53 Part 4

“You can’t do that if only the chosen ones can enter.

“That’s right. That’s right. I’m looking forward to it.”

Iris nodded repeatedly, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

I stand up, taking Cecil and Rafilia with me. Iris, who was smiling somewhat, slapped her cheeks as if she was trying to get into the spirit, and returned to her “daughter of the lord’s family” face. Then she picked up her dress and bowed to us.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Please lend me your strength to protect the Sea Dragon Dungeon. Souma Nagi, everyone.

With Iris’s words as our cue, we left the room.

And so we set out to investigate the dungeon of the sea dragon.

After Nagi and the others had left, there was a knock at the room.

“Iris, are you there? It’s your brother, remember?”

“……Brother.”

Iris opened the door and saw a tall man with gray hair and blue eyes standing in the hallway.

It was Neuel Hoffimier, Iris’s brother.

“I need to talk to you about something, if that’s okay.”

Without waiting for Iris to reply, Neuel entered the room.

“Why didn’t you ask the Adventurer’s Guild to do the research on the Holy Land?”

“I have father’s permission.”

“I know. But Iris didn’t ask about the cost over there, did she? I inquired about it, and the Order of Divine will accept it for 3000 Arusha. In addition, I will receive a reward of 1,000 Arusha for brokering the job.”

“You know, Iris, there’s no need to hire someone who costs more than them…”

“The price I offered is the same as last year. It’s just the amount of demons we have to kill is more so we’re adding to the price. It’s also a fair price.”

Why do I have to keep repeating what I’ve said before?

I was having such a good time just now.

“Besides, the sacred ground is a sacred place to meet the sea dragon. Even if it costs a little, isn’t it only natural to entrust it to someone we can trust?”

“Ha! You’re old-fashioned, Iris.”

Neuel Hoffimier tapped the wall in frustration.

“What guarantee do we have that the sea dragons will stop coming if the sacred ground gets a little rough? No, even the Order of Divine know the importance of that place. They might be able to do a good job at the request of the Irgafa Lord, you know. The cost is practically half the price, half the price!”

“Do you really want a thousand Arushas for your reward, brother?”

“It takes a certain amount of investment to woo a woman of the Marquise family. I don’t think the child Iris would understand.”

“Do you know the Irgafa proverb, ‘A ship carrying a load beyond its capacity will inevitably end up as seaweed,’ brother?”

“You think you know me? What does a child know about me? ”

“Don’t speak too loudly. I am very calm.”

Why does this always happen to me?

My brother and sister and I thoroughly disagree on different things. We all have different values.

The Irgafa Lords are a prosperous family in shipping and commerce, I know cost is important to you.

It’s not that I don’t understand the logic that having a connection with a nobleman is good for business. I’m just saying that you should be selective in your means.

The port town of Irgafa is protected by a sea dragon that is more than a human being. We should not do anything that may cause us to lose its protection. Using the Order of Divine is out of the question.

It’s not like you don’t know what they’re doing.

“You know that the Order of Divine thinks of its party members as disposable, don’t you? Brother.”

“What does that have to do with us?”

“Don’t you feel anything about that?”

“If you don’t like it, you can run away. Don’t sign the contract. That’s it. It’s none of my business.”

“I sense something dangerous about those masked people. We don’t know how many members there are, and we don’t know why these masked people are taking advantage of their terrible employment conditions. Above all, we don’t know why they go overboard in the face of their enemies.”

Iris looked at her brother, Neuel, firmly.

My brother, who had been smiling thinly, gave a small shake of his shoulders for a moment.

“I am the Shrine Maiden of the Sea Dragon Dungeon. We can’t entrust the security of a sacred place to such people.”

“Don’t get carried away just because you’re a Shrine Maiden.”

“It is time for the festival. I am just fulfilling my duties. That’s all!”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s time for the festival, Iris.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I know what you want, Iris. I might be able to give you what you want.”

“Please leave, brother.”

Iris pointed towards the door.

“I have nothing more to say. The duties of the Sea Dragon Festival are left to me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Just keep this in mind, Iris.”

Noel’s lips quirked up in a smile.

“Big brother is always thinking about Iris’ happiness.”

“…Thank you, brother.”

I could barely answer that.

After her brother left, Iris sighed and sat down on the couch.

…Souma.

I wonder if Souma still has that “Rough Goods list”.

I wondered if he understood what that meant.

I can’t say it to him directly. That’s why I wanted to connect with him.

“You promised to show me the sights.”

If it had anything to do with the festival, my opinion will be accepted.

At that time – in the heart of the Holy Land – I will tell you everything.

Perhaps Souma could be present.

At the moment when Iris and the sea dragon Kerukatoru face each other at the Sea Dragon Festival.