CH ss - 39

[Alfine: Return to Youg Hannotes]

※Alfine’s POV

“I have learnt of the details from my daughter Noelia. This place is a part of the ranch of the horses used by the knight order, privately owned by my Henestrosa family. This place is away from public eye, so feel free to settle here, and if possible, it would be a great help if you could take care of the horses. Of course, I will pay your wages. And if you need something, feel free to ask the member of the knight order.”

From Devon village in Inbahanes, we returned to Youg Hannotes, bringing Maribel’s father Marco and the beastmen who escaped from the mine.

And now, we’re having a meeting with Frontier Count Lloyd in front of the old knight order’s lodging house behind his mansion.

This land is privately owned……

I heard that Frontier Count is a great aristocrat, but to build such a huge ranch behind his mansion which is situated on a small hill.

For an individual to own such a huge ranch, it might be no wonder that Frontier Count was called a war maniac in the royal capital.

I have my eyes stolen by the appearance of ranch – which boasts a considerable size – and is stupefied.

The beastmen – including Marco – who are brought along like me have their mouths open and show an idiotic appearance.

“Actually, our knight order also receives a severe damage in the battle at the Abyss Hole. Until now, the knights had been taking care of the horses, but now we were troubled due to lack of manpower.”

A total of about 100 beastmen have escaped from the mine.

Half were beastmen who worked as miners, and the other half were their families.

“To be allowed to live here… and even given work…”

Marco become even more surprised seeing the lodging house attached to the stables.

It seems that the lodging house was used until recently, but it was well cleaned, and it seemed that there would be no inconvenience to live in it.

“Ahh, those who lived here have moved to the newer lodging house after all. You can use it as you like.”

The beastmen who heard the words of Frontier Count Lloyd are beginning to make noise.

It might be better for us to stay here as well as their guard.

It’s more beautiful than a cheap hotel after all, and it seems that there is a facility for bathing.

“Uh, uhm. Can we also use this lodging house? Look, we also learnt of various things. To stay at an inn in the city is a bit…”

Frontier Count Lloyd nods as if to say ‘of course’ at the request of Meila who seems to had read my thought.

“You can use it too. Just in case, I have already sent my capable servants to expose all the lot of the Royal Guard Knight Order who were wandering the city and send them back to Gile with a message ‘If you keep moving around sneakily in my territory, I will get your head’.”

I can see seriousness from Lloyd’s face as he says that.

The rich kid Gile shouldn’t be stupid enough to turn Lloyd who has the strongest knight order in the kingdom into an enemy.

With this, I feel like it will be fine to resume gathering information on Finn in the city.

“Thank you so much for your consideration. To take you up on your words, we will be staying here until we find the person we are looking for.”

Since the Royal Guard Knight Order is involved in Abyss Walker’s case, we can’t be relieved regarding their pursuers even if they had been driven away, right?

If this group that knows various secrets are keep alive, that Gile will be troubled after all.

In particular, Maribel and Marco know too much like us.

Ahead of my gaze are Maribel and Marco who are looking happy in front of their new home.

Maribel – who was doing everything on her own without depending on anyone – was unhesitatingly behaving like a spoiled child to her father Marco on our way back from Devon village.

After all, ordinary parents and children are like that.

It feels kind of strange.

It seems that it is different from my relationship with the director and teachers at the orphanage.

If it’s in the meaning of someone who give you a sense of security so that you can show your true self, maybe Finn – who I was always together with growing up – was my father.

The only person who knows me who is selfish, sloppy and poor at cooking.

I was pampered by the comfort of living with him and continued to push forward with the that kind of relationship as is.

Without noticing that I was burdening him.

I just kept receiving without giving anything back, and only intended to repay him with money and equipment.

By being abandoned by Finn, throwing away my status as a Sword Master, a noble, and the name of Alfine, and becoming a normal adventurer Al, I was able to realize that the nature of my relationship with Finn was terribly strange.

If it kept going as it was, I would stay very childish and would have lived a life in which I couldn’t become independent and keep depending on Finn for the rest of my life.

“Ohhh, that’s right. There is still the reward for the work of Al and co this time. Maribel and Marco too, should also come to the mansion, as we are going to discuss about the future.”

When I saw Marco and Maribel’s father and daughter relationship, and thought about Finn, I was called by Frontier Count and came back to myself.

“The reward, is it? We did not help with that kind of intention…”

“Don’t be reserved. Besides, I think it will be an important reward for you. As for the rest of the people, please do clean the lodging house and allocate the rooms.”

Having said that, Frontier Count Lloyd returns to the mansion with a meaningful smile.

“Al, do you know what Frontier Count meant by important reward? Maybe he will promote you to be a noble…”

“No, something like that isn’t important to me, you know. Frontier Count should’ve known that too. So, I think it’s a different kind of reward, probably…”

“Al Onii-chan, Meila Onee-chan, we can only try to go to the mansion for now, you know. Father is also called, maybe he wanted to have a secret talk that only people who know the circumstances to a certain extent can hear, you know.”

A secret talk, huh…

Is that why he wanted to change to a place with few people?

He’s not a bad person anyway, and I’m curious about the reward he said important for me.

There’s no other choice but to go, huh.

“It might be as Maribel says. Besides, it would be rude to decline the invitation of Frontier Count-sama at this point.”

“Then, let’s go right away!”

Meila takes my hand and rushes to the mansion where Frontier Count returned ahead.

Behind, Maribel and Marco also run after us.

Hmm, what’s Lloyd being so mysterious about. I feel like he’s going to give Al a surprise…