I, Viretta, Am Going to Hunt a Dragon-Chapter 66

When a more realistic reason, rather than friendship or safety, is presented, Iola couldn’t bring himself to argue any further.

If Viretta often had the upper hand…

By now, Viretta had wiped her tears and, with a cough, sat on the bed.

"Ranken, what’s going on? Are you scared? Should I sing you a lullaby?"

"Am I a child? My sister told me to come and confess to you."

Iola, who had been smiling, froze halfway. His lips couldn’t close at the unexpected statement.

Was that advice meant just for him?

Was it not just for him, but something said vaguely, as if it were a general remark?

Or did Ranken have something else he wanted to say?

Dozens of hypotheses flashed through his mind, stiffening Iola instantly. Those dozens of hypotheses branched out into hundreds, filling his head.

The reason Iola’s judgment is always a beat too late is precisely because he has so many thoughts.

"By the way, Iola was here first. Did you confess too?"

"Uh, yes, no, well, yes, depending on the meaning, yes."

Ranken didn’t seem to care anymore and just muttered a "really?" before losing interest.

To him, Iola being in this room wasn’t a remarkable event, nor something to reprimand.

"I thought about it, and I figured it’s better to say it now, like my sister said, so here I am."

Ranken calmly crossed his arms. His face, freshly shaven, looked younger than usual today.

He made a distressed noise, as if struggling with something, and then cautiously spoke.

"At your engagement... I was wondering if I could sit in the groom’s guest seat?"

"Pardon?"

His expression seemed to indicate he was about to discuss something important and personal, but then suddenly, the subject of the engagement guest seats came up.

Of course, it was important and personal, but it was far from what either of them had expected.

Ranken narrowed his eyes, apologetic, and glanced briefly at Iola.

"Your guest seats are crowded with many invited guests. Iola will probably have fewer friends in the Filian family, so it won’t be as crowded. It would be better for me to sit there."

"Ah..."

"If Iola’s guest seat is empty, it would feel awkward, wouldn’t it?"

Ranken gave a sheepish look as he glanced back and forth between Viretta and Iola.

However, that "ah..." wasn’t a response to the engagement at all.

In the dead of night, coming to a lady’s room to confess, and realizing that all he had to confess was just this harsh reality, a groan escaped.

"Was that what you wanted to say? Is that all the confession?"

Ranken, who had been watching Viretta with narrow eyes, dropped his gaze to the side and fell into thought. After a moment of hesitation, he seemed to make a decision and said with a serious expression.

"I’d like the raspberry tart at the engagement to have honey and yogurt in it."

"Honey."

"They say raspberry tarts with honey and yogurt are delicious. I’d like to try one."

"……."

Iola wondered what he was hesitating about. Was that all? Asking for a raspberry tart with honey and yogurt?

While it could be a gourmet treat, in this situation, wasn’t there more to say?

"If it’s too expensive, forget it."

When Viretta didn’t respond, Ranken’s ears reddened, and he looked away.

It was as if he were embarrassed, like a child throwing a tantrum.

As he tried to leave, Viretta waved her hand and pulled him back.

"No, I’ll make it. A raspberry cake with honey and yogurt! Since I don’t know when the engagement will be, I’ll order it when we have the party."

"Really? Thank you. I’m glad I listened to my sister."

Ranken smiled brightly, delighted. His boyish smile, impossible to fake, shone brightly.

The phrase "as my sister said" pricked at Iola for no reason.

The conversation didn’t end there. A man, carrying a chill with him, entered through the door left ajar by Ranken.

Saffron, dressed in home clothes, looked ghostly and mumbled in a shaky voice.

"So, you’re all gathering here again. Am I the only one left out? Heh, I’d probably do the same, though."

"No, come on in. Please, sit on the bed."

As Saffron started to say something dark, Viretta quickly made space for him.

Saffron, dragged by Viretta’s hand, sank onto the bed with a furrowed brow.

"Don’t sit strange men on your bed. You’ll make them think you like them, a terrible misunderstanding."

"Thanks for the concern. It’s cute to think you’d misunderstand my kindness."

It was hard to tell whether he was intentionally being cold or still didn’t like Viretta, but Viretta didn’t dig into it. As long as he wasn’t openly insulting her, that was enough.

She patted the bed, and Iola, who had been standing still, hesitantly sat down. Ranken sat in the chair beside the table, crossing his legs and resting his chin in his hand.

"What’s your business? Came to beg? You can, but let’s just see a dragon. Viretta wants to see one too."

"Heh, you’re mistaken. Starting last night, I’ve decided to actively join this journey. After all, I’m a butcher. It’s your lives on the line, not mine."

Saffron, with his large eyes wide open, and his face shaded, chuckled darkly. He looked every bit like a scheming villain.

Ranken was silently impressed, thinking to himself that Saffron was the perfect fifth member of their group.

Perhaps Viretta... only collects people like this.

Or maybe only those who are flawed fit in on such journeys.

"Ah, right… So what is it?"

"I was told by Moslin to make sure you don’t have any regrets and to confess what you want to say to Viretta."

"…!"

Iola flinched slightly. His eyebrows twitched.

"What confession are you talking about?"

"Well, it might not be something to say in front of others. It’s a personal and embarrassing matter."

Saffron awkwardly twirled a lock of his hair. Viretta turned and gently took his wrist.

"Don’t worry, Saffron. A husband and wife are of one mind, and friends share one soul in two bodies. So, these two are one with me."

"You should speak sense, shouldn’t you…? But, since you’re both going to hear it, I guess it’s good to make it clear now."

What? Viretta and Ranken both tilted their heads in the same direction, and Iola snorted.

"If we get close to the dragon, we might lose our lives, so there’s something I really need to tell you."

Saffron, always slouching, straightened his posture and looked at Viretta with a serious expression.

Iola and Ranken, who didn’t know the backstory, found Saffron’s polite attitude a little strange.

Because of that, the word "marriage!" popped into their minds. It was all because of the mention of marriage by Saffron.

Meanwhile, the word "marriage!" flashed in Viretta’s mind like a lightning bolt as she remembered everything she had discussed with Saffron.

In the dead of night, coming to confess in a lady’s room. It was enough to make one suspicious.

Even without speaking aloud, everyone thought the same, and the atmosphere became tense.

Finally, Saffron spoke.

"When Viretta passes, could you make sure who inherits from me? I’m a little anxious."

"...Heh."

"...Sigh."

"...Heh."

It was indeed a private, somewhat embarrassing question to ask in front of others.

Viretta squinted her eyes, clenched her fist, and Ranken, who had been resting his chin, staggered. Iola, who had been holding his breath, let out a hollow laugh and stood up from the bed.

"I understand."

"Ah, Iola? You must be the fiancé then."

"So I’ve been played by Moslin. I’ll go settle things with her for a bit."

Thinking he had pried into something he shouldn’t have, the three of them, having heard the words, realized it was just a careless remark.

The remaining two, by confessing minor things, made the serious confessions to Viretta seem embarrassing.

The feeling of ruining the mood lingered.

This humiliation and shame would have to be washed away with sweat.

Iola, a seasoned mercenary, swore to seek revenge and closed the door behind him.

"...? What’s going on suddenly?"

"Well, Iola is hard to figure out... Huh, the scream! Iola! What are you doing?!"

In the dead of night, the sound of a top-tier swordsman attacking a lightning mage’s room echoed.

Viretta, deducing the situation from the sounds, jumped up and rushed out to stop Iola.

The night before seeing the dragon. It seemed like it would be a long night.