Chapter 148: Single No More (3)

Solitas heard a sweet temptation out of nowhere. Just hearing it sweetened his ears. Solitas flinched at the unexpected cajoling.

“What…?”

He suddenly stopped the self-explosion he had meant to activate and turned toward the voice. Another human was standing there. Solitas had seen the guy right before he fired the first breath. This man was with the silver-haired knight, and he had dark hair.

“An offer? You? To me?” asked Solitas.

“Yes. Me. To you.”

Lloyd grinned and continued to speak.

“It is just as I said a while ago. If you are interested, please hear me out.”

“So what, you can get me married in ten years if I listen to your offer?” asked Solitas.

“Indeed.”

“Why should I trust you?” Solitas grimaced as he alternately looked at Javier and Lloyd, who were both standing in his front and back. “To be honest, I was tempted to listen to you, but I simply can’t trust you. Think about it. You two are intruders who invaded my dungeon.”

“Excuse me? Intruders? No way.”

Lloyd noticed that Solitas’s eyes grew rough, so he licked his lips.

“I came here with a good offer and nothing more.”

“Ha! Bullcrap. Then why did you break down all the magic traps?” blurted Solitas.

“To live,” said Lloyd matter-of-factly.

“What?”

“The magic circles were too delicately laid,” defended Lloyd, “They were too fatal. So, I had no choice and did my best to survive. And in the process, I had to damage some of your traps. I offer my sincere apology if it upset you. I profusely apologize.”

“What…”

Solitas was out of words to rebut. The words this man was uttering made sense. And before Solitas could come up with a likely response, Lloyd intercepted the chance and spoke first.

“Anyway, that is why I worked our butt off to get here. To make you a nice offer.”

“And what could that be?” Solitas spoke with hesitation in his voice.

“Don’t you want to learn how to process jewels from a great craftsman?”

“What?” Solitas flinched, his eyes growing wide.

“I will get right down to business,” Lloyd hurriedly said, “my respectable dragon, I know your concern. You have clumsy hands, don’t you? You have been having trouble with processing jewels, and so you have been unable to save any treasures and were disheartened because you failed to get married. Am I wrong?”

“How did you…” murmured Solitas in disbelief.

“That problem can be fixed. It’s okay that you’re not so crafty. It can be worked with. That is, by receiving strenuous training from a great master for about ten years. Then, you’ll be able to master how to process raw minerals,” suggested Lloyd.

“H-hold on. Hold on,” Solitas stopped Lloyd just then, and with eyes filled with fright, he asked, “How did you know that I was clumsy and having issues with my marriage? How? How?”

Solitas was flustered and unsettled. He had never engaged with humans before; it had been only about 50 years since he became a grown-up dragon. That meant he had never had any experience or encounter with humans, not to mention other dragons or similar races. But here was a human who knew his exact personal concern. In fact, he couldn’t be any more right about it.

What in the world is this human?

Solitas couldn’t wrap his head around how a mere human was aware of his personal concern. Was he a ghost? Or was he an old dragon disguised as a human? Or was he a great magician or prophet who had reached the highest possible intellectual limit? Solitas was mixed with emotions. Caution and curiosity rushed through him. Lloyd smiled respectfully.

“It was not hard to find out,” stated Lloyd.

“How so?”

“The knight of blood and iron has told me.”

“The Knight of Blood and Iron?” repeated Solitas.

“Yes.”

“Who… is he?”

“A massively powerful knight. So strong and powerful that he can surveil this place, fooling your senses,” explained Lloyd.

“That’s a lie,” defied Solitas as he wrinkled his nose. “You are lying to me. A human can never be that strong. How can anyone slip out so furtively that my senses don’t pick it up? That is impossible. Do you think such a human exists?”

“Yes, I do,” answered Lloyd.

“How?”

“Did you not see that friend over there?”

Lloyd spoke nonchalantly before pointing at Javier.

“I am sure you can remember,” continued Lloyd, “how he managed to put up a great fight against you with nothing but a sword.”

“That’s because…”

“The knight of blood and iron is stronger than him,” Lloyd said with finality in his voice.

Of course, it was true. When Javier held the title of the “Knight of the Blood and Iron” in the novel, he was stronger than his present self. He was already a grandmaster. He had six circles, and fooling a fledgling dragon was a piece of cake.

