Currently, the Black Knights had two long-range attackers, Axion, the wizard, and Tragula, the archer.
They couldn’t give them Axion, the core of this dungeon attack, so naturally, they would send Tragula.
As expected, Jun frowned as if she didn’t like it.
“… Do you mean Tragula?”
“I’m hoping that the captain of the well-known Yellow Lightning unit can help us. Oh, of course, if it’s too much work, it’s fine. Because I also don’t want to hear that I dragged the Black Knights by their ankle.”
Fabian glanced sideways at Jun’s figure.
Jun’s mouth, which had been full of enthusiasm earlier, was now full. Jun glared at Fabian with a disgruntled look in her eyes.
Tragula was the one who betrayed the Black Knights in the first round and joined Fabian’s expedition. When Fabian referred to Tragula as such by name, it was understandable for Jun.
‘You must be more anxious because you can’t guess what I’m going to do.’
Even if she wanted to decline his offer, she would have to accept it in the end because Jun had been scratching his stomach so far.
As if realizing that she had no choice, Jun looked at him again and tried to smile.
“It’s to the point where it’s hard. I’ll do it if you want me to. Tragula.”
Jun beckoned toward Tragula.
Tragula approached with a bemused look on his face. Jun gave Tragula a small earful. How quietly she spoke, even Fabian, who was not too far away, could not hear.
From the looks of it, Tragula and Jun didn’t seem to be on bad terms.
‘Probably putting in a lot of effort to make sure I don’t take him from her.’
It was also proof that Tragula was very useful.
It was rare to find someone as talented as Tragula. Above all, he was a descendant of the Heavenly Palace. The strength that remained in the blood of a thousand-year-old hero was not something that could be easily erased.
(T/N Heavenly Palace/Celestials are the same.)
‘Hmph, but it’s no use doing that. I know the weaknesses of Tragula that you don’t know, Jun.’
Fabian snorted inside. However, the face that was exposed on the outside was just natural.
Soon, Jeanne held Jun’s hand and headed to the place where the Black Knights were.
She continued to look back hesitatingly, but Jeanne had already been put on the back burner for Fabian.
Fabian now was only preoccupied with how to effectively screw over Jun and Meyer with this opportunity.
As Fabian’s head was spinning like that, Tragula, who was left alone, approached Fabian and bowed with only his head small.
He didn’t seem to want to talk much.
However, Fabian did not give in and greeted Tragula kindly.
“Then, I look forward to your kind cooperation.”
“You don’t have to care about the rear, so just take care of yourself.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be tight.”
Fabian responded skillfully to Tragula’s chilly response. Of course, behind that appearance, there was an irritation about what Jun had been whispering to Tragula.
You couldn’t spit on a smiling face, and Fabian talked with a round smile, so even Tragula couldn’t win the conversation.
While pretending to be that close to Tragula, Fabian didn’t think he could recruit Tragula now.
In the first round, Tragula had been welcomed into the Fabian Expeditionary Force only after they had become somewhat worthy of mixing with the Black Knights.
For now, no matter what he said, it was clear that nothing would work.
However… He could make a lot of trouble for the Black Knights.
Fabian knew Tragula’s weaknesses.
He was currently pretending to be a stepson sponsored by Countess Nerus, but in reality, it was a contractual relationship with the Golden Falcon.
No matter how much Tragula was said to be the blood of the heavenly palace, it was not easy to readily give the Golden Falcon to someone who was only an adopted son.
Everyone praised the distribution of Countess Nerus and thought Tragula wanted to use Countess Nerus to raise his honor.
But in reality, it was different.
Tragula could and had to do anything in Countess Nerus’ name to have the Golden Falcon returned to him.
The fact that Tragula had abandoned the Black Knights in the first round and joined the Fabian Expeditionary Force had Countess Nerus breathing down his neck strongly.
‘Jun doesn’t know that much. I just happened to know.’
Fabian would not have known about it if he had not heard Tragula, who had been badly injured the first time, screaming with resentment at Countess Nerus for the fact that he could not attack the expedition anymore.
<What lengths have I gone to for the Golden Falcon, and as soon as I’m no longer useful, you’ll abandon me and retrieve the Golden Falcon? Countess Nerus, you really are an amazing woman. Haha, ha, hahaha!>
The Golden Falcon was Tragula’s catalyst and leash.
If he stimulated that area, he should get some kind of response.
He needs to get closer to him to do that…
Quickly moving his head, Fabian looked for an opportunity to talk to Tragula alone.
***
“Please, Jeanne.”
April eagerly spoke, leaving Jeanne in my arms.
