Returning to Report
After the battle with the dragon, I brought back some trophies: frozen and shattered dragon scales, as well as discarded horns, fangs, skin, and claws.
Honestly, I’m not a waste disposal worker, but...
Apparently, these materials are incredibly valuable in human society and could amount to a considerable fortune.
I'm not exactly in need of money, but since the dragon kind of insisted on giving them to me, I'll gratefully accept them.
When I returned to Vardmoi, I was immediately summoned by the Marquis.
In fact, it seems there had already been instructions for me to head straight to his place upon returning.
Hmm, I guess this is serious.
I went to the Marquis’s mansion and anxiously waited in the reception room for his arrival.
Well, it’s a bit late to be nervous now, though.
Soon, the door opened, and Marquis Vardmoi entered.
“You’ve returned, Lily. So, who was stronger, Talat or the dragon?”
“Err, it’s hard to say, but... Talat overwhelmingly defeated the dragon.”
“As expected. It seems the Adventurers' Guild's research matched the results.”
The Adventurers' Guild's research?
Seeing my puzzled expression, the Marquis kindly explained.
Apparently, after I left Vardmoi to challenge the dragon, they searched through documents to see if there were any records comparing Tarachnathos and dragons.
They couldn’t find anything of the sort, but they did uncover disaster records for both creatures.
According to those records, while there are cases of dragons being repelled, there are no known examples of a Tarachnathos being driven off.
In fact, there hasn’t even been a case of successfully diverting a Tarachnathos from its path.
The reason lies in the density of the power they both possess.
Both creatures contain tremendous strength, but Tarachnathos is only about the size of a horse, and yet it can fight a dragon one-on-one.
The conclusion seems to be that it's impossible to find an effective means of attack against such a small, strong opponent.
The Adventurers' Guild was now focusing more on disaster prevention measures rather than strategies for subjugation.
Yeah, Talat is just too powerful.
"That’s how it is. I know your character, so I’m not worried about you rebelling or committing crimes, but if you were to go on a rampage, no one could stop you. If you have any reasonable requests, come consult me, and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Umm, being treated so specially like that makes me a bit uncomfortable...”
“Of course, I have my own motives. By keeping you here in Vardmoi, it strengthens our defenses against external threats. You also have some attachment to Vardmoi, don't you?”
The Marquis really is shrewd.
But it's true, I have developed a lot of attachment to this place, and it’s starting to feel like a second home.
If the time comes, I’ll lend my strength.
For now, though, let’s just agree to help each other if something happens.
I’d rather not owe the Marquis too much.
What do you think about this chapter?
