Chapter 110: Let’s blow up the tiger’s den

Chapter 110: Let’s blow up the tiger’s den

As I was bantering with stallholders and trying out various street foods, the sky had begun to be dyed by the color of evening before I noticed.

Since I notified Faima I’ll be back before the sun sets, I make my way back to the Imperial Palace.

「ーーAre you the adventurer called [Shiroyasha]?」

Those words came out when I passed through the front entrance of the Imperial Palace and heading down the first passage.

「Hm?」

When I stop moving and turn my face to where the voice came from, a dragonkin soldier clad in armor is looking at me.

「……I don’t call myself that way but I’m the one it refers to. So, who might you be affiliated with?」

「I am attached to the [Heavenly Dragon Knight Order].」

Heavenly Dragon Knight Orderー

ーHaven’t heard of them before. In the first place, all I know is the Genryuu Knights and the Steel Dragon Knights.

「The commander of our group wants to meet with you. Henceforth, I would like to ask you to accompany me to the department of Heavenly Dragon Knight Order.」

「But I refuse.」

…………………………。

……………。

……。

「………………So, there you have it.」

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Waving my hand lightly, I begin to walk awayーー

「ーーHah !? W-Wait!」

So close. Didn’t manage to fool him.

A panicked cry came from behind so I had no choice but to turn back to face the soldier.

There are no decent person with a good first impressionー

ーwould be an excessively irrational line of argument but I feel something close to that for this dragonkin soldier.1

「First of all, I need to return to the person I’m escorting so can we have this meeting after that? I did, more or less reported to them that I’ll be back by evening.」

It’d be safer to get involved after consulting with Faima and the knights who are more experienced.

「Do you not know of our Heavenly Dragon Knight Order!?」

「All I know is my employer, the Phantom Dragon Knight Order and the Steel Dragon Knight Order, who specializes in guarding dignitaries. This is the first time I’ve heard of the Heavenly Dragon Knight Order.」 Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

「Is-Is that so……(tch).」

Oi you, I heard that loud and clear.

Like his first impression, he doesn’t seem to be a good person. For the time being, there’s no doubt that the dragonkin in front of me is a third-rate who can’t control his words or gesture.

「What are you going to do? Wait here or do you want to follow me and wait in front of the room of the person I’m escorting?」

「I-I received instruction from the commander to take you to him as soon as I find you……」

「It won’t take much time to reach the room of the person I’m escorting. More importantly, it’d be more time consuming to continue talking about it here. Come on, let’s go.」

「W-Wait a moment!」

The dragonkin soldier of the Heavenly Dragon Knights still continues to bar my way as I began to walk. I look back with a slightly severe expression.

「Unfortunately, my break is over. From here on out, it’s working hours. Could you let me go and do my job already.」

「………The commander said he wants to communicate with you privately.」

「What’s with the so called [secret talk]?」

「………………」

The soldier didn’t answer but his honest frown tells me that it’s not an information that should be conveyed here. In addition to the bad impression, there’s also a suspicious smell.

「I’m sorry but meeting someone secretly behind my employer and the person I’m escorting will be a problem on my credentials as a hired hand. If I make a wrong decision, it might deprive me of other jobs from the guild. Next time, I’ll talk to your superior properly soーー」

「The commander of Heavenly Dragon Knight Order has been bestowed with the rank of a count by His Majesty the Emperor.」

The soldier cuts in, covering my refusal.

「If you wish to continue to work as an adventurer in Diagal, you would do well not to displease his lordship.」

He shut his mouth without saying anything more specific.

「……Is that a threat?」

「Depends on how you perceive it」

The moment he brought up status, it’s obviously a threat. [What a bother] would be the best words to express my current state of mind. Whether I accept or reject this soldier’s coercion, what happens after will definitely be a bother. It’s easy enough to imagine the moment status was brought into the fold.

If it’s just me, I’d rush into the tiger’s den and rob them of their child before blowing their place to smithereens but currently, I’m Faima’s escort. If possible, I don’t wanna cause trouble for her……

『ーーBetter yet, let’s smash this guy.』

I even ended up with a brain-fried solution of pretending this encounter didn’t take place. I’ll think about an appropriate cover up later. I was imagining such dangerous thoughts when…

「Flaunting authority indiscriminately is far from being admirable in my eyes.」

The voice saying it is by no means loud. However, the soldier and I turn to the direction from where it came from as we were unaware of the existence who said it.

