrapped around his own neck.
“I heard that in the Hass Kingdom, they give scarves as gifts on special days.”
“……”
“Well then, let’s make today special—the day you and I shared bread. Consider this your gift.”
She’d brought the scarf thinking Zen, being from the Hass Kingdom, might be familiar with it. It seemed to have some effect—he was calmer than before.
“Now, using your hands… I won’t expect that yet. Just eat slowly, okay? I’ll release your body now.”
Delina closed the cell door and released her ability. Zen’s body was instantly freed, and he looked back and forth between Delina and himself in surprise. Then he turned his gaze to the water bowl in front of him.
He still didn’t act quite human, but Delina simply watched him quietly. The Zen who’d been thrashing about moments ago was now calm, seemingly aware that the mysterious force preventing him from moving freely had come from Delina.
There was so much to teach him.
He understood human speech, at least in principle, but his behavior was pure beast. Delina lowered her posture to meet Zen’s eyes.
“Zen.”
When Delina called his name again, Zen looked at her.
“You made me get hurt like this, so I’m going to get treatment now.”
“……”
“So I’ll wrap bandages like this and get treated.”
Delina even mimed wrapping a bandage as she showed him her scraped elbow.
“So you get treatment too. Understand?”
“……”
“It won’t do if I come back next time and things are exactly the same as today, okay?”
“……”
“Go on, nod quickly to show you understand.”
“……?”
“Like this—nod your head up and down.”
Delina nodded, and Zen followed suit, nodding his head.
“You just promised.”
“……”
“You must get treatment. Understand?”
No one could tell if Zen truly understood Delina’s words. All that was clear was that he kept nodding, and Delina kept saying what she needed to say.
“Good. Well done.”
“Grrrrr…”
“Stay still. I’m just trying to praise you.”
Zen still regarded Delina warily, but at least he no longer attacked outright. Delina reached out her hand toward him, then hesitated for a moment.
…Wait, am I really treating him like a puppy?
Delina was momentarily confused—she’d almost absentmindedly reached to pat Zen’s head. But Zen, who’d been staring blankly at her, gently pressed his own head into her hand.
“……”
Something soft touched her palm. It was softer than she’d expected, so Delina naturally began stroking Zen’s head. Zen stayed quiet, accepting her touch.
‘Is this really okay?’
It felt uncannily like a master and her dog, pricking Delina’s conscience. But there was no other way—since Zen couldn’t properly communicate, showing praise through actions was all she could do.
“Oh, and don’t attack other people either, okay?”
“……”
“You don’t know this mansion well yet, but I’m actually the weakest person here. If you act like that outside, you’ll really get into serious trouble.”
Delina didn’t forget to give him this earnest advice too.
“Oh, I haven’t told you my name yet. I’m Delina.”
“……”
“What’s my name?”
Simply not attacking wasn’t enough to get along with people. Basic communication was essential, so Delina tried to get Zen to speak.
“Repeat after me. Del.”
“…De.”
“Li.”
“Li.”
“Na.”
“Naa.”
“Now, what is it?”
“Dee-ri-na.”
Though a bit clumsy, it was understandable. Delina’s face brightened, and she immediately pointed to other objects.
“Look, this is clothing, and this is a scarf. And this is a plate, and this is meat.”
“……”
“Just listen. You probably remember learning these things once.”
Even if you’ve forgotten a lot by now.
“Gosh… I’m really not your master or anything like that…”
She felt ashamed, as if she were training a dog. As Delina muttered to herself, Zen, who’d been listening quietly, suddenly spoke.
“Joo-ini?”
“No, no. Forget that. Next word.”
After teaching Zen every word she could think of inside the cell, Delina sank down onto the floor, exhausted. Zen tilted his head, then circled around her. Seeing this, Delina let out a small, deflated laugh.
“…I told you not to crawl on all fours—stand on two legs… Ah, never mind.”
Too tired to speak anymore, Delina waved her hand dismissively.
“Anyway, let’s review. What’s this called?”
Delina quickly pointed to objects around her. Zen stared silently at what she’d indicated for a moment, then moved his lips.
“Clothes.”
“This?”
“Scarf.”
“This?”
“Plate.”
“This?”
“Meat.”
“You’re making it way too obvious what you care about, you know?”
Zen clearly pronounced only the things that interested him. Delina smiled, amused, and Zen, who’d been staring blankly at her, spoke again.
“Delina.”
“…Huh?”
“Delina.”
Delina’s eyes widened at how perfectly he’d pronounced her name. Zen was staring intently right at her.
“You…”
A brief silence fell inside the cell. Just as Delina’s lips parted, the sound of someone descending the basement stairs was heard.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
_____
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Chapter Comments (37)
Inline Comments (53)
“Right. He arrived this morning. It’s about time the kid woke up, after all.”
Omg omg Omg he is actually back! I forget where he went but I’m interested to see how he could have possibly improved his skills. Looks like he still unhealthy, sleeping in so late. I think he is on the smaller side compared to the MLS.
At the voice, Mernin froze. The noble ladies and gentlemen who saw his face bega
I wonder if it is Noah, it could be Ashud. Idk id really want to see NOAHas the ML instead of the typical crown prince~ but I’m a fan either way
Celine’s murmuring about the heat gave Delina a glimpse into the terror she must
Del is so observant and really smart to notice the reason! I wonder if Celine had anything to do with her rewinding time. Honestly where did Celine even come from?!
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I wonder how well Zen understands Del’s speech. Also does the Duke think of her fondly? Does he even know how to laugh?? He calls her Jester so he definitely thinks she’s like a clown. I also wonder how the OG FL is like, the one everyone was obsessed with. And the girl who was Gideon’s lover, I wonder if she had a unique power that gave her a second try
I wonder how well Zen understands Del’s speech. Also does the Duke think of her fondly? Does he even know how to laugh?? He calls her Jester so he definitely thinks she’s like a clown. I also wonder how the OG FL is like, the one everyone was obsessed with. And the girl who was Gideon’s lover, I wonder if she had a unique power that gave her a second try
The kids are really cute!! They are only 12, but they still have childish tendencies while still being powerful. Truly good luck to Del, especially with the Duke having an unusual fondness with training the kids. Cause what do you mean your trying to X a child??