episode_0044

“What are you omitting?”

“Young master?”

Simultaneously, Lianne and I looked at Festo and spoke.

“I’ve been thinking since yesterday; after all, the Golden Shield Inn is expensive, isn’t it? I found even the second floor burdensome.”

“Oh, wait a moment, young master.”

Lianne stood in front of Festo and said, “Of course, upscale inns are expensive, but nobles have an obligation to maintain a certain dignity befitting them. Originally, even the second floor falls short, and innkeepers say that nobles should all ascend to the third floor as a standard, don’t they?”

“I know that too. But I also need to buy that statue…”

That statue.

The unfinished work left by my deceased friend, Boget, who refused to sell it in his lifetime. It depicted me from the old days, making me feel embarrassed, so I asked him not to sell it…

“Rashwood, have you met with those carpenters yet?”

Festo asked.

“Huh? Oh, no, not yet. I plan to go this evening.”

“Then, as soon as the price is determined, from the inn…”

“Just a moment. Even if you’re buying the statue, leaving the inn with everything… ”

I clapped my hands.

“That’s right. Young master, I understand your desire to repay kindness, but that doesn’t mean you have to give away everything you have.”

For the first time, Lianne and I understood each other.

Nobles become more demanding due to their status, whether towards themselves or others.

“Lianne…”

Festo said.

“I won’t inherit the title anyway. So, I think it’s better to start understanding what it means to live as a freeman from now on.”

“Young master…”

Not everyone born into a noble family dies as a noble.

Throughout history, whether noble or commoner, it’s common for one person to inherit the largest share of the family’s wealth.

While sharing might seem fair, it would lead to a loss of significant power.

Therefore, except for the legitimate heir who inherits the family’s title and territory, the rest of the siblings must eventually receive only a small piece of land where they can live independently, with some money, becoming freemen – neither noble nor commoner. Depending on the region, they may pay little to no taxes and receive trials not from local judges but from royal judges.

Although their lives may not be as luxurious as nobles, they are better off than commoners, slowly accumulating power to potentially establish their own family in the future.

“The statue… it’s my final gift for Alex. Please consider it as my last pride as a noble.”

Alex… Wasn’t he a much more talented younger brother than Festo?

“And if I were to live in this labyrinthine city…”

Festo turned to me.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to build a good relationship with Mr. Rashwood here?”

“Ha… Oh, really…”

I shook my head and sighed.

“Well… that decision isn’t bad. Yeah, that’s right. It’s a good idea. Even though I have to exert some power in this city.”

Unbelievable.

Still… I don’t feel bad about it.

“When you gain independence, come here. If you wish, I could let you live in this house as a gourmet.”

I consider it a deep connection in my own way.

Learning about Steria was the most significant part.

If I hadn’t met Festo, I wouldn’t have known how she was doing.

…To think that guy is being incorporated into the royal family.

Once I finish what I’m doing now, I’ll investigate it myself.

Definitely.

“Then, I will definitely owe you a favor then.”

Festo smiled and said.

…”

Lianne gazed at her with a complex expression.

Ultimately, I declined the offer to take all the room rent and give it to me.

I do need money, but accepting such a thing might backfire on me.

I am neither a commoner nor a noble.

To put it bluntly, I am closer to a freeman.

If he were to give everything he had to someone like that, people would surely say strange things.

Above all, if that story were to reach Brashika, the father of Phesto, who was in Loreldia, it would become quite troublesome.

As I explained this, Phesto also nodded.

And after Phesto and Lian left and it became evening, I went to Vogert’s carpentry shop.

Just in case, I brought only one helmet that I used in the past in a bundle.

“…”

The atmosphere of the city is chaotic.

Of course, the merchants are still loud, but there aren’t many adventurers responding to them.

The reason is obvious.

It must be the Red Lake.

The news of their annihilation has already spread.

The name of the Oriharcon-level adventurer team carries weight.

“Haah…”

During the Retributors’ time, the whole city turned into a funeral parlor…

I sighed softly and crossed the city.

“Oh? Mr. Rasiwood?”

Branko, who was working on the statues in front of the carpentry shop, looked surprised when he saw me.

“Oh, hello.”

“Oh, hello. What brings you here?”

“It’s nothing much… well, maybe it is. You see that over there.”

I pointed to a knight statue on one side.

“Oh, yes. That’s a masterpiece my father made when he was young.”

“That thing… actually belongs to me.”

“…What?”

“I wore that armor in the old days. Look at this.”

I took out the helmet I had brought from home.

It’s the exact same shape as that statue.

“Eek!? Oh, um… wait a moment… really…? But, why all of a sudden…?”

“I hope you could sell that for me.”

“Oh…”

“I’m sorry for suddenly asking this, but someone I know really wants to buy it.”

“Well… I mean…”

“Why?”

