Dragon Proposals and the Cultist's Gaze
"Puhaha! For real? Ah, that's so totally Tantun-style! Not content with just ravaging the Outer Gods' bodies by force, now you're going after their hearts too?"
"...Wow, how does someone even say stuff like that? That's a real talent."
"Thanks. I hear that a lot. Heehee."
Agartha's habit of taking even sarcastic jabs as compliments left me utterly speechless. I'd roughly explained how I'd caught the Dragon Slayer by grabbing her horn and shoving her over, only for her to suddenly stiffen up like something had short-circuited and then just fly off. And that was her reaction.
Suddenly, I recalled the Dragon Slayer's response when I'd grabbed her horn. Wasn't her trying to take me away just a simple kidnapping? Or had she actually agreed to my unintended proposal and was dragging me off for that... that thing?
This romance-novel-brained dragon lady—if she didn't want it, she should've just said no! Who the hell happily accepts a proposal the first time someone grabs their horn...!
"If she flew off that readily, you must've really swept her off her feet. Dragons are said to accept even a first-time suitor if they touch the horn and match the conditions she had in mind."
Match the conditions she had in mind? In other words, if you're close to her ideal type, she'll accept you.
But no matter how I racked my brain, I couldn't remember anything about the Dragon Slayer that screamed "ideal type." I had no clue. Since I'd described it the opposite of what actually happened, Agartha was probably just gearing up to tease me more based on that.
Hmm. Say what you will, this was the better option. If I'd said, 'I grabbed her horn, and she blushed and accepted right away,' I couldn't even imagine the horrific roasting I'd get.
"...How the hell do you even know info like that?"
"Some Mystic Scholars value their lives so little sometimes."
...It felt like watching a scientist who casually tasted something, found it sweet, and accidentally unleashed it on the world to massive success. Of course, this one had done the forbidden and gotten a good result, but the Mystic Scholar Agartha mentioned... Even with the buffs from the Cook's food boosting their pure physical abilities, they couldn't stand against the lesser dragons. I wouldn't dwell on the horrific fate they must've met—may their path to the afterlife be peaceful.
Now that I knew this, how was I supposed to face the Dragon Slayer? I'd been craving some Korean food and was about to call the Cook, but since the flute summoned every Outer God I'd contacted, she'd definitely come too.
Maybe I just shouldn't call her? I could almost hear the Cook's voice dripping with hurt from somewhere, but the thought of the Dragon Slayer showing up too was a huge burden.
「Sounds like a pretty cushy dilemma, but you should summon that half-wit sooner rather than later.」
I furrowed my brow at the Gardener's sudden voice. Why was she urging me to call the Dragon Slayer, of all things?
「You saw it last time. She just smashed the Recorder's script like it was nothing. That means if she wants, she has the power to drop anchor in the human world for a bit under any pretext. Imagine what happens if you keep ignoring a girl that smitten with you.」
The Gardener was casually dropping terrifying bombshells.
...Why did she have to be the older one? Like in some manga, her eyes going feral as she creeps closer, yanks me into a tight embrace, and drags me off to her lair.
No way the Dragon Slayer would do that, right? We'd only just met.
...She wouldn't, for real?
「Anyway, be careful. ...Or maybe I should go first...」
Yeah, what was that?
「...Forget it, you blockhead. I'm going to sleep.」
The Gardener suddenly grumbled and went quiet. Lately, she'd been muttering to herself like this. If she wasn't saying it outright, it was probably nothing I needed to know.
Anyway, that meant I had to summon the Dragon Slayer eventually. Ugh, already giving me chills. Of course, it wouldn't come to that, but better than some off-chance 'imprisonment, kidnapping, dark obsession, yandere hentai' scenario.
"Mr. Tantun?"
"Ah, yeah."
"You were spacing out—I thought something was wrong."
Agartha's call snapped me back to reality. Whew. How was real life scarier and more horrifying than novels?
"Is that all the info you wanted?"
