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Volume 13 Chapter 3 Part 5

It’s rare for the rulers of the lands where Labyrinths are located and their knights to slack off in their duties of liberating the Labyrinths as Rutina’s father the Earl of Selmar, did, because doing so can lead to serious consequences, just like I’ve witnessed first-hand.

「His Excellency is waiting in the back. 」

When I arrived at the lobby of Bode’s castle, I was told to go on my own as usual.

「Oh, wait a moment, please. 」

But then, someone else called me back. You’re right. It’s weird to be told to go on your own to the Duke’s chambers like that, so of course someone was bound to call me back at some point.

「What is it? 」

「Lady Cassia also has something that she would like to discuss with you. 」

Cassia, huh? I see. Is that so? If she wants to get rid of the Duke of Hartz or something like that, she can come and consult me anytime. If she wants to, we can even try to rebel against the old hag together. Then again, that would probably throw the region in a state of chaos.

「I see. 」

「I will inform her of your arrival. Please head to the Duke’s office first. 」

I was called back, but then he just let me go on my own again. Anyway, it looks like I have no choice but to go to the Duke’s office as instructed.

「Who is it? 」

I knocked on the door to the office, and from inside came the Duke’s voice asking who it was.

Huh, looks like Gozer is not here at the moment. If he was there, it was usually his job to ask who was at the door awaiting an audience with the Duke. Since he’s the big shot here, someone else should take that duty over when Gozer’s not in the office with him, but apparently that’s not the case here.

Anyway, the Duke’s voice came back from inside the office, which means that Gozer is not inside, and I’m going to be alone in there with him.

「It’s Michio. 」

「Ah, Lord Michio. Please, do come in. 」

「Yes. 」 I can’t turn around and leave now, so I just go inside.

「Thank you for coming. Sorry, but it’s actually Cassia who needs your help this time. I’ll call her now. 」

「Ah. I was just informed about that in the lobby. Someone should have already gone to tell her that I’ve arrived. 」

「I see. Then sit down. 」

「Of course. 」

Would it have been better to pretend that nothing had happened in the lobby? Well, even if it was, it’s too late for it now. I just don’t want to be told later that she must have heard that conversation in the lobby.

「Is Selmar’s daughter in good health? 」

He’s talking about Rutina, the daughter of the former Earl of Selmar.

「Yes. She’s doing her best. 」

To get revenge on someone for what he did to her father, that is… but I’m going to keep that little detail to myself, and I am sure as hell not going to try and stop her.

「She was originally an Earl’s daughter. If she goes to the Wizard’s Guild, she should be able to change Jobs. 」

「…I suppose so. 」

But I know that even if she went to the Wizard’s Guild, she wouldn’t be able to change her Job to a Wizard, since she’s already a Wizard.

「Judging by that expression of yours… have you already taken her there? 」

「…No. 」

That’s not what I meant. Not in the slightest. But I don’t need to explain that to him right now. I haven’t even told the old hag that Rutina has become a Wizard.

「But she will eventually become one. Please be patient. 」

She’s already a wizard, so time’s not even an issue here.

「Excuse me. 」

There was a knock on the door, and before the Duke could even ask who it was, Cassia came in. She’s as beautiful as ever.

「You’re welcome. 」

「Lord Michio, it’s nice to see you again. 」

「Y-Yes, you as well. 」

It’s easy to mistake such a welcome for something else. But I have Rutina in my house. As someone who hears Rutina’s lovely voice over and over again every day, it feels a little wrong.

I’m more than satisfied with Rutina. No, really, I’m more than satisfied with her. In fact, I’d rather go home and dote on Rutina than stay here. What would the Duke of Hartz even be without Gozer?

「Is Rutina doing well? 」

「Yes, she is. 」

「She doesn’t seem to be able to become a magician yet, though. 」

The Duke shouldn’t say such unnecessary things. She’s doing well. She’s actually getting used to it rather well.

「I see. They didn’t even offer elite education to her there. 」

See, what did I tell you? Now Cassia has become depressed. And in regards to her progress, it’s not a matter of education she received, but leveling her Job properly.

It seems that it’s normal for the children of nobles to form Parties with more experienced Adventurers from a young age so that they can enter the Labyrinths with them, but from what I could gather, Rutina didn’t do that at the personal request of the former Earl of Selmar. If only she had done that, then she would have probably been able to become a Wizard by herself, without needing any help from me. But things ended up going differently, for better or worse.

「She’s doing quite well. 」

「Is that so? 」

「She’s a valuable asset to my Party. 」 I praised her highly.

Is it a strategy to make Rutina feel bad and then cheer her up by offering her excessive praise? Because if that was Cassia’s aim here, then it’s a success.

「Is that so? Please take good care of Rutina then. 」

「Yes, of course I will. 」

I don’t really mind praising Rutina.

「Also, about the matter you came here for today… 」

「Yes? What do you need me to do? 」

I see. She is changing the topic of conversation to a different subject, and what she’s about to say is going to be the main subject. She made me praise Rutina, and then she’s going to demand a concession from me.

「It seems that you were scheming with the Duke to make a mockery out of me. 」

「… What? 」

「Don’t you think that you went too far with it? 」

Casia was angry, and she was blaming me, but I don’t know what she’s angry and blaming me about. I wanted to know what that was all about, but if I asked her why she was angry, I’d be in trouble. It doesn’t change the fact that I don’t understand what’s going on at all.

「No, no, no. I wasn’t hiding anything from you or scheming behind your back, Cassia. 」

When I looked at the Duke, he offered me a helping hand. Good, do more. I’ll give you the right to cause trouble for Gozer if you do!

「But you kept it a secret from me, didn’t you? 」

「No… that’s… 」

He was knocked out with a single hit! You should stop bothering Gozer after all. Now I start to actually pity the guy!

「Uhm… what are you talking about? 」

「A mirror. 」

「A… mirror? 」

「I heard that Michio-sama brought it in. 」

You mean the mirror that I brought from Palmasque and sold to the Duke?

「Oh, that one… wait, I didn’t know that it was supposed to be a secret. 」

「Well, the Duke certainly kept it a secret from me. 」

「I see. 」

Isn’t that the Duke’s fault? Because it’s sure as hell not my fault.

「No, no. I didn’t know if it would work…. 」

When I looked at the Duke again, he started making lame excuses.

「How could you keep something so wonderful a secret from me? 」

「I see. So the Duke kept it a secret from you? 」

「That’s right. 」

I’ll go along with Cassia here.

「No. As a result…. 」

「As a result, you kept it a secret from me. 」

「I didn’t do it intentionally…. 」

「 But you intentionally concealed it from me. 」

The Duke is guilty. And if the suspicion of the Duke becomes stronger, the suspicion of me will weaken, so I continued to let her criticize him.

「You are awful, my Lord. To be hiding such a wonderfully made interior decoration, and a mirror at that… 」