[Illustration]
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Hairyl Rogue Rifalas, Grand Duke of the Rifalas territory and Anri's father, was in high spirits as he enjoyed a rare meal with his daughter.
The Grand Duchy he ruled was vast, covering a full fifteen percent of the Lexenil Kingdom's total land. Fertile plains made up the majority of his domain, and the crops harvested there were exported not only to the inland regions but also to allied nations on the borders. On top of that, he managed two mines as a business operator, making him, needless to say, an extraordinarily busy man.
It had been thirty days since he'd last shared a meal with his daughter Anri like this.
Anri was busy too. It sounded noble enough to say she served as a vigilante on the frontier, but the work was undeniably dangerous. She'd taken up the sword out of admiration for the legendary hero of Straval—a fact that never failed to worry her father.
He opened a slightly pricey bottle of wine and was sipping away, using his daughter picking at her meal as entertainment, when Anri suddenly set down her silverware and spoke up.
"Father. There is a man I wish to marry. Might I bring him to meet you?" Anri inquired, her tone carrying that particular aristocratic refinement.
"Bwuuh!!" Hairyl sputtered, wine spraying across the table.
He couldn't help spitting out his wine. At the same time, Hairyl screamed internally: "Again?!"
Anri had a terrible habit of falling hard for any man stronger than herself. In the past, she'd thrown a fit about wanting to marry Count Zehes, the famed warlord, and had even tried desperately to bat her eyelashes at him as a child.
"No," Hairyl declared flatly.
Hairyl let out a deep sigh from the pit of his stomach. A deep frown carved itself between Anri's brows—she'd been eating so quietly a moment ago.
"To refuse without even meeting him... I feel as though I am beginning to hate you, Father," Anri stated, her voice cool and measured.
"Fine. At least give me the details," Hairyl conceded.
At his daughter's words, the father immediately folded.
"What's his name?" Hairyl pressed.
"Wolf-sama," Anri replied.
"Wolf? I've never heard of him. What's his class?" Hairyl demanded.
"D-class. However, he's already retired," Anri explained.
"Retired? ...And his age?" Hairyl asked cautiously.
"I heard he's forty-two," Anri answered.
"Foooourty-twoooooo?!" Hairyl bellowed.
The table rattled. Silverware clattered. Hairyl let out a rough breath.
Not that he could blame her for it—the man was the same age as him.
"I won't allow it! An old man like that?! Think about the age gap—the age! Have you lost your mind?!" Hairyl roared.
"It is true that Wolf-sama and I have an age difference. But I do believe love shall overcome it—I am quite certain of it," Anri replied with a completely straight face.
"Besides, if we are discussing age gaps, King Murad and Aunt Rieel have a twenty-year difference. And yet the two of them are so wonderfully devoted to one another—" Anri continued.
"King Murad and my sister Rieel got along because they shared common interests! They didn't marry because one was 'just stronger than the other,' like you!" Hairyl interrupted.
"Then surely Wolf-sama and I must have something in common too. We will definitely build a happy family together," Anri insisted.
On what basis? Hairyl clutched his head. What a troublesome daughter. If she didn't kick this habit, next time she'd probably drag home a dragon just because it was "stronger than her."
(...Hm? A dragon?)
Hairyl raised his head and slowly placed his hands on the table.
"Anri. You've heard that a dragon has taken up residence in one of the mines I manage, haven't you?" Hairyl asked.
"Yes... It hasn't been dealt with yet?" Anri confirmed.
"If this 'Wolf' man can slay that dragon, I'll allow him into this household," Hairyl declared.
"Really?" Anri's face lit up.
Her father gave a firm nod.
"Right away, then—" Anri said.
Anri left her meal half-finished and exited the room. Despite the late hour, she was clearly planning to head to Nikaras right now. Hairyl watched her go, the door closing behind her, and then let out a derisive snort.
