Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: The Dragon's Wager
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When you think of dragons, a certain image springs to mind: arrogant and overbearing, the strongest creature on earth that seems shockingly shortsighted despite having lived for centuries or even millennia.
I'd occasionally think about it.
How could someone who's lived that long fall for such obvious ploys and step right into every visible trap?
But look at it from another angle, and it makes sense.
When your body's that tough, your brain doesn't have to work overtime.
If there's a thorny path right in front of you, with what you want just beyond it, any normal person would check for a way around.
But if you're wearing boots tough enough to stroll through unscathed, why bother detouring?
It might look insane or idiotic to everyone else, but if you know your feet are safe, you'd cut straight across.
'Rachel's just like that.'
She'd chosen the "play" of being a martial artist who never uses magic under any circumstances, so she stuck to the rules.
Anyone who's played games knows how terrifying that kind of commitment is.
You see the trap coming a mile away, but you follow along anyway because it's fun.
"Young master… someone's been glaring at us from behind nonstop."
"It's fine. Don't worry about it."
I'd tasked Zero and Leaf with finding us a place to stay, so Luna and I had come to the request office together. We started reading through the subjugation notices pinned to the board one by one.
No large-scale subjugations yet.
It was all small-scale requests triggered by sporadic monster sightings popping up all along the borderlands that hugged the mountain range.
"With all these requests and people out subjugating them, it's weird that monsters keep showing up."
"Probably because no humans have ever pushed all the way beyond the mountains."
Even though human forces dominated the continent right now, it was still too ambitious to cross those vast peaks, wipe out monsters on a massive scale, and claim new territory.
There were still plenty of underused lands like Chabid scattered around, not to mention all the mysteries in the ruins.
There just wasn't any real impetus to advance past the mountains.
Forget the management headaches—there weren't even benefits worth the effort.
All the nations bordering the range did was periodically cull monsters to keep them from spilling into the interior.
That was it.
"Young master. My nape physically hurts now…"
"It's fine, it's fine."
I felt it too.
Like she was channeling mana into her stare and jabbing.
It prickled.
—You.
How long are you gonna keep ignoring me? Huh?
"How about starting with somewhere the monsters are clearly identified? Get a feel for the vibe."
From the circumstances, it seemed like these weren't hasty subjugation applications to curb damage from monster appearances—instead, I tapped on one with detailed intel like exact numbers.
Luna nodded.
"Sounds good. Let's start easy."
I gave the beaming Luna a light shove toward the application form.
Then I slipped off to a dim corner far enough that not even her ears could pick it up, and murmured softly.
"Why do you keep acting like we're buddies?"
"Acting like buddies? Buddies-ing?"
Her words were getting shorter, her guts practically spilling out as she picked a fight.
I stayed calm, gazing out the window as I replied.
"Got a thing for me? Why keep yapping? Gotta say, good eye."
"…What the hell are you on about, human brat?"
Rachel faltered, her long ponytail swaying like a ribbon of red silk.
"Not your first rodeo, and that body's human right now, isn't it? A 'human' calling another human 'human brat' is basically screaming you've got a secret identity."
I clicked my tongue, and Rachel's stunning face twisted up.
"And when you're out playing human, follow local customs, yeah? Who calls a guy my age 'brat'? You and me look about the same age on the outside."
"Ah, so if I'm a brat, don't call me brat—what, then?"
Anyway, not like she was a kid or anything.
Who else would live up to "brainless Rachel"?
Nothing beat her for joy like pulping monsters with her fists.
No thinking required.
"Call me Lord Adelian."
I whispered with a grin.
Rachel huffed in disbelief, letting out a weird "Hah."
"Lord? Lor-d?"
"Or just Adelian. We're friends, right?"
I thrust out a hand and grabbed hers in a sudden shake.
Her red eyes went wide.
"You're seriously fearless."
"You said no hard feelings. I'm treating you like the human martial artist Rachel—what's so unfair? Don't tell me you want my respect?"
Gonna tremble now?
Beg for your life and plead for the dragon's mercy?
Rachel stared at me, then burst out laughing.
Her booming guffaw drew Luna over—she'd apparently finished the subjugation paperwork by then.
Luna blinked in surprise at our handshake, then slyly sliced between our hands with a sharp chop, like cutting a cake.
"Young master. Who's she?"
"Just made a friend."
Right?
I shot Rachel a look.
She grinned down at Luna, then flicked her gaze back to me.
"Yep. Friend of human Rachel."
"But why were you glaring at our young master earlier?"
Luna planted herself in front of me, suspicion unyielding.
I stroked her head and chimed in.
"Cuz I'm too handsome. Had to get a look."
"What?"
"Right? You're not saying you were staring cuz you wanted to punch my nape or something. Right?"
I flashed a cheeky grin.
Rachel nodded awkwardly.
Yeah, she totally wanted to clock my nape.
"So, what were you two talking about?"
"Just that we'll help each other out if we run into one another on subjugations."
Luna was sulking hard at Rachel for some reason, so I tweaked her ears to soothe her.
In the original story, Gadia had kept Luna as a maid and joined Cain's party with her, so her position got locked as "maid"—no chances to see this bold side.
