I stand still, say nothing, try to look at nothing as if that somehow would solve the problem. Luckily, the count starts talking.

"As the young hunter may know, this dragon hunting episode was somewhat curious. First a dragon appears in direct opposition to established laws to provide aid for an illegally trespassing dragon. Then said dragon is reported to be rampaging ferociously and uncontrollably after losing a child. Then, most curious of all a rapport arrives that the dragon was found dead."

A waiter approaches with a tray of drinks, of which he promptly takes one, shakes it around a little and takes a sip.

"Now, as the supposedly ferocious and furious dragon rampaged no longer, the case was considered shot. Most likely, was thought, the dragon king had quickly sent someone to deal with the issue, but as a delegation was sent thanking the dragon king for his help with tribute, the dragon king denied the gift, stating no involvement in the case was provided by the dragon kingdom. In fact, the dragon king appeared to have no idea such an event had even transpired."

The waiter made it to my side and has been offering me a drink, but I am shaken and dare not move.

"Go ahead, take a drink, be comfortable" The count interrupts his story to say to me.

As ordered to I take one and sip it. It appears to be a strong, alcoholic, sweet drink.

"Now there were two possibilities. Either someone or something terrible enough to best a dragon did so and was still hanging around in my territory, or the dragon, crushed by the loss of the young had committed suicide. But there was a rapport about the corpse. One that suggested no such suicide was the possible answer. The dungeon had of course already removed all evidence, but the rapport was tracked down to one veteran clan leader in town, Bosir"

He empties his glass and without me even noticing him moving around, the waiter was already there to receive the empty one, which the count seems to trust fully in, as he doesn't even look as he puts the glass down beside him.

"I had Bosir invited here and pressured the old hunter to give me the story. To tell me how one came to be in possession of such a story, and the old hunter merrily told me of an apprentice who had delivered the news. When this one wanted the apprentice summoned and to explain the situation, such an act was negotiated to be when the apprentice became a hunter and here we are today."

He takes a deep breath before continuing.

"What the young hunter holds in the hand is an alchemical fluid, designed to be able to detect the size of a mana vessel. The fluid was originally used to detect dryads living among humans, should a need to identify those arise, but it can also tell if one has expanded one’s mana vessel beyond their original. A dryad would register green on such a vial, a normal gift user as red, but the young hunter appears to be blue or purple. So unless the young hunter wants to confess to a murder, the young hunter appears to be the slayer of the dragon"

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I am outed with no way to excuse myself, huh? Then, the strange part should come.

"The curious part however, is why would a young and up-and-coming hunter lie and hide the fact that the young hunter bested a dragon? Would such a happening not be worth bragging about and harvesting fame and fortune for? And how could the young hunter have such power? Going alone against a mighty dragon and coming out on top? Maybe plausible if the hunter was in possession of a gift of great destruction, but one that merely made him heal and tougher? How could such an event be happening?"

He collected himself a little after being a little heated up during the last part.

"I deemed such an event impossible, but the daughter here" he gestures to the young girl ”made a bet upon seeing the arrival of the young hunter, that the young hunter did indeed slay the dragon. This one is afraid the young hunter is not only guilty of lying, but also costing me a favor with my own daughter, so this one asks humbly: Please. Explain."

He appeared not mad, but very menacing. I can't find a way out of this. If I keep spinning stories, who knows what may end up being wrong and I haven't been given enough time to think of a good one.

"This one will tell the truth, but begs the count and the count's family to brace for a story both humiliating and revolting. In addition, this one asks permission to speak in the common, vulgar tongue. Correcting my own speech before speaking would only serve to make this one seem scheming and lying."

The count furrows his brows, before proceeding with a "Very well, the young hunter may do so. Does Adelai wish to stay for the story, revolting as the story may be?" He asks his daughter, while turning his head to face her.

She simply nods.

"Very well, the young hunter may carry on."

I brace myself. I don't really know what will happen once he knows, but I am resigning myself, as I can't see a way to wiggle myself out of this one.

"The dragon did not brush me aside. It ate me. I was dead." The count and his children's eyes flare up

"But I came to, within the dragon. Not knowing where I was, thinking I was dead, I used creation magic to form a sword and slash around me like a mad man. I did not know how long it lasted, but it was not for a long time, before I died again, not being able to breathe."

They are making faces. It appears the son looks mad, the count looks unsure and the young girl looks like she has seen a wonder.

"I then awoke a second time, this time in a pool of blood and excrement. It appeared that my earlier rampage in the dragon's inside had killed it. I didn't share the story because I believed there was nothing to brag about, and more importantly, due to some advice from one of my masters at the clan. They explained that while power was good, too much power was terrible and one could easily end up being an enemy of society".

The count was not left much time to think, because as he seemd to start processing the information, his daughter bursted out: "Father, Adelai has decided on the favor! Give the immortal hunter to Adelai!"