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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: First Outing
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First Outing
"You seemed to be in a hurry. What did you want to see me about?"
After finishing breakfast, I went to see the Marquis immediately. He greeted me with a bright expression. It seemed he now trusted me completely.
"I'd like to go out for a while."
"Go out? Hmm, I suppose you haven't left in some time. Are you planning to visit the town in the marquisate?"
"Yes."
*I'm sorry for deceiving you, but I'm going much, much farther.*
"Very well. Go on. How many days do you plan to be gone?"
"I'm thinking of visiting the next town over, so I expect to be gone for about a week."
"A week, you say? What about your escort?"
An escort. Just as I expected. I couldn't accept. I absolutely had to go alone.
"I don't particularly need one."
"What are you talking about? You are the Grand Prince of House Lox. Be aware of your station."
"I'm just going to the town nearby. I don't need an escort. I can handle myself."
"Tsk. I admit you've changed from how you used to be. But you still lack the strength to protect yourself."
The Marquis clicked his tongue and looked down on me as if I still had a long way to go.
"The world is full of dangers. Even if you had the strength to protect yourself, what would you do if you were poisoned? In that moment, you'd be captured without being able to do a thing."
*That's not true. Poison doesn't work on me.*
"What if someone puts a sleeping draught in your food? You'd wake up bound in some unknown place."
*That's not true either. Sleeping draughts don't work on me.*
Unfortunately, there was much I wanted to say, but I couldn't.
"In a moment like that, an escort could save you or at least buy you some time. You will take an escort. That is an order."
*I have no choice. Time for Plan B.*
"If you insist, then I have no choice. I understand."
"Good. Thank you for understanding."
*It's not that I understand. The Marquis just didn't look like he'd budge, so I was the one who backed down.*
"Then, who will you take for an escort?"
"I'll go with whomever you assign. Arin is training hard, and I'd feel bad calling for her."
"Hoh!"
The Marquis let out a cry of admiration, seemingly impressed by my consideration.
*My favorability must have gone up with that comment.*
"Alright. I'll choose people you'll be comfortable with. So, when will you depart?"
"I'll depart in two days."
"Very well. I'll prepare accordingly."
"Thank you."
I bowed a full ninety degrees to the Marquis and expressed my gratitude.
"Have a safe trip."
"Yes."
I left the Marquis's room and headed straight for my own.
"I'll need to get ready if I'm leaving tomorrow."
I told the Marquis two days, but I planned to leave tomorrow. Taking an escort would be a hassle in more ways than one. Leaving them all behind and departing a day early was my Plan B.
Plan B was no different from running away without a word, but given my past as a scoundrel, it should be fine.
"It'd be convenient if I had a magic pouch. Damn it."
I wanted to take a magic pouch with its compressed storage space, but it seemed there was no such item in my room. I couldn't find one no matter how hard I looked.
*Knock, knock.*
Just as I'd given up on finding a pouch, a knock came from the door.
"Come in."
"Good morning, Grand Prince."
The person who entered was Peru. Perhaps because he'd had a full day's rest, the dark circles under his eyes had faded considerably.
"Why are you here? I told you to go rest."
"Ah, I just wanted to greet you."
"I'm fine, so just go..."
*Wait a minute. This guy has one—a magic pouch.*
"Hey, Peru."
"Yes."
"Give me your magic pouch."
"Pardon...?"
Peru flinched and took a step back from me.
*This feels a bit like I'm shaking him down.*
"What for...?"
With a trembling hand, Peru reluctantly handed me the magic pouch.
"Ah, I'm going on a trip, and carrying a backpack is a pain."
"Grand Prince, you don't have a magic pouch? It's an essential item for nobles."
"I don't know. I looked, but I couldn't find one."
"I-I see."
"Ah, and also..."
I didn't stop there, raising a finger as I spoke.
"Got any money?"
"Eh?"
*Since I'm already shaking him down, I might as well be more shameless about it. If the budget manager doesn't have the money ready for me tomorrow, I'll have to leave with nothing. I might as well take this guy's money for now.*
"W-well, I have a little."
"I'll give you double when I get back. Just lend me some."
I said 'lend,' but my expression probably looked no different from extortion. The color drained from Peru's face.
"A-are you going to gamble?"
"What are you talking about? I'm going on a treasure hunt."
"Haaa..."
Peru didn't believe me, likely thinking I was going to throw the money away gambling. He sighed in front of me for the first time.
"Did you just sigh in front of me?"
"No. I was just breathing. Haha!"
As if he'd never frowned, Peru was now smiling as brightly as the sun.
I could see right through Peru's thoughts. He was probably thinking he shouldn't have come. The thought of his inner turmoil made me want to laugh.
"Hey. I'll really give you back several times what you gave me."
"Understood. Then please give me the pouch. I'll put the money in it and bring it back."
Peru, seemingly having given up, took the pouch, left, and returned after putting the money inside.
"Hoh, that's quite a lot."
"It's all of my saved wages, plus a little I skimmed from the money I received from them."
"Thanks."
A considerable number of gold coins came out of the pouch. This should be enough for my travel expenses.
"Thanks. I'll really pay you back several times over."
"It's alright. Just returning it would be..."
Peru didn't trust me at all. He still seemed to think I was going gambling.
"Enough. Just trust me."
"Yes..."
"And take this. Eat it now."
I gave Peru a round, red, glowing bead.
"This is..."
"It's a month's worth of antidote. I don't know when I'll be back, so take it now."
"Ah..."
With a trembling hand, Peru took the bead I had made.
*In truth, it was just a rose from the garden, compressed with my internal energy. I'd left it on the windowsill for a while to air out the scent.*
"I'll be honest. You've done quite well so far. If you keep this up, I'll completely cure you of the poison."
