Rest and Yuri stepped out of the building that had been repurposed into the barrier arts classroom.
"Well then, Rest! I'm off for my run!"
"Oh, so you’re actually going through with it."
"Of course! I was told to do it, after all!"
Yuri began jogging in place with quick, rhythmic steps.
She was either incredibly earnest or a complete airhead; honestly, it was hard to tell the difference.
"Whoa!"
"…!"
Yuri prepared to sprint off, but she came to a jarring halt the moment she started.
It seemed she had nearly flattened someone emerging from the shadow of the building. She managed an emergency stop at the last possible second, avoiding a direct collision, but the other person was sent tumbling onto their backside from the sheer wind pressure.
"I’m so sorry! Are you all right!?"
"Hey, Yuri! What do you think you’re… eh?"
Rest, who had rushed over to help, blinked in surprise. He recognized the girl sitting on the ground.
"……It hurts."
"You’re from the Margrave Lavender House, aren't you?"
The girl sitting there was Ulula Lavender.
She was the young lady representing the Margrave Lavender House. Rest had seen her several times around the pioneer village and at various meetings, but he had never expected to run into her like this.
"I apologize… I wasn't looking where I was going. Are you okay?"
"It doesn't look like you’re injured, but… can you stand?"
While Yuri stood by, flustered and hovering, Rest reached out his hand. He intended to help her up and perhaps use healing magic if the situation called for it, but for some reason, Ulula remained frozen.
"Ngh…!"
"Oh…?"
He felt an intense, piercing stare directed at him from behind her curtain-like purple bangs. Why was she looking at him with such a powerful gaze? This was essentially the first time they had spoken; as far as he knew, they were barely acquaintances who only knew each other’s names and faces.
"……It is."
"Eh?"
"A nosebleed… it is coming out…"
"Whoa!"
Exactly as she declared.
In the next instant, a spray of bright red blood erupted from Ulula’s nose.
"Wait… why are you getting a nosebleed from falling on your butt!?" Rest shouted in a panic.
He hadn't seen her hit her face. Had she collided with Yuri from an angle he couldn't see? Thick red blood dripped onto Ulula’s skirt, the stains spreading rapidly across the fabric.
"Me-me-me-me… MEDIC!"
Yuri, seeing the blood, began screaming in a state of total confusion.
"Oh no! This is terrible… it’s all my fault! Someone! Is there anyone who can use healing magic!?"
"Calm down, I can do it myself!"
Rest knelt beside Ulula and placed a hand on her head.
"Heal."
A faint light enveloped Ulula’s head, and the bleeding stopped instantly. Since it didn't seem like she had actually hit her head, he figured she would be fine, but he still used water magic to moisten a handkerchief and pressed it against her face.
"That should take care of it for now, but if you’re still in pain, please consult a healer. I’ll make sure we cover any medical expenses."
"I’m sorry… I’m so, so sorry…"
"Hafu…"
Yuri slumped to the ground, looking like a puppy that had been thoroughly scolded by its owner.
"No… the fault is mine. Rather… a reward."
"Pardon?"
"Thank you very much…"
Ulula bowed her head, thanking Rest and—for some reason—Yuri as well. Rest, he understood, since he had treated her, but why was she thanking the person who had nearly run her over?
"Um… you are…"
"Ulula, it is."
"Yes, Lady Lavender…"
"Ulula, it is."
"Ah, right. I know. Lady Ulula Lavender…"
"Ulula, it is."
"…………"
What was with this response? She was like an NPC in an RPG who could only repeat the same line of dialogue over and over. Rest felt a strange, inexplicable pressure emanating from the petite, purple-haired girl. For now, he decided to just go along with her request.
"Lady Ulula."
"…………Hafuuh."
"Ehh!? Your nose is bleeding again!?"
Ulula sprayed another nosebleed.
Rest hurriedly cast his healing magic again, using a higher-level spell this time.
"Are you really okay? Maybe you should see a healer after all…"
"I’ll go fetch one! Wait right here!"
Yuri took off like a shot. In a pioneer village that dealt with monster subjugation, healers and priests were always on standby. At her speed, she would likely be back with a specialist in seconds.
"Honestly, I’m more worried she’ll crash into someone else and increase the patient count…"
"…It is fine. No injury."
Ulula reached out and grabbed the sleeve of Rest’s jacket, tugging on it.
"A reward, it is."
"A reward? Is that… some kind of slang from the eastern frontier?"
"No."
Ulula stared up at Rest again. It wasn't a glare; it felt more like she was intensely observing him. It wasn't exactly unpleasant, but it made him feel incredibly self-conscious.
"Anyway, let’s move somewhere you can rest."
"Please."
"Right, let's go—"
"A request… I have. It is."
"Eh?"
Ulula gave his sleeve another sharp tug, her expression turning serious.
"A monster. I want you to defeat it… on the eastern side."
"…………?"
Rest furrowed his brows. Her sentences were short and the information was fragmentary, but he could make an educated guess. Was she saying that a powerful monster had appeared in the eastern development zone, which was under the jurisdiction of the Margrave Lavender House?
Ulula nodded firmly, confirming his suspicion.
"A dragon… has appeared."
"…………"
Rest was left speechless.
It seemed the situation was far more dire than he had anticipated. Depending on the details, this might be something he needed to report to Prince Andrew immediately.
"First… I think you’d better tell me everything you know."
Shoulders slumping from a sudden wave of exhaustion, Rest prepared himself to hear the rest of Ulula’s story.