Chapter 45

Chapter 45

45. Magical Entity (5)

“You know each other right?” “······.” “How do you know each other?” “······.” “Why are you not answering? Is there something that bothers you?”

Benrik acted persistently like a hyena that captured prey. That Gerik’s weakness, it was an opportunity that would not come again in life.

Gerik who responded with silence throughout,

“If you keep coming out like this I will send a carrier pigeon to mother.”

When mentioning Erina the gaze changed at once.

“···If you want to die what cannot one do.”

Gerik who stopped dead warned coldly. Even at such an appearance Benrik far from being scared inwardly cheered.

‘It is correct!’

If there is nothing that bothers there is no reason to react so sensitively!

Was it a person he met before? Or first love?

‘─For that the heart looked stronger on that side.’

Come to think of it.

When first meeting the count Benrik had asked. How much is the amount of money Gerik took and fled.

At that time the count said like this.

─One cannot dare convert the value into money.

Something one cannot dare convert the value into money.

‘Surely···?’

Benrik recalled the words Gerik said on the way coming to Bromwood after dealing with the blood-sucking rats.

─I did not owe any debt to the count.

What he received as the request reward was black iron, and the price for that he said he paid by crushing the head of a large magical beast that appeared in the Grace region.

So, what the count said he took and fled might not be the black iron.

The fragmented pieces fit tightly as if meshing.

Did they break up because the count opposed? Indeed since he said only daughter, how precious would she have been. Even himself would absolutely not give to a man like Gerik.

Benrik who blankly looked at the father’s back walking ahead called Yerik who is pouring cold sweat.

“Remember well, Yerik.”

And while lowering his voice he whispered.

“That woman earlier is father’s weakness. When going back home if father raises his hand take out that woman’s name and mother’s name together.”

What kind of magical beast likes what, what it avoids, how to lure such things one naturally knows if rolling but knowing such practical life tips is only now.

“Yes remember, I will hit the head until you forget.”

At the fierce voice that intervened from the front Yerik froze tightly.

Seeing that appearance Benrik clicked his tongue small.

Looking at the state, it does not seem he will use it usefully particularly. This guy has the strength to stand up, the head is also good, the personality is also there but he has too much fear.

‘If it was Durik he would have rolled his eyes and snatched the opportunity.’

Durik was the fourth who would be nine years old now. Short and how cunning and fierce the temper is, the guy who was the hardest to discipline among the siblings.

“We have arrived.”

In the meantime the butler who was guiding them informed of the arrival.

─Come in.

A heavy permission fell from inside, and the three people entered the office.

As soon as the door opened Silvan Bromwood ran with quick steps.

“Gerik, how long has it been?”

Seeing that appearance Benrik’s head tilted to the side. It was not the reaction the child expected.

Where is that the appearance of a person who encountered a man who stole the only daughter’s heart and fled not money···.

There was one more unexpected thing.

“It has been a long time, Count.”

Gerik folded his waist with a quite polite attitude.

‘That was so, he was a human who can do that.’

It was the attitude of a civilized person not seen when bickering with Drenor.

“Is it 20 years? The vigorous momentum is still the same huhu.” “The Count also looks still the same.”

Benrik recalled a new fact and greeted the count.

“Hello, Count.”

He also pressed the head of Yerik standing blankly next to him together.

“Ah Benrik, I heard you played a very big role.”

Silvan Bromwood said with a warm smile.

Whether because he saw the appearance of greeting Gerik without formality a little while ago, or because it is the second meeting, there was no tension like the first.

“Really thank you.”

A thank you greeting from the one with the highest status in the nearby territories. It is thrilling. The shoulders naturally straighten and the nose stands high.

“Sir Vinter caught it all, I only watched from the side.”

Benrik who showed humility suddenly felt a gaze and raised his head. ‘What did this bastard eat wrong?’ Gerik was looking down with an absurd expression as if seeing something he should not see.

“You are humble. That is why I did not recognize you as your son at first.”

The count laughed pleasantly and patted the child’s shoulder.

“···Is it an insult, is it a compliment?” “You also had a hard time. Every time you come you lighten Bromwood’s worries. So how can I not welcome.”

The count who lightly avoided Gerik’s words offered a seat.

“Yes, you are living in the Golden Mountains. How is the life in the mountains manageable?” “It is satisfying to a degree I wonder if there has been such a time in my life.” “It is fortunate that you look happy. You have the right to enjoy properly. The heart that wants to give even a small land near the territory is still like a chimney.”

The count who said words of unknown meaning looked at Gerik with subtle eyes.

“I drank the tea well.”

Gerik instead of answering something drank the hot tea at once and stood up from the place.

“It is a joke, a joke. Even as one ages that fiery personality is still the same?”

Like that for a while Benrik watched the two people exchanging greetings back and forth.

However the topic the child expected, that is the conversation flowing to the usual ‘debt’ did not happen.

Whether he felt the gaze examining carefully, the count looked at Benrik.

“Come to think of it···.”

And as if recalling he said.

“Benrik, congratulations. You became a mana user?” “Ah, yes.” “At a young age you are amazing.”

He who said as if proud nodded and added.

“It is the first time seeing after Viscount Delmar’s children.”

Viscount Delmar’s children? Come to think of it Drenor also said such words. That the blood-sucking rats were moving attracted by the mana the viscount and his children hold.

Does that mean those children were around Benrik’s age?

