The Recorder of Type-Moon History

Kevin actually didn't expect to encounter Siegfried. He had originally thought that the dragon-slaying hero he was most likely to meet would be Sigurd.

According to Kevin's memory, Sigurd was the protagonist of the Norse prose epic Volsung Saga, while Siegfried was the central figure in The Song of the Nibelungs.

Both of them were famous dragon slayers, their legends steeped in heroism and tragedy. They slayed dragons, and both met fateful ends.

This overlap in their stories had led to confusion over the years, with many believing them to be the same person. Perhaps, in a way, they were. But in this world, Kevin discovered that they were two distinct individuals.

Sigurd's sword was Gram, the holy blade Odin himself drove into the tree. On the other hand, Siegfried wielded Balmung, forged by the Nibelung dwarves.

Though both slew dragons, their rewards were different. Sigurd consumed the dragon's heart, granting him the ability to understand the language of birds. Siegfried bathed in the dragon's blood, making him invulnerable to swords and spears—except for the spot on his back where a bodhi leaf had fallen.

Even their lineage differed. Siegfried was the son of a mortal king, while Sigurd was the demigod offspring of Odin and a human daughter.

And Brunhilde? She too was a daughter of Odin, and her story intertwined with Sigurd's. In fact, Brunhilde's initial betrayal of Odin was spurred by the love she saw in Sigurd's parents—a love that made her defy orders and save Sigurd.

In other words, Brunhilde herself had saved Sigurd as a child.

These connections were etched clearly in Kevin's mind. When he had first delved into Norse mythology, this story had left a deep impression on him.

But whether it was Siegfried or Sigurd, Kevin's purpose remained unchanged. His target was Fafnir, or more precisely, the cursed Rhinegold. For Slude, his mission was to return the Rhinegold to the fairies of the Rhine and free it from its curse.

Siegfried's appearance provided Kevin with a perfect reason to approach Fafnir without lying to Slude.

Had Kevin encountered Sigurd instead, he likely wouldn't have hesitated to bring him to Brunhilde's castle. But Siegfried's presence allowed him to align their goals seamlessly: slay the dragon and take the treasure.

The tall and stoic Siegfried sat beside the crackling fire, facing the young Kevin and the enigmatic Slude. Although their meeting appeared coincidental, Siegfried wasn't naive.

The bandit encounter earlier had revealed that Kevin and Slude were no ordinary travelers. But Siegfried was not one to pry. Since he had allowed them to share his campfire, he accepted their presence without question.

Kevin, ever curious and talkative, began to steer the conversation. Slude, however, remained quiet, observing the two men interact.

Kevin found Siegfried's responses fascinating. Despite being a formidable warrior, Siegfried answered almost every question with simplicity and sincerity.

"So..." Kevin tilted his head, studying Siegfried. "You're going to kill Fafnir, not for fame, but simply because the king asked you to?"

"It wasn't just the king," Siegfried replied calmly. "There were nobles and common folk as well. The dragon has harassed their lands for far too long."

"Do they often ask you for help?"

"Yeah," Siegfried nodded.

Kevin's eyes glimmered mischievously. "If I hadn't asked for your help yesterday, but instead the bandits had asked you not to interfere, what would you have done?"

Siegfried hesitated for a moment before answering, "If the ones being robbed weren't you two, I think they would have asked me to help. Even if they didn't ask right away, I'd have stayed and waited until they did."

Kevin exchanged a glance with Slude. Siegfried's unwavering sense of duty reminded him of Slude's earlier days—when she had been a soulless puppet, mechanically executing orders.

Slude couldn't resist asking, "When you kill Fafnir, aren't you tempted by the treasure he guards? It's said to be the most precious wealth in the world!"

Siegfried shook his head. "I'm doing this for the people who asked for my help, nothing more."

Slude sighed, understanding his nature. "I see... It's not chance that you're going to kill Fafnir. It's destiny."

Kevin, too, understood the underlying forces at play. Siegfried's actions bore the shadows of the gods.

The fire crackled, and the three fell silent.

The next morning, Siegfried prepared to leave. But before he could set off, Kevin stopped him.

"Siegfried, can we join you?" Kevin asked directly. "We're also here to deal with Fafnir."

Siegfried hesitated. "The dragon is ferocious. I will handle it. There's no need for you to risk yourselves."

Kevin grinned. "You seem confident. How about this—let's have a duel?"

Siegfried was about to refuse, but Kevin's eyes flashed with determination. Without waiting for a reply, Kevin summoned his runes, casting buffs on himself.

In one swift motion, Kevin summoned his magic spear, its red glow glinting ominously in the morning light.

Slude, sensing the shift, stepped back to watch.

Kevin lunged first, his spear slicing through the air with precision. Siegfried's expression changed. He drew his greatsword, barely managing to parry the attack.

Clang!

The weapons collided with a deafening sound, magical energy rippling outward.

Kevin smirked, surprised that Siegfried had blocked his initial strike so quickly.

Siegfried, on the other hand, was stunned. The power behind Kevin's attack was far beyond what he had expected.

"The tamer of giant wolves, the giant-slaying hero..." Siegfried muttered, staring at Kevin. "That's you, isn't it?"

Kevin's reputation had preceded him, even in Midgard.

Kevin didn't confirm or deny the claim. Instead, he twirled his spear, challenging Siegfried with a sly smile. "Shall we continue?"

Siegfried's lips curled into a rare smile. He raised his sword again. "Let's."

The two warriors clashed repeatedly, but it quickly became apparent that Kevin was holding back.

Kevin sighed inwardly. Too weak.

Without the enhancements that dragon blood would later grant him, Siegfried was no match for Kevin.

To Kevin, the fight felt almost... boring.

After a few more exchanges, Siegfried lowered his sword. "You've proven your strength," he said simply.

Kevin relaxed, dismissing his magic spear.

Siegfried glanced at Slude, who was perched on a tree trunk, observing them with amusement. "You must be the guardian Valkyrie, then."

Slude smiled and removed her hood, revealing her radiant golden hair and feather ornament.

Siegfried blinked, momentarily stunned. "You have a very beautiful... maid," he said earnestly.

Kevin nearly burst out laughing. "She is, isn't she?"

Slude shot Kevin a look, sensing his mischief.

Siegfried, meanwhile, turned back to Kevin. "So you're here for Fafnir as well?"

"Yes," Kevin replied. "But I'm not after the treasure. I only want one thing—the Rhinegold."

Siegfried frowned slightly. "The golden ring?"

Kevin nodded. "That's all I need."

Siegfried studied Kevin for a moment before nodding. "Then it's settled. You'll take the ring, and I'll deal with the dragon."

Slude remained silent, her gaze flickering between the two men. She knew Kevin's true intentions but said nothing.

With their alliance formed, the dragon slayer and the man of miracles set their sights on Fafnir's lair. Together, they would face a challenge that would alter the course of their destinies.

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