I Married the Dragon I Killed
Chapter 96
Stefan finished his impassioned speech and finally took the breath he had been holding back.
His face was drenched in sweat, and droplets dripped from his clenched fists.
Herman stared at Stefan in silence.
Herman Pascal—the oppressor who would whip his son for missing a single question on a test and who preached that one must never relax their tension in the face of profit.
When he finally opened his mouth, he said:
“Then do as you wish.”
“……Pardon?”
Stefan blinked stupidly.
It was as if he had armed himself and prepared for a life-or-death struggle, only for his opponent to declare an immediate surrender.
“Wait a moment, Father. Are you… is that it? You’re just ending it like this?”
“Ending it or not, what more do you want from me?”
“Is it not strange for you to end it so simply? If you’re planning some scheme behind my back—”
“As you said, I am but an old man in the back room. What could such an old man do? I told you to do as you please.”
“Until just moments ago, you acted as if you would devour me if I didn’t step away. Why are you giving your permission now?”
Herman looked at him as if he were pathetic and asked:
“Did you not ask me back then?”
“I did.”
“So I told you to step away.”
“How is that any different from now?”
“Back then, you asked for a choice as an employee. Now, you have delivered a notice as the master of this place.”
Herman turned his body away.
“If the master says he dislikes something, what can I do about it?”
With those words, Herman disappeared.
The heavy air rushed back into Stefan’s lungs with a sharp sting.
“Hah.”
A sense of futility washed over him. His mind was in a whirl, as if a massive bomb had detonated nearby and struck his eardrums.
“The master…… I see.”
Stefan chewed over his father’s words.
Suddenly, his eyes fell on the objects on his desk.
Two apples had rolled away when he had slammed his hand down earlier.
There were two things to grasp.
But he only had one hand to hold them.
“Haha…….”
An idiotic thought suddenly occurred to him.
No, it wasn’t an idiotic thought. It was the wisest and most brilliant realization that the stifled Stefan had never been able to reach.
Stefan picked up both apples with both hands.
“My hands…… I’ve always had two.”
He placed the apples back onto his fruit tray.
Everything that had pressured him vanished.
Stefan smiled, feeling a profound sense of relief.
Herman left the headquarters and climbed into his carriage.
Waiting inside was a muscular man, one who looked twice as large as Herman himself.
It was Merchit Pascal.
Herman looked at him and spoke.
“Let’s go home.”
“Yes, Father.”
Merchit signaled the carriage, and it began to move.
Noticing that Herman seemed different than usual, he asked:
“Did the talk with my little brother go well?”
Herman nodded at Merchit’s question.
“I’m not entirely pleased, but it was satisfactory.”
“Ho, then does this mean Stefan is officially becoming the chairman?”
“I’ll have to watch him a bit longer. If you hand it over too carelessly, people tend to slack off.”
“Haha! I never thought I’d live to see the day that kid gets acknowledged by you.”
Merchit laughed heartily, while Herman clicked his tongue.
“Seeing him bark back at his father… it was like watching you during your belated puberty. It left a bad taste in my mouth.”
“That’s not puberty; it’s just having a bit of temper. Isn’t that the Pascal family way?”
“And what about you? Are you alright with this?”
He was asking if Merchit was okay with the Pascal Company being handed over.
Inheritance usually went to the eldest son, so it was a situation that could easily lead to resentment.
However, Merchit waved his hand and laughed coolly.
“The mercenary company is enough for me. I don’t have the head for rolling numbers, do I? I’m the muscle, and Stefan is the brain. Isn’t it better for my head if he does the thinking for me?”
“Is that so?”
“It’s not that I don’t have any greed, though. Looking at my son, he seems to have taken after his mother—his head spins quite well. Once I give him some heir training, I’ll just have to snatch it all back through him eventually.”
“Are you planning to sabotage the boy so he can’t even get married?”
