“Gahahaha! You really do have a cute face! I knew it by the smell! Worries about feelings or whatever? No such thing, I’m doing great!”
Tiana laughed heartily, repeatedly patting Siloque on the shoulder.
It hurt like hell.
Even though Siloque knew she didn’t mean it, if she increased the force of her pats just a bit more, his ribs might actually break.
Hill whispered into Siloque’s ear, “Brother, are all dragons like this? I feel like she’s one of those over-familiar upperclassmen from a school club. I thought they would be more majestic.”
“Some are like this. Regardless, Tiana isn’t a bad person,” Siloque whispered back.
He stepped back slightly to escape Tiana’s enthusiasm and rubbed his aching shoulder.
He felt like his HP bar had dropped a little.
Although she was a dragon, they weren’t exactly noble creatures in the Dungeon.
They just had thicker health pools, tougher skin, higher magic resistance, better curse tolerance, higher physical attack, and longer lifespans.
They simply had more birth buffs.
“So, beautiful Siloque, you said I have troubles. What kind? Is it the desire for sleep or sexual desire?”
Tiana asked provocatively.
“Sexual…”
Hill’s cheeks flushed red.
‘Sister, you and Cohen helped wash me, what’s there to be embarrassed about?’
Siloque answered Tiana with a beaming smile, “It’s both.”
“Uh…”
“You are in love with a female dragon who can take human form just like you. You don’t even know her name yet, and because you can’t have her, you’re moping around and punching trees in depression.”
Tiana’s smile froze completely.
“You—you, you, you, you—”
Her large tail bristled and drooped, trembling non-stop as her scales opened and closed.
Steam physically rose from her face as it turned red.
“Lady Dragon, are you feeling embarrassed now? Brother was right! He was right, wasn’t he? So hot!”
Hill let out a triumphant laugh as if regaining her home-field advantage, even taking the opportunity to reach out and touch Tiana’s dragon horns.
To summarize this Lord’s Quest: matchmaking.
However, it required Siloque and Hill—the players—to act as the matchmakers behind the scenes.
Completing this quest would increase Tiana’s favorability, making it easier to contact her master later.
“Hmph!”
Tiana slapped herself with a loud thwack and took a deep breath.
“Ugh…”
“Ngh…”
The force of her breath was so great that it caused a temporary localized oxygen deficiency.
The siblings felt a wave of discomfort.
“Phew… Fine, it’s exactly as you said.”
Tiana’s face was still red as she bit her lower lip and admitted defeat.
“Young man—uh, your name is Siloque, right? How do you know? Have you been peeping?”
“Ahem! Lady Dragon’s lung capacity is just too ridiculous… No, my brother’s profession is Priest. He can just predict the future a little bit.”
“Oh, I see. I was wondering why this guy has such rare, pitch-black hair. So it’s because of his profession.”
“No way, black hair isn’t rare. Brother’s hair is actually a handsome white,” Hill argued proudly.
‘Sister, what nonsense are you talking about? Predicting the future?’
Before Siloque could respond, Hill had already assigned him an incredible ability.
‘And Tiana, don’t you just believe her like that.’
Amphibians really were…
“Then, Lady Tiana, could you tell us the specific details? That way, we can help you come up with a plan,” Siloque asked, following the topic.
“Gahahaha, just call me Tiana.”
She laughed generously, no longer dwelling on what just happened.
She tossed her head coolly.
“You’re right. I’ve definitely fallen for her.”
Tiana’s eyes were full of longing.
“Her? You said ‘female dragon’ earlier… Does Lady Dragon really like girls?”
Hill only realized it now.
This dragon’s sexual orientation seemed a bit unusual.
She looked at Siloque, and he gave his sister a firm nod.
“That’s amazing…”
Hill’s gaze toward Tiana turned into one of admiration.
“I can’t help it. Those beautiful wings, those sacred, gem-like red eyes… even when she’s covered in blood while eating entrails, she’s still so elegant. Any normal dragon would fall for her.”
‘Yuri is terrifying.’
‘I admit that dragon’s character art is good, but it’s not as exaggerated as you say.’
‘I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.’
Tiana continued talking to herself, sounding quite intoxicated.
“The first time we met… I only have to close my eyes for that memory to resurface. Ah… what a lovely and beautiful figure. Her beauty isn’t just that; I can see a soft glow radiating from her back. It’s not an illusion. That’s right, that light was like a beam shining down from heaven to the earth…”
She was utterly entranced, her voice beginning to take on a dangerous resonance, as if she had consumed some strange chemicals.
“Love at first sight?” Hill asked, seemingly unfazed.
“You could say that. I’m not fooled by looks or figures; what I value most is the inner self. And I saw through her inner self with a single glance. One glance was enough. In short, I’ve fallen in love.”
