Scheme (7)

Disgusting. It really feels disgusting.
But, well, at least with this I can postpone my hunger for a while.
Alright, now it's time to ask for my payment.
I immediately spread my pitch-black wings and flew straight away.
I expanded my detection senses within a one-kilometer radius and immediately found where that little girl was.
Perhaps by now that little girl has already conveyed my message to the villagers.
So I immediately flew there. It didn't take long for me to reach their location.
I found them gathered at the edge of the forest.
Still in a flying state, I said, "The deadline is tomorrow noon. I will be waiting for you at my house."
***
In the village chief's half-destroyed house, five people could be seen sitting gathered in front of a dining table.
"What have you done, Aira?!"
"It's just that, I wanted to save big sister!"
The two sisters appeared to be crying and hugging each other.
Beside them, a middle-aged man who was the village chief, tried to calm the two orphaned girls.
"Calm down Lyra, Aira did nothing wrong at all."
"That's right," added the man wearing iron armor, that was the knight Captain, Nicholas. "If I were in that girl's position, maybe I would have done the same thing. I'm sorry for my lack of strength," Nicholas continued while lowering his head.
"No, Captain! That's not your fault alone! We were also very useless this time," said the Lieutenant sitting beside Nicholas.
The village chief shook his head.
"This is nobody's fault. If being unable to protect someone is a sin, then I'm also guilty for not being able to protect my own people. Besides, this isn't the time to blame others."
"Yes, you're right, village chief," said Nicholas, then he continued. "So, Aira, right? Can you tell us once more about your encounter with that black dragon and what its demands are?"
Aira, whose eyes were still swollen from crying, nodded once before starting to tell her story.
"So, when I was running into the forest..."
***
"So, what is your wish, little girl?"
"Sir..." she whispered almost inaudibly, then gathered her courage. "Great Dragon Sir, I beg for help. My sister... and my village were attacked. They all... they will all die."
The dragon raised its head, its nose sniffing the air.
Its red eyes narrowed, as if weighing things. Though actually it was just pretending to think. It remained silent for a long time, only the sound of its heavy breathing could be heard.
"Hmm," it murmured softly, more to itself. "Of course, but there's a price."
"W-What is it?"
"An offering. Food."
"Fo-Food?!" After Aira heard that request, her heart pounded hard. What did it mean? "I-Is... that... humans?"
The dragon then looked directly at her."Humans? Yes, that's right, but my standards are very high." The black dragon paused for a moment before continuing. "I only eat pure maidens who meet all these requirements: A pure maiden who is old enough, but has never been touched by any man except her father. A maiden who is pure from all forms of emotion. She has never felt anger, sadness, or even excessive joy. A maiden who is pure from all forms of words. She has never uttered a single word since birth. Her mind is pure and has never been tainted by the intention to lie or curse."
Aira couldn't say anything when she heard the dragon's request which sounded very impossible.
However, the dragon wasn't finished yet.
"If you don't have that, I will give you another option. Give me three hundred fat cattle and three hundred chickens that are already roasted. It's just that, if you're caught hiding that pure maiden, you will know the consequences."
***
"A pure maiden who meets all those requirements? That's very impossible! Then, the other option is three hundred cattle and chickens that are already roasted? Unfortunately our village doesn't have that many resources, especially after what happened earlier, there's almost nothing left," said the village chief while massaging his temples. His face looked pale and filled with worry.
Nicholas patted the village chief's shoulder, trying to calm him. "Don't worry, Village Chief. We will also help and try to fulfill this demand." He then turned to his subordinate, "Now, since we don't have much time, I will return to report this to the King. Lieutenant, you and several others will stay here to help the villagers repair the village."
"Yes, Captain!" answered the Lieutenant firmly, immediately taking a respectful stance.
***
Uh, the taste sensation remaining in my mouth is really unpleasant.
But, well, at least tomorrow I will have a big meal, and finally I can really eat well.
Ah, roasted beef.
Yes, I really want to eat it.
I'm already very impatient.
I also deliberately gave impossible requirements about the criteria for humans I would eat.
So I can be at ease and don't need to worry they will give me a human offering.
Alright, since I've already eaten, I should sleep soon so time passes quickly.
I'm really impatient for tomorrow.
Ah, roasted beef~