Chapter 43: Elixir
The next morning, unusually, my room was flooded with visitors.
It was all the party members from yesterday.
I was also curious about what happened with the subjugation afterward, so I asked, and apparently, the nearby monsters were annihilated without any particular problems, and it ended.
A few Ogre Generals remained, but it seems Viscount Oldam’s Knights, who had returned with the Hunters for the town’s defense, subjugated them.
Well, even though I say it ended, that was just for the students; most of the adults are apparently still out on subjugation.
After hearing what I wanted to hear and letting out a sigh of relief, thinking, “I see… that’s good,” Ami said something incomprehensible.
“Hey, Rui-kun, is it true you defeated the Ogre King!?”
“Wait, wait, wait! How could I defeat a monster like that! Mr. Owen defeated him. I was just assisting!”
When I added, “That guy is insanely strong,” to Ami’s question, Hiroki made a displeased face.
“But you did defeat Ogre Generals, right? How many did you take down?”
I tilted my head at Riana-san’s question.
I didn’t have the leeway to count each one, so I don’t know the details.
“Um, while being protected, I think I defeated about fifty?”
“”””Eeeehh!!””””
Even if they’re surprised, I was just sniping from a safe zone.
No, when it came to the King, he flew over in an instant, so it wasn’t safe, was it?
“So, what happened after that?”
To Naomi’s voice, I grumbled about how I ended up being taken to the Viscount’s mansion and participating in a banquet.
It turned out well in the end, but at first, I didn’t feel like I was alive.
“Hmm. My father also said he’d like to talk to you if he gets the chance. Want to come meet him?”
“Please don’t. Riana-san, your family is a Marquis household, right? That’s too terrifying.”
“Oh my. Even though the young lady tried so hard to approach you.”
“That’s not it. Stop it.”
Laughter leaked from those around us at her overly smooth denial.
Well, I know it’s impossible for me too, though.
“So… how did that bastard defeat the King?”
“That bastard…? Hiroki, why do you hate Mr. Owen so much?”
Wait, that question is dangerous.
Akito, you mustn’t dig into that.
Um, I need to change the subject…
“Ah… that person lacks delicacy. He can’t read the room. He’s a good person, but… I was also left behind at the Viscount’s mansion.”
And so, while deflecting Akito’s question, I explained Mr. Owen’s fighting style in detail.
“Anyway, he’s fast. He slaughters enemies in a straight line without any wasted movement. It’s like, you think he’s passed through, and before you know it, a General is split in two.”
“If someone that amazing is our homeroom teacher, it’d be a waste not to study under him!”
Akito, unusually excited, started saying he wanted to be taught swordsmanship.
I thought it was another dangerous topic, but honestly, it’s a good idea.
So I decided to say just one thing to Hiroki as well.
“I recommend it too. I don’t know what happened, but for Ami, or for important people you’ll have in the future, it’s worth swallowing your pride and receiving his instruction. I won’t force you, though.”
…Though I actually know.
This isn’t something that should be dug up, so it’s a secret.
“W-Was he really that amazing…?”
“Yeah. He’s apparently one of the top individuals in this entire country.”
“I-Is that so…”
I can see a great internal conflict.
Ami, perhaps not thinking that deeply about it, looked at Hiroki with a wry smile.
“S-Speaking of which, Rui-san, what will you do after graduation?”
Perhaps finding it hard to join the conversation, Kyouko-chan threw out that question.
“Well, I was thinking of volunteering as a soldier for Razbel, but…”
“”Oh, you decided against it?””
Naomi and Riana-san said the same words in unison.
“No, I might be able to become a Knight… I don’t know yet, though.”
“”””Eh!?””””
Hearing everyone’s surprised voices, I gave a wry smile, thinking, “Well, yeah, that’s to be expected.”
“Does that mean becoming one of Oldam’s Knights?”
“No, like Mr. Owen, one directly under the royal family.”
“That means becoming a noble, doesn’t it! Is something like that possible!?”
Even Riana-san seemed surprised by my statement, but even if they look at me like that, whether it’s possible or not depends on Viscount Oldam, so I can’t say for sure.
But if this goes through, I’ll really become a proper noble.
Someone who joins a noble house and is appointed a Knight identifies as a Knight of House So-and-so, but if appointed by the country, they identify as the head of a Knightly House.
It’s that big of a difference.
“Well, I’m just going to offer Potions and such to the King and make an inquiry. Even if it doesn’t work out, it’s not that big of a loss.”
It’s just that my Potions will decrease.
I just need to go subjugate more… but if I don’t know the respawn cycle, that’s impossible, isn’t it?
The Apes will devour them in a few hours, and they’ll be gone quickly.
Besides, once I graduate, I won’t be able to enter that Dungeon, right?
