She rubbed her forehead with a pout and pained expression. Well my head is pretty hard. I’ve broken plenty of helmets with these skull of mine. But she sat straight and turned around to look at me while touching her forehead.

  "Ah I'm so sorry, of course you don't recognize me. I am Princess Anariana Aleane Erenheim. You can call me Ana if you think its too long."

  It’s too long alright… but that’s how royalty I’ve met are when it comes to names, so she might be telling the truth. But…

  "You are a princess?"

  ‘Why the heck is she here then?’

  Come to think of it. Didn't I push my body to the limits? I even lost one of my eyes. Why am I not feeling all the wounds I had earlier? I’m feeling a little tired though, but that was all. This isn’t how somehow who just fought a dragon should feel.

  Ana seemed to hesitate but slowly blushed and fidgeted with her hair as she hugged her own body.

  "Right, it's been 4 years since I went out. I grew more womanly than before so people are bound to not recognize me, hehe."

  She said proudly while blushing.

  "So? Who are you really? Can you give me a more complete answer? Isn't this area off limits because of the dragon?"

  If I really fought with a dragon then its corpse should be here. A little look around and as I expected, the body was still there. A torn wings, gouged eyes, and pierced heart. The burning blood of the dragon had leaked and only left burn marks from where it was.

  I came here determined to fight the dragon to death. I expected to die along with it but here I am still alive and woundless.

  "Eh? You really don't know?"

  "I don't."

  I couldn't be bothered to think about it. I was so absorbed in looking at the dragon I defeated. At the time of the final csh, I had an enlightenment that caused me to tear a beautiful ssh through the dragon's jaw, one of their toughest parts. My abilities benefited greatly from this csh. But what's the point of it all?

  I had nothing left to fight for.

  "Fine then. I am the princess that has been trapped here for years... But now that you defeated the dragon I am free again! Thank you very much, my hero! I would never be able to repay your kindness for saving me!"

  She then threw herself into me and hugged me tightly.

  "!"

  It feels soft... Wait, don't get distracted, me! What kind of thin clothes is she wearing?

  I pushed her lightly to remove myself from her hug.

  "Oh is that so? Well I'd better be going. I still have things to do."

  I stood up and stretched my body for a bit. It was good that this princess… is free again. I’ll have to look for a pce to stay now that I get to live.

  "Eh?"

  "Farewell, your highness, you're welcome and congratutions for finally being free from the dragon. It was a pleasure meeting you."

  I started walking and waved my hand, not looking back at the princess.

  "Ehh?"

  "Then farewell, and don't worry about the payment. I’ll take the dragon heart."

  I said as I lowered my hand. I was about in the middle of this pace which turned out to be the throne room when I heard a loud scream and quick steps.

  "JUST WAIT A MINUTE!"

  I turned around and saw her rushing towards my direction at incredible speed. She stopped in front of me to catch her breath.

  "I am a Princess!"

  "Yes you are."

  "I am talented!"

  She said as she does some basic magic with four elements. A trick I’ve grown tired of seeing whenever I pass by beginner mages who want to show off to knights how great their magic is compared to us brutes that use weapon.

  "Ok.."

  "I am beautiful!"

  This is getting nowhere with her praising herself.

  "Uh yeah, you're perfect, your highness. Then, I’ll be leaving."

  I said that but before I could take a step she stopped me again. But the hand that she intended to hold spped away her grasp.

  "What's with y-"

  Before I could talk she suddenly let out a burst of cry.

  "Uwwaahhhh! Damn it, can't you take a hint? Do I really have to spell it out to you? Aren't you supposed to be a gentleman!*Sob*Aren't you supposed to be here for me?*Sob*Waaahh!"

  Why are you crying!? I absolutely have no idea what you’re talking about!

  "Ah well I'm so sorry..."

  I said to comfort her. But I don't really get why she's like this.

  "But what do you mean that I can't take a hint and I'm supposed to be a gentleman and that I should be here for you?"

  I really don't get what she's trying to say. Oh good she stopped crying.

  But her expression is filled with disbelief, annoyance and... Despair? While tears left a trace on her beautiful face, she just stared at me bnkly for a while.

