Otoko Nara Ikkokuichijou no Aruji o Mezasa Nakya, ne? Vol 1 Chapter 86

Year 7442, Month 8, Day 23

To Mill...Did something happen to older sister?

Like entering a battle and being killed in action?

It can't be right.

I mean, it's that sister.

Even if it's not as much as me, but sister has an abnormal amount of MP and a considerable level of skill as a knight. There's no way she'd die so easily. I've completely forgotten about the ex-j.a.panese reincarnated person Dereonola, that's become a part of the execution grounds, while trying to imagine what in the world happened to Mill, but I can't think of anything but bad scenarios.

Why did the King ask where I was born?

Why did the King confirm if I have an older sister?

In other words, I'm sure he was just confirming that I was the son of the lord of Bakuddo. Since it was confirmed that I was the second son of the Viscount Greed family with Status Open, so it must have been him double-checking. It doesn't mean that there couldn't be someone else with the same name.

The connection between the King and my house is light. Just the fact that my mother was born in the sub-family of Duke Sandak a family of politicians in the capital. Since it's a Duke it should have some sort of connection with the royal family but since mother is the fourth daughter of the third son or something like that, so no matter how I think about it that seems unrelated. If we were to go back several generations then it wouldn't be strange for there to be a connection but that sort of thing is the same as being strangers.

After all, the closest connection is that sister is in the direct knight group. However you know, if it's the knight leader or sub-leader then they would be the King's direct subordinates but even if he didn't know the face of a new knight below that it wouldn't be strange. I'm sure there was at least an audience when she received invest.i.ture so maybe he fell for her at that time?

While I'm thinking those sorts of things the judgments quickly advanced and when it was about over a knight came to call for me. I followed after the knight while still trembling. I was even brought into the government office building.

While waiting with a disheartened and pale face and the knight from just now came to call for me. Seeing my facial color the knight got worried and called out to me.

"What's wrong? Greed-sama. It seems like your face is pale? Do you feel ill?"

"Umm..Could it be that something happened to my older sister? My older sister is named Miluhaia Greed, she should be a member of the first knight group but.."

"Yeah, I know of her. Since I'm a co-worker after all. Greed-sama is Lord Greed's younger brother right? Then you should know.."

So this person was a member of the first knight group? What is he saying I should know?

"About what? Is my older sister alright?"

"Eh? What are you talking about? Of course she's alright. Even this morning she was lively and asking for seconds in the dining hall of the quarters in the capital.."

I...see. I quickly calmed down. But, in that case then what is it?

"If it's not about my older sister, then what in the world does his Majesty want with me?"

"I don't know? I haven't heard that far..However, I don't think you need to worry that much. He didn't seem angry...Now, we've arrived. Once you've entered you're in the audience of his Majesty. Proceed to about half

way into the room with your head down and then please offer your grat.i.tude to his Majesty as a retainer. Since it doesn't seem you're in possession of a weapon, then you need to kneel with your right knee standing and place your right arm on your knee, and make a fist with your left hand and stand that on the ground please. Until you're given permission please face down and don't speak."

After saying that the knight from first knight group opened the door. Simultaneously he declared my visit.

Just as I was told by the knight I bowed down to my knee and offered my grat.i.tude.

"Umu, Greed. You did well to appear before me. It's fine for you to raise your head."

"Ha."

I raised my head and looked up at King Thomas Rombert the Third.

The room is a reasonably large room with carpet. About the size of two school cla.s.srooms I guess? There's just enough ornaments for it to not feel gaudy, but the only things that stand out are a vase with flowers, a picture of some scenery, and the kingdoms national flag hanging further in the room. In front of the flag the floor is slightly elevated and the King is sitting on a chair placed there. Behind the King on the left is the metal armor that whispered to him during the judgement.

"First off I want to ask, but you, can you repair rubber products?"

Huh?

"Ha...I believe that if it's most things then I can do it..However, I don't have the materials needed for the repair here, so it would be necessary to return to the inn I'm staying at once."

I felt insanely relieved as I replied. Come to think of it, it's been considerably popular in the capital since several years ago was it? Whether it's sandals or boots I'll fix them. I'm sure it's just the belt that's snapped right? Or did a hole open in a cus.h.i.+on?

