High above in the azure sky,
a red giant dragon soared, darting swiftly through the white clouds and flying over one human town after another.
"Roar——!"
The dragon roared, announcing its presence to all below.
Thud!
Then it got hit.
"Stop yelling. You’ll scare people."
"......"
Even a dragon has to bow its head under the eaves. Ignir looked wronged but quickly shut its mouth obediently.
At that moment, on its back,
sat a girl around thirteen or fourteen years old, and a dwarf holding a warhammer.
"......Uh, hey."
Charkin cautiously struck up a conversation.
"Hulim, I sincerely apologize! Please, can you forgive me~?"
"......"
Hulim turned her back to him, gazing at the scenery ahead,
not saying a word.
Charkin’s face fell instantly, and his heart sank into despair.
This is bad! If I go back to Langard like this, that guy will kill me!
I’m doomed! My life is over!
Charkin, you fool! You knew Ignir was unreliable, yet you still asked him for help!
You’re throwing yourself into the fire pit......
Just as Charkin was drowning in despair, Hulim picked up a nearby box.
Click!
She opened it, revealing its contents.
Charkin, who had been looking gloomy, caught a glimpse of something in the box out of the corner of his eye. He jolted upright as if struck by lightning, suddenly regaining his energy.
His eyes fixed intently on the crimson-gold longsword inside.
"Hey, Hulim, that sword......"
"This?"
Hulim took the crimson-gold longsword out and waved it in front of Charkin.
Charkin’s head nodded along with the sword’s movement.
"A trophy I seized in a dungeon."
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"They say it’s a top-tier creation from the golden age of the ancient dwarves. It’s extremely tough—clashed with Helkem countless times and didn’t sustain any damage."
"Ancient dwarves!? The golden age!!? Top-tier creation!!!?"
Each word hit Charkin like a key trigger, stimulating his nerves repeatedly.
He clasped his hands together, putting on a begging expression.
"Please, Hulim! This is my greatest request in life—let me take a look at it!"
"......Charkin, your ‘greatest requests in life’ are really numerous and cheap."
Hulim looked at him speechlessly,
then tossed the crimson-gold longsword to him.
Charkin fumbled to catch it.
"Thank you! I’ll remember this kindness for the rest of my life!"
So cheap......
Hulim silently complained, wondering where the steady, reliable, and seemingly extraordinary Charkin Karagon had gone.
"Oh! This craftsmanship, this technique, this curve! This is the forging art of the ancient dwarves! And it’s made entirely of high-purity Adamantine—wait, no, there’s something else mixed in...... Could it be!? This! Is that Orichalcum!? Amazing......"
"......"
Watching Charkin hug the sword, overcome with excitement,
Hulim suddenly realized.
No, perhaps this is the real Charkin. I only saw one side of him before.
Well, I guess you can only get to know someone better after spending enough time with them......
"By the way, Hulim, can I borrow it for research? Not long—just three months, no...... half a year, no, a year would be better!"
"......It’s yours."
"Really!?"
Charkin’s face lit up with ecstasy.
"I’ll remember this kindness for the rest of my life!"
"......"
I’m really curious how many kindnesses you owe in your life......
Hulim shook her head helplessly.
Well, she had originally planned to give him the sword as a thank-you gift anyway. She already had Helkem, so keeping it was useless.
"Umm...... Miss Hulim?"
Ignir tilted its head slightly, speaking cautiously.
"What is it?"
"......Can you forgive me too? I really know I was wrong! Please spare me!"
"......"
Hulim stared ahead, not answering.
"Umm...... Miss Hulim?"
"I’ll think about it."
"R-Really? May I ask how long you’ll need to think?"
"Probably until I’m done thinking."
"Uh......"
Ignir looked confused.
So how long is that exactly......
......
Whoosh——!
A strong wind descended from the sky.
On the grassland, a shadow suddenly expanded rapidly.
The horned rabbits that had been grazing leisurely sensed danger and scattered, hiding away.
Thud——!
The ground shook.
A massive red dragon landed on the grassland.
A mage girl carrying a suitcase floated down gently from the dragon’s back.
Next to her, a dwarf holding a warhammer jumped down first.
"Oh, dragons are so fast! It only took a few days to reach Langard!"
Charkin said, stretching his limbs.
Staying on the dragon’s back for days with no room to move had made his body feel stiff as rust.
Ignir ignored him, turning its head to Hulim.
"Hulim, is this far enough? Langard is still a bit away, right?"
"This is fine. If you get too close, you’ll cause a commotion, won’t you?"
"Indeed!" Ignir raised its chin proudly. "Humans are always making a fuss—especially when they see a handsome dragon like me. I’d attract screams everywhere I go! It’s not bad to keep a low profile occasionally."
"I think the reason people scream has nothing to do with how handsome you are......"
"Well, since I’ve dropped you off, I should head back. See you later~!"
Flap! Flap!
Ignir began to flap its wings.
"Oh~! See you later, Ignir!"
Charkin waved.
Ignir rolled its eyes.
"I don’t want to see you again. I’m afraid you’ll get me killed next time."
"You’re never going to let that go, are you......"
"Once more—see you later, Hulim. Call me if you need anything!"
"Okay," Hulim nodded. "I’ll call you when I travel far next time."
"......Don’t treat me like a means of transportation."
Whoosh——!
A strong wind kicked up as the dragon soared into the sky.
"Roar——!"
After a roar, Ignir’s figure vanished into the distance as a small black dot, accompanied by a sonic boom.
"Well, we should head back too."
Hulim picked up her luggage and walked toward Langard.
Charkin followed.
"Hey, Hulim......"
"What’s wrong?"
"Uh...... About what happened in Mirnabith—don’t tell that guy, okay?"
"Why not?"
"Uh...... Let’s just say there are many, many reasons!"
"Doesn’t make sense. I refuse."
"Huh?! Come on, I’m begging you! This is my greatest request in life!"
So how many "greatest requests in life" do you have, exactly......