  "Ugh.. I give up. Since you saved me, at least take me with you..."

  … So that’s what she meant. Now that she’s free she has nowhere to go. How did she end up in this pce anyways?

  "Well, I did unknowingly set you free from the dragon."

  I looked back at the dragon and even from this far out I can see its corpse. Soon, knights will investigate whether I’ve fulfilled my final duty and collect all the profitable parts. This area can finally be cleared too, even with just regur soldiers, because the dragon, the sole threat has been sin.

  "Your freedom is back, shouldn't you do what you want to do with it?" I looked back to her and she was slumped in front of me looking down to the ground in dejection.

  "Freedom?... Then I want the freedom to be with you.." Then she raise her head and said with a tearful face.

  She said it without any hesitation but failed to hide her blush. Why is she hell bent on coming with me?

  "Wha-Hey, why would you say that? You're free now you can do whatever you want-"

  She stood up and pced her finger on my mouth to stop me from talking.

  "Can’t you see? If I am left alone I won't be able to do anything. And besides, the one who saves me gets to take me!"

  ‘T-take her?’

  She expins with an annoyed tone. Since when was that the case? As a knight after a battle or after I saved someone, it was usually over with a lot of gratitude or gifts. No one ever told me to take themselves after I saved them.

  "If I want to do something, that is to be with you!"

  She says, while still blushing.

  She doesn't even know me, how can she easily say that?

  "What? Why must it be me.."

  "Yes. Anyone who sets me free from the dragon is supposed to somewhat have that motive. But you... BUT YOU!"

  She leaned forward while making with that cute pouting expression that was about to cry. Her face is too close and the garment she wore was sciviously revealing its cleavage into me.

  "But you didn't even intend on saving me right? What am I gonna do now? It's all different from what I've read!”

  She asks herself. Well, I never knew it was supposed to be like that. What kind of books did she even read? It needs to be burned right away if it makes that kind of misconception.

  "Fine then I'll take you but... It will be dangerous since I pn to be an adventurer. You know what we do right?"

  "Ha? What are you saying? Of course! It is to explore right?"

  She's right. But that was only a part of it.

  "Right. Adventurers are travelers who take quests and make money from accomplishing it. There can be all sorts of quests which mostly require monster extermination, escort and item retrieval."

  I said, and she was just there looking at me.

  There are various types of quests.

  [Extermination Quests - Quests that requires to exterminate a certain amount of monsters in an area. It range from the easiest to the hardest.]

  [Guard Quest - Mostly done by intermediate and high ranked parties on guarding important people.]

  [Search Quest - A quest with a wide range of difficulty. Can be as easy as collecting normal herbs to finding a criminal and finding resources in the harshest environment.]

  [Subjugation Quest - Issued only by the kingdom in all Adventurer guilds when there is a threat to the kingdom by a massive monster or sometimes demon kings.]

  [Recon Quests – Adventurers are tasked with uncovering information about unusual occurrences, such as mysterious disappearances, strange magical phenomena, or potential monster outbreaks.]

  [Rescue Quests – Missions that require adventurers to save kidnapped individuals, lost travelers, or imprisoned allies. Often involve hostile encounters or navigating dangerous terrain.]

  [Expedition Quests – Long-term missions that involve exploring uncharted nds, ancient ruins, or forgotten dungeons. These often have high rewards but also unknown dangers.]

  And there are some more, but only rogue adventurers willing to dirty their hands dabble with it.

  "Y-yes I know..."

  "I see.. I guess it's fine then. You're coming with me to help." Since she can perform parlor tricks magic, I can take her with me in the meantime, but sooner or ter…

  ‘Hehe you're eventually gonna regret it little princess! I already have pns to make her leave my side no matter what.’

  There’s no way a sheltered princess would be able to take living like an adventurer.

  "R-Really? Woah, I'm so happy! I’m finally not alone!"

  She ran to me and hugged me again. Hm I can feel it. This familiar feeling... It's soft…

  Yeah, it's familiar…

  "Ahahahaha! I'm so happy!"

