Lucavion continued his leisurely stroll through the bustling streets of Andelheim, the sounds of the marketplace gradually fading into the background as his thoughts shifted to his next destination.
The Iron Matron, or as his master had once affectionately called her, “Little Bear.” The memory of his master’s words resurfaced, and Lucavion couldn’t help but smirk at the thought of the formidable woman carrying such a nickname.
‘Well….Master just causally talked about it at that time, but who would have thought I would meet one of the people that Master saved in this place.’
At that time, Gerald had mentioned the girl with a voice of wonder.
“Master…..You must have said quite a lot of people in your prime?”
“Hehe….You brat…Of course, your master saved a lot of people. There was this particular girl who had caught my attention at that time.”
“Caught your attention?”
“Well, let’s say she was different. She was like a man in a woman’s body. She fought with her hands.”
“Bare hands?”
“Indeed. She had an unnatural strength, like an orc.”
“You saved such a girl.”
“Well, she was not awakened but still registered as an adventurer in the guild. And while I was passing on the ruins, I saw her fighting with a 1-star monster.”
“She fought with an evolved monster while being non-awakened.”
“Wow…..”
Remembering the contents of the talk they had, he couldn’t help but shake his head.
Fighting with an evolved monster while being a common mortal?
With bare hands?
Lucavion shook his head in disbelief as he continued his walk, the memory of his conversation with Gerald playing out in his mind. His master’s tales had always been filled with incredible stories, but this one had stuck with him.
A girl with the strength of an orc, fighting evolved monsters with nothing but her bare hands—if anyone other than Gerald had told the story, Lucavion might have dismissed it as exaggerated adventurer folklore.
But Gerald never exaggerated.
“Mariel Farlon,” his master had finally revealed with a chuckle, after teasing him for being so captivated by the story.
Lucavion had listened intently, amazed at how his master described her. Despite being a common mortal at the time, Mariel had possessed a spirit that could rival any Awakened. It wasn’t just her strength or resilience that had caught his master’s attention—it was her sheer willpower.
She fought with everything she had, never once thinking of giving up, even when the odds were stacked impossibly against her.
‘To be honest, Master, you made her sound like a walking legend,’ Lucavion thought with a smirk. ‘And now here I am, about to meet the woman you saved, the one you called ‘Little Bear.”
The nickname made him chuckle again as he neared the inn.
‘But at the same time, to think that Iron Matron, Mariel Farlon, was actually someone master had saved. I did not know such a setting existed in the novel.’
Lucavion’s steps slowed for a moment as he recalled more about Mariel Farlon from the novel. She wasn’t just some nameless figure from the past, but rather a central figure in the adventurer’s world—a retired A-rank adventurer, known for her unwavering discipline and iron will. Her nickname, “Iron Matron,” wasn’t just for show.
It was a title earned through years of service, battle-hardened experience, and a reputation for being a no-nonsense mentor to younger adventurers.
‘A 6-star Awakened,’ Lucavion thought to himself, his smirk fading into a more thoughtful expression. ‘That’s no small feat. She was a powerhouse.’
In the novel, Mariel had always been portrayed as a strong, good-natured, yet stern woman. She was the kind of mentor who believed in pushing her disciples(?) to their limits, not out of cruelty, but because she believed in their potential.
Despite her rough exterior, she was deeply respected by those around her, especially for the way she cared about the adventurers who came under her wing.
She wasn’t just a retired adventurer who faded into the background—Mariel had made a lasting impact on the adventurer’s guild and the younger generations who looked up to her. Though she had stepped away from active duty, her name carried weight, and even now, she remained one of the strongest figures in the city.
In the novel, her role has been pivotal, acting as a mentor to several important characters, guiding them through the difficult trials of their journeys.
‘And to think, she’s someone my master saved back when she was just a mortal,’ Lucavion mused, shaking his head slightly. ‘This whole thing feels like a story within a story.’
He remembered her key moments in the novel—how she had once taken on a high-ranking demon alone during a crisis, how she had led a group of adventurers to protect an entire town from a monster outbreak. Her presence alone had inspired countless others to take up the mantle of adventurer. Despite her retirement, Mariel had remained a formidable force, a walking legend in her own right.
[Quite the woman,] Vitaliara noted, remembering what Lucavion had said about her. [A 6-star Awakened, retired but still more than capable. Are you sure you can keep up with her?]
Lucavion chuckled softly. [Keep up? That’s not my goal. I’m just here to give a visit, that is all.]
Lucavion pushed open the door to the inn, the soft hum of conversation and the warmth of the fire enveloping him as he stepped inside.
His eyes scanned the room, taking in the quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Adventurers and travelers were scattered around, enjoying their meals, discussing their next ventures, and unwinding after a long day.
‘Well, she is here as usual.’
Considering that she was the one who owned the inn, it wasn’t a surprise after all.
Lucavion’s eyes swept across the room, taking in the lively scene as adventurers and travelers talked, laughed, and unwound from their days.
The warm glow of the fire, combined with the hum of conversation, made the inn feel inviting—almost comforting. But with most of the tables filled and his own desire not to draw unnecessary attention, Lucavion made his way to the bar counter instead.
He liked to keep things casual, and sitting at a table meant drawing the Iron Matron’s attention in a way that might seem more formal than he intended.
‘Besides,’ he thought with a small grin, ‘if she wants to talk, she’ll find me.’
He slid onto one of the stools at the bar, glancing briefly at the barkeep before leaning back, his posture relaxed. The smell of roasted meat and hearty stew filled the air, and for the first time in a while, Lucavion realized how hungry he was.
He waved over the barkeep, giving the man a friendly nod. “A meal and a drink, if you don’t mind,” he said casually. “Something strong, but nothing too fancy.”
The barkeep raised an eyebrow but didn’t question him. He nodded and began preparing the order, leaving Lucavion to settle in, his gaze drifting around the room.
[Vitaliara,] he thought with a smirk, [if you’re hungry, now’s the time to speak up.]
Vitaliara flicked her tail lazily from her perch on his shoulder. [I’m fine, but you might want to take it easy on the drink. You never know when you’ll need a clear head.]
Lucavion chuckled softly. [You forget I can’t really get drunk, at least not in the way mortals do. My body burns it off too quickly.]
[Still, it’s not a good habit,] she muttered, though there was no real annoyance in her voice.
As Lucavion sat waiting for his meal, the atmosphere in the inn buzzed around him. The stories of adventurers, the excitement over the upcoming tournament—it was all background noise to him now. His focus was elsewhere.
[You make it sound like I always drink.]
[Humph.]
As Lucavion sat waiting for his meal, the atmosphere in the inn buzzed around him. The stories of adventurers, the excitement over the upcoming tournament—it was all background noise to him now. His focus was elsewhere.
A moment later, he sensed her before he saw her. Mariel Farlon, the Iron Matron, approached the bar with the same calm, authoritative presence that commanded attention without her having to utter a word. Lucavion remained casual, not turning to acknowledge her immediately, though he knew she was coming.
She stopped just a few feet away, her gaze settling on him like the weight of a mountain as if she was testing him just like she did in the morning.
Though Lucavion knew one thing.
‘A show, isn’t it?’
She was also putting on a show, and he just played along.
Or he did not.
“There is no need to act. I don’t mind the attention.”
Since his words directly undermined her purpose.