Winny-Kaisk’s Repayment

Leah extended her claws as she leapt into the sea of demon beasts.

Exhibiting a form even closer to a dragon than before, she utterly dominated the battlefield.

With a single swipe of her claws, eight demon beasts were slashed apart, and those caught in her jaws burst like water balloons.

Her thick, elongated tail whipped around mightily, reducing dozens of demon beasts to chunks of flesh, while those fleeing were instantly paralyzed by her roars, trembling uncontrollably before losing consciousness.

There were no special techniques – just overwhelming physical prowess crushing insects underfoot.

It was a presence truly befitting a dragon.

‘Incredible…’

Through his First Guild Master trait, Doyun opened Leah’s status window.

[Status Window]

Name: Leah Adrian Okladelm

Race: Dragon-Human

Affiliation: –

Talent: Genius

Stats:

Strength – Level 8

Agility – Level 7

Vitality – Level 7

Endurance – Level 7

Mana – Level 8

[Comparison Status Window]

Name: Haineken Athol Roxburgh

Race: Human

Affiliation: Panthera

Talent: Genius

Stats:

Strength – Level 6

Agility – Level 8

Vitality – Level 5

Endurance – Level 5

Mana – Level 6

In short, her stats were immense.

With the lowest being Level 7 and two Level 8 stats, no wonder she had become the youngest Hero solely through sheer talent, despite her skills being relatively low-leveled and few in number. Her overwhelming physical specs alone were enough to elevate her to Hero status without any techniques.

‘The youngest Hero, indeed…’

Leah’s mana-infused roars were so potent that even Doyun felt dizzy, truly befitting her Mana Level 8 might.

The battlefield was swiftly cleared.

“Grrr…”

In a form closer to a dragon than a human, the bloodstained Leah growled lowly.

Her tail had tripled in length, her wings were far larger, and her claws and scales were more pronounced, with her scaly skin radiating a vivid blue hue that stood out starkly against her pinkish flesh.

Unlike their first meeting where she had merely retained human features with reptilian eyes, wings, and a tail, she now appeared completely different.

“Grrrr…!”

Whipping her head around, she fixed Doyun with a menacing, reptilian glare brimming with ferocity.

But it was Leah who flinched, not Doyun.

“…?”

From a distance, she seemed hesitant to approach, fidgeting awkwardly.

Soon, Leah reverted to a more human-like form similar to their first meeting and cautiously approached Doyun.

However, she fidgeted several more times before finally speaking up.

“…That.”

She gestured towards the Tsunami Tamer’s corpse, impaled by the Earth-Piercing Javelin.

“The executioner’s javelin… you killed her… right?”

“…Pardon? Yes, that’s correct, but…”

Doyun and Sophie momentarily wondered if they had misheard, tilting their heads quizzically.

“Then. Did you also unleash that aura…?”

“Ah.”

It seemed Leah had sensed Doyun’s aura and flown over.

“Yes, I did that as well.”

“Ho, how? No… how could a hu, human…?”

Doyun furrowed his brow once more upon hearing Leah’s honorific speech.

But he answered her question nonetheless.

“…It’s because I’m a divine beast.”

“Huh!? Weren’t you human? You smell human!”

“I am human by race, but my rank is that of a divine beast. The Dragon Lord himself confirmed this.”

“Ah…”

Leah nodded in understanding.

Somehow, she seemed to exude a dense life force aura. If the Lord had spoken those words, there was no room for doubt.

“I, I suppose that’s possible… then… um…”

She seemed uncertain how to address Doyun – as a lowly human, or not?

Seeing Leah’s hesitant head-tilting, Doyun asked her this time.

“But… why are you using honorifics with me?”

“…My master and brother told me to address you as an elder…”

“Those two?”

“Yes…”

Doyun stifled an amused chuckle.

Not only were their instructions laughable, but more so was Leah’s obedient nature, listening so diligently to those two despite her usually stubborn attitude. It revealed an unexpected side of her.

“Then should I speak informally instead?”

“……I suppose.”

“Leah.”

At that, Leah shot Doyun a sullen glare – an expression that only added to her adorable charm.

“There are many injured in the unit. I can’t fight any longer either. Could you escort us back to Muspelheim?”

“…Understood.”

“Thank you.”

Indeed, although her eyes still burned with ferocity, she obliged readily.

Turning around, Doyun faced the soldiers atop the walls, who were regarding him with amazement as he conversed amicably with the notoriously brusque and stubborn Hero Leah.

“Let’s head back!”

And so, the long, arduous supply war finally concluded.

+++

During their return march, Doyun’s supply unit encountered another force.

Unlike their 400-strong supply unit, this was a massive army exceeding 5,000 troops, with over 200 Disciples among them.

They had been dispatched to subjugate the Tsunami Tamer.

When the supply unit had first encountered the frenzied demon beast horde, the knight had sent messenger soldiers on horseback to escape and warn of the situation – an unexpected variable compounded by their dire circumstances. It was a call to assemble a second supply unit in preparation for their potential annihilation.

Upon receiving this message, the army had judged it as a prelude to the Tsunami Tamer’s involvement and swiftly mobilized to eliminate her.

Of course, had they proceeded as planned, they would have likely missed her once again as usual.

“…Weren’t you supposed to have been annihilated? How are you still alive after facing the Tsunami Tamer’s forces?”

The opposing army’s general asked the knight with an expression of seeing a ghost, as they had naturally assumed the supply unit had been wiped out.

“The Tsunami Tamer has been subjugated.”

“Wh, what!? That witch!? How could a mere supply unit’s forces possibly achieve that!?”