"I don't know who this Wolf is, but there's no way he's capable of taking down a dragon," Hairyl muttered to himself.
He poured himself another glass of wine, as red as blood.
* * *
"Anri-sama, I understand the situation, but how exactly do you plan to bring Wolf-dono here?" Dallas inquired.
They were on the road to Nikaras. Having been filled in on the plan, the mage posed a straightforward question.
"No problem at all. Wolf-sama is sure to accept," Anri replied confidently.
"...If you don't mind my saying so, the man has already retired from being an adventurer. I can't imagine he'll cooperate in taking down a dangerous dragon now of all times," Dallas observed.
"Do you really think so?" Anri asked.
Anri turned to her other attendant, Lymat, for his opinion. The young knight shrugged slightly, uncertain.
"I think it's a difficult matter," Lymat admitted.
Lymat himself was curious about Wolf. The swordsmanship that had overwhelmed both Dallas and Anri—would it be effective against a dragon? This was also a perfect opportunity to gauge the man's true abilities.
But he couldn't imagine an adventurer capable of slaying a dragon living in obscurity on the frontier without any reputation whatsoever.
Dragon-kin were universally dangerous magical beasts. A man who had made it clear with his expression that he wasn't thrilled about marrying Anri wouldn't willingly step forward for something like this.
Anri reined in her horse. She thought for a moment. Even as a maiden in love, she was usually a rational knight. It seemed the logic of the situation had finally dawned on her.
But—
"I have a splendid idea," Anri announced.
There was no end in sight for Anri's path of love.
* * *
"Wolf-dono! Anri-sama has been taken by a dragon!" Dallas exclaimed.
The one who burst into Wolf's home was Dallas, the mage in black robes. The master of the house stopped grinding his herbal medicine and stood up.
"What?! Anri-sama has?!" Wolf exclaimed, thoroughly shocked.
Dallas mentally wiped the sweat from his brow. For now, it seemed the man had believed him.
Of course, Anri being kidnapped was a complete lie. It was merely a convenient pretext to drag Wolf to the mine.
According to Anri:
"Now, now. That's a brave hero rescuing a princess from a dragon—a classic of heroic tales! Wolf-sama will surely come to save me."
It honestly felt like she just wanted to reenact a heroic legend. But she was completely serious about it, which made her utterly impossible to deal with.
"Then I'll contact the Guild right away—" Wolf began.
"Wait, Wolf-dono. If we take that much time, the princess might end up being devoured by the dragon. Besides, due to the northern magic beast front, there don't seem to be any A-class adventurers available in this area," Dallas interjected.
"I see..." Wolf murmured.
"That's why I'd like to humbly request your assistance, Wolf-dono," Dallas pleaded.
"Me?" Wolf asked.
"Yes. Please," Dallas insisted.
Dallas held his breath. Sweat beaded on his back. If Wolf reported this to the Guild now, the whole situation would blow up.
"We don't know any adventurer in the area stronger than you. Please lend us your strength. Wolf of Nikaras," Lymat added.
Lymat, who had entered a moment later, drove the point home. The two bowed their heads. To a nameless adventurer on the frontier. For the sake of a lie dressed up as a heroic tale.
(Once this mission is over, I'm asking for a raise.)
Lymat and Dallas made that decision in their hearts.
"Understood. I'll help in whatever small way I can," Wolf agreed.
Dallas let out a breath of relief.
Even if it was by his master's orders, his conscience still stung.
They arrived at the mine. From a distance, Wolf used a spyglass to survey the area.
"There are about twelve of them," Wolf observed.
"I can't confirm from here, but there should be at least one more," Dallas offered.
The one who offered that opinion was Dallas the mage. Wolf lowered the spyglass and nodded.
"I don't see the mother dragon. She must be hiding somewhere," Wolf noted.
Though the ecology of most magical beasts remained unknown, the wyvern had been partially studied. They were generally pack animals, and during spring, they gathered in areas with high geothermal activity to protect the mother dragon. Some scholars theorized it was for egg-laying, but the reproductive methods of magical beasts were still a mystery, mostly guesswork.
