Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The Man Who Drinks Snacks Like Water (2)
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Finally, we arrived at the Duke's Castle. Just like last time, people had gathered to greet us.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Pippin straightened his hair and clothes before hopping out looking sharp. He then politely greeted Alberto and the attendants.
"Pippin Sloss, returning with the Duke."
It was amusing that he carried a pitchfork, but he looked every bit the capable and reliable escort knight. Had one beast-subduing expedition made him mature? The whiny kid complaining about unfairness toward Enbi was nowhere to be seen.
He even approached the carriage, ready to escort me.
"Duke."
"Pippin, you..."
He usually called me "Master" with that loose screw in his head.
I stepped down from the carriage under Pippin's so-called protection. I wondered what wind had blown him to act so grown-up, but one look at Alberto and I knew why. The head butler's twitching mustache and piercing gaze were as sharp as an eagle's. Pippin was deliberately putting on a proper show in front of Alberto.
"I'm back, Alberto. Any issues at home?"
"Lord Sierra, welcome home. Thank goodness you're safe. I've already heard the news. The Gluttony family's exploits were the most outstanding in this beast subjugation. They say your role was key in establishing relations with the mermaids..."
Before Alberto could finish, Pippin let out an exaggerated "Ahem, ahem" to draw attention. Alberto's sharp eyes turned to him. Pippin stepped closer to Alberto and pouted.
"Head butler, that's exactly what I need to talk to you about."
Pippin's expression changed. The capable knight from earlier was gone, replaced by the usual immature Pippin. He looked like a kid tattling to the teacher about a friend's wrongdoing.
"The Duke brought home a strange and suspicious guest. I tried my absolute best to stop him. I really did my absolute best."
"Hey."
So that's why he'd been posing so stiffly earlier. Enbi rubbed him the wrong way, and since I wouldn't get rid of him, he switched targets.
Pippin even pressed right up to Alberto and whispered in his ear. Alberto's mustache twitched ominously. His brows furrowed, clumping together like storm clouds.
"Hmm?"
Alberto's fearsome expression now turned toward me instead of Pippin. What the hell did that brat tell him? Judging by his smug face, it was definitely nothing in my favor.
"Young master."
Alberto called me in an incredibly stern voice. Young master, no less. He was gearing up for a lecture.
"What did you pick up this time?"
"P-pick up?"
I'd thought of him as a gentle old man, but his presence was formidable. I was way more tense now than facing that beast. Alberto was the butler who kept the Gluttony ducal house in line. Even in the original story, he was the reason the young, green Sierra could maintain the duke's title without crumbling under pressure.
Going against such a butler's mood was unwise. I had to smooth this over somehow.
"Pick up? I have no idea what you're talking about. Whatever Pippin said, it's probably nothing serious."
"It's not nothing serious. He said you picked up something extremely bad..."
"The guy's just hungry and talking nonsense. He was causing a fuss in the carriage too. Stuff his mouth right now so he can't spout crap."
Alberto pursed his lips at my words and pointed at Pippin. Everyone froze at that firm gesture.
"Ahem!"
When Alberto's gesture turned to him, Pippin flinched and stepped back. Then Alberto gestured toward the mansion several times before finally opening his tightly shut lips.
"Young master, this isn't the first or second thing you've brought home. Shall we start with the mysterious youth locked in the castle basement? Then there was the ragged commoner with a bird's nest for hair."
"B-bird's nest..."
"Hush! You brought him home, declared you'd make him an escort knight, and on the appointment day, you three caught a ton of lizards with the young lady."
"That was Dahlia..."
"Hush! Not long after, you brought a mysterious silver-haired boy and said you'd sponsor him from now on, and not to suspect him even if he showed up occasionally—very suspicious words."
"Ah~."
Hearing it laid out like that, I could sort of understand Alberto's feelings.
No wonder he's mad.
Have I picked up... a lot?
"And this time, a fish?"
"Not a fish, a mermaid..."
"Duke. Are you planning to open a zoo in the castle?"
Alberto feigned anger and asked sternly. To others, I was just a fifteen-year-old kid. Though my insides were pitch black.
Should I act scared like a fifteen-year-old or respond maturely? I agonized.
Thankfully, I didn't have to agonize long.
"Ugh!"
"Have we reached the human lair? What kind of lair do humans live in? Where's the lair? Not even decorated with coral?"
Enbi burst out of the carriage and latched onto my back. With the bigger-than-me mermaid clinging on, my waist buckled.
"Hey, fish guest! Get off! Master! You okay?"
Pippin grabbed Enbi by the scruff to pry him off me. Enbi looked around happily, then rudely pointed at Alberto.
"You! You're the strongest-looking human here. Do humans get stronger with more hair? You've got especially white hair."
