Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Rachel's Inquiry
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Even with that buoyant presence, her face was so perfect it was hard to tear my eyes away. Fiery red hair clinging to her tight martial arts uniform, and half-gloves made from red scaly leather.
‘That’s gotta be the skin from the tip of her own tail.’
I forcibly averted my gaze and sat at a new table, where I’d ordered a ton of beer and snacks—maybe because I regretted parting with Cain.
“Young master. On a day like this, booze is the way to go. I ordered a bit.”
“I went with this one out of the food I sniffed out—it seemed to have the highest proficiency, Lady Adelrian.”
―Administrator. Your heart rate is higher than average. Is something wrong?
“My heart’s fine. Let’s drink first.”
Leaf’s words didn’t even reach Luna or Zero, but they picked up on mine perfectly and raised their glasses without a fuss.
I forcibly kept my head from turning back right away as I thought to myself.
‘Of all times, Cain’s not here.’
Should I call for Cain now? But by this point, he was probably submitting his work application with the Kruger family recommendation letter I’d given him.
As I nursed my bland beer, lost in thought, a single thought pierced my mind.
―Come out back quietly.
It gave me a bit of déjà vu. Like that time a veteran dragged me out for calling out a newbie for not greeting the boss properly.
“I need to talk to someone.”
Pretending I was heading to the bathroom, I casually walked out.
As long as it wasn’t brainless mode, it’d be manageable. She wouldn’t just swing at me out of nowhere.
I steadied my breathing and slipped into the shadowy spot behind the inn.
“It really is that guy. Guess his little brother didn’t get to him after all.”
Nearly as tall as Zero. Arms crossed, grinning slightly—I glanced up at Rachel, then plastered on the most composed smile I could muster before opening my mouth.
“It’s all thanks to you, Rachel.”
“How do you know my name?”
Chills ran down my spine for a second. I quickly blurted out the name of someone else to sacrifice in my place.
“I heard it from Lepid.”
“Loose-lipped bastard.”
Rachel shot me a glare. I sighed inwardly in relief, then continued.
“You didn’t call me out here just to confirm I’m alive. Are you warning me not to interfere with your fun?”
I put on my kindest, gentlest face, and Rachel’s lip curled up on one side. Those red eyes looked menacing.
“Quick on the uptake. Guess there’s a reason for that cheeky face.”
No place to use the Arrogance trait, huh.
“You’re right, that’s what I wanted to talk about. And one more thing.”
Instead of boots or shoes, her feet were wrapped only in bandages as she stepped closer, lowering her voice.
“How did you recognize me?”
* * *
“Isn’t this amazing?”
Luna tapped the wooden badge pinned to her sleeve cuff, and Zero and Leaf nodded.
“It makes faces look plainer than usual, so you remember hair color and outfits quicker. But if you don’t focus on it, it doesn’t really catch your eye. Right?”
“They say people wearing recognition-lowering badges gradually sync up their wavelengths, making it easier to spot each other. But it hasn’t kicked in yet. Probably won’t look normal for a few more days.”
[Agreed. I also recognize by build rather than appearance.]
Luna read Leaf’s abbreviated writing on the small chalkboard, rested her chin on her hand, set down her beer mug, and popped a roasted bean into her mouth.
“If you don’t concentrate, they still look like strangers. But how did the young master head straight for our table? We were about to go fetch you.”
* * *
I let what I’d heard flow out of my mind without dwelling. Stuff like this had to be pure spinal reflex.
“What do you mean?”
My ear tickled from her whisper, so I scratched my earlobe as if getting goosebumps, and Rachel bared her teeth in a grin.
“Human brat’s got guts, huh? Pretending not to know. I’ve got an item with a recognition-lowering spell on it. How’d you spot me?”
Step by step.
Backing away from her overwhelming presence, my back hit the cool wall. As Rachel cracked her knuckles, I gave an awkward smile.
“What are you... Oh, if you’ve got a recognition-lowering magic item, maybe it’s because I have this badge too?”
I wanted to pull up the trait window to block out that intense gaze and check Rachel’s traits too.
But after those broken letters last time and the weird vibe, I couldn’t risk it.
Instead, to divert her eyes, I tapped the badge tucked into the bottom of my shirt with my finger, and Rachel’s red pupils flicked downward.
“If you had a similar item, they might interfere and let you recognize me. But there’s a limit. How’d a non-archmage like you spot me right away? Huh? What are you?”
I instinctively sensed this was a make-or-break moment depending on my answer—whether my brains would end up as mush right now.
Her knuckles cracked like bones snapping right next to me. I frantically racked my brain.
‘Oh, it’s gotta be because of the buoyancy.’
But telling Rachel, ‘Hey, it’s your fault for having Shiba drag me here,’ wasn’t an option. I didn’t have coins to respawn.
“Um... probably...”
“Probably?”
I dragged it out to buy time, and one of Rachel’s eyebrows arched. Classic simpleminded, violent, brainless Rachel.
She hated waiting.
“That first time we met, there was this mana storm swirling around, and I nearly died and came back—maybe it’s a side effect?”
I smiled innocently, like I had no clue.
Lame excuses wouldn’t fly.
