Chapter 80
You know those types of people you sometimes see when playing RPGs?
They are the wild northern barbarian warriors with muscle-bound bodies, menacing faces, draped in polar bear fur coats.
Arian’s grandfather was exactly that kind of person.
He looked like the type who would normally offer drinks with a hearty laugh, but would charge in through fire and water if a problem arose for his tribe.
Of course, as a noble and the former head of a ducal house, his tone and actions naturally carried a sense of dignity.
“Arian, it’s been a really long time. You haven’t visited at all, so I was worried something had happened.”
“Ah… I’m sorry…”
At her grandfather’s words, Arian bowed her head and apologized.
In response, her grandfather smiled instead and shook his head side to side.
“No need to be sorry, it’s enough that you’ve come now and let me know you’re safe. More importantly, won’t you introduce the person next to you?”
Her grandfather’s gaze turned to Franz.
Perhaps because he had come with Arian, his gaze was simply gentle, without a hint of wariness.
“This is the current Tii Master. You’ve heard of him, right, Grandfather? The unprecedented Mage who subjugated the Demon Lord.”
At Arian’s introduction, Franz awkwardly scratched his head.
It was embarrassing enough when strangers said it, but hearing it from someone close made him incredibly shy.
There wasn’t a single false word, but accepting it naturally was another matter entirely.
“I am Tii Lord Franz Gilbert.”
“It is an honor to meet the hero who saved the world. I am Arian’s grandfather, Ryud Phrygia.”
Franz and Ryud naturally exchanged a handshake.
How should he describe the feel of Ryud’s hand? It felt truly solid and firm. To the point where it was hard to believe he was the former head of a ducal house.
However, it suited his menacing appearance so well that Franz just accepted it and moved on.
“The fact that you went out of your way to visit me must mean there is a reason. If it’s not urgent, I would like to treat you to a cup of tea…”
“Yes, it’s not particularly urgent, so that’s fine.”
“Then let us go inside together.”
Ryud took the lead, and Franz and Arian followed behind him.
Perhaps she was happy to see her grandfather after such a long time, as Arian’s expression was incredibly bright.
Soon, stepping into the annex, Franz sat facing Ryud with a small table between them.
Arian sat next to Franz.
The first to break the silence and speak was Franz.
After taking a sip of the tea placed before him, he set the teacup down and said:
“The tea tastes excellent.”
Do all the high-ranking people these days have a hobby of brewing tea? The Imperial Capital’s ruler did it, and Ryud similarly brewed the tea himself.
So he couldn’t help but praise the tea. The main topic was important, but manners were just as important.
“Haha, I’m glad it suits your taste.”
Laughing heartily, Ryud held a small teacup that didn’t match his large frame and sipped his tea.
It was to the point where the teacup looked tiny.
Looking only at his appearance, he seemed like the type to offer strong liquor.
This must be why the saying 'don’t judge a book by its cover' came to be.
“By the way, what was the Tii Lord curious about, seeking out this old man?”
Wasn’t it a bit of a stretch to call him an old man…?
He still seemed to be in his prime.
Regardless of that, his question was what Franz had been waiting for, so he immediately gave his answer.
“Do you know of Duke Phrygia’s Ice Spear?”
“Ice Spear… It’s been a really long time since I’ve heard that.”
Saying it had been a long time meant he knew something about it, so Arian’s prediction that her grandfather might know had been spot on.
He would have to get Arian a small gift next time.
After all, it was Arian who had invited him to the Ducal House of Phrygia’s party and arranged this opportunity to speak with Ryud.
“Could you perhaps explain it in detail?”
“It might turn into an old man’s boring tale. Would that be alright?”
“Yes, that’s fine, please tell me.”
“It was when I was young, so it must be quite an old story. There is a mountain range in the northern part of our Territory. And in that mountain range, there are three unusually tall and pointed peaks. Among the children back then, it was said that the peaks were like that because a spear was sealed there. Of course, we were all young so it was just a joke, but the Ice Spear you are looking for is probably the one.”
Tall and pointed peaks…
'Why do these guys like mountains so much?'
That Belphegor guy he caught a while ago had also been hiding in a mountain. It was a mountain again this time, so he was just dumbfounded.
