Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Lord Merka
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A man dressed in luxurious clothes bowed at the waist. He appeared to be around forty years old, and since he'd lived without much hardship, his face bore few wrinkles.
"Hello. I am the lord of Merka City, Viscount Merka."
Judging by the title Viscount Merka, he was clearly nobility. Were nobles supposed to bow their heads so amiably and politely like this?
"Ah, yes, hello. I'm Kim Tae-jin."
Tae-jin hastily bowed in return. But no matter how he looked at it, the situation felt off. His mind raced.
He'd met only one lord before Viscount Merka: Viscount Helio of Helio City. Viscount Helio had known that old man Richer was a War Mage and even had favors to ask of their group. If anything, Viscount Helio had been the one in the inferior position.
Even the exceptionally friendly Viscount Helio had been polite to Richer but hadn't bowed at a full ninety degrees.
On the other hand, Viscount Merka was bowing to Tae-jin, who wasn't even a War Mage. And they were complete strangers. No matter how he sliced it, this situation wasn't normal.
'Is he after something?'
Yet Viscount Merka's demeanor remained humble.
"I heard the guard captain mistakenly brought you in as a guard. My apologies."
Tae-jin couldn't make heads or tails of what was going on.
He could understand the guard captain dragging him in aggressively, but for the lord to show up right after and grovel like this? It was bizarre. For a simple mistake, it was way too much.
If it had been the guard captain or guards saying, "Sorry, it was a mix-up," that would be one thing. But the lord himself apologizing and fawning? That wasn't remotely reasonable. No way.
Just like Tae-jin, Pavilion and Renata had no clue what was happening either. They watched with eyes wide like saucers. Was this what they called rabbit eyes in shock?
Their red pupils darted back and forth every time Tae-jin or Viscount Merka moved.
"No, it's fine. I wasn't held up long, and it's not even lunchtime yet. We'll take our time enjoying the festival."
It was a perfectly reasonable response, but to Viscount Merka, who was on edge, it sounded subtly accusatory, like Tae-jin was indirectly complaining about being detained all morning. Of course, Viscount Merka knew it was an overreaction.
But that didn't matter. This otherworlder was a walking bomb.
Getting complacent just because the bomb hadn't gone off yet would be idiotic. If this otherworlder met with some unfortunate accident inside Merka City, a meteor might just crash down on the city.
Even a scuffle between festival-goers hyped up on booze could turn into a disaster, let alone if he got jumped in some dark tavern.
In Viscount Merka's mind, visions endlessly repeated of a house-sized meteor slamming straight into the lord's manor.
The solution was simple: escort him to the safest place possible and see him off out of Merka City at the right moment. He wouldn't refuse an invitation to the lord's manor.
Viscount Merka didn't hesitate once the idea hit him.
"Mr. Kim Tae-jin, as an apology, I'd like to invite you to the lord's manor. Would that be alright?"
Tae-jin glanced at his companions. Pavilion looked relieved that things were resolving smoothly, while Renata seemed more curious about the lord's manor than the festival.
Of course, it wasn't a bad deal for Tae-jin either. It would save on room and board costs. In their tight situation, three rooms and meals for six weren't cheap.
Still, it felt fishy no matter how he thought about it. Getting dragged off by guards, only for some guy claiming to be the lord to pop up and invite him to the manor? It didn't add up logically.
'Is this some kind of setup?'
In the end, Tae-jin had to decline the lord's offer.
"No, it's okay. I want to see the festival. I can't just decide on my own without consulting my companions anyway."
"Couldn't you reconsider? I truly wish to host such esteemed guests."
As the lord spoke, the guard captain sidled up to Tae-jin, as if urging him to go quickly.
The atmosphere made it hard to refuse the invitation. Was there a reason they needed to get him to the lord's manor?
Suddenly, memories of comics and games from back home flashed in his mind. There was always a dungeon under the lord's manor.
Maybe they'd caught a suspicious otherworlder and planned to toss him in the dungeon for interrogation. Negative thoughts piled up one after another.
Then, a new idea struck him.
'Will the War Mage's clout work here too?'
The Volterio Kingdom was a vassal of the Empire, and old man Richer's reputation as a top War Mage would surely carry weight here too. If he had to go along with the lord anyway, better to leverage the War Mage's name fully.
Tae-jin casually tested the waters.
"In that case, could you contact my companions too?"