Time for the direct approach. I don’t know either. If a dragon doesn’t know, who does? Call my bluff. Of course, not literally—you’d die.
“Side effect?”
“Honestly, I saw you because you were there, but if you ask why...”
Channeling some old drama line about persimmons or whatever, Rachel tilted her head and rubbed her chin with her fingertips.
Every move so bold. True big sis energy.
A character I loved as much as Cain, but the buoyancy ruined the fun.
Is this what they mean by fandom hell?
A memory flashed of my past life in Rachel’s main unit.
“Hmm. Uh-huh. You don’t know?”
“No clue. I mean, like you said, I’m no archmage, and you’re a dragon—you can tell at a glance how much magic talent I have.”
“Y-Yeah... true.”
Her hesitant tone. Now’s my chance to push.
“But if you ask how I recognized you, what am I supposed to say? It just happened?”
“Uh... mm...”
I crossed my arms confidently, stared her down hard, and Rachel took a slight step back.
“Of course, a dragon like you probably knows but warned me as a lesson. ‘Don’t let on that you recognize me. That’s how you live long,’ something like that.”
“Y-Yeah, exactly. That’s it. Man, humans these days. Staring right at me and recognizing me, huh?”
There’s a saying on this continent.
‘Acting like a dragon on a whim.’
What you call someone smart who acts dumb—like they left their brain at home.
Dragons are so perfect that using 100% of their intellect makes everything predictable and boring, so they cap their intelligence for fun. Wonder if it’s true.
I beamed at Rachel as she nodded along to my bullshit.
Rubbing my hands in sycophant mode.
“So, can I treat you like human martial artist Rachel now, not dragon Rachel?”
“Obviously.”
Rachel laughed heartily, and I whispered once more.
“You won’t hold it against me or anything, right? Especially since it’s you, Rachel.”
“A whim is a whim by nature. Who holds grudges over things from a midday dream?”
I uncrossed my hands, straightened my shoulders, watching her declare it boldly.
“Ah, cool. Guess I can drop the formalities then? Enjoy your meal, Rachel.”
“Huh?”
Rachel’s eyes went wide at my words.
I looked at her face, patted her shoulder.
“Then good luck with the subjugation. Let’s help each other if we bump into each other.”
“W-Wait. You little punk, you’re way too cocky all of a sudden!”
As Rachel furrowed her brow at my attitude shift, I smirked arrogantly.
“I’m a noble. You?”
Brainless Rachel. Came out on a whim without thinking, even got a commoner ID and adventurer registration.
She worked her lips at my question, so I pressed on.
“I’ll cover today’s meal? Gotta do that much for an acquaintance.”
“Y-You... youuu?”
Before Rachel could yell, I bolted back into the inn.
“Hey!”
I ignored the shout behind me. Provoke first, then the fish bites on the lure.
“Why so late, young master? Don’t tell me?”
―Irregular bodily functions are the root of all diseases...
“Shut it. Not that.”
I tsked at the ones shifting into pushy mode, then borrowed Leaf’s chalkboard to explain the situation simply.
Rachel fumed outside for a while before coming back in, sitting at her old spot, glaring at me while chugging beer—her side-eye stung.
I ignored it, swapped my flat, foamless beer for a fresh one, and propped my chin like I was turning away from Rachel.
“Cain’ll probably take at least a month for training and deployment.”
Even that’s short because it’s Cain. Normally, after code of conduct, security training, and learning local military signals, three months fly by.
But Cain’s a genius with top-tier combat skills, so he’ll cut that down—a month’s my estimate.
“We can’t do anything too flashy in the meantime, but we need to steadily build up achievements.”
That way, if we link up with Cain later, it’ll be smooth.
A no-name merc party with zero record versus one with consistent small-quality quests? The latter gets bonus points for official subjugation support, obviously.
“Then we should look into long-term rentals for decent lodging.”
“Zero’s right. Overall, the inns and eateries here suck, so cooking ourselves might be better.”
I nodded at Zero and Luna. Short-termers racing for cash or those who might die anytime are different, but for us, who might stick around months, private lodging isn’t bad.
‘Plus, with what I’m after.’
Rented places have better security than inns, where eavesdropping’s a constant risk.
If it were just money or achievements, fine—but it’s more than that.
―Hey. Come out back again.
“So, crash here tonight and scout tomorrow?”
Something buzzed in my head, but ignore it.
―You human shit, wanna die?
She talks tough, but after that midday dream line, it’s all bark—no bite.
“When we get to the room, give me one of those carrots too.”
I laughed at Luna griping about the food, nodded at the two double rooms, then said.
“Tomorrow, secure lodging and check subjugation schedules.”
“Yes!”
“Sure.”
―I’ll follow the administrator’s orders.
I smiled at Luna, Zero, and the rest’s energetic replies.
―Don’t pretend you can’t hear me. Get out back now.
“I’ll handle something quick, so head up first.”
Ignoring Rachel’s persistent thoughts, I sent the party up, pretended to go to the yard, but paid at the counter—including Rachel’s tab—then dashed to the second-floor rooms.
―Hey!
Leaving her roar behind.
Cain’s temporary absence left a gap in the vanguard.
Time to prepare filling it with Rachel.