I turned my head towards the sound of horse hooves. Lord Weaverpool seemed to have rushed over in light attire, covered in dust.
’No, that’s not light attire. That’s just sloppy attire.’
He said he went hunting, but half his top was sticking out, and his pants were baggy.
You’d think he just came from having sex. Is that some kind of slang? Like, ’Hunting is Sex’ for him?
Lord Weaverpool dismounted his horse, leading his subordinates.
And he looked at us as if to assess the situation.
"What in the world is going on?!"
Eventually, his question was directed at the Guard Captain. Only then did the soldiers rush over, struggling to separate me and Kelsas.
Both Kelsas and I stumbled as we walked. You bastard, you’ll be in more pain.
Kelsas gnashed his teeth.
"You trashy Hero... I’ll report everything you’ve done!"
He seems really pissed off, doesn’t he?
"You don’t seem to have any pride, do you? That’s why you pointy-ears are like this."
"What are you talking about?"
"You got your ankle taken out by someone weaker than you, and you’re going to report it? Are you some kind of humiliation fetishist?!"
As I mocked him, Kelsas’s face turned even redder. The people around us openly burst into laughter.
At this sight, Kelsas glared with murderous intent.
"Fine. I’ll personally handle your punishment."
"Oh wow, you’re just a civil servant, but you sure have a lot of fucking authority."
I sneered until the very end. Go ahead and try it. An Expert Mid-stage getting his ankle taken out by a Runner Late-stage.
Lord Weaverpool stepped between us. He opened his mouth with a solemn expression.
"Inspector Kelsas Comstrider. That’s enough."
"Are you ordering me? You mere hereditary noble scum!"
"Weren’t you the one who committed the offense first? If this goes on any further, I’ll have no choice but to file a complaint with the Imperial Palace Inspection Department."
Lord Weaverpool’s resolute words. Although he was a villain, he was someone who spoke the truth.
Kelsas began to glare at Lord Weaverpool. Then, as if he found something amusing, he let out a small laugh.
"I’ll withdraw for now. But, your mask will be peeled off someday."
"Is that so?"
"Just you wait, fake Hero!"
Kelsas left, spouting a lame line. He tried to act all cool, but he just looked pathetic.
"Wooooooah!"
The people cheered. The sudden cheers felt like they would burst my eardrums.
Huh, was it this loud? Since most of them were men, it was boisterous.
I couldn’t openly cover my ears, so I forced a smile. The frequency was seriously no joke.
People started praising me.
I just checked the quest rewards.
[Emergency Quest ’You Can’t Pass!’ Cleared!]
[Reward: 1000 CP Acquired!]
[Hidden Condition: Draw Fulfilled!]
[Your achievements are imprinted in the memories of all residents of the Weaverpool Domain!]
The hidden condition was a draw? That’s strange. I thought I won.
Well, as long as I didn’t lose, it’s fine.
’Goddess, there’s no way I’d lose with you by my side, is there?’
At that moment, the soldiers rushed at me all at once. They gave me a celebratory toss.
"Whoa!"
I never expected to even get a celebratory toss. The soldiers, including the Guard Captain, cheered joyfully.
"No one even dared to think of standing up to him. You are amazing!"
"Thank you for fighting on our behalf."
"Waaah, Hero. Take me!"
"The protector of Ravenscoft? No. The protector of humanity!"
They didn’t intentionally slur ’protector of humanity’ to sound like ’protector’s dick’, did they?
Anyway, I felt good. As I got out of the celebratory toss, Aki approached me.
"Thank you, Hero. For stepping forward for us."
"No, it’s only natural as a Hero. Are you alright?"
"Yes, I just need some ice packs. Thank you, so much my heart is pounding."
She smiled softly as she finished speaking. Up close, she was incredibly beautiful.
I could also smell a faint floral scent. How much stronger and lewder would it get on the bed?
Clap, clap, clap!
The Lord approached, clapping his hands.
"How about we go into my manor and have a party?"
"It’s not that big of a deal. Anyone can do it. Still, I do want to rest."
Although my injuries would heal due to regeneration, I was simply tired.
Fighting against a high-level opponent is tough for this reason. Reacting to their movements, calculating, adapting...
There wasn’t just one or two things to pay attention to. This kind of concentration couldn’t be exerted just anytime, making it even harder.
"Very well. Let’s go to the manor!"
Finally, I entered Lord Weaverpool’s manor.
First, I passed through a sturdy iron gate like a wall, then crossed a well-kept garden, and finally stepped into the manor itself.
As I entered, guided by the Head Maid, the interior came into full view.
It was adorned with chandeliers and decorations even more dazzling than those in the Ravenscoft Manor.
It was a bit unexpected.
’For a Lord with a modest image, it’s surprisingly luxurious.’
Of course, the domain residents wouldn’t have many occasions to enter the Lord’s manor.
Did he think that even doing this wouldn’t create a discrepancy with the image he cultivated?
As I stood in the lobby, looking around, the Lord said something.
"Please rest in your room for now. The Head Maid will guide you."
"Yes, I’ll receive treatment first."
"Ah, you can just have the servants do it."
I shook my head. There was no need for that.
’I shouldn’t even accept a sip of water from this guy. I don’t know what he might do, and I don’t want to owe him anything.’
He’s someone I might have to kill someday. I didn’t want to get involved with someone like that.
