Chapter 38

"Come on in for now. Since we didn't want to have a conversation standing outside, I decided to use my place as the venue."

Fey doesn't seem to change her attitude much even when dealing with nobles. She's a bit more polite, but mostly frank.

In response, the people from the Giorel family might have looked a bit offended.

"Ah, I'm not here as the second son of the Redguard family, but as Togo Uesora's best friend. So, let's just relax and get along, okay? Togo?"

"Uh-huh."

The slight tension I felt eased up with Fey's words.

"Alright. Then, let me show you around. Welcome to 'Togo Uesora's best friend's house.' I welcome you."

Fey said this with a wink and a slightly theatrical bow. She looks great when she does that; it's impressive.

Since Fey went inside, I decided to follow.

...But.

"Laocles?"

When I looked up at Laocles, who didn't follow me, he was staring intently at the Giorel family.

"Nothing."

But that only lasted a second, and he quickly followed me.

...Something must have happened. I'm a bit worried.

Anyway, the discussion with the Giorel family began.

"First, to confirm, you are not a summoner who has contracted with the Redguard family, right?"

"Yes."

I haven't contracted, and I'm not even a summoner. What is a summoner, anyway?

"Then, if you were to contract with the Giorel family, it wouldn't be considered a betrayal of the Redguard family, right?"

"Probably."

When I answered, the lord of the Giorel family smiled. ...I wish he wouldn't look at Fey with that slightly smug face; it's annoying.

"I haven't contracted with the Redguard family not because there's a problem with the Redguard family, but because there's a problem with me."

So I said it clearly. I can tolerate being underestimated, but I can't stand Fey being belittled just because of a misunderstanding.

"Problem?"

"I don't have the confidence to take on the job properly, so I'm waiting to be contracted."

There are probably other reasons, but I can't clearly express them yet, and I don't want to say them clearly to these people, so that's it for now.

...However, the lord of the Giorel family seemed very... um, how to put it, positive.

"Nonsense! Since you summoned a Red Dragon, we don't think you lack the ability! You may be young, but if you have the ability, there's no need to worry about such things. How about it, would you consider contracting with our family and becoming a summoner for the Giorel family?"

"I don't intend to. I lack experience, and I think there are more suitable candidates than me if you want someone like that."

I politely declined.

I'm used to dodging adults' "You can do better" with "I lack confidence" or "I lack experience" or "There are more suitable candidates."

"Hmm... But you did summon a Red Dragon for the Redguard family, didn't you?"

"The dragon just happened to like Fey."

"But if that's the case, you could summon a Red Dragon for us, right? What's the reason for summoning a dragon in front of the Redguard family but not in front of us, the Giorel family?"

"At that time, I just wanted the dragon to help Fey and me. There's no such reason for you."

I explained the truth while declining.

...Really, I didn't "grant" the Red Dragon. I just drew a crimson dragon, and the dragon came out and helped us... and apparently, it liked Fey and decided to become Fey's summon.

And if the dragon were to like these people... um, probably not. No.

"If there's no reason, you won't summon a Red Dragon? Then, we would like to formally request it."

"I think it's better not to."

I honestly said that I don't think these people would be liked by the dragon. Lying here wouldn't make anyone happy.

"Hmm. Are you saying that the dragon that can be controlled by the son of the Redguard family can't be controlled by us?"

...Naturally, the lord of the Giorel family seemed a bit offended.

"Yes."

"N...!"

I decided to be honest. He was speechless. Sorry.

"Um... Santos Rad Giorel?"

Since the lord was speechless, I turned to his son.

He has the same golden hair and orange-brown eyes as his father, but he was glaring at me with hatred.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I still decided to ask my question.

"What do you intend to do with the Red Dragon as your summon?"

He looked a bit taken aback for a moment.

"What do I intend to do...?"

"Uh-huh."

I waited for his answer, thinking he wouldn't just summon it and leave it at that.

"Such a thing... the legendary Red Dragon is valuable just by existing. So, it's enough for it to exist, behind me."

"Dragons aren't just for show, though."

"I don't intend to just leave it as a decoration. It would be perfect as a bodyguard, and even if not used in actual combat, a Red Dragon would be enough to intimidate."

"Ah, I see..."

"Are you suggesting I would 'burn down a town' or something?"

"That's a bit much."

I hadn't thought of that. But, yes. With a Red Dragon, burning down a town would be possible.

But, um... this person talks about what he would do with the Red Dragon, but not what he would do with the Red Dragon. I'm even less inclined to give it to him now.

"Or what? You won't give the Red Dragon to me? But you gave it to him?"

Seeing my hesitant face, Santos looked annoyed and upset.

"I don't think you can get along with the dragon even if I give it to you."

So I answered honestly, and he got so angry that he stood up.

"Rude brat! Are you saying I'm inferior to the incompetent Redguard son!?"

"Hey, hey, hey, you're talking to the incompetent one himself, and you can say that? Calm down a bit."

