Silverbrooke

When the cold morning air filled the ice cave, I awoke from my light slumber.

It was fascinating how even in flower form, I had this biological clock-like awareness.

The faint sunlight reflecting off the ice walls began to illuminate the cave, and the only sounds were the soft breathing of Ryandel and Raybi, who were still fast asleep.

“Today too, one step closer to my master!”

I immediately used Polymorph to transform into my human form.

A deep crimson smoke briefly enveloped me before clearing to reveal my human figure.

Raybi rubbed her eyes and got up.

“Huh… Ah, Lycoris! You’re already up!”

Raybi quickly stood up.

Ryandel, who was next to her, also woke up and looked at me.

“Lycoris, your transformation… It’s amazing every time I see it.”

“Hehe! It’s nothing. My master’s Polymorph is far more impressive, though!”

We finished a simple breakfast and set off again.

The Ace Quartet also took their positions.

Miel sat on my hair, Cecilia on my shoulder, and Rote circled around me as usual.

Glacia trailed slowly behind.

“How much longer until we reach Solhan Pass?”

“If we continue in this direction, we should arrive in a few hours.”

“Ugh, more walking…”

I complained lightly, but walking through this beautiful meadow wasn’t so bad.

The lush flowers and plants as a flower myself were truly delightful.

We began walking again.

The sensation of the grass brushing against my dress hem was pleasant.

Cecilia and Miel seemed even more excited in this new environment.

Cecilia’s fiery wings shimmered more brightly in the sunlight, and Miel flitted about, occasionally landing on various wildflowers.

“It would be lovely to take a stroll here with my master…”

The mere thought made my heart flutter.

How well my master’s silver hair would match this blue backdrop!

Walking hand in hand, exchanging light conversation… Glacia, too, seemed livelier than usual, gracefully weaving through the small flowers with her massive frame.

Rote, however, remained as calm as ever, circling around me.

*Is Rote bored or just uninterested in the scenery?*

As I pondered, a building appeared on the horizon.

“Look, that’s the end of Solhan Pass.”

Ryandel pointed, and my heart raced with excitement.

“Wow! Finally!”

As we emerged from Solhan Pass, the sight before us took my breath away.

An endless blue meadow stretched out, waves of grass swaying in the breeze.

The sky was a clear blue, with fluffy clouds that looked like cotton candy floating in the distance.

“Wow… It’s so beautiful…”

The bright sunlight gently bathed the vast meadow.

Flowers swayed with the wind, and the rustling of the grass blades filled the air.

I instinctively reached out to gently brush a flower petal.

The dew on it was soft against my fingertips before disappearing.

“Lycoris, if we head in that direction, we’ll reach the town of Silverbrooke in the Kingdom of Genes. It’s a major trade city in the north.”

Ryandel said, pointing to the horizon.

“How long will it take?”

“About three hours on foot.”

“More walking…”

I complained, though I didn’t mind strolling through this beautiful meadow.

We continued on our way.

The town of Silverbrooke eventually came into view.

Ryandel pointed, and my heart raced with excitement.

“Look, there it is. Silverbrooke.”

“Oh, we’re finally here!”

As we entered the town, the sight took my breath away.

It was much larger and livelier than Sia Kalt Village.

The well-paved stone roads, various shops, and bustling crowds.

In the center of the town was a large fountain, surrounded by people in fancy clothes.

“Wow, it’s huge!”

I couldn’t help but marvel.

Sia Kalt was small and quiet, but this place was vibrant and bustling.

“Ryandel, what now?”

“If you want to head to the next town, you can rent a carriage here. Silverbrooke is a hub for transportation, with many carriages and various inns.”

“A carriage?! Oh, does that mean we don’t have to walk?!”

My voice rose in excitement.

After walking all this time, the prospect of traveling comfortably by carriage was thrilling.

“Why don’t we explore Silverbrooke a bit? The next carriage leaves in the morning, so you could rest here tonight.”

Raybi suggested.

*Hmm… If I pay enough, couldn’t we leave immediately?*

But the journey to Deathmere was still long, and I wanted to meet my master as soon as possible. Yet, seeing Raybi’s cheerful face…

Exploring a bit didn’t seem so bad.

