Well then, Renya's party who decided to wait for Therese until she graduates start to split the party to do the job by each member to maximize efficiency. It also includes their plan to do from the hereafter.
They still haven't decided where to go after Therese graduates but the matter that they would need as many funds as possible for their journey still won't change. They all had the same opinion on that matter so Renya's party extends their job finding activity.
They don't stop only at the government office to search for jobs. The warrior guild that is thanks to their achievement in Minseia and the magician guild that is thanks to Brenda for recommending them, start to give them jobs too. Not only that they also actively ask around if there is anything that they can do or search for any place that lacks manpower so they can chip in to help. They vigorously go around working.
One might think it was something uncommon to do but it was in fact a common thing to do for wanderers like Renya.
Inside that so-called wanderer, there are quite a lot who have a real skill. Those people don't commonly get called as (Adventurer) in this world and their fame only depends on themselves for there is no (Adventurer Guild) who backs them up. But because 'wanderer' is such a big mob like that, getting famous for their competency and skill will make them stand out be it in a good meaning or in a bad one.
And because Renya had peculiar features that are rare in this area, people can easily recognize him and almost everyone in the capital knows about him. And it didn't even take a long time for that.
It was another world anyway, black hair and black eyes are really rare. Even Elvira who is a black dragon has flaxen-colored hair. Because of his peculiar features, not standing out is impossible. And to add to that, his capabilities had been tested as a real deal from his achievement of settling the raid case that was done by the Ordough sect without even taking a day.
Information regarding Ordough sect activities in terrorizing people might give a sense of insecurity to the population but the guild and royalty don't have the power to block the information about it. Of course, the information which Renya defeat them and save the hostage on the exact same day was included within it.
Because Renya's party capabilities have been proven as a real deal, job with high difficulties keep on coming to them. Of course, the higher the difficulty is, the higher the pay.
In regard to that, the jobs for subjugating atrocious monsters from the warrior guild are especially profitable. How could they not with a party consisting of two gods, one dragon, and one talented magician? Such a party could beat any atrocious monster like flipping their own palm.
But then again, such kind of job is not always available. In the first place, city won't be built in a place teeming with an atrocious monsters anyway.
So today's job for Renya is to help the alchemist guild in sorting their raw materials warehouse. In short, it is just an odd job. But today there is something unusual happen.
"Elvira, have you check the herbs inside that box?"
"Yes, umm... no problem here. The number of herbs inside is just as it was written in the catalog"
"Then next please check the number of monster nails. I'm gonna do the one for plantation"
"As you wish Renya-sama"
Both of them skillfully checked whether the material stored in the inventory matched with what has written in the catalog.
Yes, the two of them together.
This job was supposed to be done by Renya alone. But because today Elvira doesn't manage to get any job, she offers her help to Renya while also says that she doesn't need to get paid for it. Renya immediately gives his consent. The reason why Renya accepts Elvira's offer is just that this kind of job will definitely get easier to do if Elvira is assisting him.
If it was Brenda who is an incarnation of neatness and tidiness, she can do it all alone by herself seeing that it was her forte and Renya doesn't feel working at all if it was her who helps him. On the other hand, Floria is kinda careless and she is not suitable for this kind of meticulous job.
Then what about Elvira who is a dragon? It might be unexpected but she has a knack for this kind of routine. There are no useless movements when she is working and she supports Renya to the extent that even Renya can't reach her. Her appearance now truly resembles one of those skilled secretaries.
When asked why she could do so much like this sometime before, she replies calmly with her gentle smile like this:
"It was because we usually live our everyday life similar to a human. Nowadays dragon tribe people who live their life while keeping up their dragon appearance are rare"
And that's it.
The hidden dragon village where Elvira lives is also doesn't have much difference from a normal human village. Be it in the building and in the community formation. They also rarely turn into their dragon form except only when it was greatly in need.
The reason for that is, it was shameful but, is because of the food problem. Even if it was said a few tribesman, they number reach 2 digits and just imagine a herd numbered of 2 digit dragons gathered together. Even if they eat conversely they will still harm the ecosystem around them greatly.
Because it will be harder to live in dragon form, even though their hidden village is located in an isolated area where no normal human can reach, living imitating the humans becomes common sense to the dragon tribes as Elvira keep on telling her story. This kind of skill is also something she managed to learn from 'imitating' the human's everyday life with her long lifespan.
Thanks to her help, the work that was supposed to be finished at noon finished earlier than expected.
But then again, Elvira's true worth doesn't stop at just only that.
Renya next job is to clean a vacant house and again, Elvira helped him big time.
She releases her dragon aura that she usually held down and shot that menacing aura into every corner of the room. In that instant, mice that have been investing that house all of them simultaneously runs away from fear. And after that, she starts cleaning with a movement that even will put high-class maid into shame. Even Renya only moves around according to Elvira's command in the process.
Renya feels thankful for Elvira that he even tries to force Elvira to receive half of his payment from those two jobs. Even though Elvira politely declines it, Renya can't feel satisfied until he can somehow repay Elvira.
