Chapter 127: The Kingdom’s Intentions
“Mom, is the Olivetan Hotel doing okay?”
“What do you mean by ‘okay’?”
“When I stopped by the Commercial Guild today, I overheard talk that the owner might retire.”
“Well, he’s quite advanced in age, so I’ve heard him complain that the work has become difficult for him lately. But since he has no children to inherit the place, he’ll probably have to sell it or close it entirely.”
“So it’s not that the business isn’t profitable.”
“The customers are always plenty. Well… I only know from how much food I prepare, but still. It would be a real problem if the hotel closed.”
“I can earn enough for you and Dad to live on, so you don’t have to worry. I forgot until now, but next time I go to the Commercial Guild, I’ll transfer money into Dad’s account.”
I still hadn’t settled that appraisal sheet that Olga forced on me in exchange for waiving the rights to the dragon subjugation reward. That alone should be over 30,000,000 Dara.
“I don’t want to just stay home doing nothing. I’ve gained cooking support skills from helping in the kitchen, so I help with the cooking now.”
“You got that skill from practice?”
“That’s right. If you work seriously, Lady Felicienne grants it. Not like you—where you get skills just by practicing. Speaking of which, what’s going on with your ‘skills you get by practice’?”
“Most of mine are adventurer-type skills. Detection magic, presence sensing, and Tree Blend… I guess that counts as stealth? I can also use appraisal—ah, someone’s coming.”
Footsteps stopped in front of our door, followed by a knock.
“So that was presence sensing? What a convenient skill.”
Mom went to check the visitor. Dad could use detection magic, but he wasn’t good at presence sensing.
“I serve the Arclight Count’s household as a butler. My name is Eugene. Is this the home of the adventurer, Leon-dono?”
Eugene!?
I hurried to the entrance, where Mom looked back at me with a worried expression.
“Eugene-sama, may we help you with something?”
“Leon-dono, forgive this late-night visit. My master wishes to meet and speak with you. If it is not an inconvenience, would you please come to the manor tomorrow?”
When I received Duke Berlant’s identification papers, I figured I’d eventually have to show my face—but to think he’d invite me.
“I understand. Would around noon tomorrow be acceptable?”
“Then I shall send a carriage to retrieve you. Thank you for accommodating us.”
Eugene bowed gracefully before leaving.
Mom looked at me with a strange expression.
“I didn’t know you could speak so politely.”
Really? That’s what you’re surprised about?
“A noble inviting you like that…”
“When I was entrusted with Duke Berlant’s identification papers, he said he’d inform Count Arclight. So it’s probably about that—just verifying the documents.”
“But you’re going to meet the lord! Not in those clothes…”
“It’s fine. I have some slightly nicer city clothes. Besides, the Count only knows me in my adventurer outfit anyway.”
“You’ve met him before?”
“No. But he must have seen me flying overhead.”
After changing into my city clothes and drinking tea, a knock came with someone calling,
“Leon-dono, we’ve arrived to escort you.”
This wasn’t a noble or merchant district—please don’t announce that so loudly…
The carriage was a luxurious one bearing the Count’s crest.
The neighborhood aunties were already sticking their heads out their windows to peek.
I’d definitely be interrogated when I got home.
The carriage entered the Count’s estate through the main gate.
At the front entrance, the coachman opened the door and bowed.
The entrance doors stood wide open, and Eugene himself greeted me.
“We have been expecting you, Leon-dono. My master, Brian Arclight, awaits you in the salon.”
Wait—behind Eugene, maids and attendants were lined up, all bowing.
And the Count himself was waiting in the salon!?
Even if I carried Duke Berlant’s identification, this was overkill.
Eugene politely guided me.
I didn’t have a royal flag or anything—this courtesy felt excessive.
Two knights stood on both sides of an impressive door.
When it was knocked, someone announced:
“Leon-dono has arrived.”
The doors opened silently.
Inside stood the Arclight family— and even Klein, that hopeless idiot, was standing there in formal attire.
“Leon-dono, welcome. In Blange, I had the honor of witnessing your exploits from afar.”
