"How long do you plan to lie there? Can you still claim to be a servant of the Speda Ducal House after this?"
Luciana was holding the head of the Direwolf Alpha she had just defeated, apparently as proof for her coming of age ceremony.
"It seems you're pleased…"
"Of course. We need to return promptly, so get up."
She must be eager to boast about it to her family.
I wanted to respond accordingly, but it wasn't going as I hoped.
"Just a moment. I am trying to get up. Ugh."
I didn't expect to have muscle pain all over my body just from a little running.
Despite trying hard to stand, using strength in my thighs and calves, I only felt a slight loss of power and ended up sitting back down.
"Oh dear."
"Tsk. No time for groaning."
As if resigned, she extended her other empty hand to me.
"Hurry up and grab it."
Who would have thought I'd get to hold the hand of my favorite character?
Even though it's not bare skin and I only feel the coldness of metal, it's still something.
"Ouch! Why are you gripping so hard? Did I do something wrong?"
"Hm? Sorry. I didn't think I was using that much strength."
Indeed, a formidable mid-boss, I truly felt the difference in our strengths.
Still, with her adjusted strength, I managed to stand up with her help.
"Are you feeling okay now?"
"Thanks to you gripping my hand tightly earlier, my legs feel a bit better."
My body still aches, but I can't just lie down.
[Calculating your reward.]
The dungeon clear reward appeared, and it was hard to resist.
Squeak.
A young wolf pup, a significant contributor to Luciana's successful coming of age, whimpered softly.
This was the real reward of this dungeon.
It was often used in the original work.
[Young Direwolf]
[Item Category: Pet]
[Normally, Direwolves are too wild to be tamed. However, if the pup is young enough to have not seen its mother, it's a different story.]
[If raised with care, this frail life form can become a strong and loyal companion.]
[Can assist in combat when grown]
[Can wear a saddle and carry only its owner when grown]
Usually, pets are just for show, nothing more or less.
Even if they have some functionality, it's just auxiliary.
But this one is different.
It takes time and cost to raise, but it's worth the effort due to its combat ability.
"What will you do?"
I glanced at Luciana, trying to gauge her reaction.
Although it's a reward, it's still a monster.
Luciana might decide to deal with it immediately.
"Direwolves are a nuisance in the north. We must exterminate them."
As expected.
The sword that had just pierced through the fur of adult Direwolves was now aimed at the pup.
Her principle was simple.
Kill the monsters threatening the people outside the castle, a spirit of noblesse oblige.
'This is problematic.'
Of course, her mindset is righteous.
But now, it's harmful. The dungeon reward might go to waste.
"Isn't there another option?"
"…Another option, you say."
"Yes. It's still a newborn. It can be tamed."
Luciana scoffed at my words.
"Ridiculous. You think a wolf can be tamed? Even if possible, it's useless. Stop talking nonsense and move aside."
Hmm, usefulness. How do I explain this?
Can I use it as a mount when it grows?
Can it replace hunting dogs?
'No, it's pointless.'
There are alternatives. Use horses or dogs, there's no need to save a monster for that.
"Is there more you wish to say?"
Suddenly, she asked, glancing at her waist.
She was tightly holding the Direwolf Alpha's severed head, as if it was precious.
For me, the young Direwolf was the reward, but for Luciana, the most significant reward from her coming of age ceremony was proving herself with what she had achieved.
I have an idea.
"Wouldn't bringing back a live creature be better proof of valor than a dead one?"
I quickly voiced the strategy that came to mind, and her helmet tilted to the right.
"Evidence?"
"Yes. Using the northern menace as a substitute for a hunting dog. It will make everyone aware of your achievement in the coming of age ceremony."
The head of a dead wolf is just a momentary honor.
But what if it's shown continuously while being carried around?
The answer was simple.
The sword aimed at the young wolf wavered slightly, then sheathed.
"That's an interesting idea. Taming a monster, never thought of that."
She casually tossed aside the head of the Alpha Wolf, which she had been holding dearly.
Then, unlike how she had pulled me up, she gently picked up the young wolf with both hands.
"Not a bad idea after all."
Her gentle touch caressed the head and back of the young Direwolf.
'An unexpected side to her.'
I always thought she was cold and serious, but she had this side too.
"Maybe you should name it."
"A name, huh? Yes, I should think about it. A name befitting a creature that will hunt down its own kind. Something grand."
"Great idea. Let's think about it when we return to the castle. For now, since we've dealt with the Direwolves, how about we make our way out as quickly as possible?"
By now, Yegor and the soldiers must be in a frenzy.
I fiddled with the unused flare in my pocket.
'I entrusted you, and you dare…!' I could imagine the steward grabbing the back of his neck in frustration.
"I don't feel confident in facing the increasingly severe scolding in real-time."