“The knight has told me that there is a dungeon in this place but without any treasures. But even the small amount of collected ones are terrible in quality,” said Lloyd.

“So what, you just speculated about my situation based on his story?” Solitas said.

“Yes,” said Lloyd as he nodded. His voice now brimmed with confidence. “How else could I possibly have guessed your situation and concerns so accurately?”

The aforementioned knight was a fabricated figure. He was the Javier that existed in a novel that wasn’t written in this world. So, what Lloyd was saying was actually a bluff. But there was no way Solitas could check whether he was lying or not. As such, Lloyd knew that he had to be more confident at a time like this. That way, the bluff that was likely to be called would be unquestioned and believable.

“Hmm…”

A deep wrinkle sat in between Solitas’s forehead. Doubt, concern, curiosity, and interest all fought in his head. Solitas wondered if he could trust this human and whether he was telling the truth. But something in his words was too convincing to dismiss it as a lie.

He hit the nail on the head when he spoke of my concern.

His clumsy hands prevented him from processing pieces of minerals and accumulating treasures. And his bleak prospect of staying single forever hurt and wrung his heart. Yet, this human boasted that he could solve his very secret that no one could’ve found out about unless they had spied on the inside of his dungeon. And so, what this dark-haired figure was ridiculously saying could be true. But Solitas wanted more confirmation first as it wouldn’t hurt him anyway. So, Solitas made a decision after some thinking.

“So you came here with a good offer?” said Solitas.

“Yes, I did.”

Gotcha, you’re mine, dragon. Convinced, Lloyd put on a beaming smile written with the words “trust, faithfulness, and honesty.” He salivated his lips. Javier was watching the whole thing and thought to himself…

Knight of blood and iron?

He had heard of the name before. Lloyd had mentioned it last time.

I wonder who that is.

Javier was curious. The knight was said to be stronger than him, but he had never heard of him even once.

Is he a nameless fellow who trains, shunning the world? That makes it even stranger. Why would such a man secretly help Master Lloyd?

The knight was said to be more powerful than him and have secret communication with Lloyd. However, Javier thought those two points didn’t add up.

It’s strange. Really. Plus, I’ve never seen Master Lloyd meeting someone behind my back. Did he meet the knight after putting me to sleep with his lullaby?

The more he thought about it, he became nonplussed. At the same time, however, he didn’t consider the knight to be a fabricated figure. It was so because of the image he had built of Lloyd.

After all, he doesn’t operate based on untrustworthy information and plan.

To Javier, Lloyd was a small-hearted man who was stingy, fastidious, and sly. He also was the type to work his ass off to make sure things would always be advantageous for him. In other words, he was a cowardly man. It was a universal law that a timorous man tended to be more careful.

Master Lloyd is a fastidious and meticulous man. He never makes a move based on untrustworthy information and plans. Never. He’d think that would hurt him. So, it only means that Master Lloyd knew in advance of the dragon dungeon situation. He must have gotten some tips from a reliable source and operated after careful planning.

And the plan was happening right now.

So that only means that the knight of the blood and iron, who had tipped Master Lloyd, is an actual living person.

Javier wondered who on earth this knight was. The more speculative he became, the more he became curious. On the one hand, he was slightly awed by Lloyd for the simple fact that the latter was trying to strike a deal with the dragon.

He used the information to design this whole thing.

Master Lloyd brought him here to fight the dragon, and Javier managed to suppress the dragon and stamped in the latter’s memory that Javier held the upper hand in the fight, breaking the pride unique to dragons. Afterward, Lloyd proceeded to offer a sweet deal, showcasing his brilliant eloquence.

That silver tongue itself alone is a weapon.

But Master Lloyd’s eloquence didn’t appear randomly. He always first created an environment and situation that would make his eloquence 100% effective. The man always struck a perfectly crafted deal. That was why he was able to see such massive and efficient results.

Regardless, he’s a scary being.

And now, the poor dragon was falling into Lloyd’s trap. Javier gazed at Solitas with a sympathetic gaze. Right now, Solitas was almost buying what Lloyd was saying.

