Chapter 355 – Sparrows Can’t Just Walk Past a Mill.
Contrary to his sickly appearance, Count Verolder’s manner of speech conveyed the peculiar dignity of an aristocrat.
When he announced the start of the meeting and sat down, the officials who were up sat down. The clutter before the meeting disappeared at some point.
Only the quiet, rattling of dishes filled the huge hall.
The meeting started after an uncomfortable meal, where you didn’t know if food was going into your nose or mouth.
“How is the wintering plan at the mansion going?”
In response to Count Verolder’s question, an official who seemed to be in charge rose from his seat.
“Yes, we have 8 tons of firewood to use throughout the winter and have stored it in our warehouse.”
“Eight tons? What is the target?”
“It is 9 tons.”
“Nine tons? According to my memory, last winter, 9 tons was not enough, so I remember that the servants were not able to properly firewood in the quarters.”
“Oh, that… I will check again.”
When the Earl of Verolder inquired as if he was interrogating, the official answered in embarrassment. Earl Verolder looked at the official, tilted his head slightly, and continued his words.
“If you stoke firewood only during the night at the mansion, the firewood you need per day is 100kg. You’ll need 12 tons if you’re going to use it generously all winter.”
“Yes. I will fill it up to 12 tons.”
“If the cold gets worse, you may need to supply firewood elsewhere, so prepare a little more than that. If you have difficulty in supplying, you can send an official letter of cooperation to the Mercenary Guild or Merchant Guild, or you can buy it from Count Arpagon. Anything left over can be used elsewhere.”
“Yes. All right.”
Most meetings were like this. When the official answered Count Verolder’s question, Count Verolder listened to the answer and inquired without missing even the slightest question.
Some of the officials answered the question of Count Verolder without hesitation, but most of them seemed to be taken aback as if they hadn’t thought of it. .
It was so different from what I expected of a dissolute, arrogant, or hesitant lord who couldn’t even open his prayers because of his older brother, Tricker.
“I will report to the captain of the guard.”
Trisian, who was next to him, stood up and reported things like the crimes that had taken place within the territory over the past week, the number of wagons and the number of passers-by who had passed through each gate.
“… That is all.”
“Hmm… What happened to the dragon race and Drake you found in the southwest forest the other day?”
“They have currently dispatched a centurion and a unit under the centurion to the Arpagon Knights. As soon as the centurion returns, I will put together a report and post it.”
“Okay.”
At Trissian’s answer, Count Verolder nodded his head. As Trician’s report ended so easily, Tricker, who was sitting quietly next to Count Verolder, intervened.
“The famous Arpagon Knights are cooperating with troops, but not sending a single knight, so I don’t know if they are talking behind the scenes.”
“… The commanding authority of the captain of the guard does not include knights.”
“Can’t we ask for cooperation even if we don’t have command authority?”
“I tried it a while ago, but the Lords refused because they were busy with other things.”
“Ha, busy work? Dragons and Drakes appeared near the territory. Is there anything more urgent than that? Did you ask the right question?”
At Trisian’s answer, Tricker snorts and says. It is clear why he, who has been quiet for so long, is so obsessed with Trician’s report.
It was to disgrace Trisian, Count Verolder’s aide, in front of other officials.
As if to show off the loyalty of the knights who follow him, Tricker smiled at them.
“Hey, has any of the sires been asked to cooperate with the chief of the guard?”
“I don’t remember very well.”
“Yes. I don’t know either…”
“…”
Seeing the knights shook their heads, ignoring Tricker’s question, Trisian fell silent. Seeing that, Tricker sighed.
“Eh… Hey, Captain of the Guard. They say they don’t remember? I don’t know if one or two people do that, but can all the knights do that? Didn’t you ask in a dream?”
“… From now on, I will make a written request and leave a record.”
“Let’s do things right. How can we stretch out our feet and sleep in anxiety when the guard captain is so thin?”
“Yes. Sorry.”
“Oh, the Denebalves do all the disgrace all by themselves… Not worth the castle I miss my last name.”
As he grumbled and publicly humiliated him in front of the officials, he saw Trissian clenching his fists.
Tricker bastard… How dare you disgrace my Trician? You’ll make me look miserable later.
While making such a promise, Count Verolder opened his mouth.
“Brother, are you done with your business?”
“Huh? Yeah, don’t do anything like this. ‘Younger brother.’ I said something bitter because you seemed to favor the captain of the guard too much. You don’t have to thank me too much.”
He is not considerate of his position as lord in front of the officials. Calling him his younger brother, he treats Trisian, the head of the guard, as a pampering treat.
The fact that the lord, Earl Verolder, could not restrain himself despite such rude behavior, must mean that Tricker’s influence was strong.
Verolder glared at Tricker for a moment, then turned his attention to Trisian. There was a small pity in those eyes.
Soon the feeling went away and his eyes turned to me and the other women.
“Are those sitting there the mercenaries who helped eradicate the Drake incident?”
Is it finally my turn
Sensing the officials’ eyes on me, I exhaled a small breath and stood up.
“It is an honor to meet you. Lord. Slave Exchange It’s the height of the black moon. Thank you for your hospitality by inviting me to luncheon today.”
“Okay, make it easy. I heard that Drake, who was attacked by your unusual magic, almost died as a mummy?”
“The special monster, Drake… ?”
“Looks like an ordinary guy…”
Officials murmured at the mention of almost killing Drake. Is that all? The knights who cooperated with Tricker’s question earlier to embarrass Trician also showed a little surprise.
Absorbing life force is the power of a god. I decided to hide my identity as an incarnation for now, so I prepared some words to cover it up.
“It is a humble magic learned as a follower of those who harvest death.”
“Yes, you are really talented, but you are also humble. The beautiful women next to you are wives?”
Count Verolder’s words were to ask for a self-introduction, and Natalya, who had experience in a position like this as a nobleman, was the first to notice and stood up.
“Thank you for inviting me. Lord. This is Alexander Natalia.”
“Alexander… ?”
There are commoners who have castles like Germina and Roin, but are not nobles. However, it seems that the surname Alexandre did not belong to a commoner, or perhaps he had some guess, Count Verolder tilted his head upon hearing Natalia’s surname and frowned as if thinking about something.
“Alexander… What is your father’s name, by any chance?”
“…”
Natalya kept her mouth shut at Count Verolder’s question about her family history.
For Natalya, living with her family is the worst memory of her life. But Count Verolder couldn’t understand it.
“Alexander… This is Baron Ivan.”
“Baron Alexander Ivan… Ah, the royal library manager?”
“… Yes. You’re right.”
King’s library manager.
I had heard before that Natalia’s father was a baron, but come to think of it, I had never heard of a detailed explanation of the family.
Well, if you think about it, there is no way that a normal house would have a book of necromantics.
Natalya learned magic by self-taught without a separate teacher, so a book or something is essential for that. If his father had been a seogo janitor, he would have been in an environment where it was easy to obtain books to learn magic.
“Okay… Is your father well?”
“… I haven’t seen you for a long time, so I don’t know the latest news, but he’s probably fine.”
“Hehe, since your daughter is a wizard with such outstanding skills, it seems that your father is also going on a trip with peace of mind.”
“It’s on an insignificant level.”
“A mid-level necromancer who can single-handedly capture Drake is insignificant! Haha!”
As Count Verolder laughed happily, a buzz came again.
“Middle class? Intermediate now?”
“Did you say you dealt with Drake alone?”
At this point, I am gradually convinced. Earl Bear Rolder must be deliberately showing off our skills so that his vassals can hear.
