Chapter – 29
Even if it’s done for money, it’s still a good thing. When Lanken reacted with reluctance, Moslin had a fit.
“Good?! GOOD?! Chasing peace like a coward?! A true person measures superiority with strength!”
Lightning crackled wildly around her.
Bolts struck the village fences and market stalls with blinding flashes. The thieves panicked at the sight of their charred goods.
“Boss! The road! The road is breaking!”
Everyone broke into a cold sweat at the insane actions of the combat mage.
‘It’s Doraine.’
‘Exactly.’
Lanken and Biretta communicated silently with their eyes. Years of working together made them perfectly in tune.
Lanken’s gaze silently asked, “Now what?” Biretta smiled confidently in response.
“Just perfect. I’ll come up with a brilliant solution. Leave everything to this brilliant detective.”
Biretta extended her hand toward Moslin. It was a modest gesture, elbows relaxed, like inviting someone to dance at a social gathering.
“You still want to run wild on the battlefield, don’t you? This is a perfect opportunity for someone like you, who’s become a quiet old timer in a peaceful world.”
“You little—?!”
Lightning flashed from the tip of Moslin’s staff, and Iola quickly lifted the ground beneath them. The earth, raised like a shield, safely blocked the bolt.
The soil that had stood as an iron wall in front of Biretta slowly crumbled. Fear crept in this time, but Biretta steeled herself.
She was a woman who would hunt dragons. She wouldn’t let a single combat mage scare her and tarnish her dignity.
“Aren’t you interested in being called a dragon hunter?”
Biretta’s clear voice carried across the field.
The surroundings were a chaos of collapsing market stalls, villagers wailing, others trying to restrain Moslin, and the sizzling of lightning strikes. Amid it all, Biretta’s voice rang out, strong and commanding.
It was the whisper of a devil: Won’t you come hunt a dragon?
“The three of us are going to hunt the dragon to prevent the marriage alliance between the Medlidge Trading Company and the mercenary city of Najin. I’ll cover all the expenses. I formally offer Combat Mage Moslin a profit-sharing contract.”
Biretta pulled a handful of silver coins from her pocket and scattered them.
It wasn’t much, but the sight of the shimmering coins raining down left an impression on everyone.
Medlidge’s trump card, her secret weapon: solving things with money.
“This… works?”
Lanken’s look was somewhere between contempt and resignation. They were heading to hire a mage, but Moslin?
“Overwhelming firepower. Inexpensive hiring cost for her skill. Considering our budget and schedule, we can’t expand the party, so she’s the perfect talent we’ve been looking for.”
“You mean the war-crazed granny who shoots lightning?”
“Don’t push it, kid. I don’t love war—I love bloody fights.”
“Are we seriously going to make an excuse like that and call her a teammate?”
Lanken pointed his thumb at Moslin for confirmation. Biretta gave him a look of pity as his face darkened against the backlight.
“Lanken, you need to know what’s important. This isn’t the time to worry about people. A normal mage would never join a small party hunting dragons.”
“Hey, why are you talking as if I’m the foolish, pitiful one?! Who’s fault is this anyway?!”
“Medlidge’s.”
“Exactly! That’s why it’s so irritating!!”
Lanken shook Biretta by the collar and shoulder until he collapsed. Having already gotten angry several times today and faced life-threatening situations, his tension finally released.
Iola patted his back gently, and tears fell. Now, finally, he could cry over Medlidge, the root of all evil.
Moslin alternated her gaze between Lanken, pounding the ground in frustration, and the confident Biretta. She realized who the real leader of this party was.
Probably the strongest, Iola, had no objection to Biretta’s words. That made Biretta the leader.
“You know you’re talking like a lunatic. Do you know why I’m even acting like the village’s thief boss?”
“You don’t have the courage to fight Medlidge, right?”
“I’m making a rational decision. A proper mage never fights a greedy trading company. So do sane humans.”
The marriage alliance between Medlidge, the magnate, and the mercenary city of Najin was about to be finalized. Attempting to sabotage it halfway would result in bloodshed for the entire family.
