Chapter 27

Chapter 27

27. Lucian Belmore (4)

Invitation to the lord’s castle.

“Why me?” “Uh, hmm, well···? According to the previous leader he said he wants to meet directly and give the reward. Wouldn’t it be something like having a meal and praising or such?”

“···Why bother?”

At the suspicious asking back Hodge shrugged his shoulders.

“Even if one tries to guess the intention of a high person would one know.”

Thus Benrik entered preparation ahead of the private meeting with the count. Fortunately because he is a busy person three days of grace were given.

“No, I said it is not that?”

Lucian who was watching the amount Benrik was doing while sleeping raised his voice.

“What is not, it is the same.”

As if frustrated he snatched the knife and fork held in Benrik’s hand, then sits at the table.

When Benrik quietly looked he flinches and makes an excuse.

“······I was going to show a demonstration.” “Try.”

Benrik leaned his back against the wall with arms crossed in the feeling of seeing once. Eating is all there, what is so different if different.

“······.”

···Hmm, is it different?

He doesn’t want to admit it, but certainly something looks different. Clearly the clothes worn are similarly shabby for Lucian or Benrik, but somehow···.

‘Somehow···.’

Right, dignity. Dignity flowed.

That subtle and ambiguous thing is really felt.

There was not a single discipline and there was also no sign of particularly exerting strength.

The subtle angle of the head, gaze handling, the hand gesture holding the knife and the speed of cutting the meat etc.

All of that harmoniously blended and created a subtle aura.

“No, on earth why can’t one do this?”

Even the appearance of narrowing the brow as if unable to understand and putting down the fork and knife certainly looked like there is dignity.

Benrik carefully observed Lucian’s behavior.

And reached a conclusion. This is not something that can be learned.

‘It is born with.’

It is something naturally learned in the body from young.

On the other hand Benrik lived like a beast his whole life.

Not a metaphor but really.

Throughout growing meal time was a war for survival, and when thrown into a magical beast nest he chewed dried meat that absorbed stuffy humidity and became damp. Sometimes he even chewed and swallowed real raw meat.

The fact that he lived equipped with a somewhat human appearance was entirely because of the knowledge of the past life, not other influence.

Actually his younger siblings still have not equipped a human appearance.

Benrik recalled the younger siblings who became dogs possessed by evil spirits whenever meal time came and shook his head.

Thinking about it Baron Drenor who became a noble from a commoner also did not particularly show signs of caring about body posture.

Even if one tries to clumsily imitate it will only become funny in appearance like a little while ago.

So.

“Let’s stop.” “Huh···?”

Why, why? What are you stopping? Fear faintly showed in the brown eyes.

“Meal etiquette is fine, tell something else.” “······.”

Lucian’s expression darkened sharply.

Because he had been scolded throughout about what if one only eats meals splendidly when the human is not done, or if only the outside is flashy is it all a noble, he wanted to show something this time.

“There are things one must be careful of in front of the count. Such as this kind of words and actions is perfect for the neck to fly, or this kind of mistake must absolutely not be made or such.”

Lucian who rolled his eyes soon started the story.

Such as one must not sit ahead of the count,

Or do not pick up the utensils first, Or do not open words first, anyway stories of not doing something first more than the count were the main.

Benrik who was calmly listening to the story said.

“There is nothing special.”

Still things like when speaking refusal one must speak by turning euphemistically, or when speaking opinions first ask for permission were a bit useful.

At the end of the long story Lucian looked at Benrik with eyes like a dog waiting for a snack.

“Still it was helpful.”

At those words he visibly relieves and lets out a deep breath.

‘Quieter than thought.’

He thought he would rebel a bit more because old habits die hard but. On the way back from the Great Forest he trembled at the killing intent the fairies raised moment by moment, it seems there is something felt.

It also seems he received stress knowingly or unknowingly even after arriving at the office.

Unfortunately for the guy the mercenaries’ emotions toward the former noble boy were not that good. Cases of having the reward stolen were countless and in Bram’s case he originally trembled at nobles.

The reason they are silent is because the one who entrusted Lucian’s disposition to Benrik is the previous leader Drenor Vinter.

He didn’t know but the mercenary group building is in his name.

He did think what money the Jenkinson who is always busy squandering on gambling has to have a building of this size.

Anyway for Benrik too the position was actually awkward.

“Lucian, let’s ask just one.”

Because after staying a few days it seemed knowable.

That Lucian is not a guy with no room for rehabilitation at all.

He is just arrogant, presumptuous, impulsive and does not know the line due to the influence of the innate environment.

One does not know but the absence of home education is also playing a part. If Lucian had grown up being beaten like Benrik such a thing would not have happened.

“What?” “Why did you tell to kidnap Baan?”

The beginning of all matters was ultimately that. Lucian being driven out of the house, this incident occurring, war almost occurring.

“Don’t turn the head and answer honestly.” “···Because she is pretty.” “···?”

“Yes, she is pretty! Guys my age all have one pretty slave each, I also, I also tried to bring in a prettier slave and boast!” “You would have heard the story that war might occur because of that, then you should have withdrawn your hand right away. You are not a guy whose head doesn’t turn like that.”

At Benrik’s words Lucian protested as if unfair.

“Baan was, Baan. The name was different from the name written on the wanted notice···.” “······.” “Even when first meeting she said it was not kidnapping but lost the way during travel.”

Hmm.

Whether gaining courage from Benrik’s silence, the boy who glanced and checked the reaction said.

“······From the start there is no way war would occur just because one fairy-kin disappeared.”

Benrik who was looking at Lucian with complicated eyes raised his body. A small expectation settled in the eyes chasing that movement.

