Forgiveness, a Bounty, and Islune
My head was in a fog. Was it because I'd spent an incredible night with those beauties, or because that one night was a catastrophe far too massive for a mere porter like me to have pulled off?
There probably aren't many men in the world who've laid a mother and daughter side by side in the same bed. And the mother-daughter pair I took on... I have no idea what gave me the courage to bed two dragons. Lucky for me they didn't devour me.
Thanks to that, I almost forgot—but the Sunsstorm family's judgment still wasn't over. Yesterday's public trial was set to continue today. Or so it was supposed to.
But everything on Dragon's Nest could be flexibly adjusted at the whim of one person.
"I forgive you."
"...You said forgive?"
"The Sunsstorms don't have to pay for Hero Adamanthon's misdeeds."
Today, at the exact same time as yesterday, the Lord ended the trial. Just like that, as if to say, "Good things are good, right?"
Her smile, radiant with a soft glow, was a stark contrast to the terrifying expression she'd worn the day before. Her skin even shimmered like honey in the light. She glanced my way, arching an eyebrow playfully.
...I enjoyed it too, Ragnarocha.
At least two of my party members seemed to have caught on. Bilena Nitro and Nenya shot me looks that said even thinking about it was terrifying.
"No way."
"Nah."
"...I don't know what you're imagining, but it's scary someone might overhear and get the wrong idea. Dragons have sharp ears, you know."
I desperately avoided their gazes. Then Nenya shoved her bloodshot eyes in my face.
"I suspected, but you not denying it... No. It can't be. No way you'd be that reckless, no matter what's between your legs."
Sadly, your guess is spot on. I didn't know I had it in me to be that brave either. Now I can't condemn all those porters who broke the law with their dicks. Hell, I thought with mine instead of my brain...
No. Buck up. It was consensual between adults. Lift your head, Tan Bantai. You're no criminal...!
...Right? Yeah, no way, right?
Of course, Nenya and I weren't the only ones bewildered. The Sunsstorms looked stunned too. No surprise there—they never expected to get off this easy.
Not knowing how long the trials and interrogations would drag on, they'd steeled themselves and even set up a temporary camp on the beach. But unlike yesterday, they were ushered into a warm indoor reception room.
The Lord, seated with the Sunsstorm heroes gathered in a circle, slid a sturdy chest forward to the kneeling family head.
"Open it."
Instead of Manselrion Storm, whose tension had melted away at the forgiveness, Islune Storm stood hesitantly. She was the one who'd played executioner on her father's orders.
"May I open it in Father's stead, my Lord?"
"Worried? Think there's a trap inside?"
"N-no, of course I wouldn't dare such irreverent suspicion—"
"I've done it myself, so don't be scared. Anyone can open it—come forward."
Islune slowly opened the chest and staggered back in shock. It was filled to the brim with gold ingots.
"About 240,000 gold, Manselrion."
"...Ah...?"
"Impressive maneuvering. To squeeze this much gold from dragons without even playing Dragon Slayer."
The Lord's words, as she gently took Manselrion's hand, sent chills down my spine—and I wasn't even involved. Her good mood was just that: good for her. The judgment was separate, and she still harbored resentment.
Manselrion, face rigid, spoke solemnly, like swearing an oath of loyalty. He'd received immense grace from the Lord and vowed to live up to her expectations. From behind, his back suddenly looked so small.
"She forgives them and gives the perpetrators' family gold as a gift? Shouldn't they be offering gold to beg forgiveness? What's the deal?"
On the way back to our lodging, Esen Taiga tilted her head.
"It ended well, so no complaints... but did it really end well? Why'd the Sunsstorms look so sour?"
"That wasn't a gift. It was a down payment."
I spoke, my numb lips moving. I'd been biting them without realizing.
Esen and Reni turned to me with intrigued faces.
"Down payment, you say?"
"Explain, Mr. Exposition. What'd I miss?"
"The Lord said Adamanthon's misdeeds didn't have to be paid by the Sunsstorms. Flip that around: she left room to make them pay."
"Got it. But what does that have to do with over 240,000 gold?"
"It's a huge sum, sure. But cheap for the life-price of hero bloodline."
The mood chilled. The Monica sisters, listening quietly, widened their eyes.
"...A kind of bounty. Cruel."
