As soon as they set off outside the mansion, the cool yet summer breeze of Beryldot settled on Naell's skin.
'It truly is summer,' He thought but then again, he was someone who couldn't really tell what was hot and what was not.
'Well, aside from that one time…'
As they walked further inside town, Naell couldn't help himself but smile seeing the many improvements. From the security becoming stricter (with added knights patrolling here and there), and the additional protective barriers placed outside the village.
Yet it was still apparent that the happy ambiance of Beryldot didn't fade- in fact, it had gotten better from all the advancements.
While the cozy nature made him truly feel that the rest of the town was an extension of his home, it was their people, who were really friendly with him, that made it as such. He didn't expect such treatment given that he was rarely home, and if he was at Beryldot, he'd also rarely go out into town.
A testament to that was how it was his first time walking out even though he had been there for days. Since he'd often frequent the northern and eastern portions of Beryldot to assist his father and Sebastian, that was his first rest day.
That made Naell smile as he thought, 'I never knew I'd be this involved but it's not bad.'
And as he was about to greet the villagers themselves, Naell got overwhelmed fast by the bright welcoming grins and greetings he was getting.
He tried his best to smile back and greet them properly, yet not even a minute had passed he was already feeling out of place.
Naell could only blame his social battery which was the first time he did so. He never wanted to really acknowledge how little it was.
As he was again in his own world, Sebastian called him in a low voice and asked, "Are you alright Naell?"
That woke him up, and immediately he nodded. In response, Sebastian laughed with his usual, HOHOHO. The elder then added, "Don't be surprised, your deeds in the capital spread far and wide."
Upon Sebastian's words, Naell could only give him a forced laugh which then made his sensei laugh once more.
Even Naell knew that much, which was why he was trying to make effort as well. Little did he know, Sebastian actually wanted to relay how Fharom would often brag about him.
That Naell, his son, was the mind of the innovative "safety" projects being done on the village. Hence all of them were appreciative of how the young master of Beryldot cared for them.
It was even to the point that his past infamy was invalid in many's eyes and some even called it fables or just children's antics.
Therefore Sebastian opted not to tell Naell all that as he thought. 'That will just make him tenser.'
"Sebastian! Oh, and out for a walk today, young master? The one who spoke was Mr. Talus, the friendly merchant who often brought and sent Naell's letters to Beryldot. He then added, "Good morning to you also young miss Lily and Owly."
They all greeted him back, with Sebastian teasing how his business was booming from his constant travels to and from other cities.
"Well, since the—" He coughed while continuing in a softer voice, "war was declared with the pieces of Lucille, supplies skyrocketed, so we are really quite busy."
Talus had a complicated smile as well when he explained everything. He then added as he walked with them, "Although it seems that the allied countries cut off most of the trade routes to the countries who took on a neutral side."
As for Lily and Owly, they went ahead as the talk was boring for them.
"That would surely pressure them on joining the alliance but..." The one who spoke was Sebastian.
Hearing where he paused, Talus continued, "That's right, likewise, the neutral countries also took the stance and cut off the allied countries' trading at their ports."
Sebastian could only smile dryly and replied, "Ah I knew it."
As for Naell, he was just observing the two. Although the war wasn't really a good thing, merchants on the other hand would profit from it.
Unlike other guilds or people, the merchants guild was more valuable as they could go back and forth to the said countries as they aren't bound by one.
Naell knew if he was a merchant, he wouldn't mind the war that much. Hence when Talus said, "Don't get me wrong, I love profit but I wish it would just stop, war is really bad long term."
Those words shook him. Naelll knew that all of this was part of the plot of a novel to which he got transported inside.
The so-called Arts and Magic where Andrew Sunheart was the protagonist. Together with his friends, the young miss of Arigare, Rinca, the half-elf Rizaul, young master Note Raal, princess of Easterside Empire, Namiku Asuna, and the heroine, Viola Lumiheal.
With their valor and strength, they would vanquish any evil from Mundo, starting from Naell Beryldot; the Baron's villainous son.
Yet ever since being transported as well, a lot had deviated from the story. Not to mention, Naell didn't really finish the novel hence he had no clue as to where it was heading.
'But the fact that I'm still thinking of this as a novel… I'm that bad huh.'
-------------------------------------------
Volume 1's Drawn Cast: https://www.patreon.com/posts/65136761 ; v ;)
The post is titled "Character Portraits WiP" Under the "Arts" tag at patreon.com/nezothecat . It's free for public viewing and is a work in progress that will soon have every character we've introduced in TNBS thus far '')/
Thanks for reading everyone!