118 - - a pleasant chat with Grizz.I don't hate it lol. I just hope it doesn't sound like a sign.






"So Locke, did you see the dragon?"

"Yes, they were sealed up in a cave in the village of Anesa. But I heard that it will be unsealed soon.



 Grizz was holding the snacks that had been served with the tea, but he dropped them on the ground with a puzzled look on his face. I wonder if he's okay.

 He blew on the fallen pastry and put it in his mouth.

 This is not the attitude of a well-to-do grandma.



"Is it the three-second rule?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do something I don't usually do. You've got to take a break from joking. The mere fact that the dragon is sealed is a problem. When is it going to be released ......? When is it going to be released? 

 Unlike his earlier expression, he is now in high spirits.

 He really is a noisy guy. 



"Maybe tonight, most likely."

 Grizz presses his eyes. I wonder if he has a headache.

 He's a little overweight and as a friend I'm starting to worry about his health.



"Oh no. Is there nothing but trouble where Locke is going?"

"How rude of me. I'm here to escort Grizz this time, so I'm sure he's got it."



 I'm a bit confused that you're calling me a troublemaker.

 Lately, I've been having a little ...... ...... trouble. You've been having a lot of trouble, haven't you?

 Is it my fault ......? No, I'm sure there have been few troubles caused by me.

 But I feel like I'm the one who's poking my nose into it.

 No, let's not think about it any more.



"Well, I really don't think we'll be bored together."

"Now I'm remembering, you've been getting into too much trouble. Let's go home and relax a little."



"Ha ha ha! You know, I don't need to tell you. So how come the dragon's seal is broken?

 I explained to him what had just happened.

 I feel like I've been explaining a lot lately.

 Grizz takes a sip of his mint tea and swallows slowly, sighing heavily.



"I thought you hadn't asked me that in a while. No, I remember I said the same thing to you recently.

"Yeah, you said that the other day.



"So what are you going to do? You'll be back this evening, right?

Yes, that's the plan. We can't leave a village to be attacked without knowing it. And you're worried about the dragons.



You're sure you don't want to ...... join us in the blink of an eye if the dragons start to run rampant?

"Of course not. Of course not.



"Then that's fine,......, but if you tell Fenrir about dragons, it's like having one of the best forces in the world monopolized by a single person. Even if he's treated as a follower, the nobles won't be able to leave him alone, so be careful. Even if he's not, he's out of his league.



"Domorte said I'm out of standard too.

"...... You don't think he's aware of it? I don't think so. Lucky alone is enough of a problem for the team. And Domorte is the King of Darkness, Rich ...... Domorte?



"What's up?"

 Grizz stands up suddenly and slowly walks back to the wall, keeping his eyes on me.



"Rock, ...... be honest with me."

Tell me what?



"Domorte?" ...... You don't mean, you don't mean, you don't mean, you don't mean ...... Domorte the Great Sage? It just happens to be the same name, doesn't it?

"Oh, didn't I tell you? Domorte is Domorte the Great Sage. We met under the tomb in King's Landing."

 Grizz is frozen like a stone. Is he all right? 

 He's not even breathing.



"Hey. Are you okay?"

You should've told me before you did that. The great sage Domorte has many followers in hiding. If word gets out that he's really back from the dead, the ...... followers will attack for sure.



"We?"

"Yeah, ......, I guess so. Even at this stage, I don't think there are many people who can match Locke's strength. But strength in numbers is violence. I hope they don't turn against us."



"No, no, no, why are you talking like we're supposed to be hostile? We're just traveling in peace and safety, we're not going to get into anything dangerous like that."

"Yeah, ...... this doesn't happen that many times. Hahahaha......."



"No it doesn't ...... hahahaha."

 We both laughed, but there was no way that what Grizz was saying would ...... happen in real life. Besides, believers are supposed to get along. We're not going to be attacked. I hope not.



"Next time something goes wrong, I'll drag you into it again."

Please don't do this. I don't wanna die yet.



Don't worry. Grizz can do it. Besides, I gave you ...... free snow stones."




"What a stupid idea! I thought you were supposed to support your friend's love.



"Oh, I'm just trying to help each other out."

I guess there's nothing worse than a freebie.



Well, don't worry, it won't happen in real life. What do you think about the neighboring country of Suiju?

"They are quite troublesome. ...... But if we show them our power, I think they won't be able to attack us so easily. Their wizards are very sensitive to the difference in power. They're a country where employment and everything else depends on the power of magic.



Is it really that big a deal?

Well, that's just a rumor. It's a country where magical talent is so important that it's hard to be valued for anything else.



But then, you weren't very good at magic.

"That's because Locke is out of his league ...... and most wizards are not as good as Domorte."



 But I could see why there was a separate chain of command.

 In a country where magic is everything, even if you are a knight protecting the kingdom, you are probably treated as a lower rank by the wizards. Even if they are special in that they can use magic, are there so few of them when only one of them came? Or was he sent as a pawn?



 There weren't that many people in Anesa village, so that force could have accomplished the mission without any problem as long as we didn't find them.



I'd like to think that Domorte would be okay, but you never know what can happen with people who live by a different set of rules.



"Well, be careful. Have you thought about what to do about the dragons?"

"Dragons can't be ....... There's no way we can do anything about it. I'd like to minimize the damage, but we can't just let them escape to the Suidjuk side, it's too much of a headache.



"Locke is a gentle man," he said.

 Of course I don't want my country to be harmed, but that doesn't mean I want the people of Suiju to be harmed, too.



 I don't think it is necessarily true that a whole country should be affected just because a few people did something.



 It is better to break the chain as much as possible before it becomes a negative chain.



"Well, I guess we'll manage."

"Hahahaha! Only Locke can say he can handle a dragon. If it were a rumor, they would have evacuated and fled by now.



"Well, I guess that's true."

 I take another sip of my mint tea. It was getting a little cold, but the fresh aroma spreading in my mouth was very refreshing. I'm definitely going to relax and grow some mint after this.



 While we were taking our time, there was a heavy knocking at the door.

 Before we could answer, the door was opened violently.



 Shannon appeared, breathing heavily on her shoulder.

"Oh my God! Something has happened in Anesa!"



 Shannon's face was pathetic.