You are truly a worthy descendant of the hero's family

The Adventurer's Inn "Stallion Banner"

Fafnir, a young dragon girl, sat before the elf twins, waving her small hands and chattering incoherently to them. The twin girls, understanding Fafnir's Elvish, were no longer wary and readily accepted this newcomer into their group. The three girls, whose combined age was at least three hundred years, were laughing and playing on the bed.

"So...who exactly is this child?"

Since Siegfried brought Fafnir back, Krinhild had been relentlessly asking this question.

"She's a relative's child."

"But she calls you 'Dad,' and she's a half-dragon! And don't lie to me with a straight face!"

The princess's gaze at Siegfried mirrored Yang Jing's, seeming to hold an inexplicable meaning.

Siegfried gave up. He had planned to use "Deceitful Speech" again to get away with it. But this situation was too absurd; if he could still get away with it using "Deceitful Speech," then it would truly be invincible.

He sighed and said:

"Forget it, it's not something worth keeping secret. Her name is Fafnir, and she's not a half-dragon, but a genuine ancient dragon."

"What!"

Krinhild was stunned. This adorable little girl was actually an ancient dragon, the most powerful creature in the world?

"But the books say that an ancient dragon's body is large enough to obscure the sun and moon. She looks more like a human!"

"What's so strange about that? Even humans can master magic like transformation. It's not surprising that she, an ancient dragon, would use it."

However, judging by this little dragon girl's appearance, her skills must be quite lacking; she can't even hide such a thick tail!

On the bed, Fafnir wrapped her tail around the three of them, giggling happily. Goodness, that tail alone takes up half the bed!

"So, why does she call you 'Dad'?"

"..."

Well, the most crucial question still couldn't be avoided.

"It's like this, I have some...history with the Ancient Dragon King, her mother. I'm barely considered this child's stepfather."

(I'm not making this up! I have the holy sword of Albion's son and husband, and I'm also considered a half-successor of Balmung!)

(Even a distant connection is still a connection!)

Krinhild was still suspicious, but there was no better explanation. Come to think of it, how could a two-hundred-year-old ancient dragon have a twenty-year-old father!

Roland stood to the side, clutching the black cloth tightly in his hand.

His mood was heavy, so heavy that he didn't even have time to pay attention to the new companion. The pattern on this cloth was enough to make a Golden Knight so serious.

Seeing that Siegfried and the princess had almost finished their conversation, he said:

"Everyone, I have something I want to talk to you about, something very important."

Although he said "everyone," his gaze was fixed on Siegfried.

Siegfried felt uneasy under the gaze of this burly man with a full beard.

(Why is this guy looking at me like that? Did my impersonation of Melan get exposed??)

"What's wrong?"

Roland spread the black cloth on the ground. On it was embroidered a skull pierced by a crescent-shaped sickle.

Siegfried's eyebrows jumped, and he blurted out:

"The Death God's heretical cult."

Wasn't this the mark on the eerie warehouse in the backyard of the Hoover Trading Company?

Roland subconsciously straightened his back. He looked deeply at Siegfried and said:

"You recognize this symbol, so you must also understand what it represents."

"Ah? Um! Yes, of course I do! Xing Mei, please introduce this cult to everyone."

Siegfried's face twitched. He didn't understand anything at all. He frantically winked at Yang Jing, who was quietly and coldly standing aside, begging for support.

But Yang Jing ignored him, only returning a disdainful glance before continuing to read her travel guide. Today's reading material: how to make a glorious exit using flash magic.

Just as Siegfried was about to tear his hair out in anxiety, Roland took the initiative to explain:

"This symbol is called the Necromancer's Sacred Emblem, the symbol of the Necromancer Cult. They are a branch of the Death God Church.

Previously, there was only one Death God Church on the Kiran Continent. Although they were called a heretical cult, they weren't actually evil.

They would comfort souls with lingering resentment and use spiritualism to convey the last wishes of the deceased. Although their ultimate goal was to obtain the bodies of the deceased for research on necromancy, their methods were considered righteous. However, one day, the Death God Church split.

One faction adhered to the original teachings, believing that death was only a part of life and should not forcibly change the rules of life's operation.

The other faction, however, became hostile towards the living, believing that death was the true state of life.

This faction is the Necromancer Cult. In recent years, they have been causing massacres across the continent, sacrificing lives to their god and turning living people into undead."

Siegfried listened silently to Roland's account. This exemplary knight's expression was serious and solemn, as if he couldn't wait to grab his greatsword and kill all these heretics. But his only thought was:

(What does this have to do with me? Why are you staring at me?)

But since the other person was explaining so seriously, Siegfried couldn't act too casual.

"Um, I know. What do you want to say?"

"I once fought them on the front lines of the Human-Demon War. These people are a bunch of lunatics. Their appearance here certainly won't be a good thing, so..."

Siegfried knew what this big fool wanted to do, so he immediately raised his hand to stop him, his expression serious and resolute:

"Don't get involved in this."

Are you kidding? With just a few dozen people and guns, going up against the heretical cult? That's not just asking for trouble, it's asking for death! Shannon also said this had nothing to do with him, whether he got involved or not wouldn't affect the mission.

Our Princess's Ascension Company's business is to support Boss Krinhild in ascending to the throne, not to fight heretics.

Let's leave upholding justice to the real heroes.

Roland stared blankly at Siegfried's resolute face. The noisy adventurers in the tavern downstairs had already left, and the rustling of leaves could be heard outside the window. The city's night was so peaceful. But a storm raged in Roland's heart.

Yes, when he saw this cloth, he understood. Whether it was participating in the auction or cooperating with the slave traders, it was all just a superficial disguise. Melan's real target was the Necromancer Cult behind these people. The hero's blade points to evil! As long as evil can be eliminated, Melan will stop at nothing. What a resolve. He wasn't even willing to accept his help, intending to face the entire Necromancer Cult alone.

(Is he worried about the princess? Does he understand that if I die fighting the heretical cult, it will severely damage the princess's future?)

Roland suddenly felt a burning sensation on his face, ashamed to the point of wanting to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

(I actually regarded you as an evil manipulator. I'm so foolish. How could a hero be evil?)

He stood at attention, bowing ninety degrees to Siegfried. This wasn't a knightly salute; a knightly salute expresses loyalty and respect through the identity of a knight.

A bow expresses respect and apology as an individual. Roland had only performed such a deep bow to the Rose Queen in his life. Neither his father-in-law nor Krinhild had received such treatment. And today, he had another person to revere.

"Melan-sama, I apologize for my previous rudeness. You truly are a descendant of the hero's family. Your courage and loyalty shame me. If your battle needs help, Knight Roland is willing to be your vanguard!"

"Ah...this...okay, okay...then I'll leave it to you."

Siegfried's eyes were wide, shocked by everything that had happened tonight. Whew~ What on earth happened today?