“Well, that’s…”

At that moment, Leah stepped forward.

“Turn the army around. The situation is over.”

“Huh? Who are you to be speaking up… Hu, hurkh! Lord Razvolnic!”

“I’m tired, so let’s go back quickly. There are many injured as well.”

Thanks to her, the situation was swiftly resolved.

“Then was the Tsunami Tamer dealt with by Your Lordship after all?”

“No. Someone else.”

“Pardon? If not Your Lordship, then who else could have…”

“Ah, quit making a fuss. The details will all come out in the report to the homeland anyway…”

After joining up with the other force, Doyun spoke to Leah.

“You can return now. There’s no need for an escort. Thank you for your help today.”

“…”

“Leah?”

“…Just stay here…”

“Hm? What did you say?”

“…No, never mind.”

After a momentary hesitation, Leah spread her wings and slowly took to the air.

Yet she kept glancing back wistfully, like a child reluctantly returning home from a toy store, dragging their feet with longing.

“…?”

“Kekke.”

Only Sophie seemed to understand Leah’s mindset, letting out a soft chuckle.

+++

Reclining on Winny’s couch in the Alchemist Tower, Doyun organized his status window after being treated.

[The Stat ‘Agility’ has increased by 1 Level. Current Level: 4]

[The Skill ‘Barracuda: Revised – Jet Propulsion’ has been created.]

‘War certainly is effective.’

This single war had raised his Agility to Level 4. Considering how level-ups became increasingly difficult from Level 3 onward, it was an incredibly efficient gain.

Moreover, he had acquired an excellent new skill – the high-speed mobility technique Doyun had used to penetrate the demon beast horde, a revised version of the Buske Sword Art’s Barracuda.

He hadn’t expected the original skill to manifest, so having this mobility technique gain its own embodied skill was quite promising. Once it leveled up, it would undoubtedly prove quite useful.

‘Handy.’

After downing the tonics and healing potions prepared by Winny’s attendants, Doyun closed his status window.

Soon after, Winny entered to greet her unexpected visitor.

“What a surprise.”

“It has been a while.”

“Just barging in like this, are we? For a meeting with me, even a duke of this nation would have to wait 6 months.”

“I thought our last encounter was rather pleasant, but I suppose not. Shall I leave?”

“…Who said anything about leaving? Especially in your injured state.”

Despite her grumbling, Winny didn’t truly consider Doyun’s visit rude. She knew better than that, given how much she had already received from him.

Moreover, she didn’t actually dislike having Doyun in her workshop either.

‘…He’s quite the looker, isn’t he.’

Unlike the usual louts, he exuded a dignified, solemn charm.

‘I did invite him over, after all.’

When Doyun had set off to provide support, she had told him to stop by since he would be in the area when he was done.

There were still many matters left to settle between them.

She had simply not expected him to barge in so suddenly, injuries and all.

“Drink that up and stay here for 4 days. Your body is in quite a sorry state.”

“Thank you.”

Inwardly, Doyun marveled at her 4-day diagnosis. His injuries this time were indeed quite severe from pushing his body too far, yet a mere 4 days seemed fast.

It was wise to have come here before the after-action reports were processed.

“But why did you ask me to come? For more blood samples?”

“More blood, yes, but also to settle the remainder of our deal.”

“?”

“You promised to give me a core, didn’t you? And you handed over Enoch’s Alchemist’s Journal as well.”

“Yes, it was a transaction.”

“But since I’ve already excessively repaid the Alliance for the commission, taking additional compensation from you wouldn’t be right. Or rather, you aided me by providing your blood in the first place.”

“I suppose that’s true…”

“I’ll compensate you separately for the core and journal.

“Money holds no meaning for me.”

“You might regret that later? I was going to just hand over my entire fortune. Alchemy is an immensely lucrative field, and I’m a Master Alchemist – a renowned tycoon on this continent, you know? I’ve got around 30,000 gold pieces.”

“Keep it. Just…”

Doyun pondered briefly.

“Could you form an affiliation with the World Tree instead? Prioritizing any commissions from the World Tree.”

Of course, she didn’t take personal commissions herself. But even if not her directly, this Alchemist Tower staffed by her subordinate alchemists was renowned as the continent’s finest workshop.

“You’re with the World Tree? Not difficult. I can arrange that. But even so, that’s hardly sufficient compensation for enabling me to work with the sun itself. It seems a bit lacking at that level.”

“Then keep the remaining debt on record. I’ll call upon you if the need arises someday.”

“Hmm… well, alright! Sounds good!”

She thumped her chest proudly.

“I’m Winny-Kaisk, the Master Alchemist. You know commissions for me start with a 1-year waiting list? For your requests, I’ll prioritize and put in my full effort!”

The favor of the continent’s greatest alchemist – quite an unexpectedly reassuring boon.

But it seemed Winny still wasn’t fully satisfied, adding:

“Though in reality, you haven’t actually gained anything for yourself today. But instead of just sending you off, take something from the storeroom.”

“Like what?”

“Anything. I’ve hidden away the truly precious items separately, but you can take whatever you want from the storeroom we’re going to. Potions, cosmetics, virility enhancers – you name it, they’ve got it.”

“I’m grateful. I shall do so.”

Although the truly important items were set aside, being able to claim anything from a Master Alchemist’s product catalog was quite enticing.

“But…”

Winny’s gaze dropped below Doyun’s waist as her cheeks flushed.

There, protruding prominently from the loose hospital pants he had been changed into as a patient, was Doyun’s… rather noticeable bulge.