Published at 2nd of September 2021 01:11:40 PM

397 A Certain Girl and the Royal Banquet 1 (side Miria)

But we can finally see the goal, Miria. I thought you might get invited since youre close in age, but I never thought my skills would be found promising like that!

Were in a room of the Staff and Oven, an inn of the royal capital Alban. The person who is my adventuring teacher, Meltisan, is talking to me.

Previously, Meltisan was invited to my village at Mariellsans request to investigate the ghost sightings commotion. Shes now accompanying me in my search for a dragon.

The black dragon that rampaged and left my village, Irushisan I cant believe Irushisan wanted to kill Gregory-san. No matter how I think about it, the claw that was swung at me that day intentionally missed. Wanting more than anything to confirm that, I left my village and became an adventurer like Meltisan. As Meltisan has said, today is a new chapter in our journey.

Sitting on my bed, I hug a pillow while thinking, then turn to look at Meltisan.

Were still just lowly adventurers. It might all end in disappointment.

Thats where my sword skills and your conversation skills come in. While I attract interest with my strength, youll somehow cozy up to the princess.

She practices swinging a wooden sword around as she speaks, stabbing the end towards me Doing that inside is dangerous, so I wish shed stop.

We might not be confident, but weve still got to try.

Its commonly theorised among adventurers that every country secretly investigates and exchanges information about monsters of B rank and above. The presence of monsters of powerful monsters, even if theyre at the edge of a vast territory, reduces the circulation of goods and lowers the value of land.

Properly speaking, the royal family is obliged to respond to sightings near towns or villages, but unless its a major city or a strategic site, theyre usually left alone. Any attempt at subjugation monsters that powerful definitely result in casualties, after all. Leading a force of soldiers into probable death is difficult, as even if it might prevent a tragedy down the line, theres the problem of funding and of the soldiers morale If that was all, it would be fine, but there are also rumoured to be times when dangerous monsters are left alone for political reasons.

That is why its said that the royal family secretly investigates the territories of powerful monsters so that they can subjugate them when convenient, and keep them under watch so that they can react in case of a rampage. In the end its nothing more than a theory, but its hard to imagine that a country as influential as Ardesia isnt at least aware of the presence of calamity-class monsters.

I looked it up on my travels, and apparently the last form I saw Irushisan in was a plague dragon. Plague dragons are classified as a B- rank, but as a winged dragon their mobility. In addition, according to an ancient stone carving, the plague dragon is two steps below the jabberwock, the species that Demon Lord of two millennia ago was. Theres plenty of reason to monitor one.

But Miria, are you okay? I heard you collapsed in the street yesterday

N-no, I just got a little dizzy. I ended up causing a lot of worry.

I know todays an important day for you, but if youre feeling unwell you shouldnt force yourself. Being unable to move for a few hours after a bout of dizziness is definitely strange. Theres nothing youre not telling me, is there?

I cant tell her that I collapsed after one of Princess Chris-samas Three Knights accosted me. Thermal of the Three Knights was originally a wandering adventurer, and has all sorts of bad rumours about him in the royal capital. It didnt look like the former apothecarist who helped me had a very good impression of the Three Knights either. Ihave a slightly bad feeling about this. But if I were to say that to Meltisan, she definitely wouldnt let me go with her.

But wont it be hard to get Princess Chris-samas attention through swordsmanship? Apparently, a dragon hunter who is rumoured to be the strongest swordsman on the continent and a living legend is coming.

I laugh sardonically in an attempt to distract her.

I-I didnt know that! But Im still a trained swordswoman! Ill do my best to win, but even if I cant, Ill do my best to put on a good show!

If its not all an exaggeration, hes apparently the only person on the continent to hunt high-rank monsters head-on by himself. He could probably easily split a large tree with the wooden sword hell be using. Isnt that right, Kuro-chan?

I call out to the venom queen lecherta, Kuro-chan, whos cleaning herself under my bed. She glances at Meltisan, then looks out of the window in disinterest.

Visit readel.me for extra chapters.

For some reason, Kuro-chan saved me from pinches time after time, and so I eventually registered her with the adventurers guild as my familiar. But even though she always saves me, I feel a slight sense of animosity from her as well. Shes still a bit aloof, but lately I feel shes warming up to me a bit.

U-unh

Frustrated, Meltisan says nothing. It seems I was able to change the subject.

The legendary Master Fencer, Howgrey, was also said to have fought high-ranking monsters by himself, but its also said that he was killed over ten years ago after he refused to enter government service and fell for the trap of a nobleman. Now, theres nobody else.

Now then, lets get ready to go.

I nod in reply, then call out to Kuro-chan.

Please stay here, okay?

Kuro-chan looks up at me for a moment, then turns away uncaringly For some reason, her body shudders. Then, all of a sudden, she leaps up at me and pins me down.

Stop K-kyaaa!

Miria!?

Unable to draw her sword, Meltisan panics in front of us. Since becoming a familiar, Kuro-chan has not only saved my life countless times, but also Meltisans too. Besides, it was thoroughly drilled into us that in order to maintain the relationship of trust between familiar and master, you must never point your sword at your familiar.

Kur-chain, sto- Eh?

Kuro-chan presses her face against my body and sniffs me. She then jumps away and pulls down the clothes that I hung up to dry yesterday, sticking her nose into them.

Kurochan?

I tilt my head to the side. Meltisan also looks at Kuro-chans back in wonder. Its unusual for the usually cool Kuro-chan to be making this much of a fuss.