Taking down the surrounding young dragons was something even Lymat's group could manage, but the mother dragon was a formidable foe equivalent to A-class. If the mother appeared while they were still dealing with the young ones, total annihilation was certain. They needed to locate the mother first.
"Also, I don't see Anri-sama," Wolf observed.
Lymat and Dallas flinched, their bodies trembling slightly. They averted their eyes from Wolf as if gazing into the distance.
"R-right," Dallas stammered.
"I-It'll be fine. That fool—er, that is—the princess is surely alive," Lymat assured.
"I certainly hope so," Wolf said, narrowing his eyes with concern.
Their hearts ached with guilt once more. They wished they could show the ringleader herself—Anri, watching the battle from a distance with her father—Wolf's face right now.
"More importantly, what do we do now, Wolf-san?" Lymat asked.
Wolf set down his baggage. What came out were tools for making medicine. Sitting on the craggy rock face, Wolf began preparing a concoction. Lymat peered in from the side.
"What are you doing?" Lymat inquired.
"Just watch," Wolf replied.
After a while, the medicine was finished. Wolf coated dry branches and leaves—easily flammable materials—with the mixture and set them alight. A thick purple smoke rose upward, carried by the wind, drifting slowly toward the mine.
The smoke spread through the mine. Beyond the thin haze of purple, changes began to appear in the wyverns one by one.
"They're falling asleep," Wolf observed.
The dragons' eyelids drooped shut, one after another. The ones that had been clinging to the rock face dropped with a thud but remained fast asleep.
"Amazing... A potion that puts dragons to sleep..." Dallas murmured in awe.
Dragon-kin universally possessed high resistance to status ailments. That was precisely what made them so difficult to defeat through indirect means.
And yet Wolf had put them all to sleep with a single dose of medicine. It was no wonder Dallas and the others were astonished.
"To think you could put dragons to sleep... What kind of magic did you use?" Dallas asked.
"We absolutely must have you teach us!" Lymat exclaimed.
Shower after shower of praise. Wolf scratched his unruly hair, looking embarrassed.
"An adventurer taught me this recipe... I'll tell you about it after the hunt," Wolf replied.
"Much appreciated! And—how much gold should we prepare for it?" Dallas pressed.
"I won't take any money," Wolf declined.
"Unacceptable! This medicine of yours is a monumental invention—worth building a mansion over!" Dallas insisted.
Dallas pleaded, his face flushed. Wolf gave a wry smile.
"I was taught for free too, so don't worry about it," Wolf said.
That was a lie.
Wolf hadn't been taught by an adventurer. Nor had he developed it himself. And his genius daughter Reminia had nothing to do with this either.
The reason Wolf could pull off such a feat was because he'd learned it from a book left behind by Reminia's mother.
Aside from [Double World Theory], which had piqued Reminia's interest, the book she'd left contained detailed information about a great many magical beasts. Most of it was incomprehensible, but among the portions he could understand was the recipe for this [Dragon's Spill] sleep potion.
But it wasn't easy to simply trace the instructions and brew it successfully.
The fact that he'd studied the proportions for years, adjusted the formula, and proven its effectiveness through trial and error—that was the fruit of Wolf's unwavering effort.
"Let's head in while the potion is still working. It doesn't affect humans, so you're safe," Wolf announced.
Wolf started walking. Dallas followed after him.
Meanwhile, Lymat felt a growing suspicion. He stroked his sharp jaw. The young but thoughtful knight narrowed his pale eyes and stared at Wolf.
(That's strange. Why would a D-rank adventurer know how to take down a dragon?) Lymat wondered.
