"So, what's the job?"
"We slay the queen wyvern in her lair. Well not us. We're just hired as part of the force to clear the route to the lair. The wyverns had been getting more aggressive of late, attacking merchant convoys and farmland."
"I see."
"You're not disappointed? I thought slaying a wyvern queen might excite you. I can just picture you standing on top of the slain wyvern queen with your boot on its head."
Hikari giggles.
"I could. For you."
"Oh, that would be so hot. But I would rather not lose you. I don't think it's worth risking your life for."
"Yes, my lady."
Hikari sat with her legs crossed.
Her arsenal of weapons spread out in front of her.
Ria sat on her leg.
Her thick socks make a nice cushion.
"The pay?"
"Modest. We'll use it to pay off our expenses for the war. It's not going to be easy finding the gold to pay for your exorbitant tuition in the academy. Especially because of your size. You eat as much as two infantry platoons at least. The territorial tax revenue is not going to cover it."
Hikari rolled her eyes in embarrassment.
"More importantly, we gain prestige with the Herdial guilds to have access to better missions. Staging points to exotic hunting grounds. Investment funds. Discounts on potions. Workshops to maintain your gear and so much more."
Ria fished a silver badge out of her pocket.
"Look at this. Silver rank. Awarded to the RazenHeir knight Hikari for her supporting role in taking down the cultist flesh titan. Or so the letter says. "
Ria laughs. "Yeah sure. They were just trying to save face that their prized sky fortress lost. I read the report in detail. The titan wasn't taken down by the sky fortress's cannons. They were burnt by your flames."
"Silver?"
"A useful symbol. Certain investors wouldn't bother speaking with you regarding raids if you don't have at least gold and above. But silver is good enough for our purposes. One or two good raids and we can make enough to fund the bulk of your tuition. Herdial is never short on them."
"Nice."
"This mission is a warm up for us. Pretty high profile too. It could well get us past into the gold ranks where it will be much easier for me to raise funds."
Hikari's giant fingers caresses the back of Ria's hair.
Her lady snuggles and purrs.
Back to studying their gear.
Hikari picks up her bow.
She tugs at the string to test its elasticity.
"Its not strong enough."
It was the bow she uses to hunt bears.
She had to be careful not to snap it by exerting too much strength.
"It's a common ballista without the mount. We can reinforce its body. The material is quite common. And then mount another string. This should make it withstand your strength better and make it usable in a real fight."
Hikari picks up the bolts.
They were as tall as Ria.
Steel tip wooden shaft.
"They're light."
"You're right. They won't pierce a wyvern's hide. We can add a steel core then. A ballista bolt is manageable for the estate forge."
"Nice."
She puts down the bolt.
Hikari picked up her handcannon.
Telekinetic and Razenheir runes inside the chamber and barrel.
She points it to the ceiling and channels her mana.
"Still works."
"Phew. That's a really expensive and delicate piece of gear. The shorter barrel and smaller chamber meant you can channel less mana in one go. But it still beats the horrendous efficiency from casting through your bare hands."
Hikari picks up a throwing dagger.
She had used up her entire loadout during the battle against the titan.
The one she held in her hand had been repaired several times over.
"Don't worry too much about the daggers or the cannon balls. They are small enough for the estate forge to manage. We'll be shipping more to you even as the raid progresses."
Hikari picks up a piece of her wyvern skin.
Scratches. Its runes were degraded.
"Wyvern skin armour. Tough and yet elastic. Does not rust like iron. Perfect for your fighting style. We can harden it to make them into your boot soles. The wyverns you had slain of late meant we have stores of them even if you wear some of them out."
Hikari picks up her new sword.
Withdrawn from the estate's reliquary with the Lord RazenHeir's express permission.
"This will be your main weapon now. Used by one of the most legendary knights in our house's history. Use it to pierce the toughest of armour. Slay the mightiest of foes as he has."
"I will."
Ria claps her hands together.
"That would be all you need. A simple set made of common materials. No fancy legendary or mythic tier gear. But deadly in your hands. Rest well. The convoy will leave in a few days. Oh and one more thing. The shard of the titan's core. Your prize. Perhaps you should decide what we can do with it."
Hikari thinks for a bit.
"I'll consume it."
"Consume it? Oh, I mean… "
Ria mumbled to herself for a moment.
"Yes of course, Hikari. It's your kill after all. I will make the necessary arrangements."
Hikari put down the stone and turned towards Ria.
"My lady?"
"It's nothing."
"We're short on gold?"
"Yes. But you let me worry about that. I'm your lady after all, I shouldn't make this your problem."
Hikari thought for a bit.
Ria was pacing around. Something on her mind.
Hikari could sense it.
"Sell my dress."
She was surprised by the suggestion.
"The black dress? Hmm… yes… that dress is rather expensive. The material can be sold but…"
"The blood crystals and high heels."
Ria dropped her head and kept quiet.
"But. its-. I bought it for you- I shouldn't."
Hikari sat down. Using one finger, she lifted Ria's head by the chin.
"It's fine."
Ria's eyes lit up.
"Yes. Of course. We should focus on what's important. You are so perfect even without them."
Ria planted a kiss on Hikari's finger.
"I'll put them up for auction right away. In the meantime, I'll prepare the ingredients. Let's see, wheatgrass as the base, any source of distilled protein will do, ivory berries for their mana content"
Hikari carcasses her hair.
"My lady likes it?"
"Yes-. They make you look like a true goddess. Towering over me in those heels. When you step, the ground trembles."
Hikari laughs.
"It was hot."
"Yes… it was just so hot… Which is why I'm ashamed as your lady to have to sell it. Once you slay the monsters, I'll be sure to get the best prices for the monster parts so I can buy you an even better dress. One that would really make men burst in their pants."
Hikari giggles.
"I'll make it up to you."
"There really is no need-."
Ria paused.
She sees a change in Hikari's expression.
"What do you have in mind?"
"Have you ever seen me grow?"
Ria's face turns red as blood rushes to her head.
"You promise?"
"Wait for me."