CH 6

Chapter6 - Homecoming

The carriage door closed the moment Lou entered.

The coachman prompted the horse and with the crack of a whip, the carriage departed.

The carriage was surrounded by four guards on horseback, who rode alongside the carriage.

Fran sat opposite Lou and finally showed some relief.

「It is said that Valentine is a land of adventurers, but…」

Fran spoke…

St. Helena, the capital of the Kingdom of Valentine, was by nature a very strict place against strangers entering.

But as long as you could get your identity vouched for, obtain a citizen’s card, and pay your taxes properly, you should be perfectly fine.

In contrast to this royal city…

Bardland, the second largest city on Valentine and known as the City of Beginnings or the City of Adventurers, was a stark contrast.

The city Lou was aiming for was the headquarters of the continent’s Adventurer’s Guild, and was a very tolerant city for adventurers.

That was why the guards at the gate were looking at me so warily…

Lou was convinced of this and smiled bitterly.

Fran begged him to go to her house, not knowing that he was thinking about it.

「Just come to my house for the time being! I want you to explain to my mother what has happened.」

「Okay, leave it to me.」

Again!

He said “it” again!

Fran was overjoyed that she looked at Lou with a big smile on her face.

The carriage passed through the city center and eventually entered the residence district of the nobles.

****

「Lady Francisca has returned.」

「Was she injured?」

「Get a doctor!」

「Have you cleaned up her room yet?」

When the carriage carrying them arrived at the Count of Dumer’s residence…

They heard the servants screaming with worry.

They knew because sentinels had come to report to the House Steward ostentatiously.

All the servants had sensed that something had happened to the lady of the house on the way.

「Quiet, you two! So much noise is harmful for the lady’s health.」

One man stood out in the crowd.

In a low but clear voice, he shouted at the rowdy servants.

The man was well past his mid-fifties.

However, he was so burly that you could determine his age.

He was well over two meters tall, with terrifyingly developed pectoral muscles that were evident even through his shirt.

His arms were as thick as logs, and his thighs were about a woman’s waist…

He has tanned, dark skin, bald with a deep, chiseled face, thick lips that showed he was strong-willed, and sharp, steeple-colored eyes that give off an incredibly intimidating glow to those around him.

「Ha-Hai!」

「Apologies, Ziemon-sama.」

「We-We’ll keep that in mind.」

The man’s harshness caused the servants to apologize in a panic and immediately fall silent.

Fran’s mother, the Countess of Dumer, had given this man full authority over the house. He was the chief steward of the household, Zeimon, who was in charge of all the servants in the house.

The carriage stopped in front of the main gate of the mansion, and the door opened as the guards flanked it.

Lou got out first, and when he reached out to Fran, she grasped his hand firmly and alighted from the carriage.

Zeimon’s brow creased in discomfort as he watched, and his gaze grew more intense.

Zeimon stood in front of them, who were hand in hand, and spoke to Fran, completely ignoring Lou.

「Well, well…Lady Francesca, I’m relieved to see you safe.」

「Thank you, Zeimon. You’ve heard from the sentinel, right?」

「Yes, I’ve already reported this matter to Madam.」

「Then I will take him to Mother’s room.」

But Zeimon remained standing and refused to budge.

「Get out of the way!」 Fran’s protest was met with an inarticulate voice and no change in expression.

「Madam is in her laboratory. As for you, Lady Francesca, I have received word that you should bathe and then head to the laboratory.」

「Again! Here we go again. Another magic research. It’s all magic in her spare time.」

Fran chuckled, looked at Lou and shrugged.

「All right, I’ll bathe and then we’ll go to the lab. Lou, let’s go.」

Fran grabbed Lou’s hand and tried to go inside the mansion.

But again, Zeimon made a move and blocked them.

「Now…what?」

As expected, Fran’s expression was one of irritation.

Zemon did not blink an eyelid when he saw how unhappy his master was.

「Madam…only told me to let you pass. And who is he?」

「Have you not heard from the sentinel?」

「Yes, I’ve only heard that you were attacked by bandits on the way and that all the knights guarding you died.」

That was a lie.

Fran stared at Zeimon in silence.

But he was unaffected by Fran, and showed no sign of being offended at all.

Fran gave the guards a detailed description of the circumstances of the incident.

It was impossible for the guard to twist the report and make a false report to Zeimon.

If there was such a thing, then that man was twisting the facts and making false reports to her mother.

「I’ll report directly to Mother. He saved my life. When I explain this to Mother, he will have to testify as a witness.」

Despite hearing Fran’s words, Zeimon slowly shook his head without changing his expression.

「Even if it’s your wish, I can’t just let him pass like this.  If I let such an unknown man into the house, and something happens to Madam…it will be serious trouble.」

「Huh, don’t you understand what I’m saying?!」

Fran almost forgot herself at Zeimon’s malicious tone, but stopped herself just in time.

This was because Lou stopped her with a light tap on her shoulder.

Zeimon’s brow furrowed anew, and said with obvious displeasure.

「I’ve been watching you for a while now, you! You’re just a low-life! I will not allow you to touch my lady so carelessly.」

Lou chuckled in exasperation as he listened to Zeimon’s abuse.

