“Then I’ll be going now. Got to reorganize the Red Wolves. Lots to prepare in order to face a dragon. So busy with only a week left to go! Vegan! What are you dallying for!”
“Y-yes, sir!”
“Oof, me too. I like my drinks, but they can’t compare to the rare opportunity to fight a dragon.”
“Then I too will be heading off for evening prayer…”
“Viice-caaaptiin…”
Everyone took their leave at the subject of the dragon. Only the three of the special unit and I remained, but Nova was already bombed while Sevi was young. The party was over before we could even get started properly. Julieta and I shared a sigh before having one last drink as a finale. It was a huge letdown.
In the end, I went to bed early that day. Mary must have taken good care of my room during the half-year I was away. The blankets that greeted me were fresh and cozy, which made for small comfort.
* * *
Starting the next day, I was mindlessly busy. I had to hold meetings with the elites and squad leaders as well as report a detailed strategy for the raid to Mayer. As I passed through a hallway, I overheard some voices through the window. They seemed to be discussing the dungeon we would be raiding.
“Did you hear? They’re apparently going on a large-scale dungeon raid this time.”
“It’s a level 51 dungeon, so why the commotion? I know high-level dungeons aren’t common, but aren’t they exaggerating a little?”
“You didn’t hear? They say a dragon will be appearing in this dungeon.”
“A dragon? How do you know that?”
“From what they say, the vice-captain found out.”
“The vice-captain? Can you trust her words? Isn’t she lying? It could be that she’s saying whatever just to take leadership.”
“What would be the point of that when the truth will be out as soon as they go in the dungeon?”
“W-well, that I don’t know.”
The corps was crowded with people who were frothing at the mouth to find fault with me. But their slandering didn’t work anymore; the impact of the subject was too powerful.
“I wonder when we’ll get to take down a level 51 dragon…”
“Ugh, it was hell just going up against that wyvern a year back. I almost died back then, you know?”
“Well, it has nothing to do with us anyway. We’ve got to cross the ‘wall’ first, after all.”
“Speaking of which, isn’t the special unit going to join on the dragon-slaying? Even though they’re level 40?”
“Guess it must be a privilege given to the vice-captain for digging up the information.”
“What if they end up dying? It’s not just any monster. We’re talking about a dragon, aren’t we?”
“His Excellency will be going, anyway. No need to worry about failing to clear the dungeon with him there, right?”
“True that.”
“Must be nice. If I’d been quick to join the special unit, I could’ve gotten a free ride doing nothing.”
“Who said you would’ve been picked?”
“It would’ve been a problem to be picked too. You would have spent 6 months living in dungeons.”
“Horrible just thinking about it.”
“You know what’s more horrible? After going through that suffering to reach level 50, you’d start being dragged to high-level dungeons one after another. One wrong step and it’s the Green Spirits all over again.”
The Dark Knights members snickered as they walked away. Having stopped in the 3rd-floor hallway to listen in, I resumed my footsteps as well.
There was less opposition than expected about the special unit joining the dragon raid. It was a positive sign, but the complacent attitude of some bothered me. Sure, with the name of the Dark Knights on their back and with a decent level, they could throw their weight around some places. They didn’t want to take any more risks. They wanted to be content with the present and settle down. It certainly seemed necessary to reform the Dark Knights once. I tapped my chin in thought.
“Vice-captain!”
I heard a voice calling for me from above then. I poked my head out of the hallway window. “Sevi.”
Sevi was gazing down at me from the blue sky, looking like a spirit of wind with his green hair fluttering in the air. Before, he had been forbidden from using magic outside dungeons due to his unstable mana. Now, the boy was level 40 now and could freely wield his spells. I felt amazed at how he had changed so quickly. I bet that shut up all the fools that blabbered on about Sevi dying his hair or whatnot. Served them right.
He stepped through the air and down toward me, asking warmly, “Where are you headed?”
“I’m on my way to report the list of Furka dungeon raid members to the captain.”
“Aha.”
“Are you practicing magic? You should rest a little in your room.”