Dex went to fetch paper and a pen to record the hunt down. While waiting, Sally looked at Lina and spoke to her.
"Lina, there's something I've been meaning to ask you for a while."
"What?"
"What's that creature you're holding?"
Sally pointed nervously at Lanivia, and Lina proudly introduced her.
"This is little Lani. She's a baby dragon."
Sally froze, clearly puzzled by Lani's species.
"...A dragon? Like Samidoride?"
Hearing Lani compared to Samidoride, Lina looked a little annoyed and held Lani out for Sally to see.
"Lani is not like that bad dragon. Look how cute she is."
"Cute..."
Sally hesitated as she looked at Lani, but Lani eagerly gazed back at her. Truly adorable. I realized Lina hadn't fully answered Sally's question, so I stepped in to wrap up the conversation.
"Sally, just wait until I explain everything, and you'll understand."
"...Alright. Lina, um… will it bite?"
Sally nodded but kept glancing at Lani. She must really care about her. Had I done something unnecessary?
Also, what kind of question is that? Lani is not a dog! Of course she won't bite people! The only thing she bites is food! FOOD!!! Lina reassured Sally on my behalf.
"No, she won't. Little Lani is very well-behaved. Sally, do you want to hold her?"
"I… I'll try."
Sally took Lani, awkwardly holding her under the armpits, clearly unsure how to properly hold her. Lina went over to guide her.
Seeing this, I realized Lina was incredibly skilled when holding Lani the first time. But she hasn't held a human child before—Lina truly a prodigy…
Finally, Dex returned with his paper and pen. Once everyone was ready, I began to tell the story.
After a while, I finished, and Dex, pointing with his pen, couldn't help but tease me.
"Karen, you actually chatted with it so casually. You are so absurd."
"I risked my life to understand dragons. How was I supposed to know it wasn't tricking me and would really surrender?"
Dex, always so easygoing while sitting there, didn't understand that I had been completely focused on Sabuin, not daring to take my eyes off it for a single second, which caused me to sleep for half the day.
"Alright, you learned how important wings are to dragons, and that there are two types of dragons. By the way, can I study this little one?"
"Of course not. What do you take a child for?"
Dex, the ever-curious researcher, seemed ready to erupt. Around us, the other adventurers, incredulous, were about to blow their tops. Here came the first one.
"Guildmaster! Karen! Lina! Isn't this the real question? Just how strong are you two?!"
"Yeah! You fought Samidoride, rested for only one night, and didn't even get hurt?! Seriously?! Are you kidding me?!"
"An enemy even Brave can't face, and you two are stronger than Brave?!"
Exactly! This is the reaction I wanted. One of the reasons I fabricated the story was to provoke this—this reaction that Lina and I are the strongest in the world.
Don't say I'm overthinking it. If an existence becomes uncontrollable by the kingdom, need to lure them—or, if that fails, remove them. But we aim to become an existence the kingdom can neither lure nor eliminate.
"A title even higher than the Brave…?"
Damn, unexpected… No! Who cares about a new title? Just react! I don't need a title stronger than heroes. I need to stop this now.
"I don't—"
"Hero!"
Damn… I hadn't finished, and someone already shouted it. I looked around in panic.
"Yes, Hero!"
Someone agreed.
"I'm going to spread the news immediately!"
Someone ran off.
"I'll call the cowards hiding in the dungeon!"
"..."
It turned out that everyone who wasn't here had taken refuge in the dungeon, and Lina and I were left speechless.
At this point, it was over… Wait, why do I even care about being called stronger than Brave? I am the Brave at this generation. Could there be another Braves upset that we outrank him?
Never mind. Business first. I took out the quest paper and asked Dex, who was placing the recorded hunt down report into an envelope.
"Guild master, this reward for the quest… it's real, right?"
"Of course it is. The king will grant your wish. Be practical."
"We'll claim the reward now."
"Good. Follow me to the royal castle."
And with that, we headed to the royal castle with Dex.