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Ding.
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[Quest: Rescue Count Edward Naone]
―The head of the Naone family has been kidnapped.
―Rescue him safely.
―Reward: 25K Mana Points (x2)
―Failure: Reset of Achievement Stats
=====
This happened in the previous playthrough as well.
In the first semester of 5th grade.
The Marino Empire's spy organization kidnapped Davian's father.
The reason, of course, was.
To win Davian over.
'I suffered quite a bit.'
They had set up so many layers of traps.
It was one of the most difficult quests.
'The quest appeared three years earlier than in the previous playthrough, but it's not incomprehensible.'
Compared to the previous playthrough, I've been much more involved with the Marino Empire's spy organization and thwarted their plans.
It's not surprising that the father kidnapping quest appeared now.
However.
For some reason.
I had a feeling that it wouldn't be as difficult this time.
"Mons, let's go."
"Yes! Young Master."
Liber 벌떡 stood up.
"We're going too!"
"Where?"
"Your father's been kidnapped!"
"You guys have to go to class. You'll get demerits."
"But..."
Could I have more reliable friends than these?
However.
This is not a situation where I need help at all.
"It's okay. Mons and I are enough. You guys stay here."
"Davian...!"
"It's okay, I said. It's just kidnappers. Do you think I can't handle those guys?"
Of course, the opponents are not just kidnappers.
The spy organization of the Marino Empire.
But Davian, too.
He's not the same as before.
"I, is that so?"
My friends began to agree one by one.
"Well, if it's Davian..."
"What if we all rush in and Davian's father gets hurt?"
"Right? Davian will quietly and safely rescue him on his own."
"Of course, it's Davian."
Davian opened the front door and said to Bellus.
"Bellus, don't let the kids stay here too late and send them home early. You get some rest too."
"Yes? Ah. I'm fine, Brother."
Then.
"I'm going too."
Insanis stood up.
'There's no point in stopping him.'
Well, it's not bad to have him along.
Black Dragon Insanis.
An unbelievably strong helper.
Of course, since dragons always keep their word.
He said he wouldn't harm humans anymore, so he wouldn't be of much help.
I left the door with Mons and Insanis.
"You."
"Yes? Ah, I am Mons, the young master's attendant."
"That clothing. It's made from the fur of a Cream Dragon. The seams are quite good too."
"Ah... I received it as a gift from Glacier."
"Glacier? Is Glacier active in the human realm now?"
"Yes. Our young master is Glacier's contractor."
Insanis turned to look at Davian.
"You were Glacier's contractor?"
"Yes."
"Summon him. If you are this strong, I can't imagine how much influence Glacier can exert in the human realm."
"He's currently in a distant dimension."
"A distant dimension?"
"It's a long story. I'll tell you later."
"I see."
Then.
Latia ran towards Davian and the others.
"Davian!"
"What's wrong?"
"I'm going too."
"Suddenly?"
"You saved my father too. I can't just stand by and do nothing. I'll go with you."
"Okay."
Latia tilted her head.
Her blonde hair swayed.
"Just like that?"
"What do you mean?"
"You told us not to follow. The other kids."
"Ah, I was worried everyone would come. It doesn't matter if one or two more people go."
"Ah... is that it? Just because of that?"
Latia looked somewhat disappointed.
Insanis, watching her, put his hands behind his back.
"That look on humans. It's been a while."
Latia asked.
Still not letting her guard down against Insanis.
"What look?"
"The look you're showing."
"What kind of look am I showing...!? It's nothing."
Latia, who was about to argue, shut her mouth.
She suddenly had a feeling that if she argued any further.
This old man might notice something and say something embarrassing.
"Mons, give me the letter."
"Yes, Young Master. Here it is."
I unfolded the letter that was on my desk.
Along with the news that my father had been kidnapped.
There was a map of the southern Bure Plains.
It kindly showed the way.
It's the same as the previous playthrough.
"Did you confirm with the family too?"
"Yes. I confirmed with the second young master using the magic device. It's true that the head of the family has disappeared."
"Let's go, to the Bure Plains."
Latia asked.
"Are we going right away? Do you have any plans? A rescue plan."
"Plan?"
"Yeah. A plan. You're not usually the type to go straight there without a plan. Could it be because your father was kidnapped? Calm down, Davian. If you make a plan calmly, you'll be able to rescue your father safely."
Davian was always the type to think and plan before acting.
But it was strange that this time he was saying he would go straight to the Bure Plains.
Latia was worried that he might have lost his composure because of his father.
"I have a plan. Don't worry."
"Ah, is that so? That's a relief."
Rescue plan?
I have one.
Go there.
And smash everything.
A village at the northeastern entrance of the Bure Plains.
The village has a total population of only about 50 people.
"Where are they saying they're at?"
"They're almost here."
"Tell everyone to be alert and prepare. He's a formidable opponent."
"Yes. Everyone is thoroughly prepared, so don't worry too much."
"We must kill him and eliminate him."
In fact.
This was a deserted village except for a few elderly people.
The 50 or so people currently residing in this village, or rather.
