"You looked urgent. What's this about?"
After breakfast, I went straight to the Marquis, who greeted me warmly. He truly trusts me now.
"I'm planning a short trip."
"An outing? Hm, you haven't gone out in a while. To the marquisate's village?"
"Yes."
Sorry for lying, but I'm going way farther.
"Alright, go ahead. How long will you be gone?"
"I'm thinking a week, maybe visiting the next village."
"A week, huh? What about an escort?"
Escort? Here it comes. I cannot accept one. I have to go alone.
"No need."
"What are you talking about? You're the young master of Rox. Know your position."
"It's just the nearby village. I can handle it."
"Tch, I'll admit you've changed, but you still lack the strength to protect yourself."
The Marquis clicked his tongue, looking down at me as if I were far from ready.
"The world's dangerous. Even if you could defend yourself, what if you're poisoned? You'd be helpless, captured in an instant."
Nope. Poison doesn't work on me.
"What if someone slips a sedative in your food? You'd wake up bound in some unknown place."
Also nope. Sedatives don't work either.
I had plenty to say but couldn't.
"In those moments, an escort could save you or buy time. You must take one. That's an order."
No choice. Plan B it is.
"If you insist, fine."
"Thanks for understanding."
I didn't understand—he just wasn't budging, so I yielded.
"Who'll you take as an escort?"
"I'll go with whoever you assign. Arin's training hard, so I'd feel bad calling her."
"Oh!"
The Marquis let out an impressed exclamation at my consideration.
That probably boosted his affection.
"I'll pick someone who won't inconvenience you. When are you leaving?"
"Two days from now."
"Got it. I'll prepare accordingly."
"Thank you."
I bowed ninety degrees in gratitude.
"Have a safe trip."
"Yes."
Leaving his study, I headed to my room.
"Gotta prepare if I'm leaving tomorrow."
I told the Marquis two days, but I'm leaving tomorrow. Escorts would complicate things. Plan B is to slip out a day early, leaving them behind.
It's basically running away, but given my wastrel past, it should be fine.
"A magic pouch would be nice, damn it."
I wanted a magic pouch with compressed storage, but my room had none, no matter how much I searched.
Knock, knock.
As I gave up on the pouch, a knock came.
"Come in."
"Good morning, young master."
It was Peru. After a day's rest, his dark circles were mostly gone.
"Why're you here? I told you to rest."
"Just wanted to say hi."
"Wait, you've got that magic pouch."
"Hey, Peru."
"Yes?"
"Lend me your magic pouch."
"Uh…?"
Peru flinched, stepping back.
Feels like I'm extorting him.
"What for…?"
Reluctantly, he handed over the pouch with trembling hands.
"I'm traveling and don't want to carry a backpack."
"You don't have a magic pouch? Nobles usually have one."
"Dunno. Couldn't find one."
"I see."
"And…"
I didn't stop there, pointing a finger at him.
"Got any money?"
"Huh?"
Might as well go all in. If the budget officer doesn't prepare funds tomorrow, I'd be stuck. Better squeeze Peru now.
"I-I've got a little…"
"I'll pay you back double when I return. Lend me some."
I said "lend," but my face probably screamed "hand it over." Peru's expression grew pale.
"G-Gambling?"
"What? I'm going treasure hunting."
"Sigh…"
Peru, unconvinced, thought I'd blow it on gambling. He sighed in front of me for the first time.
"You just sighed at me?"
"No! Just breathing. Haha!"
He flashed a bright smile, as if he hadn't just frowned.
I could read his thoughts: he regretted coming. It was kind of funny.
"Dude, I'll really pay you back several times over."
"Alright. Give me the pouch. I'll put money in it."
Giving up, Peru took the pouch, went out, and returned with cash.
"Wow, quite a bit."
"It's all my saved wages and some skimmed from them."
"Thanks."
A decent amount of gold coins came out—enough for travel expenses.
"Thanks. I'll pay you back big."
"No need. Just returning it is fine…"
He clearly didn't believe me, still thinking I'd gamble it away.
"Trust me."
"Okay…"
"Eat this now."
I handed him a glowing red orb.
"This is…"
"Your antidote for the month. I don't know when I'll be back, so take it now."
"Oh…"
Peru took the orb with shaky hands.
It was just a rose from the garden, infused with my inner energy and aired out to remove the scent.
"Honestly, you've done well so far. Keep it up, and I'll fully detox you."
"D-Do I keep paying you?"
"No!"
