It's best not to spend too much time on this kind of thing.

　With that in mind, I decided to meet with Liddell the day after Miroslav told me. However, I have no reason to go to the guild, so I just told him to come at the time I told him if he wanted to talk to me.

　When I did so, Liddell, dressed in the guild's uniform, arrived at exactly the time I specified. It seems that he was working for the guild right up to the last minute.

　Miroslav shows that Liddell to my room. I let Liddell alone in the room, and had Miroslav stand guard in front of the door. There should be no one in the house eavesdropping now, but it's possible to overhear conversations unintentionally, and if the little guys interrupt in the middle of a conversation, there's no tension or anything.

　Liddell, who was facing me one-on-one not in the guest room but in a private room with a bed, looked distinctly pale, even from the side.

　At first I thought she was scared of what was about to happen, but when I looked closer, I could see a strong light twinkling in her eyes. It seemed to me that these were the eyes of a man who had made up his mind.

　When he did, the reason for his pale complexion seemed to be simply fatigue. I'm sure you're proud of the fact that you work for Ishqa, that's why you're scrambling to eat and sleep.

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to offer you a chair, since I'm the one who invited you, but just as I was about to open my mouth, Liddell moved ahead of me.

　I was about to open my mouth when Liddell moved ahead of me. Not in a conversational way, but in a deep, ninety-degree bend at the waist.

　While in this position, Liddell let out a hard voice.


''I would like to thank you for listening to my wish, 'Dragon Slayer'.

Ah, I hear the guilds use the 'Fake Dragonslayer' as their mainstay.


　When I hit her with a sarcastic remark from the outset, Liddell's shoulders shook with a jolt.

　I can't see her face because her head is down, but I vaguely recall the face of the receptionist with her lips tightly drawn together.


''Huh.......I was going to apologize for that from now on.

Hm. Well, I don't really care if you're a slayer or a liar. You apologize and I'll deal with you.


　When I nudged him to sit down, Liddell sat down on the sofa with a tense expression on his face.

　I'm sure you'll find that even the slightest of movements reveals a strong sense of caution towards me. I'm sure this is more of an awe or fearful feeling than a caution.

　This receptionist seems to think I'm a man-eating monster or something.

　As much as I would like to be angry at her for being so rude, it's just too obvious.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. I guess he added his experience and information as a guild employee to that and came up with the right answer.

　When I smiled sarcastically at him, wondering if I should praise him for his keen eye, Liddell's already pale face paled even more, wondering how he received my expression. Her cheeks are almost earthy, and I'm worried that she's going to fall over.

　Well, for Liddell, he probably feels like collapsing all the more.

　Liddell knows what I did to former members of the Sword of the Falcon, such as Lunamaria and Miroslav.

　It's obvious what they would demand in return if they offered me to stop retaliating against the guild. I'm going to give myself to the person I despise for the sake of my beloved master - even the most stout receptionist can't remain calm.

　I look at such Liddell and curve my lips.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get your mind off of it, but I can't bring myself to care about Liddell.

　When we are facing each other like this, I remember the day I was expelled from the guild as if it were yesterday. The receptionist, who was looking at me as if she were looking at something stinky, paled and shook her head, trying to ask for my forgiveness.

　--I'm sure this is the kind of feeling one should be talking about when one's gullet drops. I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on.





　After that, Liddell told me almost exactly what Miroslav had told him yesterday.

　The only thing is that the name 'Fake Dragonslayer' (Dragonryer) apparently did not originate with Liddell.

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea.

　In fact, it seems that Liddell was doing his best to stop the spread of bad news that would bring me down. The more bad publicity that spreads about me among guilds and adventurers, the more hostility they will have towards me.

　Liddell, who wanted to avoid making an enemy of me at all costs, said that he tried to beat back the bad reputation, but he was unable to do so. The suspicion, jealousy, and mistreatment of me was probably worse than Liddell's efforts.

　It's understandable that such a reaction would occur when the lowest-ranking adventurer, who just a short while ago was called a "parasite," is now being lauded as a "dragon slayer.

　Besides, there must have been a sorcerer who worked in the shadows of Liddell's scramble to spread his bad reputation.

　The reason why the sorcerer did that is probably to create an excuse for me to blame the guild. He may have decided that although it would cause me to be temporarily disgraced, he would get greater results in return.

　That decision was correct, as evidenced by the fact that Liddell is thus in front of me. In other words, the sorcerer had predicted today's situation from a very early stage.

　It's really a brilliant trick to drive others into a corner by having them spread bad news and lead them in the direction you want them to go - it's really a brilliant trick, and the extent of the sorcerer's skill is evident. It's very similar to the technique I used to use when the name "Parasite" was spread, but I'm sure it's just my imagination. Kukku.

　.........Oops, something black unintentionally leaked out.

　I lightly shake my head to get rid of my emotional stagnation and look at Liddell again. I've been waiting for the verdict - the figure reminiscent of a prisoner awaiting execution - and it looks much smaller than when I was at the reception desk.


