59 Episode 59 "Wardakumi Priestess, Hero and Slave Connection Experiment".txt (1/2)

Once back on the ground, we entered the dungeon again, this time with the whole party and Iris.

This time the whole party and Iris were with us.

There were no more demons, so we arrived in the innermost hall in no time at all.

I asked Rita and Rafilia to guard the passageway, and me, Cecil and Aine decided to be Iris' bodyguards.

However, the demon sweeping is already done.

So as soon as Iris re-creates the wards in the center, the quest is over.

But first, I want you to take a look at this.

I pointed to the floor of the hall.

I pointed to the floor of the hall, where icy limbs and dismembered crystals of magic power were lying around.

These are the remains of an ice golem.

When we arrived here, this golem was still alive. It was trying to pry open a door to the center. We managed to defeat it, but it took three of us to do it.

Iris listens dumbfounded as I explain.

”Has Iris had any idea who this guy is?

'None!　This kind of magical creature couldn't possibly be in the Sea Dragon Sanctuary!

That's right.

To begin with, this big thing can't even pass through the dungeon's passages.

That's why someone got in here and created it with magic.

Also, this fell out. I think they were probably inside the golem.

I handed Iris the ring I'd picked up earlier.

The name is engraved on the inside. Do you know someone named 'Marchioness Eterina Hersburg'?

Iris's eyes widened.

Oh, you know what I mean.

And you look very uncomfortable.

'My brother is a woman who is obsessed with Chikaori: ......

Iris's brother?

'Yes, sir. The Marquise is a traveler from the royal capital, and she lives in the villa district of Irgafa. Her brother often goes to see her, hoping to use her as a stepping stone for his own advancement into the center.

Does Iris recognize this ring?

None, but the master craftsmen of the Ilgafa Lords excel at engraving patterns. But it's engraved with the patterns of the master craftsmen of the House of Ilgafa, the master craftsman's favorite.

Sounds like a good gift for a woman, doesn't it?

It's going to be about 400 arsha.

It's the same as my initial deposit. Oh, my God.

Last question. Can anyone besides Iris open the entrance gate to this dungeon?

''I have a spare key in the house. It's in the treasure room, but ...... if you're from the lord's house, you can take it out at the drop of a hat. ......

Apparently, Iris manages everything related to the Sea Dragon Festival, but she was out of town until the other day.

It's not impossible to take the key out of that gap and get into the dungeon.

'The conditions are right: ......

So here's the thing.

The only people who can open the gates of the dungeon are those of the Ilgafa lord's family.

This is where Iris's brother's - a ring engraved with the name of a person who seems to be her lover - fell.

So, according to Iris, her brother was pressing her to have the dungeon attack ”through him to the Order of Divine Life”. But then, he's coming in person now.

Yup. Doubtful.

”Iris will confront her brother!　If my brother is involved in this matter, I will punish him under the laws of Irgafa!

Iris grabbed the hem of her dress and looked up with a clink.

Her dress was bathed in seawater and the smell of the tide seeped through it. But Iris didn't seem to care about that. Nor did she care about the green scales peeking out of her bare shoulders before she knew it.

It's all Iris's fault. If anything had happened to Souma and the others, the consequences would have been irreversible. You are a dear friend ...... no, you are more than that, and yet ......

Iris took my hand in hers and bowed deeply.

You're serious, Iris.

She's smaller than Cecil and her real age is just as I saw it.

'It's part of the job for us, so don't worry about it.

No!

At my line, Iris shook her head.

'We'll pay you extra!　Mr. Souma and his team did their job perfectly. And they gave me all the valuable information. Iris is deeply grateful. I don't even know how to respond to this trust.

That being said, I'm embarrassed ...... or rather, I want to guilt you.

I'm hiding things over here.

The whole time we were here, we were using Cecil's ”light” to keep Iris from noticing the mural in The Legend of the Sea Dragon, and only illuminating her feet. But four of us were walking along the wall and blocking the mural so that he couldn't see it.

I don't think it's a good idea to mention The Sea Dragon Warrior now.

About Iris's brother, the golem - the situation is very complicated now. If you add the matter of the Sea Dragon Warrior to this, the story will become even more complicated.

It's a good idea to pretend not to know what's going on. I know.

I can't stand it anymore, so I'm saying it!　In fact, Souma-sama is a 'Sea Dragon Hero'!

You know, we haven't even been paying attention to you yet.

It came out of nowhere.

Iris grabbed my hand and declared once and for all, ''Of course, the wise Souma-sama, you already knew that!

''Of course, since you are the wise Souma-sama, you already knew that!

No, I have no idea.

'You were so concerned about Iris that you kept quiet!　That's great!

Iris looks at me with rapt attention.

”You know, Iris,

Yes, my hero.

...... Can't we give away the rights of the sea dragon's bravery to someone else?

You're right. If the 'Sea Dragon Maiden' doesn't recognize the 'hero' by all means, her rights will be lost, but if not, she'll be certified as a hero for the rest of her life.

So, if I were a brave sea dragon, Iris...

I don't want to hear the word ”temporary” anymore.

Fluffy.

A small body falls toward me.

I relax my entire body, so much so that I plunge head first into the floor.

Abandonment.

Reflexively, I was pulling Iris' body closer to mine...

............ Hmmm. Do you know how many times Iris has fantasized about these situations?　Probably enough to make even Soma-sama don't like it?

Iris smiles at him.

So that's the kind of line you can say, ”Priestess of the Sea Dragon”.

I knew he was a waste of talent to keep locked away.

In my arms, Iris is thumbs up and proud of her victory.

Her scales were glistening with pearls.

'Iris has been saved by Souma-sama twice. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. If it wasn't, you wouldn't ...... be taking a bath with him or anything like that, would you?

You're doing a lot of things, Iris.

What can I do?　Because Iris is basically a caged bird. I just had to read the book and think about the outside world. It's okay to get a little evil, right?

What are your favorite books, by the way?

The Legend of the Sea Dragon in 5 Minutes, The Complete Edition, The Book of Awakening the Brave in Just Reading, The Princess of the Tomboy, Exploiting the Insensitive Hero, The Basics of Ship Trading and the Pursuit of Profit, Easy Plotting, and The Lords Theory. My recent favorites are ”A Book to Read the True Feelings of the Men You Care About from Their Expressions”. I'm also fond of ”The Art of Living Alone by a Runaway Girl”.

Then he smiles wryly again.

If you run away here, I'll use my schemes and connections to go after you. I'll even run away from home, you know?　I heard that's what it means.

Isn't this ”Hero of the Sea Dragon”?

I had decided not to be a hero.

I'm a harbor-town-only hero, so it's better that I'm not told to defeat the Demon King.

Since Iris will keep the secret, I'm sure she'll keep the fact that I'm certified as a ”Sea Dragon Hero” between us. Well, this may depend on the negotiations.

''I understand. I'll just say I'm certified as a 'Sea Dragon Hero'.

'Then let's make a 'master-servant' contract. Please be master of Iris, Master Souma.

No, that's not how it works.

If you make a priestess and enslave Iris, the daughter of a lord, the daughter of a lord, the whole of Irgafa will be in an uproar.

For a man, wouldn't he want to turn the world against him for love?

If that's the kind of guy you like, I think you might want to look elsewhere.

No, I don't want to deal with someone like that, and neither does Iris.

Then don't say it.

I let go of Iris's body.

She coyly strokes her pearly scales.

'Let's get the story straight,'

Yes, sir.

”I'm supposed to be a sea dragon hero if I beat the sea dragon's natural enemy without knowing it.

'Yes. I'm sure of it.