chapter_0229

230 – Negotiation Table

230 – Negotiation Table

“…….”

“…….”

An awkward silence settled in Monica’s lair.

I had set up a place to calm the girls who were ready to pounce on me and to wrap up this situation.

It was essentially a negotiation table.

With whom?

Of course, with Monica.

The reason and goal of this expedition.

Sitting at the table, Monica fidgeted, unsure of what to do.

“This is the first time I’ve had so many guests…”

At her shy words, Nikki looked at Monica.

“Dragon.”

“It’s Monica.”

“…Right, Monica. We came to hunt you down. We heard there was a dragon here, and we came to slay it.”

“I, I know. I saw you coming a long time ago.”

“Is that so? But why didn’t you attack us?”

Yuris spoke in a colder tone than usual.

“Well… I didn’t want to go out. I, I don’t go outside my lair for just anything. The reason I chased those people away was that they were being noisy near my lair. You wouldn’t like it if your annoying neighbors were making noise, right? I, I prefer to be alone and quiet.”

At Monica’s urgent words, those present exchanged glances.

“Certainly, I don’t feel any hostility. It seems she’s not someone who would engage in unnecessary fights as she says.”

“Eileen has a point.”

It was true that she had only shown hostility but hadn’t actually harmed anyone.

However, I couldn’t say the same to the Empress.

– We cannot leave an uncontrollable dangerous being as it is.

She would want it disposed of.

Even if I said I wanted to hire her as a worker, it would be impossible if the Empress refused.

Lying was an option, but…

‘If I get caught, the backlash will be too great.’

It was unlikely that a person with the ability to discern the truth, like the Empress, would fall for a lie.

“Hmm…”

Nikki sighed.

She was dissatisfied with being with Max.

She was angry and annoyed, but punishing someone who wasn’t evil was something a Hero couldn’t do.

She had her own standards for punishment.

If they weren’t evil, let’s not punish them.

Let’s not use the Hero’s power for such matters.

Just then, as Nikki was deep in thought, Reina bowed her head and spoke politely.

“I’ve heard you are a great being. May I dare to ask for a glimpse of your true form?”

It was quite unexpected to see her, who always referred to humans as an inferior species, speaking so respectfully.

She hadn’t even been this polite to the Empress.

Is that how Elves are?

Regardless, it was a difficult question.

Monica couldn’t transform into a dragon right now.

“W-well…”

Monica looked at me with a restless expression as Reina spoke politely.

“W-well, you see… it’s about Polymorph…”

She cautiously opened her mouth, glancing at me.

“Ever since I saw Max and Illusion magic, I haven’t been able to return to my original form.”

“Excuse me? What does that mean…?”

Reina looked at me and Monica with a confused expression.

Nikki and Yuris, along with Eileen, glared at me as if they wanted to ask what had happened inside.

Even Aurora, who was still smiling.

All eyes were on me and Monica.

“I-I’ve never experienced anything like this before. I’ve never had this problem since I was young… I was good at Polymorph even when I was inexperienced with magic.”

Hearing that, Reina sighed.

“Polymorph is a magic that changes depending on the user’s mindset. I don’t know about the inferior species that structurally cannot use this magic, but that mindset is very important.”

“Mindset?”

At my question, Reina flinched in surprise.

“I-I didn’t mean to belittle the inferior species; I just mentioned it as a reference, so don’t react too strongly.”

“What kind of mindset are you talking about?”

“That is…”

Reina glanced at Monica and said,

“There must be a reason why you don’t want to transform. I don’t know why you don’t want to transform, Monica.”

“W-well…”

Just as Monica was about to speak cautiously, Reina interjected.

“Surely a great dragon like Monica wouldn’t prefer the form of a human, or rather an inferior species, and want to live in that inferior form, right? A great dragon wouldn’t be satisfied with an inferior body.”

Reina shot back, as if she couldn’t believe that Monica, a dragon, preferred a human form.

It felt somewhat mad, to say the least.

Considering what she had said to Yuris, it seemed she had a significant disdain for the human race.

‘It seems to have improved compared to before.’

But it still looked like she hated humans.

“N-no, that’s not it. Haha. I-I wouldn’t prefer a human form…”

After finishing her sentence, Monica glanced at me and then lowered her head.

“I-I don’t know the reason either. So, I think it will be difficult to transform for now.”

“I see. That’s unfortunate. I wanted to catch a glimpse of your great form.”

Reina didn’t press further and stepped back.

Yuris, who had been watching, spoke in a calm voice.