  But more than that... Why is she too touchy? It's been two years since someone hugged me. I've forgotten how warm of a feeling it is…

  Before I knew it my hands started moving to hug her back…

  "Well then!"

  She pushed me back and reverted back to her normal as if she wasn’t bawling earlier.

  "What do we do?"

  She tilted her head and stared at me.

  I realized that I had no money. I’ve given it all to the orphanage my order runs thinking this will be my st battlefield. It was the order I was a member of ever since I got knighted.

  First of all we came back to take some treasures, since this is a dragons ir. Apparently she knows where all the ‘offerings’ to the dragon are hidden. It never occurred to me that I will be this rich in this life!

  I was happily kneeling and stretching my both hands while looking up to show my gratitude to whoever is the god of this world.

  Although I was pnning to die, it still made me happy to see this much money. I’ve only ever held twenty gold coins in my life, compared to the damned nobles that got hundreds and thousands to spend.

  "Ahahaha!*Sob*Finally I'm rich ahahahaha! Oh a sword!"

  There was a magic sword mounted in what seems to be an altar. It looks good and powerful, my sword broke so I'll get it and then....

  "....I’m... Not rich I guess?"

  All the gold was actually copper and silvers. The gold faded once the magic sword was pulled out. Although there are gold coins, it's only six pieces. The rest are silver and copper. And I can only carry the six gold and some silvers. Well not bad I guess? I can live with this for a few months.

  "Let's get out of here if you’re done, I want to see more of the outside world!"

  Girl, do you not realize what just happened? My filthy rich life..

  This can't be happening…

  With that Anaria dragged me out of this pace.

  "Hey don't sulk, you got me remember?”

  She cheerfully dragged me out of the treasure room and excitedly spoke.

  "... Tsk." But she’s just another mouth to feed.

  "What-? You meanie! I was just trying to cheer you up!"

  She tried punching me but it didn't hurt so I just ignored her.

  To be honest, when I was a knight I had no problems when it came to food and shelter. The order fed us feasts and gave us shelter. But now it's all different, I'm basically a rogue knight who has almost no money left. I've got to make much more money and be a First Rate Adventurer!

  I never imagined that my life would come to this point.

  "By the way... Uhm.. What's your name?”

  "Me?"

  "Of course! Who else? Are you dumb!"

  "My name is-"But before I could say it someone came and said it for me.

  "Sin! There you are!"

  A tall and lean man wearing light clothes and a sword strapped at his waist ran to me. He had long hair reaching to his shoulder that shone brilliantly like gold.

  It was Ushier. He is Ushier Lucier Christopos, a noble from a family composed of merchants and one of my cssmates back then in the order. I still don't know why someone like him became a knight just like me. Oh I'm not a knight anymore but he is still one.

  "Thank god you're fine. Didn't I tell you that I'll come with you? Why did you leave me?"

  "You're just gonna charge me for fighting with me."

  “You know me well.”

  Yep. The blood from his family still runs on him.

  He is my rival but also my childhood friend. We were from the same vilge, I'm a commoner and he is a noble. We both became squires at the same time and had different mentors. And now it's been two years since we were knighted.

  "Sin? Is that your name?" Anaria peeked from behind and looked up to me. I realized that she was quite short, reaching only my shoulders.

  "There you have it. That's my name."

  "Hmm... That's an odd name."

  Ushier noticed Ana then looked at her up and down.

  "H-Hey wh-who is she Sin?"

  Right, they still don't know each other.

  "Ushier, She is a former princess named Anaria bh bh bh. I unknowingly saved her when I unknowingly defeated the dragon and before I knew it she's coming with me." There was so many unknowns that I felt like fate is pying with me.

  Ushier gave me a look of confusion after I mentioned a princess, a dragon and her gibberish name. Doesn't matter, he only needs to know that she's a princess and her name.

  "Anaria this is Ushier, my rival, friend, and also a fellow mate in the knight's order. Wait, right I'm not an affiliated knight anymore."

  When I looked at Ushier, he was like... Like drained of life? What kind of expression is that?

  "What's wrong with you Ushier?"