「Low-life? Me?」

「Lou…I’m sorry. He’s always been like this for a long time.」

Fran looked beat.

Lou replied to Fran,「It’s all right.」

Then he turned to Zeimon again.

Lou’s calm expression did not falter under Zeimon’s glare.

「Your loyalty is misplaced.」

「What? How is my loyalty misplaced?」

Amidst Zeimon’s fury, Lou stated firmly.

「Your priority should be to take care of Fran. I don’t think you have reported this to your Madam properly, and that would be disloyal to your Madam as well.」

「Wha, you dare taunt me?!」

「When Fran mentioned about the guard’s report, the magic wave aura you were giving off wavered a bit unnaturally.」

「Magic wave aura? Wavered?」

「That’s right! You’re lying to us.」

「U-h, what bullshit! 」

As if Luo’s point had caught him off-guard.

For the first time, Zeimon, who until now had looked angry, showed signs of agitation.

Eeh?! Lou! Did you fathom that? He’s lying…you can tell?!!

Fran was stunned again by Lou’s nonchalant talk as he looked at Zeimon.

「I am your lady! Y-You lied to me! Unforgivable! I won’t forgive you!」

「I know how much you care for you Madam, and your insubordination is merely to protect her from the scums of the earth.」

「Gurr…」

「But if anything goes wrong later on, you’ll be making both of us very unhappy.」

Lou spoke plainly, but his tone seemed to have ignited Zeimon’s anger.

「You little brat! Don’t you dare talk to me like that! I don’t need you to tell me what to do! You have no idea how hard I’ve worked to protect Madam! All this time!」

「Have I gone overboard?…Sorry about that.」

「Screw you! Rrrrah!」

Zeimon let out a beastly growl, stretched his arms, and grabbed at Lou.

「Stop! Zeimon!」

Zeimon, the chief steward of the Dumer family, was a mighty warrior who could use all kinds of weapons as well as unique techniques.

He had killed countless… enemies on the battlefield so far.

Oh no!

He’s going to kill Lou!

Fran’s scream echoed.

Zeimon’s fist, which was as big as a baby’s head, landed on Lou’s slender neck at lightning speed!

But Lou easily jumped back and dodged the fist.

He ducked, and Zeimon roared and attacked again.

But Lou evaded him once more.

No way! 

Zeimon can’t touch Lou, not even a single finger.

Fran was upset at first, but…

She was regaining her composure as she watched Lou evade Zeimon’s attack with ease.

This is?

…What the heck?

Fran tilted her head.

As long as he could dodge the attack, he was no longer a threat.

Now, if all he needed was to use a little magic and he could definitely defeat Zeimon easily…

For some reason, Lou didn’t use magic.

He just dodged Zeimon’s grabs.

Zeimon was not using his usual body techniques that he has used to slaughter so many enemies, probably because he had lost his head.

Lou was ducking and not letting his opponent touch him, while Zeimon was just trying to grab him.

It was a strange sight.

Like a children’s game of tag, or a children’s fight.

「You! You’re a coward! If you’re a man, don’t run, fight!」

Numbly, Zeimon shouted in frustration.

「Haha, sure…Come on then.」

「Ooooryaaaah!」

Zeimon drove his left fist into Lou, who replied nonchalantly.

But again, Lou dodged smoothly.

He then gently raised his own left arm and met Zeimon’s left fist as he struck, letting the momentum of his fist flow away.

At that very moment!

For some reason, Zeimon suddenly wobbled and stepped on his own foot.

With a smirk, Lou slammed his right fist into Zeimon’s stomach!

With a heavy, dull blow, Lou’s fist was buried up to his wrist!

Zeimon couldn’t hide the look of surprise…and agony from Lou’s attack.

「Uggh…pah…you’re a fool…my physique isn’t so easily damaged…」

Zeimon’s stupefaction was greeted Lou’s calm and unperturbed voice as ever.

「You made light of me without assessing my ability. Had you used your Taijutsu against me, I would have struggled too.」

「What do you mean, struggle?!」

Zeimon was surprised, and a bitter smile immediately appeared on his face.

「Hey, kid! Did y-y-you see through my techniques?」

「Yeah, I found out during the fight. And you weren’t really serious about it, were you? For Fran’s sake.」

How mortifying, to be so easily tackled by an unknown young lad and unilaterally knocked down…

Zeimon was starting to find it funny.

How hilarious.

He planned on going easy on him, and yet…

Unbeknownst to him, he was seen through and through.

「Ugh…Kid, you’re a real piece of work!…Oh, My Lady!」

Fran, who was suddenly called, was confused and once again stared at Zeimon’s face, contorted in pain.

「Ah, I-I apologize for my rudeness to the guest you brought! You can p-punish me anyway you want!」

Zeimon fainted right after finishing that.

Fran was astonished and turned her head, only to see Lou, smiling as calm as usual.

「Fran, don’t worry. I took it easy on him, and I’ll heal him right away.」

Hearing Lou saying that Zeimon was safe, a look of relief revived over Fran’s face.

Soon.

「What’s all this fuss abouts? Fran, explain.」

Such a dignified voice!

It fell on everyone present.

A petite figure appeared at the entrance of the mansion, her sharp eyes scowling at the area…

It was Fran’s mother, Countess Adelaide Dumer, herself.