Her expression was incredible. By incredible, I meant in a bad way. The cold smile she always wore was gone, replaced by the expression of a woman who seemed to be beaten daily by her husband. That couldn’t be described as merely tragic. She wasn’t shedding tears, but it was no different from crying.

I reached out and touched her eyes. Maybell trembled once like a small bird, but she didn’t refuse my touch.

“Were you crying?”

Maybell nodded. The area under her eyes was smudged. The still-wet smudge was a tear stain. I hadn’t realized Maybell was so hurt. To have spent an entire week in tears.

“I… I’m sorry… Are you alright after being hurt?”

Just a little bit.

Even as he spoke, he suddenly groaned as if in pain. He covered his chest with his palm and hunched over, frowning. It was deliberate. But even that reaction was enough to make Maybell feel like a gnoll. She burst into tears, repeatedly apologizing. She reached out her hand, but quickly hid it with the other.

It still… hurts, doesn’t it… because of what I, what I did.

I told you I’m fine.

But! Didn’t you just clutch your chest? It’s my fault. Oh, oh… if only I hadn’t made that mistake back then…

It seemed she was afraid to even touch the protagonist because she had almost killed him with her own hands. It was a kind of trauma. Seeing that, he was sure. She couldn’t make an unreasonable request of the protagonist.

He hugged her. And then, he leaned close to her ear and whispered softly. Although there was the minor mishap of him having to stand on his tiptoes because she was taller than the protagonist, the effect was significant.

I like you, Maybell.

Oh, oh.

I like you. I love you. These were words said to a lover. Words expressing very ordinary emotions. Yet, each time, Maybell’s body twitched as if in a spasm.

He didn’t know why she had come to like the protagonist. There was much about the affection between a man and a woman that couldn’t be explained in words. There was the saying, ‘love at first sight.’ Or perhaps she was drawn to some aspect of the protagonist. Before that, ten years was also enough time for affection to grow.

The fact the protagonist knew was that he could do whatever he wanted with her.

She was strong and beautiful. But she liked the protagonist. That single fact allowed the protagonist to be in a superior position.

In relationships between people, the one who falls in love first loses. No matter how strong they are, there was no exception. Moreover, she had made a mistake with the protagonist. A very big mistake.

Don’t hate me. It wasn’t my fault.

I know.

You understand! I knew you would. It’s all because of that damned woman. I’ll kill her right now…

So you’re going to kill her again.

I can’t?

He sighed. She tried to blame her own mistakes on someone else. It was natural to want to blame others when you’ve made a huge mistake, but it wasn’t a good thing for the protagonist.

I’m disappointed in you.

What…?

Her face, which had been full of joy, changed. He felt a chill down his spine and his knees buckled. But he couldn’t stop. If he backed down now, it would all be for nothing.

What she said is true. Your nature is violent, and you won’t be satisfied unless you get what the protagonist wants.

What does that have to do with what you’re saying now? I, I’m not at fault.

Are you truly not at fault?

…

Maybell fell silent.

It was the same question as Amelin’s. She was a Dragon. She had lived a long life. One couldn’t be foolish after living for so long.

I, I…

You targeted me.

No!

She shook her head.

No? Then why did you swing your blade towards where I was?

No… absolutely not…

“There’s only one reason. You didn’t care about my feelings. That’s why you could manipulate me so easily.”

Maybell shook her head. Her face was terrified. A Dragon was scared of mere humans, of the protagonist. All because she didn’t want to be hated.

“I just wanted to kill that damn woman who was clinging to you. I had no intention of threatening you. Please believe me.”

He shook his head. If the protagonist agreed with her, he might not be able to get what he had tried so hard to obtain. Everything he had done so far would be for nothing. That was unacceptable.

“I thought I had grown close to you over ten years. But for someone who lives a long life like you, it was just an insignificant moment!”

Tears streamed down. The more the protagonist was hurt, the more she felt sorry. So he starkly revealed that he had been hurt not only physically but also emotionally. Maybell’s expression crumbled. Whatever dignity and arrogance she had left disappeared. In their place, there was only one woman.

“I won’t kill that human woman. I’ll do as you say, so please don’t hate me.”

“Really? You’ll really do as I say?”

Maybell nodded. Her face held something beyond earnestness—it was desperation. He thought even a daily mouse-eating beast couldn’t show such eyes. He had to confirm one last thing: if she truly liked the protagonist.

