He turned over a few more pages.
[It is known that the Silver Wolf undergoes a specific ceremony with the tribe after one year of life, becoming an adult. From this point onward, it is said to be capable of anthropomorphism.
Around this time, they also imprint with a lifelong companion. A Silver Wolf with an imprint can locate its companion no matter where they are…]
The concept of imprinting was fascinating, but the phrase ‘undergoes a specific ceremony with the tribe’ caught Leon’s attention.
“Miss your family?” he asked.
The wolf yawned widely after licking its snout, displaying a nonchalant attitude.
‘Why does the talk about the tribe bother me so much?’ Leon wondered, running his fingers over the pages and finally delving into a question he had never properly explored before.
‘You must have had a family… Why were you left alone with wounds?’
A footstep drew near. As a shadow loomed over his head, he guessed that Kedil had returned.
“Hero, dinner is ready.”
“Dinner?”
Leon glanced at the window. Though the curtain was drawn, the bright light suggested it was still midday. It was certainly not dinnertime; at best, it was late afternoon.
“Yes. Father wished to have a meal before you return.”
Although the desire to finish reading the book was strong, seeing Kedil’s struggling demeanor weakened Leon. If he didn’t go, the lord would likely harass his son again.
Eating a meal shouldn’t be too difficult.
“Shall we go, then?”
Kedil’s eyes widened as if he received an unexpected gift.
“Are you coming, sir?”
“Wouldn’t it be less awkward if I go?”
Closing the book, Leon stood up to face Kedil. The butler, unable to express himself, stared at Leon with an indescribable expression.
What’s this? Leon waited quietly, and he belatedly came to his senses, blinking his eyes.
“For you…”
Kedil, with a reddened face, mumbled.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“I’m glad, warrior.”
The wolf grumbled irritably.
Anyway, they headed to the invited restaurant. The wolf continued to walk between Leon and Kedil, keeping them from getting too close unnecessarily.
In the subtle stillness, only the footsteps of the two and the sound of one beast continued. The one to break the long silence was Kedil.
“Hero, if it’s not too impolite, may I ask why you are staying in the Mirakiki Village?”
“There’s no specific reason for staying in Mirakiki Village. It just happened.”
“I mean… Hero, you are the ‘The Guardian of Rodivoid, Lord of Gotsumia, Orion, and Tunerun, Lord of Filiburg, Gugothon, Eui, and Osrian,’ right?”
Kedil recited the long titles that not even Leon himself had properly memorized, without missing a single word.
“I asked because I was curious why you don’t use a mansion or a castle of your own.”
Leon shrugged.
“I’m tired. There will be a lot of people asking for various things for no reason, and it will be difficult to turn away all the people who come.”
Immediately, even Lord Winderton tried to request assistance by mentioning financial issues. If he revealed himself as the ‘hero,’ people would undoubtedly swarm around, scrutinizing every detail.
Leon knew well that, despite being able to save the world, he couldn’t save people. Living incognito as the ‘young man from the cottage’ was the best option.
“So that’s how it is. I understand what you’re saying.”
As they conversed, they arrived at the restaurant. The tense butler, who had been standing straight, bent his waist at a 90-degree angle.
“You’ve arrived? It’s an infinite honor.”
“Yes.”
Before reaching for the doorknob, the door swung open. Leon, the wolf, and Kedil, along with the butler, were taken aback and stepped back.
A middle-aged man, impeccably dressed from head to toe, emerged from the door. Glancing at the people outside, he stroked his goatee and turned around.
“You don’t have money to give me, but it seems you have money to entertain guests, Lord Winderton.”
The hurried lord quickly bowed his waist.
“What are you talking about… I’ll definitely provide the money, so please don’t worry.”
“That’s what you should do.”
The man with squinted eyes raised his chin high and walked away. The lord waited until he was far enough and then shifted his bowing attention to Leon.
“Sorry for making you wait because of that old man. Please come in quickly. Look, bring the food out quickly!”
“Yes, my lord.”
Kedil sent a worried glance to his father, but neither Leon nor the wolf showed any particular reaction as they entered the restaurant. Leon still held the Silver Wolf book in his hand. The lord walked alongside Leon, babbling.
