Extra Fees
"Phew, we're back."
After wrapping up their business, Albert and Richel returned to the territory aboard the Model Taxi. The moment they arrived, Hydra was immediately seized by Gaster.
"You're finally here? Come on, let's go."
Gaster's expression was bright. In the past, he would have trembled with fear at the sight of Hydra or avoided eye contact entirely. Now, things were different. Just as a dragon's age was everything, rank was everything here. Gaster was Taxi No. 1. Hydra was Model Taxi No. 2. Gaster outranked Hydra, so his expression couldn't help but be cheerful.
"W-where are you taking me?!"
"Where else? We need to enchant the city walls starting now. Let's go."
"……You intend to make me, a dragon, perform such menial tasks on the walls of a human territory?"
He spoke in a sharp voice, as if threatening, "I am a great dragon. I do not do such things." In the past, that level of intimidation would have been enough to make Gaster back down. But things had changed.
"So you're refusing to work?"
The one who responded to those words was Albert.
"Who's declaring a boycott right now?"
Who? Who was talking about boycotting?
"……"
"If you took the salary, you have to work for it. Where do you think you're……"
"I…… No, I don't receive a salary……"
Intimidated by the atmosphere, Hydra automatically switched to formal speech. When Albert clenched his fist, Hydra flinched.
"A dragon talking back? Guess you haven't been beaten enough. Your discipline is lacking."
"……Damn it!"
Hydra ground his teeth, and at the same time, light flashed as he vanished along with Gaster.
"……"
Richel stared at Albert with an incredulous expression. Who else could treat a dragon like that? Even a king standing at the pinnacle of power could never do such a thing. Only Albert could.
Really, this territory is dizzying. A dragon, dark elves, dwarves, fairies……
Each had distinct personalities, and it was impossible to gather beings as incompatible as oil and water in one territory. Yet the Legrian Territory had done it. All because of one person—Albert's presence alone allowed those who should never mix to live together harmoniously.
What an incredible man.
"Alright, let's go."
"Yes."
The two headed to the kitchen to find Humihumi. The fairies were remarkable—they had been in the kitchen before departure and were still gathered there, eating popcorn. Normally, eating with such obsession would lead to boredom, but the fairies showed no sign of it.
"Ah, you've returned? Did you obtain the Bacchus?"
"Yeah."
When Albert opened his subspace, Bacchus fruits poured out. The System caught them with telekinesis before they hit the ground, so none were crushed. Humihumi was startled at the mountain of Bacchus fruits piled up. She clearly hadn't expected him to bring back so many.
"My, you brought back this many."
"But do I have to go pick them every day? That's kind of annoying."
"Ah! That's fine."
Humihumi smiled brightly and fluttered her wings.
"We can grow trees from the seeds inside these fruits."
"Oh? It's possible to grow Bacchus trees?"
At Richel's question, Humihumi nodded slightly.
"Yes, it's possible."
"How……? We tried and gave up."
"Hehe, it's impossible for humans, but we fairies can do it."
A subtle pressure emanated from her gentle smile. Unlike the other fairies, her way of speaking isn't strange either. The aura flowing from her unfathomable experience was gentle yet strong. It truly felt like Humihumi was the Fairy Queen.
A queen is a queen, after all.
"How long does it take to make the wine?"
"It takes about a month."
"That long?"
"It can't be helped. Rushing it reduces the flavor and prevents the taste from deepening."
Humihumi spoke firmly. Shortening the time was possible, but the quality would drop accordingly.
"Can't be helped, then. Thanks for your hard work."
"Of course."
Humihumi called the fairies. The fairies who had been diligently eating popcorn flew over and began moving the Bacchus fruits.
"Hng…… I want to eat more popcorn……"
"My hands are moving…… My hands are moving……"
"Children, we must clearly separate work from personal time. Since we received compensation, we must do our share of the work too."
Humihumi skillfully soothed the sulking fairies, showing her queenly side—though she seemed more like a mother than a queen.
"They really do separate work and personal matters clearly."
Richel murmured in admiration. Humihumi's willingness to lead by example and guide the other fairies was truly queenly.
"Of course. We fairies are a race that can clearly distinguish between work and personal matters."