Hmm. Thinking about it, I’d like to get some more before graduation, but…
Ah, in that case, I can just consult Viscount Oldam and get permission to enter even after graduation.
If I say we’ll split the Potions we get, he’ll probably be happy.
“If that plan goes through, what will you do if you’re appointed as the lord of some distant frontier land?”
While I was thinking about Potions, Yukina-san suddenly asked me an unexpected question from left field, and my thoughts stopped.
“Huh? They wouldn’t grant territory to someone of mere Knight rank, would they?”
“No. A village-scale territory is quite possible, though…?”
“It’s possible? Tell me more about that!”
Eh… But Mr. Owen isn’t a lord, is he?
He’s just working as a teacher at the school.
“First of all, what do you think nobles are? They are central figures engaged in the country’s administration. Only honorary nobles who have achieved great merits are permitted to do no work.”
“By the way, what about Mr. Owen?”
“That person has only achieved merits in large-scale subjugations like this one, so his position is a bit special. But I imagine he’ll be summoned eventually. To the Imperial Guard Knights Order or the Kingdom’s Knights Order.”
Is that so…
Well, but I guess that makes sense.
“Please give me power. But I won’t work for the country” – that wouldn’t fly, would it?
Thinking about it, isn’t being the lord of a frontier land the most appealing option?
I can just leisurely manage the territory and protect it from Monsters, right?
I don’t know if Yuri would accept that, but we’re not even dating in the first place.
Either way, my current goal is to save Razbel and repay Yuri.
Thinking about it, joining a Knights Order is no good. It seems unlikely I’d be able to go support Razbel.
If I were a lord, I could use money to hire Hunters, and it would probably work out even if I were away for a bit.
Then again, there’s no way I’d become a lord in the first place, huh.
“Well, it’s counting chickens before they hatch. Nothing’s decided yet.”
“Yeah. Rui being a noble doesn’t suit him, and it’s impossible anyway.”
Hiroki, you’re one to talk, you know?
As I was about to retort, my hem was tugged, and I turned my gaze to Kyouko-chan.
“S-So, does that mean your trip to Razbel after graduation is canceled for now?”
“No, I’m going. I’m going either way. Whether I become a soldier or not is a separate issue.”
Because I promised I’d go.
I have to clearly tell them whether I’ll participate as an outsider or become a soldier, right?
“But why… Ah, Kyouko-chan, are you from Razbel?”
“Um… Yes, well, that’s right.”
I see. If her hometown is at war, she must be anxious about many things.
But it’s not like me going there will change much, right?
“Oh? If you’re revealing that, can you also say what kind of instructions you’ve received?”
Hmm…?
What is she talking about?
“Well, the Margrave did say it was alright for me to say, but…”
Huh?
Wait a minute. When she said “from Razbel,” she meant the Margrave’s person!?
Surprised, I stared at her intensely, and she opened her mouth, looking like it was difficult to say.
“Well… I was told to absolutely not let you get close to Yurisia-sama. The Margrave dotes on his daughter immensely…”
“Eh!? Seriously…”
“Yes. Seriously. I’ve been ordered to stay with her and prevent it.”
Even Hiroki and the others, who weren’t involved, looked awkward, and a subtle silence flowed.
“Was it alright for you to tell Rui-san that?”
“Well, to try and manipulate him without telling him… I was told it’s truly fine to reveal everything.”
“That’s quite a peculiar preference…”
That’s true.
Normally, they’d try to guide things so we miss each other without saying anything.
So that’s what it was!
So I really was disliked, huh…
“Hmm. What should I do to get him to acknowledge me? What do you think, Kyouko-chan?”
“Um, it’s extremely difficult. He was furious just from me telling him you two were rumored to be the best couple…”
Eh!?
There was such a rumor!?
No, it’s true that for a while people were squealing about us, but…
“Speaking of which, what happened to the Potion you gifted? I heard you gave a present to Lady Yurisia. If you haven’t given it to her, you haven’t used it, have you?”
No, I sent it for the war effort, so it’s fine if they use it, but…
Certainly, thinking about it conventionally, it’s not okay.
For someone else to use it without confirming with the person it was gifted to…
“Eh!? No, that’s… how is it, I wonder…?”
“Ah, I can tell by your reaction. It seems you used it. Kyouko-chan, you’re such an honest and easy-to-read girl.”
“Indeed. A child this easy to read is rare.”
“She might be a little similar to Lady Yurisia.”
“Indeed, the way she fusses with her hair when flustered is the same.”
“Rui-san, if you manage to get that present back, could I perhaps have a little? I’ll even throw in a complaint for you, you know?”
“No, no, no, they can use it all they want! I never intended to complain in the first place, you know!?”
“Oh my, it’s something worthy of being presented to the royal family, isn’t it? No matter how you look at it, that doesn’t make sense. For the sake of our future relationship, you should at least make a sarcastic remark.”
