Chapter 122: A Troublesome Young Master
After moving to the chancellor’s reception room, I received two bags of gold coins as payment for transporting the letter, and asked that the demonstration fee be transferred to the Commercial Guild.
I returned the magic bag and magic pouches to the aide, who had written down my Commercial Guild membership number and Adventurers Guild card number.
Unlike the ambassadors who were simply shocked by the demonstration, their home countries have already been drooling ever since receiving the urgent messengers’ reports.
I don’t know how much they’ll be charged for this demonstration, but it’s guaranteed to require additional fees.
In my heart, I told them: “Squeeze the losses out of the other country.”
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“Ambassador MacNeil, since we’ll be departing this country tomorrow, shall I take custody of your report to the kingdom?”
He’ll probably describe my demonstration in meticulous detail, and once Sutherland learns of my connection with the Kingdom of Holtland, they shouldn’t act rashly.
I don’t want to be dragged into a war, but if showing my power can prevent one, I don’t mind helping somewhat.
The request fee would be enormous, though.
“W–we will prepare the report immediately. I believe it can be handed over tomorrow morning.”
After seeing the demonstration, he finally understood why I possessed the chancellor’s identification, and his attitude had changed completely.
When his report reaches home, they’ll likely feel relieved that Holtland won’t collapse and they won’t lose their war expenses.
If they also reconsider any plans to use me carelessly, that’ll be nice… though it might instead make them see me as dangerous and try an assassination.
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The next morning, after taking off from Carcas, I woke leisurely in a patch of grass on the third day and moved above the noble district of Leclerc, landing behind Duke Berlant’s mansion.
A guard rushed over, saluted, and asked, “Are you Sir Leon?”
“That’s right. I’d like to meet the steward, Hoylart-san.”
That one sentence was enough for them to guide me to the inner entrance, where someone promptly went to fetch him.
Before long, the steward Hoylart appeared, and I said.
“This is a report for the Chancellor from Ambassador Trevor MacNeil, assigned to the Kingdom of Holtland. He entrusted it to me upon hearing I’d return to Sutherland. Please deliver it to the Chancellor.”
He agreed immediately.
With that delivered, I had no more business, so I left quickly.
Hoylart watched me fly off toward the western sky, then ordered a carriage prepared to head to the royal castle.
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“Chancellor, a report from our ambassador to Holtland has been delivered by the steward of Duke Berlant’s household.”
“So Leon delivered it, then?”
“Yes. When he told Ambassador MacNeil that he was returning to Sutherland, the ambassador entrusted it to him.”
The chancellor tilted his head, wondering why Leon had bothered delivering it himself, but as he read the document, his expression stiffened.
“Did you ask what Leon did afterward?”
“Yes. They say he flew up and away toward the west immediately after handing it over.”
“I’ll report to His Majesty.”
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“Your Majesty, we have received a report from Ambassador MacNeil, with whom we had lost contact.”
“You finally reached him? What does it say about Flangle?”
“As we expected, he had been confined. After being released, he gathered rumors in the city and compiled this report. Leon carried it when returning to our country, but…”
“What is it?”
“It contains things that are hard to believe.”
He handed over the report. As the king read, his face grew tense.
“You expect me to believe this?”
“Duke Berlant once relayed a traveler’s tale that someone was flying over Flangle, causing an uproar at the royal castle. Since the border was semi-closed, hardly any rumors reached us.”
“This document says many ambassadors and nobles witnessed it—including MacNeil. He flew freely, deflected magic attacks, and dropped massive loads of stone…”
“To knock down rows of defensive shields, and then pulverize them with a giant whirlwind… No army could withstand such force. Calling him a flying siege weapon is no exaggeration.”
“If he carried letters for ceasefire negotiations both ways, we must have established a good relationship?”
“It depends on the requests, apparently.”
“What do you mean by ‘depends’?”
“He only follows the instructions of the one who hires him. Even higher-ranked people cannot override the requester. He doesn’t seem inclined toward offensive magic unless attacked. And when entrusted with the ceasefire letter, he confirmed he was allowed to counterattack if attacked.”
“So he was attacked in Flangle.”
“We’ve reports that former Crown Prince Meredith had a poor reputation and acted violently.”