“For now, can I talk to your brother about it? It’s a piece we really cherish. It’s a memento of my father, you see. He was stubborn and didn’t want to sell it…”

“Of course. I told you not to sell it.”

“Why would you…”

“It’s embarrassing. He made it without my permission.”

“Oh… Anyway, I’ll go inside and talk to your brother. Um…”

Branko hesitated.

Is it difficult for him to ask me to come in and wait? He used to welcome me right away.

Probably because of Olli, it feels a bit bitter.

“I’ll wait outside.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Branko scratched his head and bowed as he entered the carpentry shop. Shortly after, a commotion was heard from inside.

Then, the door of the house slammed open.

It was Olli.

His face contorted with determination as he briskly walked around and spotted me.

“Hey, hey, sir! Just a moment, um, wait…!”

Following him, Branko came out sweating profusely to stop him, but Olli roughly pushed his brother aside and walked towards me.

“You!!”

Olli shouted at me, accusingly.

“Oh, hi, Olli. How have you been?”

“I’ve been fine and dandy! Is what you said true?!”

“What? Asking you to sell that statue?”

“Besides that!”

“Huh?”

“Is that really you?!”

“Yeah. It’s me.”

I took off the helmet I was wearing and replaced it with the one I brought from home.

Hmm, it’s been a while.

This helmet isn’t a bad item either, but the one I’m currently using is much better.

Especially the cleanliness magic inside is amazing.

Now, although it could fetch some money if sold since it’s no longer in use, I kept it for the memories I had as an adventurer.

Who knew it would come in handy like this.

“…!!!”

Olli staggered with a shocked expression on his face, as if he had seen a dragon.

“I left the armor and cloak at home, but I can bring them now if you want.”

The cloak.

It’s a top-grade item enchanted with fire protection, but it subtly irritated me and hindered movement at times.

I ended up not using it, replacing it with a bracelet with a similar effect of magic.

“Ugh… Unbelievable…”

Olly turned her head with a helpless expression.

Why on earth?

Of course, she expected an unfavorable reaction, but she didn’t anticipate it would be this bad.

“Why? Anyway, when my guest arrives later…”

“Ma…”

“Hmm?”

“Do whatever you want!! Whether you sell that thing or not, I don’t care!!!”

Olly went back into the house.

“…?”

“Ha, really… I couldn’t have imagined. The model for that statue was Rashwood…”

Branko approached, sighing.

“Why? Why is Olly acting like that?”

“Well… Actually, when we were young, I begged my father to make me a knight when I saw that statue. I thought such an honorable knight was cool…”

“Pfft!”

“No, it’s not like that…”

“Pff, hahaha! Ahahaha!”

I can’t stand this!

“Ahaha, ahahahaha, oh my! Really?! You begged your dad to make you a knight when you saw that statue??”

“Oh, well, I was young back then so…”

Blushing, Branko fumbled with his words.

I laughed for a while before composing myself and taking a deep breath.

“Phew, phew… I see… Haha, I see. So, Olly is going to sell it, right?”

“Yes, a bit regrettable, but sometimes it’s better not to see the truth… So, who is it?”

“He’s the eldest son of the prestigious Kapsella family, a knightly lineage from Loreldia.”

“Ahh, the handsome young lord.”

Branko remembered something and stroked his chin.

Indeed, a handsome young lord.

Well, it’s true.

“Yeah, the handsome young lord. We’ve made a connection in our own way. Anyway, I’ll go tell him now, he’ll probably come soon. You can discuss the price and exact date with him.”

After finishing the conversation, I returned to the city.

At the Golden Shield Inn, I asked Marone to pass on the story about the carpentry shop to Pesto.

“Ah, that statue. I also saw it when I went to order a sculpture from Mr. Vogert for interior decoration. It was hard not to laugh at that time.”

Marone said.

“Oh, now that you mention it, you did see it.”

When I walked around dressed exactly like that statue, Marone was still a young man.

“How time flies.”

“It really does. Of course, the passage of time for Mr. Rashwood and me may not be exactly the same.”

At first listen, it might sound like jealousy, but there was no negative emotion in his voice.

Rather… it seemed somewhat sympathetic.

Maybe it’s just my mood.

“That’s not necessarily true.”

“Is that so?”

“…No, you’re probably right. I can’t even dream of having a proper son or grandson like you.”

I said while looking at Marone’s grandson serving in the hall.

“Did you hear? The story of the Red Lake. Just last night, I was drinking with my comrades right over there.”

“Sometimes these things happen. I never get used to it either.”

“That’s a good thing. Life may have its bitter and sweet moments, but sweet is always better than bitter.”

“Haha… That’s really true. But what can we do? That’s life.”

“That’s life… isn’t it?”

“At least that’s how I felt in my short life so far.”

“I see… Give me a drink after a long time.”

“You mean the Shinogia honey wine? Today, I’ll give it to you for free.”