"Funny, I was thinking the same. Yegor's nagging can be a bit tiresome."
Laughing, we exited the cave without deciding who would go first.
* *
"Steward, there's nothing around here!"
At the soldier's report, Yegor clutched his throbbing head.
"The worst coming of age ceremony."
What's the point of bringing so many soldiers?
What's the use of assigning a servant?
These people were meant to protect Luciana from potential threats, yet the very person to be protected had dismissed them.
"Hans Byron…"
Trusting an outsider was his biggest mistake.
Whether Luciana dragged him along or he took the lead.
If the former, he was incompetent, and if the latter, weak. Either way, Yegor was displeased.
"If only they would shoot a flare. The sun is setting, and they'll struggle against the monsters at their peak."
He needed to find them before nightfall.
"Keep searching! Lady Luciana and Hans' horses were here. They must be nearby, don't even think of returning until they're found."
"Yes!"
"Steward!"
Another soldier rushed in just as he gave the order.
Expecting more bad news, he was about to dismiss him.
"We found her! Lady Luciana!"
"Bring her immediately."
Perhaps it was a stroke of luck.
They found her just before it got completely dark, enough time to return to the castle.
"…I'll leave Lady Luciana to the Duke, I need to focus on Hans."
It's incredibly hard to dissuade a master on the wrong path.
But he couldn't shirk that responsibility. That's the duty of a servant.
Even if it means being a bit harsh, he had to teach him right.
"Thankfully they're safe…"
Unfortunately for Yegor, his plans shattered the moment they met.
The soldiers dragged not just anything, but the infamous corpse of a Direwolf.
"Safe? I returned with the greatest achievement of my coming of age ceremony."
It made sense why Luciana spoke so proudly.
Yegor, a nobleman born and raised in the North, knew all too well the dangers and importance of the coming of age ceremony. He too had memories from his youth, of impulsively going out alone for his own ceremony. But coming of age in the North was harsher than most realized, often leading to the deaths of young people. Yegor himself had faced life-threatening situations against Northern monsters, which is why he always insisted on deploying a large force for these ceremonies.
"I told you, I was sufficient alone."
"…Lady Luciana."
Yet, Luciana's brave demeanor reminded Yegor of his own youthful days. A long-forgotten vigor throbbed in his chest.
A young girl before him was embodying the ideal of every Northern noble: fearlessly facing monsters.
"Hey, that's a bit disappointing. I helped quite a bit, to the point of exhaustion."
"…Stay quiet. Are you clueless?"
"No, really, I think I've hurt my knee dragging all those wolf corpses here. Ouch."
Their interaction seemed more like that of friends than a servant and master.
Usually, Yegor would have reprimanded Hans severely.
For disrespecting his master.
For not stubbornly following Luciana during the hunt.
"Hans, you…!"
But seeing the result they had achieved, Yegor was speechless.
What if he had persisted in dissuading Lady Luciana?
What if Hans had successfully stopped her as he hoped?
They might have completed a superficial ceremony, capturing only unimpressive prey.
But Luciana, defying his admonitions, had caught several of the North's most formidable monsters.
"…Take good care of Lady Luciana. Don't let your guard down now that it's safe."
"Ah, yes! Of course!"
Yegor's deep wrinkles hid a smile.
There was no need for a stern lecture now.
It would be wrong to dampen the pure joy of Lady Luciana, who had achieved a great feat at her ceremony.
"Yegor, Father would be proud, wouldn't he?"
"Undoubtedly. Capturing the North's three major monsters in a coming of age ceremony hasn't happened in nearly 40 years."
"Haha, is that so?"
After some thought, Yegor nodded satisfactorily, noticing Luciana's triumphant hand gestures.
"Um, Lady Luciana. May I ask what you're holding?"
"Oh, this? It's a living trophy. I subdued the monster and tamed its offspring. A perfect achievement for the Speda Ducal House's ceremony, isn't it?"
"What?"
Yegor's eyes wavered.
Did she intend to raise the monster?
Would the Duke accept it?
'…Well, it's out of my hands now.'
Nodding, Yegor silently prepared to leave.
With the ceremony concluded and Lady Luciana having made her mark, he had no right to dictate what should happen next.
The eventful ceremony had come to a successful close, and now everything, including the decision to raise the young Direwolf, would be in the Duke's hands.
But still.
'I'll need to start preparing to persuade the retainers.'
The young lady had reignited a passion from his youth.
It was only right to support her to this extent.
'And Hans, he's impressive too.'
He must have contributed significantly to capturing those Direwolves. His body bore many minor wounds.
Yegor finally understood the Duke's warning.
'I need to be more thorough.'
Unaware of the intensified training awaiting him, Hans followed Yegor, relieved to have escaped immediate reprimand.