Not My Job

"I definitely saw it this time."

I studied Haring and Nya-nya's flustered faces, turning the matter over in my mind.

A week ago, when Evan had clawed at empty air, something had flickered into existence — faint, half-formed.

A blue rectangular something had floated up, then vanished just as quickly. I'd shrugged it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠off and moved on.

The Goddess's power — something I couldn't see. Probably a new gift bestowed on this generation of heroes, and it made sense that it would be invisible to me.

And yet.

Why does it feel so familiar?

All I knew was that it was a blue box. Nothing more. But for some reason, the shape of it tugged at something deep in my memory.

"Strange… very strange…"

"……"

"L-Lea?"

"Hm?"

"This is different from the ones you gave us before…?"

"Different?"

"Yes."

"How?"

For me to see those blue rectangles, the heroes had to be looking at them. Last time, when Evan just sat there doing nothing, no amount of mana-grabbing or spellcasting had made them appear. So I'd handed out quests instead…

"Only the rewards came through. It wasn't in the usual quest format."

"Why?"

"Beats us."

"Yeah, no idea."

"Hmm…"

I polished off the remaining Ddujjonku and brushed the crumbs from my hands. They were definitely clearer than before — something had changed.

…Isn't that a good thing, though?

No hunting, no fetching. Just a single click and boom — stronger. And I wouldn't have to bother sending them on errands either. Of course, I'd need to run some experiments to be sure.

"Dunno."

Eating had made me drowsy. A nap first wouldn't hurt — I could figure it out afterward.

I called a maid to clear the table, then flopped onto the bed.

"I'm going to sleep. Wake me in three days. I'll check on you then."

"What? We just got here…"

"Train. Go train. You've got people to look after you."

"Can we nap with you?"

"Tsk."

"Hiiing."

"We'll be going, then."

"Hwaaah…"

Three days later.

I rose from the plush bed and stretched, long and luxurious. Twice to the right, three times to the left, then twice to the right again. I rang the elegant golden bell beside the bed, and maids came scurrying in.

Had three days passed?

"Four days have passed, my lady."

"Have they?"

"Yes. Shall we prepare a meal?"

"Mm… no. I'm going out."

"Then we shall prepare your outdoor attire."

The maids peeled me out of my soft silk pajamas and guided me into the steaming bath prepared in the adjacent room. The bath was enormous — roughly twenty meters across in either direction.

Splash, splash.

I paddled about halfheartedly while the maids scrubbed me clean and towel-dried me of their own accord.

"Is the water temperature to your liking?"

"Yeah."

"If it grows too hot, please say so at once. We shall adjust it immediately."

"If this is too hot, I should retire as a Fire Dragon."

I was a Fire Dragon. I could bathe in lava if I wanted — and honestly, I rather enjoyed lava swimming.

After a light soak, I changed into a dress of striking crimson. It was a long, modest garment that barely showed any skin — the sort of thing a royal child or a nobleman's daughter might wear. There had been a time when I'd fretted over every article of clothing. These days, I barely cared what I put on. Perhaps that was why the maids looked so thoroughly delighted whenever they helped me dress.

"You are radiant as ever today!"

"And so terribly adorable…"

"Stop putting ornaments on me."

"But you are the great Fire Dragon, my lady. You must wear at least this much for your dignity to shine."

"My dignity's plenty shiny without them."

Still, once they'd fastened a necklace set with seven rubies that supposedly suited me perfectly, my outing preparations were complete — all in under an hour.

Creeeak…

My door opened. As I padded down the corridor, one of the maids fell into step behind me — the one assigned exclusively to my care, a girl who knew this place well.

"Where are you headed, my lady?"

"Where's Nya-nya?"

"Hero Nya-nya is currently under the instruction of Heris Loen, third-class Royal Mage."

"Third-class? What are the others doing that she's stuck with a third-class?"

"The Magic Corps Commander and Vice-Commander have temporarily departed for the Magic Kingdom regarding matters of the plains region and the kingdom's protective barrier."

"Hmm… because of the Legion Commander?"

It was true — things had been suspiciously quiet since the Legion Commander revealed himself four months ago. Even with the Demon King sealed in his coffin and his forces weakened, even with heroes who couldn't die… a Legion Commander was still a Legion Commander. If he felt like it, he could crush this generation of heroes and strike the human nations whenever he pleased.

I nodded.

"The heroes need to grow up fast, then."

"Under your guidance, my lady, there shall be no difficulty."