“Khahaha! I wish there was something to sabotage! The boy has no eye for women and no courage; it’s almost pitiable! It’s gotten to the point where his mother is whispering to noble ladies from good families to take a look at our little brother instead.”
It was impossible to tell if he wanted to steal from his brother or give to him.
“Still, I think I’ll finally feel like I can breathe once that cheeky brat clears the way. Why don’t you do something about it, Father?”
Herman shrugged.
“I’ll have to discuss it with the master. What would you gain by discussing it with me?”
“Hah, looking at the way that bastard’s been using his head lately, even shouting at him won’t work. I really will have to make my son smart enough to snatch it away from him.”
Herman let out a smirk.
In any case, the Pascal succession battle was over.
The carriage continued its journey back toward the mansion.
“Have you heard the news?”
“Judging by your face, you must have heard about the Dandolo Company.”
“Exactly. Who would have thought the Dandolo Company would fall into someone else’s hands?”
“With Rico Dandolo dead and Henri Dandolo giving everything up, it’s a strange turn of events indeed.”
“And the one who took it is that fellow Ferda from the Far East, isn’t it? He must have used some sort of trickery.”
“There are suspicions, certainly, but isn’t Henri famous for never liking his job in the first place? Once the shackle known as his father was broken, he simply abandoned the company.”
“Even so, didn’t he give up too much? Why would anyone give up enough money to live in luxury for a lifetime?”
“There must have been some deal made among the high-ranking officials.”
“You can’t ignore the man’s reputation either. Every single executive voted in favor; you have to assume it was handed over to the right person.”
“I’d support Regent Ferda as well. He’s currently riding high after discovering the western ore veins and rare earth elements, and now he’s even got that rising star called magi-engineering.”
“So, is the Dandolo name staying as it is?”
“No way. I heard they’re changing the name. To the Hestia Company.”
“Not Valdrova?”
“They believe that keeping the name of that terrifying evil dragon will bring a curse. How could they keep using it? I heard they’re naming it after the village they’re building.”
“Is the village name Hestia? Sounds like a girl’s name.”
“Which is why it’s good, isn’t it? Heh.”
“But with all those people and money gathering in the Archduke’s territory, is the Empire just sitting still?”
“They have the justification of the Far East Subjugation, don’t they? Iorga declared their support, and they said they’d build a village to accommodate adventurers.”
“Adventurers? What are they going to do in the Far East?”
“It seems the Adventurer Guild is planning to explore the Demonic Land in earnest.”
“Hah! Do they actually have the power to enter that Demonic Land!?”
“Apparently, they have a way to resist the demonic energy.”
“If that’s true, does that mean there’s a way to unearth the mysteries of the East!?”
“There are so many strange things in their medicine and magic that we’ve only heard of in legends. We might actually see them with our own eyes.”
“Kugh…… This won’t do! I have to change the destination of my caravan!”
“Are you planning to go to the Far East?”
“Money flows where people gather! How could I not go? I’ll try my hand at selling grain and whetstones there!”
“Oh, then let’s go together!”
“Brother, make a spot for me too! I’m coming along!”
A wind called the ‘Gold Rush’ was blowing through Hestia.
It drew people in, and even those hunkered down for the stagnant winter were moving to secure their place.
As people flocked in, the streets grew lively.
“Step right up! Only 30 for today! Only 30 servings of the West’s specialty, Grilled Flat Catfish! Selling only 30!”
“Selling bracelets that bring good fortune! Wear this and you’ll have health and longevity! Everything will go your way! Not only that! Huge wealth will come to you in exactly 100 days!”
Stalls were packed into spaces that should have been empty.
Where there were jobs, people gathered; and where people gathered, money moved.
Street vendors who had been shunned in the big cities set up shop one by one and made a killing, leading everyone and their mother to start a stall.
The refugees had nowhere to spend their money even when they received it, but now they could at least improve their quality of life at the stalls.
“A lot of people are gathering.”