  I asked but I got yelled at in return.

  "What do you mean what's wrong with me!? You're the one I should be saying that to! What's wrong with you? You’re already strong but also lucky!!!"

  "Uhh! Calm... Down!"

  He kept shaking me while crying and muttering all sorts of his hate and envy to me.

  "What do you mean? I'm strong, yes but I'm not lucky at all!"

  He stopped.

  "But look... You defeated the dragon alone... You even met the princess which I kept secret to you!*Sniff*"

  He knelt in despair and tears swelled up in his eyes. Wait so he knew there would be a princess?

  "Ah!"

  He knew and he didn't tell me?

  "So you knew, why didn't you tell me?"

  This bastard If I knew I would've waited for him even if I got bored.

  "Huh? Why? I mean if you knew you would definitely steal her from me!"

  "I won't, fool! If I knew I would've gdly given her to you and made you the savior, but now it's all a mess!"

  Yeah that's right! This princess here is only going to cause me problems and gonna cost me more in the future!

  "R-really? You'll give her to me? Sin, what a brother you are!"

  He says while csping my hand and crying with tears of joy. I also csped both his hands and pulled him up to stand up.

  "Yes... If you want I will just tell her to go with you!"

  Anaria kicked my butt and then she yelled.

  "Hey! If you hate taking me that much… Then I’ll just leave by myself!"

  She pointed at me and almost poked one of my eyes.

  "I thought you're already fine with me being with you? But you say you'll give me to him? I'm not an object you take and could just give to anyone!"

  She snapped. Maybe with this shes gonna go away-

  "If I knew you weren't there to save me in the first pce, I wouldn't bother letting you know that I was there at all! I was alone in that crappy pce for years! I hate you!"

  ...

  There was silence around us for a while.

  "Why did you expect that I was there to save you anyway? Argh!"

  Ushier punched my shoulder.

  Before I could get angry the princess's eyes was already dripping tears.

  "Y-you..."

  "H-Hey were only fooling arou-"

  Ushier tried to calm the girl down but it was too te.

  "Shut up! I’m leaving!"

  She ran past us while crying.

  "Maybe it was too much fooling around. I really wanted to be the one who saves her though. Shes very pretty."

  This guy still hasn't given up?

  "You still want her? You know I wanted her to choose her own choice and leave me alone but she insisted to be with me. I’m not going to make her come back."

  I said while looking at the direction where she went.

  "What are you saying. After years you're the first person she saw and also the man that saved her from a dragon. Since you did it shes you're responsibility."

  How could that be? I just saved her you know, and then suddenly shes my responsibility? What did I do?

  "What? Did what exactly?"

  "Have you forgotten? Our elders always told us a story about a knight rescuing a princess from a dragon and making her his wife?"

  "W-wife!?"

  "Of course you don’t need to go that far! Just take care of her..."

  Well I never had an elder to tell me stories with morals like that. Also, its easier said than done, what should I do about her family? Am I gonna be an exclusive royal knight once I marry her?

  "I cant. After all... If she keeps being around me. Huh!"

  I felt a weak sp from my back but only enough to make me flinch.

  "What a pathetic excuse. Its not because of you, I keep telling you everytime. Just chase her already. I have a lot of question how you survived and also a lot of information to tell. But Sin, I’ll tell them of your demise. You can rest easy for a while."

  He pushed me hard and left while waving his hand at me. Hes obviously trying to act cool. Heh, thats why hes always been my friend. You could expect some good advice from him especially at times like this.

  "That was me, Ushier!"

  He flinched. I knew it he did that to look cool.

  "Shut up! Just go and apologize!”

  And so I began my search for the lonely princess. Ushier told me once that I was very rude to women, but that was because I was raised by one, a very rude one.

  "*Sigh*How am I supposed to treat a girl like her? Tch!"

  What a problem girl. I better end this and expin to her that she cant go with me but... Thats right. Ill help her for a while until she can manage on her own.

  Here I am chasing some girl.

  Some girl I knew for only less than a day.

  That I hurt and ran away.

  "This is ridiculous."

  To think that I would be looking for a stranger to apologize.