"Spot on, Monica sisters. It means: don't treat Adamanthon as family. If you don't want the Sunsstorms footing his bill, capture him yourselves."
"Bounty? Wait—did she pay them to hunt down Adamanthon themselves? She didn't say a word about that!"
Esen gaped, but Florica Baldenhart, with her hero aptitude, shook her head.
"A hero who harms people is a monster. Haven't you read that in history books?"
"Do I look like someone who cracks open history books?"
"...Anyway, back in the day, it happened often in hero families. Family members would personally subdue kin who'd stained the hero's honor irreparably."
"Oh, I've heard that. Rogue heroes were so strong, even armies struggled. So hero houses made 'reap what you sow' rules to handle their own. But that's ancient history, right? For the old fogeys obsessed with honor..."
Reni tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"From the Lord's perspective, it probably isn't that ancient. Hate to say it where our comrade might hear... but she's terrifying."
"If everyone says that, doesn't it make my mom sound too ruthless? She could be giving them a chance to capture Adamanthon."
Nidroga shrugged slightly.
"It wasn't just me nearly killed by Adamanthon. Reni, formal knight of Small Elan. Nenya, elf of Great Elan's forest. Captain Tomco, hero of the seafaring trade power with his great fleet and crew. Folks from all over the continent could've rained fury on the Sunsstorms. Monica or Esen too—if Monica vanished, would we sit idle? If Esen did, wouldn't Howan Valley's Tigresses rage?"
"...My parents might've actually liked that. They never listened when I told 'em to drop dead."
Nidroga paused at Esen's troubled face.
"......Didn't need to know that family drama. Sorry, Esen. Anyway, Mother's using her authority to close the case. If Sunsstorms subdue Adamanthon, only he'll bear the blame for nearly killing hundreds."
"Exactly! She's shown us mercy and opportunity!"
A Sunsstorm hero in armor shouted from afar, waving. Thinking it out of earshot, Nidroga clamped her mouth in horror.
But the Sunsstorm hero bounded over energetically and bowed deeply with perfect etiquette.
"Islune Storm. Allow me to belatedly apologize for my brother's deeds."
"Rise. You're not involved in what he did."
Nenya pulled Islune up with sympathetic eyes. Islune bowed again in thanks.
"If you need Sunsstorm services, borrow us anytime. For monetary settlement, we can issue a claim voucher redeemable at our house upon your return to the continent."
"No need. I wish peace upon your house."
"Thank you, noble daughter of the forest. Sorry to block your busy path, but one more thing."
Islune smiled and turned to me.
"Long time no see, Tan Bantai. Or should I say Ran Bantai?"
"...Call me whatever's comfortable. It's been a while."
"Back when Father invited you home, your androgynous voice and looks confused me. Even now, past the age a boy would've deepened—still the same."
"I get mistaken easily."
"Father still insists you were clearly a boy. No way he'd slight such a beautiful lady."
I'm used to it now. Whether people see me as a woman or not—no big deal. As long as I don't get kicked from this family-like party, I'm good.
I nodded. "Must've been a shock."
"Maybe more than Adamanthon's mess—your gender hit harder. He's disappointed in his own carelessness for letting a girl roam such dangerous places with his son. Honestly baffling. As if it'd be fine if you were a boy..."
Islune chuckled, then gestured politely.
"No lingering grudge against Father over that?"
"It was damn tough. But no hard feelings. He treated me as a porter with respect."
"A true heroine. So you wouldn't refuse if Father requests a talk?"
"Of course. Where is he?"
"Your doing, right?"
Manselrion Storm's first words caught me off guard. My mind blanked for a second. My doing? Blaming me for Adamanthon? Or... did he figure it out?
"Good to see you too, Uncle. What do you mean?"
"Skip the pleasantries. It was you, wasn't it? The Lord. No way it'd wrap up this neatly."
"...What do you think I did?"
"The Dragon Lord I know would've hauled us out one by one for torture, grabbing any pretext. Sow suspicion and strife, force confessions on anyone who aided Adamanthon's folly. That's this generation's Lord. In some ways, scarier than her predecessor who turned a kingdom to glass."
Manselrion sat blankly on a beach rock, gazing at the sea in a haggard state. He groaned, turning to face me.
"Killing her predecessor in a duel to become Lord—fitting. But for her to forgive us so easily..."
"...Sharp as ever."
