Translator’s Corner: I apologize for the formatting, I have no idea why this happened. I might fix it later, but I’m too tired right now. Here’s the chapter~
Quiche is safe in a tent that has become the place for treatment.
She is missing half her armor and wearing thin leather clothes.
Her face is still scratched, but she seems to be okay.
She smiles as soon as her eyes fall on me.
We high-five on the spot, then hold each other.
Quiche’s face looks cheerful.
“Shuya, it’s over…thank you.”
Quiche’s eyes fill with tears while she talks.
The Evil Dragon King was Quiche’s enemy.
“Ah, I know.”
“Azora and the white bear?”
Quiche doesn’t know yet…
“-They’re dead.”
I shake my head, answering briefly.
“…Unfortunate. However, she was probably satisfied since her final opponent was the Evil Dragon King.”
“She probably was. Then, this, I want Quiche to have this memento, it’s her lucky rabbit tail.”
Saying so, I give her the charm that has turned dark brown, no longer fluffy and white.
I managed to survive, so it must be good luck.
Azora died the moment she was separated from it…
I’m an undead, so it won’t help me.
“This. It’s the charm Azora had. I’m not one for superstitions, but I’ll take it.”
Quiche accepts it.
It’s hard to say, but it needs to be said.
“…Just before Azora died, she dropped it. So, it might actually be effective?”
“That’s rather unlucky…but, already, I won’t need it.”
“Why?”
“I’m thinking about taking a break from being an adventurer, for a while.”
Is it because of the shock?
However, her expression looks healthy.
“A holiday, huh. In Hector?”
“Uya, I won’t return with everyone. I want to drop in at Hino village. Besides, the Evil Dragon King has been killed. I want to go back to my home, build a grave, report that the thing that killed my family has been defeated…to everyone.”
Her home was destroyed by the Evil Dragon King.
She said before that she wanted to rebuild the village.
“I see. I’ll miss you…”
“…Me too, Sh-Shuya.”
Quiche voice is muffled, it sounds like “don’t say such a thing,” I shake my head.
One, two tears stream down cheeks. Crying. I pull Quiche’s head close and stroke her beautiful green hair.
Her beautiful long ears,
“Quiche, it’s fine.”
“Ah…”
Quiche nods quietly. Then, she looks up at my face.
Like that, I snatch away her lips.
Don’t cry. I put that feeling into the kiss.
The deep kiss lasts for a brief moment.
“-Pa.”
The kiss ends.
It was a deep kiss, a parting one.
“Fufu, Shuya, I swore to the morning star Saideiru that I wouldn’t take a lover, but I like you.”
Morning star saideiru?
“I like you too.”
Her light green hair sways in the wind.
Surely, we aren’t lovers. The strategies of love are not twisting and constraining.
“…Shuya is my friend. I’m leaving.”
“…Ou.”
It seems like this is difficult for her…
Without saying anything, I turn my back on the woman I love and leave.
A friend, but my mind is brimming with the memories of her as my lover, whispering sweet nothings…the words die in my throat.
Quiche is tall, but…I’ve completely lost sight of her. The cord of a new backpack cuts into my shoulder. The knapsack is jam-packed. Is my treasure over there?
I think about something unimportant, trying to distract myself from the loneliness filling my chest.
◇◇◇◇
…One day later.
News of the Evil Dragon King Subjugation’s success arrives in 【Fort City Hector】
The main topic is the hero of the subjugation.
That person’s name is not mine…
Their name is Cecily Fadasso, the female captain of the Griffon Corps.
-So. The stories vary, I should have insisted from the start that I was the one who defeated it…
When I went wild inside of the Evil Dragon King’s stomach, the adventurers, Cecily, and the griffon corps saw Burdock act erratically, so the start delivering a sequence of powerful attacks.
The moment I was devouring the Dragon King’s heart, Cecily Fadasso delivered an attack.
The surviving soldiers and knights assumed it was Cecily.
There is a portion of people who know I am the one who killed the Evil Dragon King.
The adventurers who fought until the end were confused when they saw my actions, but rumors about the “hero of the Dragon subjugation” had already begun to spread. Once the story disseminated through the city, it was too late to claim that I killed the dragon.
In the face of the rumors, the truth about the Evil Dragon King subjugation has been swallowed up, turning into quiet ramblings.