"Yeah. Lead the way."

"Yes, my lady."

I followed the maid to a particular room, and even from outside I could hear the sound of instruction.

Creeeak…

"Watch carefully, Hero Nya-nya. You do not draw a line here — you connect it as though circulating. Yes, like that. No, not like that!"

"Uwaaah…"

"You were doing so well — why must you veer off in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠such a strange direction? As a hero chosen by the Goddess, you must carry yourself with pride and— Ah! Fire Dragon, you honor us with your presence!"

"Lea!"

Inside was a fairly large room with a modern feel, bookshelves lining every wall, each one packed tight with grimoires. At the central table, magical instruments, parchment, and enchanted quills lay scattered about — and at the heart of the mess sat Nya-nya, clutching her head.

She looked up at me with tears welling in her eyes.

"Please save me…"

"What's wrong with her?"

"Hohoho. Mere theatrics. Even Academy magic students master this level with ease, and yet…"

The woman teaching her was Heris Loen, dressed in fine blue-toned priestly robes. She had orange curly hair and blue eyes. Her body looked to be in its early-to-mid thirties, though something about her suggested she was older still. Mages lived longer than ordinary people, after all, and aged more slowly.

I looked her up and down.

"A priestess?"

"That is correct."

"Weird. A priestess who's also a Royal Mage."

Around Heris's neck hung a pure white dual-handed pendant — the symbol of the Goddess. Even with an emperor who had once been a hero himself, priests typically belonged to the temples or held honorary titles at best. Swearing loyalty to a specific kingdom was far from common.

Heris laughed softly and shook her head.

"Please do not worry. My faith in the royal family and His Majesty runs exceedingly deep. It is simply that my devotion to the Goddess is no less fervent."

"I wasn't worried. Not my job."

"Well, I suppose that is true. Ah — my introductions are late. I am Heris Loen: third-class Royal Mage, servant of the great Goddess, and former magic professor of the Legion Academy."

"Long."

"Hohoho. Live long enough and titles tend to accumulate."

"You?"

"…Of course, I am but a child compared to the Fire Dragon!"

"Compared to me?"

"……"

I let a slight chill creep into my voice, and Heris's expression stiffened.

Heh. Fun.

I stretched out an arm and gave her shoulder a couple of light taps.

"Just kidding. So — how is she?"

"…Ahem! Hero Nya-nya is doing well. She may put on airs, but her rate of growth is quite rapid."

"I am not putting on airs!"

Wham!

Nya-nya shot to her feet, slamming the table as she rose with a great cry.

"…?"

I stared at her in surprise. Nya-nya had always been the quiet type, aside from the occasional bit of teasing — and here she was, raising her voice and stating her opinion at full volume.

Is this from hanging around Haring?

They'd been stuck together for four months. Apparently some of it had rubbed off.

"Is it normal to make someone study ten hours a day? And it's not even magic formulas — she keeps making me memorize these weird equations…"

"It is fundamental knowledge any mage must acquire."

"What did you teach her?"

"The basics of simple magical theory and barrier studies for barrier construction. Material that Academy students cover in the first semester of their second year."

"Hmm."

"It's ridiculously hard! This isn't something I should be learning right now, right?! Right?!"

I considered Nya-nya's plea for a moment. She had steadily built her stars up to three, and she was only just beginning to grasp sixth- and seventh-class magic. This material was a bit beyond her, true…

"Doesn't matter."

"What?"

"Learning it early is good for you."

It might be a little difficult, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there was no harm in getting a head start. Academy students learned this early on, after all. And if Nya-nya became proficient with barriers, there would be no need for her to stay here.

I can just have her put up a barrier around the nest and go to sleep.

If Nya-nya blocked out everything on her own, I could sleep comfortably in my nest without a care in the world.

I walked over and patted her on the shoulder.

"You're doing great. Keep at it."

"…Lea?"

"Or I could give you a quest."

"Even if you give me a quest, that doesn't mean this suddenly gets ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠easie—"

Crackle…!

"Huh?"

"W-wait a moment, Lea?"

"Lots of them popped up. Working better today."

"I-is it really okay to just give them out like this?"

"What did I give you?"

"…?"

"I dunno."

Whatever it was, quest rewards ultimately came from the old hag's power. Whether she handed out a lot or a little was none of my business — and a stronger hero was good for the world.

All's well that ends well.

I clawed at the empty air, summoning a few more of those blue rectangles into view.