Chapter Two Hundred and Forty-One: Arrival
“Mmm, the air is cold!”
Karen took Julius’s hand and stepped down from the carriage, stretched her arms above her head, wearing a warm, fluffy coat and the gloves she’d received from Sieg.
Her body was stiff from being jolted in the carriage for so long. Even so, since the territorial capital at the westernmost end of the Ehlertt land was only five days northeast from the royal capital, the journey was relatively easy. Irmlinde’s territory, where Waltride had headed, apparently took a month one way by regular carriage.
The Ehlertt territory was only five days away, yet perhaps due to its proximity to the northern Bruyère mountain range, winters here were colder than those in the royal capital. The frozen winds from the mountain peaks might be blowing down on the territory.
“Your cheeks are red, Karen.”
“Mr. Julius, the tip of your nose is also a bit red.”
And her earring was freezing cold, feeling like her ear might fall off. When Karen gently channeled magical power into her earring, Julius’s eyes widened.
“Karen?”
“Did your ear get warm?”
Julius looked astonished, then smiled. The next moment, Karen’s ear grew gently warm.
“…That was my first time channeling magical power into it.”
As Julius whispered this, Karen also lowered her voice.
“Why don’t we casually infuse magical power like this from time to time?”
“To warm each other’s ears?”
Julius chuckled softly. Looking up at him, Karen narrowed her eyes.
When Julius had gone missing in the dungeon, his magical power had been depleted, and he hadn’t been in any condition to channel magical power into his earring. But even if he had been overflowing with magical power, Karen didn’t think Julius would have asked her for help.
So that someday Julius could infuse magical power into the earring to call for Karen’s help—this would serve as practice for that.
“Yes. Since it’s cold… just occasionally, when you remember, please channel magical power to warm my ear.”
“All right.”
Though there was no need for it, they smiled at each other over this small promise made in lowered voices like sharing a secret, then headed toward the mansion.
“Welcome, Lady Karen. Welcome home, Master Julius. And to all of you, thank you for coming.”
The one who said this was Volker, who had come out from the mansion to greet them. Volker was the butler of the Ehlertt household in the royal capital. If she recalled correctly, he had remained at the royal capital residence last year.
“So this year, you’re here as well, Mr. Volker?”
“We reorganized the personnel at the territorial capital mansion this time, so the number of servants has decreased significantly. That is why I have come here this year.”
“…I see.”
Karen immediately understood. Last year in the Ehlertt territory, Horst Brahm’s influence had reached every corner. Surely the servants were no exception. With Horst’s crimes, the influence of the former Earl Winfried’s faction had weakened. Taking this opportunity, Helfried had decided to replace personnel.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Horst wasn’t the only noble who had participated in the dungeon scheme. Thus, while the Ehlertt Earldom bore the stigma of producing a criminal, it had escaped severe punishment through adjustment of interests with the royal family, much like other territories.
It wasn’t any specific territory at fault—the blame was being placed on the weak who were born without magical power. The incident had taken on that tone.
As a result, nobles with little or no magical power—despite having no involvement—were probably finding life uncomfortable in their own lands. They might already be receiving terrible treatment.
Karen had promised Horst she would stop this. However, so far, she hadn’t found a way to do so.
In Karen’s estimation, there existed potions in this world that could only be made by those who understood the state of having no magical power. The more useful those potions were, the less harsh the treatment of people born without magical power would become. However, she hadn’t established a method to prove this.
“You’re sure it’s fine for my party to lodge here as well?”
“Of course. As Lady Karen’s younger brother and his party members, we have been ordered by our lord to extend Ehlertt’s full hospitality to you. Even without that, it is our pleasure to host a B-rank adventurer party such as yours.”
Volker said this in response to Thor’s question. Thor’s party members, who had been moving their bodies by stretching and doing squats after getting off the carriage like Karen, caught up.
“Ms. Wanda! And…”
“I be Odo.”
