Chapter 12

Chapter 12

「The favorability of the knight ‘Van Herdos’ has increased by 5.」

「Current favorability: 78/100」

It went up again?

“My man.......”

Stunned, Cadel turned around and saw that Van’s earlobes were stained bright red. He rubbed his heated earlobes and lowered his eyes. His face was beautiful, so it was nice to see him shy, but.......

‘Damn it, every time I say something, his favorability goes up!’

Getting goosebumps was a separate issue. Cadel tried to turn his head away, vowing to save his words as much as possible. Next to him, Van spoke in a voice sweet enough to make his ears crawl.

“I'll keep it for the rest of my life, Commander.”

“No....... Just throw it away when it's loose.......” T/his chapter is updated by nov(ê(l)biin.co/m

Van, now spotting bright blush on both cheeks, smiled as he handed the skewers back to Cadel.

“Because I'm Commander’s man until I die.”

......No matter what he said, Van didn't seem to be listening.

* * *

While waiting for the day to pass, Cadel and Van chance to meet Ron and Babyl for drinks. They went to Young Master Drew to collect the commission fee and were kicked out after hearing the evil remark ‘I saved your life, so be thankful and go away before I change my mind’. They seemed quite upset, seeing that they talked at the bar all morning after being provoked once.

Cadel, who was struggling to get rid of the drunkenness and sleep while listening to their harsh criticism, listened to the topic of conversation that had shifted before he knew it.

“Rumors are circulating in Hermel City these days, aren't they?”

“Ah, are you talking about the rumors about the temple? Believers going to worship disappear en masse?”

Hermel City was their next destination. Cadel intervened in the conversation, rubbing his puffy eyelids.

“Missing? Who's kidnapping the believers?”

“We don't know that much either. Still, the rumor spread all the way from Hermel City to here, so it's not just a rumor. Something must be wrong with the temple.”

At Cadel's answer, the Viscount raised one eyebrow. He put down the cup he was drinking from and arrogantly crossed his legs.

“Your expression is strange. Did something happen?”

“No, there's no problem.”

“All right. So, in earnest, let's start talking about how your joining―”

“I will decline Viscount's offer.”

“......What?”

Cadel stood up without hesitation. He put his moneybag into his bosom and bowed slightly to the Viscount.

“Being an escort magician isn't my cup of tea.”

“Not your cup of tea? Are you in a position to question that now!”

“I don’t even need a position to do that.”

“You are a member of a fallen family for the crime of slandering the Imperial family―”

“What do you mean? This is the Kingdom of Mainue, Viscount*.”

“Viscount?”

“Yes, Viscount. I hate to see you keep talking about my old family and trying to get a precious magician for a bargain. I'd rather be a mercenary for the rest of my life than escort someone like you. Your offer is rejected.”

The Viscount's mouth hung open as if the sudden change of attitude in an instant was astonishing. A shuddering sound came from his gaping mouth. And Cadel quickly left the drawing room without missing the silence.

“.......”

Soldiers guarding the outside rolled their eyes following Cadel's movements. The conversation in the drawing room did not seem to have been heard. He tried to walk confidently to escape naturally without drawing as much attention as possible.

“Get him! Now!”

With the cry of the Viscount who ran out of the drawing room, he had to run straight.

__________

T/N: From the part ‘Viscount*’, Cadel stopped using the honorific suffix ‘-nim’, as in the raw, when addressing the viscount, that’s why the viscount was surprised as he thought Cadel should always be humble before him, a noble.