The Abandoned Heiress Gets Rich with Alchemy and Buys an Enemy General
Vol. 1 - Ch. 9 - Julius the Flying Dragon Maniac and His Beloved Dragon Helios - 2

The next day, Julius and I went to a grassy field just outside the capital, a bit off the main road. Julius was adorned in a high-end black coat made of Ariadne's thread that I bought for him yesterday. Around his waist was an equally luxurious sword made of eternal diamond, which was about half my height, and on his back was a slender spear, which was as tall as I am. 

I, on the other hand, had my usual bag and my magic-amplifying wand. There stood the usual me, and then there was Julius, decked out in luxury from head to toe. I could feel the darkness of the disparity in our society.

"Well then, a Julius worth ten million gold coins."

"I must be shining brightly, huh?"

"Sparkling, indeed."

Julius seemed to be in good spirits today, making somewhat incomprehensible jokes. 

But in reality, Julius was shining. Shimmering golden hair and eyes of different colors. He wasn't just handsome; his style was impeccable, dressed entirely in black. He exuded a cool charm that could tickle the hearts of many. In fact, he was fawned over on the way here through the royal capital. During the journey, he had already become the rumored 'Chloe-chan's boyfriend.' 

I was quite popular, so rumors spread quickly. Well, Julius didn't get angry, and being thought of as my boyfriend might save him from complicated relationships with girls captivated by his looks. Perhaps one day soon he would be called Chloe-chan's husband, thanks to the dragon ring he inexplicably put on his left finger. Why is that though? I wondered if it was because he missed Helios that much. Well, I was sure he did.

"Let me teach you how to use the ring right away. It's very easy. One of the great things about alchemy is that anyone can do it, even without magic. It's just a tool."

"Enough with the explanations, just get on with it."

"You're so impatient, huh? ...Face the ring and call Helios-kun's name. Oh, by the way, Helios-kun is a male, right?"

"Female dragons don't carry people. It's common sense."

"That's common sense only among dragon enthusiasts, so I wouldn't know."

Julius laughed as if to say he didn't know about such things. It felt like he was making fun of me, but I had gotten used to Julius in the three days since I bought him, so I wasn't particularly upset. I'm a broad-minded person. This is great.

"...Helios."

Julius held the ring in front of his chest and called out the dragon's name. The blue gem on the ring shone, creating a beacon of light in the sky. It rose like a pillar of radiance, only to disappear quickly. The blue gem continued to glow dimly.

"Is that all?"

"Easy to use and has a great effect. This is the wonderful thing about Chloe-chan's tools!"

"Do we have to wait for an hour now?" Julius asked impatiently. 

Julius seemed to be trembling with anticipation to see Helios. Considering the three years he couldn't see him, waiting for an hour shouldn't be too long.

"How far can Helios-kun fly?"

"Without carrying a person, a dragon can fly at twice the speed. Helios is the fastest dragon in Dystiana. So it shouldn't take an hour."

"Alright, then let's wait until then."

I sat on a large stone nearby. Julius stood next to me, arms crossed, while staring at the sky. He looked picturesque just standing there.

I felt bored, so I stretched my arms and legs. I was also a bit sluggish since I had used up my magic yesterday. Although I was currently recovering, there was still some fatigue left in me. It was kind of a strange state for someone still young.

"...Julius-san, even though you look like an ordinary person, why do people say you're cold-hearted or cruel?"

I was bored, so I decided to talk to Julius. Despite being talkative when taking over my bed, Julius is generally quiet. If I don't start chatting, silence ensues. Yet, for the sake of a friendly master-servant relationship, I make an effort to engage in conversation. Because I was a good mistress, after all. It was just that the waiting time felt so boring.

Julius glanced at me, then looked away.

"Now you think I'm an idiot not worth talking to, don't you?"

"If you know, then shut up."

"I'm bored, so let's chat. If you won't say anything, then I'll do the talking. By the way, did I mention the details of the request to you?"

"Don't know. Not interested."

"Interest and curiosity are essential for humans, you know! You're still young! How old are you, Julius-san?"

"Twenty-five."

"You're really young! Surprisingly young! Here I thought you were in your early thirties..."

Our age difference isn't that big, yet he carries himself with so much dignity. Probably because of his always-authoritative attitude.

"Even though I'm not much older than you, you were a Duke and a General. I used to live as the daughter of a Duke before being abandoned in the capital."

"I bet you were more of a fool back then."

He snorted. It's true, though I was probably more foolish back then. That's why I didn't like reminiscing about those times.

"I was a quite delicate young lady, you know. Although, I'm currently a beautiful alchemist. Oh, right, I forgot to tell you about the request. This time, the alchemy comes from the master of a trading house. The alchemical item is a 'Monocle of Truth.' It's a pair of glasses used to discern counterfeit items."

"You're unfit to be a merchant if you can't identify counterfeits on your own."

"Julius-san, you're a strict type when it comes to merchants, huh? Were you bullied by merchants in the past?"

When I asked, Julius fell silent. It seemed like a question not worth answering. Understandable, I guess. 

I cleared my throat.

"Considering the total damage caused by counterfeits, having the Monocle of Truth is beneficial. No matter how skilled an appraiser is, humans make mistakes. However, the 'Monocle of Truth' never does because it's a tool."

"And?"

"In the Northern Demon Mountain, there's a creature called Mithra with keen eyes. We can obtain Mithra's eyes by defeating it. Have you ever fought one before?"

"No. I've killed enemy soldiers, but I've never dealt with monsters before. I'm not a guard."

"Aren't humans and monsters fundamentally different in strength? Are you sure you'll be okay, Julius-san? You can't use magic, and the Northern Demon Mountain is filled with caves, so you can't fight while riding Helios-kun either."

I could handle the subjugation alone, but since alchemicals for attacks are reasonably expensive, too much use of them could lead to a deficit.

Until now, I had no choice but to use tools to avoid losses as much as possible. Now, I felt relieved, thinking Julius would swiftly handle the subjugation from this point onward.

"Humans and magical beasts are the same. Hit them hard enough, and they'll die."

"Isn't that logic too extreme?"

Why is he like a berserker? While we were having that conversation, from beyond the sky, a black object flew straight towards us. It moved much faster than expected, gliding through the air before gracefully landing in front of us.

"Helios!"

Julius joyfully called out the dragon's name, while Helios settled in front of us quietly. 

Unlike regular dragons, there was less wind pressure. Helios seemed to fly differently. He had beautiful black scales covering his body, a long neck, a slender torso, and large wings. Around his neck, there was an old-fashioned bridle, and on his back, a slightly worn but originally high-quality saddle. As Julius approached, Helios lowered his head. His golden eyes were lit up with a sparkle of intelligence. I knew immediately that he was a clever creature.

"Helios... I'm glad you're safe."

Julius reached out, and Helios rubbed his forehead against Julius's hand. His size was as large as my house, so I didn't think I could keep him on my property. Looks like it was a good decision to make the ring.

"Julius-san, it's good that Helios is back safely."

"Yeah, and it looks like the saddle can still be used. So that's good news."

While petting Helios's forehead, Julius spoke in a somewhat calm tone. It felt like he was a husband delighted by his wife's safety. Indeed, Helios was like a beloved wife. Despite being male.

"Is that saddle from three years ago?"

"Yeah. It's the same one I left behind when I was imprisoned."

Julius checked the connection of the saddle and reins. If it were leather, it would seem deteriorated, but there was no sign of aging due to neglect. Perhaps it's an alchemical item. It piqued my curiosity, but I refrained from touching it as Julius might get angry.