After they have a lunch break, they continue doing more odd jobs until all the jobs that Renya had taken today are finished.
And of course, all the jobs are done faster than how he scheduled beforehand by a few hours.
"You are truly a lifesaver today Elvira"
"You are welcome Renya-sama. To be of use to Renya-sama is also my happiness"
After Renya gets his payment, they went back to the inn where they stayed. But because they finished early, they still have a lot of time at hand so they go back home by taking a detour to have a walk together.
Although they didn't say it out loud but in each of their hearts, both of them think of this 'little walk' as having a simple date.
Renya thinks that the atmosphere between them is quite good so he decides to ask some questions that have been on his mind for a while.
"Hey Elvira, I'm kinda curious by why did you have to marry someone that is stronger than you. Can you explain it to me?"
"Eh? Renya-sama seems to have misunderstood something... I never said that my spouse needs to be stronger than I am. But it was indeed because I was too strong that I can't find any though"
"Arya?"
Renya was on the impression that Elvira only looks for someone stronger than her so with her replies just now, he got a bit confused.
Well rather than confused thinking about it by himself, he asks her to explain it.
"The dragon tribe is sensitive to the power level in a relationship. And a marriage life where a husband can't disobey his wife is not the kind of marriage life that most male dragon wishes for unexpectedly. Also, the fact that we are a race that has a long life span worsen that tendency"
"Even though if they can live a long life accompanied with a wife that will always look forever young, they don't know how to be thankful eh?"
"Well, the downside is just that once we become a pair, we can only be separated by death only. Not like humans who can separate one-sidedly just by leaving a divorce letter"
"So divorce letters also exist in this world eh..."
Renya is kinda amazed that divorce letter also exists in this world. No matter what a different world that is, there are some common things those worlds shared. Renya can only accept that as the mystery of the universe that he doesn't need to pursue further and ask Elvira to continue her story.
"I, who am also the daughter of the tribe chief, is exalted as the princess of the tribe. But within the dragon tribe, the princess doesn't have that kind of high power like the one-off a human princess had. The tribe chief is just considered as someone who organizes the tribe and because of that, a chief can't live the way they like without care. So even from my title, I have already become someone who isn't particularly popular as wives candidate inside the dragon tribe"
"The dragon tribe really is free and unrestricted eh?"
"Well, we are a being that stands on top of other beings in this world except for the gods so our tribe is indeed quite haughty. And the tendency of hating being restrained is deeply rooted in our race. Because of that, there are some dragons that just went wild and destroy the human village just to get subjugated in the end. No matter what we do, individuals like that always appear"
"That's more like you reap what you sow right? But that is kinda sad somewhat"
"The action of those who are strong indeed will gather respect from others. But at the same time, fear is also accumulated side by side. That kind of thing can also happen between human of course but in our race case, even if we show up our dragon form, it already gives tremendous amount of fear to any who see it so it was especially difficult to control"
Elvira keeps on talking with a gentle tone but Renya can detect the shadow covered behind her words.
Renya can detect those kinds of sublime changes in her but he doesn't know what he should do to assure Elvira. He curses his own inexperience for not being able to do anything in a situation like this but luckily, Elvira continues again with her story.
"That is why I am also, while not forgetting to keep a limit on it, thinking of living in the way I like. And in order to be able to do that, first I have to be stronger than all of my groom candidates, win a fight against all of them, then get out from my village in order to find my marriage partner. Of course, I make sure that I don't give too much bad stimulus to humans. But well, my older brother still follows me around as to keep an eye on me though"
As Elvira said while smiled bitterly.
Renya who has been listening to Elvira's story so far and expecting some kind of sad story almost stumbled on the spot for this unexpected turn of even.
Free and unrestricted unexpectedly also applies to the girl who stands before him.
In the end, does that mean that birds of the same feather always flock together?
"And above all else, I don't find any gentlemen in my village who are in my preference and made me think that I want to get spanked by him. That can be said to be the most important reason maybe"
"Waittaminute… did you just said something dangerous back there?"
"Huhuhu, Renya-sama have such sharp ears indeed. As expected of the man that I have my eyes for"
"If I don't hear wrong then..."
"Yes, I am, in fact, have a longing of being treated sadistically by gentlemen..."
Elvira says those lines slowly in a whisper with an expression full of ecstasy on her face.
Renya who got bewildered by it tried to forcefully calm his heart. It might still be a misunderstanding for that 'treated sadistically' part. Restless, he tries to confirm what Elvira meant by it.
"Err... let me confirm one thing… that treated sadistically is like for instance physical pain?"
"You don't say, I don't have any preference of being happy from getting hurt physically. It was simply that I just love being abused verbally"
(Otto, still questionable----! Is this 'out'?... No, if thinking of it just as role-playing then still just barely 'safe'!?)
Renya doesn't have any interest in this sort of thing known as SM in his own previous world so he thoroughly investigates this matter seriously.
