Ch.3535. No, Didn’t You Say You Weren’t Sleeping?

“Did you go outside the territory again this time?”

“Yes, he was accompanied by Luna Brilhart, who was his attendant.”

“Was his attendant?”

“She was so exceptionally skilled that the young master personally inducted her into the knighthood.”

“Is that so?”

Butler Brighton tilted his head as he reported to Baron Byron.

Despite the youngest son’s recent improvement in reputation, he had left his place of exile twice now.

Given his usual temperament, flying into a rage would have been normal.

The atmosphere was strangely calm.

“Baron, regardless of the reason, leaving his place of exile twice without reporting is a serious matter.”

“…Indeed.”

“Although Young Master Selden has changed a lot recently, I believe he should still face consequences for his actions.”

Baron Byron sighed briefly and tossed the pen he had been twirling onto the table.

“Brighton.”

“I await your instruction.”

“My wife hasn’t said a word about Selden’s exile as it is. What further punishment should I impose?”

“W-well, that…”

“If I were to extend his exile period, do you think my wife would remain silent?”

Brighton clenched his molars and squeezed his eyes shut.

“I understand your feelings, Baron, but as I just mentioned, I believe the young master should be punished accordingly.”

“Why?”

“Have you forgotten? The first time he left the territory, he visited a pleasure district…”

“But he didn’t sleep with anyone, did he?”

“…Pardon?”

“Didn’t you say he just quietly drank and left?”

“Still, he visited a pleasure district…”

Baron Byron adjusted his posture and continued speaking to the flustered Brighton, who was sweating profusely.

“Is the Selden you know the type of person who would just drink at a pleasure district and leave?”

“…No, he isn’t.”

“Besides, didn’t you say the knight who accompanied him to the pleasure district was Jawil Wilson?”

“That’s correct.”

“I made a mistake with that man before.”

“N-no, that wasn’t a mistake.”

“It was a mistake to tell a knight who did nothing wrong to retire. Selden probably accompanied him to the pleasure district to console Jawil Wilson on my behalf.”

Just a few months ago, it was Baron Byron himself who had exiled Selden Alphonse for visiting a pleasure district.

How important a person’s image could be.

Now the father himself was defending his son.

That wasn’t all.

Even Brighton seemed to be somewhat agreeing with Baron Byron’s words.

However, as the butler of the Alphonse family, shouldn’t he maintain his principles?

Brighton tried hard to keep his composure.

“Even if we overlook the first incident, this is already the second time he’s left the territory.”

“Where did he go this time?”

“He reportedly went to Evis.”

Baron Byron shifted in his seat at Brighton’s words.

“E-Evis? Isn’t that a place overrun with monsters!?”

“Yes, it’s considered one of the most dangerous territories in the Eastern Continent.”

“Why on earth would he go there?”

“I suspect he went to hunt monsters.”

“Suddenly hunting monsters?”

“The young master has been regularly hunting monsters within Lake Territory, hasn’t he? Perhaps he developed a desire to hunt different kinds of monsters.”

Baron Byron tilted his head and gently leaned back in his chair.

“Then why is that…?”

“…Pardon?”

“I sent him into exile to make him come to his senses, not to confine him within the mansion, right?”

“That’s true, but regardless, he disobeyed orders by leaving the territory, didn’t he?”

Rather, Baron Byron sighed, folding his arms as if he couldn’t understand Brighton’s reasoning.

“How would you rate the monsters within Lake Territory?”

“On average, I would consider them to be low-grade monsters.”

“Will only weak monsters appear there forever?”

“…No. Although extremely rare, statistically, monster waves can occur in places where weak monsters exist.”

Baron Byron nodded vigorously at Brighton’s words.

“Exactly! Selden is actually preparing for unforeseen circumstances. What father in this world would punish a son who risks his life by going to dangerous areas for the sake of the territory?”

That’s true.

Considering Selden Alphonse’s original personality, even if Baron Byron had ordered him to visit Evis for the territory’s sake, he would have clung to his father’s trouser leg, crying and begging.

Going to a dangerous area on his own initiative to increase his knowledge about monsters was actually something worthy of praise.

Brighton’s expression showed slight resignation.

“Your words are correct, Baron. But perhaps a word of caution might be appropriate?”

“Then send the third child to Lake Territory for a few days.”

