Alfine's point of view


My daughter Noelia has told me more details. This place is privately owned by my family and is part of the horse farm used by the Order. It's a secret place, so feel free to set up a settlement here and hopefully take care of the horses. We will pay you well. If there is anything that is not enough, feel free to ask a member of the knight guards for help.


　From the village of Devon in Invahannes, we had returned to Ygghanotes with Maribel's father, Marco, and the beastmen who had escaped from the mine.

　And now, in front of the old knight's quarters behind the mansion, we were face to face with Lloyd, the frontier count.


　This land is private property .......

　I heard that the frontier earl was a great nobleman, but I didn't know he was building such a huge ranch behind his mansion on a small hill.

　No wonder the frontier earl was said to be a war madman in the royal capital to own such a huge ranch privately.


　The sight of such a large ranch caught my attention and made me stand still.

　The beastmen, including Marco who was brought in just like me, open their mouths and look dumbfounded.


It's a good thing that you're not the only one. It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.


　The total number of beastmen who had escaped from the mine was about one hundred.

　Half of them were beastmen who worked as miners and the other half were their families.


''You may live here ...... and even work .......''


　Marco looked even more surprised when he saw the quarters attached to the stables.

　The quarters were apparently used until recently, but they were well cleaned and didn't seem to be inconvenient to live in.


'Yeah, the guys who were here have moved to the newer quarters,' he said, 'so you can use them as you please. You may use it as you please.


　The beastmen who had heard Lloyd the frontier count's words had begun to buzz around.


　Maybe we should tell them we'll escort them and get a place to stay.

　It's much nicer than a cheap hotel, and they have bathing facilities.


Oh, um. Can we use these quarters as well?　You see, we've learned a lot about it, too. It's a bit like staying at an inn in town: ......


　I'm sure Meira read my thoughts, and Lloyd, the frontier count, nodded his head as if to say of course.


You may use them as well. It's a good idea to have all of the knights of the Kingsguard wandering around the city flushed out by our talented servants and sent back to Gilette with a message saying, 'If you do any more sneaking around in my territory, I'll get your head.


　From Lloyd's face as he said that, I could see that he was serious.


　The little lad Gile shouldn't be so stupid as to make an enemy of Lloyd, who has the knights who are said to be the strongest in the kingdom, right?

　Now I feel like I can resume gathering information about Fynn in the city.


'Thank you for your consideration. I'll take you up on your offer, and we'll stay here until we find someone to look for.


　If the Konoe Knights of the Kingsguard are involved in the Abyss Walker case, it's hard to feel secure in the face of their pursuers, even if they've been driven away.

　We know all kinds of secrets, and if we keep this group of people alive, Giles will have no choice but to kill them.

　Especially since Maribel and Marco know just as much as we do.


　I've been looking at Maribel and Marco from the corner of my eye, happy to see their new home.

　Maribel, who has always done everything on her own without taking advantage of others, couldn't resist taking advantage of her father Marco on the way back from the Devon village.


　After all, normal parents and children are like that.

　It's a strange feeling.

　It's different from the director of the orphanage.


　If it's the sense of security that comes from being able to show my true self, then maybe the father I grew up with, Fynn, was my father.

　He's the only person who knew me as a selfish, sloppy, bad cook.

　I took advantage of the comfort of that relationship and kept pushing forward with it.

　Without realizing that this was a burden to him.

　He only remained given to us, and we didn't return it in any way, we just thought we gave him money and equipment back.


　I had been able to realize that the relationship between myself and Fynn was very strange because Fynn had abandoned me, my sword saint and noble status and the name of Alfine, and I was just an adventurer, Al.

　If he stayed like that, he would remain very childish and live a lifetime of leaning on Fynn, unable to be independent.


'Oh, that's right. There are still rewards for Al and his people's hard work. Maribel and Marco should come to the house to discuss the future.


　As I looked at Marco and Maribel's father and daughter and remembered what had happened with Fynn, I came to myself when Lloyd, the frontier count, called out to me.


'A reward?　I didn't mean to help with that ......

Don't be shy. Besides, I think this will be a great prize for you. The rest of you will clean your quarters and assign your rooms.


　After saying that much, Lloyd the frontier earl smiled meaningfully and went back towards the mansion.


''Al, what's the big reward from the frontier county master?　Maybe the aristocracy can take it away: ......

No, it's nothing serious for me. I'm sure the Countess of the Frontier knows that. So I think it's a different kind of prize: ......

'Big brother Al, big sister Meira, we'll just have to go to the mansion for now. Father's invited, and maybe it's a secret story you don't want to share with anyone else who knows a certain amount about the situation.


　It's a private story or .......

　You want to take a break from the beaten path.

　You're not a bad person, and the fact that this is such a big deal for me makes me nervous.

　I'm going to have to go.


Maybe Maribel's right. Besides, it would be impolite to refuse an invitation from the Countess of the Frontier, who has done all this for me.

Then let's go now!


　As soon as Meira takes my hand, she runs off to the house where the frontier count returned earlier.

　Maribel and Marco are running after us.