Ch.1919. Didn’t They Say Even Whales Dance When Praised?

“Fireball!”

“Gwaaaaaak!”

*Ding* ♪

*Ding* ♪

┗+1 Magic Power has increased.

┗+1 Endurance has increased.

━You have acquired the Invisibility skill.

After checking the system window, I smiled with satisfaction.

‘Oh, I didn’t expect to learn the stealth skill so quickly.’

*Invisibility: When using this skill, you become transparent. However, it is canceled when casting magic or making physical attacks.

The goblin was writhing on the ground like an insect.

It was still alive, gasping for breath.

Just as I was about to cast ‘Fireball’ again with my palm outstretched.

“M-Master! Wait a moment!!”

In the distance, Federix came running urgently, making an X-shape with his arms.

He rushed right up to me and started shouting loudly.

“Look at this!! You were about to kill another goblin!! No, capturing them alive fetches a higher price!! Right!? We even have ropes, making them easy to catch!! Right!!? Why do you keep killing them!?”

“Uh… sorry.”

“This is exactly why I followed you! I was wondering why there were so many fire-charred goblin corpses. Please, can we just do business properly!? Right!?”

“Y-yeah.”

If I had to pick the person who changed the most since I possessed this body, it would definitely be Federix.

After making considerable profit from the Peil fruit, I thought he would spend the funds more freely, but instead, he became even more focused on increasing our wealth.

It’s not necessarily bad, so I’ve just been watching, but it’s a bit excessive.

While I was observing the goblin being restrained, Rio clapped his hands behind me and repeatedly expressed his admiration.

“Wow!! Master, you’re truly amazing. How did you learn magic?”

“I just happened to meet a mage when I went hunting alone last time, and paid him to teach me.”

“Magic is something you can’t learn even if you want to unless you have magical power in your body… Swordsmanship and now magic too, you really are a genius, Master!”

“It’s just low-level magic, it’s nothing…”

“Still, you should continue your sword training regularly. Not because I’m a knight, but because when your magic power runs out, a sword is the only way to deal with magical beasts.”

Fireball is a low-level magic that anyone with magical power can learn, so I used it without hesitation… but I didn’t realize so many people lacked magical power entirely.

In novels, since the story revolves around the protagonist, most characters, including companions, have genius-level talents.

So I thought it was normal.

Of course, I would have used Fireball anyway.

I was starting to get bored with goblin hunting.

‘How long would it take to kill all these goblins with just a sword?’

Goblins bound with ropes made from Peil fruit were being escorted away.

This had become a familiar sight to the villagers.

-Selden, young master, look over here!! Kyaa! He made eye contact with me!

-They say goblins have become scarce because of Young Master Selden lately?

-Yeah, it’s been quite a while since goblins appeared in the village.

-Was it last month? Baron Byron himself visited to show support. It’s not like he was exiled, you know?

-The criminal gang that used to be the village’s nuisance has all fled together, so that says it all.

They say even whales dance when praised.

It was something I never tired of hearing.

After thoroughly enjoying the praise, I put the goblin in the underground cell and headed to the study as usual.

“Young Master, this week we captured 17 goblins alive, and counting the dead ones, a total of 31.”

“Hmm, hasn’t anyone come to buy them yet?”

“They’ll probably come tomorrow.”

“Good work this week.”

Federix bowed his head once and then spoke again.

“Also, another message arrived from Tras Cardrian.”

“What does he want this time?”

“He’s requesting to return the Peil fruit he purchased, even at 30% of the original price.”

“Last time he asked for 50% back… who would buy Peil fruit at that price now?”

“How should I respond?”

Seeing that Tras is desperate enough to contact me, it seems Elina is doing well too.

Well, I practically handed her the opportunity on a silver platter, so if she couldn’t handle this, the Parseche family would have collapsed long ago.

“Tell him the same as before. We’ve already invested all the funds elsewhere, so we don’t have any either.”

“But the content of the message is concerning.”

“What does it say?”

“It strongly implies that if we don’t agree to the deal, something unpleasant might happen.”

Sigh…

This bastard, see?

He bought everything up for profit, and now that he has no way to resell it, he’s threatening me?

This is why they say bad habits die hard.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just Tras acting on his own anyway.”

