Chapter 13

Something soft was supporting the back of my head.

Someone was gently running their fingers through my hair. It was so comfortable that I almost wanted to fall asleep again, but I couldn't.

"...To take advantage of me while I'm sleeping, you really are the former Demon King, aren't you?"

When I opened my eyes, as expected, there was the mischievous smile of the elf with auburn hair.

She was sitting next to my usual seat, had changed my position, and was giving me a lap pillow. The soft thing under my head turned out to be Verlaine's thigh.

She looked pleased, but then her expression turned a bit troubled, and she pouted.

"I thought you'd be more surprised, but it's disappointing that you're not."

"...Maybe you know, but I was thinking about other things. I've been asleep for about an hour, right?"

"No, it was a bit earlier than that. You've been sleeping for about thirty minutes, my lord."

"I see. There's still time before opening."

I tried to sit up, but my shoulder was pulled back.

"...Can't I get up?"

"Just a little longer, can't you? I'm also tired from my daily duties. I feel like I'll age faster if I don't get some pampering from time to time."

That's true, but if this continues, even I might start to react as a man to the softness of a mature woman's thighs.

"...So, how did it go?"

"What are you talking about? ...There's no point in pretending, is there?"

"I acted as your proxy to cast the magic, so I know what happened. Don't worry, I won't tell Timis and the others. If they notice, it's your fault."

"They called me a 'firefly,' so it should be fine. Well, at first glance, it does look like that."

I said it casually, but Verlaine covered her mouth and laughed.

"Surely, they wouldn't imagine that this 'firefly' is actually your manifestation... an SSS-rank adventurer in strength."

That's right—the magic characters I asked Verlaine to inscribe on Timis were to activate the 'Small Spirit' spell.

It creates a part of my power as a manifestation, which can also be a small ball of light. Since it looks like a 'firefly,' it can avoid being noticed.

I can transfer my consciousness to the 'Small Spirit' and control it. After emerging from the magic characters on Timis' chest, I watched over the three of them the whole time.

The 'Small Spirit' has the strength equivalent to 50,000 adventurer points—25,000 for combat and 25,000 for recovery and support spells.

"From the looks of it, the plan seems to have worked. Are you going to check on the captured fire dragon?"

"No, I'll leave the fire dragon to my team. I had something in mind."

"Hmm... If Timis and the others were in trouble, did you consider having them rescue them?"

"Absolutely not. If we do that, it would go against the purpose of this mission."

I was finally allowed to sit up. Verlaine still seemed unsatisfied, but I couldn't stay in this position forever.

"...Well, I should have been more patient. It was just a little more, really."

"Indeed... So, you protected Timis and the others. Why do you look so down? Didn't you achieve the mission without them noticing?"

"I wanted to avoid finishing it myself. The mission was to earn merit for the three of them. This way, they won't feel a sense of accomplishment."

After Timis shielded the fire dragon's attack, there might have been a chance to create a final opportunity. I should have waited until then, but I intervened before Timis took the hit. That was a mistake.

"Hmm... But if they didn't have resistance, they would have been burned just by getting close to the fire dragon. McKinley would have been noticed and targeted without the 'Stealth Pomegranate.' Without such preparations, they couldn't have advanced the plan even halfway."

The fire dragon constantly emits high heat, not just when angry. They could attack without being affected by the heat thanks to the 'Flame Walnut' cookies and the 'Salamander Bone Wine.'

"By intervening, it seems their party was on the verge of collapse. If you could remain calm in that situation, I would have to change my perception of you. Even if you were a cold observer, that would be intriguing in its own way."

"...It's complicated. I need to do more research to absorb the fire dragon's random movements."

"Research... Are you going to make that notebook even more complete? It's already nearly perfect as a reference. Is it still not enough...?"

If it were perfect, I could have just watched and completed the mission.

The 'Silver Water Jug Inn' must be prepared to handle any request and achieve it without fail.

