Chapter 163: Nobles’ mornings are late.

Still wearing the embarrassing herald’s outfit, I was seen off from the royal castle by His Majesty the King and the chancellor, then took off into the sky.

My destination was the estate of Count Alain Rosamond in the town of Ginguas, located along the Jartan Highway extending east from the royal capital.

Since it was about fifteen stops from the capital, Leclerec, I hurried so I could arrive by evening.

I had heard this outfit was enchanted with magic, and indeed, even flying at full speed at high altitude, it remained comfortable.

Beyond the Jartan Highway stretching east, I had heard it eventually connects to the Kingdom of Gredins, but flying over an unfamiliar road like this for the first time was nerve-wracking.

Since I couldn’t just land in my clown-like outfit and ask, “Where am I?”, I had to count the towns as I passed them.

Wriggling along above the eastern highway, by the time the shadows of buildings began to lengthen, I arrived at Ginguas.

I took a map of the town from my magic bag and compared it with the location of the count’s estate.

After confirming the streets, markets, and the estate’s position, I pulled out the royal banner and dove toward the mansion.

I braked hard in front of the main gate and came to a stop before the entrance.

Ah… alarms were ringing, bells clanging, guards and knights rushing in from all directions.

At about five meters in the air, I held the slightly larger royal banner I had been given at a 45-degree angle so it would be clearly visible, looking down at the gathering guards and knights.

“What’s that!? Come down!”

“Where did you come from!?”

“Wait, isn’t that the royal crest?”

“No way… why is he floating?”

“I’m the envoy of His Majesty King Wilfred Sutherland! Summon Count Alain Rosamond!”

“How dare you—get down here!”

“Make way! Clear the area!”

“H-hey, butler-sama, that’s a suspicious intruder—he might be dangerous!”

“Silence! All of you, stand down!”

The butler arrived in a panic and shouted them into submission, silencing the guards and knights.

“I presume you’re a royal herald. This is the estate of Count Alain Rosamond.”

“I carry an order from Chancellor Brighton, by command of His Majesty the King. Dismiss your men and call the count.”

When I raised the royal-crest document, the butler bowed deeply and sent the others away, then rushed toward the mansion.

Once the guards had cleared out, I landed and dispelled the balloon magic, forming a transparent Shelter! to wait.

Soon, a man rushed out. Though slightly disheveled, a man with a familiar-looking face followed behind him.

After seeing me, he spoke briefly to the man behind him, then stepped forward and knelt.

“I’m Alain Rosamond, granted the title of count. I understand you’re a royal envoy. What’s your business?”

Ah, so my clown outfit really does make it obvious I’m a royal herald.

Holding the royal banner in my left hand, I dispelled the shelter magic and handed over the document.

“Count Rosamond, before you read the order, ensure that everyone here is placed under strict secrecy. Not a single word of what you’ve seen is to leave this place.”

“Understood. I swear it.”

Having received his reply and delivered the order, my task here was done.

I stepped back slightly, created an open balloon, and rose into the sky, heading west.

Meanwhile…

Count Rosamond, upon being told by his butler that a royal envoy had arrived, rushed from the salon to the entrance.

He had never seen a royal envoy or herald in the noble district of the capital, but the figure before him matched exactly what he had heard described.

He quickly stepped forward and knelt, receiving the order from Chancellor Brighton. However, he felt a slight unease at the fact that this was a herald rather than a formal envoy.

Still, the appearance and royal emblem were unmistakable.

After receiving the order and being instructed to maintain secrecy, the herald suddenly rose into the sky and flew westward.

The surrounding guards and knights began to panic, and Rosamond quickly reminded them of the secrecy order.

“Father, what was that just now?”

“That wasn’t a formal envoy, but a herald—still, the royal crest is genuine. And this letter is indeed from Chancellor Brighton. This is unprecedented, but first we must read it.”

Count Rosamond returned to his office, quickly opened the seal, and began reading. He fell into thought.

If he misjudged this, it wouldn’t only damage his house’s reputation—it could even result in demotion.

