The Sage Summoned to Another World Volume 4 Chapter 20 Part 2
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Translator: vysio_seth
Volume 4 Chapter 20 Part 2
The trip to the Imperial Capital was without any drama to speak of.
We arrived on time and immediately went to the castle for an audience with the Emperor. Normally it would take several days to see him after setting an appointment, but the concerns this time around were of the dungeon flooding and the encounter with the Hero of Generate Kingdom.
His Majesty was eager for the report as soon as possible, so he canceled his other plans to meet with us.
Inside the large chamber in the royal castle, several key figures were in attendance. Including the Emperor, all of them were involved in the governing of the country.
Char, Natalie, and I joined them at the table, while Al in her Kingsguard’s armor took her place behind Char.
「——— That’s about it. And these are the documents」
I briefed them about the events that had taken place in Arland and brought out two contracts from my Dimensional Storage. One was of this country and the other was to be submitted to the Commerce Guild headquarters. I placed them both on the table.
「—- I never expected you to cross paths with the Hero…… More so that you are stronger than him, Touya-dono…….」
The officials who were present also looked incredulous.
They were aware of the power the Hero possessed. He easily defeated the Kingsguard commander, Al’s father, who was the symbol of power of the Lunette Empire for many years.
Even though my contribution to recapturing the Imperial Capital was well known, I had used a lure to capture the prince. The only ones that were aware of my strength were His Majesty and the three girls who bore witness when we escaped from the capital. Oh, and Alice as well……
「About the 500 million gils to be paid by the Generate Kingdom……」
Char began to express her curiosity about the allotment.
「It has already been decided on how the compensation will be apportioned. 300 million gils will cater for the reconstruction of Arland. 100 million gils will pay for the Commerce Guild fee and the administrative costs of the state. The remaining 100 million gils will be the reward for—- Marquis Kisaragi. Does anyone object? 」
No one seemed to express any objection to the Emperor’s proposal.
Frankly, I don’t mind if they give all of my reward to the city of Arland…….
「I see no one has any objection. Then please arrange it that way」
「Yes, Your Majesty」
The person who I believe is the treasurer, nodded, and made a note of it.
「Still, when you keep stacking up achievements like this in such a short period of time, it is quite difficult knowing how to go about rewarding you…… What do you reckon? Would you like to become a Duke? 」
「I must decline! I mean I am fine as I am now……」
His Majesty responded with a laugh, but his eyes were not smiling. If my refusal is poorly received, there is a possibility I will be knighted as a Duke as he wishes.
「But, you brought the dungeon flooding to a halt, and also made the Hero of Generate Kingdom taste defeat. We can’t just do nothing. —- I wish there was something else I could offer you……」
Rewards can range from bestowal of nobility, to money, and in some cases, the reward can be just a medal of honor. A medal has no monetary value, but it is an honor that is made known to the public.
「In that case I will be grateful for any reward you see fit」
If I remained against receiving any reward, we would not be able to proceed. I really just want to return as quickly as I can to the mansion so I can spend some time with Ferris.
After the lengthy meeting was over, we parted.
I held a private talk with His Majesty because he was interested in hearing more details about the events that occurred in the dungeon. So, I ended up staying at the castle longer than intended.
When the sun was close to setting, His Majesty arranged for a carriage to take me back to the mansion.
I thanked him when he dropped me off right in front of the gate, and took my time walking around my mansion.
「Maybe now I can relax for a little while……」
I stretched out my back and as I was about to take a much needed rest, a voice suddenly called out to me.
「…… Is that you Touya……?」
—– A familiar voice.
I turned around to face the owner of the voice—— Lumina. Lumina was standing there at the gate, wearing her usual bikini-armor.
「It is you, Touya! I did hear after arriving in the Imperial Capital, from the guild, that you had become a noble. I didn’t really believe it…… No, I have something to say before that. I am sorry about that time……」
Lumina suddenly bowed deeply.
The last we saw each other was during our fight, when I was fleeing from Salandir Kingdom.