She'd gotten so much brighter and more confident.
I was dying to check Luna's traits, but with Rachel right there, I shoved down the urge just in case and spoke up.
"I'll chat a bit longer, so go fetch Zero and Leaf and bring them here, Luna."
"…I'll hurry back."
Even if she hated it, she never flat-out refused me.
I waved her off, then turned to Rachel's odd expression.
"Why the face?"
"You look like some cocky, brainless idiot living without a care, but turns out you're trusted by your people?"
Pretending otherwise while dumping insults.
"It's all charisma. So how about from now on, we act like acquaintances and you stick around here?"
I tossed it out casually.
Rachel arched one eyebrow.
"I'm just passing through town. Normally swamped with subjugations. You won't see me again."
"Oh, really? Our party's jumping into subjugations too, so won't we cross paths more?"
I played dumb.
Rachel snorted.
"You haven't built up enough strength to feel the gap yet? Your whole party's weaker than me. Our requests won't overlap."
"Oh, really? Looks to me like our party's no slouch. You kill one; we've got numbers, so we bag more."
I let my arrogance trait run free—no suppressing it this time—just grinned as is.
Rachel twitched.
No matter how I sliced it, this trait was 100% dragon-taunt bait.
"You don't know your place. Wanna bet if you're that eager for the gap?"
I fought down my rising smirk and shot back in wide-eyed, clueless tones.
"Bet?"
Rachel scanned me over.
"You've got money."
"Loads."
Unlike some fist-happy type.
Half the reason the galleries called Rachel "brainless" was her reckless no-plan style paired with zero grasp of money.
What reason did a powerhouse like Rachel have for chugging watery beer in a dumpy inn?
She blew through cash like water till her pockets echoed.
"Wanna bet who racks up more kills on subjugation requests? Your party versus me. Just the two of us. I win, you pay ten gold. Deal?"
Rachel beamed, smug as could be.
Look at her.
This fool thinks she can pawn my life—no, her dragon life—for pocket change like ten gold.
"Then what if I—not Rachel—win?"
"No chance."
She assumed victory from the jump—didn't even plan to hear my terms. Brazen.
Classic dragon.
"How about a vow if I win?"
"…What kinda weird crap you gonna pull? No dumbass vows. Maybe if it's at least a standard national contract."
Picky much.
I racked my brain for how to sweeten it further.
A spark hit.
I grinned.
"Fine. We'll limit it to those national-standard ones. Cool?"
National oaths and contracts around here were pretty boilerplate.
What binding power do you think noble vows really pack?
At best, "protect your lands and stay loyal to the crown."
What good would making Rachel swear that do me?
She figured it'd be impossible to find a personally juicy clause in standard national contract language—that's why she threw down the condition.
"Sloppy pick cuz you know you're gonna lose?"
"No way. But I don't know the local scene or subjugation difficulties yet, so I pick the ones for the bet. Fair?"
Rachel shrugged it off, swept her long hair back with the back of her hand, and turned away.
* * *
"I'm against it."
"It's not like Cain-senpai's been gone long enough to just casually—"
—If I'm lacking, I'll work harder. Administrator, just crank my mana heart output higher.
No clue how Luna explained on the way back, but now she was pouting like a duck instead of a rabbit.
Even the ever-mild Zero led with opposition.
Leaf knew boosting mana heart output could shorten operating time, but said it anyway.
"I haven't even said anything yet?"
More importantly, I hadn't breathed a word about Rachel.
I chuckled at their sulky faces as we headed to check out the house Zero and Leaf had scouted.
They'd bonded quick with Cain, and now they were sulking over a newcomer.
It came off childish but pure.
"What's eating you guys?"
I slung an arm around Luna's shoulders.
She rubbed her cheek against her ear and slid her eyes my way.
"That woman treats you too casually."
"That's just with you all—I'm your young master, employer, administrator. Rachel and I? Nothing yet."
Not yet.
"Anyway, in my opinion, Adelian-nim—even without Cain-senpai, our party's plenty strong. Frontline's covered with Rabbit-senpai and Leaf-junior."
—Goblins and such can't lay a scratch on me unless I burn through all my mana.
I know, I know. I get it.
'Not sure on timing, but soon enough, a colossal monster's due to come down.'
The top commander I'd meet later when Cain showed up—Reinhardt.
He'd lost limbs to a past monster encounter and turned grumpy from it.
'But he's still fine for now.'
A noble—even a count—not beaten in faction wars, volunteering at the borderlands to lead monster hunts by example.
I'd help a stand-up guy like that and snag some gains on the side.
To have Rachel under my thumb when that colossal shows, best to prep now and slot her into the party.
"I've got it all figured. Personality's rough, but skills are top-notch, and she won't betray."
"If you say so, young master… Got it. I'll try warming up to her."
"Understood for now."
—Yes.
Can't out her as a dragon mid-play.
Her skills were legit, at least.
I gently coaxed the kids along as we stepped into the lodging they'd scouted ahead.
"Keep tabs on subjugation requests from now on. Alert me the second one I want pops up."
"Which kind?"
Luna's question drew an amused chuckle from me.
"The one about tracking down the source of that child's laughter echoing in the dead of night."