Standing in one particular room with confidence, I was there waiting in front of it.
Maidservants and butlers were walking around and unlike three days ago when they are entirely avoiding me, they were a bit curious…
…well curious about the person beside me.
"Enjoy the fame while it last. On the other hand, you could use it to your advantage,"
"Trash…" Isaac muttered, "When you make a scheme in the future, please don't involve me. Setting that aside, I didn't know that garbage like you is smart,"
'Oy… what happened to your attitude three days ago? You sounded normal person back there and after a day, you came to your 'normal-cold mc'. Well, I guess it's one of his attributes of being an mc which I envy honestly. I mean, if I get angry, I will just get called trash. While on the other hand, you could make everyone pity you and worship you at some point. In some cases would even want to have your bab—'
When my line of thoughts was crossing the boundary for a moment, the door on my front surprisingly opened.
"Enter,"
Walking inside the room as per ordered by Verl, Isaac followed up and we stand up just right in front of his desk.
Verl was currently holding papers in his hand with a monocle on his right eye to assist him in reading. After a full minute, he brought the papers down as he began speaking.
"Regarding the orphanage incident, I've already informed His Majesty about this. Rest assured, we will receive a reply soon but I think we all know what will happen hence we'll begin doing it ourselves," Verl paused, "We'll start checking the orphanage that resides on my land,"
Verl looked in my direction and added, "With the help of many workers due to your borrowed money, the new orphanage which is much larger than the previous one could be done in just a week,"
He paused, "What are you trying to do, Noelle?"
Moving my hand to the side, presenting Isaac, I replied, "He's the one who did it,"
"…"
"My apologies," I quickly backed down, seeing that Verl was all serious, "I just did the right thing to do, sir,"
As if he didn't believe my bullshit, he started questioning my answer.
"Right thing… I don't believe it. What do you want in return? I'm sure you wanted something. Say it now while I'm being nice,"
"What I want…"
'hehe, I was waiting for this,'
My stoic face appeared on the outside but in reality, I was inwardly screaming happily as if I had angels singing where everything was bliss.
Since he wanted to know...
"I want to own a land far from this kingdom. Probably near the Fordent Shore where there are no people living in it. Yes, after that, I want endless supplies of gold coming from you, or well, you could ask to use the vaults of the kingdom to do it,"
Thud—!
"What the hell is this, Noelle?" Thumping his lands lightly at his tables, Verl raised his tone a bit higher than what he originally do, "Do you think I would give in to your request?"
Well, no, but you asked.
"Sir, I know it sounds absurd and I knew these measly contributions are not enough to have those things which is why I planned on helping the kingdom as an exchange," I paused, "Eleven months contract. That's all,"
"What…"
Even Isaac and Klein on the side, who were only listening to my absurd request, can't help but form a frown.
I know what they are thinking, honestly.
The absurd request was one thing but… help from a trash person who already had a tainted and garbage reputation? I'd rather die in embarrassment if it was a week ago.
"Why would you help the kingdom… This is ridiculous. Are you really my son?"
'Technically, no. But I just wouldn't say that' Thinking in amusement, I just nodded and it's up to him how he interprets it.
Shaking his head in exhaustion, Verl calmed down and shakes his hand, "Your request… I will add it to my reports to His Majesty. Oh, maybe you can give it yourself since you have to go to the institute to give your dropout form,"
'… if it was that easy, I would've done it myself.'
Besides that, the kidnapping would start when we're nearing the capital. If I appoint a meeting right now, it might get delayed, leaving me with a bad impression of His Majesty.
"Sir, not being rude but… can you do it yourself?"
As if he found my answer amusing, I saw a light coming from Verl's dead eyes and replied, "No, you do it yourself. If you want to quit school, also do it yourself. I'm not your babysitter,"
You are just enjoying my helplessness regarding this situation, don't you?