“Even so, shouldn’t we prepare for the worst?”

“It’s not like the Cardrian family is going to attack us.”

“But Tras has knights under his command too.”

“So you’re saying he’ll attack independently, ignoring his father?”

“Of course! Have you forgotten that Tras is an unpredictable troublemaker?”

Tsk, that’s true.

If left alone, he’d self-destruct, but now he’s trying to cling to me?

If he had maintained good relations with neighboring families, they might have helped each other out.

It feels like he’s just taking his frustration out on me.

Well, he probably panicked after starting something beyond his capabilities and facing rejection within his family.

“Are the knights training well?”

“Yes, they’re diligently preparing for the future.”

“What future?”

“Haha! Our bright future, of course!”

“Sigh… anyway, they’re training well, right?”

“Yes! Especially lately, they’ve gained a lot of practical experience from goblin hunting.”

Looking back, there weren’t any useful knights except for Knight Captain Rain Breaker and Rio Sergan.

That made sense.

Why would the Alphonse family give skilled knights to someone with my reputation as a troublemaker?

However.

They all started getting stronger, as if they had made a pact.

Among other things, goblin hunting provided good foundational experience for those who lacked practical combat experience.

“Rain Breaker must be working hard. Make sure to give him a generous salary and bonus this month.”

“Understood. And…”

“And what?”

“The Parseche family has sent funds.”

30% of the net profit from the Peil fruit idea.

This was a deal I made before receiving support from Baron Byron.

At that time, no matter how much profit was made, it wouldn’t have been substantial.

But.

With the substantial support funds from Baron Byron, not only did we make enormous profits, but we also received 30% of the earnings from the Parseche family…

With this, the financial preparations for independence were complete.

Even if I were rejected after returning to the family, it wouldn’t be a problem.

I put down my pen and raised the corners of my mouth.

“Federix, managing the finances must be tough these days?”

“Not at all. Having abundance is much better than having nothing.”

“Even if it’s difficult, manage it well. These funds will all be needed later.”

“Yes, I’ll get back to work now.”

“Mm, and please call Luna for me.”

“Understood.”

Not long after Federix left the study, there was a knock on the door.

Knock-knock-!

“Yes, come in.”

Luna greeted me with her usual shy face.

Her face was covered in dirt.

After checking with my Eye, I confirmed that her affection deficiency level wasn’t at a dangerous level.

“Young Master, I heard you called for me.”

“How’s your training going?”

“…I don’t understand why I have to do this.”

The reason Luna’s face was covered in dirt was simple.

I told her to quit being a maid and learn swordsmanship instead.

Of course, when Blood Massacre activates, she becomes an incredible awakened one who would be difficult even for me to defeat.

However.

Luna without Blood Massacre activated was rather ordinary.

Would the protagonist Serion Rykus have any reason to take her with him?

No.

That’s why I instructed her to learn swordsmanship, to let things flow according to the original story.

Well, it seems she already has natural talent thanks to the protagonist’s companion buff.

“I heard from Rio that you have talent for swordsmanship?”

“T-that may be true, but… it’s still about harming people, isn’t it?”

“That’s not true. Knights train to protect themselves and their families, not to harm people.”

“…But you’ll protect me, won’t you, Young Master?”

“I can protect you from what happens before my eyes. But incidents can occur outside my sight.”

“I still really don’t want to learn swordsmanship.”

Luna pouted and sniffled.

However, I had to remain firm.

Just thinking about the lunchbox incident still makes my head spin.

When I realized she had deliberately placed red paper under the lunchbox to check if I had eaten everything, it was truly chilling.

No wonder she asked what color it was…

She’s too dangerous to keep close.

That’s why I’m desperately instructing her to learn swordsmanship.

To pass this ticking time bomb of a woman to the protagonist.

I stood up and slowly approached Luna.

I gently gripped both her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

“Luna, I don’t want to lose you… so, you’ll learn swordsmanship, right?”

“I-I’ll learn it!”

*Ding* ♪

━Luna’s Affection Deficiency Level

= 20 < 15 changed

‘I’m getting sick of doing this.’

So.

Damn it, Serion Rykus!!

Hurry up and come take this woman away!!