“How long do you intend to lie there? Can you still call yourself an attendant of House Speda like that?”
Luciana held the head of the Diawolf Alpha she had slain in one hand. She seemed to intend to use it as proof of her coming-of-age ceremony.
“You seem pleased....”
“Of course I am. I want to return as soon as possible, so get up.”
She probably wanted to hurry back and boast to her house.
I wanted to oblige her, but my body would not cooperate.
“Just a moment. I am trying to get up, but... Urgh.”
I had not expected a little running to leave my entire body this sore.
Even when I tensed my thighs and calves to stand, I only felt a subtle loss of strength and sank back down.
“Oof.”
“Tch. There is no time for groaning.”
As though she had no choice, she held out her other, empty hand to me.
“Take it and get up already.”
No way. I could actually hold my favorite character’s hand?
It was not a bare hand, and all I could feel was the coldness of metal, but it was still something.
“Agh! Why are you gripping so hard? Did I do something wrong?”
“Hm? My apologies. I did not put much strength into it.”
...As expected of a mid-boss. I could really feel the difference in our Strength again.
Still, with her help after she adjusted her strength once more, I somehow managed to get to my feet.
“Are you feeling any better?”
“They call it shifting pain around. Thanks to you nearly crushing my hand earlier, I think my legs are feeling a little better.”
My whole body still ached, but how could I just lie there?
[Settling rewards.]
The reward for clearing the dungeon had appeared. How could I possibly hold myself back?
Whine.
The wolf pup that had played a major role in Luciana’s successful coming-of-age ceremony let out a faint cry.
This was the dungeon’s true reward.
It was a creature I had often found useful in the original game as well.
[Diawolf Pup]
[Item Category: Pet]
[Diawolves cannot normally be tamed due to their fierce wild nature. But if it is a newborn pup so young that even its mother has yet to lay eyes on it, the story changes.]
[If you raise it with devoted care, this frail life-form will become an incomparably dependable friend.]
[Can assist in combat upon growth.]
[Can equip a saddle upon growth; will carry only its owner.]
Normally, pets were for appearance and nothing more.
Even if they did have performance, they were only support at best.
But this one was different.
It took a little time and money to raise, but its combat ability made it more than worth its keep.
“...What will you do?”
I covertly watched Luciana’s reaction.
It might be a reward, but it was still a monster.
Luciana might try to dispose of it immediately.
“Diawolves are a nuisance in the North. Naturally, we should wipe them out.”
As expected.
The sword that had pierced the hides of the adult Diawolves only moments ago was now pointed at the pup.
Her principle of action was simple.
The spirit of noblesse oblige: killing monsters that threatened the people beyond the castle walls to safeguard their well-being.
‘This is a little troublesome.’
Of course, it was a righteous mindset.
But it was poison right now. If things went wrong, the dungeon reward might come to nothing.
“Is there not another choice?”
“...Another choice?”
“Yes. It has not even opened its eyes yet. It should be possible to tame it.”
Luciana snorted at my words.
“Do you think a wolf can be tamed? Even if it were possible, it would be useless. Stop talking nonsense and move aside.”
Ugh, usefulness. How was I supposed to explain this?
That I could ride on its back after raising it?
That I could use it in place of a hunting dog?
‘No, it is meaningless.’
They all had substitutes. A horse or a dog would do the same job. There was no reason to go so far as to keep a monster alive.
“Do you still have more to say?”
My gaze suddenly fell on her waist.
She was holding the Alpha’s head close to her, as though it were precious.
If the Diawolf Pup was a reward for me, that was the greatest reward for Luciana: proof of herself at the coming-of-age ceremony.
...I had a good idea.
“Would it not be better proof of your martial prowess to bring back a living creature rather than a dead one?”
The instant I voiced the plan that had occurred to me, her helm tilted to the right.
“Proof?”
“Yes. You can use a Northern nuisance as a substitute hunting dog. Everyone will know of the duke’s daughter’s achievement at her coming-of-age ceremony.”
The head of a dead wolf would only bring fleeting honor.
But what if she continued to keep it close and show it to others?
The answer was simple.
The point of her sword trembled slightly as it faced the pup, then withdrew into its sheath.
“Well, taming a monster. It is truly a method I never considered.”
She tossed aside the Alpha’s head, which she had treasured at her side until just moments ago, like an old shoe.
Then, unlike when she had pulled me to my feet by the hand, she carefully lifted the pup in both hands.
“It is not a bad idea.”
Her gentle hand stroked the Diawolf Pup’s head and back.
‘An unexpected side of her.’
I had thought she was always cold and serious. So she had a side like this too.
“Why not give it a name?”
“A name? That is right. I should think long and hard about it. It will follow me and bite its own kind to death, so I must give it a fine name worthy of that.”
“Sounds good. Let us think about it slowly once we are back at the castle. For now, the Diawolf subjugation seems to be over, so how about we leave as quickly as possible?”
Yegor and the soldiers were probably in an uproar by now.
I touched the unfired signal flare in my pocket.
I could already picture the Head Attendant clutching the back of his neck and saying something like, ‘I entrusted her to you, and how could you dare...!’
“I do not think I can handle the scolding that is probably getting harsher by the moment.”
“By coincidence, I was thinking the same thing. Yegor’s nagging is rather bothersome.”
Neither of us had to say who should move first. Laughing, we left the cave.
***
“Head Attendant, there is nothing nearby!”
At the soldier’s words, Yegor clutched his throbbing head.