One side specialized in isolating people socially with money, the other killed first and asked questions later. Turning them into enemies over a small profit was foolish. Moslin may have been a battle-crazed woman, but she wasn’t stupid.
“Ha ha, we’re different from criminals. My fiancé and my knight are not like them. We’re ready to meet any external pressure head-on with full force.”
Naturally, Biretta wouldn’t back down. Iola, understanding the situation, supported her words.
“And we’ve already sent a big bull’s head with blood to the wedding.”
“Why?! Why go that far?!”
Even Moslin let out a scream that wasn’t quite a scream.
It was truly why?! She had seen people ruin weddings, storm in and flee with the bride and groom, but sending a bull’s head? That was unprecedented.
Yet the perpetrator smiled cheerfully while instilling fear in Moslin.
Biretta threw in the bomb.
“Don’t worry. After all, it’s our wedding.”
“Seriously, what is going on?”
“I am Biretta Medlidge, the second daughter of Medlidge. And this is Iola Jin, nephew of the lord of Najin.”
The famous battle-hardened mage, Moslin, who had made a name for herself as a war-crazed combat magician, was stunned.
The villagers were either shocked or convinced, but Moslin, who had spent decades in battle, was different.
This… is hopeless. A person wielding a sword isn’t as terrifying as these kinds of people.
A pair, laughing brightly, casually thumbing their noses at her father… this is the real danger.
After decades of experience—from back alleys to royal palaces—the seasoned mage realized Biretta was not bluffing.
These women… whatever the outcome, they would inevitably crawl to where the dragon breathes fire.
Anyone who dares to mock Medlidge and Najin would surely go that far.
Her old age was about to be twisted by the risk.
It was an offer that no normal mage would ever accept.
“Let’s do it right away.”
Irresistibly, isn’t it?
Moslin grasped the hand Biretta extended.
“Another… another mad one has appeared…”
Lanken, who had only lived twenty-three years, ground his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut. He wasn’t the type to cry easily, but tears flowed endlessly.
Chapter 3
[Filian Eastern Mining District Dragon Hunt Journey Log, Day 6.
Joined by Moslin, the battle-magic lightning mage known for the Flash of the Rose War. Current party: four.
Source of funds: (Ms. Viretta’s allowance and partial embezzlement of Medlidge’s wealth)
<Progress>
Plan formulation
Securing basic funds
Departure
Trial hunt
Hiring a mage
Visit to the regional lord and request for road usage permission
Procurement of weapons
—
Iola, who had been writing the dragon-hunting log, put down his pen. He looked at Moslin, their new companion, and smiled gently.
“Having you accompany us on such a dangerous journey gives me peace of mind. It’s moving to meet people in Filian willing to do what even my father wouldn’t do.”
“Of course. How many years have I been in this line of work? Just call me ‘sister’.”
Moslin puffed up his chest, proud of himself.
“Understood, Ms. Moslin.”
“I said you can call me ‘sister.’”
“Yes, I understand, Ms. Moslin.”
“Can’t you speak plainly?”
“It seems my indirect phrasing didn’t convey the meaning well. In Saha culture, one does not call someone who isn’t family ‘sister.’”
Moslin’s expression turned cold. Seeing the conversation dragging, Viretta stepped between them.
“We’re almost at the lord’s mansion! I can’t wait to meet the lord. If he senses my sincerity, he’ll surely grant our request.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
Lanken challenged Viretta’s optimistic prediction. She answered lightly.
“Then it will truly be unfortunate.”
“Uh… that’s it?”
“I’ll do my best to persuade him so nothing unfortunate happens to the lord.”
“….”
In short, if things didn’t go well, she implied they might resort to harsher measures. Lanken shuddered at words that were nothing short of a threat, even if no sword was drawn.
It was especially chilling to see Iola with a sword and Moslin with a staff standing behind them.
“We’ve arrived. This is the mansion of our lord, Beckdelrace…”
Just then, the carriage came to a stop.
The party stepped out and was overwhelmed by the spectacle before the lord’s mansion.
About a hundred people had gathered. They ranged from well-dressed merchants to poorly clad priests and villagers.
All of them were united in a single, mournful cry.
“Lord! Please open the gate!”
