NOVEL NEXT Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: The Lord's Manor
Chapter 99: The Lord’s Manor
The next morning.
Although there’s some lingering pain where I was hit yesterday, surprisingly, there’s no residual fatigue in my body, and I wake up feeling unexpectedly refreshed. Perhaps it’s because I went to bed early yesterday; I’m up much earlier than usual.
“Gyau~!”
“Good morning, Kuro.”
While everyone else is still asleep, Kuro is energetically moving around even at this hour. He must have been out for his usual morning stroll. With a colorful bird perched on his head, he carries a large water bottle with both hands.
“What a pretty bird.”
“What a pretty bird, Bonus.”
“Whoa! It talks…?”
“Gyau…”
The bird repeats my words before flying off somewhere. It did look like a parrot, so it’s not surprising if it has that ability, but… I’m still amazed. I take the water bottle from Kuro, pour half into a cooking pot, and leave the rest for morning preparations. I ask Pink to start the fire, then I pass the baton to Kuro. I sit on a rock near the dining area, watching Kuro cook while brushing my teeth. She’s just grilling smoked meat and vegetables, but it already looks tastier than yesterday’s tavern food.
“Good morning, Bonus. Are you feeling alright?”
“Good morning, Shiro. I’m fine. I’ve been thinking about today’s meeting.”
“I see.”
After washing my face, I join in cooking. Perhaps because Kuro has started grilling the meat, everyone begins to wake up. We exchange greetings and start our morning routines at a leisurely pace. Shiro and Zamsa brush their teeth while watching me cook, and Gisella, rubbing her sleepy eyes, carries her grooming tools and heads to the lake. Lately, when she stays overnight at the hideout, she bathes in the lake in the morning and evening. She spends the night in Savoia when she’s forging.
“Kohaku, it’s dangerous near the fire… Come over here.”
“Nnnaw!”
Shiro gently retrieves Kohaku, who was playing near the fire, from Pink. Kohaku rolls around on Shiro’s lap while playing, and I think about today’s meeting.
I wonder what the acting lord is like. Judging from Hajiramu’s tone, there’s a possibility he’s a noble. Given that he’s been entrusted with acting as the lord, he’s likely a relative. But he doesn’t seem to have much practical knowledge. Hajiramu didn’t seem to expect much in that regard. He said he had a calm nature, but what’s he really like? I don’t want to cause too much trouble for Menas, and I hope things don’t get too complicated…
“Gyauuu!”
“Oh, it’s about time. Thanks, Kuro.”
“I’m back~! I caught some fish~!”
“Welcome back, Gisella.”
“Wow~! When did you make the spear?”
“Hehehe. The night before last~. I made it light, so Kuro and the others can use it.”
“Gyau~!”
“Well, let’s eat for now.”
“Mee~”
As we gather around the dining table, Elizabeth slowly emerges, her white fur shining in the morning sun. Kohaku rushes towards Elizabeth from Shiro’s lap.
“Good morning, Elizabeth. Take care of us today too.”
“Mneee~”
Maybe because Kohaku still nurses, he seems to think of Elizabeth as his mother. She seems to have gained more dignity lately. If the construction of the village’s base goes well, I’d like to commute from the hideout for the subsequent reconstruction work. If I ride Elizabeth, we should arrive in no time. Returning to the hideout, I feel much more refreshed both mentally and physically. Well, it depends on how today’s meeting goes…
—
Today, as well, regular customers visit the stalls, and it’s quite bustling. Yesterday’s gossip seems to be spreading in incomprehensible forms as usual. However, most of it seems to converge on the warning that ‘Bonus from the Bonus Company is prone to losing his temper easily, so be careful’.
I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed with myself, but so far, it’s just teasing from everyone, and there hasn’t been any real harm done.
“Good morning, Bonus-san. I look forward to working with you today.”
“Good morning~”
“Morning! Menas, Edda. Nice to meet you! Take your time since we still have some.”
“Thank you.”
“Menas-san! Over here! You look beautiful today too! Bonus, put Menas-san and Edda’s bill on my tab!”
“Sure thing.”
I’m already being approached by the regular old men. It’s surprisingly early, but it seems Menas and the others are already here. Well, they probably don’t have much to do right now. With the monster alert and the situation at the Tamir Mountains, it seems like the caravan isn’t moving either. Well, since they seem to be discussing business with other regular customers, coming to our shop unexpectedly is part of their job too, I guess…
“Oh, good morning! Bonus-sama, could I have some coffee, please?”
“Good morning, Ulara! I’ll brew it now, so just wait at your table.”
“N-no, actually, I have a lot of work today… I’ll wait here. Oh, and please make it with extra milk!”
Ulara comes as usual at the usual time. But today, she seems a bit absent-minded. She must be thinking about something related to work. Even while waiting, she looks somewhat anxious, her gaze wandering somewhere far away.
“Oh… Kohaku-chan. Good morning, Shiro-san.”