Furthermore, unlike the Duke Ishtar, the Duke Phrygia was so cold it could freeze your face off, making it even harder to understand.
Sure, mountains were easy to hide in, but shouldn’t they at least live like normal people?
They could just disguise themselves normally and hide among ordinary people.
Anyway, they were truly foolish guys.
Well, if they weren’t fools in the first place, they wouldn’t be Cultists.
“Thank you for letting me know.”
“It is simply an honor to have been of help. By the way, may I ask you one thing?”
“Yes, you may ask whatever you like.”
“What happened to the Former Tii Lord?”
Did he perhaps have some connection with the Former Tii Lord?
Since he had helped Franz, Franz wanted to tell him in as much detail as possible, but unfortunately, he couldn’t.
“I’ve only heard that he is living in luxury with his family.”
Even that was just something he had heard from someone else.
Franz didn’t particularly like the Former Tii Lord, so he didn’t even care how he was living.
However, Ryud also seemed to be on rather bad terms with him.
“Hah, they say bad guys live long, and it seems that was true.”
“Indeed.”
“It seems the Tii Lord also has bad terms with him.”
“Yes, well…”
Who was it that had conspired with the old men to push the Tii’s young genius into the Hero’s Party?
He didn’t even need to say it. There was only one person capable of making such a decision.
Of course, it turned out well in the end, but at first, it had been incredibly unfair.
Honestly, he had thought it was no different from a death sentence.
As he was conversing with Ryud like that, Arian smiled from beside him and said.
“Shall I pour you another cup of tea…?”
She seemed to be in a strangely good mood…
As for why she was acting like that, Franz had no way of knowing.
After talking with Ryud for a while longer, Franz left the annex with Arian.
The sun was already nearing its peak, so they needed to prepare to attend the party.
“Then I will look forward to seeing you again next time.”
“Yes, I will see you next time.”
Franz exchanged a brief farewell with him.
Along with his hearty personality, his demeanor, imbued with a noble’s dignity, was quite to his liking, so it could be said it wasn’t a bad meeting at all.
“Grandfather, I’ll see you later.”
“Alright, see you later. By the way, about marriage…”
Ryud’s gaze shifted briefly from Arian to Franz, then returned to Arian once more.
“Never mind. I’ll look forward to hearing good news someday.”
“Yes!”
Arian answered in a brighter voice than ever before.
Of course, Franz didn’t understand the meaning and was just puzzled, but figuring it was a good thing anyway, he didn’t pay it much mind.
The two received Ryud’s send-off and headed straight back to the mansion.
“The servants will come to the Tii Master’s room. You can take your time getting ready.”
“Huh? Do I need to prepare something too? Can’t I just dress up and go?”
“It’s a party where nobles gather. If you just do it halfway, everyone will definitely look down on you, you know?”
True, if it were nobles, that was entirely plausible.
They would greet him warmly to his face and then whisper among themselves behind his back.
'Well, it doesn’t really matter, though.'
What could they do even if they gossiped and tore into him?
After all, it was the Tii that led the world, and the one standing at its pinnacle was the Tii Lord.
However, it was a party held at Arian’s family home, and he was attending for Arian’s sake, so he decided not to be needlessly stubborn.
“Then I’ll see you later at the party venue.”
“Alright, see you later.”
Parting ways with Arian, Franz headed straight back to his room and waited for the servants.
Not long after, the servants arrived, knocking, and under their skilled hands, his appearance gradually began to change.
Watching himself gradually change in the mirror, Franz felt a needless sense of awkwardness.
After all, he had never dressed up like this in his life.
He had even attended the festival held right after subjugating the Demon Lord in just a shabby robe, so what more needed to be said?
Eventually, having finished getting ready, Franz expressed his gratitude to the servants and left the room.
And he headed straight to the party venue he had been guided to.
When they arrived, the party venue was filled entirely with people from the Ducal House of Phrygia.
The party would continue late into the night, so it was certainly a bit early.
'Where could Arian be…'
There were several women at the party venue who bore a slight resemblance to Arian, but Arian herself was nowhere to be seen.
It was then.
“M-Tii Master…?”
Arian’s voice came from behind him.