Chapter 09
Viretta extended her other hand and shoved half of the remaining raspberry tart into Lanken’s mouth. As the tart entered his mouth, Lanken quieted down somewhat.
“Will you come with me? Will you become my sword and shield, stand back-to-back with me, and walk the glorious path of hunting a dragon together?”
Anyone who values their life would, upon hearing the suggestion to hunt a dragon, call it “insane” and spit before vanishing.
If a king ordered a group of fewer than ten people to hunt a dragon, committing at least exile—and at most treason—would be entirely justifiable. A massive dragon was that kind of being.
Yet Viretta’s proposal was an exception.
Lanken recalled all the times Viretta, who stubbornly upheld her bluster even when facing death, had suggested adventures. She had gone searching for her destined partner, hunted monsters in the swamps, and chased the legends of rainbows.
The results had always been utterly futile. There were no monsters in the swamps, the places where rainbows appeared could not be found, and her destined partner never appeared.
Viretta was always sincere, but she was no fool; after hitting the wall of reality a few times, she would compromise.
The ridiculous idea of hunting a dragon would surely be tempered after dealing with a giant lizard or crocodile.
Surely it would. Lanken half-optimistically and half-prayerfully thought so. In any case, refusing Viretta’s request was not easy.
This was all there was to the fate of the Mercenary Corps, whose glory had faded after the era of wars, big and small.
In the peaceful period of Filian, mercenaries were less warriors and more like strongmen or ruffians called upon for various odd jobs whenever needed.
Their main duties were hunting wild beasts, collecting debts, and guarding trading companies.
As a rookie mercenary tasked with such chores, Lanken’s primary responsibility was secretly escorting Viretta under the pretense of friendship. Everyone in Medlidge knew this, and even Viretta suspected it, but that was the official reason.
He had been assigned by Kadlern to guard Viretta because it had become increasingly difficult to stop her from causing trouble, slipping away like an eel.
For five years, under the pretext of being close to Viretta—something Lanken refused to acknowledge and wasted two years disputing—he had been receiving a mercenary salary through Kadlern.
Of course, Kadlern was a reasonable man. Even if he refused the request to hunt a dragon, he would understand Lanken.
But if he did that, Viretta would undoubtedly struggle on her own. Viretta, who had inherited the decisiveness of the colossal Kadlern Medlidge, had a tendency to charge forward like a wild boar.
Who else but him would handle Viretta’s aftermath?
Seven years had passed since Lanken had been managing Viretta’s misadventures. There was no one more suitable than him.
After swallowing the tart, Lanken relaxed his shoulders.
“Alright. Let’s go. Let’s catch the dragon, or whatever it is.”
Soon, they would lazily return home anyway. Better he mediate now than let her cause chaos with her fiancé.
As Lanken accepted reality, Viretta’s face lit up with delight.
“Indeed, the decision befitting my sword, my shield, and my loyal friend-knight!”
“Truly, Viretta, it is a decision worthy of a courageous and loyal warrior! To meet not one, but two people willing to hunt a dragon—it seems my mother guided me to seize this dreamlike opportunity.”
“Your fiancé seems very committed too, considering he’s supposedly here only because of Viretta’s circumstances. He’s quite excited.”
Lanken eyed the man suspiciously—a man with no lover, no one to love, someone not suited to Viretta, and with no objection to the engagement.
Iola hid her fully smiling face and coughed awkwardly.
“It’s also an opportunity to see a dragon up close, and I cannot allow Viretta to enter a marriage she doesn’t want. And…”
“And…?”
Viretta’s thought of “Does he like me?” vanished in an instant.
“And… it’s my first time defying my father and running away. My heart pounds with guilt toward my father and anticipation for the future before me. It must be the same for you, Viretta, leaving home on your own for the first time—is your heart alright?”
“What? My first time?”
Viretta, speaking absentmindedly, widened her eyes.
“Yes, leaving home for the first time must bring anxiety and new feelings.”
For the first time…
Now, standing side by side, Lanken and Viretta exchanged uncomfortable glances. Without words, they shared the worry in their hearts through their eyes.
First time? Really?!
At 23 years old?!
After exchanging looks as if to say this, Viretta hesitantly raised her hand.
“Um… leaving home means going out of the city for over two days without permission, right?”
“Exactly. If you had permission, it would be a trip, and returning within a day would be a picnic.”
“Then this isn’t my first time.”
“Is that so? I thought you packed well, but indeed, this is the second time. When was the first?”
Viretta and Lanken’s expressions grew more awkward. They shuffled fingers and toes nervously.
“A month and a half ago.”
That was more recent than expected. Before Iola could respond, Lanken continued naturally.
“And three months ago during the Flower Festival.”
“And at the end of last year too, briefly.”
“During last year’s Harvest Celebration as well.”
Viretta and Lanken carefully counted on their fingers, murmuring which occasions did not count: two-day trips, permission from grandfather, and so on.
“Even earlier… in summer…”
“Actually, in spring too… about four times two years ago…?”
“From three years ago… I hardly remember…”
Just counting three years back, their fingers were already insufficient.
Embarrassed, Viretta and Lanken avoided Iola’s gaze.
It was humiliating to confess their habitual running away to Iola, who had truly defied her father and run away for the first time.
Viretta had left home many times—not intending to never return, but often enough to worry her relatives endlessly.
If she suspected she wouldn’t get permission, she would write a single note and run away with Lanken—a habit of hers.
The notes were nothing remarkable:
“Father! I’ll find a wonderful husband, so please postpone the engagement by two months.”
“I’ll find flowers that don’t wilt even in winter. They’ll be perfect for my sister’s wedding bouquet!”
“I, Viretta, aim to become a great actress. I’ll send you tickets later, so please prepare a theater to showcase me.”
“I’ll bring a burning stone as a birthday gift for grandfather!”
This time too, she left only one note, stepping out lightly.
Unlike Iola, she didn’t feel guilt for disobeying her father, nor did she carry a determined resolve. She ran away as she had dozens of times before.
Though appearing neat and proper, she hadn’t realized Iola’s rebellion would be a first.
A faint sense of guilt and awkwardness swept over Viretta and Lanken as they felt they had drawn the innocent, kind-hearted Iola into mischief.
Each time Viretta counted her fingers, Iola widened her eyes and remained silent.
Yet, after the long silence, a bright smile appeared on his face, not reluctance or disapproval.
“You are well-versed in running away from home!”
It couldn’t be high-level sarcasm, they decided to believe. After all, trust is the most important thing between people.
“Oh, it’s not criticism. To live independently and defy family expectations is not easy. Ordinary people cannot forget their obligations… which might sound like criticism. Anyway, such rebellious experiences surely support your determination to hunt a dragon, Viretta. It’s wonderful. I feel reassured to follow such experienced people. Please guide us generously.”
But something about this person feels strange, doesn’t it?
Only now did Viretta and Lanken sense a flicker of unease from Iola.
