"You, Neia, have the potential to be the Dragon God."

"…" She looked at me like I was a fucking idiot.

"…" I nodded vigorously at her.

"Pfft! Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!" She burst out in a maniacal laughter, but her eyes showed a different emotion.

Hmm, yes, Samur Comedy Champion Eckart at your service.

"Hahahaha, I, hahha, am going to be, hahahahahaha, the Dragon God?!"

"Not exactly. You just have the potential. How you use it would determine whether you can be a God or not."

"Pfft, right." She dismissed me with a wave and a slight glare.

Did I step on a landmine?

"No, no, I'm serious."

"Hah, as if a defect like me could be a God." Neia rolled her eyes.

"You had the same reaction when I said I'd create a world record. Where are we now, hmm?"

Hmm, could this woman be perhaps one of my people? I mean, to refuse to learn anything from one's mistakes is exactly what I do.

Huh, who would have thought I would find a comrade in this world.

Life really is unexpected.

"Well, that and this are completely different things."

"Maybe, but the conditions are the same."

"Okay, look." She grabbed my shoulders and brought her face to my level. "Even if what you're saying is true, even if this curse could actually make me a God, I don't want to. You know what I want?"

"I don't think I've had the pleasure to know that yet."

And neither am I that interested.

If she has no interest in becoming a God despite having the potential to do so, then there's nothing we can do.

After all, there are many others with the same, or perhaps more, potential than her. If Neia doesn't want to become a God, then someone else will. The Universe will continue to go on nonetheless.

"I want to stop standing aside like a helpless child when the people I love are being slaughtered!" She suddenly screamed at me with the fury of a thousand beasts, the madness swirling inside her eyes.

Looks like I really did step on a landmine.

"…Who hurt you, Neia?"

"Ah…" Her eyes suddenly widened as she realised what she had just done.

"I asked, who hurt you?"

What made her react this way?

"I-It has nothing to do with you." She released my shoulders and turned away.

"I see."

"Yeah…"

"Well, since we've already achieved what we were here for, let's go back."

I was slightly interested in what she was talking about, but the interest wasn't enough to force/manipulate her to reveal it.

Besides, I already have several theories on what might have happened in the past.

After all, this isn't the first time I have met someone like her.

And this wouldn't be the last either.

"Alright." She meekly nodded, and together, we made our way to the dungeon entrance.

"Heh, I wonder how Azell and Noelle would react when we come back so early."

Their jaws dropping to the ground would be an amusing sight, to say the least.

"They… they will probably scold me for letting you out of my sight." Neia's face slightly paled.

"Oh."

Huh, I forgot that Noelle and Azell care about me and would probably not appreciate me risking my life just to get a World Record.

Fuck.

And that's why, lads and lasses, you don't let people around you care for you.

I mean, sure, we are social animals and having others who care for us is necessary to not only to live a happy, fulfilling life, but also for our survival, but is it really worth it when they stop you from gobbling down 7 cakes at 3 am in the night because it's unhealthy?

Absolutely not.

"Why are you so scared?"

"Why are you not?" She gave me an incredulous look.

"What's there to be afraid of?"

I mean, this isn't the first time I have been scolded by Noelle. In fact, after the scolding I gave her yesterday, I think she'd think twice before saying anything to me.

Azell won't, but his time will come soon.

"Noelle is there to be afraid of."

"Sed."

"Ha, you have no idea how scary she can be when she's truly furious."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh…" Her eyes suddenly widened and her body trembled slightly, as if she was a war veteran remembering about the old days.

"Neia?"

"…" She continued staring ahead with empty, shaking eyes.

She broke out in cold sweat and started panting.

If anyone saw her, they'd think that she had just seen something truly horrifying.

"Neia!" I grabbed her arm and shook her.

"Ah!" Thankfully, she snapped out.

"Now is probably not the best time to have flashbacks of war."

"You are right. Sorry." She nodded as she wiped the sweat wetting her forehead.

"Anyway, it would seem going back right away would not be the most tactical decision on our part."

"Yeah…"

"So, how about we go on a date?"

"…" She scowled at me.

Hey come on, it's not everyday you get the chance to spend the evening with a pretty boy.

But it's also not everyday I get the chance to go on a date with a Dragon, so I guess we're even on that.

Fuck, did I just lose my charm?

"So?"

"…Sure." She nodded. "As long as we don't have to face Noelle's wrath."

"Well, to a future where we don't get our asses whooped." I extended my fist towards her.

"To a future where we don't get our asses whooped." She smiled as she fist bumped me.

With this, Neia and I are officially bros.

"So, where should we go?"

"You are the one who asked me out. Think of something yourself."

"Well, I'd like to, but this is the first time I've been out of the guild house."

"So you'll let the woman lead?"

"I'm an advocate of true gender equality."

"Right." She giggled.

While making our 1000 IQ plan to save our asses, we reached the entrance to the dungeon.

We had also collected the ears of the Wolferions I had killed earlier. Apparently, they counted as my loot for this dungeon expedition.

I asked how we should divide our loot (just to be polite), but she refused saying she didn't do anything.

And she was absolutely right, so I didn't pursue the matter any further.

"Also, instead of flying, let's walk to the city." I proposed as we walked out of the dungeon and into the forest.

"Ah, that way, we would waste more time."

This gives me the feeling of bunking classes in school.

Never bunk classes, kids, unless you're bored, or have a movie to watch, or a girl/boy to spend your time with.

"Exactly-"

"Samur!"

"Hmm- oof!" Before I could ask why she had screamed, something grabbed me from behind.

It jumped with me in its hold and landed about 10 metres away from Neia.

"Hahahaha! I finally have you, Dragon Princess!" Turns out, that something was actually a 'someone'; a man with a rather heavy voice.

Also, sorry to say this mate, but the one you have grabbed, aka me, is not the Dragon Princess.