Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Third Son
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The innkeeper, who had told me not to get my hopes up, turned out to be competent enough—he brought back a female coachwoman.
She was a young woman with her brown hair neatly tied back.
She wore a well-fitted vest and pants, her slender yet toned figure visible even through the clothes. It was a clean, sharp outfit.
"I'm Marie."
Her face could be called average, but she had a fresh charm that gave off a simple appeal.
"You're hired."
"H-hired? Th-thank you…."
Marie responded with a dazed look.
"What about guiding us to good restaurants?"
I asked the innkeeper.
"I can do that too."
Marie, now my new coachwoman, replied.
"Are you a local?"
"Yes. I know this city inside and out."
"Do a good job on this, and I'll pay you double."
"Thank you."
After that, with Marie's guidance, we rode around in the carriage visiting tasty spots.
Whenever we found a decent place, I'd order extras and stash them in my inventory.
"Putting food into a subspace like that... High-ranking mages who can use subspaces would laugh their asses off if they saw this. You're the first guy I've seen use one like you do, Un-ho. Just how big is that subspace of yours?"
Liriana asked incredulously at my antics.
I'd never precisely measured my inventory's size either.
Since the skill's at level 5, it must be pretty huge.
It expands even more if I factor in Hero's Rest.
"Be honest. That's not a subspace, is it? Where'd you get that ability?"
Liriana eyed me slyly, trying to pry out my secret with a sneaky glint.
"It's magic."
"Magic, my ass…."
Liriana snorted dismissively.
Of course, she didn't buy it.
While serving as coachwoman for this man named Un-ho, Marie observed him closely without letting on.
He wasn't just doing it once—he went to delicious restaurants every day with those women.
With her informants on the payroll, satisfying him wasn't hard.
She wondered if he had some ulterior motive….
But she was the one guiding him.
And she was the one investigating the restaurants, so it was hard to believe there was anything suspicious.
His actions were definitely odd for a transcendent being.
'Or maybe he's acting weird because he's a transcendent?'
Marie had never seen a transcendent herself, so she had no baseline.
Looking at the two elves, they didn't seem like subordinates or slaves. Especially the blonde elf—she seemed quite close to him.
While she was working as his coachwoman, Michael joined her.
"Marie, you're getting too close to the target. It's dangerous. He's suspected to be a transcendent."
Michael said this to Marie after she finished her shift driving Un-ho's carriage.
"Since when have we shied away from danger?"
"Even the higher-ups wouldn't expect us to go this far. He seems like a real womanizer. He might demand your body someday."
"If he likes women, that's a good thing. There's no other female agent to replace me right now. And if you get that intimate with him, wouldn't the organization want even more?"
A subtle emotion flickered across Michael's usually expressionless face at her words.
"Marie... You don't need to do this. If we need a replacement, I'll talk to the higher-ups."
"Enough, Michael. Pretend you didn't say that. Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? You're being too emotional. I won't report it to the bosses. Cool your head."
".......Understood."
Marie, standing by the carriage in front of the hotel, bowed her head in greeting.
"Please take care of me today as well."
"Yes, Mr. Un-ho."
She'd proven she wasn't lying about being a local—she'd guided us to some satisfying spots.
A worthwhile hire.
'It'd be great if she'd come with us to Slurver... but leaving her hometown might be tough.'
I'd have to tempt her with a fat paycheck.
I patted Marie's shoulder and climbed into the carriage.
"Hm? The space feels bigger…."
"I tweaked the space a bit. Notice anything, Un-ho? This is magic."
"Yeah, good job. Nice work."
She had no choice but to acknowledge this one.
Liriana had been modding the carriage bit by bit during our daily restaurant tours.
Lightweight spells to make it easier to pull.
Enchantments to keep our voices from leaking out.
She'd taken some of my mana stones as payment, but it was money well spent.
Now there was a sofa inside, a table too—the carriage felt like a full-on RV.
"Impressive. No shaking at all now."
The carriage started moving, but inside it was as comfy as a house.
"Heh heh…."
Liriana looked pleased at my surprise.
I let her have her fun.
It was an undeniable fact that she was amazing….
Expanding fixed space or making a carriage this shake-free was magic beyond modern tech.
"We could even fit a fridge in here."
"A fridge?"
Everyone's eyes turned to me at the unfamiliar word.
I pulled out a mana-powered fridge and set it in the corner.
They were pricey, and aside from running on mana stones, they had no real perks—so back home, normal households with electric outlets didn't use them.
"Wh-what is this thing?"
Liriana asked with curious eyes.
"It freezes ice... and chills drinks."
I opened the door, and cold air poured out.
I loaded it with beverages.
"C-can I... take this apart and look inside, Un-ho?"
Liriana's eyes sparkled as she asked.
"No way."
It wasn't about the money—I just couldn't get another one right now.
"It-it runs on mana stones, but it's weird. Amazing. Not mana circuits—some other energy flow. Converts mana... into electricity?"
Liriana was glued to the fridge, practically hugging it as she inspected it.
"One more round today, then we head to Slurver."
"Quitting the restaurant tour already?"
Ayla blinked and asked.
"Yeah. Why, sad to see it go?"
"Huh? N-no."
"Don't worry. We'll do it again in Slurver."
With three foodies around, it was inevitable.
I'd stocked up plenty from Laventa's tour, so we'd be good until Slurver.
A fancy restaurant with luxurious decor.
We'd ordered a spread on the big table and were savoring it.
"This one's good—nice and light."
"I like this sweet one. Grab some of this, Un-ho."
Where was the pill-popping Liriana? Now she was shamelessly demanding I pack her favorites.
"I'll take this."
"Un-ho, this dish is a miss. Overall quality-wise, the last place was better."
"I think it's fine?"
They'd thought my restaurant hunts were weird at first, but now they were into it.
"Good evening, ladies. Mind if I join you?"
A stranger's voice cut into our lively tasting session, and silence fell.
All eyes turned to the interrupter.
A swallow-faced blond guy stood there, flashing a sleazy smile with gleaming white teeth. Flanking him were two knights in crisp armor, probably his guards.
Ayla and Luna, who disliked humans, looked annoyed. Liriana wore her usual haughty expression.
"Haha, sorry to interrupt your meal. You ladies are just too beautiful to pass by."
His oily words nearly made my food come back up.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Robert Laventa, third son of the Lord of Laventa!"
"Got it. Beat it."
Liriana dabbed her lips with a napkin and said.
"Pardon?"
A crack appeared in his smile.
Probably a first for him—he looked baffled.
"I wasn't whispering. I said get lost."
"L-lady. I'm the third son of the Lord of Laventa!"
Despite Liriana's dismissal, he wouldn't quit, clinging pathetically.
"Does he get it if we tell him to fuck off...? Or is he deaf?"
I couldn't hold back at the third son's refusal to leave.
"You bastard!! How dare you!! Do you know who I am? I'm the third son of the Lord of Laventa!! What kind of tone is that to a noble?!"
The lunatic went from getting slapped down by Liriana to exploding at me.
Ruined my appetite.
I pulled my staff from thin air and slammed it dramatically on the floor.
-Thud.
"You wanna go?"
As I stood, leaning on my staff.
The two guard knights put hands on their sword hilts.
"Subspace! Young master, that's at least a 6th-circle mage."
The third son flinched at his guard's words.
"H-hm…."
Hearing I was a high mage cured his rage issues instantly.
"E-even if you're a high mage, this is... Yes. This is between them and me."
"What fresh bullshit is this?"
Did this guy not see me eating with them?
I was so dumbfounded by this mess that I was left speechless.