Dinner and a Pleasurable Evening
When I returned to the mansion, Luchila, Milka and Gerberga were waiting for me .
“Mister Locke . Welcome back . ”
“Welcome home!”
“Cluck-cluck . ”
“Lord Gerberga, everyone . Thank you . ”
“Cluck . ”
“But I’m tired, so I’m going to go to sleep . ”
Milka looked surprised when I said this .
“It’s still very early . What about dinner? I’m supposed to be making it!”
“Ah, yes, I will be eating . Just wake me up when it’s ready…”
“Understood!”
I returned to my room . Grulf followed after me .
Perhaps it was because I used a lot of magic energy, but I was very drowsy . And so I collapsed onto the bed .
Grulf jumped in too . I patted him on the back .
“Good work today, Grulf . ”
“Groof . ”
Grulf put his chin on my stomach .
He was large, but still a pup . And he liked to be coddled .
“Groof-groof . ”
I ended up falling asleep while petting him .
“Mister Locke . Dinner is ready!”
“Groof-groof . ”
I awoke to the sound of Milka’s voice . Grulf was licking my face happily .
It was already dark outside . I had slept for about three hours then .
“…Milka . Thank you . And thank you for waking me up too, Grulf . ”
“Grr!”
I scratched his head and then got up .
Everyone was waiting in the dining hall when I arrived . Eric, Goran, Serulis, Shia, and Gerberga .
And then Milka and Luchila brought in the food . As host, I helped them .
“You made this, Milka? Thank you . ”
“Don’t mention it . It’s my job!”
Everyone took their seats and we ate dinner together .
The taste was definitely interesting . I wouldn’t say it was horrible . But I wouldn’t say it was good either .
But when you think about, it was a wonderful thing to have food that wasn’t horrible .
“Mister Locke . How is it? I don’t have much experience cooking, so I’m not too confident about it!”
“Is that right? I thought it was pretty good . ”
“Really! That’s great . ”
Milka said happily .
Serulis looked at Milka and said gently,
“Milka . It’s delicious . I like to cook too, so we can cook together next time . ”
“Sister Serulis . Thank you!”
Eric, Goran, Shia, and Luchila were all smiling and eating as well .
Even Grulf and Lord Gerberga seemed to be enjoying their food .
After we ate, we finished cleaning up and everyone gathered in the drawing room .
I asked a question that had been bothering me .
“By the way, why did you come, Eric?”
“I had some free time, you see . And I thought I would test the secret passage a little and stop by your house for a visit . ”
Once he had arrived, Luchila had told him about Marquis Mastafon, and so he had come running .
“I can imagine the shock of the citizens as they saw His Majesty running through the streets . ”
“It’s fine . I was wearing a hood . ”
“I see . Well, be careful . ”
And then we came to the main subject .
“Eric . Have you decided on how you are going to deal with Kabino’s interrogation?”
“Yes . I decided to set up an investigation headquarters within the privy council . ”
The privy council was an advisory body under the king’s direct control .
It answered the king’s questions concerning politics and issued the king’s orders .
But it also acted an intelligence agency for the king .
So the investigation headquarters being inside of it meant that Eric himself would be commanding it .
“What happened to the district manager?”
“He’s been temporarily moved to the privy council . We can’t be too sure he won’t be assassinated . ”
“That’s good . ”
We had been so busy recently that it seemed like a lot of time had passed .
However, we had only caught Kabino at around midday . It was from here that the investigation would really begin .
“Also, Locke . I have given you the office of councilor . Remember that . ”
“What? That sounds like too much trouble . ”
“Well, the king’s representative should have control over the privy council . So it would be easier for you to act if you had some sort of position there . ”
“I suppose you’re right…”
“I won’t publicize it . Do not worry . ”
“In that case, I don’t mind…”
Obviously, councilors were usually known to the public .
It was a great honor to have that position and was usually given to great nobles who had been ministers .
But he was taking care to protect my identity by not making it known .
Goran listened to this and said,
“But if it’s not known, then he won’t be able to use his power?”
“I thought you would say that . And so I brought the councilor ring . ”
Eric put this ring on the desk .
It was a seal that could be used on wax for letters .
“But then everyone would know he’s a counselor if wears that . ”
“Oh, yes, that’s true…”
“I suppose you can just keep it with the necklace . ”
“I’ll do that . ”
I attached the ring to the necklace, just like Goran advised .
I would have to strengthen the string with magic so that it didn’t break .
After this, I asked Goran,
“What about the investigation of the Evil God base?”
“I sent a party of A Rank Adventurers . They should make a report within two or three days . ”
Two or three days was too quick considering the distance .
That meant that the party must be using teleportation circles to travel .
Eric nodded and then muttered .
“…To think that Marquis Mastafon’s house had been taken over like that…”
According to Eric, Marquis Mastafon has been lord of financial affairs a few years ago .
He was supposed to be a capable man . He had an important job even after leaving that position .
“But last month, he suddenly claimed that he was sick and needed to rest…”
That was when the steward took over the house and locked him and his wife up .
“Philly said she was a fifth daughter . But where are her brothers and sisters?”
“The Marquis only has five daughters . The other four have either married or are studying abroad . The fifth daughter is the only one who remains in the capital . ”
It was the one blessing amongst their misfortune, I suppose . That meant their whole family were now safe .
“Currently, the privy council and Adventurers guild are doing everything they can in investigating Marquis Mastafon’s mansion . ”
“And the family?”
“They are being protected within the palace now . Don’t worry . ”
“That’s good . ”
I was relieved .
Since we were all gathered, I decided to ask Eric and Goran something that I had been wondering about .
“It seems like the enemy had been planning this for a long time… But their execution was really careless . What do you think?”
“What I think is… The dark ones realized that Locke had returned…?”
“That’s possible . And so maybe they had to speed things up . ”
“So it’s my fault…”
Eric laughed .
“It’s not your fault, Locke . It’s thanks to your return that they failed, isn’t it?”
“Indeed . Thanks to you, things are easier to deal with . Who knows what would have happened had they continued to slowly make preparations and managed to summon the entire Evil God . ”
“I am very glad that you returned Locke . Not just as your friend, but as the king . From the bottom of my heart . ”
“Thank you . I’m glad that you feel that way . ”
It was clear that the dark ones were still plotting something .
We would have to continue to fight them .
As I was filled with a renewed resolve, Shia looked at me seriously and said,
“It would be safe to believe that there are other vampires working in the shadows . ”
“In any case, we were able to take back Marquis Mastafon’s house, which they had taken years to make their bridge into the capital . This also means that we succeeded in robbing them of the ability to create the Fool’s Stone . ”
Eric was right . It was a big deal that we were able to save Philly, the genius Alchemist .
“I will have to reward you again…”
“I just got a reward the other day . You can give them to me all at once some other time . ”
“Sorry . Yes, the nobles will probably grow suspicious by so many rewards in rapid succession… Of course, don’t think that means I’ll forget your contributions . ”
“Well, it’s really nothing . ”
Just then, Goran seemed to remember something as he said,
“By the way, Locke . I heard that only Serulis and the others can open the door to this house . Is that really fair? Don’t you agree, Eric?”
“Yes . I wish you would allow me to open it as well…”
“Of course, I was going to register you two when you visited . Come with me . ”
And so I took Eric and Goran with me to the gate to be registered with the magic lock . Eric and Goran laughed . They were in a good mood now .
We had killed the vampires that had actually invaded the city . We were safe for now .
This was a night to relax and enjoy ourselves .