Chapter 39: A Real Monster (3)
Chapter 39: A Real Monster (3)
A few days later.
“Has Patrick still not returned?”
“I am sorry, My Lord.”
“…….”
Baron Schneider bowed his head, his expression heavy with grief.
It had already been nearly fifteen days since his son had disappeared after heading out with the soldiers to clear the monsters around the territory.
At first, for a day or two, he thought they might have simply ventured a bit deeper than intended.
But as time passed, he was forced to consider the worst-case scenario.
The Great Forest was a dangerous land by nature.
It was a primordial wilderness that rejected human presence, a land teeming with perilous monsters.
No matter how strong Patrick was, who could guarantee that nothing would happen to him in such a place?
“I… I must have been mad.”
“My Lord.”
“Patrick is only ten years old. How could I push a ten-year-old child into a forest crawling with monsters…? I was insane. An incompetent man who went mad on top of it.”
“The Young Master will be safe. Is he not an extraordinary person?”
“Words like that won’t…”
Baron Schneider, about to snap at Lawrence, squeezed his eyes shut and lowered his head again.
“I’m sorry. It’s not your fault….”
“…….”
Lawrence quietly bowed his head.
The man he had chosen to serve as his lord, Jacob Schneider, was not a competent man by any stretch of the imagination.
Conversely, however, he was a man so humble and kind that one had to wonder how such a person could be born into a ruling noble family.
A kind man. And a strong one.
The world knew Baron Schneider as nothing more than a good-natured pushover.
That wasn't entirely wrong.
But how many people could endure and hold their ground for decades, maintaining the life of a "good-natured pushover"?
Everyone wishes to be kind.
That is how they are taught and raised.
But even such people, after tasting the bitterness of reality a few times, naturally compromise with the world and fill themselves with selfishness.
Yet, Baron Schneider was different.
Sometimes he was abandoned, sometimes he was hurt, sometimes he was betrayed, and sometimes he collapsed miserably.
But not once in his life did Baron Schneider abandon the goodwill he sought to pursue.
Having served him for a long time, Lawrence wanted to tell the world every time he looked at the Baron.
No, he wanted to shout it.
Look, this man is my lord.
He possesses the strongest convictions in the world.
How can anyone call this man weak?
As far as Butler Lawrence knew, Baron Schneider was like a mighty tree that would never break.
That great tree…
The tree named Baron Schneider, which had weathered years of wind, rain, and storms without collapsing…
“It’s my fault. Everything… it’s all my fault.”
For the first time, he was on the verge of breaking.
It broke Lawrence’s heart to see it.
O Divine Lord. Please, let the Young Master return safely. You may take the rest of this old man’s life, so please, do not extinguish my lord’s hope.
Butler Lawrence prayed desperately to the gods.
And then…
“My Lord!”
The door burst open, and Chandler came rushing in.
“What is this rudeness, entering without knocking? Chandler!”
As Butler Lawrence scolded him, Chandler spoke while catching his ragged breath.
“I-I’m sorry. It was an emergency, so I…”
“I believe I taught you never to forget your manners, no matter how urgent the matter.”
“Yes, I know. But…”
“Still making excuses? The level of refinement in a noble house can be judged by the attitude of those who work there. Are you saying it’s fine if the world doubts the standards of House Schneider because of your frivolous behavior?”
“I… I’m sorry.”
Realizing it was no use, Chandler simply bowed his head and apologized.
Butler Lawrence let out a sigh.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Young people these days… they make excuses as naturally as they breathe. Tsk.”
“…….”
“So? What is it?”
Only then did Lawrence ask for the reason, and Chandler replied.
“Young Master Patrick and the soldiers under his command have returned.”
“What?”
“Is that true?!”
At Chandler’s words, both Baron Schneider and Butler Lawrence sprang to their feet.
“Wh… Where? Where is he?”
“He has just arrived in front of the manor…”
“I understand!”
“You should have said that sooner, you idiot!”
Baron Schneider ran out without looking back, and Butler Lawrence vented a final burst of fury.
“…….”
Chandler felt extremely wronged.
* * *
“Munch, munch. This is delicious.”
“So this is human food. It’s truly tasty.”
“How do they roast meat to make it taste like this?”
“This water is good. Where do they get it from?”
“That is called alcohol, something humans drink.”
“Oh, so this is alcohol!”
Baron Schneider’s jaw was hanging open.
When he thought his son was dead, it felt like the world was ending.
When he heard his son had returned, a joy as if he owned the world washed over him.
He wanted to run to him in a single bound, hug him, and tell him how grateful he was that he survived.
But…
What emotion am I supposed to feel while looking at this scene?
In front of his manor, a group of Orcs were sprawled out, eating food and drinking alcohol.
Why had the Orcs, who rarely interacted with humans, come to his territory? Why were they lounging in front of his manor? And why were they eating and drinking his territory’s food and wine?
The question "Why?" repeated endlessly in his mind.
And in cases like this, there was usually only one cause.
“Patriiiick!”
“Oh. Father, you’re here?”
From the direction of the voice, the son he had missed so desperately replied nonchalantly.
Haha… right, nonchalant indeed.