A dwarf with black hair and a thick black beard, carrying a giant axe on his back. Like all dwarves, he was short, and his age was indeterminate due to the beard covering most of his face, but he seemed younger than Urgo from the magical tool shop.
“I’m Luis. Ms. Karen, you’re cute even in different clothes from usual—why are you kicking me, Leader!? I haven’t done anything yet!”
The one speaking in a flirtatious tone and giving her a suggestive look was a fairly handsome man with brown hair and blue eyes. He was clutching his shin with teary eyes after receiving a low kick from Thor. With light equipment and a bow on his back, he was probably an archer.
“I’m Chris. I might look like an old guy, but I’m the lowest-ranking member here, so if you need anything, just send me running.”
As he himself said, he was an old man with gray hair mixed with white. He had a worn-out appearance and wore a tired expression. He was about the same height as Julius, with a more solidly built frame than Julius. Being a B-rank adventurer and looking like that, he might actually be quite elderly. He carried a longsword and shield.
“I’m Wanda, a mage. I’ll be intruding for a while.”
Thor was probably the youngest among them. Yet he was their leader. It was a strange sight, no matter how many times she saw it, and Karen blinked repeatedly.
She had barely exchanged greetings with anyone except Wanda. They had been made to wait in the royal capital until recently, indulging Thor’s selfish wish to stay by Karen’s side until her supporters were decided. And on top of that, they had followed her all the way to the Ehlertt territory.
That said, Karen was not their objective.
“We can explore the local dungeon, right?”
“We would be grateful if you would. The dungeon’s dormancy period has already ended, and the lowest floor is believed to have gone deeper than the twentieth floor.”
“So the lowest level is the thirtieth, then?”
“Most likely.”
“Sounds just right for us now.”
Thor turned to his companions and grinned. Conquering the thirtieth floor. That was the condition for a B-rank adventurer to rise to A-rank.
Not only Thor, but Wanda, Odo, Luis, and Chris all wore fearless smiles. Though it would undoubtedly be a dangerous journey, there was no sign of anxiety. Rather, they seemed to be looking forward to it.
Thor had never been afraid of dungeons. Because of that, he seemed to stand out not only among his peers but among adventurers in general, but his party members appeared much the same.
Watching their backs as they entered the mansion, Karen narrowed her eyes.
“…Thor finally has friends who understand him, huh.”
“No, no, no, is that really such a cute story?”
“As Sepl said, that’s a gathering of terrifying lunatics.”
Sepl and Urte had exasperated looks on their faces. They had come along as Karen’s supporters. Even to them, Thor and his party apparently seemed bizarre. As a sister whose brother was being called a lunatic, Karen said with a sour face:
“Well, we’ll just stick to gathering potion materials bit by bit on the first floors.”
“Please do. I’m about to become a father. Don’t think you can go deeper just because I’m here.”
“Are you underestimating what a supporter does?”
“I’ll protect you with my life if anything happens to you! But at least once! Just once, I don’t want to cross dangerous bridges until I can hold my child!”
“Okay, okay.”
From the start, Natalia had told her not to use the two as adventurers. They were solely supporters of an alchemist.
“Well then, Karen, I’ll see you later.”
“Yes, Mr. Julius. See you later.”
Parting with Julius, who was going to put away his luggage, Karen also headed to her room. A maid called out to Karen:
“Lady Karen, I’ll show you to your room. We’ve also prepared rooms for your two supporters, so please follow me.”
“Ah, Sara! Long time no see! Have you eaten the curry fried bread yet?”
“Everyone in Ehlertt has eaten it. I purchased it from the bakery. It was very delicious and well-received. Mr. Sieg in particular seemed to enjoy it, and I’ve already been ordered to purchase it several times.”
“Hehehe. Really? If everyone knew the next Earl of Ehlertt liked it, they’d all be shocked!”
Imagining the surprised faces of her commoner friends’ family, who ran the bakery, Karen’s shoulders shook. Sara smiled at Karen, took her luggage, and began walking.
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