“Did you like the book? You truly have excellent taste in culture.”
“Yes, I’ll borrow it for a bit.”
“Don’t say such regretful words! If you consider all the books in our library as belonging to the hero, it would be the honor of our family.”
“Father.”
Kedil grimaced as his father openly praised Leon. However, the lord ignored his son, personally pulling out Leon’s chair. It was usually the seat reserved for the lord himself.
“How about my son? What do you think of him? He might seem a bit quirky, but he’s the treasure of Winderton, isn’t he?”
“Lord, it doesn’t seem like you treat your son like a treasure.”
“…Yes?”
Leon moistened his lips with the water in front of him. The lord, about to sit in his usual place, flinched.
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s just a casual remark. Anyway, your son is a good person, so he’ll find a suitable match someday.”
The lord’s eyes gleamed slyly.
“That’s right. Isn’t he a fitting partner for the hero?”
Fortunately, there was no need to answer the almost coercive question about Lord Winderton’s finances. There was no need to pay attention to the growling wolf either. Thankfully, the butler approached with a tray of food at just the right moment. While he set the food, the lord swallowed a dry gulp.
“I’ve prepared my best. Whether it suits your taste, try this.”
Sliced ham, cold-roasted and degreased meat, and a vegetable soup were laid out on the long table. Most of the food could be bought, chopped, or reheated.
Leon, who had been quietly looking down at the table, finally glanced around the deserted restaurant where not even a single servant was present. Come to think of it, the last time he was here, he saw several maids, but today the entire castle was as silent as a tomb.
“I’ll enjoy it. Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Oh, it’s an honor.”
Although there was fresh meat in front of the wolf, it didn’t even sniff at it. It just turned its head, seemingly amused.
“Um… Hero?”
“Yes.”
Leon picked up the withered vegetables from the soup and nodded.
“The Orion that Lord owns… It’s a place where the Sacred Sword was embedded, right? They say the tourism income is tremendous because over a thousand people visit from afar every week.”
“I don’t know. Probably managed by a proxy sent by the royal family.”
“R-right. Managing finances must be quite bothersome. You can keep it hidden and use it when you need it.”
Watching Leon, who cut his ham without much response, the lord beside him nudged Kedil’s foot. Kedil, with a determined look of refusal, kept his gaze fixed on the table.
When the lord leaned in that direction, his plump lips almost touched Kedil’s ears. In a low voice, the lord grumbled.
“Why are you so stupidly silent? Say something quickly.”
“Please stop, Father.”
“Do you want to see your father go bankrupt? Don’t forget that if even this ring is taken by the debt collectors, you won’t be a noble anymore.”
The lord shook his left hand threateningly. A large turquoise gem was embedded in the middle of the silver ring on his thumb.
Kedil looked at Leon, who was concentrating on his food, and the wolf yawning. The only one who didn’t know that people were pretending not to hear anything was the lord. His father’s disgrace was so embarrassing that it felt painful.
“…It’s a great disrespect to continue like this. Hero, you saved the Rodivoid Continent, the savior of all survivors. Isn’t this person someone you shouldn’t treat like this?”
“You fool. Fine. If you can’t make the hero fall, I have another way.”
“Father!”
To make the hero fall. Unbelievable words made Kedil grip the cutlery tightly. Whether saying anything or not, the lord turned his gaze towards Leon, his eyes shining like a bear waiting for a plump salmon.
Leon, with an expression that was hard to read, drank water and stared directly at the lord.
“Do you still collect taxidermy?”
“Oh, no. Somehow, I ended up disposing of them all… Hahaha.”
The lord awkwardly laughed and scratched his double chin.
Cheap food bought in bulk and cut a little at a time. Disappearing employees. The lord who sold off all the collectibles he had meticulously managed. The appearance of a strange man mentioning debts.
It became clear why he was so determined to keep Kedil close to Leon. The calculations were so transparent that it was more pitiful than infuriating.
A premonition struck. It seemed like today wouldn’t end without any significant incident.
“Hero, could you help me for a moment after the meal?”
What is this man thinking… he couldn’t just ask, can he?
thanks for the chapter ☺
ur welcomeee~~<33