Summary:
Hairyl refuses Anri's request to marry a 42-year-old retired D-class adventurer but offers a conditional challenge: if Wolf can slay the dragon in his mines, he'll permit the marriage. Anri and her attendants Dallas and Lymat hatch a scheme to trick Wolf into helping by falsely claiming Anri has been kidnapped by the dragon. The plan succeeds, and Wolf arrives at the mine, where he demonstrates extraordinary knowledge by using a sleep potion he developed from his late wife's research to incapacitate the wyverns—but Lymat grows suspicious of how a D-rank adventurer possesses such expertise.
Trivia:
Hairyl rules 15% of the Lexenil Kingdom and operates two mines.
Anri has a history of falling for stronger men, including Count Zehes as a child.
Anri and her father haven't shared a meal in 30 days.
King Murad and Aunt Rieel have a 20-year age gap.
Wolf is 42 years old—the same age as Anri's father.
Wolf has already retired from being an adventurer.
Nikaras is the town where Wolf lives.
Dallas is a mage in black robes.
Lymat is a young knight with a sharp jaw and pale eyes.
The northern magic beast front has drained the area of A-class adventurers.
Wyverns are pack animals that gather in geothermal areas during spring.
The mother dragon is equivalent to A-class threat level.
Dragon-kin have high resistance to status ailments.
Wolf learned the Dragon's Spill recipe from a book left by Reminia's mother.
Reminia is Wolf's genius daughter.
Wolf spent years perfecting the sleep potion's proportions through trial and error.
Lymat is suspicious of how a D-rank adventurer knows dragon-slaying techniques.
The sleep potion doesn't affect humans.
Dallas and Lymat plan to ask for a raise after this mission.
Anri is watching the battle from a distance with her father.
Notes:
• Rifalas - Job: Grand Duke title holder; Relationship: Henri's family; Note: Noble house.
• Hairyl - Job: Lord, older brother of King Murad, Grand Duke of Rifalas territory and mine operator; Relationship: Father of Henri and Anri; Note: Royal family connection, and extremely busy businessman who rules 15% of Lexenil Kingdom..
• Anri - ob: Captain of the Blue Brigade, Princess Knight, Frontier vigilante and knight; Relationship: Daughter of Lord Hairyl, Father: Heiril; Appearance: Beautiful elf half-breed, blonde hair parted down middle, pale skin, smaller ears than full elves, slender but muscular frame, large chest, lightly dressed; Item/Magic: Light armor, practice sword, Sword; Note: B-rank adventurer, aristocratic bearing, Has a habit of falling for men stronger than herself; admires Straval's legendary hero.
• Wolf - A 42-year-old former D-rank adventurer turned Nicalas Village farmer and craftsman. Following his wife's death to a Beywulf, this humble, soot-stained, curly-haired father shed his old bulk to raise his daughter, Reminia, alone. He balances his [Smithing] Level 2 and daily training with deep, quiet devotion, serving as a hardworking role model who teaches his daughter through his own actions.
• Murad - Job: King of Lexenil Kingdom; Relationship: Brother-in-law to Hairyl; Note: Ruling monarch.
• Dallas - Job: Mage and attendant to Anri; Relationship: Servant to Anri and Associated with Blue Brigade; Appearance: Black robes; Item/Magic: Magic (unspecified); Note: Participates in the lie about Anri's kidnapping. reviously encountered by Wolf, referee for training bout.
• Lymat - Job: Knight in Blue Brigade, Young knight and attendant to Anri; Relationship: Subordinate to Henri; Appearance: Thin pale green hair in tight curls, narrow fox-like eyes, young, capable; Note: Provides exposition about Henri's status, and Suspicious of Wolf's knowledge about dragons.
• Reminia - Fifteen-year-old Great Hero of Straval and researcher of her late mother’s Double World Theory. With striking red hair, amethyst eyes, and a slender, youthful build, she balances a playful, tomboyish exterior with immense power, wielding mythic-tier magic alongside a wooden sword. Fiercely protective and deeply devoted to her father, Wolf, she maintains a strong emotional bond with him.