Do Well and I'll Reward You

A handful of soldiers were left behind to stand watch over the monster wellspring, and everyone else departed.

It was eerily quiet.

Before setting out, the duke proposed that they gather to discuss the way forward.

"What happens if a monster wellspring of that scale is unsealed?"

"Given what we just saw… it's possible that a sizable labyrinth could form, or that a large magical beast might emerge."

The duke's attending mage answered the question.

"I see. That would be a real threat to any ordinary settlement."

"Indeed. Quite a modest scale, given how elaborate the seal is."

The great city of Ateil boasted military power far beyond that of other cities.

Their confidence spoke to the belief that they could handle a large magical beast or a small labyrinth.

Not enough to contend with a Fire Dragon, of course—but a Dragon was the kind of opponent an entire nation had to mobilize against.

No matter how much force a single lord commanded, a Dragon was beyond their reach.

Yohane listened to the exchange and turned to the two behind him to ask what they really thought.

"I'm afraid that's outside my area of expertise."

"Same here. Though I do wonder whether a Fire Elemental and a Fire Dragon would bother getting involved over something that minor."

He nodded at the reasonable point.

Azu, meanwhile, seemed to be feeling much better than before.

She was watching the Fire Elemental alongside Orleans.

The Fire Elemental didn't seem particularly interested in Azu.

When it perched atop Orleans' head, she looked like her hair was on fire.

"Doesn't that burn?"

"No… not at all. Would you like to touch it?"

"It hisses at me when I try."

"Oh. That's too bad."

While they were occupied with that, the duke's group appeared to have reached a decision.

"The serf girl. What was her name? Orleans, wasn't it."

"Yes."

"We can't afford to provoke the Fire Dragon. It caused that much damage just from passing through briefly. I'll assign you an escort, and if you handle this well, I'll reward you. Go to the Fire Dragon."

It was an order.

There was no option to refuse.

If she went to the Fire Dragon, there was no telling what would happen.

Even if the reward was lavish enough to befit a sacrificial offering, it would never actually reach Orleans' hands.

Where most would have hesitated at least a little, Orleans simply nodded.

"Understood. Then please grant me one wish."

"Very well. Even if your wish is freedom from serfdom, I'll grant it. I swear on my family name and the Empire. I don't lie."

"Thank you. I'll tell you my wish when the time comes. I'm counting on you."

The duke had made his declaration.

Orleans bowed her head deeply.

That said, not lying while withholding everything was a standard conversational trick.

When there was a power imbalance, the stronger party could twist things however they pleased. That fact was plain as day.

Whether this particular duke would resort to that, Yohane couldn't yet say.

So far, he didn't seem like an unreasonable man.

"I'd like to accompany Orleans and see this through in person. Would that be acceptable?"

"Ah, yes. Do that. We intend to observe the outcome from a distance as well."

Yohane's request was readily approved.

From the duke's perspective, it was a trivial matter.

"I'll have you escorted to the area. There's no telling when the Dragon might lash out, so we depart now. We already know where the Fire Dragon's lair is."

With that, the duke boarded his carriage.

Being a large group, the rest of them were assigned to the carriage behind.

Once they'd climbed in, the carriage set off.

Whether out of some consideration, there were no soldiers inside with them.

"Aren't you scared?"

"Of what?"

"Going to where the Fire Dragon is. Of what might happen after."

"I'm not scared. Wandering alone through places I didn't know was far more frightening."

She was probably talking about when bandits had attacked her.

She didn't seem to remember the attack itself, but she was aware that something terrible had happened.

In Yohane's mind, Orleans' parents bore the blame for that.

There was no way a child so small could survive on her own with a handful of coins.

Had he not happened to stop by after dealing with those bandits, who knew what would have become of her.

That, too, was part of her knowing far too little about the world.

How much Orleans actually understood about what she had to do from here on out was uncertain.

But there was nothing Yohane could do about it.

"Are you alright? You look a little tired."

"So do you."

"I'm fine now."

Azu gently placed her right hand on Yohane's forehead.

Her slightly cool hand felt refreshing against his skin.

There's a word for it: laying on of hands. The simple act of touch from someone close can heal.

He felt his spirits calm little by little.

"That helped. Thanks."

"Oh, it was nothing."

Alexia's and Elza's hands reached out as well.

Alexia placed hers on Yohane's right cheek. Elza placed hers on his left.

"Our hands are available too, you know."

"How's this?"

He went silent for a moment.

"Don't play around with me."

"Oh my, do forgive me."

"It's not fair if only Azu-chan gets to."

"Ahaha…"

Orleans watched them all.

"You're all very close, aren't you?"

"He takes good care of us, when it comes down to it."

"I suppose I can trust him, at least."

Azu looked at Yohane.

"He was the first person I ever trusted."

She said it plainly, without a hint of embarrassment.

So firmly that the one hearing it was more embarrassed than the one saying it.

"I'm envious. I never had any friends."

"Am I not your friend?"

"No… I mean, yes. You're right."

"See? It'll be fine. Master has good luck."

That's news to me, Yohane thought, but he kept it to himself.