With this new information, he might have to change his way to treat Elvira accordingly but he is also curious about her preference first so Renya tries asking it.
He understands that he shouldn't turn blind eye to this conversation if he wants to understand Elvira better. So for that reason, he asks.
"I don't think that my partner who abuses me has to be stronger than me to make me feel satisfied. It's just that when I ask them to do so, everyone without exception runs away that's all. Being held down by a weaker partner and getting verbally abused at the same time is also seems interesting if you ask me"
"Ah excuse me guardsman~! Come here please~!"
"Ahuhu if things really went into that, then I can just pretend to be attacked by Renya-sama in this place you know?"
"Oh my god...! Even though she is someone who enjoys being abused (verbally) I forgot that she is a carnivore that stands at the top of this world food chain...!"
Of course, the last part is just a joke between the two of them but thanks to this conversation, Renya can somewhat understand what Elvira wants.
In short, Elvira is the type that men tend to avoid to when she truly exposed her true feeling. Well for those who are weaker than Elvira might still answer a few of her demands but to verbally abuse their partner who is stronger than themselves is really scary. If done half-heartedly, any ordinary man would flee right away from being unable to fight off that fear.
(And in the worst case, they won't be able to do things that they should do… especially their lower half that is)
If he continues his imagination then it would become too obscene so he just stops thinking about it.
And when he thought that she must have some grand reason for looking for a stronger partner, to end up hearing this kind of truth that if simply said, it was just a discrepancy between a man and a woman. In a lot of meaning that is. Realizing that, Renya can only heave a deep sigh. Seeing Renya sigh like that, Elvira, with a worried look on her face looks up to him and asks.
"E-excuse me Renya-sama... you must be get disillusioned by my unique trait... right? B-but, I don't have enough confidence to keep on holding this kind of shameful secret and keep on staying by your side Renya-sama. S-so I thought this might be a good chance to tell you that…"
"Ah, my bad. My sigh just now means that I, at last, get myself calmed down or well, more like feel relieved maybe...? I am relieved that your reason is not as bad as I had imagined. That kind of meaning"
"I-is that so..."
"Don't worry! The man that you have hoped to for becoming your future partner is someone who doesn't think badly of such kind of role-playing. I am kinda interested in how Elvira, who seems to be a graceful lady usually, will react when abused with any kinds of words"
"E, e, eh?"
"Eh? Did I say anything wrong?"
Since that intimate night with Floria, Renya starts to build up confidence in handling women and becomes somewhat able to treat girls while keeping his composure straight. That composed manner reversely makes Elvira feel strange. Because she also knows that her preference is not just a bit weird but how could Renya seem like doesn't care that much about it?
"N-no, I am also aware that my preference is not something a lady should have so…"
"Don't tell me you want me to talk down on you here in front of public eyes? Sorry… as expected I still can't do that far yet…"
"W-w-wrong! No! That's not it! I also won't go that far... maybe…"
"That 'maybe' in the end is a little bit scary. But it's alright you know? Just because you had a unique preference like that doesn't mean that I will avoid you or something like that. And also… you know, I am also still an amateur at treating a woman so it might be me that has to feel sorry for not being able to make you satisfied"
"N-no… I am also not familiar with that kind of thing and still am a vir… cough cough. I just have high expectations of Renya-sama in the close future. Renya-sama also has other women besides me right? I expect such a kind of person to not feel satisfied by things that normal men would be because I would be troubled if you do. I want you to keep aiming for even higher than that that is."
"With the flow of our conversation, that 'even higher place' that you aim has this lewd impression on them you know?"
"I don't mean only in that orientation only you know?... Mu... Renya-sama unexpectedly likes to tease people too isn't it?"
"But you like it don't you?"
"U,uu... T-that is indeed not mistaken but..."
Seeing Elvira's expression, Renya somehow understands that this kind of soft teasing is already included in that Elvira's 'weird preferences'. He secretly makes a memo in his heart about it.
The truth is, even though Renya did think that role-playing that includes verbal abuse is definitely a high-leveled one, instead of shrinking back or getting grossed out by it, he just got even more fired up by it like a kid that gets a new toy.
Elvira whose face is flushed red from embarrassment takes a half step back so they don't walk side by side then lightly pinches Renya's sleeve and keeps on walking forward like that. Seeing this unknown side of her makes Renya tension soar up that he almost forgot to stop.
"Well in short, don't hold back too much that is"
"Eh?"
"I am also a former human, I can't help that my thought and way of thinking isn't that much different from that of a human. I still think of your preferences as weird indeed but I won't go and dump those who have already been beside me one-sidedly you know? So let's not hold back too much against each other okay?"
The thing that reflected on the other side of those deep black pupils, no one knows what Elvira saw there.
But to that words and smile that doesn't have a single speck of lies in them she responses.
"... Yes. I might still be inexperienced but I'll be in your care, Renya-sama"
That response from her was filled with the feeling of happiness that overflows from within her heart.