''In conclusion, I have no intention of stopping the retaliation against the Guild. If you insist, I won't have to think about it, but in that case, you know what you're asking for, right?


　When I pointed at the bed with my chin, Liddell squeezed his eyes shut and then nodded his head.


I'm ready.

For a beloved master, eh? That's admirable.


　I don't hesitate to sludge that admirable determination.

　With that thought in mind, I turn my crawling gaze to Liddell's chest and waist. The receptionist wears the unadorned guild uniform neatly as a role model. Her colleague Parfait and others had tried to loosen her chest and increase the exposed surface of her arms and legs to attract the eyes of adventurers, but Liddell hadn't done anything like that.

　Still, the twin mounds of her breasts, which asserted their presence as they pushed up her clothes, were attractive enough, and her waist was thin enough for me to hold one. The slender limbs are soft and feminine. In particular, the long, thin fingers seemed to come in handy in many ways.

　If I can get my hands on this woman, I'm willing to give up my vengeance on the guild instead. I thought that very naturally.

　However, there is a line of reasoning that needs to be passed before we get to that point. I decided to mention it.


"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Do you know that line from the Imperial Code?


　When I asked him that, Liddell, who had closed his eyes and endured my fond gaze, looked up suspiciously.


''Yes, I know, but...''

'This is a law that affirms vengeance, but it is also a law that forbids revenge beyond what is necessary. A person who has been blinded can blind the other person. But it is not allowed to cut off the other person's limbs or take his or her life. I'm not a lawmaker, but I think this idea is reasonable.


　I don't consider the Falcon Sword and the guild that tried to kill me to be equally guilty of the crime of the Falcon Sword.

　If I thought they were guilty, I would have quickly killed Elgato and kidnapped Liddell. He didn't think so, which is why he devised a "peaceful way to pick a fight with the Guild".

　To retaliate against the Guild is to take away their influence as an organization. Whoever the Guildmaster is, I will take them to a point where they can never touch me again.

　There have been a few unexpected events along the way, but the current situation is mostly what I want it to be. The guild can't touch me, who is a dragon knight and is also connected to the Dukes of Dragnaut and the Slavers' Union. On the other hand, the guild has greatly diminished its influence by giving up the person called me.

　So Elgato and Liddell, who cut me off for the sake of the guild, ended up causing the guild's downfall by their own hands. It's more than enough to retaliate against two people who are important to Ischka and the guild.

　I continued to vexingly talk about such details.

　Liddell listened quietly for a while, but then, as if he couldn't take it anymore, he started to speak in a shaky voice.


I mean, what's the point?　If you're going to hurt me....

I'm not going to go to the trouble of stopping you, but I'm telling you that my vengeance will be over soon. I have no intentions of joining forces with Sergei, or with the guild master in King's Landing to get rid of Elgato.

Is that ... true?

''Yeah. The only thing you can stop with your body is the last step--the apology of the 'Falcon Sword'.


　If it would be fatal to Elgato, then it would be worth it for Liddell to dedicate himself to me.

　But if not, then Liddell's act would be terribly wasteful. Just one more time of letting me have my way and my revenge on the Adventurer's Guild will be complete. At the very least, I don't intend to do anything against the guild from me.

　As I was thinking about this, Liddell asked me with a hint of confusion on his brow, ''Why are you telling me this?


''Why did you tell me that? You could have held me in silence.''

It would have been smarter for you, but it's just a matter of keeping it straight.

'An eye for an eye, as they say. Perhaps what you did with Corona was the same?


　Liddell mentions the name of the girl who is the signer of The Blue Bird Pavilion.

　I shrug.


'That wasn't even revenge. When I was kicked out of the inn, they told me to at least be able to tip the next time I came back, so I did as they said and gave them a tip. I just tipped him as I said I would, and I included the past nuisance fee.


　It's not my fault that those fathers and daughters are frightened and anxious about the meaning of their repeated large tips. I know that as our fame grew, they were anxious about when and what kind of reprisals would be made, but I had no obligation or duty to relieve them of their fears. That's all.

　When I finished listening to the story, Liddell asked me to confirm it.


''If I say I'm withdrawing my offer, you'll let me leave, right?

That's what I said. Of course, I don't mind if you don't change your mind and take your clothes off right here and now - so what do we do?


　I asked a question to which I had an obvious answer and waited for Liddell's answer.







　A few moments later.

　Miroslav, who had escorted Liddell out, came back and opened his mouth fearfully.




That's fine. Now, if the guild messes with us, we won't be able to keep the city functioning. That's a problem for us too. I don't want a partner who has everything set up for me and is ready to hold me.


　When he stared, Miroslav freaked out and shook his body and bowed his head deeply in a movement reminiscent of the Liddell of the last minute.


''I'm sorry!　I've gone too far.

Sincerity is not a word, but an action. Fortunately, I can't say I'm happy about it, because after this, all the time I had left free for Liddell was wasted.


　He didn't say what exactly to do, but Miroslav seemed to have immediately sensed our intentions.

　The red-haired sorcerer put his hand on the sash of his clothes while his cheeks, which had been pale until now, were stained with vermilion.......