My name is Mikel.
I am the son of High Priest Fushu, who is somewhat well known within the Korin Religion.
Let me explain a little.
The Raywhite Kingdom and its neighboring countries are largely populated by humans, but of course, other races live there as well.
Elves, Dwarves, Beastkin, Minotaurs, Lizardmen, and many others. They often gather among their own kind to form villages and settlements, living with little contact with humans.
However, it is difficult to have no contact at all, and they are sometimes connected through small-scale trade.
-0-
The four members of Luminous Butterflies, including Kaara, had something they wanted to discuss with us.
They could have just called out to us normally, but instead they startled us with that whole performance because they were shy. I will never forget it.
Even if I die, I will not forget it.
It may not be flattering to say this about myself, but I tend to hold grudges.
And the one Kaara and the others were interested in was not Alfred-kun…… but me.
What?
Me?
Why?
「We would like you to arrange a meeting with Fushu-sama.」
Ah, so their target is mother.
I see.
May I ask the reason?
「We would like her to contact Lulushi-sama.」
…………
Lulushi-sama.
It is a name I have heard many times from mother.
And she is Alfred-kun’s mother.
However, mother has never spoken Lulushi-sama’s name publicly.
So how do Kaara and the others know about the connection between mother and Lulushi-sama?
「It is well known in our circles that she requested a treatment medicine for you from Lulushi-sama.」
It is?
Ah, wait a moment.
What do you mean by your circles?
「The Apothecaries’ Union.」
The Apothecaries’ Union is a pharmaceutical trade organization active around the Raywhite Kingdom.
They handle a wide variety of medicines at relatively affordable prices and are famous as allies of the common people.
Could it be that Luminous Butterflies is part of the Apothecaries’ Union?
「Yes. We are one of its core organizations.」
Oh.
I did not know that.
So Luminous Butterflies is actually a proper organization.
To be honest, I thought they were just adventurers using a flashy name.
My apologies.
「Not at all. Although we are a core organization, we rarely appear in public.」
You did say you were shy.
「That is part of it, but we are also vampires.」
Huh?
「People fear us, so we live away from public attention.」
Ah, well, in the Raywhite Kingdom it might be different, but in neighboring countries that makes sense.
Many places tolerate Elves and Dwarves, yet dislike races that differ more visibly from humans, such as Beastkin, Lizardmen, or Harpies.
And although vampires look human, their taste for blood and their habit of being active at night and avoiding the daytime make people uneasy.
As for me, I do not feel any disgust toward vampires.
After all, Lulushi-sama herself is a famous vampire.
Of course, I also know that Alfred-kun is a vampire.
The princes and the noble young ladies probably do not know that.
And Alfred-kun himself…
He is currently preparing food for the night watch together with the guards.
-0-
Right, when Kaara and the others arrived, most of the guards were actually awake.
There was a reason they did not move to support or rescue us.
Kaara and her group had informed them in advance, individually, that they would be putting on a performance.
Does that not count as abandoning their duty as guards?
Even if I generously overlook our own guards, what about the princes’ guards? Surely that is unacceptable.
But… the princes knew as well.
Damn it. That makes me look like a fool for panicking back then.
If that was the case, they could have told me too, but apparently I was their target.
I cautiously asked whether Alfred-kun had known about it.
He had not.
Good.
As for why Kaara and the others did not inform Alfred-kun…
It seems he left them no opening.
……..
Which means the guards did have an opening?
The more I think about it, the more it feels like there is a problem with the guards.
-0-
Let me return to the main topic.
After hearing them out, Kaara and the others said they wished to contact Lulushi-sama.
However, they themselves had no means of reaching her, so they wanted to ask mother, who was believed to have been in contact with her recently, to pass along a message.
Recently, they say. It was about ten years ago, though.
I do not mind relaying the message to mother, but I would at least like to know why you want to contact her.
「We of Luminous Butterflies are the caretakers of the medicinal herb fields established by Lulushi-sama. Even after she was gone, we continued that work. However…… a wyvern has taken up residence near one of our most important herb fields, and we do not know how to deal with it.」
A wyvern.
A terrifying monster that flies through the sky.
Rumor says that some individuals are even stronger than dragons…
Could they not hire adventurers?
「The herb field is a secret location.」
I see.
Even if they drove the wyvern away, if the herb field became widely known, it would likely be raided.
「Yes. However, with Lulushi-sama’s power, we believe she could deal with the wyvern. And if not, perhaps she could relocate the herb field…」
Before Kaara could finish, Alfred-kun cut in.
