Chapter 8: Guardian knight vs. Fire dragon King

Guardian knights are hononary positions, they are not like other servants as they are usually from noble families themselves. You can think of them as Knight captains for noble kids.

One of the most common bed time stories for children of both nobles and commoners is about commoner boy who fell in love with noble girl and so he trained his body until he was strong enough to surpass all hardships and became Guardian knight of his beloved lady. The ending says that they lived happily together for the rest of their lives.
Sadly there is no information if he married her or stayed a knight for the rest of his life, but that's just a detail. So sometimes, being given such an important role, while your rank is low, is seen as proposal.

That being said, sound of grinding teeth kept me in reality.

"Isn't this a little... um, too high of a position all of the suddden?"

"No need to worry so much. The princess will arrive in one week. She will be given villa right next to your mansion so your job will be quite easy."

The king smiled, patted my shoulder and whispered: "Also the king of Sorcery kingdom knows about your engagement to Victina."

"It will be fine Leo! Risa is amazing and nice girl!" Victina smiled.

"You are friends, I see," I smiled and was met with Victina's nodding. "I understand your majesty, I will do as you ask. The Dragonrose household shall make sure nothing happens to princess Gloriosa."

"Good answear. Get in touch with my brother, he will give you all informations," the king smiled and left the room.

"So Risa will be comming here huh? Whatever, I don't care anymore," Rinbell whispered with murky light in his blue eyes.

"Whoa dude! A guardian knight before even becoming adult! That's so awsome!" Perceval smacked my back the moment he was let in the room with the rest of the S class.

As I looked over everyone, I noticed that Carolina was glaring, Orion and Lionel were full of spite and the rest were just like Perceval, trying to get a little of the fame for themselves.

"You are little close," Kiira jumped between us.

"Oh, c'mon miss third place! No need to be so pushy!" Perceval smiled, but his intentions were clear as day to us.

In the moment Kiira was just about to slice him up with her magic edge-coated fingernail, miss Kolineli spoke up.

"Well, this all was surprising, but now is time to show you around the academy so please follow me!"

I patted Kiira's shoulder to calm her down and followed the teacher. No need to say that most of our class, who were in close connection with me followed closely after us.

"Here is the main building. As you already know, the auditorium you were in in the morning is connected to this building with the bridge that is only usable for teachers and members of S class and A class. In the auditorium you will have lectures that don't involve physical actions apart from taking notes."

Miss Kolineli showed us to the main building and continued her explanation: "The main building have home rooms and basic classes such as magic theory, mercantile, politics and such. You all have predeterminated basic classes so the list of free classes is only thing you need to worry about."

After that we recieved notebook with all the classes.

"As you can see, you can graduate with only taking predeterminated classes, but it's recommended for you to take at least five free classes per year."

It's to keep our image as the best students huh?

I listed through the notebook and found out that there is one magic training class and then separated magic theory classes for every magic category.

"I see, magic classes are free to take fufufu."

"Oh, no... Leo is going wild..."

"He's gonna do something crazy again..."

I instantly marked all of the classes for Light, Darkness, Metal, Nature, Void, Holy, Psychic, Summoning and Ghost magic categories.

"Sir Leo, but you can't weild any of those magics, am I correct?" Victina peaked over my shoulder.

"Yes, why should I learn about something I already mastered? Taking things easy woudn't give us nice look."

"So you've mastered all of atributes you have affinity for?!" Victina's eyes turned into two giant hearts.

"But of course, I feel competent with usage of my basic magics as well as the other magic classes I posses," I gave her big smile.

"To master not just space magic but also all other affinities you have, as expected of you Leo!" Victina's heart shaped eyes grow even bigger.

"He's just playing big isn't he?" Orion whispered to his attendant.

"I haven't detected any falsehoods, sir," Elyon answeared in same low voice to which Orion just klicked his tongue.

Why are everyone so spiteful here?! I haven't do anything yet! Wait... is it becouse I defeated that disciplinary comitee captain so easily?

"Well, let's continue, to your home room. There we will meet every morning before classes."

As miss Kalineli finished her speach we entered the class in the third floor. The seats were divided to two lines with three chairs in the highest place.

"That looks almost like a throne don't you think?" Kiira whispered to Taru, but Victina overheared her.

"To sit on throne with Leo... fufufu... interesting idea."

Hold on, I'm not becoming king or anything like that 'kay? My secret plea was only met with faces of the girls in their delusions. Oh no...

I walked up to the top floor and took the seat in the middle.