Fortunately, I had a planned environment where I could observe the fire dragon whenever I wanted.

At that moment, the doorbell rang. A customer entered before opening hours—a man in a green cloak sat next to me.

"Always a pleasure, Weltem Company. I've come to deliver the alcohol and food."

Verlaine signed the delivery note and returned it. The man's name was Joyce Weltem, a merchant who frequently visits my shop.

His main business is selling alcohol and food—officially.

The true face of the Weltem Company is a 'rare goods dealer' that trades in items not usually available in the capital.

Joyce sat next to me and ordered rum, then said. Drinking in the morning is a personal habit, but I can't judge others for it.

"Sir, about that matter. I've already hired a manager and started preparing the environment."

"Yes, the fire dragon and the hatchlings will be moved by reliable people. Is the food supply sufficient?"

"Yes, I went to check it out, and it's a great place. I wonder why the fire dragon chose a forest with humans over that one."

"Humans probably came to the forest after the fire dragon. But there's no reason it has to be a specific forest. The environment isn't that different."

"I hope so. Still, sir, you've really thought this through. Managing a forest where humans don't go and grazing fire dragons... This is something that can't be done normally."

Verlaine's eyes widened at our conversation, but she quickly understood the situation and continued checking the delivered items without a word.

"Fire dragon materials are in high demand but are too valuable. Scales, for example, are traded for 50 gold coins. It's easy to collect old scales when new ones grow."

"Old scales don't lose quality. In fact, the older they are, the stronger they are."

Joyce drank the rum Verlaine served and took a breath. He's a heavy drinker like me, but he's loyal and honest in his dealings. That's why I proposed the idea of grazing fire dragons.

"But if the hatchlings grow and use the same forest during breeding season, won't it be full of fire dragons?"

"That's true. But unlike adult dragons, hatchlings can be tamed when they're young and will listen to humans."

"Yes, that's what they say. Dragon masters grow up with hatchlings. By the way, sir, do you have such experience?"

"I'm just a farmer's son. I know a dragon master."

"...You have connections even in such places? Sir, how far do you go...?"

"Well, after the fire dragons are moved to the grazing area, I'll go check on them. I have someone who wants to see the hatchlings."

I ended the conversation, and Joyce shrugged, finished the remaining rum, paid, and left. He bowed deeply to us before leaving—his most important principle as a merchant.

◆◇◆

Timis returned to the capital and showed up at the shop in the evening. After confirming that the other customers weren't listening, she showed the scales she brought back to Verlaine. I was drinking ale as usual.

"The fire dragon was moved somewhere by this guild... Where were they taken?"

"I can't reveal that, but this time, the fire dragon wasn't killed. We'll consider it a successful repulsion once it was moved from the forest."

"Yes, I think the people living near the forest will feel relieved..."

Timis, Lya, and McKinley. Their attitudes had changed since entering the shop. They seemed more reserved, even the usually relaxed McKinley looked serious.

"I think the reward for this mission wasn't strictly decided, but I want to pay whatever I can. I'm truly grateful to this guild for taking on the mission."

"...We fought the fire dragon but couldn't deal a significant blow. However, the fire dragon fell into the 'Forest Hunter's' trap. We still don't understand what happened... But..."

Lya's words, filled with frustration, were continued by McKinley.

"Even though we knew we were inexperienced, you guided us to complete the mission. I can't help but feel that Duke Solver protected us."

—They were supposed to think it was a firefly. I didn't expect Duke to be deified to this extent.

In reality, I was watching them—blinding the fire dragon when it attacked Timis, stunning it with a magic bullet, guiding it into the trap, and using the remaining paralysis sleep bombs McKinley had.

It's impossible to do all that without being noticed. I considered erasing their memories, but that would be too cruel.

The only relief is that Duke is a fictional name. The three of them will never trace it back to me.

"The reward... I'll pay everything I have. Please, I want to meet Duke. If he visits this shop, I want to thank him in person...!"

