Chapter 101: The Royal Banner

As usual, we stopped by the Adventurers’ Guild and were drinking ale together when the Submaster walked over.

I had a bad feeling—some uncomfortable déjà vu—and sure enough, he told me that the lord’s butler had been asking about me and wanted to meet.

“So this time it’s not just a summons?”

“Word is you went to the royal capital. Did you do something?”

“Don’t talk about me like I’m some kind of notorious criminal.”

“He seems to be acting on orders from above. He’ll probably come to see you himself.”

“Hey—Isn’t that Eugene, the butler?”

“Maybe it’s payback for seeing him yesterday.”

Mintz’s muttering made the Submaster turn, and sure enough, the man greeting him practically radiated I am a proper butler.

“Submaster, that boy is Leon, correct?”

He looked me over from head to toe, sizing me up—then noticed the two sitting across from me.

“Mintz and Scott, right? Heard you became adventurers, but you look pretty ragged. Are you his companions?”

They just shrugged silently and kept drinking, then the man returned his gaze to me.

“Leon, I carry a letter addressed to you from a noble of very high standing in the royal capital. I cannot give it to you here. You will accompany me to the estate.”

A noble? Not the kind I expected… and this feels suspicious.

“Butler sir, I don’t know any nobles. And if it’s some letter I’m not allowed to read here, then I don’t want it—so please just leave it.”

“I cannot. Whether you accept or refuse after reading it is your choice. But to refuse to even look at it—”

“And what exactly would you do if I say no?”

“E-Eugene, threatening an adventurer—what do you plan to force him to do? Depending on your answer…”

“N-no! I only need him to read it! Consider it a request. I must deliver this letter and receive a reply after it’s read.”

“Then why are you threatening a child? For the butler of an count’s household, your manners are astonishingly poor.”

Nice one, Submaster—
…but calling me a child is still rude.

From the way they speak, this letter seems to be from someone ranked even higher than a Count. Refusing here might cause trouble… so I guess I should play along.

“Sir Butler, I will go to the estate to read the letter, as you ask. But after I read it, you promise to let me leave freely? If so, I’ll accompany you.”

“I promise. You will ride with me to the estate, and once you’ve read it and given your reply, my carriage will return you to the Guild.”

I glanced at Mintz and Scott—they nodded. Good enough.

With Steve and the other adventurers watching curiously, I boarded the butler’s carriage and headed for the estate.

At the Guild, after the carriage left

Scott asked.

“Submaster, what was that about?”

The Submaster couldn’t reveal that the royal family had sent an inquiry about Leon.
He only shrugged and slipped into the back room.

“What is going on?”

“Leon’s really mysterious sometimes.”

“He’s younger than us but he thinks farther ahead.”

“And he knows a lot about magic too.”

“Well, I’ve known him since he first helped with herb gathering. He’s a little strange, sure, but still the same Leon.”

“He’s braver than he looks.”

“Definitely. When that Black Bear attacked, he came back alone and saved Ted.”

At the Estate

The carriage entered through the service gate. I was led through what seemed like a tradesmen’s corridor. The servants didn’t even look at me, just walked quickly on.

Eventually we reached a grand hallway and a staircase. We stopped before a door guarded by knights. Eugene knocked in a distinct pattern. When the door opened, he strode right in.

The knight’s sharp stare made me hesitate, but I heard a voice report:

“Lord Klein, I have brought the adventurer Leon.”

Klein…?
The lord here should be Brian Arclight, an earl.
Klein was the second son, right? The troublesome guy Mintz mentioned yesterday.

“Why are you standing there? Enter.”

No point hesitating now. I stepped in and approached the desk where Eugene stood.

Behind the massive desk, lounging arrogantly in a chair, was the man himself—just as insufferable as Mintz and Scott had described.
He wasn’t a noble in his own right, so I didn’t have to kneel, but I gave a respectful bow anyway.

“I am Leon. I was ordered to come here and read the letter.”

“Your head is too high. Kneel!”