Alberto's eyes flashed as he met my gaze. I gestured toward Enbi with a smile.
"This one's a guest I picked up this time."
"..."
"He came from the sea, so he smells a bit fishy. Wash him up good and take him to the drawing room. I'm busy."
I shoved Pippin and Enbi toward Alberto and hurried off.
"Duke! Duke!"
Alberto shouted as if demanding an explanation, but I ignored him. Alberto's competent; he'll handle it.
"Ahahaha! So this is Sierra's territory? It's huge! So where's the lair?"
[Ahahaha! Enbi, you're smart! Sierra's territory is big! Not as big as the sea, though!]
The noisy ones were alike: Enbi and Lagia. I'd shrunk Lagia and hung it on my belt, but apparently size didn't match volume. Even small, it was still loud.
"Don't make a racket. You're noisy."
I tapped Lagia and looked around. The servants bowed toward me in greeting, but the one face I wanted wasn't there.
"Where's Dahlia?"
When I went far away, Dahlia was always my biggest worry. In my original life, I often had to leave my sister alone at home. Maybe because of that, leaving Dahlia behind still bothered me immensely now. Even though she had people to look after her, I worried if she was safe, if she'd eaten well. That's when it happened.
"Brother!"
A bright voice rang out, and Dahlia came running from afar with her nanny. I spread my arms happily at the sight of her, but suddenly froze.
'Juyeong...?'
Was it because I'd hallucinated my sister on the ship? She looked just like my dead little sister, grown young, running to me.
Dahlia rushed into my arms. Looking down at her tiny head, a wave of dissonance made my stomach churn.
"Dahlia? This is Dahlia, right?"
I stroked her while asking a stupid question.
"Brother?"
Dahlia tilted her head in confusion at my dazed expression. She was unmistakably 'Dahlia.' The sister I failed to protect was gone from this world, but the one I had to protect was here. I pulled Dahlia into a tight hug.
"Did you hear? Your brother earned some merits."
"Merits?"
[Ooooo!]
I'd hoped for a cozy reunion with Dahlia for once, but Lagia vibrated excitedly.
[Uh! This magic power! Yes, this magic power!]
"What?"
The vibration was so strong it nearly toppled me while holding Dahlia.
[The magic power I felt on the ship! When you said you got a new skill, Sierra—that's what I sensed! Yeah, it was in this mansion, but I couldn't pinpoint the source. Now I get it.]
Lagia cackled. Its hilt twisted toward Dahlia.
[There, that little human. The magic power isn't small at all. It's like it's hiding something even greater. Got something more amazing, don't you? Little human, answer me. You're no ordinary human...]
"Lagia. Shut up."
[Oof.]
I scanned the surroundings. The servants had their heads bowed, so I couldn't read their expressions. I quickly checked everyone's favorability. No one stood out. No one's favorability changed from that exchange.
'No suspicious ones. All extras without traits.'
I grabbed Dahlia's hand like snatching it and started walking.
"Let's go inside first, Dahlia."
Wanting to escape quickly, my pace quickened. The wall of servants lining up only dispersed after I entered the Duke's Castle. I told them no escort needed in my own home and dismissed the others. Only the nanny followed us with uneasy steps.
Did she hear Lagia's voice? Everyone in the castle vaguely knew Dahlia had magic talent. Both Sierra siblings had entered the academy as certified mages.
But Dahlia's true power, her hidden potential, had to stay secret.
What she'd shown so far wasn't just talented mage level.
Status windows and favorability vision, vast magic power, ink-like magic that overwhelmed Bishop Orchid's plants and coloring ability.
Perhaps—no, almost certainly—Dahlia was...
'The Witch of Illusions.'
The legendary figure the crown prince had scoured books to find. A bizarre title that never appeared even in the game.
Until I knew what the Witch of Illusions' job did, I'd hide that Dahlia was an extraordinary mage. If she got caught up in something pointless and got hurt or used...
Dahlia was still too young. If this hamster-like kid got dragged into a beast subjugation, it'd be a disaster.
"Duke? Duke!"
The nanny, almost running to keep up with my strides, called out. I stopped my hurried steps. Turning, I saw Dahlia panting, dragged along by my hand.
"Brother... You're walking too fast."
"Ah... Sorry."
I'd gotten anxious without realizing and hurt Dahlia under the excuse of thinking for her sake.
I knelt, hugged Dahlia once, and let go. While she caught her breath, the nanny peered at me cautiously.
"Duke. Um... Did I hear the weapon talking? Is something wrong with Miss Dahlia?"
My worst fear was confirmed. My mind raced with what to say.
Plenty of ways to seal lips. Money, threats, or eternal silence.
As I pondered, the nanny's face gradually hardened.