Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Netori or Die: Choose
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Netori or die. Pick one. Get to it lol.
Capital City, Sers.
Even after entering the city, it took nearly half an hour before the next checkpoint came into view.
Damn, this place is huge, I couldn't help but think.
Normally, there were warp gates for easy travel, but since there were first-timers like me and Lena, they were off-limits for now.
Gold explained that IDs needed renewal once a year at each checkpoint, so we were heading there by carriage to handle both new registrations and updates.
Thanks to auto-recognition, there was no need to get out of the carriage, but we did anyway at each one to get familiar with the process and renew our IDs.
That let us really take in the sights of Sers.
The area right after the first checkpoint looked no different from Milf Village, but starting after the second, it lived up to its reputation as the capital—vibrant and sophisticated.
Along the way, I learned about the city's layout.
The areas were strictly divided. Everything we'd passed so far was where commoners lived.
Ahead lay districts for the wealthy, nobles, and some area he couldn't explain...
What the hell's an unexplainable district?
Gold just said it was a treat for later and refused to elaborate.
The guy had a real talent for building suspense.
As I watched Gold handle the procedures from behind, my back started prickling.
I turned to see Fred glaring daggers at me. The moment I looked, he whipped his head away.
Feel like beating his ass.
But I'd hold off a bit longer.
Once we cleared all the checkpoints, we'd part ways, ending this awkward mess soon enough.
It wasn't just Fred. I felt another gaze.
The maid, using the others as a shield to stare me down.
Annoyed, I glared straight back. The rag of a maid started off like it was coincidence... then I could tell she was trembling.
"Eek..."
Hearing her whimper, soaked in Remi's fear, felt damn good.
True to the warning, Remi never approached me again after getting out of the carriage to travel on foot with Flat to the capital.
I'd lost sight of her, but now she was lurking around? Creepy bitch.
Later, I'd seriously warn El that this girl wasn't fit to keep around.
Before long, we'd reached the fourth checkpoint.
Instead of buildings, a vast, lush plain stretched out.
No one else around but us.
"Procedures complete. May infinite splendor be with House Hart!"
"Mm. Thanks."
Gold came back with my and Lena's IDs.
Taking mine, I saw a new emblem added.
Each checkpoint had stamped symbols like sheep, wolf, lion onto the cards. This one was a dragon.
Districts divided by status, huh.
Sounds like heavy discrimination. Kinda worrying.
Speaking of IDs, Blan's family was staying in the wolf district, so they'd split off earlier with House Hart's people.
They were probably home by now, unpacking.
After the second checkpoint with the wolf emblem, so it had to be a nice place.
But it screamed upper-class living. Wonder if Blan would adjust okay.
Not like I could do much about it right now, anyway.
I pushed aside my concerns, finished the procedures, and bowed to Gold as he approached.
"Thank you."
"Mm! No big deal!"
"Right? Super simple~"
Gold eyed El, who was beaming with crinkled eyes.
"El. Hurry back to House Graize and put your family head at ease. It's been half a year since you ran away, hasn't it?"
"Don't order me around. Piss off."
El snapped back, but Gold didn't bat an eye.
If anything, he smirked leisurely.
"No matter how mad you get, brother here is staying at our place tonight. That fact won't change."
"...Kugh!"
El stomped her feet furiously.
Thud thud.
I felt a twinge of guilt watching, but no way was I dragging her to House Graize where it'd be awkward as hell.
I hadn't planned on House Hart either.
Figured we'd grab an inn, sleep, handle paperwork next day. But Gold suggested staying at their main estate until permanent residence was set.
No reason to turn down the kindness.
Their knights seemed laid-back; it'd probably be comfy.
...Plus, Repelt was there. We could chat.
Didn't expect Gold to tease her with it, though.
Gold added,
"Not just tonight—permanently."
"You... You!! Eek! Eeeeek!"
Thud thud. Her stomps grew louder.
Whoa, for that tiny frame, she's got some power. El's surprisingly strong.
Thinking back, when she took down Fred before, her light orb nearly hit him without him noticing till the last second.
Her power's sealed, my ass. She's gotta be ridiculously strong.
I'd probably win in a fight, but best not to poke the bear.
"Gold. Enough."
"Mm. If brother says so."
"And if El lives in this district...? We can meet anytime, right?"
Gold's face stiffened. El's lit up.
The knights around us froze solid.
From the march these past days, I knew Houses Graize and Hart weren't on great terms.
But El and Gold weren't enemies, were they?
They bickered now, but Flat testified El raged over Gold getting done by a female slime, and from what I'd seen, Gold quietly looked out for her.
They just couldn't act friendly due to positions. No real hate there.
"Don't you dare come over. Ellicia."
"Wanna die, goldie?"
......Probably.
"Dre."
"Clarit."