Although it couldn't be seen from the lower place, the topmost seat actually had two chairs right next to each other, and the desk was also wider then normal desk of my classmates.

So the second seat is for that princess huh?

After a short break we returned to look around the campus and those who didn't have place to stay in capital headed to dorms.

"Fuu... that was a long day," I sighed in the carriage.

"I'm beat..." Kiira wobbled like jelly on her seat.

"Me too," Taru added.

"Me three," Alette said with strangely satisfied expression.

"So, you're really moving in with us?" I asked rather useless question.

"Yes. And Nina will come in three days too," she smiled and placed her head on my shoulder.

"Yeah, I forgot about that... better get prepared for that..."

Later in the evening we had celebratory diner after it I went over all letters I recieved today and I started adjusting my classes.

One week have ten days in this world. That means that the school is open seven days and the remaining three are free days. Speaking of days, every single one have it's own name corresponding to one element. It goes like this: Light, Fire, Wind, Earth, Water, Ice, Lightning, Nature and Darkness.

As far as the classes go, I kept the noble curriculum together in two first days (Light, Fire).

The Wind, Earth and Water days I dedicate to magic studies, mercantile and politics.

Finally the last two days I dedicated to Knight studies for Ice day and Summoning, taming and magical beast care for the last Lightning day.

"Lord Leo, sir Idra came to see you," Daika bowed in the doors.

Seems like she's getting used to her role as a maid...

"Let him in Daika."

"Understood my lord," she bowed again and left the room.

Instead of her, the volcanic dragonfolk came in. His eyes burned with fiery passion like in the stories dad told me about.

His strong presence made him feel like a giant. He took strong determinated steps towards me... and fell into dogeza.

What?

"Lord Leo! During last few days I got to feel the strenght and devotion of your soldiers and I have decided!" He looked up at me seeking permission to continue.

"Speak, I will hear you out." What the heck did you do to him?

"Thank you! I, Idra Morante, the Blazing blade, swear my undying loyalty to you. I would be happy to work under someone as strong as you, but I'm ashamed to admit that I have a favor to ask."

"Ask away, if it's something in my power I shall grant it to you."

"I know it will be a lot to ask, but could you help me find my daughter? She's brightminded girl and I'm sure she would be as helpful as I am!"

"Finding a missing person? It won't be easy, but I guess I could ask few contacts. Tell me more about her."

Truth is, I asked Torren from Gunther slave company, where I bought Taru and Goli to keep sending me information about interesting slaves. So far I didn't find any interesting people. Though Purple haired volcanic dragonfolk or Harpy that can speak human language are certainly unique.

"My daughter is half volcanic and half sea dragonfolk. She have purple hairs and red scales."

Hold up!

"I see. Allow me a question, is her name Lanlong?"

"H-how do you know?"

I took out papers Torren send me and took out the one on the top. I handed it to Idra and when he saw face of the person on the picture he started crying.

"The auction is starting in two hours. Setto prepare my carriage ASAP. Daika inform Kiira and the rest that I will be going out for a while, as for the reason... green beans."

"Uh... understood master," Daika who was standing behind doors until now was surprised by my fake reason for going out, but still went to complete her task.

♦

While Leo was preparing for late evening auction, Kiira, Taru, Alette and Amane had their own little —girl only— party.

"Uuu, that princess... she's such a classic magic geek, such a wierd trope..." Kiira sighed as she was trimming Amane's hairs.

"I hope you won't be giving us tropes too, Kiira."

"Well it's not like I have to, but it's good to know who to be wary of."

"If anything, it's good thing we don't have some of the dangerous tropes here right?" Taru smiled as she took a sip of her tea.

"Yeah..." Kiira looked little sideways as she remembered one certain girl which wrote Leo a love letter years ago and now was in class A, just one class beneath them.

If she tries something while we are in school... I will finish her for sure this time, Kiira thought angrily.

"Sometimes you two talk about the weirdest things you know that? Well, anyway what do you think about that Guardian knight position?"

"I feel pitty for anyone who dares to go against Leo to be honest," Taru smiled broadly and innocently.

"Well, they will either get turned to stone or get their skills taken, I would never wanted to go through that. Worst case scenario, Leo get's angry," Kiira shivered a little.

"Getting angry is worst case?" Alette looked surprised.

"You never saw him angry, so it's understandible," Kiira smiled and continued trimming Amane's hairs.

"Well, then it's for a best to give lord Leo a lot of hugs so he won't get angry, right?" Amane looked up at Kiira.

"She's so cute," Kiira smiled and hugged the girl on her lap.