Pretending to reside, are all members of the Marino Empire's base X-11 special mission unit.
The few remaining elderly people were killed after refusing to leave for other villages.
"If we lose the credit this time, the special mission unit might disappear completely."
"We know."
"This time, we must clearly show that our special mission unit is the organization that will lead the base."
"Yes, Commander."
"Young Master. There's a village over there. Let's stop by for a while to get some food."
"Alright, Mons."
Davian and his party entered the village.
A peaceful-looking village.
As it was getting close to lunchtime, smoke and delicious smells were rising from the chimneys here and there.
"I'll go find a place to eat."
"No, Mons."
"Aren't you hungry?"
"If we just walk along this road... oh, there. Someone's coming out."
A middle-aged woman with a kind expression suddenly appeared from behind a building.
She greeted Davian and his party as she passed by with a basket of potatoes.
"Are you travelers?"
"Yes."
[You are lying.]
Dragon Speech.
Davian shook his head.
Don't use that legendary Dragon Speech.
For such trivial conversations.
"I know too."
Insanis thankfully answered this time with his own voice, not with Dragon Speech.
"Oh, of course. I knew it. There's no way the strongest human I know would fall for such a shallow trick."
Slightly startled.
Sorry, Insanis.
The strongest human you know.
Almost died here last time because I was fooled by these guys.
Of course.
That's not going to happen now.
"What are you two talking about?"
Latia interjected.
"It's nothing."
"Anyway, he's a strange old man..."
Unlike Davian's first impression, the strange old man.
Fortunately, he was lenient in his assessment of himself.
"Pretty human. I am not a strange old man."
Pretty child, pretty girl, pretty student, and recently, even pretty woman.
Latia had heard the adjective "pretty" countless times.
But the words "pretty human" were a first.
"Anyway, he's strange..."
Davian nudged Insanis in the side.
"Oops."
An unconscious act that came out because I had been a little more comfortable for a few days.
The opponent is the Black Dragon, Insanis, who was once a Mad Dragon.
The one who massacred the senior professors of the Academy.
Contrary to Davian's worries, Insanis looked at Davian as if nothing was wrong.
"Why do you ask?"
Davian whispered.
"Can't you do something about that way of speaking? With the wisdom of a noble dragon, changing your way of speaking shouldn't be a big deal."
"It's not a big deal. But why should I change my way of speaking by being conscious of the gaze of a mere human?"
"Haa... Forget it. Just be a strange old man then."
The middle-aged woman with the potato basket approached.
"It's been a long time since travelers have visited our village. Our village is a very small village where most people run free-range ranches."
Excessive information that wasn't asked for.
A means to ease the other person's wariness.
'Why didn't I notice it back then?'
Davian felt ashamed of himself.
But.
Davian's being fooled in the last playthrough wasn't because Davian was foolish.
It was just that their preparations were so thorough and their acting skills were worthy of a special mission unit.
"Have you had lunch? Oh, why am I asking? All you've had to eat while coming to this deep prairie would have been dried meat or pieces of bread. How about it? Would you like to come to my house and have a meal together? It just so happens that I made a lot of beef and potato soup today. I just need to put out a few more spoons, so don't feel pressured."
Mons looked at Davian's expression.
When Davian nodded slightly.
"My name is Mons. Since you happen to have soup, would you mind if we impose on you? Ah, of course, I'll pay for it."
The middle-aged woman waved her hand.
"Payment? What are you talking about. It's very difficult to see travelers in our village. I'm treating you out of joy, so no payment is necessary. Come, follow me, travelers."
The middle-aged woman walked ahead, carrying the basket.
The way she walked seemed awkward.
'Last time, I just thought it was because the potato basket was heavy.'
In fact.
I didn't notice in the previous life that she was walking like that to avoid revealing her disciplined gait as a martial artist.
In a way, it was natural.
Davian Naone in the previous life.
Was a magician, not a swordsman.
Davian glared at Mons, turning his head for no reason.
Mons looked like he was asking, "Why?"
"Mons, you should have noticed it."
"Yes? What?"
"Never mind."
Then.
"Young Master."
Mons whispered.
"Why?"
"It seems like that woman... has learned swordsmanship."
'Ooh.'
"Really? I can't tell. All I can see is that she's strangely waddling."
"That's... it feels like she's trying to hide something in her gait. Well, I could be wrong. It's just a feeling."
Mons.
You've improved this playthrough too.
Well.
People tend to improve the more they experience.
Then.
Five or six burly men waved their hands high and approached from across the street.
"Jasmine! Is today soup-making day?"
"Oh my! Paul. How did you know? Do you even remember the date of soup-making now?"
"Do I need to make an effort to remember that..."
The man called Paul pointed at his nose with his index finger.
"I can tell just by smelling it."
"He's got a great nose, that's for sure."
"You'll share some with us, right?"
"Of course. The more soup you make, the deeper the flavor becomes."
Jasmine turned to look at Davian and his party.
"Um, travelers. Would it be okay if those young men joined us too? They're sound young men who didn't leave for the big city even at a young age and are protecting the ranch."
Naturally.
The burly men joined the lunch meal.
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