Clarit, who'd gotten off saying she'd handle the rest herself, beckoned me closer.
I approached curiously, and she leaned in like for a hug.
Startled, but then she whispered in my ear.
"You get that the top ten houses can't just visit freely, right? Or do you want to put their retainers in a tough spot?"
"......"
"Don't say anything unnecessary."
Fuck.
So it was another scolding.
No intent to trouble the knights, but Fred? Hell yeah.
"Like it or not, you'll meet the top ten house heads soon. See you then."
Finally, Clarit pulled away.
Her cool, icy scent lingered.
"See you then, Clarit."
"...Hope so. Bye."
Clarit, radiating chill like frozen ice, paused as she turned to leave and looked back.
"Still, it's been years since they bickered like that—back from childhood. Thanks for that."
"......?"
Then she really left.
What? A compliment?
If you're gonna praise me, make it feel good. Why scratch an itch on the way out...
"Ah! Clarit! Wait up! Oh, Dre! See ya day after tomorrow~!"
"Ah, yeah."
We'd agreed to hit registration offices around the capital together with Asita the day after tomorrow.
Basic residence paperwork was done, but who knew what else might pop up later? Better check 'em out once.
Another gaze hit me.
Turned to see Repelt. She flinched at my look, turned away.
Her face flushed beet red. She left... no, glanced back, eyes met again, repeat.
So fucking cute.
Wanna drag her somewhere secluded and pound her senseless right now.
Craved hearing that coquettish voice again.
"Repelt!"
"Y-Yeah!"
Repelt slowly moved at Kaisir's call.
As I stepped toward her, she smiled, then urgently made an X with her arms, face serious.
Didn't want attention, huh?
Her head shaking frantically was adorable; I stared blankly till I turned away.
Yeah. Plenty of chances to meet.
"We'll head out then, El. See brother at school opening."
"School opening? I won't visit House Hart, but where Dre goes is his call?"
"Obviously. But I'm confident brother will stay at House Hart."
"Hilarious! If I'd brought our head maid, you'd be..."
"Elly's impressive, sure, but you didn't bring her."
"Whatever! It's Dre's choice!"
El fired back at Gold, then tottered over and grabbed my hand. Her face turned bright red—cute.
"Ah, miss!"
Fred yelled, but El ignored him like barking dog and stared into my eyes.
"Come visit for sure, Dre! I'll prep everything perfectly!"
Everything perfectly, huh...
That's when I spotted Flat.
His uneasy face stirred guilt.
"If time allows, I'll visit."
Total bullshit line for never going.
I gently pried my hand free so El wouldn't feel bad.
She looked a bit disappointed, then beamed brightly.
"Our house could make Dre's favorite games life-size!"
"Yes. I'll definitely visit someday."
That changes things.
Would be a huge bother, so no way I'd ask for that scale, but still.
Lots of games there, probably.
Hey. Me, Flat, and El gaming together—no sin there.
And so House Graize left.
No more eyesores like Fred or Remi. Felt refreshingly light all around.
Not just them—tons of stares from crowds were gone now.
Truth was, we'd drawn massive attention getting here.
Even in the carriage, I felt it, so yeah—House Hart and Graize marching together was a big deal.
Hart alone draws eyes, but both? Unheard of.
Back in the carriage.
And we set off.
"What kind of people live here?"
Wolf district was already wealthy. After the lion-emblem checkpoint, it screamed real money—nouveau riche couldn't compete.
So, dragon district—who?
Gold answered right away.
"Founding heroes."
Gold explained.
"Five main districts. Sheep lands house average citizens; wolf lands, the successful with no money worries."
"I see."
"Lion lands: nobles or those with major national merits. Dragon lands: as I said, founding heroes."
"Hm..."
Sheep, wolf—what kinda naming sense.
The more I heard, the wilder it got.
As I stifled a laugh and Gold looked puzzled, I couldn't hold back.
"Who came up with names like sheep lands?"
"His Majesty, the current emperor."
"...Current?"
Not past—present?
Did His Majesty name the villages too...?
"Actually, His Majesty didn't invent the system; people just called them that for convenience. He adopted the names for the emblems, though. Some opposition, but plenty liked it."
Gold's tone suggested he wasn't a fan of the districts.
"What's the final district?"
Five checkpoints total, he said.
Hours to get here, dozens of minutes each—still more?
Beyond founding heroes—what? Royals?
But Gold smirked meaningfully and eyed the carriage ceiling.
I looked up too. Something there?
"Prynar's lands. Who lives there? Students."
"Students...? Prynar Academy?"
"Surprised?"
"Yeah. Thought for sure it'd be royalty."
"Royals are founding heroes too—same dragon district as us. Bit arrogant to say, but... the royal family isn't above Prynar Academy. No nation is."
Gold's rare boast.
Pride dripped from his voice.
