The Adventures of Rose Hood

The beasts of this world were classed like loot.

Common- beasts like wolves, cows, and pigs. Can be beaten by a G or H rank.

Uncommon- beasts like bears, dire wolves, and orcs. Can be beaten by an E or F rank.

Rare- Ogres, Lichs, and Wights. Can be beaten by C or D rank.

Ultra rare- Low Whilders, Godfish, and Elementals. Can be beaten by B rank.

Legendary- Powerful beings like Whilders, evil sorcerers, and King Lichs. Can be beaten by A rank.

Mythic- Dragons, Phoenixes, and this new type of Whilder. Comparable with S rank.

And last but not least.

Godly- Nothing can be born into this power, and none can compare to its strength.

_

“So, you think a Whilderbeast evolved into a Godly?”

“Yes, it would make sense, because that Whilder me and Asura fought was a high mythic yet felt like a grunt.”

I met with the king to discuss with him and Mammon the next course of action.

“The Whilders are only legendary. Maximum.”

“Then why did 2 with strength comparable to mine come.”

“I don’t know, but I don’t think that something like a Whilderbeast could evolve to that point.”

“Maybe, but still there is something almost as strong as a Godly.”

“Why don’t you think it could be unorganized and just random?”

“Because two mythic Whilders don’t randomly stand at both sides of a random valley at the chance time that a dragon is there.”

“That is a fair point, what would you suggest we do?”

“How are negotiations going with Calesen?”

“Good, we entered a nonaggression pact.”

“I think we need to ask for aid.”

“What? We can’t lower ourselves like that. Other nations will take notice.”

“Other nations will also take notice if we are wiped off the map.”

The king cringed but sighed.

“You are correct. I will send an emissary to meet with the king.”

“Send me, I will negotiate.”

“Lassie, he’s supposed to be a harsh negotiator. We’re lucky we got nonaggression, besides, you’re an adventurer, you aren’t bound to a kingdom.”

“Make it an official request then. And besides, I can handle him.”

“He’s your brother, aint he.”

The king and I nodded.

“If anyone can convince him, it’s me.”

_

“I wish I could come with.”

“Jalad, you are needed here to protect the city.”

“I know, but Dallel and Royce get to come with.”

“Yes, I know, and it’s because of that that we need you to stay here. 2 of the strongest fighters in the nation are coming with me. We need another to stay.”

“I guess.”

“Heh, Royce, she’s right, we need to defend the city, so you should stay here.”

“Ah, but Dallel, I’m a Kingsguard, not a city guard. But you are the vice-captain, maybe you should stay. I can protect Rose.”

Jalad grabbed them by the necks.

“How about this, you both go as emissaries as assigned and Rose goes as the bodyguard with negotiative authority.”

He began to summon magic into his hands causing the duo to squirm.

“Especially since she’s stronger than both of you combined. If she needs protection, then I dare-say none of you will be able to protect her.”

“Well said, now can we go?”

“Fine.”

They both muttered.

We set out and when we had gotten out of eyesight, I turned into a dragon and got them on my back.

Dallel seemed strangly red.

“Dallel, are you sick?”

“Um no. It’s just...”

“What?”

“Well, we are kinda sitting on your back.”

“Yeah? I am a dragon. I can carry you.”

“Yeah Dallel? Why are you acting odd.”

“Royce? What’s with the look you’re giving him?”

They are an odd bunch. They keep acting like that.

_

This *****

He really just tried to flirt with Rose in front of me.

Thank goodness she is oblivious to everything.

“Royce? You seem upset, why?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Well, it is Dallel’s first time riding me, so I guess he could seem a bit nervous.”

Both me and Dallel became strawberries, thank goodness for the fur covering my face.

“H-hey Dallel, what’s with that look?”

“R-Rose, please don’t word it like that.”

“...?”

For a dragon as old as Saliad, she was surprisingly innocent.

“You two are odd.”

_

WHY DID SHE SAY IT LIKE THAT?!

I can easily tell that Royce is just as flustered as I am after that remark.

How can one older than my grandma be so naïve to say that with little to no reaction?