"Pardon? You have more companions besides these two beastkin?"
"Yes. There are three more at the inn, including a War Mage! Just look for my group."
How powerful the words "War Mage" were became clear from Viscount Merka's reaction alone. His eyes went wide as he asked Tae-jin right back.
"A War Mage? What's your connection, if I may ask?"
"He's my master."
"Really? To have a War Mage as your master. I've never heard of an otherworlder mage before!"
Hearing this, Tae-jin immediately demonstrated a simple spell. As a small flame flickered to life above his hand, the viscount reacted with the wide-eyed wonder of someone seeing magic for the first time.
"Incredible! It's true!"
His enthusiasm was so intense that Tae-jin felt a bit embarrassed.
"I can't go alone, so could you invite my master and the others as well?"
"Of course."
Viscount Merka could confirm once more that his choice was right.
A disciple of a War Mage, and an otherworlder to boot. If such a figure got into an accident wandering the streets, who knew what catastrophe might unfold? In the best case, he'd just earn the War Mage's grudge, but in the worst, a meteor strike.
"Guard captain, find Mr. Kim Tae-jin's companions and escort them here politely."
"Understood."
The guard captain took two guards and departed with what he considered a sharp stride. With the War Mage's name invoked, there was no need to worry about foul play.
Tae-jin, Pavilion, and Renata boarded a carriage with the lord.
*
Just as everything in Merka City outshone Helio City, Viscount Merka's carriage was larger and more ornate than Viscount Helio's modest one.
The lord's manor they arrived at via carriage was smaller than Helio City's but far more splendid, adorned with decorations everywhere on the outer walls. Luxurious fabrics draped about, and it sparkled in places as if lit by lighting magic. It felt like a miniature fairy-tale castle.
However, the interior of the manor was even more austere than Helio City's simple one. No one could guess the inside from the flashy exterior.
As Tae-jin wore a puzzled expression, Viscount Merka explained sheepishly.
"The manor interior isn't open to tourists, so there was no need to decorate it lavishly."
Surprisingly, Viscount Merka was a pragmatist. He'd lavished the city with splendor not for personal vanity, but to turn this inland hamlet into a tourist spot, bearing the expense for it.
"Welcome, my lord. Shall I attend to the guests?"
An elderly butler greeted the lord and posed the question, but Viscount Merka shook his head.
"No. These are esteemed guests; I'll guide them personally."
Esteemed guests. Sounded familiar, but Tae-jin couldn't place it.
Since no soldiers jumped out as they entered the manor, he could probably set aside worries about being thrown in a dungeon. Tae-jin let out a quiet sigh of relief.
The lord led Tae-jin's group to a reception room on the second floor. It wasn't large but was neatly and cleanly furnished. The furniture had a museum-worthy design, harmoniously arranged, yet unlike exhibits, it showed signs of use, giving it a unique feel.
The lord was still cautiously gauging the group's reactions.
"Please wait just a moment, and your companions will arrive. You're welcome to stay until the festival ends—or even the next one."
But despite his words, his expression betrayed a hope that they'd leave soon.
No idea why, but he was clearly fawning over Tae-jin and uneasy around him, yet had no intention of lingering leisurely in Merka City. Maybe he should ask for a suggested itinerary.
"We were planning to depart tomorrow, originally. One of our companions is recovering well enough now."
Viscount Merka kept a straight face, but his voice brightened a touch. He seemed pleased that Tae-jin would be leaving soon.
"Oh, so you're not here for the festival?"
"Yes. We came to Pavilion's hometown, but got caught in an unfortunate incident, and some of the group were injured."
"Incident...?"
"Werewolves attacked the Rabbit Beastkin village. We repelled them all, though."
As he spoke, Tae-jin checked on Pavilion and Renata. Their faces were somber, but they seemed to be taking it positively, without looking too downcast. Viscount Merka looked shocked.
"Rabbit Beastkin village? You mean the one near the north gate?"
"Yes, that's the one. About thirty werewolves raided it."
"We hadn't heard about anything outside the city walls. That could have been disastrous. Glad it turned out alright."
Viscount Merka looked genuinely relieved. Seeing that, Tae-jin felt a slight pang, wondering if he'd misread the viscount's kindness all this time.
Just then, a knock came from outside the reception room.
"I've brought your companions."
"Bring them in."
But when the door opened, it wasn't old man Richer who appeared—it was some red-haired woman.