"Oh~ I see, then I have a request to make of you, tomorrow, I want you to accompany me to my castle in Rombertia and I have something I would like for you to fix."

After saying that the King glanced back seemed to pay attention to the armor for a moment but after facing me again and continued with his words.

"That cursed Logan, he's using the rules as a s.h.i.+eld and won't lend me your older sister. If I'm not mistaken, your older sister is in the first knight group right?"

I don't know who Logan is but he's most likely Mill's superior officer in the knight group or something.

"Yes, thanks to that, my older sister Miluhaia is able to serve by your Majesty's side."

After I replied like and the King was satisfied and nodded but the metal armor started talking.

"Your Majesty, the knights of the knight group are busy with training. If anyone in the platoon is missing for the cooperative training then it isn't unified training. Greed is an important member of our knight group as well and since she'll end up taking command of other knights and knight groups from here on out, we can't slack off on teaching her the fundamentals. Even rest is a proper mission, even if it's your Majesty using her for your own personal purposes is.."

Somehow he seems to be talking pretty frankly.

"I already know that. That's why rather than Lord Greed, I found her younger brother, so isn't it fine?"

The King replied like that to the metal armor and then looked at me while saying.

"Come to think of it, you, I've heard your occupation is as an adventurer, but are you not using that strange armor?"

"Huh? Armor? Ah..that is.."

"Your Majesty, he knew he was going to be called as a witness for the judgement today. There's no way he would stand on the witness stand in armor."

Oh~ Nice follow, metal armor. That earns a lot of points.

"Yes, just as your guard over there said just now, I wasn't wearing my armor for today. If you wish to see it then I can equipment it and return after this but.."

After I said that and this time the metal armor leaned forward.

"Mu, so you're using that armor as well..Come to think of it starting this year the appearance of Lord Greed's armor changed, and there's even some squires who have started to use it but is your armor the same as that?"

"Ha..That is, mine is somewhat different. Normally that armor is matched up to the user and the details are different between individuals, just like plate-mail.."

So the squires who came along with sister are properly using it. Even though it's the ma.s.s produced model that I hurried with. Incidentally, mine has the appearance of a fourth generation protector and looks almost the same as theirs but I've modified things with the materials and the structure so you could call it the 4.5th generation. It's not a big difference though. If I feel like it I'll talk about the characteristics of each generation later.

"Mu..I see. No, don't worry about it. Ah, no, could you spare some time for me later? I want to talk a bit."

"Ha. Since I'm a willful adventurer I have time. Please order me without reservation."

When I replied to the metal armor like that and the King who had been grinning at the metal armor until then said.

"Fumu, wasn't the knight group busy? Greed, since you're cutting your time for this guy's sake, it's fine if you properly take money from him."

I'm not allowed to request money from you? I think I'm going end up using all of tomorrow for your sake. It's a joke though.

"Ha..That, I can't possibly do that."

I prostrate myself while responding.

"Umu, Logan, isn't that great, it seems he doesn't need any money. But, you have your honor to keep up right? Make sure you distinguish between things."

He continues grinning while looking at the metal armor and speaking. So this metal armor is Logan huh? It would have been good if I used Identify on him along with the King during the judgement. If he's this close then I can't readily Identify him.

"Then Greed. Tomorrow morning, you'll accompany me to Rombertia. I'm relying on you. It's fine for you to step back."

"Ha...But before that please just allow me to ask one thing. What is the item that needs repairing?"

"Oh~ That's right. I forget to say. It's a bed."

Ah, a water bed huh?

"Is it a hole? Or did it tear?"

"It's a hole. Just one spot. She stabbed it with a sword, that cursed Molin.."

What's that? Well it doesn't matter.

"I'll gladly undertake the job of repairing it for you. Tomorrow morning, I will accompany your Majesty to Rombertia and please allow me to repair the bed."

"Umu, I'm relying on you for it. Now, you're fine to leave."

"Ha..Please excuse me."

