Chapter 58: You say you want to see your parents’ faces, do you really want to see that?
ㅤLoft Lord, Loft Count Herman, was in high spirits.
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ㅤHe was in a good enough mood to summon his prodigal son, who had run off saying he couldn’t stand living in such a rural area, and treat him to dinner.
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ㅤ”It’s been a while, Father.”
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ㅤThe one who said so with a sullen face was a handsome young man with blond hair and blue eyes.
ㅤHowever, if Minato or the adventurers currently raiding the dungeon saw his face, they would reflexively say, “Ugh.”
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ㅤCretias Abygee Ziltemea, the Complaint Knight, also known as the Special Envoy Knight.
ㅤHe was originally the heir to the Loft Count, but he disliked the idea of inheriting a rural house, so he enlisted in the military and became a Royal Guard Knight, being granted the title of Baron Ziltemea.
ㅤHe had established a noble family independent of his main house, but he still didn’t have any territory. This man, with his overly strong sense of independence, inwardly resented the fact that he had to rely on his salary from the country.
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ㅤHis father, the Loft Count, understood his son’s psychology like the back of his hand.
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ㅤThat’s why he summoned him.
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ㅤ”So, what business do you have today? I’m currently busy trying to conquer the dungeon to save the country from this crisis.”
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ㅤEven with his son’s impudent tone, he could be tolerant just for today.
ㅤThe Loft Count, without losing his smile,
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ㅤ”Bring that.”
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ㅤHe ordered his butler.
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ㅤThe butler brought what had been prepared.
ㅤIt was placed on a silver tray, and a round silver lid was placed on top, as if to tease the viewer.
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ㅤ”My son, what do you think it is?”
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ㅤ”Well… I wouldn’t know, Loft Count.”
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ㅤThe handsome young man replied coldly.
ㅤHowever, contrary to his expression, his gaze was fixed on the lid.
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ㅤAfter drawing out the suspense, the Loft Count said,
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ㅤ”Open it.”
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ㅤ”Yes, sir.”
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ㅤThe butler removed the silver lid.
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ㅤOn the silver tray was a mysterious, purple lump.
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ㅤCretias frowned and said,
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ㅤ”…What is this creepy thing?”
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ㅤ”Oh! You call it creepy?
ㅤBut shouldn’t you at least know what it is you’re looking for, Baron Ziltemea?”
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ㅤ”Something I’m looking for, you say?”
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ㅤ”Indeed. This is the Cockatrice beak you’ve been desperately seeking.”
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ㅤCretias froze at the Loft Count’s words.
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ㅤ”No way…”
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ㅤ”Judging by the name, you were probably imagining something that looked like a bird’s beak, right? I thought the same thing, but I had a tight-lipped expert appraise it, and it’s definitely a Cockatrice beak.”
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ㅤThe Loft Count said, picking up the Cockatrice beak from the silver tray and rolling it around in his palm.
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ㅤ”Wh-where did you get this?”
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ㅤ”This morning, a drunken man, a washed-up adventurer, came to my soldiers claiming he had a Cockatrice beak and wanted to sell it.
ㅤThe soldiers ignored him, but he was so persistent that they beat him up, took the item, and reported it to their superiors.
ㅤI thought it was just a tall tale, but I had them investigate just in case…”
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ㅤ”And it was real. But why would such a man…?”
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ㅤ”When we caught the man and interrogated him, he confessed that his daughter, who was suffering from Stone Fever, had received it as a gift from a traveling adventurer. The man was a former adventurer, so he knew it was a genuine Cockatrice beak.”
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ㅤ”Received it as a gift? That’s a tall tale. An adventurer would never be unaware of the current value of a Cockatrice beak.”
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ㅤ”I thought the same thing and pressed him for more information, but it seems to be true. There are some charitable adventurers out there.”