Tiana wore a brilliant, sincere smile.
She looked like a completely different person from the boisterous dragon she was moments ago.
“You’re chasing love but don’t have the courage?”
“Well, it’s not quite that. It’s just that every time I meet her, I get so nervous I can’t speak. There’s been zero progress, gahahaha!!”
In the face of Hill’s question, Tiana rubbed her head and laughed brightly.
Her soulful appearance vanished instantly.
Although it wasn’t clear what was so funny, she was likely masking her inner flustered state.
“Then have you thought of other ways to increase favorability without speaking? For example, adding her on LINE—wait, no, writing a letter or sending a gift or something.”
Hill suggested earnestly.
It seemed she was fully immersed in the storyline.
“I’ve made an effort, but the results have always been minimal.”
Tiana crossed her arms in thought, her fine eyebrows drooping into the shape of the character for “eight.”
“I left deer at the entrance of her cave several times, then I switched to foxes, rabbits, badgers, and even large carp and lampreys… It wasn’t until I left a giant beehive that she was willing to poke her head out.”
Hill asked, “Did it work? Did you establish a communication channel?”
“No, she thought the bees were too annoying and came out to kick me. That’s why I was over there punching trees. Gahahaha, I just don’t know what to do next…”
Tiana’s high-held head drooped, and her voice fell with it.
Hill: “…”
Seeing that the time was right, Siloque suggested, “Giving a gift is a good choice, but the ultimate goal is to talk to her. To get closer, you’ll eventually have to face her directly.”
“But I’m embarrassed…”
“That’s not an excuse, Tiana. You can talk to Hill and me—two people you just met today—on such equal terms. Surely you can do the same with the person you like.”
“Can I? How could it be that simple?”
“Are you really satisfied with this? Imagine if one day she ended up with some dragon you didn’t even know. They’d be all lovey-dovey while you could only watch from the sidelines. Would you be happy seeing that?”
“No. I would kill that guy.”
Tiana replied coldly and without hesitation.
Siloque gave a satisfied smile.
A good answer.
If she was a person pursuing pure love, he was interested in helping.
“Heh, your provocation is quite low-level, young Siloque… but fine. Hearing you say that, I feel like I can’t run away anymore.”
Tiana showed a fearless smile that was very characteristic of a dragon.
“Then let me lend you a hand. I have a way for you two to have a conversation.”
“As expected of Brother. Lady Dragon’s affection level is already negative, and you still have a way?”
Seeing the item Siloque took from his Ring Chart, Hill marveled, “It’s this… so it was meant to be used here…”
It was an exquisite piece of craftsmanship that looked naturally formed.
One stem blooming with three lilies of the valley had crimson, amber-colored crystals embedded—or more accurately, growing—inside them.
Its name was “Red Frost Lily of the Valley.”
It was the item obtained in the Abyssfire Dragon Remnant’s room.
“What is this? It doesn’t smell very tasty,” Tiana sniffed it suspiciously with her nose.
“Try giving this flower to her as a gift. She should be willing to talk to you then.”
Tiana stared at it dubiously, her eyes channeling magic to observe it closely.
After confirming several times that there were no issues, she took the craft and tucked it into her magically woven clothing, which contained storage magic.
Then, Tiana suddenly moved her head close to Siloque’s neck, her eyes flashing with a golden light.
Siloque smelled a fragrance of grass and sunshine on her.
Like her, it was friendly and warm.
“Stop! What are you doing—”
Hill channeled her magic to activate an AT Field, but Siloque reached out to stop her.
Tiana quickly raised her head, and the light in her eyes vanished.
“I’ve marked your scent. If there are any problems, young man, I will find you no matter where you run.”
“Lady Dragon, how could you be like that? Brother was helping you.”
“It’s fine, Hill. I understand.”
Siloque straightened his collar.
Hill, for some reason, leaned in and hugged Siloque’s shoulder, imitating Tiana by saying something about marking his scent…
‘Sister, you’re heavy.’
“You two get along well. But the bond between me and my master isn’t any weaker than yours.”
Tiana gave a gentle smile and took a large leap backward.
Boom—
Following the sound of vibrating air, Siloque shielded his eyes from the blast.
The form of a giant dragon appeared once more.
Tiana flapped her wings and hovered in the air.
“I’ll give it a try then! If it works, I’ll come back to thank you! Young man! Hill!”
“Oh! Go on then!” Siloque urged.
The giant dragon gave a massive flap of its wings, creating intense wind pressure.
Siloque and Hill had to steady each other to avoid being blown away.
Tiana shook her wings again and flew toward the distant valley.
“She’s gone? Brother, is the quest over just like that?”
Hill looked disappointed, having an expression like she hadn’t played enough yet.
Siloque stared in the direction Tiana had left and said, “Not yet. Let’s follow her.”