The Vanguard (1)
From the start, holding a meeting like this in a bunker-like secret chamber felt off.
The reason was explained right away by the host.
Its tongue commands all manner of sorcery, and its breath melts cities.
Its eyes pierce the unseen, and with ears scattered far and wide, it hears tales from every corner of the continent.
Hero Kirgil, mark these words well! This commission must not leak to anyone not present here!
The dragon’s ears could be anywhere. Its gaze could be fixed upon us even now.
Should the dragon learn of the Darania Knights’ plans, the worst outcome could bring calamity upon the royal palace itself!”
That speech dashed any lingering hope that this world’s dragons might be wyvern-level flying reptiles.
No, they were supreme beings—perhaps even beyond—who might have minions planted in every kingdom, pulling strings through them.
A single dragon wielded the power of a nation.
That explained why they kept the queen completely isolated. Even if the dragon caught wind of this plot, it gave them the bare minimum excuse: “It wasn’t me.”
Honestly, from the dragon’s perspective, it’d probably seem like a laughable excuse, but highborn folks crafting incomprehensible “noble” policies was the same here or back in my world.
Anyway, they were commissioning me.
Did I even have veto power?
I glanced at Ashu just in case, but her face was a blank, unfocused mask.
I couldn’t speak for others, but seeing Ashu look at me like that was seriously bad.
Her face had gone pale as death.
No veto power, then.
They might accept a nominal refusal, but to preserve secrecy, they’d execute me.
This wasn’t my home world with its high regard for human rights. For a kingdom’s survival and honor, they’d kill one person without batting an eye.
The host had declared the commission without even waiting for my answer, then droned on about secrecy. It was basically a threat.
At any rate, the host’s irritating speech finally wrapped up.
The chamber fell silent.
“……”
Everyone stared at me.
Everyone awaited my reply.
Irritation boiled up inside me.
Should I slip into Happy Moment, steal the nearby guards’ swords and spears, and turn this place into a bloodbath?
From experience, I had plenty of time for that.
I could take out everyone in the room, at least.
The thought of sparking a revolution in a fit of rage crossed my mind, but that was way too reckless. If a 400-year kingdom crumbled overnight, the provinces would descend into warring states chaos.
Before any new order could form, war and disorder would ravage the land.
Villages like the ones I’d burned on my path of learning—reduced to survival-of-the-fittest hellholes—could sprout up nationwide.
Ashu, still expressionless, wrapped her left pinky with her right hand.
A sign she was prepared for death.
Then I had to decide too.
In Happy Moment, I left my seat and scanned the others.
Some clenched fists, some tense faces, some beaded in cold sweat.
Curiously, Inario’s expression and posture hadn’t changed a bit.
The queen gripped her collar tightly, out of sight.
It hadn’t been visible from afar, but up close, tears glistened in Ashu’s blank eyes.
I wiped them away and gave her a light kiss.
I returned to my seat as if nothing had happened.
Then, hand over my heart, I spoke.
However, I will subjugate the dragon of my own will. This is my sole decision, unrelated to the queen’s intentions. I seek only the Darania Knights’ support.”
I tweaked the content a bit. Not a commission from the Darania Knights—I’d handle the subjugation myself, and I only wanted their support.
No one here would miss the meaning.
The Darania Knights weren’t my superiors; they were my collaborators.
The queen flashed a subtle smile. Inario’s poker face cracked with a snort.
Ashu touched her eyes and lips in confusion, looked at me, then smiled brightly.
Clap, clap...
Suddenly, a few ministers started applauding. Those who grasped my words?
Paradilan, Parania’s father and the academy president, was clapping too.
Soon, the applause overlapped, swelled, and filled the chamber.
Thus, amid everyone’s acclaim, I accepted the dragon subjugation—my final trial as the hero.
After wrapping up the absurd theater show in the secret chamber, I waited in a nearby lounge-like side room.
A servant had personally asked me to stay here.
With tea and snacks served, another meeting must be coming up.
I’m exhausted.
Truth be told, I wanted to see Ashu right away, but she’d left with the queen immediately after the meeting ended.
Royals had their own gatherings, apparently.
As I waited a bit, the door opened, and Academy President Paradilan entered.
As I stood to greet him, he bowed first in thanks.
First, allow me to express my profound gratitude.”
His gaze fell on the winged staff badge pinned to my chest.
I’d only worn it because Ashu suggested it for the academy carriage ride, but good thing I kept it on.
Honestly, these symbols were piling up lately, starting to feel burdensome.
Prosek hero crest, adventurer guild mark, Hairil’s fur, Panash’s key, horn husk bracelet, and more…
A few years from now, I’d be jingling around like some communist general draped in medals.
Kirgil, I’ll adventure with you too.”
Now I understood why I had to wait in this lounge.
I was the vanguard captain for the dragon subjugation, conducting interviews for volunteers.
This dragon subjugation was a covert op.
Only rigorously vetted personnel could volunteer.
That meant palace insiders only—no easy joins from outsiders.
Wouldn’t be able to get Agnes’s help, then.
Actually, if Agnes heard about this, she might bring the disaster to the palace herself instead of the dragon.
Still, having the knowledgeable Paradilan as the first interviewee was a relief.
Considering his elven age and academy president status, he probably matched Agnes’s knowledge.
So I asked.
“…”
The president poured his own tea.
To maintain secrecy, even the servants had been dismissed. It was just me and him.
I poured my own tea too.
Sliced some cake to go with it.
The palace desserts were top-notch.
He tried for brevity, but it was still lengthy.
To sum up my role: cannon fodder scout team.
We didn’t know the dragon’s strength or behavior, so send in brave heroes to probe.
Obviously, no survival guarantees.
Getting even one out alive mattered more than subjugation—to find weaknesses or walkthrough hints.
Learning what weapons or magic worked would hugely benefit the main force.
Like hard-core gamers rushing a new raid without guides post-update.
Wipe out to complete the walkthrough manual.
Problem was, no respawn or retry like in games.
This elf knew Agnes would do something drastic if I didn’t return. Shrewd and pragmatic.
Covering debt, gratitude, and justification all at once.
“I like that it’s not 100% altruism.”
Among strangers or untrustworthy folks, motivated help beats baseless charity every time.
Then came the convoluted palace politics.
The queen wanted to check the Darania Knights.
The four Darania Knight Orders competed, but each preferred their own for commander.
Inario was top candidate, but his son drew steel on the royals—disqualified.
He’d executed the boy himself to barely escape punishment.
In this mess, the queen publicly wished for a hero like founding king Darania—the Demon King slayer and knight order founder.
Right then, news hit: the crown prince slain by a dragon near Artriana Dungeon.
So dragon subjugation naturally became the knight commander qualifier—royal revenge and northern reclamation.
But this felt like “don’t appoint anyone.”
If the queen was petty, yeah.
Exploiting her child’s death.
No wonder princes and princesses fled the palace.
The eldest who died adventuring, Ashu too.
Hated facing annoying parents, so desperate for independence.
…
What a dysfunctional family…