Both wishes were stated and approved.
Then Lani returned to Lina's embrace. I guess my equipment made her uncomfortable. It was disheartening—barely had I held her for a moment before she went back.
At that moment, someone carrying a tray approached the king.
"Your Majesty, here are ten white gold coins."
"Very well, give them to them."
Ah, this was our reward. Lina and I looked at the ten white gold coins on the tray, each embossed with a symbol that looked like the sun.
The coins' surfaces were so smooth they could be used as mirrors. And here we were, standing under the sun—its glare was blinding me!
I quickly pocketed the coins, remembering that Dex had mentioned how rare white coins were—even nobles didn't own them. But what was their actual value? I asked the king.
"Your Majesty, how valuable are white gold coin?"
"White gold coin are only given to those who have saved the country from crisis. Even wealth cannot buy them. They are of immense value, a mark of honor."
"I see."
So, white gold coins were essentially useless currency—more of a status symbol than anything else. Well, it could serve as a powerful emblem.
Afterward, the knight commander and a knight brought over a huge magic core, roughly the height of an adult—that must be Samidoride's magic core.
"Your Majesty, Samidoride has been fully dismembered intact, and the magic core has been extracted. Should we check its year?"
"Bring it before me for verification."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The knight commander placed the core on the year-measuring device, and the year appeared on the display.
"4168…?"
The king read Samidoride's true age in shock. I was also stunned—this Samidoride had no idea it had lived for over four thousand years.
But dragons have no real sense of time, so I didn't quarrel over a dead dragon's lifespan. Amidst everyone's astonishment, I stepped forward, collected Samidoride's magic core into my storage hole, and addressed the recorder.
"You've recorded everything, right? Then I'll take it."
"Hey! How dare you take the kingdom's magic core without permission?! Knights, seize him!"
Unexpectedly, this action of mine made that quintessential noble shout that I should be arrested.
A group of knights drew their swords and surrounded me. Lina pulled her staff from her storage hole, ready to intervene—but I gestured for her to relax; nothing would happen.
As I suspected, my move was misunderstood, so I spoke to the noble.
"Taking the kingdom's magic core without permission? You're mistaken. I never sold Samidoride to the kingdom—this is my property."
It was my first time confronting the noble directly. He was short and slightly plump, but his face radiated aristocratic entitlement, as if status solved everything.
How did someone like him even get a position? Nepotism, perhaps? His family must have a high rank.
"I've tolerated you long Enoug! Such disrespect to His Majesty, insolence… now blatant theft and still making excuses!"
The noble's tirade was cut off by the king.
"Lord Brandtala, step back. Knights, also withdraw."
"But Your Majesty, he…"
The knights obeyed and sheathed their swords, retreating. The noble, however, remained defiant—until the king's patience snapped.
"Silence! Do not make me repeat myself."
"Y-Yes…"
The noble stepped back reluctantly. Then the king bowed to me.
"Karen, my subordinate behaved so rudely. I apologize on his behalf. He will be punished accordingly."
I waved my hand to indicate it was fine, since I had other matters to discuss with the king, mainly the magic core's year.
"I'm fine, Your Majesty. Since we were just discussing value, let's chat a bit."
"Right, speak."
"What do you think is the true value of Samidoride?"
The king pondered, resting his chin in thought before answering.
"…A country?"
I laughed at his response. To think that Samidore, a dragon that had lived four thousand years, was worth only a country. Ten white gold coins hunt target had clearly been underestimated. I shook my head and gave my own assessment.
"Too low. At the very least, half a world."
"Half… half a world?!"
The king's jaw dropped in surprise. I explained my reasoning.
"Samidoride is stronger than a Demon King. One strike could obliterate everything—surely that value is not excessive."
I had no idea how strong a Demon King truly was, but even if a Demon King existed, they couldn't handle a being four thousand years old—otherwise, the world would already be under Demon King rule. Even the Brave was at the peak of his strength couldn't defeat such a being.
"…Indeed, not excessive."
Of course, not excessive. Saying "half a world" still underestimated Samidoride. If Samidoride had truly gone all out, it could have reshaped continents, altered borders, and reduced habitable land. We might not have won at all, had Samidoride taken it seriously.
The reason I brought up this topic was to elevate the value Lina and I held. Returning unharmed from the hunt down of Samidoride proved that we possessed incredible strength—enough to make the nation incapable of opposing us. I continued my questioning.
"Every country wants Samidoride's body materials, right?"
"Indeed."
Weapons forged from dragon materials were unmatched in hardness, durability, and sharpness. No nation would pass up the opportunity to possess Samidoride, who had lived over four thousand years—its capabilities were certainly exceptional.
But most importantly, there was Samidoride's magic core. If a country possessed magic core of Samidoride, it would become a threat to other countries. So I continued.
"I can give you everything except the magic core—but I have one condition."
Upon hearing that the magic stone would remain unattainable, the king's expression showed some concern. After a brief pause, he asked,
"…What is your condition? Speak. I will make it happen."
Hearing the king's words made me happy. From the king's perspective, Samidoride's massive body could be used to create countless weapons, essentially forming an army—and I was giving it to the nation for free. That was a huge gain for him. But my condition would likely disappoint him.
"No one may use Samidoride's body as material—its scales included."
"Then it's useless…"
The king's disappointment was understandable. A material of infinite value, yet forbidden to be used, essentially rendered it meaningless. Then I said something even I found startling.
"My goal isn't war. I want to prove that Samidore was died, so people no longer need to live in fear of its return. If that can't be done, then I'll take it back.
I had spent a long time deciding to say this. Normally, I would never come up with such words on the spot. Hearing myself say them now made me feel disgusted.
"So that was your purpose… I see, I was too shallow."
No, don't speak like that. Everyone is motivated by self-interest—I'm even shallower than the king. I quickly waved my hand to deny it and shift the topic.
"You're too kind. Let's return to the original topic. Will you accept this condition?"
"I accept."
"Thank you. I hope Samidoride died for peace, not for war. Please remember this."
I smiled after saying it, but I felt like I was about to vomit. Who could say something like that naturally? Just thinking about it was terrifying…
At that moment, the person the king had sent to find available land returned.
"Your Majesty, I have located all vacant plots in the capital."
"Show them to these two."
I took a stack of papers detailing the locations and sizes of the plots. Lina and I looked through them, but none were satisfactory—the plots were too small and far from the Adventurers' Guild. I asked the land scout.
"Excuse me, these plots are a bit small. Are there any existing houses that are uninhabited, with at least ten thousand square meters of land?"
If no empty plots existed, I planned to demolish an unused house and rebuild. I wanted a mansion with a yard large enough to farm and fish, plus space for outdoor barbecues, without disturbing neighbors. That size would be sufficient.
The man rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment, then replied,
"Based on your requirements, I suggest
Ex-Baron Maezebra's estate. It has forty thousand square meters and is close to the Adventurers' Guild."
Proximity to the guild was good, but forty thousand square meters might be too large. If it were a square plot, that would mean two hundred meters per side—a long walk from one end to the other. I asked again.
"Too big. Is there a smaller one?"
"Sorry, this is already the smallest plot among those over ten thousand square meters."
He shook his head regretfully. But I thought for a moment—bigger is better, we can do more. Then I told him,
"Okay, we'll take this one."
"Understood. Your Majesty, I will begin the registration process immediately."
"Proceed."
The land scout saluted the king, received permission, and left.