Chapter 49
My lord. That...
When one of the knights said bitterly, the Count himself coldly replied, "Be silent."
Meanwhile, I checked for an escape route. If anything happened, I could break that window and escape... Then I wouldn't help any more nobles and get dragged into troublesome situations... Yes, that's what I'd do...
Sorry to interrupt your distant stare, but we're in a hurry too. If I die, my daughter will be in danger as well. There is no way an eleven-year-old girl could survive the rough seas of aristocratic society.
I see? Then you mean there's no need for cleaning?
Clean up my daughter's enemies.
Who asked him to come up with such a clever line?
Reiji-san. I looked into you, but I couldn't find out anything about your background. You entered the Holy Kingdom three years ago and are currently working as a cleaner for the Holy King's Knights... Well, I have no idea what it means for a cleaner to be 'working actively,' but still. You also once paid off an adventurer named Zelly's debt, didn't you?
He was able to investigate that much in just a few days. I was surprised—impressed, maybe, or rather, put off.
Even after I've told you all this, you still maintain your silence. You seem to be an even more remarkable person than I'd imagined.
No, I'm just creeped out. It was scary how my reputation was rising over something so strange.
All of you, leave.
But—
That's an order.
...Yes, my lord.
The knights glared hatefully at me as they left the balcony. I was the one who wanted to leave first, though.
Their metal armor clattered with every step, but once they were gone, the silence hurt my ears in its own way.
Um... what is this all of a sudden? I'm having trouble keeping up.
I have effectively died once already. Do you understand? Even though I should never have let my guard down in the Holy Capital, I must have relaxed without realizing it. It was a terrible blunder.
No one can stay on guard around the clock.
Even someone as strong as you thinks so?
...I'm not particularly strong.
I genuinely thought that. My power came from 【All Creation】.
True strength reveals itself in extreme situations. Dantes-san was strong... Even when things were at their absolute worst, he protected his companions. Dantes-san must be even stronger now that his petrification has worn off.
So it isn't false modesty. If anything, I find that pleasing.
Please don't say things like that to a cleaner, Count.
What do you need? If you agree to guard my daughter, I will accept any conditions.
The phrase "any conditions" caught my attention.
Actually, the things I needed to do—find out what had become of Lark and locate someone named Lulusha—were beyond what an ordinary person could accomplish.
So far, all I could think of was visiting the major cities and making inquiries at the Adventurer's Guilds. There was no database of resident registrations, and the birth records kept by the churches weren't public.
(But what if you're a noble?)
A count... I didn't know how many nobles there were in the Curvaane Holy Kingdom, but a count had to hold a fairly high position. Especially since he maintained such a large mansion in the Holy Capital.
Guard duty...
I had a feeling protecting the Count would be difficult. He must go all sorts of places, right? Depending on the circumstances, he might even meet the Holy King. There was no way a boy like me could tag along with him, and I would probably arouse suspicion instead.
Then what about his daughter?
He said she was eleven, right? That makes her two years younger than me. It wouldn't be strange for us to spend time together... Wait, could this man have become a father in his teens?!
While I was marveling at something completely irrelevant,
What do you think? The fact that you're hesitating means I have a chance, doesn't it?
This man already believed I was the person who had saved his life. There was no way I could keep deceiving him any longer...
I thought I could probably handle guarding her as long as the danger wasn't too great.
...By the way, how much danger is your daughter in?
Compared with me, the danger she faces is less than half as great. My enemies will likely assume that if I die, my daughter will simply be eliminated.
In that case, maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
Count. You call it guarding, but why do you trust me so much after I'd only saved your life once?
You alone were more useful than the knights who were there. Isn't that fact enough?
That seems like a weak reason to entrust your precious daughter to me.
Things are desperate enough that someone is trying to kill me even here in the Holy Capital. Under normal circumstances, yes, I would never put an unknown person beside my daughter. But given the situation, there is no reason to hesitate. Besides, you look like a child. It is extremely convenient that you can stay by my daughter's side without arousing suspicion.
I see. I didn't seem to have much to lose.
...All right. I'll accept.
Thank you.
The Count smiled, but it was strange how he didn't seem to be smiling at all.
He was called the "Cold-Blooded Lord," wasn't he? Who came up with such a disrespectful nickname? It fit him far too well.
However—
I held up three fingers and pointed them at the Count.
I have three conditions.
Let's hear them.
1. If you obtain any information about Talent Jewels rated five stars or higher, please tell me.
...Talent Jewels.
Perhaps it was unexpected. The Count blinked.
I thought it would be better not to mention Lark's name. She was probably wanted in the Keithgran Federation. Rather than limit my request to "six stars," I gave it the broader range of "five stars or higher" to keep my true objective as concealed as possible.
2. I'm looking for a woman named 'Lulusha.' I don't know her age, but she's probably about my age, and she has a talent for magic. Use your influence, Count, to find her.
Hmm... What is this person to you, Reiji-san?
Oh, she's not family, and this isn't about revenge or anything. I received a message from Lulusha-san's grandfather, and I only want to deliver it.
I see.
The Count's smile deepened, and I felt a trace of emotion appear there—so slight that anyone but me would have missed it.
You're an interesting person. Normally, people negotiate the terms of employment and bargain for their own benefit.
This is benefit enough for me... No, not benefit exactly. More like something I have to do...?
Of course I'll agree to those two conditions. Finding people is one of my specialties.
That figures. He had investigated my background fairly thoroughly in just a few days. That was why I thought I might as well accept the guard job.
The Count leaned forward and placed an elbow on the table. The table creaked softly. His brow furrowed for an instant—oh, right, this was the man whose hand had been pierced by an arrow.
【Healing Magic】 could close the wound quickly, but damaged nerves and the like apparently took a long time to heal, so the pain would remain for a while.
I could heal minor injuries cleanly, though.
Reiji-san, let's hear your third condition.