Episode 47

"Haaam... I slept well."

The next morning, I woke up refreshed and looked at Aron who was holding me in his arms.

His broad embrace now held me naturally.

I buried my face in his chest.

'How did I get to the room yesterday? Did Aron bring me here?'

Just in case, I checked my body but there were no sore spots or suspicious marks.

Aron was so sincere about protecting me that I felt guilty for even doubting him.

I hugged him tightly.

'But there's a really peculiar scent... This is totally...'

The scent commonly referred to as night flower fragrance.

I could guess what Aron had done.

At that moment, my face turned red and I felt embarrassed for no reason, but part of me was also happy.

It felt like it showed how much he cherished me.

With a gentle smile, I shook Aron.

"Wake up. Let's go eat breakfast. My head hurts from the hangover."

"Uh, huh? Uhh... Let's go."

Aron woke up at the sound of my voice and naturally sat up.

Since he had gently pulled me into his embrace, I rose with him.

"Are you okay? You ate a lot and collapsed yesterday. Your head doesn't hurt or anything?"

"Maybe because I slept deeply... Just my head hurts a little."

"Then we should go eat quickly."

Since Aron knew my habits and lifestyle well, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he immediately understood what I needed.

I got out of bed, surrendering to his gently stroking touch.

Half-hanging onto him, I said:

"Let's go like this. My head is throbbing because I drank too much yesterday."

"Okay. Then... Hup!"

Aron naturally supported my buttocks with one hand and embraced my back with the other.

Carried like a baby in Aron's arms, I came out of the bedroom.

"By the way, what did you decide about our liquor? And did you ask if we can meet the dragon?"

"I asked about both. First, they said they'll buy our liquor at a reasonable price and sell it. They said the taste is fresh so the dwarves would like it too."

"That's a relief. What about the dragon?"

"For that, they periodically send accessories and such to the dragon, and they said we can go along then. So meeting them is settled for now."

Just meeting the dragon would solve the biggest problem.

"Then let's rest well until then. And since we might be a nuisance staying here, should we return to our lodgings starting tomorrow? We have the accommodations the duke arranged anyway."

"Do whatever you're comfortable with. More importantly, shall we eat breakfast?"

"Yeah, is this the dining room?"

Following Aron's footsteps, a delicious scent came from beyond the door we arrived at.

When we opened the door and entered, a lavish feast was spread across the large table.

From beer, which was essentially the dwarves' lifeblood, to premium meat dishes and vegetable dishes. Everything definitely had a luxurious feel.

'It's completely different from what dwarves usually eat.'

As I looked with an amazed expression, Todin who had just entered explained from behind:

"Well, since we have guests, the chefs prepared something fancy. Normally we just have one main dish and alcohol. We don't eat like this."

"Mr. Todin. Didn't your wife come with you?"

"She usually doesn't eat breakfast, so I normally eat alone. More importantly, since you two seem to need it urgently, we decided to send you a bit earlier this time."

"Is that really okay?"

Todin shrugged his shoulders.

"It's not like there's a fixed quantity anyway. We just need to send it periodically. The dragons have been receiving it for so long that they just accept it formally now."

"That's a relief then. So when are you planning to depart?"

"It's undecided for now. We need to organize what to send ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and select personnel. Until then, rest well here."

"Really? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Thank you!"

"It's nothing. If I want to relax and play with an old friend, this is more convenient for me too."

At Todin's words, Aron also gave a playful smile.

It was a completely different smile from when he looked at Eri or Seoryeong Unni. More like the smile of a mischievous boy.

"Then shall we eat and have a sparring match for old times' sake?"

"Ah, sounds good. My body was feeling stiff too. Sometimes you need to warm up seriously like this."

And so the match between Aron and Todin was settled.

While the two men exchanged playful banter, I quietly walked over and sat down.

"Hmm..."

Thinking about it, I'd never actually seen Aron fight seriously.

At most, I'd seen him spar with me a few times while going easy.

"I should watch and learn while I'm at it."

Watching fights between strong warriors is always beneficial in itself.

*

After finishing the meal, we immediately went to the training ground within the castle.

