"Come on, bro, you’re so lame," Philo said with a hint of exasperation, watching Alte—who had zero backbone. "Why do you need your little sister’s help just to hit on a girl?"
Alte instantly bristled.
He shot back, "‘Hit on a girl’? I’m apologizing! A perfectly reasonable apology—got it?"
Recalling his awkward encounter with Favna in the woods, Alte felt a twinge of guilt.
Still, one thing surprised him: she really was a Dragonkin.
Horns, tail—the girl was shy, especially around people. The moment she spotted someone, she’d bolt faster than a rabbit.
"Fine, fine. I’ll trust you this once."
Though Alte’s explanation was shaky, most let it slide thanks to the captain’s solid reputation.
"Captain!" a Dragon Knight teased as Alte pondered his apology. "Next time you ‘kidnap a maiden,’ pick a quieter spot!"
"Hahahaha!!"
Laughter erupted. Alte genuinely wanted to kick his cheeky subordinates.
"Shoo! Do you think I’m Prince Abel—that hopeless silver-haired girl obsessed? I don’t freeze up at pretty silver hair!"
Philo rolled her eyes hard. "Don’t flatter yourself. Prince Abel’s way better than you, you perverted captain. At least he wouldn’t strip a girl’s clothes."
"I was verifying if she was head of the Terras Trading Guild! Not stripping anyone!"
Alte launched into another rant—voice changer, hunched posture, suspicious behavior—and the room buzzed with cheerful laughter.
Once quiet settled, Alte turned to Philo. "After all that… little sis, how do I reply?"
Philo pinched the bridge of her nose. "So you *are* asking me for dating advice?"
"You’re the only girl here! Girls get girls—makes sense, right?"
Alte dropped the debate. Arguing would just spark more teasing.
"Everyone’s different. I can’t promise my advice’ll work," Philo warned.
"Doesn’t matter. Just tell me. I’ll type."
Alte cared only about sincerely apologizing to innocent Favna.
"Ahem!" Philo cleared her throat. "Keep the apology sincere. Then, in the Dragon Knights Order’s name, praise her heroism—she *did* save those kids…"
Alte typed rapidly. "Mm-hmm? Next?"
"Meet her face-to-face. Officially. Use the Order’s authority—not your personal name—to request the meeting."
Having Philo as strategist proved useful. Alte reviewed the draft, satisfied, and hit send.
"OK. Thanks, Vice-Captain Philo."
"…"
Philo almost asked to check the text—but no. Peeking at even her brother’s phone felt rude.
---
Meanwhile, in her cozy den, Favna gamed late into the night, slurping cup noodles.
Mid-raid, her phone buzzed.
"*Ugh*, that perverted captain again? Seriously?"
She tapped the screen—the wall of text nearly blinded her.
But reading closer… it was all praise for her bravery, plus a sincere apology.
Favna flushed slightly. "Hehe~ Nah, no big deal. Just… y’know. Hero stuff? Pfft."
Lost in her own daydream, she snapped back to the final line and murmured:
"*‘Some matters require face-to-face discussion. In the name of Dragon Knight Captain Alte, I formally invite Miss Favna to meet. You choose time and place—but please do not refuse.’*"
"…"
She set the phone down, mind swirling with question marks.
*What’s his game?*
This felt less like an invitation… more like a challenge.
Invoking the Dragon Knights Order? Total pressure tactic. He *knew* she couldn’t hide forever.
*If this were one of those lewd doujin plots…*
"*Is he planning to knock me out and then—*"
After the last "clothes incident," her guard shot to maximum.
But refusing? Impossible.
*Do I really have to face him head-on?*
"Don’t underestimate me!"
Favna rolled up her sleeves (metaphorically) and typed back:
"Tomorrow, 3 PM. New Era Plaza."
*No way he’d dare anything shady in broad daylight.*
Still… just in case, she called Liko.
If that perverted captain tried anything, she needed backup. One month of knowing Liko was enough to trust her.
"Hello? Miss Liko, good evening… could I ask a favor?"
After hearing Favna’s "showdown" story and reading the forwarded message, Liko’s lips twitched. "Somehow… I don’t think Alte means what *you* think he means."
Still, she replied firmly: "Of course I’ll go with you."
*Without me, this timid dragon would never show up.*
*Worst case? I’ll slip away midway.*
