Hello. My name is Alan Muller. It’s nice to meet you.

I am currently having my dinner with gramps, grandma and my childhood friend. It’s very tasty, even tastier than what grandma cooks us every day. She said it’s because of the special mix of spices Marie created before, and that it’s hard for anyone other than her to add the prefect amount of them.  

“She would certainly make a good wife”

I say. Marie is good at taking care of chores, she also loves to sew and cook. Even though she says it’ only for the sake of convenience, she always has a smile on her face when she does either of those two. Also, she adores little children and cute animals.

Hey, why are glaring me at me like that, Marie? Scary! It was meant to be a compliment. Is it because both gramps and grandma are merrily laughing now? It’s not nice to make fun of someone, but I can’t say this out loud since Marie taught to me to respect the elders. Who knew she is so sensitive?

I wince when her boot connects with my leg. It hurts! I turn my head to Marie who seats to my right and try to ask why with my expression only.

“Eat, idiot. Food is getting cold”

Ah, she called me “idiot” again. When we were younger, I always thought that “idiot” was an elven word for “friend” until Marie told me she doesn’t actually know the language. Gramps then told me it is a word for someone stupid. I nearly cried that day, but Marie hugged me and said she has recalled that “idiot” really means “friend” and that I am her best “idiot” ever. She is nice like that.

Her words are also true, so I start eating. After near five minutes my bowl is empty and I ask for seconds… or thirds. However, before I can receive my bowl back, our door bursts open and Marcus appears at the doorstep. He is breathing heavily, as if he has run all the way here. It’s impossible: Marcus has a huge belly that juggles when he walks like “boom-boom-boom”

But when he says the word “dragon” both gramps and Marie’s expressions turn grave. I heard dragon meat tastes really great, so I can understand their seriousness. I want a bite, too. I am sure that if I ask hard enough, Marie will cook some for me. She always tells me that she won’t do this, and yet always does.

How did grandma call her?

Tsundere?

Eh, it doesn’t matter. I take my bowl and continue eating.

However, both Marie and gramps stand and call an emergency meeting. Hey, I am still hungry!

… Nevermind. I follow them to our guest hall to hear out Marcus’ story.

Here it is:

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“It was just a normal day. I was tending my herds, but when I started to count them, one was missing. And it’s wasn’t just a normal sheep! It was my sweet Dolly! I raised her since she was this small, you know! She has a dark spot on her fur! And she always recognizes me!

So, when I started to search for Dolly, I heard some weird noises in the woods. I went to the direction for where the noises came and saw that thing with my Dolly in its clutches! It was a dragon! A real dragon, I tell you!”

After this, Marie gave him so tea to calm his nerves and sent him home, telling that we will take care of this. How nice. Why you don’t act this nice to me? Is that because I once used your staff to harvest an apple from highest branch? I already apologized!

“I believe, you already know what the problem is, Marie-chan?”

What? I look at gramps. He seats on the chair, while eyeing Marie.

“Yes, I already got to the point of this case. Which brings some other questions. Dire questions, I should add”

Marie’s tone is so serious it’s scary. Her blue eyes are also very serious. Is it that bad that a single dragon was spotted near the village. I mean…

“Why won’t we just find their nest and eradicate the threat altogether?”

It’s easy. I and Marie are both strong enough to take care of this problem. We will come and kill them all, and everything will turn good again. I am a genius!

“It’s not the problem, retard!”

Marie shouts at me.

“Dragons lived here for a long time, so it’s not strange. Seeing them this close to our, to any settlement, on the other hand, is. They are territorial creature that create nest. Usually, they avoid large clusters of humans and hunt animals in the forest.

If they were spotted this close, it can mean two things. Either there is no food in the forest anymore, or something drew them away. Both of them are equally scary. First would mean an outbreak of famine in the future. Second would mean that something there could overpower an apex predator of this biome”

“Should we assemble an expedition, Marie-chan?”

“No need, Percival-sama. Me and Alan will do this faster. Just give me some time to recharge my mana and we will be ready to move”

Wait…

What?