"Yeah, for now."
"Heehee, glad it helped. Your visits are always welcome, so come by often~."
I could only snort at Agartha's playful, twisted tone. What was that?
"You say always welcome, but if you don't tell me where you are, it's all for nothing, right?"
"Ah, true. But giving away my spot might put you in danger—even the knights couldn't protect you."
What the hell kind of place was it? I figured I'd look into it discreetly once I put out the immediate fires and got promoted.
"How about this? If you miss me, want info, or are in danger too big for the knights, come back to this market and clap the back of your hand. Slow claps for each, in that order—I'll get the message."
"Not a bad idea."
"Even at night, if you clap... Yeah, even with a swollen face, I'll come out."
"Tears-worthy dedication. I like it."
"Heehee."
With that, Agartha finished her tea and stood.
"Well, time to go. Got some free time, but not the whole day. Oh, right. Hunter seems to be doing well lately."
"Yeah, well. We had a bit of friction recently, but she's managing."
"Hunter's such a stickler for rules. Try acting independently, and it's all, 'How willful. Then go off on your own.' What's with her being more sensitive than actual girls?"
"No way she's actually a woman?"
My joke had me and Agartha bursting out laughing simultaneously. It was that absurd a premise. No way that macho hunter was a woman, right? If that twist hit, it'd shatter my image of the 'Outer God Slayer Man' in my mind—not a small shock.
"Ugh, we'll be here all day at this rate. I love how you humor me, Tantun. Ditch the knights and join us? I'll hook you up good."
"...Pass, thief lady. Just snag the top spot and help me out later."
"Tch, too bad. Got it. Was great seeing you today."
Agartha waved coolly and headed out. Still her usual hyper, noisy self.
As I stared at my remaining drink, someone approached.
"Had fun?"
"The level was too low to stay with you, Master. So I came back."
Asti's words made me hear mass baby wails echoing from somewhere. Ah. She'd caused trouble again. My spine chilled at the bad premonition—moms charging in. I bolted up.
"...We'll talk about this back at the branch."
"...This time, will I get 'scolded' in Master's room?"
"Quit yapping and follow me!"
I rushed to the shopkeeper, paid, and fled outside. Barely escaped the horde of moms barreling toward me.
By the time we sprinted back to the branch, my intent to scold Asti had faded, so I just gave her a light reprimand. ...Not that kind of thing, for the record. I genuinely meant to lecture her.
"Head into the branch first. I still have stuff to do."
"Yes, Master."
Her crisp reply as she entered drew a sigh from me. Alright. What now?
From Agartha's info, there were still tons of self-proclaimed maids like Asti. And murders were already happening. But what could I do? The scale was way bigger than I'd thought—I'd die of old age before solving it.
So... borrow the knights' power? Tell the vice commander to crack down on illegal slave markets. That'd fix the immediate issue.
...I'd need to check the library for details on that. Sigh, digging through books was pure grunt work—I hated it. Asti could've told me, but last time she dodged or got censored before finishing.
Fine, let's check. Might even get hints on the Recorder. I turned toward the library—
"Ta-Tantun!"
The Branch Manager's voice stopped me cold.
"Branch Manager."
"Good, you're here. I thought you'd left since only that kid you hang with came in."
He looked unusually troubled. What was up?
"Follow me. Better to see for yourself than explain."
I trailed after him.
The Branch Manager led me to the holding cell where Agartha, Hunter, and I had been locked up before. Wow, has it been that long? Fond memories bubbled up, feeling kinda nice.
But what was here that I needed to see?
"This one."
He pointed to a cell with someone inside. Who was this that needed me?
I peeked in cautiously—
"Ahh, Observer! At last, the one you spoke of has arrived!"
That unhinged voice, the unnecessarily tragic expression. I'd seen him somewhere before.
"As a follower of the Observer, I ask: are you Sir Tantun?"
This old man even knew my name. The cultist geezer from the underground prison when the knights dragged me out.