“The t-third young lady, you mean?”

“Yes. Among all his siblings, didn’t the third one care for our youngest even when he was behaving like a scoundrel? She’ll probably give him a lot of advice.”

Brighton gulped nervously.

The thought ‘What exactly did she care about?’ filled his mind.

The third child of the Alphonse family.

Men had pursued her intensely because of her outstanding beauty.

However, once they discovered her true nature, they all turned their backs on her.

Hidden in the shadow of being a woman, the secret scoundrel of the Alphonse family was none other than the third child, Miria Alphonse.

Brighton was dominated by the thought that this combination must be prevented at all costs.

“Haha… My thinking was narrow. Since Young Master Selden acted for the benefit of the territory, it seems there’s nothing to caution him about.”

Baron Byron rested his arms on the desk, propped his chin, and gave a disinterested expression as he looked at Brighton, who was hastily making excuses.

“Brighton.”

“I await… no, perhaps you should reconsider…”

“Summon Miria immediately.”

*

Kweeek-!

Luna Brilhart, covered in blood after defeating a hobgoblin, smiled brightly at me.

The sight was truly bizarre.

“Young Master!! Did you see me just now?”

“Uh… yes, I did.”

“Aren’t you glad you brought me along?”

“…Yes, that was a good decision.”

Ding ♪

━Luna’s Affection Deficiency

= 55 → 50 [↓ 5 decrease]

Watching Luna cut a hobgoblin in half, I cautiously wondered if Jawil Wilson might not have been injured so badly if he hadn’t tripped over that rock.

This is Evis Territory, where various monsters appear.

Fittingly, you can occasionally spot hunters while walking around.

Of course, I was also hunting with a fake mercenary badge made by Dokyeo.

And furthermore.

Luna was truly in her element, flying around like a fish in water.

She demanded praise every time she caught a monster, and as I responded, her affection deficiency, which had been at 80, had now dropped to 50.

I put my sword back in its sheath and let out a short sigh.

“By the way, Luna.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“I told you not to use the title ‘Young Master’ because others might hear.”

“Ah, b-but how could I possibly call you ‘oppa’ instead of Young Master…”

“Most hunters come from common backgrounds. If they find out I’m a nobleman, it could lead to unnecessary trouble.”

At that, Luna slowly raised her head, exuding an ominous atmosphere.

“Who would dare… to cause trouble for the Young Master?”

There it was again. That look.

It was chilling just to see it, making my hair stand on end.

I showed my palm in a calming gesture, trying to maintain a composed expression.

“The issue isn’t who causes trouble, but that we should avoid creating situations where trouble might arise in the first place.”

“B-but…”

“Try calling me ‘oppa’ once now. If you keep using it, you’ll get used to it.”

Luna’s face turned bright red as she squirmed and opened her mouth.

“Oppa…?”

“Yes, well done.”

“…Is it really okay to call you oppa?”

“Of course, I told you to call me that.”

“Oppa…”

“What is it, Luna?”

Ding ♪

━Luna’s Affection Deficiency

= 50 → 20 [↓ 30 decrease]

What’s this?

Her deficiency drops this much just from calling me “oppa”?

It felt like all the effort I put into gradually lowering her affection deficiency by praising her all day had been in vain.

Looking at the sky, it seemed like it would soon be dark, and since we had caught many monsters for our first day, I nodded toward the village.

“Let’s call it a day and head back down.”

“Yes, Young… I mean, oppa.”

And so.

After selling the magic stones we had obtained, we headed to a restaurant.

Since we had only eaten lightly while hunting, we wolfed down our food, and before we knew it, it was evening.

It was time to get some sleep for an early start tomorrow.

“Tomorrow we’ll go to an even more dangerous area than today.”

“I’m confident now!”

“The monsters there might be several times stronger than the hobgoblins we caught today. If it seems dangerous, don’t push yourself and fall back.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

After cautioning her several times, we left the restaurant and headed to a nearby inn.

Befitting a hunter’s territory, everyone seemed to start hunting early in the morning, as the streets were deserted despite the early hour.

“Two rooms, please.”

The innkeeper looked at me with a troubled expression.

Confused by the atmosphere, I tilted my head, only to hear somewhat desperate news.

“Sir, we only have one room left at the moment.”