CHAPTER 46: HERO’S DANCE

The Hero intensely stared at Jett.

His prowess cannot remain concealed—surely this was no novice’s victory. He must hail from distant lands or realms. What purpose draws him here? I feel compelled to enlist his talents for our cause.

Being a hero didn’t just mean slaying dragons; it meant undergoing rigorous training and education tailored to one’s talents and origins, instilling the truth that strength was the greatest deterrent. If someone like Jett joined the Rain Bead Dukedom, his influence would ripple across the continent—and nothing attracted attention quite like raw power.

Jett paused, his gaze lingering on the hero. She’s hot.

Her confident bearing announced her worth long before her features did: midnight-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a face set with unwavering resolve and clear blue eyes that seemed to pierce through the swamp’s haze. Though she lacked the exotic allure of Mia or Noctlisa, the polished leather armor—reinforced at the vital points with shimmering blue steel—only underscored the strength and poise she exuded, prioritizing swift, decisive strikes over cumbersome protection.

"I’m from somewhere far off—you wouldn’t know it," Jett replied. "And as for my name—"

Just then, a shriek rang out from the side. Monsters lurking in the swamp froze and melted back into the muck. Men and women alike felt goosebumps crawl down their spines.

Did a banshee come here?!

It wasn’t a banshee. It was Mia. She tore across the battlefield, a towel clutched in her hands. When she reached Jett—drenched in water and blood, his white suit shredded—she wrapped the towel around his hair and began to rub him dry.

"Master Talon, you simply must not remain so drenched in the open!" Mia exclaimed, completely ignoring his shredded suit.

With the towel draped over his head, Jett couldn’t see a thing. But he felt Mia’s gentle care and how she’d abandoned her head-maid’s duties to act like a doting lover. She didn’t realize what she’d done, which made him smile even more.

When Mia finished, she squeezed the towel in her hands, her fingertips trembling as the weight of her feelings washed over her. She stepped behind her master, played innocent, and offered a shy smile.

"That’s Mr. Talon to you," he grinned at the hero, earning her nod.

Those long ears—surely an elf; I have never encountered one before. Her loyalty and prowess suggest she serves a capable master. Though I do not know the other woman’s lineage, her lone victory over the wyvern swarm speaks volumes. I must demonstrate my own worth to him.

The hero fixed her gaze on Jett’s eyes. "Mr. Talon, I would be honored to confer with you further when my duties here conclude. For now, I must see to these remaining lizards and restore peace to this forest."

Jett smiled. "Yeah, thanks for the help."

With a curt nod, Ewelina spun around. She raised her hand and summoned a longsword sheathed in rippling water. The hilt gleamed with an otherworldly blue sheen, and the blade’s scaly surface reminded Jett of the dragon he’d slain.

Leaping back into the fray with the grace of a water spirit, she unleashed thin, watery blades that sliced through lizards as effortlessly as paper—at times, a single swing was enough to fell one. Unhindered by the swamp’s murk, she danced across the surface like a water fairy, corpses drifting in her wake.

"She must have been holding back until the real threat appeared—the dragon," Jett thought aloud so Mia and Noctlisa could hear.

Mia nodded. "Indeed, she must possess knowledge of the dragons and their machinations, Master. I cannot conceive why she would venture here otherwise, unless she is truly a benevolent hero."

Noctlisa added, "Her blade work’s gentle, Master."

"Is it?" Jett asked.

"She dispatches lizards swiftly, without letting them suffer," Noctlisa explained.

After witnessing the hero’s prowess, Jett turned his attention to the fairies. Their wind magic enhanced the speed and force of projectiles and lifted allies’ movements with gentle breezes. It didn’t match the velocity Jett could reach with his Zelen, but it was still a tremendous aid.

"We’re done for now," Jett said, leading his maids back to the carriage, where cheers erupted.

...

A few hours later, Artemis Forest lay quiet once more. Debris and corpses would need clearing, but no life remained in danger—except for the dragon imprisoned beneath the Sentinel. Thick roots twisted around him like living vines, sapping his mana and holding him still. Floating motes drifted like fireflies, their light dancing across his sapphire eyes until he squeezed them shut.

Footsteps echoed through the chamber. The dragon raised his human-like head and saw the man who’d bested him approaching, flanked by his two maids. The disrespect in Jett’s stride earned the dragon’s ire; he spat weakly, ending in a drool.

Jett tightened his fist and narrowed his gaze. "Let’s begin the interrogation," he said with a grin.

"Interrogate me?" the dragon sneered. "You may torture me, but I will never divulge any secrets!"

Mia summoned a chair from the root for Jett. He settled into it and regarded the dragon with a measured gaze.

"Is that right? Even though I know dragons have weaknesses?" Jett asked.

The dragon narrowed his eyes in silent defiance.

"Most dragons refuse Skytianeus’ Guardian Blessings. Humanity gained the upper hand long ago. With your schemes against weak humans and fairies, even proud dragons resorted to underhanded tactics. It must be hard to preserve your race without the guardian’s favor, right?" Jett taunted.

"You and Skytianeus are cut from the same cloth!" the dragon roared, his face crimson, veins bulging as he strained against his chains. "We would never accept a blessing from that coward! He doesn’t deserve to be our guardian—let alone call himself a dragon!"

"Coward? Me?" Jett said with a smirk.

"You’re only human!"

"Isn’t that what makes it interesting? I faced you myself and put you down in three punches. Let’s be honest here, okay?"

...

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