Chapter 125 - A Great Favor and a Request to One’s Brother
“I suppose I’ll ask my brother after all...”
For some time now, Volf had been searching for someone to teach him swordsmanship for duels and defense.
At first, he asked the seniors in the Monster Subjugation Force, but he couldn’t find a suitable candidate.
There were some formidable knights in the Royal Guard and the First Knight Order who the captain and vice captain could introduce him to, but considering their positions, it would be awkward to approach them. Even the seniors subtly discouraged him from pursuing that route.
When he asked his peers, they laughed and said they wouldn’t want to face the “Black Reaper” or the “Demon King” even with special allowances. It was a harsh joke, even if it was meant in jest.
After much deliberation, Volf decided to consult his brother. He sent a message, and a reply came almost immediately.
His brother invited him to dinner that evening, saying he had some time. Volf couldn’t help but feel guilty, knowing he had likely made time just for him despite his busy schedule.
Dinner was to be held at the Scalfarotto family’s secondary residence, the mansion Volf currently used.
When Volf arrived after finishing his duties, the servants were bustling about with more energy than usual, their smiles bright.
They must be excited because the future head of the family is visiting, Volf thought, half self-deprecatingly. He changed in his room and headed to the dining hall.
The high collar and the tie he hadn’t worn in a while felt uncomfortably tight.
“Thank you for making time despite your busy schedule, Brother.”
“No, I didn’t have much planned. I was happy to hear from you.”
His brother, with his silver-blue hair and deep blue eyes that reminded Volf of their father, was already seated.
Volf took his seat across the table, and Guido offered a toast before the meal began.
The dining table was far too large for just the two of them, and the glossy linen looked almost unnaturally white.
Having servants attend to every detail of the meal made Volf uneasy. He had grown too accustomed to the mess hall at the barracks over the years.
Perhaps it was the thirst after training, but he found himself finishing his aperitif faster than usual.
“It’s been a while since you’ve dined here, hasn’t it?”
“Yes. Since you’re here, everyone seems extra motivated.”
“That’s not it, Volf. When was the last time you had dinner with someone here?”
Volf paused, his knife hovering over the roasted duck as he searched his memory.
“It’s been a while, I suppose.”
“A while” was an understatement.
Since arriving here at the age of ten, he had hardly ever hosted a dinner—not with family, nor even with friends.
He had been invited to the main residence occasionally, but he had never hosted anyone here.
In the early days, he had dined with a maid by his side to stave off loneliness, but by the time he entered High Academy, even that felt like too much trouble. Eventually, he settled for eating alone in the dining hall with the bare minimum of dishes.
After moving into the barracks at the royal castle, he rarely returned to this mansion unless it was a long break.
“I haven’t visited often either, so the staff here must have felt rather uninspired. Now that you’re here, make good use of this place. Invite friends or colleagues for dinner, and the cooks will surely be motivated.”
“Thank you. I’ll do that.”
Volf expressed his gratitude sincerely.
The mansion also served as the address for the Rossetti Company. If anything came up, he might need to make requests here.
The roasted duck, crab soufflé, vibrant salad, fragrant soup, and the milk sherbet he had loved as a child—all the dishes served were undeniably delicious.
But as he took the last spoonful of the milk sherbet, he suddenly thought of the Green Tower.
The meals there weren’t made with special or expensive ingredients.
Yet, the food there was incredibly delicious.
Dishes he had never tasted before, flavors that were subtly different from what he expected.
Every time he ate and drank with Dahlia, he always felt like there wasn’t enough time.
And now, despite having eaten until he was full, he felt strangely unsatisfied.
The other day, Ozwald had suggested to Dahlia that she get a “large black dog.”
At the time, Volf had found the idea unpleasant, but the more he thought about it, the harder it became to dismiss.
Unbeknownst to him, it seemed the witch of the Green Tower had been “feeding” him all along.
As he watched his brother finish his meal with satisfaction, Volf quietly exhaled, careful not to be noticed.
・・・・・・・
After finishing dinner at a slightly faster pace than usual, Volf and Guido moved to the drawing room.
Guido dismissed all the servants except for one attendant. On the table between them, coffee steamed gently.
“So, Volf, what did you want to consult me about?”
“Actually, I’m looking for someone to teach me swordsmanship for fights against people and defense.”
“May I ask why? Oh, and feel free to speak casually. It’s just family here.”
“Thank you. Since my mother specialized in duels and protection, I wanted to learn that style as well. I can’t use magic, so I’m limited to body enhancement.”
“Are you planning to leave the Monster Subjugation Force?”
“My apologies, Brother. I haven’t considered that.”
“No need to apologize. I’d prefer if you stayed safe, but I won’t force you to change your mind.”
Guido slowly shook his head, then pressed a finger to his chin.