Wow. The noble’s brat really thinks he’s something.
Annoying, but I’ll get this over with.

I knelt, which meant I didn’t have to see his face. Small blessings.

“Leon, read the letter placed on the desk and give us your reply.”

“Sir Eugene, I cannot read something placed on the desk from this position. May I stand?”

“Of course. Lord Klein, please remain silent.”

When I stood, Klein was scowling at the sealed letter and the small parcel beside it.
How exactly was I supposed to read something all the way over there? Not even within reach.

“Sir Eugene, could you please hand me the letter?”

As I spoke, Eugene looked at the letter—and his face changed color.

“Lord Klein… surely you have not forgotten the royal messenger’s warning?”

His voice suddenly sounded like it came from the depths of the underworld. Klein went pale.

“W-wait! I only pulled it closer to make it easier to read! I didn’t break the seal—I swear I didn’t!”

Huh… so he was trying to peek.
And the seal on the outside clearly bore the royal crest: a flaming ring, crossed spears, and a crimson wolf.

Just as the Submaster thought—Eugene was acting on orders from above the Count.

Eugene pushed Klein aside, sweat dripping, and carefully carried the letter to me.

Great, a royal letter…
I didn’t ask for this trouble, but I had no choice but to read it and give an answer.

I flipped the letter over to break the seal—
…and saw the seal was already half-open.

I showed the back to Eugene. His face went from pale to furious red in-seconds.

“LORD KLEIN! Do you intend to destroy the Arclight household!?”

His roar shook the room. Even the knights behind me reacted.

I needed to confirm something.

“Sir Eugene, is this truly from the royal family?”

“Without question! It was delivered directly by a royal messenger!”

His manner of speech had suddenly become very formal.

“Yet the seal is already loosened. A royal seal does not come apart easily. How am I supposed to trust this?”

“I didn’t break it! I only pulled it closer! If you doubt me, ask the knights!”

Both knights nodded quickly:

“He never handled it while we were present.”

“He only drew it closer.”

I didn’t trust any of them, but arguing would only complicate things. Might as well read it and finish this.

Reading the Royal Letter

I broke the seal and read it.

My head started to hurt.

So that’s why aristocratic forces—who skipped the mandatory mobilization—were suddenly marching west.

A “request,” huh…
Well, scouting for dragons from the sky probably gave me away.

But that wasn’t the important part.

If the letter was true—and it likely was—then if a war broke out and Sutherland was pushed back, the seventh town west of Lynas was the border with the Kingdom of Holtland.

If Sutherland lost ground, the house I planned to buy—and the peaceful life I wanted—would disappear.

The kingdom might be offering a huge reward, but that wasn’t the issue.

I’d be dragged into the war whether I liked it or not, and if Sutherland fell behind, my family and I would be in danger.
But letting Holtland lose would cause trouble too.

A lose-lose situation.

“Hey! What’s your answer!?”

“I’m thinking about that. Please be quiet.”

I had no real choice. I’d need to accept—with conditions.

“Sir Eugene, I will accept under conditions. Please deliver my written reply to Chancellor Brighton.”

“Understood. Then, please check this.”

He brought over the parcel Klein had been hoarding. Inside was a letter addressed to me and a magic pouch.

When I opened the letter, a card fell out—bearing the kingdom’s emblem: a wolf howling before crossed spears within a flaming ring.

This was a direct identification card from Chancellor Clave Brighton’s office, granting a rank equivalent to a baron.

The letter instructed me to look inside the magic pouch, so I did.

Inside was the royal banner.

I pulled it out… and both Klein and Eugene froze—Klein stiff as a board, Eugene kneeling on the spot.

The pole wasn’t very long—a cavalry banner. If it fit inside, the pouch must be Rank 3.

The note said that after meeting Count Arclight, I was to present the banner to him.

There was also a pouch of coins—half the reward—and a map.

I couldn’t refuse.
If Sutherland lost, I would lose everything.
So I made up my mind.