“And this man is called Leon?”
“Yes. Among adventurers he’s called Leon of the Gentle Breeze, but considering the dragon-slaying rumors, his strength is far beyond a gentle breeze. And he freely flies through the sky.”
“As long as he doesn’t turn against us, do not provoke him.”
“I have already granted him identification as one of my subordinates, ensuring no one else can touch him. Count Arclight will return to his territory soon; I’ve ordered them to ensure his and his family’s safety.”
“Good. And hurry with gathering information on Holtland’s current state.”
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“I’m home!”
“Welcome back. What were you doing this time?”
“My ability to fly got exposed, so they made me run around delivering letters.”
“Delivering letters? How far?”
“To Flangle, the royal capital of Holtland.”
“Even flying, doesn’t that take time?”
“Mom, after delivering the letter, they told me to bring back the reply. And when I brought the reply back, they sent me again with a return letter. It’s a pain. Oh, I bought some delicious sweets in Flangle—let’s eat.”
“This sounds suspicious… You didn’t do anything dangerous, right?”
“I didn’t hunt any beasts. I just delivered letters.”
…Okay, I scared them a little, but it’s technically true.
When I handed them a basket of sweets I’d bought in Flangle, Mom and Sis smiled right away.
Too easy.
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While waiting at the west gate, Mintz and the others arrived.
“Oh, you took your time.”
“You’re done with the job?”
“Yeah. All I did was fly in the sky, but they dragged it out pretty long.”
“Gale’s itching to practice lightning magic.”
“He keeps lamenting that you hadn’t returned.”
“Well, I think he’ll manage two or three shots now. Or if he uses fewer barriers, maybe five or six.”
“Then you should’ve taught him sooner.”
“I would, if Gale learned to be cautious in emergencies.”
“Yeah… whenever he gets nervous, the first thing he does is throw up a barrier.”
“He’s careful, sure, but he puts one up before even identifying the target. He needs more scouting practice.”
“I see.”
“When you’re around, he relies on you. If something triggers his detection skill, he immediately looks at you.”
“He thinks he’s safe as long as you can make your dome barrier. I hope he gains confidence, but that only comes with experience.”
“Then today we’ll test the strength of his barrier, and if he passes, I’ll teach him lightning basics.”
“Your lightning’s stronger than our slashes, right?”
“Well, it’s strong enough to make a Golden Bear writhe, or to annoy an Armor Buffalo.”
“That sounds fun.”
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“Hey… something’s off.”
“Why are there three barrier domes?”
“That’s… Klein and his lackeys…”
“The ones he uses like servants.”
“Idiots who think they’re special just because some noble took notice.”
“Steve, what are you doing? Since when are you friends with them?”
“Well… they saw our camp and ordered us to make barrier domes. They said they were related to the Count, so we couldn’t refuse…”
“Oh, Mintz and Scott, huh?”
“You sure hang around interesting people.”
“You—you’re that guy who’s gotten conceited from being called ‘Gentle Breeze’!”
“You were with the submaster earlier…”
“Klein, what are you doing to my companions?”
“Who are you? You think someone like you can casually address Master Klein!?”
I signaled Mintz and Scott to step back, then wrapped Klein’s group’s barrier dome with my ring barrier.
“Klein, your attendants are in the way. Can you make them quiet for a bit?”
“You brat, don’t act so big just because you’re a little famous!”
“Master Klein is the second son of Count Arclight—!”
“Shut it. I’m talking to young master Klein here.”
Mintz and Scott snorted behind me.
“Y-you little—!”
“You’ll pay dearly for insulting a noble’s son!”
“Gale, you can drop the dome.”
“Are you sure?”
Smiling, I sent the four back toward Mintz’s group, then stood before the young master.
His attendants tried to approach, but the ring barrier blocked them.
Out of sight of the other adventurers, I showed him the identification entrusted to me by Chancellor Brighton.
“You know what this is, don’t you? If you keep abusing your noble parentage to do whatever you want, I’ll tell the Count all about the messenger incident.”
Klein stared blankly at the ID.
Just like when he saw the royal banner—his brain seems to short-circuit when faced with information beyond his capacity.
Even his attendants, loyal to House Arclight, turned pale when they saw my identification.