“Here we are, dashing in on the evil dragon. This is ‘Constantino,’ a frontier city on the opposite side of Tristain!”
Piyoyo~…!
I patted the dizzy little chick-kun as I stepped into the bustling crowd.
This city’s name is Constantino. It’s the place I chose to take on ‘individual requests.’
“It wouldn’t be right to take individual requests at the adventurer’s guild branch in my home base, Tristain.”
Adventurer guild branches exist in each city, and they all compete with each other in sales. A few times a year, they gather at the Holy City headquarters for a bragging contest. Ridiculous, right?
So, adventurers who do nothing but individual requests and don’t generate brokerage fees tend to be disliked. That’s why I came to this distant town.
“But still…”
What a terribly run-down city.
The buildings are falling apart everywhere, it’s midday yet there’s hardly anyone on the streets, and the few people around keep their heads down. If we shared just 10% of Tristain’s liveliness, the shock might kill this place from how quiet it is.
“Did something happen here? Can you tell, Chicke-kun?”
Piyo piyo piyo piyo piyo!
“Got it.”
I have no idea what it’s saying.
Anyway…
“Time to start looking for some individual requests. Excuse me! I’m Jade the adventurer! Is anyone in need of help around here?”
I’ll do anything as long as the pay is fair. If not, I’ll use my evil dragon powers to kill you.
“Anyone? I’m offering a free chick-kun right now!”
Pigyo!?
Just as I was energetically advertising, a scream rang out from an alley. What’s this now?
Evil dragon dash.
“Heh heh, I know who you are. You’re a maid for the lord’s brat, right? How does it feel, huh? Being a noble, but your city gets run into the ground like this…!”
“P-please let go of me, sir!”
“Ha! ‘Sir,’ huh? What kind of country bumpkin talks like that!? Look at you, trying to sound all fancy!”
I see how it is. Anyone willing to work for that brat must be some poor, starving bumpkin.
…said Thug A, laughing with his crew, Thugs B, C, D, and E.
“Looks like you’re having fun harassing a maid there.”
“Huh!? And who the hell are you!?”
“I’m Jade the adventurer.”
“I don’t care! When did you get here!?”
It’s no wonder he’s surprised. I appeared right next to the maid they
had backed into the wall.
“I got here with an evil dragon dash. It’s a semi-dimensional travel technique where I lightly wrap myself in the ‘Flames of Ruin’ and distort the space around me as I approach. Ordinary human eyes can’t follow it.”
“Wha-what the hell are you saying!? Don’t get in our way!”
Thug A threw a punch at me.
He’s quick, maybe trained in hand-to-hand combat, but it’s pointless.
“Evil dragon flick.”
“Gyaaahhhh!! My arm!! My arm’s gone!!!”
With just a light flick, everything from his elbow down disappeared.
Well, at least his shoulder’s still intact.
“Sorry, but we’re not in the laid-back Tristain here. I don’t plan on holding back much.”
“Wh-what the hell are you…!?”
“I told you, I’m Jade. Got a bad memory, don’t you?”
No point in talking to thugs with no class or money. More importantly…
“Miss Maid, are you hurt?”
“N-no, I’m fine!”
Good. If she had been injured, my evil dragon eye would have picked up on it immediately, and I would’ve slaughtered every last one of them.
“Now, let’s talk business. You work for the lord of this city, right? Then, as the lord’s representative, how about hiring me?”
“Representative…? You mean… me?”
“That’s right.”
My evil dragon nose could tell immediately. The only scent clinging to the maid is that of a young child.
Which means the so-called lord is just a child, with no family and only this maid as a servant. Pathetic.
In that case, she’s practically the kid’s guardian. No one would complain if she acted as their proxy. Probably.
“Come on, decide quickly. There’s not much time.”
“Huh!?”
I pointed ahead, where the thugs were now brandishing weapons, clearly intending to kill. Oh no, how terrifying. For humans, anyway.
“You bastard… you dare mess with the ‘Dontrak Family’!? We’ll kill you! You’re finished!”
“We’ll tear you and that maid to pieces and bury you!”
Huh, so they’re part of some underground mafia.
In this aristocratic society, they’re bold enough to openly claim their gang. In other territories, they’d be hiding in the shadows like worms—or not exist at all.
“So, what’s your move, Miss Maid? Will you hire me and give the order?”
“I-I’m Aura! And, um, I… uh…”
Three seconds left, Aura.
The thugs raised their weapons and charged at us.
One second left.
“Well? What’s your answer?”
“P-please, Mr. Jade! Beat these guys to a pulp!”
“Good choice.”
In an instant, I unleashed a flurry of punches at supersonic speed.
The resulting shockwave from the acceleration blasted the thugs into the sky, scattering them like leaves.
“Don’t expect mercy after attacking a woman.”
