I'm Not That Old!
"I'm not that old, y'know?"
"N-No way! I definitely delivered it!"
"But no reply came back."
I tilted my head at Haring, who looked utterly flustered after—what, two weeks? Three? —since I'd last seen her. Whenever I send a letter, a reply always comes back. Whether by carrier pigeon, magic orb, or finding someone like me to deliver it in person. She'd always sent one before, and this time should've been no different.
Did she forget to send one 'cause she's getting on in years?
It had been a good while since that day, so maybe... But still, a former emperor and retired hero? No way she's so decrepit she can't manage a single letter. If she didn't even have the strength to write, she'd have sent a message by word of mouth at least.
Haring shook her head vigorously, her face brimming with injustice.
"It's true... I really delivered it for real!"
"To Bahamut?"
"Uh, well. To that knight captain lady! She said she could get me an audience with His Imperial Majesty..."
"What? You didn't even deliver it in person."
"I handed it off to the former emperor! For real real."
"Hmm."
Plip. Plip.
Perched on the golem's left shoulder, I swung my legs up and down. A knight captain's rank was enough to meet a former emperor. But meeting a retired one wouldn't be easy, so the odds of the letter never making it through were high.
Maybe it got shredded.
"What's that guy's name?"
"Uh... A-Del... Hang on."
Haring stared blankly into space. After rolling her eyes furiously for about a minute, she gulped and answered.
"Adella Measis. That's what she said. She's a knight..."
"Measis? That guy's daughter? Or granddaughter?"
"Huh?"
"What'd she look like?"
"Uh, long blonde hair, tall and slender, super pretty lady. Green eyes."
"Age range?"
"Mid-twenties...? I think."
"Granddaughter it is, then."
Adella was a new name to me, but the surname Measis rang a bell. Iri Measis. One of retired hero Bahamut Legion's party members, a human who'd fought the Demon King's army. Her sword skills were no joke—even the higher legion commanders found her tricky. Word was she'd married after retiring and was living a leisurely life. Didn't expect to hear about her like this, though. Well, even if I had, I'd probably ignored it out of laziness.
Great-granddaughter, maybe?
Time had passed since then; granddaughter didn't quite fit age-wise...
Measis, huh.
Not a common name, and for her to be a palace knight captain? Had to be Bahamut's influence. Which made it unlikely she'd shred the letter or fail to pass it on.
Still swinging my legs, I nodded.
"Fine. You'll get your reward."
"Whoa! For real?!"
"Yeah. Pick one thing you want."
Thud.
I hopped off the golem and headed for the treasure vault. Haring let out a joyful whoop and scurried after me, while her fellow adventurers clustered behind, eyeing us with obvious envy. I sent the golem back to shoo them off, then opened the vault door.
Creeeeeak...
In my polymorph form, even my field of vision couldn't take it all in—an immense pile of treasures. Mountains of gold coins, gems, jewelry, weapons, and more. A hoard that had existed before I was even born. And half of this mountain? I stacked it myself.
"Um... Little Flame Dragon?"
"Yeah?"
"Sorry if this is rude, but your age..."
"......"
"No, you look super young, but that was kinda shocking just now..."
Smack!
I'm not that old, y'know?
＊
"Ow ow ow..."
"Pick quick. If you take too long, I'll just toss you a gold coin."
"Y-Yes'm..."
Rubbing the huge lump on her head, Haring stepped tentatively into the treasure mountain.
Crunch.
For the first time entering the vault she'd only ever watched from afar.
Did I mess up asking her age?
But how could she not wonder, with all that talk of granddaughters and whatnot? Did dragons really see years or decades as mere moments? Curiosity flickered about the history tucked inside that tiny girl, but Haring shoved it aside to focus on choosing.
"Whoa..."
Even one item here could upend the power balance. Ignoring the piles of gold coins, gems, and baubles, she eyed the weapons first.
Clink.
Just the weapon underfoot...