Even if you say that… If Yuri were to accept me, she’d be sad if her father and I were fighting at that time. I originally sent it with the intention of it being used in the war. But why is Riana-san… Ah, she’s saying she wants me to share some Potions, isn’t she.
“Ah, you want the Potions that were said to be equivalent to Elixirs, right? About ten should be fine?”
“Pardon? Equivalent to Elixirs, you say…?”
“Um, the Viscount said so. The guy who made the Potions also said that. At the time, I just laughed it off, thinking ‘no way’.”
“How much would they be?”
“Eh, it’s fine. I’ll give them to you. You’ve helped me out, after all.”
In the end, I didn’t even let her copy the Gun. “Please take these as thanks for that time,” I said, taking out ten from the box and handing them over. While I was at it, I took out another ten and gave them to Hiroki and the others.
“You guys take some too. They’re useful since one sip will fully restore you.”
“Seriously? Thanks, man!”
“Hahaha, and here I worked so hard to learn Healing Magic… Well, I’ll gratefully use it, though.”
“I wonder what it tastes like…”
“Hey, would it be bad if I sold this?”
Hey now! Don’t go turning people’s feelings into money! Well, if you’re really desperate for cash, I guess it’s fine. Also, Naomi, it’s sweet and quite delicious!
With this, there are exactly one hundred and fifty bottles left. I plan to take fifty to the Viscount and present one hundred to the King, so they’ll be all gone. The next batch should be ready by now. Maybe I’ll go check at the Third School Building today.
“May I really accept these… Hey, Yukina?”
“No, for something of this quality, receiving it for free isn’t quite appropriate. However, if they are genuine, we have nothing of comparable value to offer in return.”
“Nah, the owner is saying it’s fine, so it’s fine. Let’s just say it’s for saving my life!”
To be honest, if I had let my anger take over and killed Listol back then, I probably would have been branded a criminal for real. She, who stopped me and stuck with me until the end, is also a lifesaver.
“Well then, I’ll accept them. Thank you…”
Riana-san, fidgeting slightly as she said her thanks, was incredibly cute.
“Oh my! Milady has shown her dere side! Rui-san, how about this as your reward?”
“Yukina… You, that’s enough now, okay?”
I see. She was a handful with me too, but it seems she teases even her own master without mercy.
“By the way, Kyouko-chan, what are you going to do from now on? I’ll be going there once after graduation either way, but…”
“Um… May I contact them about that? If I don’t receive further instructions, my only options are to accompany you or to follow you later…”
I see.
“Well then. How ’bout you ask her to pass on a message like, ‘I’m coming to see you, Father-in-law’?”
Hiroki blurted out, joking around.
“That’s not good! What if Yuri rejects me then?! I wouldn’t be able to live with the sadness and embarrassment!”
“Um, even for me, I’d be too scared to write such words.”
By the time we settled on just reporting that I’d probably go after graduation, it was past noon.
When I mentioned I had an errand to request more Potion creations, everyone showed interest, so after Naomi made us lunch and we finished eating, we all headed to the Third School Building. As expected, the fast-working Magic Tool girl had finished an additional hundred Potions, so I received them while also giving her extra payment.
“I’ve come to need Potions quite a bit, so I want you to speed things up. I’ll give you an additional twenty gold coins, so could you outsource or do whatever it takes to make a larger quantity?”
“Heh, sounds profitable. I’ve made bottles before. Won’t you let me get a piece of the action?”
“Kuh, isn’t there anything for me… I don’t get any decent work requests except from you.”
It seems the Staff guy is going to help her; they’re discussing it. I’ll leave that to them. As for the leather equipment job…
“So… I want you to make another one of the same Coat, and can you process that hide into one large sheet?”
“With that Magic Tool, it’s easy. But I’m charging a crafting fee this time, okay?”
“Yeah, of course. I haven’t brought the materials yet, but I’d like to request it once I get them.”
That’s right. That Ape hide was incredible equipment. It didn’t even let the Ogre King’s attacks through. With normal equipment, I would have been torn apart by its claws, my torso split in two. It’s precisely because it’s such a material that I wanted to make a stock of it. In the end, if I just fold it roughly and call it a mantle, I should be able to carry it out.
No, there’s no need to hide it anymore. I can just take the material to the Dismantling Yard and receive the necessary amount as equipment.
“So, did you use that Magic Tool?”
“Yeah, an Ogre General was split in two. It’s dangerous enough to take off the King’s arm. Perfect work. Thanks.”
“Fuha, fuhahaha, of course, right? I adjusted it over and over to make sure it would be like that!”
Akito and Hiroki excitedly joined in on that conversation, while the girls watched the bottle-making, and we had a pretty enjoyable time.
After that, I took the one hundred and fifty Potions to the lord’s mansion and had a servant deliver them with a message.