—That's impossible.

Timis pleaded with tears in her eyes to Verlaine, who didn't look at me, perhaps out of kindness.

"I also realized my inexperience. I need to be stronger to protect the young lady. I beg you, Duke, to train me. I'll do anything to meet him..."

"I also beg you, let me join this guild! I'll work for free, anything to meet Duke!"

I never imagined this would happen—guiding them through the notebook didn't make me think they would be so aware of Duke Solver's existence.

But when they saw the fire dragon defeated by an external force, they immediately thought it was Duke, showing their deep respect for him.

In other words, their respect for me.

Timis seemed to be in a state of unrequited love, deeply admiring Duke. Even a dull person like me could see that.

"My life is here thanks to Duke's teachings. These fire dragon scales should be offered to Duke... He gently guided me when I was weak. I want to meet him and thank him..."

Verlaine listened to Timis' desperate plea with a gentle smile.

"...Then, Lady Timis. When you become a deputy knight through your own strength, I'll ask him to appear before you to celebrate."

"...Really...?"

"Yes. But don't push yourself. You're still young. Duke is also younger than you imagine. He will surely wait for you."

"Ah... Duke... If Duke is waiting for me, I... I will definitely become stronger...!"

Timis wiped away her tears and renewed her resolve. She would choose the path of steadily honing her skills.

I should be grateful to Verlaine, but there's another hurdle to clear.

The doorbell rang, and Milarca and Manarina appeared.

Timis, who turned around, immediately recognized her sister.

"Sister... Sister Manarina, why are you here...?"

"Timis... It's been a while. I came when Sir Dick called me."

"...Dick? Who is Sir Dick?"

To let Timis meet her sister, I contacted Milarca and Manarina today—but it led to a crisis of exposure.

"That's the person in that seat. Sir Dick is my benefactor..."

"Dick... Is that his name? I thought it might be Duke Solver, but it's different, right?"

"I see... Yes, he's a generous and good person, but just a regular customer who likes alcohol."

Lya's intuition is unclear, but thanks to her, I avoided the biggest crisis.

Milarca seemed to understand everything and sighed when she looked at me.

"Generous Sir Dick, would you like some alcohol? Any recommendation is fine."

"...Ah, sure. I'll treat you all, so why don't you sit at that table?"

"Sir Dick... Yes, I understand. Today, I'll treat my sister."

Milarca, sensing my feelings, took her sister to a curtained table. Lya and McKinley also sat at a table, mingling with the other customers. Lya was happy for Timis, and McKinley, who wanted to join my guild, drank with a satisfied look.

Verlaine watched me for a while as she worked, then said after a long pause.

"Sir, when you reveal your identity to Lady Timis, you might have to take some responsibility."

Verlaine, who only treats me as a customer at such times, made me face the empty ale mug on the counter, feeling like I was waving a white flag.

"To make the royal sisters so devoted... The day when the 'Fifth Phantom' controls this country from the shadows is not far off."

"I didn't intend that... I don't understand women."

"Would you like me to teach you? I could make a notebook called 'How to Understand Women.'"

"...If I have time, I might ask you."

Seeing my lack of sarcasm, Verlaine laughed happily. From Timis' table, the voices of the sisters, happy to be reunited, could be heard.

I had another matter to discuss with Milarca. If the alcohol improves her mood later, I'll have to negotiate—just asking her to come to a certain place on a day off.

◆◇◆

A few days later, I managed to persuade Milarca and took her to the forest where the fire dragons were being grazed.

The manager Joyce hired was an old man with experience as a dragon master. Joyce didn't know this and just recruited someone with dragon knowledge, hitting the jackpot. The old manager welcomed us warmly and led us to the dragon's nest.

The female fire dragon that Timis and the others fought was calmed by the dragon master and didn't attack us even when we were near the hatchlings.

"Fire dragon hatchlings