Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Magic Tower Lord's Sudden Visit
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Ramen Morton was preparing a delightful banquet, blissfully unaware of the chaos about to unfold.
The weather was perfect, so he had set up a table in the garden and prepared a feast fit for kings. Lighting the candles on the candelabras atop the table created a rather impressive atmosphere.
As he gazed up at the evening sky deepening into darkness, waiting for his invited guest, he spotted a carriage approaching from afar.
"They just can't seem to show up on time, can they."
Grumbling to himself, Ramen quickly plastered on a bright smile and went out to greet the carriage. He courteously welcomed the guest stepping down from it.
"You've arrived. The banquet preparations just finished up perfectly—your timing is spot on. Haha."
"Is that so? I managed to time it just right, then."
The beastkin who stepped out of the carriage was none other than Mark Robni, the leader of Kangaroo Territory, who had previously clashed fiercely with Ramen and severed ties with Sheep Territory.
Unlike Ramen, with his curly white hair and gentle features, Mark had soft beige hair, sharp facial contours, and a solidly muscled build.
Mark took his seat, and the banquet began.
Ramen watched Mark leisurely enjoying his meal, tapping one leg incessantly. His anxious gaze flicked to Mark's face before darting away hurriedly.
'How should I even bring this up?'
The reason Ramen had summoned Mark was to ask for a single favor.
After Jeb, with whom Lami had been discussing marriage, suddenly vanished, rumors spread like wildfire that he had been captured by the Magic Tower.
Up until then, Ramen had dismissed it as bad luck and tried not to dwell on Jeb.
But lately, absurd rumors had started circulating centered around Sheep Territory.
The rumor that Lami, not wanting to marry Jeb, had reported him to the Magic Tower herself.
'That dimwit couldn't possibly be clever enough for something like that.'
Even so, he couldn't help but worry on some level.
He feared what might happen if the rumors reached Zebra Territory and the retainers of the now-fallen Jeb Horse family heard them.
Given that the previous generation's leader family had produced many mages, they weren't likely to let it slide quietly.
"I have a pretty good idea why you invited me here."
Before Ramen could broach the subject, Mark spoke up first. After a few bites, he dabbed his mouth with a napkin, leaned back leisurely, and fixed his gaze on Ramen.
"You're scared of retaliation from the Horse family, aren't you?"
Ramen bowed his head deeply. It stung his pride, but he had no choice.
The only place he could turn to for help was the Robni family.
He had sent a letter to the Rub family, where Lami was staying, but received no reply.
He rationalized it by telling himself the Rub family head was too busy to have seen it yet. But as time dragged on, the feeling of being ignored grew stronger.
So in a panic, he had reached out to the Robni family. He had to protect Sheep Territory and the Morton family at all costs.
"I guess the rumors have spread that far."
Ramen squeezed his eyes shut, then lifted his head, forcing a troubled smile as if his earlier expression had never been.
He worried what he would do if Mark refused his request.
It was because he had once inexplicably lost his temper and lashed out at Mark without reason.
'Why did I do that?'
Even thinking back on it now, he couldn't understand. They had been playing cards and sharing drinks as usual when Lami's name came up.
As they mocked and ridiculed her infamous behavior, a sudden surge of anger overtook him.
Lami's name always came up whenever they met, but that day, for some reason, he couldn't control his emotions.
He had raised his voice, yelled, and even swung his fist. It was a dizzying moment even in retrospect.
He snapped out of it immediately and apologized, but Mark's mood was already ruined beyond repair, and in the end, the contract with the Robni family was terminated.
'And when I got back to the estate, there was Lami, not even properly humanized, just bawling in her sheep form.'
His head had throbbed so badly that day. It had been an utterly bizarre day, different from the norm in every way.
"Hmm... In that case, we might need to draw up a new contract."
Mark rested his chin on his hand, seemingly pondering seriously, then flashed a grin and brought up the contract.
'Damn it, how much is he going to gouge me for this time.'
If it weren't for Lami, he wouldn't be getting fleeced like this or bowing his head to Mark.