“I can’t believe it. You are an outstanding lady, incomparable to me. I can’t believe that such a lady like you would follow my words.”

“What, what must I do for you to believe me?”

Her words made him smile involuntarily. Finally, the words the protagonist wanted had come out.

“Then…”

He thought of something to make her do. First, he had to get her away from the protagonist. Just then, a suitable task came to mind. It was something Skadi had asked for. He handed her a statue.

“Go find the staff I mentioned.”

“The staff? If I find it, will you forgive me?”

He nodded.

The staff was something he had blurted out on a whim. He didn’t even know where it was. He just remembered Skadi talking about a staff she used during her human days and mentioned it.

She couldn’t refuse the protagonist’s request. In any relationship, the superior position was determined by who liked the other more. It didn’t matter who was stronger or weaker. Unfortunately, although she possessed the power to look down on the world, she was fond of the protagonist.

Maybell wore a troubled expression. To grant his request, she would have to leave for a long time. It was uncertain how long it would take. Her expression showed she wanted to take him with her.

Every time she offered to take him, he clutched his chest.

It was clearly an exaggeration, but her face turned pale, and her whole body trembled. It was pitiful. She even pulled out all of the protagonist’s fingernails. Blood oozed from the torn nails. He didn’t pity her. From the moment she liked the protagonist first, she was the protagonist’s slave.

A very dangerous slave. Although the protagonist held the upper hand in their relationship now, it could be reversed at any moment. Not long after, she left, searching for a staff that might not even exist.

He felt relieved.

***

He looked around the city. People’s faces were full of vitality. Each person buried their dead in their hearts, repaired the city walls, and returned to their daily lives.

Charlotte’s chest was still small, Lorina was always snappy, and Amelin was lactating. It was very satisfying.

He walked down the street. At the city gate, a massive Orc and an old noble were exchanging greetings. The massive Orc was Norkin, and the old noble was the Count.

By the time the protagonist approached, Norkin had already turned his back. He didn’t particularly speak to the protagonist. He wondered what the Count had discussed with him.

“Oh, if it isn’t the Baron.”

The Count turned his head and greeted him familiarly.

“What were you discussing?”

“Nothing much. It seems he’s settling in the North.”

“The North?”

“Due to the recent wars, the North has lost too much power. Since there are no nobles left to protect it anyway, it’s probably better for him to settle there.”

This time, the Border Count died. The Border Count was an important figure who protected the border. This wasn’t just any noble from some family dying. It was a death of a different magnitude.

“When I go to the Capital City this time, I will ask him to bestow the title of Marquis upon you. I will also tell him about what happened here this time.”

“About the battle?”

“It wasn’t an ordinary battle. If it weren’t for you, it would have been over. Since you stepped up for the country, shouldn’t you be duly rewarded?”

The Count said. I remembered that he had been prepared to die in this battle. It was that immense of a fight. But hearing his words made me feel a little embarrassed. Although the Protagonist had accomplished something, it was the Dragon who ultimately resolved the situation. Perhaps that’s why my words came out humbly.

“I only protected my territory.”

“Who gave you that territory?”

“The King.”

“To be more precise, the territory you possess belongs to the King. You were merely appointed as its protector.”

“Does that mean it can be taken away at any time?”

“That rarely happens. If it really did, who would pledge loyalty to the King? But it’s important that it’s nominally so. You have faithfully fulfilled your duties as the King’s proxy, so now it’s time for you to receive a reward.”

“Reward.”

I scratched my head. Besides a title, the only thing I could think of that the King might give the Protagonist was gold coins. The Protagonist was satisfied now, but more would be nice.

The women who had just started managing the household would surely love it. There were so many places in the territory that needed attention, it was nothing but expenses.

“When I speak of your military achievements, they will fall into two categories. Those who try to kill you, and those who try to draw you in. You cannot remain neutral.”

“Why?”

“It means you accomplished something so great. A newly appointed rookie managed to stop a Demonkind army that even the Border Count was killed by. If such a person were to go to the enemy, would you just watch with your eyes open?”

“No.”

“It seems you understand my words. Well, you should get a woman. How about marrying into the royal family? Their lineage is excellent, and their faces are absolutely stunning.”

“Stunning, you say…”

I prepared to go to the Capital City.

I was looking forward to it. I was reluctant about anyone too pretty. Pretty women always had some flaw. Like Maybell. Although she was the only one among the women the Protagonist had seen, danger was still danger.