Seeing Santos raise his fist, Fey stood up and grabbed his arm to stop him.

"You...!"

"Calm down. Sit down. If you can't, I'll throw you out. Togo doesn't like conflict."

Fey is taller than Santos. When Fey glared down at him, Santos seemed to calm down a bit and sat down. That's good.

"Hmm. It seems we won't get anywhere like this."

Finally, the lord started talking.

"We will make a request to you. To summon a Red Dragon or a similar magical creature. We don't ask for anything more."

In other words, even if the dragon doesn't get along with these people, it's not my job. Is that what he means?

"How about it? It's not a bad deal. We'll pay the reward that your servant offered before, and we'll pay additional success fees."

I don't really need the reward. So it's not particularly appealing. I'm in a bind. How can I make them understand?

"I thought about contracting with your family, but if you don't want to, we can discuss it later. However, I don't think a boy who can summon a Red Dragon should be without any backing."

"Is that so?"

I thought I wouldn't need backing if people like you didn't come, but I'll keep that to myself.

Instead, I'm thinking about how to politely decline. I should have thought about it more beforehand. But I didn't expect to have to decline so soon.

When I was thinking, the lord seemed to misunderstand. He said,

"I understand your hesitation. You have a sense of duty to the Redguard family. I understand that you feel you should uphold it. But you shouldn't give up your success just because of a sense of duty."

When he mentioned duty, I do feel that way.

I have a sense of duty to Fey. I think there's more to it, but I don't want to do anything that would harm the Redguard family because I have a sense of duty to them.

But...

"If you accept our request, we can recommend you to the royal castle. We may be a younger family, but we are confident that we have more power than the Redguard family. Togo, this is for your success. Please accept this request. I don't want to see your talent wasted in this remote area. What do you think?"

...Yeah.

I don't like being said that.

"I decline."

There was no need to hesitate. I should have just said what I wanted to say honestly.

"Decline... the contract with the Giorel family?"

"Everything. I won't contract with you. I won't accept your request. I won't summon the dragon."

I'm not good at talking, but my feelings are here.

"What! Rude brat!"

"Who's being rude?"

When I glared back, Santos, who had been glaring at me, looked a bit intimidated.

"...You'll regret this. Do you think you can survive in this world with such an attitude?"

"Go home. I have nothing more to say to you."

I have no intention of continuing the conversation. I glared at them.

...Then, Fey did something.

"Seems like it. Just go home for today. We'll send a formal refusal in writing."

"What!?"

"Can't be helped. Togo isn't interested. Or what? Are you going to kidnap Togo? That would be a disaster."

When Fey replied in his usual manner, the Giorel family looked even angrier.

"Or are you going to stay? Then you are not guests but enemies."

Furthermore, Fey changed his attitude and glared. His hand was on the brooch on his left chest... the gem containing the Red Dragon.

"...You'll regret this."

And the Giorel family glared at us and left.

"...Togo, you can really get angry, huh?"

"Eh? ...Wow."

After the Giorel family left, Fey was ruffling my hair. Messily. Without any restraint.

"I'm happy. I thought you were always so laid-back and never got angry."

"...Hmm."

While shaking my head to fix my hair, I thought about it.

My words and actions just now... yeah.

"I might have gone too far."

I feel a bit self-loathing. I could have handled it better.

"Is that so? I think you did well. What do you think, Laocles?"

"I agree. I think you could have said even more."

That's not helpful. I didn't have much more to say, and my words have limits. Plus, I think there was a better way to handle it...

"Anyway, let's make today a day to remember Togo getting angry!"

"I don't need to remember that..."

"Come on! Let's eat! And then sleep! When something bad happens, eating and sleeping is the best!"

Before I could think about all the bad things, Fey dragged me away.

While being dragged to the dining room, I decided... well, it's fine.

Yeah, for now, it's good if things calm down...

That day, I was treated to a big meal at the Redguard family's house again, and I got sleepy from being full. I borrowed a bath, got warm, and got even sleepier... so I decided to sleep.

"Good night."

"Uh-huh."

By the way, Laocles is in the same room again. I thought it would be fine in a separate room since I declined, but...

...Laocles is staring out the window as if on guard.

This... means it's not over yet, right?

The next day, I decided to return to the forest, but I was stopped.

...I wasn't stopped by Fey or his family... but by Laocles.

"Stay here for five more days."

"Eh?"

I didn't expect Laocles to say something like that. It's very surprising.

"Did something happen?"

"Be wary of those Giorel people."

If Laocles says so, it must be true... but, it's very surprising.

Fey's permission was easy to get. He even said, "Why not stay for 50 days?" I declined that. I don't want it to be ten times as long.

Then, I decided to draw Laocles.

But.

"...Those people."

While posing, Laocles started talking.

"I recognize them."

"Eh?"

I wondered what he meant.

"That Santos Rad Giorel is a man who served as an aide to the former lord I killed."

...It seems the world is small.