Her face was filled with devastation and determination, and there was a sense of overwhelming pressure that could not be said.
“Trust me. I won’t let Jeanne get hurt anymore.”
When I said so, a pale smile came to April’s mouth.
After such a short conversation, April went back to the Fabian Expedition.
I came to where the Black Knights were, pulling Jeanne by the shoulders and holding her in my bosom.
The original Jeanne would have been uncomfortable with the intimate actions of a stranger, but she looked somewhat stunned, perhaps due to the injury she had just sustained and the mental shock of Fabian’s actions.
Meyer looked at me and Jeanne and soon fell back. Until before, he was stuck like a stone next to me…
He seemed to know that he did not make a very good impression on the child.
It was fortunate that he hadn’t made the anxious Jeanne’s state more serious, but it wasn’t refreshing to see Meyer convinced that others didn’t like him very much.
‘It’s bothering me…’
I remembered Meyer’s awkward appearance, who was looking forward to eating with me.
He was more familiar with dungeons and slaughter than anyone else and was unfamiliar with all the ordinary things in the world.
Meyer was an adult, so I didn’t have to worry about him that much, but there was a part where something stung my chest and stepped on my view.
…Let’s get a grip. That guy isn’t a poor bear, he’s a wild bear roaming around the mountains.
I turned my head to the distant Meyer and patted Jeanne on the shoulder.
“You have to stick close to me. Okay, Jeanne?”
“…”
Jeanne nodded without replying. She was calmer than at first. As I squeezed Jeanne’s hand, I secretly sensed the presence of Fabian’s expedition.
Fabian, unaware of the status of his expedition, was looking for an opportunity to talk to Tragula.
Sure enough, he was going to take this opportunity to approach Tragula, right?
But will it be as easy as he thought?
‘I’m disappointed that you think I brought Tragula here honestly.’
It was only natural that Fabian knew Tragula better than I knew Tragula.
Perhaps he could threaten Tragula… Anyway, he might have known about things to manipulate.
Under such circumstances, there was no way I would have brought Tragula to the dungeon without any precautions.
Anyway, I did some research on Tragula anyway… I’d already given him medicine.
I don’t know what card Fabian will pick, but will it be more attractive than I suggested?
I smiled round and round.
***
Fabian found time to talk to Tragula while attacking the dungeon.
However, Tragula only silently defeated demons.
Fabian was nervous, but he remained calm and waited for his opportunity to come.
After waiting for a long time, the opportunity arose. Fabian spoke to Tragula as naturally as he could.
“The difficulty of the dungeon is unusual, it seems that there will be a valuable artifact in this dungeon.”
“… High-level dungeons don’t confirm artifacts. It would be comfortable not to jump to conclusions.”
Tragula responded coldly. However, Fabian did not give in. It was positive just to accept what he said.
Fabian smiled and continued.
“I have a good feeling about it. If it’s a dungeon with artifacts, I quickly notice it. That’s how I got some artifacts.”
Fabian then raised one hand. A flame ring with a red flame asleep on his finger glistened.
“Or how could an expedition member from the countryside like me have so many artifacts?”
Fabian, who felt Tragula looking through him, deliberately turned around as if showing artifacts.
It stimulated Tragula differently. Tragula responded sarcastically.
“Even if an artifact does appear, it has nothing to do with Commander Fabian’s expedition.”
“Indeed, that’s right. Wouldn’t the Black Knight take it anyway? Because that’s the customary way.”
Fabian shrugged as if he agreed with Tragula. In the meantime, he hinted at Tragula’s innermost thoughts.
“But isn’t the Commander of the Yellow Lightning unit sad?”
“What do you mean?”
Tragula was serious, but Fabian pretended to be tactless.
“I think the upcoming artifact will be comparable to the Golden Falcon held by the Yellow Lightning unit Commander.”
“… Are you disrespecting the Golden Falcon?”
“No, no. I didn’t intend to do that at all. However…”
Fabian hurriedly waved his hands at Tragula, who turned hostile.
Pretending to be immature and innocent, he quietly touched Tragula’s weaknesses.
“In the end, the Golden Falcon was borrowed from Countess Nerus. If this artifact has a similar value to the Golden Falcon, you could exchange the Golden Falcon with the artifact dropped this time to Countess Nerus. I said it out of the thought that it would be great, so please don’t listen too closely.”
Tragula’s mouth shut tightly.
His eyes shook dizzily under his curved gaze.
Tragula clenched his teeth and spoke, pretending to be unconcerned.
“It seems that Expedition Commander Fabian is very interested in my personal history.”
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