Karma Comes Around

Karma has a way of coming around. At the same time as the light flashed, Albert and Gaster, clad in a yellow suit, appeared in the Legrian Territory. Albert gave Gaster a thumbs-up.

"As expected, convenient and fast! Swift and precise taxi, Gaster! You're the best taxi there is."

"……."

At the praise, Gaster's face twisted into a deep scowl.

"What's wrong? I was complimenting you. Aren't you happy? Am I the only one enjoying this?"

"……."

Would you be happy if you were in my place? Even as a hatchling, he was a red dragon, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠second only to black dragons in ferocity among his kind. As the saying goes, the tree that will grow tall shows it from the sprout. Just as habits formed at three last until eighty, that violent temperament hadn't changed much even in youth. What dragon would be pleased at being used as a mode of transportation and then praised for it? Any other dragon would have already flipped the table and caused an uproar.

"Why? In a bad mood? If you're upset, you should've just said so. I'm open-minded, you know. You can tell me anytime. What makes humans human? Isn't it the fact that we can talk? Let's work it out through conversation."

"……."

Gaster glanced at Albert's clenched fist. Clearly, his definition of conversation differed from Albert's. It wasn't a conversation with words, but with fists. Physical, huh. His idea of dialogue was generally conducted with the body. He was the kind of human who held the peculiar belief that conversation (physical) could resolve any dispute or complaint. Words are complicated, but fists are simple. Damn it…….

"What? Not going to talk? Then at least smile when I compliment you."

"……Tsk."

Gaster clicked his tongue and vanished.

"Still, it's necessary."

Gaster was a dragon, after all. That violent temperament wasn't going anywhere, so it had to be kept in check like this from time to time. He couldn't afford to lose such a convenient mode of transportation. The perfect taxi. He was even considering starting a taxi business using him later. Of course, Gaster would never agree, but unfortunately, he had no say in the matter. If you don't want to get hit, you'd better do it. If he wanted to claim the right to refuse, it wouldn't be with words, but with fists. Only the victor gets to have everything. Decisions weren't made by the loser, but by the winner.

What a shame to end up with such a ruthless employer. A dragon who would have been treated with respect elsewhere was being used as a taxi here.

"Oh my, young master, you've returned?"

"Nanny."

"Did everything go well with your outing?"

The nanny asked after him lightly, as if greeting a son returning from an errand. Watching her ask with concern, wondering if anything had happened, Albert smiled. It wasn't mere courtesy. She was asking because she genuinely worried about him from the bottom of her heart. Even though she knew how strong he was. Her heart was that of a mother, so it couldn't be helped. An indescribable, lake-like transparent and deep maternal love could be felt.

"Of course."

"You didn't cause any ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠trouble or get into any accidents while you were there, did you?"

"……Of course not."

……. If he told her he'd knocked out all the holy knights at the Sun Temple, stomped on the knight commander there, and even hit the saintess, what kind of expression would the nanny make? Would she be so shocked she'd faint? Since she'd drunk the Sage's Tear, that wouldn't happen, but it seemed better not to mention it. No need to stress her out for nothing.

"I'm not a child. Why would I go around causing accidents?"

"That's right. Ohoho, of course not."

"Where's Elena?"

"The young lady is working in her office. I was just on my way to prepare some warm tea. If you wait there, I'll bring you some delicious tea."

"Got it."

The nanny headed toward the kitchen. Once she was gone, Albert walked down the hallway at a leisurely pace. It felt empty. Ten years ago, the hallway had been decorated with armor that was his father's collection, and there had been artworks hanging as well. Along with the servants who organized and managed them. Of course, Father wouldn't let anyone touch the armor. His father, an armor otaku, hadn't allowed anyone to lay a hand on the armor. He said it would get scratched. He trusted the servants' skills, but when it came to the armor, he felt uneasy unless he maintained it himself.

"It's chilly."

Even though no cold wind was blowing, Albert wore a subtle expression at the strange chill that pricked his skin. But he wasn't too worried.

"If it's chilly, just fill it up."

He could just hire more servants, and fill the empty spaces with various things again. In the sense of clearing out the old and starting anew, he could fill it with new things.

"Who would've known it would turn out like this? If I'd known, I would've put everything in my extradimensional space and brought it……."