“Sure, let’s take a look around!”

We began strolling through the town.

Browsing various shops and smelling delicious food from restaurants.

But I started to feel a strange sensation. People were staring at me.

And when our eyes met, most of them flinched and stepped back.

“Why are they acting like this?”

I whispered.

“It’s probably because of Glacia. A wasp that big would scare anyone…”

Ryandel explained quietly.

*Hmm… Should I leave Glacia somewhere?*

As I thought, a notable building caught my eye.

It was the Adventurer’s Guild of Silverbrooke.

A three-story building, much larger than the one in Sia Kalt.

“There’s the Adventurer’s Guild. Should we leave Glacia there?”

Raybi and Ryandel nodded in agreement.

“I’ll go in alone.”

Considering the crowd, a young, delicate-looking girl like me entering a bustling Adventurer’s Guild would naturally provoke some trouble. And crushing those fools mercilessly is an isekai cliché!

This is absolutely unbearable!

“Lycoris, are you sure you should go alone?”

Raybi asked with concern.

“It’s fine! Hehe!”

In my imagination, as soon as I enter the guild, all the adventurers would mock me, but then I’d show them my S-rank badge, and they’d all gasp in shock.

The thought made me slightly excited.

“Then wait!”

I pushed open the guild’s door and stepped inside.

The sound of the door drew the attention of all the adventurers inside, who turned to stare at me.

*Now, who will provoke me?*

But no one approached me.

Instead, whispers spread among them.

“Is that a noble?”

“Of course. Only nobles can have such untouched skin.”

“Probably not from our kingdom.”

“Maybe from the empire?”

“Nobles from the empire are supposed to be stunning.”

“But why is she at the guild?”

“Maybe she’s here for a quest.”

“A family quest, no doubt. Something ridiculously dangerous, I bet.”

The murmurs continued, filled with curiosity and slight resentment.

*Huh? What’s going on? In the usual isekai stories, entering a guild and getting mocked before crushing everyone is the norm!*

But the adventurers here were different.

Instead of mocking me, they were cautious from the start.

*I thought they’d provoke me because of my looks!*

While the compliments about my appearance were nice, this wasn’t the scenario I wanted.

Disappointed, I trudged toward the reception desk.

The woman at the counter looked up and slightly tensed when she saw me.

“Hello, welcome. How can I assist you?”

Her voice was polite but tinged with tension.

I silently handed her my S-rank badge.

Her eyes widened as soon as she saw it.

Her reaction delighted me.

“S… S-rank Adventurer?!”

Her voice trembled.

At this, the other adventurers turned to stare.

“I… I thought you were a noble!”

Someone muttered.

“My goodness! That’s a real S-rank badge!”

Another voice said.

“How can someone so young…?”

“Is that even possible?”

The guild erupted into a buzz.

*Hehe!*

This was the reaction I wanted!

Everyone staring at me in awe!

Even Michel’s apostle would be impressed!

But…

Would this cause too much commotion?

“Hey, everyone! Quiet!”

A deep voice boomed from behind the counter.

A muscular middle-aged man appeared.

His chest bore the emblem of the Guild Master.

“Lycoris, is that you?”

“Yes, that’s me! I was wondering if I could leave my pet here.”

“A pet…?”

The Guild Master looked taken aback.

“That’s… a monster, isn’t it?”

“Well, it’s a wasp the size of a monster.”

“Sir…!”

The Guild Master’s face stiffened.

“This is…”

One of the adventurers muttered.

“Calm down, everyone!”

Ryandel stepped forward.

“These creatures obey Lycoris’s commands. They won’t harm anyone.”

“Yes, they’re really well-behaved!”

Raybi added.

“I mean, it’s a wasp, but…”

The receptionist looked at Glacia with a grim expression.

“It’s almost like a monster…”

One of the adventurers said in a low voice.

“If she’s an S-rank, she can handle that kind of monster, I guess…”

“I wouldn’t want to try, though.”

The adventurers murmured.

The Guild Master sighed deeply.

“Lycoris, we don’t have a separate facility for monsters, but you can use the basement storage if you’d like.”

“It’s fine. Glacia is well-behaved, so she can stay here. Glacia, stay here. I’ll be right back.”