◈ Magic Attack: 301
◈ Physical Attack: 201
◈ Agility +20, Magic Power +20
◈ Magic Resistance +20%
◈ Magic Regen +10%
◈ Under moonlight: Magic Attack +20%, Physical Attack +10%
◈ Under moonlight: Attacks generate 'Moonlight Sword Aura'
◈ Under moonlight: Generates 'Moonlight Shield' 3 times
◈ Under moonlight: ...
"Holy crap."
Common weapons topped out at 10-20 attack, epics at 30-50. Uniques maxed at 80-100, tops. This legendary had triple that, plus insane bonuses and skills—magic and physical attack? The ultimate scam item. And they were everywhere, tripping hazards.
Trembling, Haring inspected weapons and armor within reach.
'Soulflame Spear, Crimson Brand, Blossoming Flame, Glacier Lord's Armor...'
Legendary names filled her vision, specs matching or exceeding Moonlight Blade.
"What to pick...?"
Overwhelming options left her paralyzed. She wanted five, easy...
"Not picking?"
"Uh... Just one, right?"
"Obviously."
Lea stared intently, like no funny business, pick fast. Haring shelved her greed and committed to one. After ages, she lifted a small sword from the weapons.
A hilt wrapped in dark red scales, sharp red blade. Sword-sized, but dagger-length.
◈ Physical Attack: 45
◈ All Stats +2
◈ Physical Resistance +5%
◈ Fire Resistance +5%
◈ Magic Resistance +5%
◈ +10% Attack vs. Dragonkin
◈ —?
"Dragon sword? But epic-grade?"
Dragon's nest dragon sword? Heart-pounding, but just epic. No reason to pick it over those legendaries that could slap uniques silly.
'Pretty pristine for "old.''
Feels like a quest item...
Tap.
"Nope, can't have that one."
Lea snatched it from Haring's hand in a blink. It had felt awkwardly sized as a dagger in Haring's grip, but fit Lea perfectly. Like it was made for her.
"Why?"
"Don't like it much."
"You said anything goes, though?"
"Plenty better stuff. Any of the ones you poked through would make you knight-level."
"......"
Haring watched Lea twirl the sword, pondering. The girl showed no emotion except when smacking players or munching cookies—yet here she was, reacting strongly?
Something's up.
Crappy epic or not, it had to be special. Key to a hidden quest? Awakens to legendary? Maybe beyond!
Dragon knight class change? Gotta have it.
"Not this one, right? You promised any one from the vault. No restrictions."
"Well... yeah."
"But changing your mind now is a problem. I slaved for three weeks delivering that letter. Nearly died midway."
"Mmm..."
"Can't yield on this."
Haring poured on the injustice. She briefly considered grabbing a legendary first, downing the golem, then snagging the sword extra—but shook it off.
Might be one-time only.
Hidden rewards hinged on first choice. Fail to convince now, and the sword's gone forever. Or another player claims it.
After hearing her out, Lea shook her head regretfully.
"No regrets? Can't swap later, y'know."
"None!"
"Take it, then."
Haring bounced, snatching the sword back. The ancient dragon's blade gleamed crimson. She hugged it tight, grinning ear to ear. Not legendary, but worth a hidden class change or better.
So she believed.
"Let's go."
"Y-Yeah... Eek?!"
Crash!!
Before she could steady herself from tripping, 'dozens' of ancient dragon's swords lay before her.
"Wha...?"
The scattered blades matched hers perfectly. No differences.
Trembling at the impossible, Haring looked up at Lea.
"What the..."
"Oh, right, left these here."
"Huh?"
"Training swords Mom made way back. They broke easy, so she made a ton. Not using 'em now, so boxed up."
"Tra... ining?"
"Yep."
Lea picked one up.
"......Not just the one?"
"Nah. About a hundred."
Lea restacked them neatly into the box. Full to bursting, they looked like total junk.
Wait, junk from the start?
"Swap..."
"Wanna swap?"
"Please..."
"Hmm."
Grin.
"Nope."