Hehe, This is Fun
Haring, who had entered the capital, wandered around near the palace.
To deliver Little Flame Dragon Lea's letter to its recipient, Bahamut Legion, she'd have to breach those massive golden gates. But as a mere rank-7 hero, her access was extremely limited. Getting into the capital had been tough enough—now facing the former emperor beyond the palace gates? No way.
"No matter how I think about it, it's impossible."
Haring agonized, just 100 meters from the palace gates. She'd somehow made it this far, but no further. Those gates weren't for rank-4s, let alone the top rank-3 heroes—they only opened for major main quests, and even then with permission. Get too close without clearance, and she'd be booted before saying a word.
"Damn. Just name-drop Little Flame Dragon Lea boldly?"
She'd kept it secret to avoid rumors, but now that she was here, did it matter? If no other players were around, dropping Lea's name might get her in...
Crash!
"Urgh! Knight Captain sis, just once! Just one time!"
"A so-called hero acting so low. Begone."
"?"
"Just one cup of tea! Coffee then! How 'bout coffee?"
"I said begone."
What the...?
Haring watched the commotion at the gates from behind a tree near the palace entrance. About seven players were there, with a guy sprawled on the ground and a knight in platinum armor at the center. The players snickered at the guy's pathetic display—probably guildmates.
'Nice gear. Rankers, huh?'
Haring had solid newbie gear herself, but theirs was next-level. Obviously, anyone active in the capital at this point had to be top-tier.
The platinum knight was mostly covered in armor, but Haring could tell she was a fine-looking woman at a glance. Staring intently, Haring recognized the face. First time seeing her in person, but she'd seen her somewhere before.
Haring whipped open the gallery and replied to one of her old posts.
The players clung persistently, but the uproar might die down anytime. If they entered the palace, she'd be screwed!
Haring snapped a photo in the low-traffic rural gallery and linked it to Evan.
After a brief wait, replies poured in.
"Hey?"
No reply. Haring spam-replied, but Evan went silent. Looked like he was really sprinting—typos everywhere.
Frustrated, Haring closed the gallery. The commotion dragged on.
The guy kept trying to offer coffee to the Knight Captain, but when her sword drew, the mood tanked.
Shing.
The golden sword aimed at his throat.
"I shan't say it thrice, hero. Begone."
"Hehe... Sis! Don't be like─"
Slash!
"Gasp."
In a blink, a single stroke severed his head. He dissolved into blue particles. The snickering players froze, glancing nervously. The Knight Captain's sword turned on them.
"Do you lot have more to say?"
"N-no, ma'am!"
"Loyalty! Loyalty! We came to stop him!"
"Ugh, tone it down already!"
As the players fled one by one, the Knight Captain sheathed her blade with a sigh.
"These heroes are utterly arrogant. What possessed the goddess to choose such folk..."
"......"
"This incident requires a report. Immortal or not, slaying a hero is no small matter."
Muttering, she turned toward the palace. Haring, who'd watched it all, backed away slowly.
Yeah, not doing this.
'Retreat for now...'
She seemed important, but one death would tank Haring's quest. Infamy would bar her from the palace and capital, dooming the OP letter delivery.
'Wait for another chance. That woman's dangerous...'
Thud.
"Come out."
"......"
"You there, hiding. I said come out."
"......"
"If you won't..."
Shing. The golden sword drew again. Golden aura rippled along the blade, poised to cleave her completely...
"Eek! Sorryyy!!!"
Thud. Haring prostrated flat on the ground.
The Knight Captain, mid-swing to bisect Haring's tree, halted at the hero's wretched display.
"...What?"
"I-I... um... sis."
"I am no 'sis' of yours."
"R-right, Knight Captain ma'am. I wasn't just lurking to spy or anything. There's a reason..."
"Then what?"
"I came to deliver a letter inside..."
"What letter?"
Biting her lip, Haring held out the letter like an offering. It shouldn't go to outsiders, but she had no choice to defuse this.
'Or I die!'
"This is..."
Adella Measis. The youngest Knight Captain in history, one of the kingdom's three sole swordmasters—that was her.
Back in her quarters, Adella removed her armor and eyed the letter on the table. That morning, after disciplining some insolent heroes, she'd received it. Fine stationery, but folded sloppily like by a child. Far too presumptuous for a letter to the great former emperor who founded the kingdom.
She wanted to burn it on sight, but the seal's emblem stopped her.
'...The blazing dragon.'
Only one being used that mark.
"Little Flame Dragon Lea."
The supreme race, rivaling any dragon in the world. She'd sent a hero to deliver this to the former emperor.
"Why would she suddenly...?"
Some crisis? She rarely intervened unless it was cataclysmic. Why now, via a lowly rank-7 hero?
Adella knew of her only from histories and fairy tales, but Lea's greatness was legendary.
"...Not for me to judge."
She was merely a sword guarding the kingdom—her duty was delivery. Until then, she stowed the letter where none but she could touch it.
'Surely it holds profound purpose.'
"Golems, sortie!"
Vrrr!
"You damn drag... I mean, Dragon Lady! This ain't right!!!"
"What the hell are ogre arms...?!"
"For real, screw th─ guk!"
Hehe. Fun.