Something is tangled messily but still there is one certain thing.

That not knowing the fact that the wanted fairy-kin is Baan is a lie.

Even if it was whatever at first, after the matter intensified in earnest he would clearly have known.

‘So, he tried to mix Giles into the search team.’

“Why again··· why?” “Didn’t I tell you not to turn the head.” “What head am I turning. Ak!”

Lucian who was being beaten for a long time shouted like a seizure.

“Ah! Father!”

Father?

“I was going to offer to father, damn, if I find the fairy-kin and offer father’s reputation would also rise, then, our family’s reputation would also rise, then I too in front of the Grace young lady···! Kuk···.”

The guy who was speaking whether emotions welled up started crying keoi keoi.

It was the first tears seen since being brought by Baron Drenor.

Because he was a guy who did not show tears at least in front of Benrik even if beaten like that it was a bit embarrassing.

It is a feeling of discovering a knot where one does not know where it got tangled from.

“···Put it away. I will go out and come.”

***

‘Is it right to keep him continuously.’

Benrik walked the main road and pondered again about Lucian’s treatment.

Honestly until now it is true that he thought lightly.

If one keeps him appropriately and just throws him out somewhere that ignorant noble kid would naturally die.

However after knowing the inside, it became uncomfortable to lightly dismiss and pass over.

‘I have to come up with some means.’

Anyone is fine so I should consult a bit about a method to gently process Lucian.

However one thing still questionable was Drenor Vinter’s intention.

Hodge seems to have something catching but does not tell.

Hmm, I should ask Jenkinson. Anyway because he is the father, he would know better.

At the end of various thoughts the place Benrik arrived was Paulo’s leather workshop.

Because news arrived this morning that the armor was completed so come find it.

Feeling the familiar stench and opening the door, Paulo diligently pounding leather was seen.

“Hello, Paulo.”

At Benrik’s greeting the old man who turned his back showed a pleased expression.

“Benrik? You came quickly!” “Because I was looking forward to it.”

Paulo laughed triumphantly. One can look forward, this is still a masterpiece of life worthy of it.

A while later the old man came holding a set of glossy grayish-white leather armor.

A bracer combined with gloves of a form covering from the forearm muscles to the hand and greaves protecting the shins, finally the chest armor covering the upper body overall.

“This is···.”

He had guessed seeing the properly tanned leathers.

The result is beyond imagination.

The touch is needless to say, the exterior also showed signs of effort such as matching considering the grain of the scales arranged in diamonds.

The color also darkened more than when seen last time so it does not stand out greatly it seemed dyeing was even done.

Even the wearing was not a method of tying with strings but a method of fixing with a buckle like a belt so it was very convenient.

“How is it?”

···How is it?

─Tap tap···.

Even jumping lightly in place and slightly taking a posture with the sword Gerik gave and rolling forward and rolling backward the result,

“It is amazing.”

When Benrik raised his thumb the old man burst into a husky laugh.

“Uhaha! Right?” “It is really no joke.”

The heart became solid.

Armor made from the leather of a grade 3 magical beast. It was a feeling that the anxiety due to the absence of martial force fades a degree.

“It is awkward to say with my mouth but I hear the sound that the skill of making leather armor in this vicinity is the best me.”

Paulo who was contentedly looking at the admiring Benrik opened his mouth in a subtle tone.

“If only you want I can also pass on all my skills to you.”

It was an extension of the previous recruitment attempt. At that Benrik chuckled.

It would not be a proposal Paulo made knowing, but the timing was coincidental.

Because with processing the Baan matter this time the contract between Jenkinson’s mercenary group and Benrik was scheduled to end.

The contract fee received was one gold coin. 20 silver coins per request. Didn’t they decide to have the probation period only until solving a total of five requests.

The resolution reward of the Baan kidnapping request is as many as 50 gold coins. Even after removing the decimals here and there a considerable large sum would enter the hand.

“Do you have thoughts?”

Beyond the tanner old man’s persistent question a solemn beautiful voice hovered.

─I Leliont Aerindel, representing the entire tribe convey infinite thanks.

Also the appearance of the fairies kneeling and expressing thanks under the world tree.

Immediately after Benrik quietly showed shaking his head.

“Next time.” “Next time?” “Yes, still there is interest in mercenary life.”

It was just when the taste was gradually being acquired, isn’t it too tantalizing to end here.

“Tsk, it can’t be helped. If the heart changes say anytime.” “Haha, I will.”

Benrik who exchanged conversation for a while left the workshop while wearing the armor.

When receiving the warm sunlight, a subtle coolness was conveyed from the part wearing the armor.

‘Come to think of it spring has almost gone.’

A warm breeze mixed in the wind.

In the coming summer all the members of Jenkinson’s mercenary group would envy him.

“Hey-”

When returning to the office, Bram who was drunk as a cake welcomed Benrik.

“Aren’t you with Lisa today?”

Benrik asked while looking around. Then Bram who was gulping strong liquor with his feet on the table bent his eyebrows into a figure eight and answered.

“I was kicked out.” “Oh my.”

It seems Lucian went up to the 3rd floor where the lodging is avoiding Bram.

“Right! Benrik, you sit here for a bit, listen once whether I did wrong.” “Bram, do you know how old you are trying to do relationship counseling with?” “Huk···!”

Leaving the Bram who lost his words behind he came up to the room.

It is correct that there is no heart to get involved in others’ love fights, but actually there was something he wanted to confirm before that.

The enhancement of the privilege.

Benrik was thinking of enhancing the Crisis Sense privilege before meeting the count.

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