Shiro hands Kohaku over to Ulara’s arms. Surprisingly, Shiro and Ulara get along well, and I often see Shiro smiling and listening to Ulara’s stories. Ulara, who was contemplating a moment ago, now has a large paw pressed against her face, making a sloppy expression. Kohaku is still young, but because he’s large, holding him feels warm and comforting. Somehow, my heart feels lighter with his weight. Just stroking his velvety fur has a calming effect, like a mental sedative.
“As for me, I’m nervous today because I have a meeting with someone new.”
“Well, now that you mention it, I’m not good with meeting new people either, so I completely understand your feelings.”
“Okay, it’s done.”
“Oh, thank you very much.”
I reach out to take Kohaku, but Ulara shows no sign of letting go at all. On the contrary, she firmly hugs Kohaku with one hand and reaches for the coffee with the other. With Kohaku in her left hand and coffee in her right, she looks very happy. Kohaku should be quite heavy… but she’s surprisingly strong. After enjoying her coffee and Kohaku for a short while, Ulara leaves with a satisfied expression.
—
While having casual conversations with the customers at the stall, the morning passes quickly. I wait for Hajiramu to arrive while snacking on sweet potatoes brought from the hideout instead of lunch.
“Hey, Bonus. Can you share some with me too?”
“Edda, didn’t you just have lunch earlier? You’ll get fat.”
“What’s this, it’s delicious!”
“Oh no, my sweet potato!”
Menas and the others also went out for lunch once, but they’re already relaxing in the customer area of the stall. Edda is impressed by the sweet potatoes, but I feel slightly unsatisfied because they lack sweetness. I feel like the ones Mill made before were tastier. Perhaps it’s better to heat them in the kiln after all.
“Bonus, was it a bit early?”
“No, I just ate the sweet potatoes and waited, so it’s okay.”
“I see. How was the transportation company?”
“Oh, let me introduce you. This is Menas, an old friend of mine. Without her, I’d probably be dead by now… And this is Hajiramu, the former lord’s exclusive mercenary and the leader of this expedition.”
“Hajiramu?”
“Menas… Ah, yes… I’m Hajiramu. I’m grateful for your cooperation.”
As usual, Menas greets Hajiramu with an elegant smile. On the other hand, Hajiramu’s usual grumpy expression has softened, and his eyes are completely unfocused. He seems suspiciously off…
“Maybe you knew her from before?”
“No, it’s my first time meeting her. But… she’s a lovely woman…”
“Oh… thank you very much.”
Edda has a face like a Tibetan fox. That’s not an appropriate look for a young lady. Well, I might be making the same face…
(Note: Here’s what a Tibetan Fox looks like….Lol)
Nevertheless, just like yesterday, I feel like I saw an unexpected side of Hajiramu. I can certainly understand it. Menas, of course, is aging, although I’ve never directly asked, she’s probably in her fifties. She looks her age. However, she possesses the mature charm of a woman her age and exudes an intellectual aura. Her daughter, Edda, also resembles Menas and is quite beautiful, but Menas overwhelmingly attracts more attention from the regular customers. Even from my perspective, there are times when I find older, experienced women with a certain allure captivating. Hajiramu might be approaching sixty, even older than Menas. Perhaps he sees something different than I do…
“I’ll guide you to the Lord’s Manor.”
“Ah, can I bring Shiro and Kuro with me?”
“No problem.”
I hand Kohaku over to Gisella, receive the map from Zamza, and follow behind Hajiramu. Although I’ve been told I’m being guided, I’m quite familiar with the place. It’s right near the mercenary brokerage. It’s a prime location facing the main square, integrated with the government building. There’s a grand gate, and regardless of the time, two guards watch the surroundings vigilantly. However, Hajiramu easily passes by the impressive gate and confidently enters the government building. Inside the government office, after a brief exchange with the elderly staff, we continue deeper into the building. Crossing a long corridor facing a large courtyard, I feel the atmosphere of the building change. It transitions from simple to slightly decorative designs. The function of the building seems to have shifted from the government office to the Lord’s Manor. Tiles are used for the floor, and the walls are neatly finished with plaster. Kuro also seems intrigued, muttering softly while looking around.
“He’s here. There’s no need to be overly cautious, but still, he’s a noble, so let’s be respectful.”
“I’m not very good at using honorifics.”
“Gyau~!”
“Huh?”
“Do what you can… Bonus should be fine as usual. As for Kuro and Shiro… well, they’ll manage somehow. They’re not the type to worry about such things.”
And so, we’re ultimately led to a reception room of about twelve tatami mats. The high ceiling and openness facing the courtyard make it pleasant with the breeze. The walls are decorated with plaster, but wooden beams are exposed, decorated with geometric patterns carved directly into them. And for some reason, sitting in front of me is Ulara, who looks like she just woke up.
“Ulara…? Is this… the first time I’m seeing you today?”
“Haauu…”
Behind the sofa where Ulara sits, there’s a slightly troubled-looking, yet quite familiar guard. She’s a female guard, and at first, I only watched her from a distance, but now, she occasionally buys coffee and chocolate at the stall, and she’s even gotten friendly with Kuro, lightly exchanging greetings. But still… what’s going on here…?