He should've brought some ramen too. After living 110 years in the other world, Albert's palate couldn't live without MSG. Still, thinking of it as a new beginning, he'd left everything behind.

"……You're getting more annoying by the day."

"Seems like you're learning in the wrong direction."

Albert let out a sigh and headed for the office.

"Come in."

Even though he hadn't knocked, Elena already knew Albert had arrived. She had sensed his presence. It seemed her senses had sharpened now that the curse was lifted and she could use mana.

When he opened the door and stepped inside, he saw Elena diligently working with her pen.

"You knew I was here?"

"Yeah, you came with Gaster using spatial movement again, right?"

"Why give that guy the honorific 'nim'? Just call him taxi."

"How can you say that…… He's still a dragon."

"A baby lizard."

"I think you're the only one who can call Gaster that, brother."

Who else could call a dragon a baby lizard? It was a title only Albert could use. If anyone else said something like that, they might have to face a dragon's wrath.

"Did you have a good trip?"

"Yeah."

"How did it go?"

"Cleanly resolved."

"You didn't cause any trouble or accidents while you were there, did you?"

"……The nanny said the same thing. Do you two think I'm a child? That I'd go around causing accidents?"

"……."

Elena stopped her busy pen and looked up, gazing at Albert with narrowed eyes. Albert met her gaze filled with suspicion head-on, boldly and without a hint of guilt.

"Right~ Well, even you wouldn't cause trouble in a territory like that~."

"You don't trust me that much?"

"……."

"Why aren't you answering?"

Did I really look like the type to go around causing incidents?

"……."

With that, he had no choice but to be at a loss for words. Thinking about it, he'd caused quite a few incidents in the little over a month since arriving here. The reason the nanny and Elena suspected him was because of all the karma he'd accumulated. It seemed his trustworthiness had dropped a bit due to unpaid karmic debts.

This time I didn't rob any merchants.

"Looks like there's a lot of work?"

The System grumbled snarkily, but Albert cleanly ignored it.

"……."

"Hmm, not really that much. There aren't that many residents yet, so there isn't much to handle."

There weren't that many documents piled up. In the Legrian Territory, there ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wasn't much work for Elena as the lord to do. Most of the tasks were handled by those below.

"The house repairs are done, the farming went well and the harvest is underway, and Lord Hort and the residents gathered to build a warehouse to store everything."

She spoke as if breathing a small sigh of relief.

"I was a bit worried whether we'd finish before the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cold winter arrived, but I'm glad we could finish quickly. Last year……."

She shivered slightly. The winter Elena had endured before Albert arrived could truly be called hell. It must not have been easy. Things were better now, but back then, simply staying alive had been a miracle. There hadn't been enough firewood to even light a fire, and obtaining food had been no easy task either.

"Because of the raging blizzard, even the Flower Merchant Group couldn't come…… Really, back then…… Haah……."

The deep sigh mixed with her words clearly showed how much she'd struggled last winter. It had been terrible. It was a wonder she hadn't died.

"Still, I'm really glad this winter seems like it'll be okay."

She didn't know how fortunate it was that Albert was here. The territory's situation had definitely improved compared to before, and there was no need to worry about food. Thanks to Albert, they were even making a lot of money. With the exclusive contract with the Flower Merchant Group, they had a steady income, and selling Rice Eater feathers provided a nice side income. Well, managing a territory means there's always money going out. There were still plenty of places in the territory that needed money. It was like pouring water into a jar full of holes, but soon those holes would be plugged. It couldn't be called a golden age yet, but reclaiming the glory of the past wasn't just a dream. Of course, there were still many large and rugged mountains to overcome to get there. If I'm with my brother, it's possible. No matter what, they could get through it.

As if sensing Elena's thoughts, Albert smiled his reliable big-brother smile and said,

"Don't worry. I'll make sure this winter is warm for you."

"Hehe, thank you."

"It's the least I can do for family."

While they were having such a warm family conversation, Hans, the head butler, burst through the door.

"My lord! W-we have a big problem!"

"H-Hans? What's going on all of a sudden?"

Elena was flustered. She knew how rude it was for him, who usually valued etiquette, to open the office door without permission. The fact that he'd kicked the door open so urgently despite knowing that meant something was seriously wrong. Hans, breathing heavily, shouted with a flushed face.

"The children have all collapsed right now!!"