Chapter 72 – Dragon 5 Part 3

Translator: SFBaka

Editor: Thor’s Stone

I immediately took a nice, long bath and headed for the dining hall ahead of everyone else for the feast. I then ordered some chilled ale from the kitchen.

Before long, Ella carried out a tankard of chilled ale as usual and walked carefully toward my spot on the table. It looks like she was already accustomed to the job and didn’t seem as clumsy as before.

“Here you go, big bro.”

“Thank you, Ella.”

I received the tankard from her and immediately took a quick swig. Aah. That hit the spot. There’s nothing like a chilled ale to accompany your meals.

“Big bro, what’s a dragon?”

“You don’t know what a dragon is, Ella? Oh right. You haven’t seen one yet huh. Let’s see. It’s basically a really, really huge wyvern. Do you know what a wyvern is, Ella?”

“Nooope.”

“I see. Okay then. How about we take you with us when I and the rest go out to see the big dragon? Would you like that?”

“Really!?”

“Yeah, I promise.”

The rest of our Clan members who went out bandit hunting will be arriving by tomorrow. I was planning on introducing them to Gloria right away, so I’ll just take Ella with me as well. Oh, right. If Teo isn’t busy with work tomorrow, I’ll take him with us as well.

“Thank you, big bro! I’m gonna bring you another mug!”

I appreciate Ella’s thankful feelings and consideration, but I haven’t even finished the first mug y’know. Oh well. I was thinking of getting another one anyway.

I continued enjoying my ale until the rest of the Clan members came down after bathing. Before long, the dishes were brought onto the tables. It looks like we’re having a buffet-style dinner this time around. The dishes do seem fancier than usual tonight.

When the dinner got underway, everyone started talking about Gloria. Their feelings of excitement from today’s events haven’t seemed to cool down yet.

“Alan, you’ve finished eating your meal, right? I want to hear more details about your fight against the dragon. Is it okay…?”

The members sitting nearby who heard the request all turned toward me and perked up their ears in unison. Well, I did just skim on the details when I explained things earlier today. It looks like there’s a need to give a detailed account.

“I understand. Everyone, I’d like you all to hear this, so could you huddle up a bit nearer?”

Everyone stood up from their seats simultaneously and quickly surrounded our party’s table.

I then began my account, starting from when I first detected the enemy dragon.

“……And so, I decided to come back to Gantz first so I could make preparations for Gloria’s arrival. It would have been troublesome if I didn’t after all.”

Of course, I left out every detail regarding Iris and the nanoms. I hope everyone will be contented with this…

“Alan, I also want to converse with a dragon too. Can you teach me how to do it later?”

“Uh, it’s not like I really understand Gloria’s words you know. I just interpret what she means by observing the tone of her cries and her gestures. It might be a bit difficult for me to teach you the method.”

“I see…”

“I’m sure everyone’s already noticed it, but there’s a very good chance that I’d be qualified to be conferred with a peerage after the news of my subjugating a dragon spreads out. Can I get some of your opinions on the matter?”

“In the Starveek Kingdom, you would at least be conferred the title of baron.”

“I’m of the same opinion. The question is how this country would evaluate your feat and what sort of reward are they willing to give.”

Since Cleria, a former princess, and Dalshim, a nobleman, say so, then there probably is a good chance I’d be conferred a peerage. That’s right. In order for us to attain one of our major goals, which is to get a hold of a territory of our own, a noble rank of at least baron is absolutely necessary.

“I see. I guess we’ll just have to ask people from this country in order to make sure. Luckily, we’ve been invited by the Commerce Guild’s chief, Silas-san, to dinner tomorrow evening. From what I’ve heard, he seems to have connections with the royal family of this country as well, so I’ll just ask him about the matter tomorrow.”

“That’s a fine arrangement. Oh, and Alan-sama. I feel that I should say one thing to you as your aide-de-camp.”

“What is it?”

“According to your earlier account, when you detected the presence of the dragon, you immediately decided to face it alone in order to protect the rest of the B Team.”

“…Well, yes, I suppose.”

“That is unacceptable! Alan-sama is a reliable and irreplaceable ally to us all. If by any chance, we were to lose you, all our dreams and aspirations will immediately go up in smoke. You should have left the job of fending off the dragon to B Team and immediately returned to Gantz. All of those present here are ready to lay down their lives to protect you if need be, Alan-sama; including me.”

What Dalshim is doing right now should not be done in the current situation. It’s not good to criticize one’s direct superior in front of all his other subordinates… But judging from Dalshim’s expression, he is fully aware of that fact, but still decided to go through with it anyway.

He criticized my decision to have B Team retreat and handle the dragon alone and reprimanded B Team for allowing me to go through with it… No, it’s not just that. I’m sure he’s also doing this to reconfirm everyone’s resolve.

When I looked around and checked everyone’s expressions, they certainly seem to have resolved themselves. It’s true that if I died, our plan of founding a country might be indefinitely delayed. It would probably be harder for women like Selena and Sharon to get conferred noble titles in this patriarchal country after all.

“……I see. Alright. I understand. If I do find my life in danger next time, I will probably rely on you all more. However, there was no danger to my life in this particular incident anyway.”

“But you faced a dragon alone…”

“Adjutant Dalshim… No, everyone, listen well. I will not have any trouble facing one or two dragons. If I exert myself, I could probably finish off a dragon before it even notices me.”

I always had drones acting together with me after all. I would probably be fine even if a flock of dragons attacks.

I didn’t really want to elaborate on this since it did sound quite outlandish, but this time, in the hopes of rescuing me, Walter and some of the men from B Team put themselves in danger just to join up with A Team and inform them of what happened. I don’t want something like that happening again in the future.

“……You are saying you can actually face multiple dragons by yourself, Alan-sama!?”

“Yeah. There’s no problem at all. On the other hand, I have a complaint about you, Walter!”

“Eeh!? Me!?”

“That’s right. What were you thinking? Traveling full speed on horseback at night is dangerous you know! I’ll forgive you since my instructions weren’t clear this time, but I’m not gonna be so lenient if you pull another stunt like that, understood?”

“U-Understood, sir!”

The rest of the Clan members all had blank expressions on their faces. It looks like they really couldn’t believe I could handle multiple dragons after all.

“I did tell you before, right, Adjutant Dalshim? You all still do not know the true extent of Alan’s capabilities. Dragons pose no problem for Alan.”

“……Is that really the truth?”

“He already defeated a dragon, right?”

“……Oh, right. Alan-sama, I deeply apologize for speaking out of turn without full knowledge of the circumstances.”

“It’s fine. That’s an adjutant’s job, right? Please don’t hesitate to state your opinions in the future as well. Now then, I’ve already had them bring out a wine barrel for us. Let’s all enjoy a nice drink, shall we?”

“”Yes!””

The wine barrel I had them bring out from the kitchen cellar wasn’t really that big, so the contents ran out after just an hour of drinking. And so, we decided to conclude the celebratory dinner. Yosh. Let’s throw an even bigger party once I get conferred a noble peerage, shall we?

I didn’t really do a lot of physical work today, but I still felt dead tired. I guess I’ll just head to bed early and get some proper rest.