“This is the worst coming-of-age ceremony.”
What use was bringing this many soldiers?
What use was assigning an attendant to her side?
They had been meant to protect Lady Luciana from any unforeseen threats, yet the very person they were meant to protect had cast them aside.
“Hans Byron....”
More than anything, trusting an outsider had been his greatest mistake.
Had Hans been dragged along by Luciana’s insistence, or had he taken the lead himself?
If it was the former, he was incompetent. If it was the latter, he was sly. Either way, Yegor found it displeasing.
“The sun is already dipping into the western mountains. If only they would fire a signal flare.”
Once night came, it would be hard for the two of them to contend with the monsters, whose savagery would be at its peak. He had to find them somehow.
“Continue the search! Lady Luciana and Hans’s horses were here. They must be nearby, so do not even think of returning until you find them.”
“Yes!”
“H-Head Attendant!”
Another soldier arrived as soon as he had given the order. Expecting yet another report that they were still absent, Yegor was about to order him away.
“We found her! It is the duke’s daughter, Luciana!”
“Bring her here at once.”
Was it a blessing amid misfortune, at least?
They had found her now, so they should be able to reach the castle before it was completely dark.
“...The duke will deal with Lady Luciana, so I should focus on Hans.”
Stopping a master who had strayed down the wrong path was more difficult than one might think.
Even so, he could not refrain from holding him accountable. It was an attendant’s duty.
Even if he had to be a little severe, there was no choice but to teach him properly and quickly.
“It is a relief that you returned safely...”
Unfortunately, Yegor’s plan was shattered the moment he met them.
The notorious Diawolves’ corpses were being dragged along by the soldiers.
“Safe is not all. I have returned with the greatest achievement for a coming-of-age ceremony.”
It was understandable that Luciana spoke so triumphantly.
Yegor had been born and raised a Northern noble, so he understood more than anyone. When he was young, he too had been unable to contain his high spirits during his coming-of-age ceremony and had gone out on his own.
But Northern coming-of-age ceremonies were harsher than one might think. Young people occasionally died during them.
Yegor had also come close to dying against a Northern monster. That was why he had mobilized as many troops as possible for coming-of-age ceremonies, so that nothing like that would happen again.
“Did I not say it? I was enough on my own.”
“...My lady.”
But Luciana’s spirited appearance brought Yegor’s youthful memories back to him.
Something he had believed long dead in his chest beat fiercely.
The young girl before him was displaying the very image every Northern noble would admire: a knight who feared no monster and kept moving forward.
“Oh, that is a little disappointing. I helped enough to work my bones to the marrow too, you know.”
“...You, be quiet. Have you no tact?”
“No, I am telling you, I think my kneecaps are really shattered. I dragged every one of those wolf corpses all the way here. Oof, oof.”
They looked closer to friends than to a master and attendant.
Ordinarily, he would have sternly rebuked Hans to his face.
How could he be so disrespectful to the master he was meant to serve? And when he followed the duke’s daughter, why had he not stopped her, even if he had to drag her away?
“Hans, you...!”
But looking at the results they had produced, the words would not come out.
What if he had clung to the duke’s daughter and stopped her to the end?
What if Hans, as Yegor had hoped, had succeeded in preventing the duke’s daughter from going through with it?
They might have slain a monster and completed a ceremony that merely looked the part, but the prey would have been nothing particularly remarkable.
However, Luciana had cast aside his restraint and gone on to prove herself by hunting several of the monsters that represented the North.
“Serve the duke’s daughter well. Do not let your guard down just because she is safe now.”
“Ah, yes! Of course!”
A smile hid amid Yegor’s deep wrinkles.
The plan to give Hans a severe scolding to his face was canceled entirely.
He had only been an obstacle, yet the duke’s daughter had accomplished a great feat at her coming-of-age ceremony and was full of pure joy. Yegor should not dampen that joy.
“Yegor, Father will be proud as well, will he not?”
“Of course. It has not happened in nearly forty years that someone has hunted one of the Three Great Monsters of the North at a coming-of-age ceremony.”
“Heh heh. Is that so?”
After sorting out his thoughts, Yegor noticed the object in Luciana’s hand as she nodded her steel-helmeted head up and down in satisfaction.
“My lady, might I ask what that is in your hand?”
“Ah, this? It is a living trophy. I hunted the monsters and brought their pup under my command. Is there a better achievement for House Speda’s coming-of-age ceremony?”
“Pardon?”
Yegor’s eyes wavered.
Did that not mean she intended to raise a monster?
Would the duke truly accept it?
‘...Well, it has left my hands now.’
Yegor nodded and silently turned away to prepare for the return.
Now that everything was over, he had no right to tell the duke’s daughter, who had already achieved her result, what to do or not do.
Her eventful coming-of-age ceremony had ended rather successfully, and from here on, all decisions—including whether to raise the Diawolf Pup—would pass into Duke Speda’s hands.
But.
“...I should begin preparing to persuade the retainers.”
She was the duke’s daughter who had reminded him of the passions of his youth after so long. Was this not the least he could do?
“Still, Hans is remarkable too.”
He must have contributed to catching those many Diawolves. Looking as though he had suffered quite a bit, he had many small wounds across his body.
Only now did Yegor understand Duke Speda’s instruction to keep a close eye on him.
“I should strive for greater perfection.”
Unaware that his attendant training would become even more grueling, Hans was satisfied merely to have escaped immediate scolding and followed Yegor.