As he inwardly blamed Lami and mentally calculated the costs, he noticed a stranger approaching—without any carriage in sight.
"Hey, who are you?!"
Ramen shouted, instantly on high alert. He feared it might be beastkin from the Horse family, but their appearance told him otherwise.
The one leading had striking blue hair, and the follower had long green hair.
'Wolves?'
The blue hair was a signature trait of the wolf clan. Ramen's face lit up in an instant.
He shoved back his chair and rushed toward the unidentified wolf beastkin. It had to be someone sent by the Rub family after reading his letter.
"You must be from the Rub family. My apologies for the earlier rudeness."
At his words, Nick turned to Philip and asked,
"Rub family? Do we have any reason to send someone there?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
It was a blatant dismissal of Ramen. Even as they conversed right in front of him, Ramen maintained his composure and spoke.
"Ah, I must have been mistaken. Then, what brings you to the Morton estate?"
He tried to sound calm, but Ramen hurriedly hid his trembling hands behind his back. There was an inexplicable air of intimidation about them.
Unlike with Lami, he didn't fear carnivore beastkin indiscriminately. Yet they instilled this level of dread.
Whatever their identity, they were no ordinary folk.
"I'd like to take a look at your library."
"Pardon?"
"I have something to find."
But the reason for their visit that came from the man's mouth drew a dumbfounded response from Ramen.
The library? It wasn't the Rub family's renowned collection of rare books and ancient tomes—what could anyone possibly want from the Morton family's modest library?
Regardless of Ramen's bewilderment, Nick walked past him with a smile.
"Wait, hold on just a—!"
"What audacity."
Mark let out a hollow chuckle at Ramen trying to grab him and the guest striding toward them. But as Nick drew closer to the table, Mark's face paled.
"M-Magic Tower Lord!"
The moment Mark clearly saw Nick's face, he shot to his feet and cried out in shock. Ramen, who had been hurrying after Nick, froze in place.
"Who did you say...?"
No one answered Ramen's question. Even the family knights who rushed out belatedly at the commotion could only stand aside and let Nick enter the estate.
"I should be going now."
Ramen hurriedly saw off the fleeing Mark, then rushed after Nick toward the library.
All without a clue as to why the Magic Tower Lord had come to the Morton estate.
"Nick went where?!"
I had been watching Ed's sword training with the Rub family's vice-knight captain, a pleased smile on my face, when I cried out in surprise. Billy, who had brought the news, answered my near-scream.
"He apparently turned the Morton estate's library upside down."
The place where I saw the novel was home, and the place where I obtained the novel was the library.
So it was natural to assume I got the book from the Morton estate's library and read it there.
I had expected him to send someone to investigate discreetly or bribe a Morton servant to search for the book... My prediction was way off.
'Nick went there himself?!'
And on top of that, he had kindly warned Ramen not to even think about clinging to the Rub family in the future.
It felt refreshing, yet I couldn't fathom why Nick had gone that far.
"Did Nick have that much affection for the Rub family?"
"If anything, he's the type who doesn't care about others' business. I have no idea what happened there."
Billy, standing beside me watching Ed's lesson, spoke in a tone that suggested even he didn't understand.
"Uwah!"
We were deep in serious conversation when Ed, perhaps with sweaty hands, dropped his sword and let out a sharp yelp.
Startled by the sound, I looked at Ed, who was sheepishly scratching his head and picking up the sword.
"Ah... You look worn out, so let's end today's lesson here."
The vice-knight captain who said that to Ed wrapped up the session and sent him back to us.
"Lady Lami! What were you talking about?"
Ed came running over, wooden sword at his waist, beaming innocently as he alternated glances between me and Billy.
I stood, brushing off my seat on the grass, and ruffled Ed's hair as I replied,
"Yeah, we were talking about Nick. How's the training going?"
But at the moment a reply should have come, there was silence. Looking down at Ed, he stared up at me with a shocked expression for some reason.
"What's wrong?"
The choice window appearances had dropped to 70% of before, but I still never knew when it might pop up, leaving me on edge.
Hoping desperately it wouldn't appear right now, I asked, and Ed pouted before speaking.