There wasn't anything particularly special about the training ground just because dwarves used it.

It just looked a bit sturdier.

"Well, since we're going all out for the first time in a while... I should go full power, right?"

Aron drew his sword first.

Aron's weapon, which I was seeing for the first time, was a massive greatsword.

Just by appearance, it looked like a sword made simply of stone.

But if you looked closely, the blade wasn't sharp, making it look more like a blunt weapon. Plus, its size was ridiculously large.

'Can he even swing that thing?'

It was thick and more than twice Aron's height.

"You still use that? For a hero, you've been swinging that crude thing around since forever."

"You use a similar weapon anyway."

"Hey, mine's different. My weapon requires technique. Technique."

Then weapons appeared in Todin's hands.

One hand held a hammer, while the other gripped a giant nail.

"You fight with weapons like that too... That's really unique."

I thought I'd seen every weapon while working as a mercenary.

After all, even I fight using the strange method of spinning a shield larger than my body.

"Here I come!"

Aron moved first.

Crunch!

The floor shattered as Aron disappeared, then instantly reappeared on the opposite side.

"Have you gotten weaker than I thought? I can clearly see your movements."

Aron swung his greatsword but Todin blocked it effortlessly.

The hammer clashed with the sword, and then the nail in his other hand sliced through the air toward Aron's neck.

Swish!

"Tch!"

Aron leaned his upper body back, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠evading the attack by a hair's breadth.

"Oh my, are you two sparring?"

Just then, a woman's voice came from behind.

At the sudden appearance of the dwarf queen Pania, I shot up from my seat to greet her.

"Ah, hello! About yesterday... I'm sorry you had to see me in such a disgraceful state."

"Not at all. You're still young. And for a human, that was really impressive drinking. Everyone who's come here so far has given up."

"Have other people come here too?"

"They haven't come here specifically... But I've met some from afar. When Todin was traveling extensively, I traveled with him briefly."

It seemed she had seen other women back then.

"Back then... Aron must have been popular, right?"

At Mia's question, Pania briefly checked her expression.

Her lips chewing nervously, both hands clenched into fists. Her gaze was fixed intently on Aron who was sparring.

'This is clearly a girl in love.'

Pania had thought so while drinking yesterday, but now it was certain.

Mia had romantic feelings for Aron.

"Well, he was popular back then too. The three women who were with him then are still by his side now."

"As expected... That makes sense."

Her previously bright expression deflated in an instant.

Her disappointed gaze toward Aron was dripping with regret.

"But you know, just because they've been together a long time doesn't mean they've claimed that man."

Pania subtly moved closer to Mia and gently stroked her back.

"Actually, when I first met Todin, there was another woman. His childhood friend - they said they'd been close since they were young."

At Pania's words, Mia slowly looked at her.

"I gave up at first too. Even though they weren't dating... I could see they had romantic interest in each other since they'd grown up together."

"Then what did you do? Did you fight with that childhood friend?"

At Mia's question, Pania chuckled and shook her head side to side.

"I just tried harder. I always went to see Todin, followed him to dangerous places, and waited for him even after he disappeared for the demon king subjugation. I invested almost years just for Todin. Only then did Todin finally notice me."

"Did you confess then?"

"No. I got him drunk then took him to bed and finished things. Coincidentally, the childhood friend had fallen for another man and was preparing to get married."

"Ah..."

At Mia's enlightened response, Pania smiled slyly.

"So don't give up. And try approaching more actively. Then Aron will recognize Mia's sincerity."

"Okay..."

Pania was satisfied seeing Mia answer with a smile.

She felt she had helped a girl experiencing first love.

However, she had overlooked a few things.

'So... I need to pounce on Aron? That's embarrassing but... I should do it, right?'

First, Mia was in a period of very strong beastkin instincts.

'But I don't want him taken by other women, so tonight in bed I should pounce on him first.'

Second, her estrus was approaching to the point where instinct would overwhelm reason.

With those two periods overlapping, Mia arrived at a very simple answer.

'If I have Aron's baby first, then Aron will love me the most.'

She had already forgotten even considering him as a man.