'Hehe, you might've won the battle but you lost the war, sir,'
"All right, I'll do it," I replied, "If everything gets approved, I would like to request you one last thing, sir,"
"Speak,"
"The money you all had, every land and property you own, and items under your possession, I will take full control over them,"
As if he found it unbelievable, Verl smiled faintly, "No, just how could you do that?"
Smiling back, I retorted, "I can't, for now. But soon enough, I will get them. I will have an appointment with His Majesty after all,"
Verl smiled froze and couldn't say anything after that. He was left speechless in his place.
…
"What are you going to do for the remaining days?"
Unusually, Isaac was the one who stirred up a conversation as he asked me while walking in the hall inside the duke's manor.
"Train. I'm planning to acquire an instructor to teach me how to handle a sword,"
"For what? I'm a guard and it is my duty to do my utmost when protecting someone important as you,"
'Is he being sarcastic or what? He's even trying to kill me with the sword just three days ago…'
Not knowing what he was thinking, we exited the place. I started walking through the streets, get a public carriage to use instead of the ones we had on the manor, and asked the driver to move at a very specific location.
"Why are we going to Minu City?"
"Are you seriously going to ask every question you think that formed on your 'non-idiotic' brain?"
"I apologized on that matter. Why bring that topic back again?"
The ride between Minu City and the Duke's Land only took an hour and a half and another thirty minutes for the driver to move to the designated location before paying the driver and we left the carriage.
"What is this… A Library? You said you would train?"
Not answering him, I entered the library. Since it was a public library, everyone could enter inside and out with a rule that must be implemented while being there.
=Whatever your business here, be quiet=
Well, the owner is someone who dislikes noise. Even if the rule isn't implemented, the people wouldn't just barge in and create chaos when they knew whom they were dealing with.
"Hello, where can I see the owner?"
I asked the librarian who is sitting at the receptionist's table
The librarian glanced in my direction and replied with a frown, "Noelle Portnner, son of Duke Verl Portnner...? What… brings you here,"
'I just told you the reason…'
"He wanted to see the owner,"
Isaac answered on my behalf and the librarian's expression brightened upon seeing the face of a 'not-so-barbaric with a calm and producing serene face' person on my side.
"Oh, the owner? I think she would gladly meet you… two," The librarian paused, giving me a look of contempt before looking at Isaac, "Apparently, she's out of business today. May I know your name and address? Might as well put it and contact you if she came back?"
'Out of business?'
I remember that line.
I'm sure this wasn't the same librarian that uttered that line in the book but when Isaac was going through to this library since he was following someone, he heard the ones he was chasing and received the same reply from one of the librarians.
Those the ones Isaac chased started causing trouble and in just a minute, a woman came and she beat the hell out of those people.
On that day, Isaac saw someone beautifully demonstrated skills and combat prowess when it comes to the way of a sword.
'Should I make trouble? The idea isn't bad but I came here with peace,'
Smiling faintly, I tried another way and said, "Tell her I would like her to be a personal instructor to us. Yes, both me and this guy right here. We could talk about the fees later on but I came here because I was curious regarding the information about her."
"Curious?"
"They said she was on the level of a Swordmaster," I whispered, "Like everybody else, everyone would be curious the same way. Who knows, maybe, it's a lie? I believe that it is. Maybe she's trying to raise her fame to earn some money? Pff, well, it wouldn't matter. I hope you deliver this to her,"
-Creak!
All of a sudden, the air on one part of the bookshelves turned chilly as a person started walking out of it.
This domineering aura... this presence that felt so overwhelming...
Right… this is the real deal.
The second person that Isaac gets acquainted with Klein being the first. The blooming Swordmaster potential from this side of the world.
-The moment everyone was charmed by her swordsmanship skills, they couldn't help but fall in love with it.
That's what Isaac thought when he realized this lady showed her style of swordsmanship when another trouble came to this place.
"You wouldn't need to wait," The Lady spoke sternly, "I'm here to answer your provocation,"
Valen Schimist, also known as The Lady.