"But... what if it becomes like in the stories. Princess and her guard eloping and getting married..." Taru got little red.

"Please! Did you see her? Little and wide like a dwarf without a beard. That's not your classical trope," Kiira laughed it off as if it was something that could never happen.

In that moment there was a knock and Daika entered the room.

"Sorry for the intrusion, I came with message from lord Leo."

"Daika, come join us!" Taru patted place right next to her.

"B-but I'm still working... and the message."

"Oh, come on, Daika. You've seen Leo's space magic so you should've guessed that he already informed us."

"Huh? But... why did he send me here then?"

"Becouse he knew you refused coming here when we invited you," Kiira moved with speed of lightning behind Daika, "You won't be leaving us so soon now, would you?" Kiira smiled in a way that forced Daika to follow her.

Now, all of them were sitting on the cussions spread on the ground, sipping tea.

"Um... this feels..."

"Relax already! Let's have a girl talk!" Taru smiled and patted Daika's back.

"Well... that's easy to say... but I'm still a slave..."

"Well, I was a slave too," Kiira sipped her tea nonchalantly.

"Yeah, me and Goli were slaves too," Taru said with big smile.

"M-Miss Kiira was a slave too?"

"What's so suprising? You don't know how red haired elves are treated in the Elvieren duchy?"

"Well, you were there only for less then three years so you don't remember much I could say," Taru smiled smugly and added sugar cube (Leo's invention in this world) to her tea.

"No, I remember something. My mothers words," Kiira got dark look in her eyes.

"Oh, yeah, Leo told us that the thing that happened at the exams. You saw her didn't you?" Alette shifted her position towards Kiira.

"Yes, I did saw her. She still works for duke Elvieren as a maid. But it's not time to meet her yet," an evil grin appeared on Kiira's face.

"Wh-what are you planning?"

"Well, I can already use three diferent element spirits so after I master using another two or three, I'm going to duel that snotty shithead of a brother Orion."

"WHAT?! Orion's your brother?!"

"Didn't I tell you? Duke Elvieren's my father... well, at least that's what that woman said to me."

"This is..." Alette bite her lower lip, "If the elves find out..."

"He will definitely want to bring me back. Fufufu... but you know what Leo said right? There's no way I would ever entered that forest again, heheheh."

"Kiira's going to turn into villain one day..." Allete sighed.

"Isn't she one already?" Taru added.

"Oh hush!" Kiira smiled and sipped her tea.

"Great this is our first time having girl only party and you already broke our guest," Alette patted the ever confued Daika.

"Well, if I may... Lord Leo informed you about his real intentions for today?"

"He went to slave auction."

"What?!" Daika got surprised again.

"He said something about Idra's lost family member and cover purchase... so he will probably be back with three to four slaves."

"But... wouldn't that ruin his image before other nobles?" Daika asked a question typical for noble, like she used to be.

"Normaly yes, but Leo is known for it already. After all it's no secret that four of his strongest follower are former slaves. Plus many people belived that we will be only adventurers, Silver ranked at best for most of our lives, but as you know, we are dragon slayers now. Well, Leo is, but we got some good punches in too!"

"I must work on my physical strenght, if someone do what that dragon did, then I have to be able to protect myself. I can't be always the one protected after all!" Taru rised her fist towards the cieling.

"Well, that goes for all of us. Will you join us on next dongeon dive, Daika?" Kiira asked.

"Eh? Me? But why? I'm not that strong... I'm only level 12 and I can't use any special spells... my physical abilities are also pretty low..."

"Well, Leo isn't someone who would care about such a thing anyway," Kiira smiled.

After that the girls continued to talk about many different things until Leo returned with his company and they decided to go to sleep.

In his bed of course.

♦

The auction went without a hich. I bought Lanlong, who was still little distrustful and distancive not just from me, but anyone who wasn't from Volcanic Dragonfolk race. Alongside her, I bought four human girls and one boy. Said boy had black eyes and white hairs. He wasn't much to look at (Kiira's words) but he could work as a gardener right away, he even had perfect skills for it.

"Uaah! That was a long night again..." I yawned as I sit to table and looked through morning news and letters that arrived with them.

"Uh... there are so many tea party invitations... this sucks..."

"You are still in great demand as always master," Ruzu smiled.

"Yeah, yeah. I don't really want to be demanded like this... if I accept one, they will take it as marriage proposal... damn it all... this one's from duke's daughter, can't turn it off that easily, damn it... ...Oh, before I forgot, how are our new recruits?"

"They were taking bath in the morning. They are still confused as they get to sleep in beds and eat decent meal. They will be whiped into fine servants under Tina and Setto."