However, after two or three days passed, the value of such adventurers is rising as well.
A new title is attributed to the adventurer clans who participated until the end, the group of heroes who helped subjugate the dragon, they came to be called the Dragon Killers.
The popularity of other clans like 【Crimson Tiger’s Tempest】 will spread quickly.
On the other hand, the administrator of the city, that Marquess is trying to use the popularity of Cecily Fadasso as the “Dragon Subjugation Hero,”was attempting to give Cecily material from the Evil Dragon King as the original reward promised.
However, for some reason, Cecily has vehemently refused.
“That person said, I was just a diversion.”
“I will take nothing.”
Somehow or other, she refused.
And then, Cecily nominated me.
Insisting to the Marquess that I, a D ranked adventurer, defeated the Evil Dragon King, she declines the reward.
It must be her pride that made her do it, no matter what the Marquess said, she took on an obstinate attitude and refused the change her opinion.
Normally, a mere officer would never do such a thing, but according to what I heard, Cecily and the Marquess have had a relationship since they were young.
It took on the form of the Marquess’ earlier compromise, taking into consideration Cecily’s obstinacy, the name of the adventurers who participated in the Evil Dragon King Subjugation were changed as a group.
Again, a place was prepared to make a grand announcement and hand over the reward.
Or should I say, a Marquess will be a Marquess?
With that said, in regards to the reward material, I was told: “please think about.”
I am given time to think so I can make changes later without restrictions.
The talk is because of the Marquess.
Ma, no matter the world, it’s the usual case of government bureaucracy.
Though, Cecily has no such ambitions.
To give up the Evil Dragon King’s materials, such a massive wealth…
Is this the nobility of a knight?
After such events, the Dragon Killing adventurers and the eminent clans such as 【Crimson Tiger’s Tempest】 and 【Ice Mausoleum of Blue Waters】will receive their formal reward for subjugating the Evil Dragon King.
I am being chosen as a solo participant to receive my award.
In the end, all the adventurers are sharing the material from the subjugation.
I thought the meeting to share the reward would be prolonged, but…
The conversation finishes after several minutes.
Sarah, the leader of 【Crimson Tiger’s Tempest】, took the lead of the meeting since her clan played such an active role.
‘The one who killed the Evil Dragon King is Shuya.”
So, it was decided that I would choose first.
The other adventurers are first class. They understood without a word.
I was in the middle of the fight, so everyone seems to have understood
They obediently jump on the bandwagon.
I’m curious about the crimson horn, so I choose Burdock’s head.
“I want the head.”
The moment I say that- I hear a “tsk” from the gathered adventurers.
I think it came from the S-Ranked twins of 【Ice Mausoleum of Blue Waters】
Judging by their response, those two seem to have wanted the head…
Ma, even if it bothers me, the fact that I killed it doesn’t change.
Immediately, the Evil Dragon King’s right hand, left hand, upper body, lower body, hind legs, and tail are all distributed.
However, it seems it will take seven days to dismantle the Evil Dragon King’s body.
By the way, I tried to put its body inside the item box, but it failed.
The item box seems to have a size restriction.
It was unable to enter.
Once assigning ownership of the material is over, the meeting quickly dissolves.
“It’ll be busy from here on out.”
“What large commercial firm are you going to sell the materials to?”
“We’re from a firm, have an exclusive contract with a blacksmith, and need to request a tailor.”
Adventurers have such conversations.
However, I already ate the Evil Dragon King’s heart, and the stomach and organs are wrecked. I said nothing to the clan who claimed the upper body.
I apologize in my heart.
Then, Sarah talks.
“Shuya, what are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure yet, for now, I think I will take it to an acquaintance’s place.”
“Hm… We’ll be selling a lot of the materials to a large commercial firm.”
“Captain, I want a vacation.”
“Lushell, we’ll talk about it later.”
“Well then, I’ll be off. Everyone, we’ll meet again somewhere.”
“Ah,…un.”
Sarah’s smile disappears, but it can’t be helped.
They have their own way of life.
I bow slightly and take my leave.
Now then, I have no primary weapon anywhere, so what will I do.