“It is just as I have said. You are going to learn from the best craftsman. You will be his apprentice,” said Lloyd.

“An apprentice of a master?”

“Yes. You see, a great master lives in my fiefdom.”

“Who is that?” asked Solitas.

“He is Wels Corgidus, the royal dwarf master.”

“He’s a dwarf, eh? And his name is Corgidus?”

Solitas’s eyes trembled a bit. Since Corgidus was both a master and dwarf, there wasn’t any need to verify his skills. Obviously, the man was to be the best of the best.

“Then… I am supposed to be the dwarf’s apprentice and learn how to process the stones?”

“Yes. Tell me, is your pride hurt?”

“Hmm…”

To be honest, his pride hurt a little, but when he heard what Lloyd said after, his thoughts changed.

“Just bend your pride a little, and you’ll soon have a girlfriend. Become rich, get married, and have a lovey-dovey newlywed life. You’ll have children and start a happy family.”

“Is that so?” asked Solitas, intrigued. “And go on a honeymoon?”

“No need to ask such an obvious question.”

“…”

Breathing became heavier for Solitas. But he recovered composure being the dragon he was.

“Hmm, your offer is good indeed, and that’s why I am still doubtful,” said Solitas.

“Doubtful? How so?”

“Because it appears that you are giving me too much. I am sure you have something you want from me?”

“Of course,” said Lloyd, “I was just about to tell you.”

“Do tell.”

“Yes. I shall be straightforward. I want you to use your breath every once a month in a place near my fiefdom.”

“You want me to use my breath…?”

“Yes.”

Solitas was confused because he didn’t understand Lloyd right away. So, Lloyd continued to speak.

“My fiefdom is planning to build sewers. It’s a facility that divides, separates, and treats all sorts of sewage and bodily wastes through underground tunnels.”

“So?”

“It will leave a massive load of residue called sludge in the process.”

“Could you mean-”

“Yes,” said Lloyd, “You are a dragon. You guessed it already. And your guess is indeed correct.”

“Do you want me to burn this sludge with my breath?”

“Yes.” Lloyd nodded his head.

“The amount is just too much to treat and incinerate with my hands. It’s difficult and dangerous. But with your breath, all it takes is ten seconds. You can easily turn the sludge into ash.”

Lloyd was telling the truth. No matter how much he racked his brain, there simply wasn’t any way to treat the sludge. It was so even when he mobilized magicians.

Even the hellish fire magic by the best palatial magicians won’t do.

Sure, the hellish fire magic would be scorchingly hot, but it barely lasted a few seconds. The range of such magic was also narrow, so it would be needed more than once to take care of the sludge. There was also a chance of splattering the dirty and messy sludge. On the other hand, the dragon breath was different.

The temperature is just incredible.

Plus, its range and the time the high heat lasted were just on another level. In other words, one breath every month was enough to turn the piles of sludge into ash.

Then, I’ll be able to use them as fertilizers.

That was Lloyd’s plan. To actualize his plan, he finalized his pitch.

“If you consider the job of taking care of the sludge dirty, then I guess I cannot help you. You can turn down my offer and live the rest of your life in this dim dungeon forever alone.”

“…”

Forever alone. That gripped Solitas’s heart.

C-crap.

Hesitation gripped Solitas. The offer this human was making required him to break his pride twice. Once by being an apprentice of the dwarf master. Second by taking care of the sludge left by the bodily waste. But if he swallowed his pride…

I can live the rest of my life in happiness.

Successful courtship and marriage. The dream he has yearned for so direly would come true.

Should I give it… a try?

Solitas was intrigued. Of course, he was completely in the dark about what fate awaited him in the novel as well as how he confronted Javier regarding the woods of the elves. And how in the end, Javier cut his horn and made him run for his life. And how he met a tragic end after living 500 years in bitterness. But right now, instead of that life, he was put on a sweet path of new choices thanks to Lloyd. Solitas finally made the decision that would change his fate.

“All right. I shall take up your offer.”

“You made the right choice.”

Flap! Lloyd beamed as he took out a piece of document. It was the symbol of capitalism he had planned in advance for this moment. This paper was more grounded and wretched than a magical pact and not even humans, orcs, elves, and dragons could ever evade it. It was an outsourcing employment contract.