「Lumina, please raise your head. That is all in the past. More importantly…… About the favour I asked of you……」
I had asked her to take care of Saya and the kids at the orphanage. Could it be—–
Lumina raised her head enthusiastically with a grin on her face.
「Yes! That’s the reason why I came to see you, Touya. I have been keeping an eye on them at the orphanage like you asked. I lived with them for a while even—–」
I cut her off before she finished. I felt uncomfortable having her standing at the gate dressed as she is.
「Why don’t we continue inside the mansion, follow me」
「Oh, alright, if that is fine with you, Touya. To believe you actually live in such a huge house. Life sure is different when you are a noble」
I chuckled a bit as Lumina looked up at the mansion.
I told a maid to show Lumina to the reception room while I went to my room to change out of my noble attire and into my casual clothes.
「What is Lumina doing all the way here…… Is something wrong……?」
I was a little apprehensive, but I went to the reception to talk to her.
After knocking lightly on the door, I entered the room and found Lumina pacing around the edge of the room, seemingly unsettled.
「Lumina, you can relax……」
Lumina noticed me and a tiny blush appeared on her cheeks.
「No, I had no idea that you would be living in a mansion larger than the city lord’s…… I can’t help feeling weird」
I gave a wry smile and suggested she sit down on the sofa.
When she did, I immediately got to the point. I just wanted to know what was going on.
「So what brings you to the capital, Lumina-san……?」
「The thing is, I moved to Dumbler and frequently checked up on the orphanage like you asked me to, but being the slums and all, I was often ambushed in the street. Of course I can handle myself, so that was nothing. Eventually though, it got out that I made visits to the orphanage, and there was an attack on the building. I did catch the culprits and gave a firm smacking though」
Lumina laughed out with a cackle in her throat, she no doubt can handle herself seeing how she is a solo B-rank adventurer.
But she was walking in the slums in bikini-armor. That spelled trouble. It is something I overlooked.
I covered my face with hands as I reflected on my foolishness.
「Because of all the skirmishes, the lord asked us to move the orphanage. When I discussed with Saya about where to move them, the merchant named Alice you had asked to look after them happened to be there at that time, and she said—- 『Why don’t you go to the capital in Lunette Empire, where Touya lives? 』 Saya agreed, so we all came here with the children」
…… Alice……
No, I’m happy I get to see the kids, just wasn’t expecting it to be this sudden!
I’m not even sure where I’m going to have them stay…… Oh, I do have this place. It has plenty of rooms, I guess I don’t mind if they stay here for now.
「Where are Saya and the kids at……?」
「Ah, with the money you left with me, I found a place for them to stay today. I just came alone to give you the heads-up」
「I’ll send for a messenger tomorrow. You can live here starting tomorrow. We have plenty of extra rooms. I think we will need some extra bedding though」
「They’ll be here tomorrow. I now know my way around here 」
I’ll have to make arrangements right away. Well, they are small, so I’m sure it won’t be a problem to have them stay with me for a little while until we get them properly settled in.
「Then tomorrow around noon, I’ll have lunch prepared for you 」
「That’ll be okay. You really have become a noble, huh, Touya. It’s hard to imagine that we were once on an escort request together, but well, when we were attacked by a pack of Orcs and you showed your abilities, I did think you’ll eventually be hired by some noble 」
After this, she told me how life has been in Dumbler, and I saw her off before dinner.
When I tried to send her off in a carriage, she refused for some unintelligible reason that it was kind of embarrassing for an adventurer to be riding in a carriage.
I got around to asking her about Alice’s whereabouts, to which she told me that Alice has business in another city and had left the capital. I’m sure she left in a hurry because of what I just heard.
I’ll get her the next time I see her……
I told a servant that I was expecting a number of visitors tomorrow and asked him to prepare bedding and other things for them.
He declined to take funds I was giving him, saying that because of my position as a Marquis, he has received a large amount for support from the treasury.
At the end of the long day, I crawled into bed thinking about the children I hadn’t seen in a long time.
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