◇◇◇◇
Over the seven days I take my time and buy the daily necessities I need, I summon the Dark Hellbone Knights in the vacant lot, train with them using Fairy Moji and the magic sword, spend time wandering around the city and doing take on any requests as an adventurer.
During the Evil Dragon King fight, my primary weapon, the black tanza spear, was destroyed, and I lost all the contents of my backpack.
I stored my money in the item box, so that isn’t a problem, but that’s not the only thing…it’s the situation that I have no rewards from the Evil Dragon King Subjugation.
Because of this, I’ll store things other than small coins in the item box from now on.
Now then, the Evil Dragon King’s material should have been transported by now, so I head in the direction of the main street.
People are gathering on the street.
I wait a moment for the crowd to disperse and see that the Evil Dragon King material is being transported.
It’s already evening. Finally.
A line of large carts arrives in Hector.
People are gathering on both sides of the street to look the Dragon King’s corpse.
Carrying Rollo on my shoulder, I join the line of spectators.
“Ooooooh, such large purple scales. Amazing.”
“Is that the Evil Dragon King?”
“That’s right. It looks unexpectedly small, all cut up like that.”
“Iya you’re right. It has a cute foot like a Wyvern.”
“Did you see the claws?”
“Aah, they were able to kill something so big.”
That’s right. That’s right.
While I mix with the crowd, one of the onlookers nods in understanding.
People’s voiced are filled with admiration, they’re all excited.
Rollo watches the scene with me.
With the throng of people gathered, stalls are being set up along the road.
For a while, I walk around the street stands to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
When evening falls, and the sky turns dark, there is light.
Not only the light of torches but also magic light is many places.
I blend in with everyone.
Using the ring, I create a sphere of light.
Countless sources of light float up and fill the night sky.
The size, shape, and intensities are all different.
Like that, a swarm of mysterious fireflies seems to appear in the sky above downtown.
The night view overlooking Japan from a skyscraper is beautiful, but this doesn’t lose out to it.
This real-time fantastic neon view.
I make sure I engrave it in my memory.
Enjoying the night view, the moment I am going to the guild with a smile on my face-
“Oi, you, aren’t you the man who was with Quiche?”
The person who calls out from the crowd is an Elf man.
“N? Who are you?”
Who is this…
“I am Quiche Bakunda’s fiancé, Ra-”
“Oooiiya, that has nothing to do with me…”
Then, I remember.
This is the man who was following Quiche.
Lazu with the horse face. The tattoo of the bee is imprinted on his face.
“You, you’re a rude man. Please wait, were you together with Quiche for a long time the other day? It may be wrong to ask, but I don’t care right now. Ever since the deal with the Evil Dragon King, Quiche, I haven’t been able to find Quiche, was she killed in the subjugation?”
Annoying, this guy talks fast…
“Quiche is alive. Then-”
“Is that so, she’s alive. Then, please wait, I still have something to discuss.”
Something to discuss? Not with me.
I’ll ignore him…
I try to sneak into the crowd and get lost…
“Ano, still with me?”
“There is. The other day you stayed in a bar with Quiche for a long time, I cannot allow Quiche to keep bad company.”
Did he follow? And, bad company?
“You’re persistent, the only bad company here is you.”
Ah, crap, I spoke carelessly.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Do your eyes not work?”
…What did his mouth just say?
A grimacing, detestable man.
I guess I should speak openly.
“Quiche is my friend and companion, the other day Quiche ‘clearly’ did no want to associate with you, Lazu, what did Quiche tell you?”
I raise my voice.
“That was said. Do you understand my love? Are able to comprehend it?”
This guy, despite his horse face, has taken on a nihilistic expression.
He has a face of triumph.
This Elf is way too full of himself…
“…I cannot understand your puny feelings.”
I tell him with a little laugh.
“Shit, what is effeminate, the gap between you, a black-eyed, impertinent shit face, and Quiche and I is an impassable gap! Besides, you speak with the habit of an uneducated adventurer, it is evident that Quiche and I love each other the most. You’re an unnecessary distraction-”
For a long time, he prattles on about how superior he is compared to me.
In an instant, I cover my whole body in fighting moji, then deliver a knife-hand blow to Lazu’s footing.
“-If I get in the way, are you going to kill me? If you want to keep being so excessively rude…”
The point of my hand is embedded in the ground, creating an empty hole.
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