At the very least, I should make sure I have no regrets.
I politely refused.
"No, I’d like to go to the cathedral to get familiar with the area."
The Lord tilted his head.
Then he exclaimed in admiration.
"The cathedral? Ah-ha! That’s where the capable priests are. I understand."
First, I was guided to a room by the Head Maid.
It was a room in the furthest corner of the first floor, past the lobby. I didn’t know what the other rooms in the manor were like, but this one was very bright and clean.
"Hmm."
While settling into the room, I observed the Head Maid up close.
She had long, dark brown hair in an undercut, with the back tied in a ponytail.
Faintly glowing yellowish-green eyes, and a maid uniform that fit her perfectly.
On top of that, an armband signifying her as the Head Maid, and a C-cup glamorous figure that exuded a body scent with every movement.
’Overall, she has a strong cold beauty image. If I get close to her, will she be a tsundere?
Plus, she has a great body, and even though she’s not a MILF, I still want to get close to her.’
She was definitely worth it. She must be close to the Lord.
I decided to ask a few questions.
"Are you close with the Lord?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, nothing. You look young, but you’re already the Head Maid, so I thought you must be either very capable or close to him."
She might have been flustered, but I continued smoothly.
The Head Maid replied without any change in her expression.
"We are quite close."
"Hmm, the Lord seems like a very good person. Do you follow him well because of that?"
"A good person, you say... If there’s anything you need, please let me know. Please rest comfortably."
The Head Maid avoided my direct questions about the Lord.
As she left the room, the lingering scent seemed to disappear.
"Kyah, a cool beauty is good too, you know."
One thing I learned from this: the Head Maid might not be close to the Lord after all.
This meant she wasn’t the Lord’s closest confidante, and perhaps less likely to frequently suffer directly at his hands.
In other words, even if I couldn’t get much information, I could potentially win her over to my side!
Tch-tsut!
Suddenly, Goddess appeared.
"Oh, Goddess?"
"Is this where you’ll rest? Isn’t it shabby?"
"I’ll have to be content with this for now. By the way, are you staying here?"
"No, didn’t you see the statue when we passed by earlier?"
A statue?
I tilted my head, trying to recall.
Ah, right. The statue in the plaza before we came to the manor grounds?
"Yes, it’s probably the Lord’s face."
"There’s something in that statue. Use the Dust of Truth."
Goddess disappeared again. But why there of all places?
’Is it a hidden piece? Thank you, Goddess. Heueung!’
I only strapped on my sword and immediately went outside. My thigh was already healed.
I decided to look around a bit outside. It was definitely wider and more bustling than Ravenscoft.
Occasionally, I saw craftsmen trying to sell what they had made.
"For those with spinal injuries who can’t afford treatment! With this one assistive device, you can move easily!"
"This is a silencer. It’s essential when firing a gun or bow."
’No matter what, it’s not as good as my hometown. There’s a unique charm there.’
First, I went to the statue. On the surface, it seemed like nothing special.
It was just an old-looking statue with nothing particularly unique about it.
"Isn’t it magnificent?"
"Ugh, what?"
A passerby suddenly approached me. The man chuckled and looked up at the statue.
"It’s our Lord’s statue. He’s like a guardian angel who saved and protected our declining domain."
"Certainly... he’s a magnificent person."
Even as I replied that way, I scoffed internally.
’If that kind of guy is a guardian angel, then Alpa must be a normal person.’
Once alone again, I slowly examined the statue. Then, after looking around, I sprinkled the Dust of Truth.
Sasak, Sararak!
The sprinkled dust made contact with the statue, causing a change.
A thick, viscous energy emerged from the statue, then instantly transformed into a potion.
Curious, I snatched it. I was astonished.
[Intermediate Enhancement Fluid]
Type: Special Item
Description: Enhances one random item you possess, excluding your best item.
「With this, your hands won’t slip.」
’Holy shit, this is an enhancement fluid, isn’t it? Though it’s a random one.’
You just need to apply it to your body. The moment you apply it, a random item will be enhanced by one stage.
To think I could get something like this, which you normally only get by going to the capital region or hunting magic or alchemy-type monsters.
As expected, a hidden piece is a hidden piece!
’Let’s try it once.’
I swallowed dryly and applied the enhancement fluid to my body.
A pale golden oil-like substance flowed over my skin and instantly vaporized.
[Enhancement Fluid Used!]
[’Raiburn Coat’ Enhancement Successful!]
Oh, the coat got enhanced. I immediately checked its specs.
[Coat of the Lightning Dominator]
Rarity: Masterpiece
*Unique Passive Effect ’Lightning Immunity’: Grants immunity to lightning attribute.
*Unique Passive Effect ’Increased Evasion Distance’: Increases distance when rolling or dashing.
*Unique Effect ’Magnetic Field Levitation’: Forms a magnetic field to allow slow flight.
*Unique Effect ’Lightning Aura’: Increases speed by 50% with an aura made of lightning.
*T&C applied.
「The power left behind by the original owner still remains.」
As it was enhanced, its performance also increased.
’Kuh, this is fucking good, isn’t it? Now I won’t lose to anyone who uses lightning!’
I grinned and headed towards the cathedral. Given the time, there weren’t many people. The moment I opened the door and stepped inside.
"Haaang♥"
A sound that shouldn’t have been heard reached my ears. My eardrums pounded along with my chest.