Now that I think about it, she is older than my grandmother, but for her species, she’s not even far into adulthood.

She’d probably be considered about 19 for her species.

That makes it odd for us two to be interested in her, but its less her looks and more her kindness that attracts me at least. Not sure about Royce though. He may be a deviant.

Frankly, I’m gonna wait for her to mature before making my move. She’d at least look old enough. Besides, Royce will be long gone at that point.

That doesn’t mean I won’t plant the seeds.

_

We got to the border, and I turned into a catkin for a moment to tell them to notify Elren. The guards recognized me and nodded before sending a messenger and letting me through.

Royce got suspicious looks, but Dallel seemed to cower behind me, it seemed the elves didn’t like him that much. They threw garbage at him, so as soon as we got through the border, we took off again.

“Why were they so hostile?”

Royce seemed peeved at the elves’ bad behavior; I was inclined to agree.

“Yeah, that was uncalled for.”

“No, I deserved that.”

“What? No, you don’t.”

“You two don’t know me well enough to understand.”

“Well, you can tell us when ready.”

“Yeah, don’t feel pressured, we are friends after all.”

“... Thanks.”

Odd, when I called him a friend, his mood got worse, but Royce’s got better.

They certainly are odd.

_

We arrived at the castle and landed in front of the gates. The guards saluted me but glared at Dallel.

As we entered the palace, the amount of side-eye that Dallel got was beginning to tick me off.

Doleaira walked out and narrowed her eyes.

“Hello Doe.”

Dallel’s surprising casualness surprised me, but not as much as what Doleaira responded with.

“Hello, idiot brother of mine.”

“Wait, brother?”

“Yes, this foolish traitor is unfortunately my brother.”

At that moment, Elren walked out with a playful smile, which turned into a grimace upon seeing Dallel.

“Hello Elren.”

“That would be, your majesty, to you.”

“So, you did become king.”

“Indeed, I did.”

“Oh, my goodness, talk like normal people.”

“Rose, I ca-”

“I don’t care, Elren. Either tell us what happened or stop giving him side eye.”

Elren grimaced at my bluntness before sighing.

“I just don’t like having a kin-killer in my house.”

“Kin-killer? What does he mean?”

“Rose, do you know why I had to become king in the first place?”

Dallel looked down at the floor.

“Yeah, I killed the previous king of Calesen.”

That caught both me and Royce off guard.

“What?”

“Yeah, it was my fault. I killed him out of jealousy-”

“Don’t lie to me.”

Everyone looked at me in confusion, but as an arcane dragon, I had hidden skills. One was a lie detector.

“You killed him yes, but what you just said, that you did it out of jealousy, that was a lie.”

This caught both Doleaira and Elren off guard.

“What do you mean?”

“Elren, you know my lie detecting skill?”

“Yes?”

“It went off the moment he said he killed him due to jealousy.”

They turned to Dallel who began sweating.

“Dallel.”

My brother released some of his aura.

“Why did you kill the previous king?”

“I-I it's my fault. It doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does. We excommunicated you because you killed of jealousy, but that was a lie?!”

Doleaira was also ticked off and had a light tinge of relief.

“Why did you kill the king, Brother?”

“I can’t tell you.”

It didn’t go off... in fact, me and Elren noticed the same thing.

“Dallel, why are you bound by contract magic?”

“No, I’m not!”

It went off. I just needed to know what it was.

“Contract revelation.”

‘In the words of Dallel Cales, elven prince of Calesen, in thanks for your actions in saving my sister’s life, I will accomplish one task by your discretion and take all blame if it goes wrong. Please do not make it bad. The contract is enforced by the Earth dragon, Onyx.’

“I see.”

“Sister?”

“One of our siblings contracted him after saving Doleaira’s life. The contract was shoddily made, Dallel, next time you go for a contract don’t request that it’s nothing bad. That enables it to be easy to trick you.”

“...”

He was silent...

“But Rose.”

“Yes?”

“The terrifying part isn’t even revealed.”

Doleaira was confused, but Elren figured it out as fast as I did.

“His only request was for me to save the nation.”