Chapter 21 Armand Duchy 07
“What did you say…?”
Young Nielsen, sword at the ready, slowly entered the warehouse, looking at my face with suspicious eyes.
His eyes widened slightly, probably because he remembered me too.
“Ah, I remember now. You’re the old guy who embarrassed me in Barbadossa, aren’t you? No, what did you just say? Rank A, Earl, and Marquis?”
“That’s right. A lot happened after that. I think the party name ‘Guidance of Sol’ is reasonably well-known.”
“I’ve heard the rumors. I’d like to say it’s just a tall tale… but I know very well how strong you are. So, why is His Excellency Marquis Okuno in my family’s warehouse?”
Saying that, young Nielsen lowered his sword.
His eyes still held a hint of suspicion, but that was natural given the circumstances.
“Before that, I want to ask one thing: is this warehouse normally used?”
“Dunno. I just heard my old man collapsed, so I quit being an Adventurer and came back home. This is the first time I’ve even been inside this warehouse.”
“I see…”
My gut feeling is that he isn’t lying. Compared to when I last met him, his demeanor hasn’t changed much, aside from his words and actions being a bit calmer, so it doesn’t seem like he’s one of the Netherworld Candlestick’s clay dolls either.
I went to the back of the warehouse and pointed to the hole in the floor.
“I came out of this hole. Have you heard anything about a hole like this?”
“Huh? What’s this hole? No, I’ve never heard anything about it.”
“Actually, this hole connects to the inside of Duke Armand’s estate. I was asked by Duke Armand to investigate the hole, and that’s how I ended up here.”
“I don’t get it, but if this hole connects to the Duke’s place, couldn’t it be an emergency escape route or something?”
“No, it seems the Duke himself didn’t know about it, so that’s not it. That’s why I’m investigating.”
“Oh, right, you said investigation. But my old man was the Duke’s steward for a long time. I think it’s possible he didn’t tell His Grace the Duke about it, for use in an emergency.”
“What…?”
Whoops, it seems the pieces have suddenly fallen into place here.
If I recall, the steward of the Armand household retired due to illness a while ago. And young Nielsen’s father is that steward, and apparently, he’s currently bedridden.
In that case, the steward is the suspicious one, then.
From what he just said, young Nielsen himself seems to have only just returned home, so it’s highly likely he’s unrelated to this matter. But if that’s the case, it would be bad if word of this reached his father through him.
“What should we do? Ask my old man? Though, he’s not here right now.”
“Isn’t he recuperating in this house?”
“Nah, he’s gone back to our domain. This place is just a villa in the domain capital. I’m planning to head to the domain soon myself.”
“I see… Understood. I’ll report this matter to the Duke and decide on a course of action. Also, from what you’re saying, are you going to become the head of your house in your father’s place?”
When I asked, young Nielsen scratched his head and furrowed his brow.
“My older brother died, so it just suddenly fell to me. Well, as for being an Adventurer, after fighting you, I realized I’m not that strong. So I’ll retire from that and probably apply to the Royal Family to become the heir to the house.”
“I see. In that case, it would be best if you were present for the report about that hole. Sorry to trouble you, but I’d like you to come with me to the Duke Estate after this.”
“Haaah… I don’t really get it, but since I was born into a noble family, I can’t defy someone with a title. Alright, take me with you.”
I thought he might complain a bit, but it seems young Nielsen might have started heading in a not-so-bad direction after our last encounter.
Though, even if he had some reservations about me, it’s also true that he couldn’t complain given the difference in our noble ranks.
From young Nielsen’s house—Viscount Dolmat’s Residence—to Duke Armand’s Estate was about a five-minute walk. The underground passage was difficult to walk through, so it took time, but it seems they were closer than I thought.
I entered the Duke Estate with the young man and explained the situation to a servant, who asked us to wait in the conference room. It seemed everyone would gather there to discuss the matter.
When the young man and I entered the conference room, the members of Guidance of Sol, excluding Freynil and the others with her, were already gathered.
Seeing young Nielsen’s face, Sphenia twitched, and the young man also made a bitter face upon seeing Sphenia.
“Ah, sorry about that time. Don’t worry, I’m not here today because I picked a fight with the old ma—Marquis Okuno or anything.”
“Is that so? Mr. Soushi, there are circumstances, I presume?”
“Yeah, it’s a bit related to this current matter. I’ll explain in detail once His Excellency the Duke arrives.”
As I sat down in a chair, young Nielsen plopped himself down in a spot away from the other members.
Then, he glanced at the members and turned to me with a complicated expression.
“Hey, Marquis Okuno-sama. Are all those folks over there your companions?”
“That’s right. They’re all members of ‘Guidance of Sol’.”
“Haaah, I see… No wonder I couldn’t beat you. So, that means you’re still working as an Adventurer, right?”
“Yeah, I plan to continue for a while longer. It seems there are various things I need to do.”
“I see. Well, a lot of rumors about ‘Guidance of Sol’ have been going around, so I guess those ‘various things’ are probably some scary stuff. Does that mean I was called here because this is going to be a big deal too?”
“That’s a possibility.”
At my answer, young Nielsen’s eyes widened, and then he sighed.
“Seriously…? Just when I thought I quit being an Adventurer, I get dragged into this. I’ve got no luck.”
“It might become a rather serious discussion. Be prepared.”
“Hearing you say that makes it sound really scary.”
A little later, Freynil, Lani, Maricier, and then Duke Armand entered the room.
“Oh, Marquis Okuno, we were worried when you didn’t return from the hole.”
“My apologies. The hole led outside, so I exited from there and returned via the surface.”
“Then that’s the first matter to discuss, I take it. And that young man there, could he be Saltram… Viscount Dolmat’s son? Nielsen-kun, was it? It’s been quite a while.”
Addressed by the Duke, young Nielsen stood up and gave a polite bow.
As expected, he seems to know that this is the person who will be his direct superior.
“It has been a long time, Your Excellency. I am Nielsen, the second son of the Dolmat family. I recently heard that my father has taken to his sickbed, so I have quit being an Adventurer and returned home.”
“Oh, is that so? Indeed, I heard you were working as an Adventurer. It was unfortunate about your elder brother. By the way, how is Saltram doing?”
“By the time I arrived at this house, he had already returned to our domain. I plan to head there myself soon.”
“I see. However, I don’t understand why Nielsen-kun is here. Is there something you wish to discuss, Marquis Okuno?”
As the Duke turned his face towards me, I nodded.
“Yes, that’s correct. First, let me give my report.”
“Please do.”
When the Duke took his seat, Freynil, Lani, and the others who had entered later also sat down in their respective chairs. Freynil, who came to sit next to me, whispered, “I was worried, Soushi-sama.”
I gently squeezed Freynil’s hand, which had been tugging at my hem, and then began my report to the Duke.