Does he think I'm some thug?
"You don't like Kaina and Karox's Livingtain family, right?"
"Well…"
He didn't say it, but his face told me everything.
"I only poisoned you because I had to, no hard feelings. Build trust, and I'll make you my real butler. I'll even help you get revenge on Livingtain."
"How will you know if I'm trustworthy? I could lie."
"I can see how you feel about me."
Thanks to my cheat-like affection skill.
"Oh…"
Peru tilted his head, mouth agape. That look—he thinks I'm crazy.
"It's true. I can see it."
"Okay…"
"You little—!"
"Young master, it's morning."
The next day, Arin woke me up.
"You're leaving tomorrow, so preparing today?"
"Yeah. But Arin."
"Yes?"
"Got any money?"
Her eyes turned icy, like when we first met.
Asking for money first thing was a bad move.
But warps are so expensive, I need some extra cash.
"What do you need it for? Can't you get it from the budget officer?"
They might not give me any.
"Just, you know, more money's better."
"Gambling?"
Arin echoed Peru. Looks like Yuren blew a lot on gambling before.
"It's not gambling. Can you lend me some, no questions?"
"Alright."
Surprisingly, she left and returned with a small wrapped bundle.
"I trust you're not gambling."
"Of course."
Arin left after that. I worried her affection might drop, but she fully trusts me now.
"Time to prep."
I left a note on my desk, as if heading to the training ground, and slipped out of the mansion.
"Good thing I borrowed money."
I stopped by the budget officer, but since I said I was just visiting the village, they didn't give much.
Without Arin and Peru's money, I wouldn't have made it to my destination.
"Preparation is key."
"Young master, hello!"
As I admired my foresight while crossing the garden, an elderly gardener greeted me.
"Hey, keep up the good work."
He's a familiar face, so I returned the greeting, but something felt off. A strange, sharp aura emanated from him.
What's this feeling?
A thin, razor-like energy came from the gardener.
"What's wrong, young master?"
"Nothing."
I've never used Creator's Eye on him.
[Creator's Eye activated.]
[Name: Polein Rox]
[Traits: Swift Sword Lv4, Aura Transformation Lv4, Sword Resonance]
[Affection: 47 (Like)]
Rox? Level 4? Who is this guy?
I never created such a character. A man with strength rivaling the Marquis, working as a gardener—who is he?
"Is something wrong?"
"No, keep up the work."
I fled from him, my mind racing. I'd set up many hidden masters in the story, but not a gardener in the Rox estate.
With the name Rox, he's not a spy. But with that strength, why's he a gardener?
"Ugh, frustrating."
Lost in thought about Polein Rox, I reached the estate's front gate.
I'll deal with him later. Gotta stick to the plan.
"Young master, hello!"
"Hello!"
The two gatekeepers greeted me.
"Hey, good work."
"Going out?"
"Yeah."
They scribbled something on a paper.
Probably logging my name and time, like a military checkpoint. A report'll go out soon. No time to waste.
"You're going alone?"
"Just grabbing something nearby."
"I see."
Luckily, word of my "tomorrow" outing hadn't reached them.
As the gate opened, I didn't have time to admire the bustling village. I sprinted toward one direction.
I don't know the geography here, but my target was clear—a landmark stood out.
A tall tower wrapped in green light: the Mage Tower, home of the wizards.
Ding-a-ling.
A bell chimed as I opened the tower's door.
Haven't heard a coffee shop bell in ages.
"Welcome."
A beautiful wizard in a green robe sat at the counter. The interior, enchanted, looked twice as large as it appeared outside.
"What brings you?"
"I'm here to use the warp."
"I see. Have you used it before?"
"Used it?"
"Yes. Warps are expensive, so we offer mileage."
Right, I set up the mileage system.
"No, first time."
"Please write your name."
Instead of Yuren Rox, I wrote "Polion," a nickname I used in games.
"Destination?"
"As Castle."
"As Castle? That's far."
The wizard muttered, jotting something down.
"Warp fee is 50 gold."
"Urgh…"
Crazy expensive, as expected.
Thankfully, I had more than 50 gold in the pouch.
She took the money and led me to a room in the corner, surrounded by dozens of magic circles.
"Wait inside. Come out when you hear a knock."
"Got it."
She closed the door and left.
"It's finally starting."
The top priority of this trip is to claim the relic meant for the protagonist before he gets it.
Its name: the Spirit Sword Agnes.
It's the one thing I need most in this world.