“Thank you for inviting me, Count Arclight. However…”
I looked at him, questioning why this was such a formal reception.
He explained:
“I recently had an audience with His Majesty. I was informed that you delivered the ceasefire documents to the Holtland royal castle.”
So that’s why.
Then he must also know that I did a demonstration at Felix’s request, from Ambassador McNeil’s report—though he shouldn’t know the details.
Meaning the king and Chancellor Brighton must have warned him about the royal identification papers.
Otherwise, he would never treat me with such exaggerated courtesy.
Seeing his father’s attitude, Klein went pale.
The Count tried introducing his family, but I asked if we could speak privately.
He agreed, but insisted his heir, Romand, also attend for future matters.
Once the irritated ladies left—and Klein fled in relief—the Count spoke:
“His Majesty has ordered us to ensure the safety of you and your family. The Chancellor has informed me about your identification papers. I am also ordered to exercise utmost vigilance toward any suspicious individuals. If anything unusual happens, please contact the guards immediately.”
Well—after seeing that demonstration, any kingdom would either try to eliminate me or claim me.
It seems the Sutherland Kingdom chose to protect and keep me close.
As long as other nations didn’t interfere…
But living in our current house would become difficult now.
I’d need a safer, easier-to-guard location.
————————————————————-
Ten days after my fitting, I went to the Commercial Guild to pick up my clothes—and was told they’d found a suitable house.
It was large, and would need renovations if used as a shop.
The location was Fantis Street, No. 5 Left, near the Carinfos Market.
I recognized the name, but I didn’t know much besides the area around our home, the hotel where my parents worked, and the Adventurers’ Guild.
Before my coming-of-age, my whole world was the neighborhood, the church where I studied, and herbal gathering trips.
After becoming an adventurer, I spent most of my time outside the city.
I hadn’t had time to learn the layout of the town.
The real estate clerk quickly brought a map when I asked—though he said it cost five silver coins.
It wouldn’t hurt to have one, so I bought it.
It was close to the city center.
A bit far from the Olivetan Hotel, but not impossible for my parents to commute.
While I studied the map, they brought out the floor plans.
It was a combined-house structure, surprisingly large.
The first floor was for commercial use, and the upper floors were living quarters.
Eighteen rooms across three floors, plus twelve attic rooms.
It was overwhelming.
The price: 325,600,000 Dara
They knew how much money I had, so they didn’t bother holding back.
I said I’d discuss it with my family, took a copy of the floor plan, and then visited the accounts office to transfer 63,280,000 Darla into Dad’s account.
After dinner, we held a family meeting with the floor plan spread out.
I explained the location.
Mom said.
“That street is where the middle class lives.”
And Dad nodded.
“If it’s near Carinfos Market, it’s a good place for a shop… but expensive, right?”
“I have enough saved. And you’ve seen how much I can earn if I get serious. Even now, I can easily make 400–500 thousand Dara a day.”
“Well, with the Chikki-Chikki Birds and Runner Birds you sometimes bring in, I can see that…”
“Hey… these numbers are room sizes, right?”
“Yeah. They said the rooms were a bit large. And if we use it as a pharmacy, we’ll need renovations.”
“Hold on—this means each room is 6 meters by 8 meters! Going all the way to the back, this house is like one and a half of ours.”
“Just the ground floor alone could fit three or four houses like this…”
“And it’s four stories!”
“And twelve attic rooms? That’s basically a mansion!”
“So once we build my sister’s shop, Mom can just open a restaurant with the leftover space.”
“I don’t have that kind of money!”
“I transferred 63 million to Dad’s account today, and I earned 40 million from Duke Berlant’s job. It’s fine.”
“How did you get that much!?”
“Because I can fly. You heard about the war with Holtrland from Brange, right? I saw everything from the sky and relayed it. That was the payment.”
“Well, yeah… if you know exactly where the enemy is and how many there are, the fight is easier. And if it looks bad, you can just run.”
As expected of a former adventurer—he understood perfectly.