25-155

EP.155 [The Drake Monster Appearing on the Continent.] 

"Did I surprise you? I didn’t do it to deliberately cause confusion. I was also actually participating in festival security support, and I didn’t want you to feel your entry into Helios was disrupted because of me." 

Victoria von Bayern led the Red Fox delegation into the inner chamber of the arena’s main building. She carefully explained the somewhat confusing circumstances of their meeting. 

Although Victoria is a high-ranking officer and the chief commander of the special quest team, she chose to directly participate in festival security support. The reason is that, as the favored protégé of Kaiser, the supreme commander Antoine de Sel Oblaing, she is rising rapidly through the ranks. Because of this, there could be internal pushback, so Victoria tries to maintain close contact with personnel on the ground to prevent conflict. 

"It’s true we were surprised, but we’re not upset at all! Thanks to you, we got a free pass through two checkpoints!" 

Thomas lightened the mood with his trademark friendliness. In truth, the Red Fox Mercenary Band representatives were still reeling from the dramatic and unexpected meeting with Victoria. 

‘I thought the youngest Sword Expert would be arrogant and aloof, but she’s not like that at all.’ 

Eugene, in particular, was struck by this. Jeanne had given him a special mission: to observe Victoria and her key associates. So Eugene had researched Victoria von Bayern more than his other companions. 

Of course, when he first met the masked blonde woman, it was impossible to imagine she was Victoria von Bayern. But after learning her true identity, Eugene compared the two versions of Victoria. The real Victoria was very different from the image he had of the youngest Sword Expert. 

‘She seems strict, but that’s natural for an Imperial Knight officer. She doesn’t feel like a noble lady-she seems really cool.’ 

Eugene knew well how strong-willed swordsmen could be. Victoria is not only the youngest Sword Expert but also a noble lady of the Court Hand family and the youngest Saber of the Imperial Knights. He expected her ego to be overwhelming. Yet, whether as an ordinary knight or as the commander of the special quest team, Victoria gave off the vibe of a by-the-book knight, nothing more. 

‘Maybe she doesn’t know Jeanne that well?’ 

With that impression, Eugene felt his mission from Jeanne would go smoothly. 

‘Huh?’ 

As Eugene focused on Victoria, he glanced at Marie beside him. 

"Wow... Wow...!" 

Marie was quietly marveling, her eyes sparkling, at Victoria walking ahead. 

"What are you so amazed by, Marie?" 

"Isn’t she amazing, Captain? So beautiful and charismatic..." 

Eugene asked quietly, and the innocent mercenary girl Marie began to gush. "I imagined what Imperial Knights would be like, but she’s even more impressive than I thought... truly amazing..." 

When Victoria wore a mask, it covered most of her face, and she had her hair in a ponytail. The standard uniform was rather plain and lacked the distinctive Imperial Knight flair. But now, in her formal uniform, Victoria’s presence was extraordinary. 

Marie didn’t become a mercenary just for money; she wanted to be a cool, honorable mercenary. Jeanne fit her role model, but Victoria seemed like an unattainable ideal-perfect beyond reach. 

‘Hmm... she really is impressive.’ 

Eugene, who had been focused on his mission, saw Victoria through Marie’s eyes and was also impressed. 

‘Her figure is incredible.’ 

There was a clear difference in background, though. As Victoria walked ahead, guiding them, Eugene finally noticed the curves and fullness of her figure. ‘A little shorter than Mina, a bit taller than Charlotte? Her build is similar to Jeanne’s, fitting for a swordswoman.’ 

She was about 178 cm tall. Since the Imperial Knights don’t have a separate women’s uniform, the outfit emphasized authority and dignity rather than feminine beauty. But Victoria’s body was so curvy that, as someone who had already experienced two women, Eugene could practically see her naked form through her clothes. 

"Wow~ The guest rooms are amazing!" 

Victoria first showed the Red Fox delegation the guest rooms where they’d be staying for several days. There were two rooms assigned: one for Eugene and Thomas, and another for Marie and Priscilla. 

