Chapter 55: A Matter of Feelings 3

“I’m sorry. That explanation turned into such a lengthy excuse.”

“N-No! The people working for the kingdom are extremely busy, so it can’t be helped. Besides, my home village is far from the capital. It takes time even to learn what’s happening there…”

If the village had been close to the capital, they might’ve been able to respond sooner.

However, it took five days to reach my village from the capital by shared carriage.

Even a fast horse needed three days, so the delayed response was understandable.

Furthermore, the dungeon had appeared near the capital just before this incident, and many soldiers had been summoned there.

Several circumstances had overlapped to cause this problem, and I understood that.

“The reason we arranged this meeting is that we’d like to return the money you paid for the request.”

Dilm placed a burlap sack on the table.

“Could you use that money for the village instead of returning it to me?”

“…For the village?”

“The wyvern must have made it difficult for people to obtain food, and some may not have been able to eat proper meals. Henry came to tell us about my village, but other villages might also have suffered damage from that wyvern. I’d like you to use the money to help them.”

Honestly, I already regarded the money as spent.

Even if I accepted it now, it would simply go into my guild account and remain unused for some time.

If that was the case, I wanted it used for the villagers instead.

That was why I made the request.

“…Understood. We’ll graciously accept your offer and use the money as relief funds.”

“Please do. Ah, there’s one more thing. You don’t need to tell anyone I had anything to do with that money. It would probably cause me some trouble if certain people found out.”

“Is that so? Understood. Then we’ll present it as assistance from the kingdom.”

Dilm promised to gather soldiers and act immediately, then departed.

“…Reina, if such an important person is waiting for me, please tell me beforehand. I was so nervous I thought my heart would leap out of my chest.”

“I’m sorry. His visit was sudden, and I was flustered too. I never imagined a member of a marquis’s family would come.”

“A-A marquis?”

“He didn’t give you his family name, but that was Dilm von Dirigen. He’s the younger brother of the current Marquis Dirigen and now works at the royal castle.”

My thoughts came to a halt at that shocking revelation.

I’d spoken with Belinda, a member of a count’s family, but this noble held an even higher rank.

“I-I didn’t say anything improper, did I? Did I speak to him correctly?”

“Yes, you were fine. You responded appropriately.”

I hurriedly asked Reina that while replaying our conversation in my mind.

“Will I be all right after refusing a marquis’s proposal…?”

“Of course. Dilm cares deeply about the kingdom’s people. If anything, I think your words left him with a favorable impression of you.”

“I hope so.”

Even after hearing Reina’s reassurance, my heart was still pounding furiously.

I couldn’t leave immediately for another request.

I rested in the room for about ten minutes, then completed two requests before noon.

Both paid five copper coins.

Hanna’s request had paid three silver coins, so I earned three silver and ten copper coins that morning.

“I thought working would make me hungry, but today I can’t seem to get anything down.”

“But you’re going outside the city again for the first time in a while, aren’t you? Then you must eat properly.”

After finishing my morning requests, I went to lunch with Reina.

I didn’t think I could swallow a full set meal.

With that in mind, we came to Sarah’s café.

I ordered apple juice again.

For food, I chose a small sandwich.

I somehow forced it into my mouth, chewed it, and washed it down with apple juice.

“…Erik, if you feel that unwell, should you give up on going outside today?”

“…No. I’ve wanted to resume leveling up as soon as possible, so I’m going. It’s only a matter of how I feel. There’s nothing physically wrong with me.”

That was my answer to Reina.

I’d met someone as important as a marquis, and worrying about whether I’d spoken correctly was making me feel ill.

Once I went outside and started fighting monsters, my mood might unexpectedly improve.

“All right, then… But if you truly can’t manage it, come back immediately.”

“Hee hee. You really are fond of Erik, Reina. This is on the house. Work hard this afternoon too.”

“May I really have it?”

“Of course. You’ve let me see such a rare side of Reina, so consider it my thanks.”

Sarah gave me a free refill of apple juice.

Reina directed something resembling a glare toward her.

“Thank you, Sarah!”

Drinks went down easily, so I thanked her and enjoyed the juice.

After lunch, Reina and I returned to the Adventurers’ Guild, where I completed the request procedure.

Then, for the first time in a while, I left the building and headed beyond the capital’s walls.