At the end of our line of sight, a man embodying the words [herculean]2 appears from a passage ahead. I could tell that he’s also a dragonkin as the one in front of me from the horn on his head but his physique is more than one size bigger.

And the crest that represents his affiliation is familiarーーthe crest of the Steel Dragon Knights.

『Are you kidding me, this guy’s a monster of the same class as Real and Shreia.』

Even if we know he’s not emitting bloodlust, we couldn’t help but be intimidated. All that notwithstanding, the presence{aura} he’s exuding proves to me that he’s an overwhelming [powerhouse].

While I got speechless, the soldier beside me is sweating bullets as he’s speaks in a voice as if it was squeezed out of his throat.

「Sh-Sharga-sama. It is a pleasure meeting you here3.」

「I have no need for words uttered only for form’s sake. That aside, as a soldier of the glorious empire, borrowing and misusing authority is a disgraceful act.」

The herculean who denounced the soldier’s words directs a stern look at him. Even looking at his face from the side, I can see that the soldier who’s rubbing his hands vigorously is cramping up.

「N-No, not at all. It was never my intention toーー」

「Even if you have no such intention, the other party would interpret is as such. From now on, you should refrain from doing so.」

「……M-My, deepest, apologies.」

Sounds like an apology that was forced to the max. Moreover, it’s not even clear whether it’s directed to me or herculean.

The soldier alternates between looking at me and herculean before he eventually departs with the words…

「W-Well then, I shall excuse myself.」

…while gnashing his teeth in frustration.

Before he left for real, he directs a hostile gaze at me. Somehow, it made me feel like he’s a small-fry. If he directed that at herculean, his manly meter would rise considerably.

After seeing off the Heavenly Dragon Knights’ soldier, I turn to face herculean properly.

「Um, thank you very much?」

「I didn’t help you. The matter was unacceptable as an imperial soldier so I forcefully barged into that situation.」

Rather than covering his embarrassment, I feel like he meant every single words. Let’s assume he’s a tsundere with a deeply carved features. But that on its own would leave me stumped on how to respond.

I’m already aware of this herculean’s identity. Still, I question him to confirm.

「……Excuse me, who are you?」

「I am Sharga, commander of the Steel Dragon Knight Order. Having an encounter in this fashion is a first, Shiroyasha.」

……Oh god, that name is already becoming the norm. I’m being disappointed at the most inconsequential matter.

「ーーYou seem a little different from the person I imagined. I thought no less than a complain will come my way regarding [the case].」

I was hanging my head despondently when I hear the words of Sharga, causing me to raise my head. He’s referring to the event that led me to be hired as Faima’s escort.

「……Saying that I have no thoughts on the matter is definitely a lie but in the end, I got released. Feels like it’s all too late is kinda strong though.」

「Is that so……4」

I’m not sure how he interpreted my words as the wrinkles between the brows of Sharga’s deeply chiseled face is even more furrowed. I don’t think he has any animosity but I couldn’t read any further.

「I don’t hold any special sentiment for you, including for the matter just now. We have only completed the task assigned to us and for argument’s sake, even if you complained, we have no reason to obediently apologize. Do not take it the hard way.」

「Is that right……」

There are no sense of guilt or shame. He was just following his mission very faithfully. As I heard from Real, the commander of the Steel Dragon Knight is an honest person, to the bitter end. Normally, it’d be a favorable impression on me but for me who was detained without being told anything, I have no choice but to have a subtle feeling towards the Steel Dragon Knights.

「ーーIt’s not a substitute for an apology but, just one thing.」

Some unexpected words came out of Sharga’s mouth.

「Watch out for Heavenly Dragon Knight Order, to which the soldier earlier belonged to. I recommend you warn your employer and you escort subject.」

ーーIsn’t that…

I guess a troublesome flag has been raised.

The advice from the Steel Dragon Knights’ commander drops me into a gloomy mood