"You admit quick too. Yeah, had to be you. Who else would wanna help Manselrion Storm? Even Captain Tomco, who'd teamed with me before, turned his back."
"Word of warning: don't thank me, Uncle Mansel."
"Uncle Mansel" brought a faint, fond smile. But he sighed deeply soon after.
"Then what should I say? To the one who saved my kids' lives, my wife's, Islune's, and mine? How do I repay this debt?"
"Debt? Porter's duty. Heroes protect party lives; porters lighten their load to protect the heroes. That's what I learned."
"From your mother?"
"You remember that? You wandered lost constantly."
Manselrion gave a hollow laugh that turned into hearty mirth. I laughed along like old times, then fell silent seeing tears stream through his wrinkles and beard.
Reap-what-you-sow judgment. He'd soon have to kill his own son. Our chat, tied to old bonds, was at least a painkiller for him.
"First, I'm truly sorry. For everything you endured with Adamanthon."
"Haven't told you that yet. How much do you know?"
"So far, just what you reported in your letter. Couldn't read it all till before this island."
Manselrion hesitated; Islune Storm, leaning on a tree, spoke up bluntly.
"May I tell him?"
"No. I'll say it. My wife had the butler intercept your letter—wanted to adjust the contract or whatever."
"Intercept?"
"She said, 'Great men have minor flaws.' Blamed your youth for complaining—said you couldn't hack facing dangerous foes in dangerous spots, like Father. Maddening once I knew the truth."
Manselrion squeezed his eyes shut.
"She kept it detailed on his exploits—to reread when missing him. Ignored how you and the others were treated."
"...Yeah."
"If I'd known, I'd have kept Adamanthon from party matters entirely. Should've watched my kids closer instead of proving I'm still spry like the young ones—"
"None of us needed watching, Father. The other five learned from mistakes, some quit heroing, but settled fine. Only that kid went rogue murderer. What does that say? Adamanthon's the family mutant. Like a boil on clean skin—"
"Enough."
Not a command, but pained plea. Islune shut up. Manselrion sighed long, then smiled again.
"So how'd you convince the Lord? Knew you were clever and likable, but how?"
"Can't say details. She ordered silence. Just admitted I outmaneuvered her."
I smiled weakly. Honestly, bedding the Lord was less insane than that. She joked: targeting when lust clouds judgment? I took her bone-deep jest seriously.
'I won't deny it. That's right.''Should've chosen words more carefully. Nearly got mad.''It's the truth. Won't lie to you. Not to someone who could squash me like a bug. Nor brazenly to a woman I've shared love with.''But you shoulder needless risks. Not a fool, yet act like one—why?''Manselrion's a comrade bound by blood and loyalty. Wanted to pull him from the pit. So I gambled on your softened heart, staking my life to plead.''Did he put you up to it?''No. No agreement. Just my inner code. My friend's worth it.'
Bluntly declaring flower-snake tactics. Luckily, she forgave the arrogant folly—more for audacity than gall.
"Maybe recent luck's made me arrogantly bold. Shouldn't. Gotta play it safe, live long."
"You've always been that guy. Scared but followed brutal paths. Whined about scary tasks but pulled off reckless feats."
Manselrion smiled, eyes closed in reminiscence.
"Calculated, though. 'Calculated' reckless bravery. Maximized any scrap of basis. Big help to a headstrong fool like me."
"Glad to hear I helped, Uncle."
"Glad ain't enough? Sunsstorms gotta repay by aiding you now. So, Ran Bantai."
Islune un-crossed her arms from the tree and approached, handing me contract papers.
"Please accept this gift."
"...Employment contract? Personal bodyguard and valet? Unpaid...?"
"Half-joking, but I'm a hero too. Free hero labor? Rare chance."
"But which porter hires a bodyguard—a hero? This a joke?"
"No law against it. Any porter'd snap up free service. Travel's rough. I'd even formally transfer to your party if needed."
"Now that's a funny joke. Sorry, our party's women-only..."
Islune laughed heartily.
"Ha! That's rich. I'm a woman, obviously."
I gaped at Islune, at least 5cm taller. The hero, vaguely Adamanthon-like, removed her helmet and unbound her hair. Blonde locks cascaded past her shoulders.
"Islune Storm. By the family head—my father's—command, for the next five years, I'll obey any order you give. Nice to work with."