"Just don't break them please... I just bought them and they weren't cheep."

"No need to worry! They will be fine!" Ruzu smiled broadly.

"And one more thing, how's Lanlong doing?"

"Well... she and her father are okay... she is recovering slowly. It seems like some atrocities were done to her... She was probably raped many times. Also, her horns were cut off."

For dragonfolks, horns are sign of their draconic ancestory, that's why loosing them is like loosing their own identity. Sometimes, they loose their magic powers and physical power becouse of the loss of horns.

"There's not much we can do, right?"

"Sir? May I enter?" Idra suddenly poke his head through the doors.

"Idra? Yes, do come in."

Moment after I gave my permision, Idra entered. Huh? Purple hairs? Is Lanlong hiden behind him?

"Sir, I came here to introduce my daughter properly."

"Tha-thanks... for...buying...me..." she said with fear in her tone. Her purple waist-long hair sparkled in the morning sun as they were clean of all dirt and grime.

"No problem, focus on recovery for now. After that get in touch with Tina about your work here."

"Sir... I...can't...will hurt... someone... I...I don't...w-want to...hurt again."

Hurt again? Does she have some kind of curse on her? Or bad skill?

Name: Lanlong Morante
Level: 29
Race: Ashen Dragonfolk
Titles: Burning witch, Cursed witch, Slave of Leonard Dragonrose

Skills:

Supreme: Crimson magic (2), Crate wing (3), Fly (3), Dragon breath (3), Iron stomach (1)

Extra rare: Increased mana recovery (4), Magic manipulation (4), Space magic (1), Paralyze imunity, Poison imunity, Disease resistance (6)

Rare: Fire magic (5)

Uncommon: Quick feet (1), Etique (5), Hereditary (5), Sense temperature (3), Iron skin (2)

Common: Leap (2), Kick (2), Hand to hand combat (2), Keen hearing (3), Spearmanship (1), Cooking (10)

Blessings: Culinary god (5), Dragonfolk god (2)

[Curse: Fire dragon King's curse (Effect: burns everything person touches. Flames of this curse burns body and soul, hard to recover, for every completly burned soul part of the curse owner's soul burns too) Resisting the curse is not possible without blessing of water goddess and Fire god, both at least level 5]

"I see. You have curse on you."

"Ah!" Lanlong flinched and covered behind her father.

I still remember the feeling of divine power flowing through me when I entered the Apostole state, and I learned little about holy magic from Taru too... maybe I could dispell the curse...

I warped behind the father-daughter duo and placed my hand on her shoulder.

In that moment a vortex of black flames enveloped me. Somehow it felt like I angered the Fire dragon King and it's eyes stabbed into me.

"Ho, I never thought there would be human so foolish to challange me," the Fire dragon King laughed, suprising me with his cold sneer.

"Say what you want, I'm taking the curse down now," I said as I started to suck Lanlong's SP. Somehow, I got a feeling I can do this if I use Skill extraction and SP absorbing skills.

"Are you trying to kill the girl? Hah! Be my guest puny human!"

"I think you misinterpreted me, Fire dragon King," I smiled as I find what I was looking for.

"What? Huh? You're... don't tell me, you..."

"Wasn't it little dumb to plant part of your soul into the girl?"

"H-how did you find out? Are you really a human?!" the fire dragon king, now terrified, looked into my eyes, which shone with golden light.

"Ch-chalice shaped pupils?! And that hint of light blue color in that gold... you are an apostle?!"

"Took you long enough to realized that," I laughed.

"Urgh... fine! You win this time! But I will be back! Mark my words!" the Fire dragon King threaten as he cut of the link between his soul and the part he planted in the girl.

With that over, I sucked out the remaining parts of the curse into skill orb and crushed it.

"Fuu, that was really something, never though I would find part of Fire dragon King's soul in her."

"Lani! Lani!" Idra hold his daughter, who collapsed.

"I removed the curse... fuu... that was really something, here I will give her little energy," I placed my hand on her back in place where her heart was and send her little SP. I mean, I practically sucked those people from Golden Quince dry. One hundread SP or two won't matter that much.

"Fa, father?"

"Lani! Don't move much! Master Leo removed your curse, you should take some rest."

"Dont worry father... I feel fine now... I heard lord Leo... and felt him... Lord Leo," Lanlong reached for my hand, "I swear to repay this debt for the rest of my life."