Shivering, he handed the letter to his heir, who stood nearby awaiting instructions.

Turning to the uneasy butler, he asked:

“There was a member of the dragon-slaying groups who could fly through the sky, correct?”

“Yes. Rumor says he’s a wind mage named Leon. Could that have been him…?”

“Most likely. So he truly is under royal patronage.”

“I’ve heard he’s called ‘Leon the Breeze,’ and that he spun dragons like toys and hurled them away, or swept armored buffalo and golden bears into whirlwinds…”

“So the rumors of him flying freely through the sky were true…”

“The three groups that defeated the dragons were all issued credentials by Duke Berlant. It seems even the royal family didn’t overlook him.”

“Father, this is going to become serious.”

“I know. From the contents of this order, it’s not just Ginguas. If we fail, we’ll become a laughingstock—or worse, be demoted. We must be fully prepared.”

“We must carefully select all personnel and eliminate anyone suspicious…”

“You handle the knights and guards.”

Elsewhere…

After leaving Rosamond’s estate and heading west, I landed in a grassy field—my work for the day finished.

I took off the tight outfit and took a breath, spreading out the map.

Tomorrow, I had to deliver orders to Dunise, two stops closer to the capital, and Jouelin before the capital itself. Then I would leap past Leclerec to Bilung and Zandra.

At this rate, it would take four or five days. Dealing with nobles was going to take time.

The next target

The next stop was Count Richard Clancy in Dunise, so I couldn’t afford to relax—I decided to visit early in the morning.

From above, I could see adventurers heading out for their morning earnings. I was an adventurer too, and early mornings were my thing.

After confirming the count’s estate with the map, I began a 45-degree dive… a sudden assault.

I stopped in midair above the main gate, about ten meters up.

Once again, the alarm bells rang.

“Good work, everyone,” 

I muttered… and quickly pulled out the royal banner.

Guards were swarming, but where were the knights!?

“Intruder!”

“Where did he come from!?”

“You there, boy, what are you—”

Their words stopped mid-sentence when they saw the royal banner.

Ah, someone noticed.

“I’m the envoy of His Majesty King Wilfred Sutherland! Summon Count Richard Clancy!”

“Is… is that real?”

A higher-ranking guard shouted.

“Do I look like some fool sneaking into a noble’s estate with a fake royal banner? One word from you could ruin your lord’s position. If he’s asleep, wake him!”

Using a whirlwind spell, I scattered the guards and landed, keeping the balloon magic active.

After a while, a chubby man—likely a butler—ran out. He stared at me up and down, tilting his head.

“So you’re the royal envoy…”

I was getting irritated. This was taking too long.

“This appearance and royal banner should be enough. If you can’t understand that, you’re unfit to speak with me. Bring Count Richard Clancy immediately—or I’ll wake him myself.”

The butler froze.

I wrapped him in a whirlwind and tossed him into the mansion.

“Aaaahhh!”

The guards backed away in fear.

Inside the mansion…

Count Clancy, who had been sleeping soundly, was awakened by shouting:

“Count! Please wake up! A royal envoy has arrived from the sky and demands you be woken immediately!”

“What’s all this noise!? Where’s Effol!?”

“He collapsed and is vomiting in the entrance hall…”

“What’s going on…?”

When he heard “royal envoy,” he was instantly awake.

After a chaotic rush of servants, the Count finally appeared in a disheveled state.

I tapped the royal banner once.

“Too slow.”

The moment he saw it, the Count immediately knelt.

“I’m Richard Clancy, Count. What’s your business?”

“I bring an order from His Majesty King Wilfred Sutherland to Count Richard Clancy.”

I handed over the document.

“This matter mustn’t be leaked. Remain silent until the appointed day.”

“Y-yes… understood.”

Not really understanding, but clearly just agreeing for appearance’s sake.

Well, read the order and do your best.

I stepped back, entered the balloon, and rose into the sky heading west.

“Nobles’ mornings are late…”

Some deep narrator-like voice echoed in my memory.