Then Gerik twitched his eyebrows and said.

“How did you know that? Your hobby is still not healthy.”

Only after hearing Gerik’s words Benrik realized.

Thinking about it, the ones who know the fact that he became a mana user are Gerik and Benrik, and Drenor who is not present, only three people.

Because as soon as arriving at Bromwood he roughly arranged his appearance and got on the carriage there was no time to meet others.

Is it the skill of the count’s informants that usual ‘hawk’?

When Benrik was expecting the count replied while casually drinking tea.

“As the one who became the master is it not the duty to look down on the city.”

It is the correct answer. Then Gerik said as if not liking it.

“That is why I did not come to Bromwood again. Because I feel like every move is being watched.” “Do not say so disappointedly.”

Anyway now that interest bounced this way was the opportunity.

“Come to think of it Count.” “Hmm? Do you have something to say?” “Yes, on the way I asked father but he said he has never owed a debt. Surely you did not mistake the person···.”

When Benrik brought it up, the count narrowed the corners of his eyes thinly and looked at Gerik.

“? You clearly crushed the head of the magical beast in the Grace region, why did you tell such a lie?” “That was so, the magical beast was caught. But it is not that the request was completed.”

The count replied casually while drinking tea. The point he was saying was this.

Until resolving the request, receiving the reward and finishing completely is ‘completion’.

“The reward I gave you was two things. One is black iron, and the other is my daughter, but you refused my daughter and left the city.”

He tried to take Gerik as a son-in-law along with the black iron but Gerik spent only one night with Daria and left the city.

In one word,

“······.”

It was a sophistry.

Benrik and Gerik the two people looked at the count with similarly absurd expressions. Only Yerik had all his nerves on the refreshments on the table.

After the absurdity injustice rushed in.

Because he wondered what the time he was anxious until now becomes.

Isn’t that not the kind of thing one can repay instead. Then why did he bring up the debt talk to himself.

Then he suddenly realized.

That the count had never said words with a nuance of repaying the debt instead.

“······.”

The back of the head that was not hit became stiff.

Whether or not the count only continued the words with an expression that this situation is very fun.

“So isn’t it correct that you only received the advance payment quickly and fled? Do you know how much my insides burn every time I see the appearance of not meeting anyone and being like that after that?”

‘Is that something to say now···?’

The words Benrik swallowed inside Gerik said instead.

“Is that something to say now?” “Because it is words I say.” “No more than that when did I say I would receive Daria as a reward?” “You did not say you would receive, but you also did not refuse?” “···It is a sophistry.”

Then the count folded his eyebrows while looking at Benrik who was half out of it.

“Because your reaction was fun, I did not clear the misunderstanding. I am sorry.” “······It is not.”

Benrik who had both hollowness and relief rush in at the same time became rapidly tired.

So he raised Yerik who finished eating all the refreshments and was smacking his lips as if regretting and said.

“It seems the two of you have many conversations to share, so please converse comfortably. We will go back first.”

It is not that he forgot that speaking before the noble says to withdraw first is a very big discourtesy.

But does it matter. I do not know. It is hard.

“Will you do so? Indeed since you experienced that big matter, it is natural to be tired. Please go quickly. Alfredo will guide.” “Hmm, then I will also go.” “No, you have a drink with me.” “······.”

Like that Benrik who left the office walked the corridor receiving the guidance of the waiting butler.

After walking a bit on the way out of the main castle, he saw Daria sitting elegantly in the garden enjoying refreshments and reading.

According to the count’s words a woman who is aging lonely unable to forget one man for 20 years.

“Really pretty, right?”

Yerik muttered small.

Then whether he felt the gaze Daria raised her head. Eyes met. She quietly smiled and lowered her gaze to the book again.

Why on earth did such a woman fall for Gerik.

Benrik became very curious.

***

The carriage that left the lord’s castle entered the adventurer street. Benrik said to the coachman.

“I will get off here.” “Hmm? The mercenary group office is still a bit left.” “Because there is a time to stop by.”

He was thinking of filling the hungry stomach at John’s restaurant.

Because on the way coming Gerik kept scolding how the amount eaten increased more than when at home so he could not eat as much as he wanted.

“Let’s go, Yerik.”

Benrik who got off the carriage said.

“I am fine. Brother eat alone.” “Really fine?”

Benrik asked back in surprise.

“Yes, fine.”

Isn’t he a guy who would not refuse food? It seemed he put a lot of snacks in his mouth at the lord’s castle though···.

Benrik who thought for a while passed it off as nothing.

“Well, then do so.”

Like that after parting with Yerik and finding John’s restaurant Benrik could know why Yerik refused the meal and ran.

“It has been a long time, John.” “Oh Benrik, welcome, is there no injured place?” “Yes. There is no injured place but it seems the belly skin will stick to the back.”

Benrik who ordered food while joking said.

“Ah, I will calculate right now. Including what Yerik ate.” “Will you do so?”

When Benrik said John wore a kind smile and rummaged through the ledger.

“Let’s see, three meals a day for half a month···. Hmm, wait a moment?” “···Yes.”

There was a sign that the calculation would be long. Benrik felt an unknown anxiety.

‘What and how much did he eat···?’

A while later, John said while containing a big smile.

“Three gold coins and 54 silver coins, just give three gold coins.” “···Three gold coins.”

···If wrapping mana and hitting will the kid die?

Benrik seriously pondered while paying the price.

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