episode_0045

It would take quite some time for Kapsella’s head of the family, Brasika, to send money.

In a world without internet or phones, exchanging even one letter would take over a month.

So, I gave all the money I earned in the Labyrinth to Linde.

“Is the pay really good?”

Linde asked as she opened her heavy coin purse and counted the money.

“There’s no reason to stay on the 10th floor anymore.”

Comparing when I first met Linde, my daily income had increased by more than tens of times.

Since most adventurers were generally part of a team and had to split their earnings, I was probably the one with the highest individual income.

However… the fact that the Red Lake, a formidable competitor, had disappeared was by no means insignificant.

With the Red Lake gone, the remaining top-tier adventurers would divide up its vacant position.

“Anyway, cheer up with this. If you need anything, just let me know.”

“Yes. But…”

“Why?”

“What’s the relationship between you and Lady Rami?”

The Alchemy Guild Leader of the Labyrinth City.

Twenty-five years ago, she was a rather mischievous girl who spread her mat on the street and sold potions.

Similar to Vogert, she had exceptional talent but lacked the supportive environment.

And whenever I saw such a kid, I couldn’t just stand by…

“I used to buy potions from her frequently in the past. She also started not in the guild but as a street vendor.”

“…Is that really it?”

I chuckled and patted Linde’s shoulder.

“Lady Rami and I don’t have a special relationship. We’ve never even had a drink together.”

“Huh? Really?”

Linde seemed genuinely surprised.

“That girl was obsessively dedicated to her success. Maybe she liked me back then. But Rami ultimately chose success over a man. Of course, even if she confessed, I wouldn’t have accepted. You know that, right?”

“…”

“Why? Still feeling uneasy?”

“It’s nothing, really.”

“Then forget about it.”

I clapped my hands and headed to the restaurant.

There was a bit of cold soup and bread left for me.

“You’re late.”

Krisha muttered.

“Sorry. Did you wait for me?”

“Not really… Everyone else has already eaten and left.”

Did Rami and Gryam have dinner here?

I sat at the table and dipped the bread into the soup.

Krisha’s soup had a nice exotic flavor.

There must be different spices and cooking methods used in Brigal.

“Tastes good.”

“…Yeah.”

Krisha blushed slightly.

Cute.

“Hey.”

She suddenly turned her head back to me.

“Why?”

“I mean, I really like my current lifestyle.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“…You’re part of my current life too.”

“…”

“Saying you’ll leave for the Labyrinth for ten years, I don’t like that.”

“But I won’t come to conquer Pratia.”

“…No. I’m a paladin. I can’t bring myself to kill a lonely girl living deep in the Labyrinth, even if she’s an enemy.”

Not all paladins are the same.

Some are affiliated with temple orders, fervently hostile towards demons and monsters, venturing out regularly to exterminate them. Conversely, there are those from temples solely focused on protecting territories and people.

Ultimately, depending on which temple they belong to and what beliefs they hold, the factions are incredibly complex.

And Krisha didn’t belong to any of them.

To put it nicely, she was free-spirited, but negatively, she was an outcast.

“I dislike that. I just… I just had a talent. That’s all. I never deeply pondered what was right or wrong.”

“Purity isn’t a bad thing.”

“But ignorance is bad… right?”

“…”

“I was ignorant. I didn’t even realize I was being deceived and played. I foolishly let myself be manipulated by the simple lure of immediate good deeds.”

“Still, you’re better off.”

“Better off? Than who?”

“I knew two paladins personally from the past.”

“What’s your name? Which temple do you belong to?”

“You won’t know even if I tell you. We’re a bunch without our own gravestones in the temple.”

The Holy Knights and priests have gravestones erected in the temple they are affiliated with upon death.

“Still, they were truly remarkable individuals. Slightly lacking compared to you? Anyway, they were skilled, genuinely kind souls who wanted to help people more than anything.”

“And they lived that way, saving people and dying. But no one remembers. Isn’t it foolish? Not realizing until death that they were being used as convenient pawns. I had to point it out, you know? But do you know what they said?”

“What did they say?”

“They said it didn’t matter. It was fine to be called fools. And they truly died like fools. So, you’re better off. At least you avoided such puppetry.”

“Are you perhaps Johan and Matthias?”

I set down my utensils and looked at her.

“How…?”

“A dragon. The names that the dragon we killed together mentioned were those two. When I see myself, Johan and Matthias come to mind.”

“It’s maddening.”

I sighed deeply.

Good grief.

It’s somewhat exciting to have someone remember.

As expected, it wasn’t there.

A dragon, huh?

Oh me.

“The dragon knew those two?”

“Yeah. I don’t know how. I didn’t ask either.”

“I see…”

I don’t know everything about those two either.

Keeping the names Johan and Matthias hidden was my way of showing respect and dissatisfaction with the world.

The fact that no one remembered those two, who were so great and noble, who were truly heroes in stories, felt absurd.

But it turns out I wasn’t the only one who knew.

In the first place, there were things I didn’t know.