Marie was overwhelmed by the luxury of the room. "How’s your room, Captain?" 

"Same. Spacious, nice furniture." 

"Wow~ This is my first time seeing anything like this!" 

After checking his own room, Eugene joined Marie and Priscilla to check theirs. Marie couldn’t contain her excitement at the first-class accommodations. 

"You must be tired, but things are busy here, so we had to set up the meeting desk right away." 

After unpacking in their assigned rooms, the Red Fox delegation was immediately called to a special quest security meeting room in the arena’s inner quarters, where they met with the Imperial Knights’ special quest team. It was called an introduction, but it was really the prologue to the quest meeting. 

"This is what we wanted, too. We need to understand the quest and make an estimate. We have a lot of other projects ongoing." 

At the table were three from the Imperial Knights and all four Red Fox representatives. Eugene, now in his visual leather armor instead of his travel-worn gear, responded coolly to Victoria’s opening remarks. 

"Understood, Captain Eugene Caesar." 

Victoria smiled slightly at Eugene’s composure-a smile that suggested she was impressed. The opponent wasn’t just any Imperial Knight, but a Saber, a high-ranking officer. Most top mercenary bands would be nervous, but Eugene wasn’t at all. Victoria seemed to see Eugene as a worthy negotiator. She wasn’t there to show off her power, but to get the job done. 

"Let me introduce our team: this is Deputy Commander Farnese of the special quest team, and to my left is supply officer Vincent." 

Victoria introduced the key members of her special quest team. 

"Aha! So it’s about monsters?" 

After the introductions, the real topic of the quest began. Deputy Commander Farnese’s explanation made Thomas realize what was going on. 

‘So it was monsters after all?’ 

Eugene kept his composure, but he was also starting to connect the dots. ‘I didn’t think they’d be so secretive just because of a conflict zone. But monsters are different.’ 

If it were about subduing anti-empire mercenaries or bandits, they would have at least given the quest title. But the Imperial Knights had kept even the basic quest title secret. Eugene suspected it was because of the growing monster outbreaks on the Fedon continent-a matter the Empire was keeping highly secret and mysterious, as he’d learned from Charlotte, Marianne, and Elizabeth. 

‘If the Imperial Knights are dealing with monsters, it can’t just be goblins or gnolls. They wouldn’t need Priscilla’s knowledge for that.’ 

The Imperial Knights wouldn’t be so careful just to hunt hundreds or thousands of goblins. Since they were specifically seeking the elf Priscilla’s opinion, Eugene guessed it must be about a monster beyond common sense. 

"You fought the Crimson-haired Shaman Goblin during your goblin quest, right?" 

Victoria brought up the Crimson-haired Shaman Goblin. 

"The Crimson-haired Shaman Goblin was a creature that existed only in rumors for centuries. After the empire’s magic waned, it became a legend. But as you experienced, it was real. As you know, more and more mercenary quests are about monster extermination." 

She carefully reminded them of the growing monster problem in the Empire. 

"Have you detected a monster beyond normal parameters?" 

Eugene, catching her meaning, was the first to mention the keyword “beyond standard monsters.” 

Victoria paused for a moment at his words. 

"That’s right, Captain Eugene Caesar. We’ve detected a monster that must be handled with the utmost secrecy." 

She nodded, confirming the situation. 

"But it’s not confirmed yet. No one has seen it directly-we’ve only gathered circumstantial evidence, testimony, and suspected traces. That’s part of the reason for the secrecy." 

She clarified the facts. 

"Hmm... from what you’re saying, it sounds like the suspected monster is at least high-class?" 

As the topic shifted to monsters, Priscilla, sipping her fruit juice, spoke up. 

"That’s right, Priscilla. That’s why we need your expertise as an elf." 

"Go ahead, I’m curious what kind of creature you’ve identified." 

Victoria agreed with Priscilla. 

"It’s a drake. We’ve found traces of a drake, classified above high-class, at the very top tier." 

The monster Victoria mentioned was a top-tier drake.