Isabella remarked as she watched the scene from a distance.
She wasn’t just checking documents; she was judging with her own eyes.
“Expand the streets further and keep the traveling merchants in check.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And don’t forget to collect the stall fees properly. Since things aren’t settled yet, tell them not to get greedy for no reason.”
“Yes!”
It was a warning not to take bribes under the guise of stall fees.
If it were any other administrator, they might have snorted and ignored it, but the speaker was a dragon spawn.
Her meticulousness was enough to make one’s tongue wag, and her martial prowess was also outstanding, so no one dared to fill their own pockets behind her back.
As the tax collectors moved out, a man in armor stood before her.
He wore half-plate armor, and on his shoulder was an epaulet that read ‘Chief of Police.’
It was William, the knight cadet who had led the group of refugees.
“Administrator-nim. William, Chief of Police, reporting for patrol. Other than three cases of theft, there are no particular issues.”
“Good work, Chief. With so many people flocking in, I expected more trouble, but it seems quiet.”
“Yes. I’ve ordered the police force to handle traffic control to prevent issues, so nothing major should happen.”
“Well done. In that case, I have no further orders for now.”
William walked alongside Isabella and asked:
“Um, Administrator Isabella-nim…….”
“Yes?”
“Is it really alright for me to be the Chief of Police?”
Isabella pushed up her glasses and replied.
“I understand you may be dissatisfied as it is a lower rank than a knight cadet, but the Regent-nim said he would consider a knightly position for you later, so do not worry too much.”
“No, that’s not what I meant…….”
It was a difficult situation for William.
Being a knight cadet, or having performed great deeds under Duke Yurei—all of that was now in the past.
William had come to Hestia prepared to live as a refugee.
‘But to be the Chief of Police…….’
What was a Chief of Police?
It was practically the second-in-command with the most power after the administrator.
He commanded the police force and could legally exercise force within the village if necessary.
Because of that responsibility and privilege, it was a heavy post that could not be held without significant trust.
“As you were personally appointed by the Regent-nim, the only power I have over you is the right to dismiss you. However, I also believe your work is quite good, so I have no complaints. And…….”
“And?”
“If you quit, I will deport you straight back to Duke Yurei, so don’t even dream about it.”
“Ugh…… Such heartless words…….”
It was enough to turn his face pale, but he didn’t feel bad.
Coming from Isabella, who was called a cold-hearted witch, it meant she needed him, which was actually quite embarrassing.
“Well then, I shall go write my report. Good work today.”
“Yes, keep up the good work.”
With the police force established, the village was becoming stabilized.
But how nice would it be if only good things happened?
Where there is one person, there is one worry; where there are a hundred, there are a hundred worries.
Isabella suppressed the urge to let out a sigh.
“Hey there, horny lady.”
An arrogant voice provoked her.
“Is this all you’re doing after abandoning the Magic Tower—cleaning up after humans? No, I suppose you’re doing this because you were kicked out, right?”
Though she was rational, Isabella was not a saint who could hear a dragon spawn being insulted and not get angry.
“What arrogant bastard dares—!”
The moment Isabella was about to pour out her rage, her expression changed as she turned her head.
Though she lacked horns and a tail, the elegant appearance was a face familiar to Isabella.
Having worked under her for hundreds of years, there was no way she wouldn’t recognize her.
“Erica-nim?”
“It’s been a while, Bella.”
Erica Iorga.
She waved her hand lightly in greeting.
Isabella scanned her from head to toe and asked:
“Are you enjoying a disguise?”
“A disguise? You make it sound like I’m just out playing.”
“You’re acting like a human, which doesn’t suit you, so that’s how it looks.”
“I can’t believe this…… I’m not just playing around, okay? I’m visiting as Eri, a Platinum-class adventurer, despite how I look.”
Erica showed off her adventurer’s badge.
It was a badge given only to those with the highest achievements in the Adventurer Guild.