Glacia slowly flew to a corner behind the receptionist and settled in.

She still looked lethargic, but at least not threatening.

“See? She’s well-behaved.”

The receptionist still looked anxious, but the Guild Master slowly nodded.

After some back-and-forth, we left Glacia at the guild and exited with Ryandel, Raybi, and the Ace trio.

“I thought someone would provoke me, but they all treated me like a noble.”

I muttered.

“Lycoris, your demeanor makes you look like a noble lady. No one would dare provoke you.”

“Yeah! You and Ryandel look like perfect attendants!”

I glanced at both of them.

“Huh, really?”

It was all because I appeared too noble.

“At least this way, people won’t be uncomfortable because of Glacia.”

People’s stares were still on me, but now they were filled with curiosity rather than fear.

Especially with Miel, Cecilia, and Rote around, children pointed and admired.

“Look, that butterfly has six wings!”

“That ball is floating in mid-air!”

Voices like these could be heard.

“That lady is really pretty!”

Of course, most comments were about my dazzling beauty.

Hehe!

We strolled through the town center.

Looked at fancy clothing shops and various restaurants.

The aroma of bread and roasting meat teased my nose.

“Lycoris, if you’re hungry, we could have a meal there.”

Ryandel pointed to a fancy-looking restaurant.

I nodded, but just then, the sound of a grand carriage approached.

A luxurious carriage, adorned with golden ornaments and red curtains, came into view.

It was pulled by two white horses, and its noble quality was unmistakable, far beyond ordinary carriages.

*What’s this?*

The carriage stopped in front of us, and the door swung open.

A young man in a well-tailored suit stepped out.

He saw me and froze for a moment.

“Ah… Hello.”

He bowed deeply at the waist.

“I am Edwin Silverbrooke, the Baron of Silverbrooke. Might I ask… are you from the palace?”

*The palace? Do they think I’m royalty?*

Laughter almost escaped me.

“I am Lycoris. I’m just sightseeing.”

“I see. I am but a baron, yet I’ve never seen anyone… with such an aura. Forgive me, but might I ask which family you hail from?”

*A family? Like the Frostia family?*

But the words that came out were entirely different.

“Huh… It’s a secret.”

*Huh!?*

I was startled by my own noble smile and tone.

*This is bad! I’m turning into Nis!*

The baron looked at me with reverent eyes, the kind reserved for high nobility or royalty.

“I see. If it’s not too much trouble, might I invite you to my estate? I’d love to host such an esteemed guest.”

At his invitation, I hesitated for a moment.

Visiting a stranger’s mansion was a bit concerning, but experiencing a noble’s estate sounded intriguing.

“Sure, why not!”

*What’s wrong with me?*

I agreed brightly, and the baron smiled warmly.

He opened the carriage door widely, inviting us inside.

“Please, come in. Rest at the estate and have a meal.”

The carriage interior was surprisingly spacious and luxurious.

Red velvet seats, golden ornaments, and a small table with cookies and tea.

Miel fluttered curiously around the carriage, Cecilia sat on my shoulder, and Rote circled the spacious interior.

*Maybe I’ll have a cookie.*

I reached for a cookie, and my hand moved on its own, elegantly plucking it with my thumb and index finger.

Then, as if dancing, I brought it to my lips.

My pinky extended, a classic noble lady gesture.

“Oh!”

I exclaimed, startled by my own actions.

“Is something wrong?”

The baron asked with concern.

“No… It’s just that the cookie looks delicious.”

These noble mannerisms and etiquette were unfamiliar, but they seemed to activate automatically.

Ryandel stared at me in surprise.

Her eyes reflected my appearance, which must have looked truly noble.

The baron also gazed at me with admiration.

His gaze held the reverence one might show to high nobility or royalty.

“I see. Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll have the carriage take us to the estate.”

The carriage began to move swiftly, and we entered the central district of Silverbrooke.

Through the window, increasingly magnificent buildings came into view.

*Oh, look…*

A grand mansion stood before us, its silver roof and white marble pillars exuding majesty.

“A baron’s estate is this impressive?”

*I thought barons were the lowest rank of nobility?*

Turns out even a baron lived in luxury!