“Still, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t get carried off by a wyvern again. That really gave me a scare.”
“About that, all I can say is...Um, I only recently found out that you sent out a search party for me. I’m truly sorry for the trouble.”
Volf had only just learned that the Scalfarotto family had mobilized a large search party for him. Until then, it hadn’t even crossed his mind that his family would search for him.
“It’s no trouble at all. You made it back on your own, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Not entirely on my own. Dahlia helped me in the western forest.”
“Ah, I see. I heard a merchant gave you a ride in their carriage, but I didn’t realize it was the head of the Rossetti Company.”
Guido nodded thoughtfully and poured milk into his coffee.
Volf hesitated for a moment but decided to continue. Considering his own “what ifs,” there was something he wanted to ask of Guido.
“The day I was carried off by the wyvern, I ran through the forest for about two days. When I finally reached the road, Dahlia gave me a potion. I was covered in blood, so she took me to a river to wash up, then gave me a meal and escorted me to the gate. My vision was blurry from the monster’s blood, so honestly, I wouldn’t have made it back without her help.”
“I see. So the Scalfarotto name did come in handy after all.”
“No... I didn’t give her my family name. I only said I was the youngest son of a lower noble.”
“What?”
Guido’s expression turned serious.
The decorative sugar he had been about to add to his coffee fell into the cup with a plop.
“I was covered in blood, unrecognizable, and my armor was in tatters... I’m surprised she believed me when I said I was a knight from the Monster Subjugation Force. She could have easily thought I was a bandit.”
“Did the Rossetti Company Chairwoman’s carriage have any guards?”
“No, it was just her. She was traveling alone, dressed as a man.”
“I’m not familiar with commoner customs, but is it normal for a woman traveling alone on the road to help a blood-covered stranger to that extent?”
Guido’s question wasn’t directed at Volf.
The attendant behind him whispered, “It’s highly unusual.”
“Well, let’s say Volf was lucky… So, you asked for her address and visited her?”
“No, she wouldn’t give it to me. She said it was fine since I was with the Monster Subjugation Force. She gave me her wyvern coat to wear so I wouldn’t catch a cold and then sent me on my way.”
“...So that’s why you trust her.”
“There’s more.”
Volf put on his fairy crystal glasses.
The glasses, which even altered the impression of his features, made Guido and the attendant gasp.
“These are fairy crystal glasses. Thanks to them, I can walk freely in the city. But that’s not all. She’s made many other magical tools for me. The Monster Subjugation Force has also benefited from her compact magic stoves and other devices.”
Volf removed the glasses and carefully placed them back in their case. Guido watched him in silence.
“I owe her a great debt.”
She had saved him in the forest, listened to his stories, made him the fairy crystal glasses, the sköll bracelet, helped him craft artificial magic swords, and improved the expedition conditions for the Monster Subjugation Force.
Above all, she had become his friend.
If this wasn’t a great favor, he didn’t know what was.
“...If Dahlia Rossetti-dono is your benefactor, then she is also a benefactor to our family.”
Guido’s voice lowered, and Volf couldn’t help but frown.
Afraid that his brother might suddenly offer a large sum of money or other aid to the Rossetti Company, Volf spoke quickly.
“Brother, I truly appreciate your sentiment, but simply watching over them is more than enough. The Rossetti Company is doing well on its own. If anything comes up, I’ll consult you.”
“...Understood. I won’t interfere unless necessary. But if you or the Rossetti Company ever face trouble, you must tell me.”
“Thank you.”
Though their conversations had been brief, Volf had learned something about his brother.
Guido was incredibly overprotective of him. On top of that, he often acted faster than expected.
While Volf was grateful, it also made him feel a bit embarrassed and anxious at times.
“By the way, if you didn’t get her contact information, how did you find the head of the Rossetti Company?”
“I ran into her by chance in the city.”
“I see. A reunion straight out of an opera.”
“Not exactly...”
Volf averted his gaze from Guido’s intrigued expression.
That day, Volf had walked through the city with body enhancement activated, searching for Dahlia.
He had recognized her in a shop based on her silhouette alone, and he had identified her by her scent.
One wrong step, and he’d go beyond just being pathetic—he’d be downright dangerous.
Volf quickly changed the subject by sipping his coffee and recalling the request he had wanted to make to Guido.
The reason he had told Guido about his encounter with Dahlia was this: as long as he was a member of the Monster Subjugation Force, such a situation could happen again.
“Brother, there’s one thing I’d like to ask regarding the Rossetti Company.”
“What is it?”
“If I ever get carried off by a wyvern again, please act as the Rossetti Company’s guarantor. Just until I return.”
“Of course. But try to make it a short trip. I’m quite busy myself.”
The two brothers shared a boyish laugh.
Behind them, Guido’s attendant wore a deeply troubled expression.
Comments
Post a Comment