'Profeciency level met. Individual [Lanlong Morante]'s loyalty is maximal level. Due to loyalty being maximal level, unique skill [Soul binding] now established path between the owner and individual [Lanlong Morante]'

"Just rest for now," I smiled at her while sweating profoundly. How am I going to explain this to Kiira and the rest...

I let them go rest and called over Kiira with Taru.

"Well, I wanted to talk with you too, Leo." Kiira smiled at me.

She slowly walked to my chair, grabed me from over the table and pulled me right before her face.

"Care to explain why I felt you connecting to another girl with Soul binding?" her freezingly cold smile stabbed better than any knife.

"I... I just tried to lift the curse on her becouse I had the blessings needed to resist the curse! I never thought that it would end up like that!"

"Kiira, it's fine~ Relax~"

"Aren't you too calm about this Taru?!" Kiira snaped at Taru while still holding me.

"Well, think about it~ More allies we get to marry Leo now, the lower power will the ones from political marriage have~"

"Did you put something in your coffee this morning?" I asked looking at the weird state Taru was in right now.

"I don't know... but... she's kinda right..." Kiira turned little red, "But next time you do something like this, call us over first!"

"Yes. I will!"

"Great~ working together is much better~"

"Taru tell me, did you ate anything weird today?"

"I was training Scale cover~ but when the scales starts shedding, it hurts~ So I take that red pill~ The ultimate pain killer~"

"Oh, shit."

"Leo?" Kiira, who's just released me looked at me again.

"Taru's talking about the All-purpose medicine I was trying to make. Most of it failed and I destroyed them with Space magic. The red pill she's talking about is only one that was working. So I kept it in underground safe... seems like the effects differ from race to race. For me it's just your typical run-of-the-mill pain killer, but it seems like Taru got really high after it. Damn it."

"This is... urgh... I will call Alette to cast [Detoxify] on her," Kiira had somewhat sour look on her face.

I really need to get light magic soon, I thought when I saw Alette skillfully healing Taru.

"Well, this took wind from my sails..."

In that moment, there was a knock and Setto entered the room.

"Count-sama, knight captain and her daughter came for an audience with you."

"Eh? Why? Is it becouse of the opening ceremony?"

"Probably."

"Most likely~"

"Can't see other reason."

The girls shrugged.

"Well, let them in. Tina could I ask you to prepare some tea?"

"We won't be serving coffee, sir?" Tina got surprised as she was a big coffee fan nowadays.

"It's not widely spread yet so just tea will be fine."

"Understood, sir Leo," Tina bowed and went to adjacent room, where we had small kitchen.

After a while, both of them entered the room and I guided them to sofa in one corner of the room.

"So, lady Génin, could I trouble you for a reason of your sudden visit?" I adressed the knight captain, completly ignoring how much beaten up her daughter was. Is her regeneration ability not working?

"The reason for me coming here is simple. I want my daughter to be your apprentice."

"What?"

"It's customary for us, the Trolls, to learn under stronger person until we became adults. For me it was your father actually."

"Oh, I see. So you want me to train up your daughter while we are in school?"

"More or less, yes."

"I don't see the problem why, I'm already training miss Victina and miss Lulu, I belive one more person wouldn't be a problem."

"I see, thank you, sir Dragonrose. Now, Alaida, speak up," knight captain looked at her daughter.

"I-I'm sorry for my rash acting on the entering ceremony..." she took of her hat, which until now hide her eyes.

Oh, no, moist eyes... don't tell me...

"I got too full of myself and failed as a captain of disciplinary comitee. So! I officially resingn my position in your favor!" She bowed while sitting, pushing the captain hat towards me.

"Captain... of disciplinary comitee?" Kiira whispered behind me and I was dead sure all three of them were deep in their delusions again.

"Miss Alaida, I can't accept your resignation just becouse you lost in our duel. After all, the disciplinary comitee members wouldn't be happy with that either. Keep your position, please," I smiled at her and sipped my tea nervously.

"But... I can't..."

"What about a compromise then?" Kiira claped her hands with a bright smile.

Everyone in the room looked at her.

"Leo is set to become Guardian knight of the princess of Sorcery kingdom right? That means he can't at the same time be captain of disciplinary comitee. But, your apology is not to be discarted, miss Alaida. Leo will become vice-captain, and his duties will be shorten for the time he performs as a Guardian knight. Also it would be wise to contact his majesty and school principal," Kiira smiled.

She's planing something.

Having reach somewhat of a conclusion we spend some time chatting idly until we decided to split up.

Afterwards, me with Nina, Kiira, Taru and Alette split up to attend tea parties of other noble ladies and we used that time to advertise our sweets and magic items.