「Very well. I shall deal with this wyvern myself.」
Ah… perhaps Alfred-kun really could handle even a wyvern.
「It may even be a wyvern I know. If fortune smiles upon us, we may settle this through discussion.」
He certainly has a wide circle of acquaintances.
Kaara asked who Alfred-kun was, so I answered.
「He is Lulushi-sama’s son.」
……
I just witnessed the most beautiful, flawless vassal’s bow of respect.
「Wait, wait. Even if this organization is connected to mother, I will not work for free. You understand. I want that eye medicine.」
「……」
「What is wrong? Is the task too insufficient for the reward? As expected of a secret elixir among secret elixirs.」
「No, it is just… that medicine was created by Lulushi-sama herself, so offering it as payment is…」
「…………………… I suppose I should ask Mother.」
「Yes.」
「No, you did well to tell me. The reward shall be that medicine.」
And with that, it was decided.
-0-
Alfred-kun will deal with the wyvern.
That part is fine.
However, there is a problem.
Kaara and the others’ herb field lies about thirty days’ travel from here.
And it is outside the Raywhite Kingdom.
In other words, another country.
It is a friendly nation to Raywhite, so ordinary citizens can travel back and forth without much trouble…
But we cannot bring the princes and the noble young ladies with us.
With our current scale of escort, slipping across quietly would also be difficult.
And considering the days required to travel there and back, taking the princes and noble daughters along would not be realistic.
I thought it would be best to return to the royal capital once and then set out again properly, but…
「If the wyvern calls a mate to its nest, relocating it will become far more difficult. We should act quickly.」
Alfred-kun proposed that we go directly from here without returning to the capital.
As for the princes and the noble young ladies…
We will part ways at a village near the border.
Well, we need to sell the materials taken from the hunted beasts anyway, so that seems reasonable enough.
When we explained this plan over breakfast, the princes were extremely unhappy.
「This is delicious.」
「I have never had a meal like this before…」
「Excellent.」
「Um, may I have another serving…?」
The four members of Luminous Butterflies are eating the breakfast Alfred-kun prepared inside the tent.
Preparing portions for them as well… Alfred-kun is kind.
Come to think of it, there was once a personal chef who served the Asamud Royal Family.
His name was… Ribic*, I believe.
TN: Chapter 968
He stormed in furiously when the princes began preferring Alfred-kun’s cooking and stopped eating the meals prepared at the palace.
And from that day onward, whenever it was time to eat, he would show up with the princes at Alfred-kun’s place.
I will never forgive him for eating ten of the thirty karaage pieces by himself.
There were eight of us there, including me.
Well, after Alfred-kun spoke about the existence of food even more delicious than his own cooking, that man could not believe it and set off for the Demon King’s country to see it with his own eyes.
I wonder if he made it there safely.
-0-
We arrived at a large city near the border.
Here, we part ways with the princes, the noble young ladies, and the escorts.
I understand the need for escorts for the princes and noble daughters, but ours as well?
Apparently, they cannot enter another country without permission.
W-well, they may be our escorts, but they are people of considerable standing.
That being the case, it will be just Alfred-kun and me, along with the four members of Luminous Butterflies.
I cannot let Alfred-kun go alone.
…I feel a little uneasy.
And just as I was thinking that, trouble occurred.
When we tried to sell the materials from the demon beasts we had hunted at the adventurers’ guild in this city, they told us we needed to register as adventurers.
I thought we had already registered in the royal capital, but apparently this guild is not affiliated with the one there, so we must register again.
They demanded a registration fee that was not cheap.
That alone was irritating, but then a guild employee tried to confiscate Alfred-kun’s weapon, saying it was beyond someone of his station.
Alfred-kun gently refused with words, but the ones who moved faster were the princes.
They rampaged so fiercely that the adventurers’ guild building was reduced to ruins.
Of course, the princes themselves do not have the power to destroy a building no matter how wildly they act.
In truth, it was the escorts of the princes and the noble young ladies who caused the destruction.
The four members of Luminous Butterflies also lent their strength from the shadows.
I knew.
But I did not stop them.
Alfred-kun tried to stop the princes.
I did not.
I am sinful.
But this adventurers’ guild…
Every single employee had an openly foul attitude.
They are absolutely involved in something improper.
I will contact mother and ask her to investigate whether any evidence of wrongdoing can be found in the wreckage of the ruined building.
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