Chapter 37

Hestia slowly responded to Dianaea's voice.

"Hmm...? I know the name, but who are you?"

"Y-You really are the same, even though your hair and clothes are different! I didn’t expect you to be living with Daiti...!!"

It seems Hestia is someone Dianaea knows.

"..."

But Hestia doesn’t seem to know Dianaea. She just tilted her head with a blank expression. What’s going on?

"Anyway, calm down, Dianaea. You’re shouting too much, and we can’t keep up with the conversation."

"A, ah, yes. I apologize. I got excited meeting the legendary mage. I see. I was being rude by knowing you one-sidedly."

Dianaea took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

"But, what do you mean Hestia is a legend?"

"Well, a few decades ago, a black-clothed mage appeared at the Procia Magic Association. This person obtained the Super Rank in just a few days and then disappeared again, leaving a legendary record."

"Is that Hestia?"

"Yes, she called herself Hestia Radna."

Huh? The name is a bit different.

"Hestia, is this story true?"

"Basically, it’s true."

"Isn’t Hestia’s name Hestia Radna?"

"Hmm, the name I used among humans was a pseudonym."

"…Changing the position of the hyphen doesn’t make it a pseudonym."

Moreover, I’ve been thinking for a while that dyeing white hair and white clothes black is a bit too sloppy for a pseudonym.

"Hmm, but even if I was found out, it was fine. I would have continued as I was if the others hadn’t dyed their hair or registered under pseudonyms."

"Ah, I see. Your companions did it."

There seem to be many companions in the valley of the flying dragons, and some even take care of the dragon king.

"But, you’ve been traveling in that form for decades, Hestia?"

"Hmm... I’m quite old."

It feels strange to hear this from someone who looks like a young girl.

"You’re really amazing. I’ve heard stories from various people and read documents, and there are some recorded images, but I didn’t expect you to still look the same."

"Dragons don’t change their appearance in a few decades. ...But, I’m just a minor figure. This person is much more impressive."

Hestia said this and then turned the conversation to me.

"Ah, well, ...indeed."

Dianaea also nodded seriously in agreement.

"It’s good that we can agree on this point."

Hestia nodded as well.

Hey, you two are getting along.

I feel a bit left out.

"Because, I’m Super Rank. If you go to the Magic Association, you won’t be ranked."

"Eh? Is that so?"

When I asked Dianaea, she nodded quietly.

"Daiti is so far beyond the norm that he would definitely be given the Mythical Rank, but there’s no scale to measure beyond that. That’s why he can’t be ranked."

"...Well, you would be recognized as Mythical in a day."

Is it really that easy, Magic Association?

"No, it’s not easy even under normal circumstances... Daiti is exceptional. Exceeding Radna is not normal."

"Hmm, I’m one of the better mages among the dragon kings. But, you are even better."

The two of them nodded again.

Why are these two bonding over me?

Dianaea, who was afraid of Hestia just a moment ago, is now completely free of that fear.

"No, I think it’s because I’ve talked to someone as strong as Daiti many times, so I got used to it quickly."

Just talking to me builds up resistance to fear.

That’s a bit rude, though.

As I was thinking this, Dianaea, who had been sitting down, slowly stood up.

"Phew... I had a valuable conversation. But, although it’s a bit regretful, I think I’ll go home today."

"Okay, I see."

"...But, let me thank you again, Daiti. I’m glad I met you and Radna. I want to become as strong as you. So... see you again."

With such a refreshing farewell, Dianaea left.

●

"She got excited and went home alone."

"It might be better than going home depressed."

"But, there’s a strange stain on the ground."

"…For now, let’s have the golem carry the marked soil outside the garden."

While we’re at it, let’s replace the garden soil. Hestia and I decided to bring soil from outside the garden.

"By the way, Hestia, you were quite famous."

I was most surprised today to find out that this young girl is a legendary mage.

"Hmm. But, fame is meaningless. Probably, you’re more famous now."

"Is that so?"

"At least, among dragons, you’re a hot topic."

I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.

"It’s not a bad thing. The dragons in that valley are almost like your subordinates. Being a topic of conversation is good."

"I didn’t make them my subordinates, though."

But, dragon attacks have stopped. Maybe it’s a good thing.

As I was thinking this, Hestia handed me the scroll she had rolled up again.

"I’ve finished reading this. It says it’s a plot of land in Procia’s First Street. It’s quite large."

"First Street? I don’t understand even if you give me the address of the city."

"When I used to go to the city, the area around the castle was the First Street, I think."

Hmm, being near the castle, it’s probably not a bad location.

It was called prime real estate.

Well, let’s leave it as it is until we decide what to do with it.

"Alright, since we’ve finished replacing the garden soil, let’s practice making golems until dinner."

"Ah, I want to see you make golems."

"Great, I’ll put a bit more effort into it if there’s an audience."

And until dinner, I continued to work hard on making golems while Hestia watched.