It’s natural if it’s natural, but sometimes even I make such mistakes.

“By the way, what was that dragon? Why did you end up hunting dragons?”

“The dragon’s name was Trapolka. It declared the mining territories owned by the Brighal royal family as its territory and occupied them, making it a target for subjugation.”

“Normally, wouldn’t the country send a subjugation force? Why did you fight?”

“They did. We just defeated them and withdrew.”

“Ah…”

“An army just moving around extorts food and taxes. That year, there was a bad harvest, and the suffering and pain of the people were too much. If taxes had increased further, many would have starved to death. So, I took matters into my own hands. Linde just went along with it.”

“Huh, it wasn’t something entrusted to you from the beginning.”

“No.”

“Well, you won in the end, so it’s fine.”

“…Actually, there’s something bothering me even now.”

“What is it?”

“That dragon. It got angry, asking why we were interfering when this mine was supposed to be its rightful possession. While it may seem like we just fought regardless during the battle, at first, it genuinely seemed to think the mine was rightfully its own.”

“That’s quite peculiar.”

“Isn’t it?”

Dragons are arrogant creatures.

They don’t assert legitimate rights.

If they want something, they’ll take it by force.

If that dragon had wanted the mine, instead of saying such things, it would have probably stated, “From now on, this mine is mine, so scram.”

Of course, they’re not fools, so they understand there’s a possibility of defeat in fighting against an army.

Therefore, they often compromise or engage in trade at a reasonable threshold.

We humans also understand this psychology, so when a dragon demands something, the king sends envoys first.

And if the king’s envoys flatter and create a pretext for withdrawal with various excuses, the dragon acknowledges that they were right and shows mercy, reducing their demands.

Of course, the promise was as sharp as a knife, ensuring no betrayal from their side first. Conversely, if humans were to break the promise, they would invade the royal palace prepared for the possibility of punishment and cause chaos.

Even if it means facing death, instilling fear of dragons was the goal.

Assuming that the royal family survived the turmoil once, they would never dare to scheme against dragons again.

Sometimes, even when no lives were lost, the stigma of incurring a dragon’s wrath and the astronomical taxes required to repair damages left the kingdom crippled, slowly leading to its downfall.

Such calamities made the title of Dragon Slayer highly esteemed.

“Anyway, how did we end up here? Oh, right. What I mean is, you’re precious to me now. Not as much as Lindy, of course, but since Lindy likes you…”

“But?”

“But! So, cherish Lindy more!”

“Are you suggesting marriage? She’s like my niece!”

“You’d do that with your niece?!”

“Well… I have nothing to say about that. Still, there’s no blood relation, and you’re both old enough.”

“This…!”

“Don’t get too worked up. What if I join in too?”

“What?! I’m a holy knight!”

“There are temples for that. Advocating the doctrine of love.”

“Those people are almost heretical. They’re funded by ignorant and greedy nobles, and their followers are all debauched and wicked!”

“You know them well? Have they ever tried to recruit you there?”

“Ugh…! Enough!”

Krisha slammed the table and stormed out of the dining room.

“…What’s going on?”

Startled by the commotion, Lindy peeked her head out of the dining room door and asked.

“It’s an interesting story.”

“Did you tease Krisha again? Be reasonable. She’s an innocent girl.”

“You raised her a bit too innocently.”

“She’s a holy knight. Naturally, she should be pure.”

“But isn’t that a bit excessive? Some holy knights marry just fine.”

“Just because you haven’t found a man who suits Krisha.”

“Waiting for a prince on a white horse?”

“A prince? That’s even worse. I’ll never marry into royalty.”

That wasn’t the intended meaning.

But still, royalty…

…Why and how did Stellia become royalty?

It doesn’t feel right.

We couldn’t have forgotten the promise we made among our Eboni tribe.

At that moment, someone rang our doorbell.

“I’ll go check.”

Krisha went out.

A moment later…

“Huh?!”

Her gasp could be heard.

I immediately got up from the table and rushed to the entrance.

Lindy was sitting hesitantly at the doorstep.

“What?! What’s going on…!”

“Long time no see.”

It was Horan, the leader of the Fang Warriors.

“What? Why are you here? What did you do to Lindy?!”

“Well… she just screamed and sat down when she saw us. There’s a limit to rudeness.”

“I-I’m fine… I was just really surprised…”

Lindy stood up quickly and fled behind me.

I stepped forward and stood in front of Horan.

“You know you’re not welcome guests here, right? Speak quickly before Krisha sees you.”

“Hmm. That might be difficult.”

“What?”

“We’ve come to pay our respects to Lady Krisha.”

“You’re still spouting such nonsense…”

Interrupting me, Horan unfolded a scroll.

“This is the royal decree of King Slon of Brigal. Lady Krisha, the knight of Brigal, is summoned to attend a very important event and fulfill her duties.”

“An important event? What… Oh.”

“W-What’s going on…?”

Peeking over my shoulder, Lindy looked at the scroll.

“Knight Krisha is tasked with safeguarding the sacred duty of protecting the royal wedding of Brigal.”