Volume 20 Chapter 1 One Serving
"Hey, Al. It seems you did quite well. Gustave is with you today, huh?"
After leaving the residence of Margrave Rain, Al and Gustave visited the 4th squad of the Margrave Rain Knights on the same day.
Al said he was fine going alone, but Gustave insisted on coming along.
Perhaps he intends to express his gratitude this time as well.
"Excuse me. This is a souvenir from the Marquis Tagard territory. It seems that products like this are a specialty over there. Please feel free to use it if you like."
Al said this as he took out 2 metal goblets from his bag.
He happened to find them while wandering around the city, looking for spellbooks that weren't sold in the Marquis Tagard territory.
They are made of silver, with a majestic dragon depicted on the surface.
When he asked the stall owner, he said they softened the surface using a secret method and then crafted it with a pointed tool like a needle.
Perhaps they used the 'Soften Metal' spell.
"Oh, this is quite a nice item. I'll definitely make use of it."
Lord Duran (A knight serving Margrave Rain. Meet him outside the cave where Al saved Orson) examined the goblet closely and, after enjoying it, began to ask Al and Gustave various questions about their mission.
The two explained what they saw and felt from their respective positions, but when Al mentioned being glared at by Melvin when the selected delegation departed after leaving the injured in the nearest village, Lord Duran hummed thoughtfully, crossed his arms, and leaned back in his chair.
"I see... So that's how it was."
"There was nothing I could do about that."
Saying this, Al shrugged his shoulders.
Lord Duran also frowned for a while, deep in thought, but it seemed he couldn't come up with an answer and shook his head.
"I'm sorry. For now, I'll keep it in mind. Can you continue?"
"Yes."
After repelling the attack, Gustave had nothing special to report. However, Al had many realizations and new insights from discussing battle tactics, security methods, and magic use with Lord Zora and some magicians from the kingdom's magic corps. He eagerly explained these to Lord Duran.
Lord Duran listened with keen interest.
"I see. In battles involving magicians, maintaining distance and concealing one's intentions are crucial."
"Exactly. Being aware of a 30-meter distance is particularly important, as it's the range for most spells, with some exceptions."
Gustave, standing nearby, also seemed impressed by the magicians' tactics as he listened to Al.
"Hmm. I've learned a lot. Good work. Have you heard about the iron mine?"
"Yes, but I've held off on responding. I'm not sure if I can handle the Lamia."
Lord Duran nodded at Al's reply.
"Fair enough. Don't make promises lightly. But honestly, it'd be helpful if you could handle it, as it would minimize damage. The knight magician unit isn't in great shape. Hmm... Perhaps a joint operation? With the battle against Marquis Prentis decided, real combat experience is invaluable."
Al quickly shook his head at Lord Duran's suggestion.
He likely meant to pair Al with the knight magician unit to gain combat experience against the Lamia.
He wasn't keen on taking anyone into a magic battle against an unknown foe.
"How about 30 gold coins?"
"I can't teach them about it. If they want to fight in real life, why don't they team up with a knight and go to the south of Lester to defeat the Barbarians?"
Al suggested in a casual tone.
Thirty gold coins were tempting, but in actual combat, he couldn't use spells like 'Conceal' or 'Transport,' which he kept secret.
Though, he'd already revealed some of his cards during spell practice.
Still, he didn't want to expose more to a magician from the knight's order, someone he barely knew, unlike family or trusted allies like Naresh or Orson.
"Can't be helped..."
Lord Duran pushed, raising the offer and explaining the need to build the magic corps's experience, but Al refused.
He didn't want to be relied on for training the magic corps.
In the end, he reluctantly gave up on the joint operation.
"By the way, about this time's payment, I'm still calculating it. I'll contact Gustave when it's done, alright?"
"That'll do..."
"──Lord Duran, about that!"
Al was about to say "Please," but Gustave cut him off.
"Alfred is my brother. I appreciate your evaluation, but the payment will come from me..."
At Gustave's words, Lord Duran tilted his head.
"But for this expedition, your retainer is only one person, so the payment will be limited to that. Besides, Al's role this time is as a magician. The payment for a retainer and a formally hired magician is entirely different. You're aware of that, right?"
"Uh... well, that's..."
Gustave hesitated, seeming a bit flustered.
Al had trusted Lord Duran and hadn't pressed for conditions, thinking it would benefit his brother. But could he really receive payment as a formal magician?
If so, the amount might be promising.
It's a month's work.
He might get 10 gold coins, or even 15.
How much would someone like Eric earn?
"Gustave, you said that because Al is your brother, but from my perspective, Al is a fully independent magician. This time, he even brought me a gift and is thinking about securing the next job. He's different from someone like you, who works under a knight order."
With that, Lord Duran gave Al a sly smile.
Hmm, he hadn't bought the gift with the intention of securing the next job, but there was no need to deny it.
Of course, as an adventurer, he wanted to be paid.
But being recognized as a fully independent magician by this veteran knight was something special, wasn't it?
"I see..."
While Al savored his joy, Gustave muttered something to himself, then suddenly looked up.
"I was mistaken. Thank you, Lord Duran. Alfred, without me realizing it, you've already become your own man."
"Huh? I'm already working as an adventurer, so I thought I was already a full-fledged one! Of course, as a magician, I still have a long way to go... Oh, wait? Is that also considered being a full-fledged one?"
"Hehe, it seems that 'still have a long way to go as a magician' has become your catchphrase. While it's good to have ambition at your young age, perhaps you should reconsider that phrase."
Lord Duran chuckled.
Al scratched his head in response.
"Well then, once the payment calculations are done, I'll contact Gustave. Oh, and I have some materials about the Lamia that I got here, so you can take them back to Heath (his squire). Although, to be honest, there wasn't much useful information. And make sure to return the tabard in good condition."
"Understood."
Al nodded.
The tabard worn by the Margrave's knights was still with Baroness Tabasa.
On the day he returned to the territory, he had borrowed a room in Gustave's house to meet Patricia, locking the door, and briefly showed his face at the research tower. At that time, he was told that they would clean and repair it, so he should take it out.
* * *
Al talked with Patricia almost every night before bed using the Ring of Pact, sharing the day's events, and it seemed that even the fact that he got shot in the chest with an arrow, creating a hole in the tabard, had reached Baroness Tabasa.
Speaking of which, when he explained about Jillian (the one who engaged with Patricia) from the Marquis Tagard family to Patricia, her reaction was rather lukewarm.
It might be a good idea to check with her about what she really thinks.
"Well then, excuse me. Thank you for everything."
After finishing their report, Al and Gustave bowed and took their leave from Lord Duran.
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