"Prynar Academy's way grander than I thought."
"Brother's a student and instructor there."
We traded praises and wrapped up.
Warm and fuzzy.
Academy instructor seemed a bigger deal than I'd figured.
Thought it'd be like minor nobility; total miscalculation.
"That said, no one challenges royal authority. Royals don't meddle in Academy autonomy either—couldn't if they tried. Mutual respect."
As we chatted, the scenery shifted.
Neat roads till now turned into... a forest?
"Where's House Hart?"
"Hm? Here."
"......?"
"Father's unique tastes led to this garden-forest. I don't hate it."
Garden...? This forest's a garden?
So the house is somewhere in here?
Looking closer, lanterns and maintenance sheds dotted around.
My jaw dropped at the insane scale.
The whole forest was House Hart's estate!
The mansion we reached was straight-up majestic.
Understatement.
A gleaming castle decked in gold and jewels.
Yeah, castle.
That fairy-tale castle from amusement parks.
Maintenance alone must cost a fortune.
The gate was enormous too.
As carriages and mounted knights neared, the kilometer-long walls and iron bars dissolved into light, soaring skyward.
Spectacular—pure awe.
"Magic tool. Won't open for the unauthorized."
Hell of a sight.
Lena beside me tried playing it cool but couldn't hide her shock at the otherworldly scale.
Inside the gate, crowds awaited.
Maids stood with hands clasped politely—not rigid like Graize's, more like warm family welcoming kin.
Other staff felt the same: family returning, not boss.
At the center, a plump man beamed; everyone orbited him.
Probably House Hart's head.
Knights dismounted, opened carriages.
Me and Gold got out.
Instantly, the man rushed us.
Up close, major gut, but friendly neighborhood uncle vibe.
Couldn't shake the unease, though.
"Gold!"
"Family head."
Gold bowed deeply.
Yup, the head.
Gold said,
"Family head. This is..."
"Call me Dad, Gold!"
Gold nodded big at his hurt tone.
......Dad, huh.
As I pictured him as a doting dad type, Gold introduced me.
"Father! This is the brother who helped us immensely. Dre."
"I see! Indeed!"
Gold turned from the nodding head to me.
"Brother. This is my father and current head of House Hart. Gald Hart."
"Pleased to meet you, family head. I'm Dre."
I bowed deeply to show max respect, then looked up.
He stared right at me. I got why.
This guy's appraising me.
What kind of guy, what potential... calculating eyes.
Didn't sit well. Unlike Gold, not buddy material.
I kept a straight face. So did he.
"Well, well! If it isn't the new Dragon Slayer~! Looking sharp in person, eh?"
"Thank you."
"Come in, rest! Make yourself at home! We'll treat you royally!"
Staff moved like clockwork at Gald's cheerful welcome.
Too late for full reception, so we turned in.
Before rooms, Gald introduced family.
His wife.
She bowed elaborately.
"Greetings."
"Yes. Welcome home."
Gold nodded at her reply.
Odd watching.
Gald's wife—Gold's mom? No resemblance...
Gald had blond like Gold, but she was brunette.
Actually, neither parent looked much like Gold beyond that.
Still, stunningly pretty.
Gold dipped to wrap things up, leaving me awkwardly greeting solo.
Kid shows zero interest with mom right there.
"Hello? Dre."
"Greetings."
After a few more intros, bedtime snacks arrived.
Snacks...? Jaw-dropping feast.
True to Gald's word, every delicacy imaginable.
Overwhelmed by the excess.
After, washed up and hit the bed.
Or tried.
Knock knock.
Late night.
Drifting off from a book, knock sounded.
Presence outside: plain civilian level.
Creeak. Door opened. Jaw dropped.
Gald's wife from earlier.
She wore a pure smile.
Big cardigan-like cover; only legs exposed.
"You're awake."
"Yeah. Couldn't sleep..."
"Travel fatigue okay?"
"Fine, but..."
I trailed off—no need to ask why. She got it.
......Knew it.
No way?
"Straight to the point, Dre."
Cardigan dropped like a cloak. Underwear revealed.
Adult lingerie—nipples and pussy fully visible.
"Won't you hold me?"
"Yeah. No."
"......"
"......"
I narrowed my eyes at Gald's gaping wife.
What the fuck.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Finally alone.
Asita grinned, thinking of plans with Dre the day after tomorrow.
"What's so funny, Asita?"
"Hehe~ Guess."
"Hm... Excited to see your boyfriend after so long?"
"......"
Asita pouted. Clarit burst laughing.
Both knew they weren't thrilled about each other's boyfriends—or fiancés.
"Just planning some fun~"
"With who?"
"Hehe."
Asita didn't answer.
Clarit didn't pry.
But hearing "fun" made some guy pop into her head. She shook off the crazy delusion.