"This request — the reason there's no rank requirement for women is because it's framed as escort assistance to the dragon nests in the western mountains. But 'escort assistance' means non-combat duties, which can mean all sorts of things."
I know.
To put it bluntly, it means being the nighttime company for the subjugation party and the accompanying adventurers.
"Um, someone with your... appearance might want to reconsider participating..."
Huh, apparently I'm good-looking.
Nobody says anything like that when I'm a guy, though.
"I understand, but there are circumstances that require me to participate..."
I said that, trying to sound a little meek.
"Is that so? How unfortunate. You must have your reasons, then. The request begins one week from now."
Probably not the kind of circumstances the receptionist is imagining, though.
This request is for subjugation
as
sistance
.
So who's going on the subjugation? Well, it's actually my brother in this life — Cain Vermilion.
That's to earn him the title of Dragon Slayer.
For generations, the Vermilion Marquis family has had those who would become the Sword Saint slay dragons to bolster their prestige.
And a stampede occurring in this town means the dragons are in their breeding season.
The plan is to target and slay a dragon that has just finished laying eggs and is weakened from the process.
So the Count here always rounds up adventurers to help with the dragon hunt.
All to curry favor with the Marquis family, of course.
I knew about all this — Rain had filled me in again — so I figured it was time to stir up a little trouble.
Cain had made my life miserable back when I was living at the estate.
He'd have me beaten with wooden swords under the pretense of sword practice, and ordered the servants to stop looking after me.
◇◇◇
"Now then, let's go — for the sake of my Dragon Slayer title!"
Cain Vermilion, as the head of the family had always done, set out to slay the weakened dragon after Fundantal's stampede had subsided.
A simple job — have the adventurers arranged by Count Fanda, with whom he was on close terms, do the attacking, then deliver the finishing blow himself.
And if he slew a dragon, his skill would almost certainly advance to Sword Saint.
On the first day, they made camp with a large group of adventurers at a point just past halfway up the western mountain.
Naturally, Cain stayed in a comfortable magic-imbued tent.
"Hey! Bring me that woman — what's her name, Alisa!"
Cain was only fifteen, but he already knew women.
The family head had already assigned him a harmless, inoffensive woman.
This, too, was in keeping with the household's policy — that whoever would become head should gain experience early.
Alisa was young, but apparently quite the beauty.
Moreover, her first commission after registering as an adventurer was this very job.
She was either hard up for cash, or she'd come gunning for the position of the family head's wife.
Either way, he'd have a taste.
But to make her his wife, she'd need the proper standing.
If he took a liking to her, he could at least keep her as a concubine.
But he couldn't find the woman.
With no other option, he'd just pick a different one.
On the second day, they arrived at the Dragon's Nest.
Without entering, they made camp here once more, and tomorrow they would search for the dragon.
He called out for Alisa, but she still didn't seem to be around.
Had some other guy already summoned her and was hiding her away?
It annoyed him a bit, but well, it would be nice enough to bed her after slaying the dragon.
The longer he held out, the better it would surely feel once he finally did.
And so, the next day, all the adventurers set out to search for the dragon.
But the dragon was nowhere to be found.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Skills: [Reverse] [Divine Eye] [Sword God] [Gentleman Thief] [Dark Magic] [Rock-Iron Magic] [Holy Magic]
Rank: Iron
Thank you for always reading!