“Personally, I think it would be fine to go to His Majesty like this.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think His Majesty would understand if he sees Monica in her dragon form.”

At her words, everyone looked at Monica.

“Doesn’t she look harmless at first glance? I don’t think anyone would think this big-chested girl would suddenly transform into a dragon and kill everyone.”

“Perhaps she’s pretending to be weak to deceive us.”

Aurora, who had been silent, interjected.

“I don’t think that’s the case. Everyone here is strong beings and has likely fought in various battlefields, so they know well what kind of aura those with malicious intent emit. At least, I don’t feel that kind of aura from this dragon. Rather… it’s the opposite.”

I couldn’t deny Yuris’s words.

It wasn’t just about looking gentle.

The aura emanating from Monica didn’t seem evil at all.

It felt like a capybara that naturally befriends all kinds of animals.

“So, I think we should show His Majesty this form.”

“What about the residents here?”

“We’ve dealt with them, but since the dragon’s power remains, it would be best to tell them not to come near the mountain range.”

Yuris’s opinion was the most reasonable.

To prevent any potential conflict from arising, we would keep people away from the dragon’s lair and show the Empress Monica’s dragon form to appeal that we didn’t need to force a hunt.

‘The Empress is more reasonable than I thought.’

If I told her I wanted to hire Monica as a worker, she would likely agree.

I could say I would control the situation no matter what happened.

I had a way to persuade the Empress.

Thus, we had a time for Monica and the Hero’s party to get to know each other.

Just as I was about to step away for a moment, leaving them to converse in the slightly awkward atmosphere,

“Where are you going?”

Nikki grabbed my wrist.

“I need to organize my things before we leave.”

After all, I came as a porter, so I should do my job properly, right?

Nikki glared at me silently.

“If it were up to me, I’d want to do it right now. I want to do it until I can’t get it up anymore. But…”

Nikki tightened her grip on my wrist and said,

“This matter comes first, so I’ll really hold back this time. Once we return to the capital…”

“I’ll let you release all your pent-up feelings.”

I patted her head.

Even though she looked like she wanted to release her sexual desires immediately, Yuris, who had come in to slay the dragon, Eileen the saint who had come to punish evil, Reina, and Aurora all decided to hold back and finish this matter first.

If it weren’t for that, I would have been the one being taken advantage of in the dragon’s lair by now.

Monica might have joined in too.

I would have been squeezed until I couldn’t get it up and carried away on a stretcher.

Honestly, it was a genuinely nerve-wracking moment.

The cold gazes of the five companions looking at me.

The chilling stares pouring in at the mention of showing Monica Illusion magic.

So this is what it feels like to have a gaze that could kill.

It was a look I never wanted to receive again.

If those five were my enemies, it would be hard to survive.

Day or night.

So, I organized the luggage instead of them.

I was a sinner now, so it was only natural for me to take on this role.

This was the role of a porter.

In the Sun Palace, where the Emperor of the Empire resides.

“Your Majesty, we have received intelligence that the Hero’s party has slain the dragon.”

Upon hearing the news of the Hero’s party, who were tasked with slaying the dragon, the Empress, who was working in her office, smiled.

“Truly excellent. The experience of capturing the Demon King hasn’t gone to waste. To hunt a dragon… should we request soldiers to handle the byproducts?”

“Not at all. They have conveyed that they can handle it themselves.”

“I see. Hmm, with two excellent magicians sent, it seems feasible.”

The Empress thought of Aurora, the head of the school, and Max, the Illusion magician.

‘Of all people, they took him.’

For the first time, the Empress felt a profound loneliness while Max was away from the palace.

Loneliness was something that coexisted with a ruler.

But during the moments spent with Max, she could forget that loneliness.

In fact, when he trampled on her, she could forget her loneliness for the first time.

To feel excitement from experiencing such a humiliating sight.

She couldn’t understand the reactions of her own body, but the Empress did not reject that sensation.

It felt good.

She was feeling a sensation she had never felt before.

‘I was worried when they said they would take him, but it seems they did better than I expected.’

The Empress had thought of seeking out Max when they were gone.

Of course, all of that was canceled because the Heroes took him away.

“If they return, I should tell them to come see me in person.”

“You intend to commend the Hero’s party. I will prepare immediately.”

At the Empress’s reflexive words, the officials who had come to receive her approval bowed their heads.

Though they were not the Hero’s party, the Empress didn’t bother to mention it.

This was a pleasant secret she held.

“Indeed. I must commend them. The heroes should be welcomed by me personally.”

A tune escaped her lips.

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