Urla Lavender was the young lady of the margrave family charged with guarding the eastern border.
House Lavender was the most warlike of the warlike noble houses — one of the kingdom's three great swords, standing alongside House Rosemary, the house of magic, and House Cattleya, the house of martial arts.
During the old war against the neighboring Gaiselle Empire to the east, they were said to have fought more bravely than anyone, slaying more enemy soldiers than any other.
Of course, the noble house that also bore the heaviest losses was none other than House Lavender.
"So what you're saying is... a dragon appeared in the wetlands east of the plains... a 'Wurm.'"
Elsewhere, at a certain open-air café.
Calling it an open-air café was a stretch — it was really a frontier development village on the front lines of the demon realm.
The establishment was anything but stylish, just a humble spot with wooden crate chairs and barrel tables set up in rows.
"A Wurm... right, that's a type of dragon."
They had been conversing in polite language until just a moment ago, but at Urla's request, they had switched to casual speech.
In truth, there wasn't much of a gap in status between Rest and Urla.
Rest was the head of a count's family. Urla was the sole daughter and heir of a margrave's family.
A margrave was something entirely different from an ordinary count — granted greater authority and territory. In terms of actual power, they rivaled even dukes and marquises.
"Come to think of it... where's your usual attendant today?"
"............Mm."
When he pointed out what he had just noticed, Urla looked away in a completely different direction.
Following her gaze, he spotted the attendant who had been accompanying them to meetings, hiding behind a building.
"............"
The female attendant was concealed behind cover like a detective on a stakeout, watching Rest and Urla intently.
"...What is that?"
"............A bodyguard?"
"Why the question mark?"
He couldn't quite figure this girl out.
Anyway... he needed to rethink Urla's request.
Urla's way of speaking was extremely fragmented and brief, but by combining gestures with written notes, he had managed to extract the necessary information.
The margrave of House Lavender was in charge of developing the land on the eastern side of the plains, but apparently a species of dragon called a "Worm" had appeared in the wetlands there.
The Worm was causing trouble, and frontier development had come to a standstill because of it.
"Lately... terrible..."
"So the Worm's movements have been especially active recently."
"Cause... barrier..."
"Right... the barrier we set up to ward off monsters ended up stimulating the Worm. In other words, I'm indirectly responsible too."
It had been Andrew who led the initiative, and they had already informed the margrave of House Lavender in advance about erecting the barrier, urging him to stay on guard.
So there was probably no need for Rest to take responsibility — and yet, the fact remained that the girl standing before him had been burdened because of it.
(I should report this to Andrew... but I have a feeling it'll end up being me who goes.)
The Worm was low-ranked among dragons, but even so, a dragon was a dragon.
He didn't think it was stronger than the magic beast Sabnock, but it had to be a pretty powerful monster.
"I'll need to get Highness Andrew's approval first, but I don't mind taking care of the monster. Besides, we've already got the ball rolling."
Rest — that is, House Clover — would eventually be granted domain in the northern part of the plains.
And since House Lavender was slated to receive a portion of the eastern plains as well, the two of them were going to be neighbors.
Then again, rather than leaving behind any unpleasant grudges, it would be far better to have created an "obligation."
"...That's wonderful. Thank you!"
When Rest gave her reply of consent, Urla pressed both hands to her cheeks and spoke joyfully.
Her cheeks were faintly flushed pink, and her lips parted in a bloom like flower petals.
The curtain of her bangs fluttered aside, revealing her beautiful eyes that shimmered with an iridescent glow.
"Oh my..."
She really is cute.
Especially the color of her eyes—a radiant glow like a precious opal that shifts its hue depending on the light.
(They're an unusual color, but... could they possibly be "magic eyes"?)
Magic eyes, also known as "Evil Sight" or "Sacred Marks," refer to eyes that are born with special magic inscribed into them.
They're rare, but there are still a fair number of people who possess them—for example, the "Mana Sight" that lets one perceive the flow of mana as visual information.
(There are even magic eyes that can see a person's future or past, they say... I mean, it sounds like something out of a chuunibyou fantasy, but I have to admit I'm a little envious.)
"I've heard everything!"
At that moment, a voice rang out from above.
With a light whoosh, Yuri appeared from overhead.
"Ughh..."
Yuri was carrying the old man who appeared to be a healer in a princess carry.
How he had gotten here... The elderly man, having been transported, looked thoroughly dizzy.
"About that worm extermination—count me in!"
"Oh, so you really were listening after all."
"Ah, my hearing's perfectly fine. Consider this an apology for getting you hurt—I'll throw my whole heart and soul into helping with the monster extermination!"
Yuri made the declaration in a booming voice.
It was unexpected, but a new mission had been activated.
Rest had accepted Urla's request and would be heading out with Yuri to take care of the worm extermination.