Ch.177177. Ten Swords Might Not Be Enough?

“How can your father not even show his face when his youngest son is returning? Really, what a stoic man he is!”

Just before boarding the carriage, I responded with a smile to Ellaria Alphonse’s complaint as she came to see me off.

“Haha! I had a light cup of tea with Father this morning.”

“Oh? When did you have tea again?”

“Father called me for tea after he finished his meal.”

“I see. But what were you two talking about, just father and son, since morning without me?”

“We just discussed my upcoming coming-of-age ceremony. I’ll be having it at Lake Territory, you know.”

At my words, Ellaria gasped in surprise, covering her mouth with her palm.

“Oh my! Look at me! I’ve been so preoccupied with news of the monster wave that I forgot my youngest is having his coming-of-age ceremony!?”

“It’s fine. It’s not like the ceremony is anything special…”

Ellaria Alphonse suddenly grabbed my hand as if remembering something.

“Do you know? Since the news spread about you stopping the monster wave, marriage proposals have been flooding in from other families.”

“R-Really?”

“I’ve kept every single one. After your coming-of-age ceremony, would you like to choose a daughter-in-law with your mother?”

“How could I choose a wife without even meeting her once?”

Ellaria clapped her hands in response.

“Of course you’ll meet them, after we narrow down the candidates.”

“…Let’s talk about this again after the ceremony.”

“Alright, fine.”

After enduring Ellaria Alphonse’s suffocating embrace, I turned my gaze toward Miria Alphonse.

“Sister, were you alright yesterday?”

“Derickson Evert?”

“Yes, I only saw him briefly, but he seemed handsome in a masculine way and appeared to have an excellent character.”

“…Masculine handsomeness isn’t my style… I prefer delicate faces like our Selden!”

“What’s wrong with a masculine face?”

“I don’t know, masculine men somehow remind me of Father.”

I think I understand what Miria Alphonse is trying to say.

But do daughters generally dislike men who resemble their fathers?

As I tilted my head in confusion, Ellaria Alphonse, who was standing beside me, grabbed Miria Alphonse’s arm and flared up.

“What’s wrong with your father!?”

“He’s all bulky and creepy…”

“My goodness! You don’t know how to appreciate men? Do you have any idea how beast-like he becomes at night? Whenever I meet those tiger-like eyes… my whole body tingles, I tell you!”

“I’m saying I prefer men with doe-like eyes!”

“What use is such a weak man?”

“Why are you worried about that, Mother? I’ll figure out how to use him myself!”

The mother and daughter bickered with me standing right in front of them.

I looked around and spoke up.

“By the way, I don’t see Brother Leonard? I didn’t see him at breakfast either…”

At my words, Miria Alphonse clapped her hands as if remembering something.

“I went to his bedroom earlier to come out together to see you off…”

“And?”

“They were making love so loudly it could be heard in the hallway since morning. So I just left them alone. It’s their time to enjoy, they’re still newlyweds after all.”

Did they stay up all night?

It seems the hypnosis I set up last evening hasn’t worn off yet.

This… Leonard might waste away at this rate.

If he dies like that, would it be considered a good death?

I cleared my throat in embarrassment.

“Ahem! So I’m leaving without seeing Brother Evander.”

“Yes, he seems to be on a monster hunt for quite a while this time.”

“Then I’ll be going now. Please give my regards to Brother Leonard and Brother Evander since I couldn’t say goodbye.”

“Sure! I’ll come visit Lake Territory soon!”

“You can just come for the coming-of-age ceremony that’s happening soon.”

“No, I want to come before that!”

I let out a short sigh at Miria Alphonse’s stubbornness.

“Fine, when you come, let’s invite Brother Derickson Evert too.”

“Derickson… Evert… Brother?”

Miria Alphonse was huffing with embarrassment.

I climbed into the carriage with composure.

“I’m really going to burst your bubble later!”

“Aha! Now that you have Derickson Evert’s, you don’t need mine anymore?”

“Hey, you…”

I casually ignored Miria Alphonse’s familiar curses filtering through the carriage window as I settled onto the carriage sofa.

Then I raised my voice toward the coachman.

“Let’s depart for Lake Territory.”

*

“Young master, did you sleep well?”

After arriving at Lake Territory and resting for a full day, the next day.

I called Pedericks to the study.

“What about Jawil Wilson?”

“According to the letter from Kataria Territory, he’s expected to arrive today.”

“Have you prepared plenty of wooden swords?”

“Yes, as you instructed, five swords each, two sets.”

“Ten swords might not be enough.”

“Should I prepare another set?”

“Yes, do that.”

