"Alaric. We need to talk," Rashin said to Alaric while he was loading the carriage.
It had been half a month since Alaric started working on the mining ground with most of the population in the barony.
In that time, he had managed to accomplish three main things.
One, he figured out more about the three different minerals in the mining ground: pure gold, crude oil, mana crystals, foilom (a rare type of liquid used for alchemy), and, lastly, a treasure room filled with 170 ancient magical relics.
Normally, it should have been impossible to find so many raw materials in the same mining ground. Each material is usually unique to its own location.
That wasn't the case for the Montclair mining ground.
With each wall Alaric blasted, another raw mineral was revealed—something he wasn't ready for but was more than happy to see.
With this progress, Alaric began working on building a road from the mining ground to the barony to ensure smoother transportation of the raw materials.
Everything was going according to plan—until.
"My son. Please have mercy on the people," Rashin spoke with a sad expression.
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"Well, it's just..." Rashin began to play with his pen on the desk while averting his gaze. "I noticed the citizens were getting a bit... uh, depressed from working too much. I only wanted you to take it a bit easy on them. Maybe a brea—"
"Did you just tell me to take a break?"
Alaric's face twisted nastily as he turned his whole body towards his father.
"I just..."
"Are we forgetting the fact you still owe the Count of Ernest 200 million Eres? Or the fact the Duchess Meren will transfer ownership of the mining ground to our neighboring baron if there is no improvement before the month ends?"
With every word he said, he moved closer to his father's chair, his expression growing nastier.
"Your people are also suffering from a lack of employment. There's barely anything in this barony. And just because some of the workers are a bit tired, you suggest we take a break? Maybe I misheard you. Could you repeat yourself, dear father? This time, say it nice and slow…"
Rashin gulped down his saliva.
"I'm sorry I brought it up. Calm down now; the look on your face is freaking me out."
"It is, isn't it?" Alaric moved closer.
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard you!"
"Thank you."
Alaric now wore a calm expression, adjusting his top with his hand.
"If I'm done here, I need to go plan how I'll fix the road situation. I trust you've started making negotiations with the Count?"
"Count Velmo? I sent Erica in my stead. She's been gone for two days now, and I haven't gotten any response from her," Rashin replied.
"You sent Erica to speak to Velmo?" Alaric couldn't help but stare at his father with disappointment.
He wasn't surprised that his sister went as a messenger—Erica had always been the one doing things like that for the family.
He was more surprised that she went to see Velmo of all people.
Alaric knew Velmo to be very arrogant and self-centered. The direct definition of an asshole.
"You sent my older sister to see Velmo?"
"She insisted on going. Som-ethin-g about her not wanting you to carry all the burd-en. Even your mother tried to s-top her, but you know how she can be," Rashin desperately tried to defend himself.
—Sigh!
"At least tell me you had high security around her," Alaric asked.
"I sent Eric and two other gold ranks. Isn't that enough?" Rashin asked back.
"Should be. Please just keep me updated on the issue. I need to get going now."
Trying to end the conversation as quickly as possible, Alaric bowed his head and exited the room.
This left his father sitting there with a confused expression on his face.
(Is this really my son?)
The thought kept replaying in his head. Alaric had become someone he could depend on. It was all like a dream to him.
...
Later that evening, after Alaric had spoken to his mother about the same issues, he decided it was time to plan other things.
Opening his door to enter the room, he was immediately met with a sight that blew him away the moment he closed the door.
On his bed was his now-human-form summon, Aurora.
She was kneeling in a respectable fashion, her hands folded under her breasts. She had no clothes on.
Alaric's face turned red, though he did well to hide it.
"Welcome back, Master. How was your meeting with Big Alaric?" Aurora bowed her head.
"Leave that. Why the hell are you naked?!"
"Didn't you want to see me naked?"
"..."
"..."
"What made you think that?" he asked with little to no emotion on his face.
"I can sense my Master's desire towards me. Whether he wants me to protect him or wants me to run. Yesterday, I could tell you wanted to see me without clothes on, and so I did so."
Aurora explained with her puppy-dog eyes, a way she felt she could get to his soft spot.
[She is right. Your summons do possess this ability.]
Alaric gritted his teeth silently. 'I didn't know she could read my fucking mind.'
He sighed.
"I'm glad you're willing to do anything for me." He placed his hand on her head. "If anything, I'd like you to continue. Just promise me next time, you'll ask before doing whatever you think I need."
"I should ask you? Hm... yeah, I can do that."
"Good girl, then we have no problem."
"Hmm..." Aurora smiled and then grabbed her breasts. "Master, what about this? Should I go put something on?"
Alaric stared for a while. Those pink pointed tips and perfectly round balloons were just begging to be lusted over.
In his head, he was betrayed by his own body.
"It's fine. Stay like this. Doesn't change anything, so why not just do it?"
Aurora stared at him for a while after hearing his response, which later led to a teasing smile on her face.