Dragon's Nest

Good work, everyone.

Haa... Ria welcoming us like that... I can feel the mission fatigue melting away.

Right? Ria always felt a bit scary before.

S-Sniff...! Thank you, Miss Ria!

What are you all saying? I'm simply glad there are finally people here to work.

W-Work...ers?

Out of the frying pan, into the fire...

This is no time for whining. If business were slow like before, maybe.

But think of my position, having to handle the extra guests, thanks to you, by myself.

Never thought all that monster hunting would come back to bite us like this...

Growth comes with pain, you know. Heh!

Hey, why are you talking like you're not involved? Ria! Pile the work on her too!

...As I always say, Morgana is doing her share in her own way.

Besides, are you really in any position to order me around?

Ugh...!

I'm honestly speechless. Why is it that no matter how many times I drill it into your head, you never learn?

You were allowed to use this place as a base in exchange for helping with work. Yet you left me here and wandered off...

How exactly did you expect me to manage?

...At least let me wash up before I start.

...I'll give you one hour.

They say ancient dragons are cruel... maybe it's true...

Shh! She'll hear you, Bedi!

Ahem!

L-Let's go wash up, Princess.

S-Should we...?

It's not that I don't recognize your efforts. But this is both a promise and a form of training.

So don't dawdle. Move.

I'm going. See? I'm going...

Hu! Hu! Huu! This sofa is so warm and fluffy!

Speaking of training... since you've regained your original power, you must be stronger now, right, Ria?

An ancient Death Dragon could match the Dragon Lord. Not on my level, of course, but she's strong.

....

Then how about you train us, Ria? I think it'd help a ton.

Great idea! I'm in!

If Miss Ria helps, we can shore up our weak points...!

We'll see.

And why exactly should I...?

S-Sorry...

You should have asked Ria first. This time you two were in the wrong.

That's true. Sorry, Ria.

...I can't spare time to train you since I manage this place, but I do have useful information.

Information?

It could be good training... and helpful to the inn as well. Promise you'll do it, and I'll tell you.

Why would I refuse if we can kill two birds with one stone?

Right. If it's Ria's intel, it'll definitely help...!

Hmm...

You don't like it, Morgana?

That's not it, I finished my cupcake. Could you bring another?

I'll get it for you...!

Don't spoil her, Bedi. Keep it up and she'll turn into a lard-bellied pig Fairy Queen.

Ria, what's this information?

...There's something I've been thinking about.

There's a treasure sleeping in the lands where dragons once lived. You're going to bring it back.

Huh? Lands where dragons lived? Is it safe now?

Of course not. The nests remain.

Meaning... there are dragons there...?

Use the thing between your shoulders. If there's a house, of course there's a homeowner.

So we take down a dragon ourselves and bring back the treasure? We'll be worrying about staying alive before we get any training...

Cowardly as ever. With me here, what's there to worry about?

You'll help us, Morgana?

Naturally. With treasure, I can taste more delicacies. Why would I refuse a buffet?

Mmm... I'm not reassured...

Dragons are less active at night. If you leave now, you should be relatively safe.

Some may still be awake... Handle that yourselves.

...And if we refuse?

Then pack your bags and leave. You're the ones who wanted training.

L-Let's go, Princess...!

Mm... this sort of thing is best done quickly.

Morgana.

What?

There's something important to me there. If it's you, you might be able to find it...

Is that so...? Nothing comes to mind, though...

Some Fairy Queen, know anything at all?

I've lived a very long time. It's not easy to pluck a single slice from an eternity.

...If you do find it, I'm counting on you, Morgana.

I don't know what it is, but if I spot something convincing... fine.

There's a King Slime too...? This nest is bigger than I thought.

Slimes are drawn to mana, right? If Ethan's right... there must be a big dragon here...!

It'll be fine, Bedi. Estheria said so too. The dragon will be sleeping or resting.

I hope you're right...

...? What is it? Do you feel like giving me a piggyback again?

...Don't say it like I enjoy that.

You were staring weirdly.