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ㅤ”I can’t believe it. To give such a valuable item to a lowly girl for free, instead of the Prince…”
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ㅤ”Hmph. I agree, but the truth of that matter is irrelevant.
ㅤThe important thing is that the Cockatrice beak is here.”
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ㅤThe Loft Count grinned.
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ㅤ”If I present this to His Majesty, he will surely be pleased. His Majesty is particularly fond of the Prince.
ㅤIt wouldn’t be a dream for me to be granted the title of Marquis and be transferred to a territory near the Royal Capital.”
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ㅤ”…Indeed.”
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ㅤCretias reluctantly agreed.
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ㅤ”It’s a shame, Baron Ziltemea.
ㅤYou can’t get your hands on the Cockatrice beak, you can’t inherit my new territory, your mission as a Special Envoy Knight is a failure, and even your position as a Royal Guard Knight is in jeopardy.
ㅤIf you were to lower your head to me, I could, as we are not strangers, find a small village in my newly acquired territory and grant it to you.”
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ㅤCretias’s face flushed red with anger at the Loft Count’s taunting words.
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ㅤ”This was an unexpected stroke of luck. There are some foolish adventurers out there. The adventurer who pitied the commoner, the former adventurer who took the beak from the daughter with Stone Fever and tried to sell it.
ㅤBut my dealings with such fools are over. I will be transferred to a territory near the Royal Capital, and I will no longer have to deal with vulgar adventurers.
ㅤI can’t stop laughing.”
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ㅤThe Loft Count let out a low chuckle as he picked up the Cockatrice beak from the silver tray.
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ㅤ”So, what will you do, Baron Ziltemea? Will you surrender to me obediently? However, it’s out of the question for me to reinstate you as my heir now. Borealis, the child I had with Isabella, is a good child.”
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ㅤCretias didn’t answer.
ㅤHe bit his lip and desperately racked his brains.
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ㅤ(（Is there any way I can steal this beak and escape?)
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ㅤThat was the first thing that came to mind.
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ㅤHowever, the Loft Count was not a fool.
ㅤHe had already stationed soldiers around the room.
ㅤCretias was skilled with a sword, but he was outnumbered.
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ㅤKnowing this, the Loft Count was tormenting his former heir who had betrayed him.
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ㅤHowever, the Loft Count had miscalculated.
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ㅤCretias, the Complaint Knight, was more short-tempered and impulsive than his father had anticipated.
ㅤBeing a handsome man, he was also quite proud.
ㅤRather than losing that pride, he would rather…
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ㅤCretias drew the sword from his waist in a flash.
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ㅤThe next moment, the sword stopped on the Loft Count’s palm.
ㅤIt was only a hair’s breadth away from the skin of his palm.
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ㅤHowever, Cretias wasn’t trying to cut the Loft Count.
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ㅤIt was what was in his palm.
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ㅤ”Wh-what have you done!”
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ㅤThe Loft Count’s face turned pale.
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ㅤOn his palm, the Cockatrice beak had been cut in two.
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ㅤ”You’re a Royal Guard Knight, aren’t you!? How dare you trifle with the Prince’s life!”
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ㅤ”Hmph. To think that you would believe the words of a lowly drunkard and be tricked into buying a fake that doesn’t even resemble a Cockatrice beak, Loft Count, you’ve grown old. I couldn’t forgive the lowly man who mocked my aged father, so I swung my sword without thinking.”
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ㅤ”Don’t be ridiculous! I told you it was real! Oh, what have you done! My peerage, my transfer!”
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ㅤ”It was just a pipe dream, Loft Count.
ㅤBut don’t worry. To save the Prince’s life, I will definitely obtain a Cockatrice beak!”
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ㅤ”D*mn you! Get out! You ungrateful wretch! Do you know who raised you!”
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ㅤ”I am already independent as a Baron. I don’t remember being indebted to you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m busy.”
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ㅤThe Loft Count could only watch as Cretias left, stamping his feet in frustration.