"That's amazing."
At Richel's praise, Humihumi smiled brightly and even hummed a cheerful tune.
"Children, move them to the warehouse. There, we can……"
"Oh my, are you not eating popcorn anymore?"
The nanny who had been frying popcorn looked puzzled as she watched the fairies suddenly start moving the fruits. The fairies answered.
"We can't eat right now!"
"Her Majesty said we must separate work from personal time!"
"Oh my, how good of you."
"That's right! We are good fairies who can properly repay the kindness we've received!"
"Then…… you won't eat this?"
"I-I'll endure it."
"I want to eat, but…… W-we are good fairies!"
The fairies tried to turn their heads away and move the fruits. Just then, the nanny spoke regretfully.
"What a shame. I made caramel popcorn this time, just like the young master taught me before…… Oh well."
"Caramel…… popcorn?"
"Now that you mention it, the smell is different!"
"Caramel popcorn!"
"Ugh…… B-but I have to endure……"
"Her Majesty said to separate work from personal time……"
Chomp chomp! Nom nom nom! Crunch!
At that moment, the sound of someone eating enthusiastically came from somewhere. The fairies all turned their heads at once. There they saw the Fairy Queen, Humihumi, stuffing caramel popcorn into her mouth like mad, her cheeks puffed out as she ate with delight.
"Y-Your Majesty?"
So much for separating work and personal time.
"It's so delicious!"
She couldn't resist the caramel popcorn.
[Lie.]
[You used the Hypnosis skill.]
[You altered their faces with hypnosis and made them perceive Albert as a Main.]
Albert shrugged. He had dazed them with his fist first, then used the Hypnosis skill to manipulate their muddled memories. Since it was a simple perception alteration, even a low-grade skill worked just fine.
Perfect crime.
[Sigh……]
[But is it okay to keep selling Mains like that? You beat up the temple people in Landolf Territory last time and sold Mains too.]
What does it matter.
No one was going to sue him for identity theft just because he used the name "Main." And if anyone came looking to complain, Albert would welcome them with open arms. The price of protest would be death, of course.
"Ah, by the way, how did that thing I asked you to look into turn out?"
"What…… Ah, you mean Lord Father's armor?"
"Yeah."
Albert was searching for the armor his father had worn, the one Elena had sold off. It was still his father's keepsake, after all. If possible, he wanted it back, so he had asked Richel to look into it.
[You're planning to find it?]
[Father's armor?]
Of course.
His father had been an armor otaku. He went crazy for armor and never backed down even when hit with Mother's backhand smash. Honestly, he had more memories of polishing armor together than of going on enjoyable outings. Of course……
Every time I helped polish it, I scratched it a few times and he foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
It was like bringing a brand-new car worth 500 million won to the car wash only for your son to "help" and end up scratching it all over. After that, he never let Albert touch it again. Not exactly a good memory, but……
It's Father's belonging. I want to get it back.
Since he couldn't protect him, the least he could do was protect the armor his father had cherished. That was the minimum courtesy.
"I'm looking into it. I'm trying to find the merchant Lady Elena supposedly sold it to back then, but it's not easy, so it might take some time."
Albert shook his head at her apologetic tone.
"No, it won't be easy to find. Keep up the good work."
"Understood. I'll do my best to find it."
"I trust you."
"Leave it to me!"
Richel showed strong enthusiasm.
"Ah, come to think of it, I need Iron Ant iron ingots."
"Iron Ant iron ingots? I gave you a lot last time."
"It seems there's been a recent increase in territory wars, so more people are looking for iron ingots. There's also Baron Rukri, who apparently formed a subjugation party."
"Subjugation party?"
"A tremendous monster appeared, so they're even hiring mercenaries…… They must be busy."
"Is that so?"
"That's why iron ingot consumption is high. They placed a special order."
"Then it can't be helped. Annoying, but……"
Albert's face was filled with reluctance. Richel quickly added the magic words that would erase his laziness.
"They seemed to be in a hurry. They even added extra fees."
"I'm going right now, Taxi!!"
He couldn't resist double pay. Double pay was one of the buttons that made Albert move at full speed.