Pedericks took out his notebook and diligently made notes as he continued.

“Shall we look again for potential husbands for Lady Miria?”

“Let’s put that on hold for now. From my conversation with Sister before parting, she didn’t seem to dislike Derickson Evert that much.”

“Didn’t she say she disliked him because he looked masculine?”

I rested my chin on my palm and gave Pedericks a pitying look.

“You’ve known Sister since she was little, and you don’t understand?”

“…What? She clearly showed her dislike, didn’t she?”

“If she really disliked him, she would have simply said so. Sister only said that masculine looks aren’t her style.”

“Ah…”

“So we need to observe the situation.”

“I understand. Then I’ll put the search for Lady Miria’s potential husband on hold for now.”

“Yes, anyway, thanks for your hard work in searching.”

Pedericks smiled gently and his eyes lit up.

“Oh, right! And Castleton has returned to Lake Territory.”

“Really? Tell him to come in.”

“Yes, sir.”

After Pedericks left, Castleton entered the study a moment later.

His face showed dark circles reaching down to his chin, evidence of how hard he had worked traveling between territories.

“Castleton, at your service, young master.”

“…Anyone can see you’ve worked hard.”

“Not at all. It was a fulfilling time as I had work to do.”

“Did you secure a lot of monster blood?”

“Yes, I believe we won’t have to worry about securing monster blood for the next three months.”

“Three months?”

“I’ve made contracts. Now monster blood will be delivered to Lake Territory from various territories without us having to do anything.”

I only asked him to purchase monster blood, but he went ahead and established a convenient business route on his own?

He certainly has a natural talent for business.

I spoke with a satisfied expression.

“Castleton, I’ll make sure you’re well rewarded as promised.”

“…Thank you.”

“After three months, we won’t need to purchase any more monster blood, so there’s no need to extend the contracts.”

“Then what would you like me to do next?”

Castleton’s eyes burned with enthusiasm.

There are people like that.

People who come alive when they have work to do.

That was Castleton.

Looking at him, I smirked, thinking how admirable he was.

“For now, I’d like you to manage the purchased monster blood so it doesn’t rot or solidify.”

“Does blood rot?”

“We need to resell this monster blood, so it can’t deteriorate.”

“How should I manage it?”

“I think maintaining a temperature just high enough to prevent the blood from freezing should work.”

“Understood. Is there anything else you’d like me to do besides managing the monster blood?”

No matter how hungry he was for work, he had been traveling between territories non-stop, so I wanted to give Castleton a break.

Too much overflow is never good.

I waved my hand dismissively toward Castleton.

“For the next three months, you just need to manage the contracted deals and the monster blood in the underground storage. I’ll tell you what to do after that when the time comes.”

“Yes! I’ll carry out your orders!”

Despite his obvious fatigue, Castleton raised his voice energetically as if he had never been tired.

Just then, Pedericks entered the study after knocking.

“Young master, Jawil Wilson has arrived at Lake Territory.”

“Tell him to come in.”

“Well, it will take some time before he reaches the mansion…”

I tilted my head at Pedericks, who was trailing off with a troubled expression.

“You said he arrived, but it takes time? What does that mean?”

“…You’ll understand when you see it yourself.”

I thought this was nonsense.

Still not understanding the situation, but figuring I could just check it myself, I put on my coat.

Then I stepped outside the mansion with Pedericks.

-Wow!!!!

-Yay!!!

As we came out toward the square, I could hear people cheering in the distance.

Exchanging glances with Pedericks, we pushed through the crowd with difficulty.

And then.

-They say he’s the knight who saved Kataria Territory!?

-He’s our young master’s most treasured knight!

-Isn’t he the one who made great contributions in stopping the monster wave?

-Wow!! Lake Territory has double the good fortune!!

It was a carriage so lavish it could be mistaken for one sent by the Imperial family.

What was even more outrageous was Jawil Wilson, who had his head sticking out the window, waving at the townspeople.

On top of that, the sight of him placing his palm against his lips in apparent rapture was truly a spectacle.

I looked at Pedericks with a gentle smile.

“Pedericks.”

“Yes, sir?”

“By the way, how do people already know about what happened in Kataria Territory?”

Pedericks squeezed his eyes shut and pointed somewhere with his finger.

As I slowly followed his gaze, I saw a large banner attached to the back of the carriage.

It read: ‘Selden Alphonse’s Knight Jawil Wilson Saves Kataria Territory.’

“He still doesn’t seem to understand the situation, does he?”

“…It appears not.”

I let out a short sigh and raised the corners of my mouth wickedly.

“Prepare two more sets of wooden swords.”