“Aren’t you ashamed of yourself, one of the Wisdom of the Twelve Expeditions, acting like that among humans? In modern terms, that’s what they call ’noob stomping.’”
“Anyone listening would think I’m the most wicked woman in the world. This happened naturally while I was solving various troubles.”
Contrary to her words about it being unintentional, there was a strong sense of pride in the hand holding the badge.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Erica decided to change the subject.
“How have you been lately?”
“I’ve been doing well. I’m listening to fresh sounds instead of the groans those old fogies used to let out.”
“Fresh? Are you talking about Valdrova’s maidservant like that?”
“Is there a problem?”
At Isabella’s counter-question, Erica spoke as if it were absurd.
“That child has lived for hundreds of years too.”
“Is she not younger than me?”
“She even has the alias ’Nightmare of the Frost Giant’?”
“I can understand why. Her frail beauty is more than enough to be fatal.”
Isabella murmured with an enchanted look on her face.
“Haah, if I could just give her one tight hug, all this built-up fatigue would vanish.”
Erica stared at her blankly, find her behavior ridiculous.
Something Isabella said caught her ear, and she couldn’t let it slide.
“By the way, you said ‘things,’ plural. Is there someone else? Another… fresh thing?”
“A girl named Mori. She’s a beautiful girl who looks like she stepped right out of a painting.”
“You haven’t touched her?”
“It seems the damn Witch residing in the castle is keeping her under guard.”
Isabella’s face was full of jealousy.
It was a moment where even Erica, who had spent hundreds of years with her, saw her express a whirlwind of emotions all at once.
“……Does the Regent-nim know about this side of you?”
“He seems to have a vague idea, but he doesn’t seem to care.”
“Well, that’s fine then…….”
“Enough of that, let’s talk about something constructive.”
Isabella shifted the topic away from ‘fresh things.’
“Did you visit here as an adventurer, Erica-nim?”
“I figured I should check out the Adventurer Guild side as an adventurer myself. How are things? The adventurers who came here?”
“They are the absolute worst.”
Isabella let out a sigh.
“The ones who think they have spirit are just immature, and the adventurers of the ranks we actually need don’t seem to want to come anywhere near here. It feels like they only came to act like back-alley thugs.”
“They worked hard for those ranks, so I suppose they’re being cautious.”
Gaining merit was difficult, and death was but a moment away.
So, it was natural to play it safe once one reached a high enough level.
“I’ll have to make a suggestion to the Central Guild. Those Gold-ranks need a wake-up call.”
“Won’t they protest?”
“Let them protest. I’ve put my life on the line and fought to save this continent multiple times. Do they think I can’t even speak up?”
Erica bit her lip and let out a curse.
“Those dogs. I don’t give them money so they can sit on their asses and eat expensive meals.”
“Tower Master-nim. Please maintain your dignity.”
“Whatever. I’m not Erica right now; I’m Eri, the Platinum-class adventurer, so I don’t need dignity. I can use foul language whenever and wherever I want. Want to hear? Eri’s vulgar girls’ talk?”
“This is a moment where I am truly proud of myself for leaving the Magic Tower.”
Erica laughed playfully.
“Is the Regent-nim in?”
“He’s likely sitting in his office today as well. Would you like to meet him? I will ask via telepathy.”
“It’s a bit awkward to show up without an appointment, but I have some good news, so it should be fine. Can you tell him?”
“Understood. I will report ahead so he can prepare.”
Just as she was about to prepare the telepathy—
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The warning bell installed in the center of the village began to ring loudly on its own.
Everyone stopped moving and looked toward it.
Erica also looked up at the bell.
“What’s that? Why a warning bell?”
“……That is the bell connected to the Monster Appearance Prediction Device. It’s designed to ring automatically when something is detected.”
“Which means…….”
“Unless it’s a malfunction, it means monsters have appeared.”
The bell showed no sign of stopping, ringing out its noisy alarm.