He creates this mess and acts like it’s nothing.
You little brat.
Patrick sat before Baron Schneider, Baroness Ava, and Butler Lawrence.
To the three of them, Patrick explained the core of the situation first.
“An alliance with the Orcs?”
“Yes. That’s how it turned out.”
“No, but how?”
“It’s a bit of a long story…”
Patrick took a sip of the tea in front of him and paused. Then, setting the teacup down, he gave a bright smile.
“…And that’s how it happened.”
“What, you brat? You didn’t say anything!”
“Can’t you just let it slide?”
“Patriiiick!”
“Ah, okay, okay. I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you, alright?”
Tsk, that didn't work.
Well, he did have to explain.
They were going to find out eventually anyway.
In the end, Patrick explained everything that had happened.
“First of all…”
As Patrick’s explanation continued, the expressions of the three listeners gradually shifted toward pure shock.
“You met the Orcs?”
“A… King Ogre?”
“You… you caught it? You killed that thing?”
“And you formed an alliance with the Orc tribe?”
By the time the explanation was over, all three were staring at Patrick with their mouths agape.
Patrick shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, that’s how it went.”
“You… you little brat!”
“Ah, what now?”
Baron Schneider jumped up from his seat in a rage.
“You’ve gone mad. Do you even know what a King Ogre is that you’d dare to fight it?”
“I won. I told you, I totally wrecked him.”
“To… totally wrecked… Gasp…!”
“Oh, My Lord!”
“Dear!”
As Baron Schneider clutched the back of his neck and prepared to faint, Butler Lawrence and Ava hurriedly caught him.
Tsk, the way he worries is just like a certain someone.
—[You brat! Do you think the Ten Great Evils are some neighborhood dogs?]
—[I’m telling you, I won. I totally wrecked them, Master.]
—[Even so! Won't you come here? Come here right now! That's an order!]
—[I know you're going to hit me if I go, so why would I?]
—[Grrrr….]
It was a nostalgic feeling.
In the image of his Master, who would get angry because he couldn't handle Patrick’s troublemaking, he could feel a concern and affection for him that far outweighed the anger.
That was why the Patrick of his previous life didn't mind being scolded by his Master.
He was actually happy, knowing that his Master cherished and loved him as much as he worried about him.
Tsk, enough with the useless sentimentality…
His Master was his Master, and his father was his father.
No matter how similar they were, that was an undeniable fact.
Stopping himself from getting lost in memories, Patrick spoke.
“Father. Setting aside what’s already happened, I’d like to discuss the important matters regarding the future.”
“Ugh….”
“Though it was an alliance I pushed for on my own, the alliance with the Red Rock Tribe will be a great help to our territory. Please, consider it seriously.”
“Mmm….”
This damn kid.
To suddenly speak with such a serious expression, like a perfectly proper young lord of a barony.
Who gave birth to this annoying brat?
He wanted to see the parents' faces.
Oh, right. It’s me.
But he couldn't reject his annoying son’s words here.
Looking closely now, he could see bandages wrapped tightly beneath Patrick's clothes.
He also seemed to be limping slightly as he walked.
He knew his son was strong, but the battle with the King Ogre couldn't have been easy.
He must have fought with his life on the line.
At such a young age.
And one of the results he had gained by risking his life was this alliance with the Orcs.
“Haaa…. Fine. It can’t be helped.”
Realizing that spitting at the sky would only hit his own face, Baron Schneider let out a sigh.
“Fine. Let’s think about it for now. First, I must meet with the one who is the Chief of the Red Rock Tribe.”
“Is that alright?”
“What is?”
“…….”
“What? Speak up. Say it.”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Patrick smirked.
Actually, his only concern coming here was how Baron Schneider would accept the Orcs.
Orcs were an intelligent race, not monsters, but they hadn't been classified as a race from the beginning.
A very long time ago, Orcs were classified as a type of monster and had a fierce power struggle with humans.
Among the different races, Orcs were the only ones whose strength in "numbers" rivaled that of humans, so the history of their conflict was intense.
Because of that, Orcs were still objects of fear or contempt to many humans.
A barbaric, ignorant, and violent race.
That was the human prejudice against Orcs.
He knew Baron Schneider was a good-natured man, but that was kindness directed toward fellow humans.
It was an unknown how he would behave toward another race, especially the subtly ostracized Orcs. But…
I guess I worried for nothing.
Thinking that his father was indeed his father, Patrick said with a smile, “Please wait a moment. Sanson.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Bring Uncle Turanta in.”
“Yes, sir.”
A moment later, Turanta, the Chief of the Orcs, appeared.
In truth, Patrick hadn't been worried about this meeting.
Baron Schneider was a good man who could face other races without prejudice, and Chief Turanta was quite wise for an Orc.
So, there was no reason for their meeting to go wrong.
Or so I thought.
“Hic… I am… hic… Turangta… of the Bud-Rock Tribe.”
“Turangta?”
“Tu-ang-ta. Hic.”
“…….”
Watching their first meeting, Patrick stared at the ceiling of the reception room and thought.
Why is everyone around me like this? Why?
He wanted to cry.