"D-does that mean I have to keep giving you money?"
"No!"
*It seems Peru sees me as a thug.*
"You don't like House Livingtine, the family of Kaina and Karox, do you?"
"That's..."
He didn't say anything, but I could tell his feelings just by looking at his expression.
"I had no choice but to poison you; there were no personal feelings involved. If we build a relationship of trust, I'll make you my real butler. I'll even help you get revenge on the Livingtines."
"How will you determine this 'relationship of trust'? I could be lying."
"Because I can see it. How you think of me."
*Because I have the cheat skill, Favorability.*
"Ah..."
Peru's mouth fell open, and he tilted his head. That expression... he definitely looked at me as if I were crazy.
"It's true. I can see it."
"Yes..."
"This bastard!"
***
"Grand Prince. It's morning."
The next morning, Arin came to wake me.
"You're departing tomorrow, so will you be preparing today?"
"Ah, I should. But Arin."
"Yes?"
"Do you have any money?"
A chill entered Arin's eyes, as if we had returned to how things were at the very beginning.
*Maybe talking about money right after waking up wasn't the best idea.*
*But the warp fees are so expensive, I need to have some extra cash on hand.*
"Why do you need money? Can't you get it from the budget manager?"
*Because I might not be able to get it from him.*
"No reason. The more money, the better, right?"
"Is it for gambling?"
Arin was saying the same thing as Peru. It seems the old Yuren lost quite a bit of money gambling.
"It's really not for gambling. Can you just lend me a little without asking questions?"
"I understand."
Arin, who I thought would refuse, left and returned, handing me a small cloth bundle.
"I'll trust your word that you won't be gambling."
"Of course."
Arin left with those words. I was worried her favorability would drop, but she now trusted me completely.
"Alright then, shall I get ready?"
I left the letter I'd written beforehand on my desk and left the mansion as if I were heading to the training grounds.
"It's a good thing I borrowed that money."
I did stop by the budget manager to get some money, but because I said I'd just be hanging around town, I didn't receive very much.
If I hadn't borrowed money from Arin and Peru in advance, I wouldn't have even been able to go where I wanted.
"A man must always be thoroughly prepared."
"Good day, Grand Prince!"
As I was admiring my own preparedness while crossing the garden, an old gardener greeted me.
"Yes. Keep up the good work."
He was someone I saw often, so I returned the greeting and was about to pass by when something felt strange. I sensed an unusual peculiarity about him, different from normal.
*What is this feeling?*
I could feel a very thin, sharp aura emanating from the gardener's body.
"Is something wrong, Grand Prince?"
"Ah, it's nothing."
*Come to think of it, I've never used Creator's Eye on this man.*
[Activating Creator's Eye.]
On the off chance, I used Creator's Eye on him.
[Name: Polain Lox]
[Traits: Swift Sword lv4, Aura Alteration lv4, Sword Cry]
[Favorability: 47 (Favorable)]
*Lox? And level 4, at that? Who the hell is this guy!*
I never created a character like this. Who was this old man, whose strength was on par with Marquis Lox?
"Is there something the matter?"
"Ah, no. Keep up the good work."
I practically fled from him, my mind a complicated mess. I had created many hidden masters in my novel, but I never put someone like that among the Lox family's gardeners.
*If his name is Lox, he can't be a spy. But with that level of power, why is he working as a gardener? What is his identity?*
"Hah, how frustrating."
Lost in thought about the old gardener, I arrived at the main gate of the marquis's estate before I knew it.
*I'll think about Polain Lox later. For now, I need to stick to the plan.*
"Good day, Grand Prince!"
"Good day!"
The two gatekeepers standing at the main gate greeted me.
"Yes. Keep it up."
"Are you heading out?"
"Yes."
The gatekeepers wrote something down on a piece of paper.
*That must be like a military guard post log, writing down names and times. A report will be filed soon. I don't have time.*
"But are you going alone?"
"Ah, I'm just going nearby to buy something."
"I see."
Fortunately, it seemed word of my departure tomorrow hadn't reached them yet.
The moment the gate opened, I started running in one direction, with no time to admire the wide, splendid town.
The reason I, who knew neither the geography nor the layout of this place, could pick a direction and run was simple. There was a conspicuous landmark.
A tall tower shrouded in green light—I headed for the Mage Tower, where the mages gathered.
*Cling.*
When I opened the door to the Mage Tower, a bell chimed from above.
*Oh, it's been a while since I heard a coffee shop bell.*
"Welcome."
A beautiful mage in a green robe was sitting at the counter. Some kind of magic must have been cast, as the inside looked more than twice as spacious as it did from the outside.
"How may I help you?"
"I'm here to use the warp."
"I see. Have you used it before?"
"Used it?"
"Yes. Since the warp is quite expensive, we offer a mileage program."
*That's right. I did set up a mileage system.*
"No, I haven't."
"Then could you please write down your name?"
Instead of Yuren Lox, I wrote down 'Polion,' a nickname I sometimes used when gaming.
"What is your destination?"
"As Castle."
"As Castle... That's quite far."
The mage muttered as she wrote something on a piece of paper.
"The fee for the warp is 50 gold."
"Hrmm..."
*Just as I expected. Damn expensive.*
Fortunately, I had more than 50 gold in the pouch.
After taking the money, she led me to a room in the corner. When I entered, I saw the entire room was covered in dozens of magic circles.
"Please wait inside. You can come out when you hear a knock."
"Okay."
With those words, the mage closed the door and left.
"It's finally starting."
The primary goal of this journey was to claim the relic the protagonist was supposed to obtain.
The relic's name was the Spirit Sword, Agnes.
It was what I needed more than anything else in the world.