Because it is weird. Why aren't you whining? You even set out without fuss.

Heh! As if a pig could understand me.

We'll haul back heaps of treasure, then demand delicious food in return. There's a lot to milk here, why would I refuse?

So that's what you meant... And this is the "respected" Fairy Queen...

Just deal with the slimes! They're coming again!

Nice changing the subject...

Good. Let's pass through carefully.

I wonder how long this dragon has slept here.

Who knows. But this region is the innkeeper's domain. As long as we don't cross her, we should be fine.

True... If it were beyond us, Ria wouldn't have sent us.

Even if it wakes, a dragon fresh out of sleep is easy enough to put down.

Got it, you're amazing, we know. Now please be quiet as we pass. We just need the treasure.

R-Right, Miss Morgana. My legs have been shaking for a while...

Same here. I'm way more tense than usual.

We're not fully rested yet, after all...

Honestly, you're scared of everything...! With the Fairy Queen here, why, why... ahh... huuuaaa...

Huh...?

AAAH-CHOOOOOO!!!

Gyaaah! What the hell was that, you idiot!

H-How was that! I handled it, didn't I?

Saying that while sprawled on the floor like a rag...

E-Ethan! Princess! Here... there's a mountain of treasure!

This must be the treasure Ria mentioned, right?

Must be. If it's something that helps the inn, this is it. But...

Ria told you something, didn't she? Isn't there anything else to bring back?

Mmm... no idea?

If it were Morgana, she'd have already grabbed it. When it counts, Morgana gets it done.

Eh...? I really don't...

Right. If there were something, there's no way Morgana wouldn't know.

....

Heh, so you finally recognize my greatness...!

Didn't you go silent for a second there...?

Yeah. Not a total loss for once. When do things ever go this smoothly for us...

All right! Let's head back!

Good work!

What do you think you're doing?

Huuuwaah!!! Ria is mad!

D-Did we get it wrong...?

"Get it wrong"? When did I ever say I needed money?

But... this is treasure too...

...I was a fool to expect anything.

It's all this pig's fault. I said we should look around more, but he got excited and wouldn't listen.

Wha?!

What are you babbling about, you damn brat! You were the most excited!

...It seems you all need discipline.

Eeeek!!

C-Calm down. If we fight here, the whole inn will come down.

...! That's...

I get that you're upset, but the past is the past. We fought ourselves half to death and we're about to collapse here. Cut us some slack.

Sniff... He's right... I might faint...

I'm at my limit too...

Estheria, what we brought will still help everyone. Isn't that enough?

Yeah. It's been a while since we pulled off something this big! And you didn't exactly spell things out either.

Mm...

I see... It was my mistake, assuming you'd know my heart. I thought at least Morgana would understand.

Of course I understood! That's why I picked up some gems! I helped in the fight too!

Sigh...

D-Don't be too down, Estheria. We can go back and fetch it.

R-Right...! I'll go right now!

What should we bring?

Forget it. It's not worth going that far for...

...Perhaps it's fate. I'll leave those memories there.

What was it that got you so worked up you almost revealed your true form...?

An old recipe I wrote down long ago...

No, forget it.

A recipe...?! Why didn't you say so!

...?

Go back! We have to go back and dig through those ruined mountains until we find it!

Hey... saying that won't...

Come on! The distilled essence of the innkeeper's hard-honed cuisine is there!!

Quit being unreasonable. Whose fault is it you forgot in the first place?

...Pfft.

Huh...?

Estheria?

Ah, it's nothing. Watching you all, I'm so exasperated I can't even be mad anymore.

Still, you did bring back funds that will help run the inn...

So I'll make you roast pig.

Yaaay! Can't wait!

Heh, to the table!

Spineless as ever. You change tune faster than flipping a hand.

Anyway... I'm glad you're feeling better, Estheria.

I'm not "better." I've given up.

I don't know the details, but... I think memories ultimately mean the present. This moment will become a memory too.

If you don't mind, want to compile the recipes for the dishes we make here? I'll help.

That...

That's... a useful idea.