Chapter 221: Karn’s Understanding
“Alright, I get it. In this day and age, it’s pretty normal not to have the ‘King’s Branch,’ not to use [Teleportation], and not to have a powerful Spirit as a pet,” Karn declared, downing his cup in one go.
“That is indeed the correct understanding,” the Butler said with a smile, pouring more wine into Karn’s cup.
“It’s a shame there’s no more of this wine, but I feel relieved,” Karn replied.
“Why didn’t you just ask Jean directly?” Dinoss inquired, exhaling heavily.
“How can I ask someone who clearly has a powerful Spirit take the form of a pup and then responds with ‘my beloved dog’?” Karn retorted.
“Ah…” Dinoss made a strange sound as he glanced at me with half-closed eyes.
“Rishu is just an ordinary puppy, and he’s adorable from head to tail,” I chimed in. No matter how you looked at it, he was cute.
“It’s not just about appearance,” Dinoss countered.
“His mannerisms are cute too,” I shot back without hesitation.
The Butler shook his head slightly, prompting me to look at Retze.
“Well, he was cute,” Retze admitted.
“We also have grilled kalbi. It’s delicious to eat tsukune stuffed in bell peppers,” I added, skewering more items onto Retze’s plate—seseri, negima, and skin.
The three of them shot me looks that seemed to say they didn’t understand.
“No, I usually can’t see them, and I can’t sense the Spirit’s presence either. Unless I’m being pressured or the Spirit asserts its presence, it’s impossible. If I could see a Spirit that usually remains hidden from me, I’d know it’s strong in my head,” Retze explained while bringing a new skewer to his mouth.
“I’m just an ordinary person, so I’m influenced by appearances. I can’t be compared to you all,” he added.
“Rishu is as cute as he looks,” Dinoss said.
“It’s even more troubling to be compared to you, who has gone around in circles,” Retze rejected.
“Can you see them?” Karn asked, and at that moment, Baylis appeared around his shoulder.
After curiously surveying the room and finishing introductions to the three, he settled into a small glass container attached to a pendant hanging from Karn’s chest. It seemed he was still unsettled, having just been separated from his home in the desert.
The glass container, no larger than a thumb, was adorned with gold at both ends and contained sand from the desert. It was typically used for holding medicine, but it seemed to have become a cozy bed for Baylis.
“Karn can see it, and he could see the mistletoe too,” Retze noted.
“Hmm. The ‘King’s Branch’ is integrated with my being, so anyone can see it,” Karn explained, seemingly testing whether Retze truly couldn’t see it. Once Karn was satisfied, Baylis vanished from sight.
“By the way, does Karn’s ‘King’s Branch’ really form a circle when fully extended?” I asked. The mistletoe grows round on the branches, and it’s quite cute.
“A circle…? Isn’t the shape when it was displayed on the pedestal the standard?” Karn pondered.
That’s unfortunate. If the pedestal was the standard, then the branches would be delicate and forked more as they extended. Surely, since it’s called a branch, it doesn’t refer to the whole.
“My contractor is off-base; I understand that it shouldn’t be used as a standard. I also understand the need to avoid the current Hero,” Karn remarked, sounding somewhat resigned.
“That’s good to hear,” the Butler affirmed.
Isn’t my treatment a bit harsh?
“I don’t understand why such a laid-back guy is solving eternal problems and holding the power of life and death over me. But, well, it doesn’t feel bad.”
“I’ve decided to live comfortably, without being swayed by others or forcing myself to do anything,” I replied. I especially refuse to be restricted by others’ circumstances, so I intend to ignore the atmosphere.
I absolutely hate getting involved with my sister, but I also dislike sneaking around because of her.
“If you’re going to mess up, make sure to secure your safety first. There are those who attack from the shadows, and there are troublesome folks besides the Hero’s associates,” Dinoss warned.
“Yeah, if it comes to that, I’ll just run away,” I declared, announcing my escape plan in response to Retze’s warning.
“I never thought the Great Forest Labyrinth would still be intact. It seems the dream I gave up on after becoming a king might actually come true,” Karn said, reflecting deeply after asking Dinoss and the others about the movements of Adventurers.
There are several labyrinths, but the deepest and most straightforward one is located in the Demon Forest. The others are either ancient castle labyrinths, perpetually shrouded in mist with ghostly appearances, or set in harsh environments like volcanic regions or snowy mountains—places I wouldn’t want to linger in for long.
“Ah. I was planning to dive into the labyrinth with my family, but the comfort of home is too good, and I can’t move my base…” I recalled that Dinoss had such plans.
“If you’re going to frequent the labyrinth, it would be from the Fortress City. A decent inn isn’t suitable for long stays with children, so you might have to rent a room for a month. The toilets are either shared or nonexistent. Moreover, there are hardly any available rental houses, and a decent inn that meets your standards would cost at least five gold coins,” the Butler explained, as knowledgeable as ever.
“I don’t think I can endure the typical toilet situation anymore,” I lamented.
“Fuhahaha!” Dinoss exaggeratedly slumped in despair, making me laugh. I won’t let him go to the Fortress City!
For now, Karn’s Transfer Circle will be placed in the corner of the workshop on the third floor. Karn decided to stay in one of the rooms of the rental house with Retze and the others for a while. I wonder if Reed will be alright?
Dean and the others should be returning soon, assuming they haven’t been lingering in the brothel.