I left the room and there was sweat gathering on my forehead. The knight who came to get me praised me that there were no problems with my manners. Also, it seems that tomorrow morning he'll come to "Boil Manor" to pick me up. Ah, in addition, I'll ask about Molin at that time.

..........

It's close to the time for dinner. Ah, I'm glad it didn't drag on too long. Since I still haven't given Angela any money I was about to force her to go without dinner. Well even if that were to happen I feel like Zulu would have paid for her. When I was about to leave the government office with a mentally exhausted face and I was called out by a different knight. What is it? is what I was thinking but I was told to wait for a bit. What is it, really? I need to feed my slave a meal. Ah, Logan said to give him some time later was it?

After waiting for about 10 minutes and the metal armor Logan appeared.

"Sorry for making you wait. I'm thinking of taking my armor off and going for some dinner. How about joining me? Also, if possible would you bring your armor along? I want you to show it to me."

"..Yes, I understand. Please allow me to join you for dinner. I'll bring my armor as well."

"Ah, I'll send one person with you to hold your luggage. They know the location of th restaurant so come after that. It's a restaurant called "Dorureon" on the #4 road. From now...I guess so, I'll arrive at the restaurant an hour later. Sorry about that."

"No, please don't mind it."

"Then, I'll see you later."

Logan said that and turned around walking into the government office building. While looking at the back of his head I used Identify. Roddoteri.Logan. Head of Baron Logan family. Level 17. Wow~ Level 17. That's seriously amazing. Head of a Baron family? A Baron in the first knight group? Eh? Is he the knight leader?

I told the knight(they're probably a squire though) that was appointed to hold my belongings and stopped at the restaurant we usually eat at along the way to "Boil Manor". Everyone was already there but after I told them I would be eating dinner with the leader of the first knight group so I can't together today, and that tomorrow I need to go to the capital so I won't be in Baldukk for a day, and I said "it's a bit fast but", and gave Angela 20,000 Z (2 silver coins) as her wages for this month (to be more correct it's half a months worth though). If you change it to a weekly pay it's 8,000 Z (80 copper coins) in wages and therefore 2,000 Z (20 copper coins) less than Zulu. This is your portion as head slave, Zulu. Also, I gave them a bit of extra money for the lodging and meal costs for tonight and tomorrow and quickly headed towards "Boil Manor". There's no time after all.

After splitting up my armor with the squire we started laboriously heading towards "Dorureon" while I tried asking the squire who this Molin the King mentioned was. It was the nickname of the Queen. Since her name is Molail, I thought it would be Mol or Mola. However, the Queen used a sword to stab the water bed? Did the Queen go mad?

I somehow or other thought it would be better not to get involved with that.

Once we arrived at "Dorureon" Baron Logan still hadn't arrived. However, several of the knights who were guarding the King were there. After the squire holding my armor and I entered the restaurant and several people familiar with the squire called out to them but after noticing my armor that we're holding and they started to observe us from a distance. Somehow this feels uncomfortable.

During that time Baron Logan appeared and we started dinner. Before I realized it the squire had disappeared from our table and mixed in with his co-workers at a different table while observing us.

"Sorry about having you go out of your way like this. Is the course meal fine?"

"Yes, thank you that would be good. And, I've brought the armor I'm using right now. This is it but.."

While I was saying that the waiter came and Baron Logan ordered two courses before saying,

"Ah, would you show me it for a bit? Hmm, after all it's light..Hmm..I see now..Hohou..So it was like this..Oh~ this is.."

stuff like that while spinning around and examining my protectors.

"Umm, Lord knight leader, is there some sort of problem?"

Since he was getting so lost in inspecting it so I tried calling out to him with reservation.

"O..Oh. Sorry about that. No it's just, I was interested in how it was different from Lord Greed's armor, and Guroholetz and Amuzel's armor.."

"Ha~"

"By the way, about this armor but is it true that it only takes two days to create?"

Oh~? Is he going to buy some?

"That's right, if it's roughly then two days is fine. In order to finish the really detailed adjustments then I'd like four days but if I just have two days then I can make the same one that I made for my older sister and the squires."

"Ho~ It's fast just as I had heard."

After Baron Logan said that and started looking at the small parts like the forearms and shoulder portions. Since it can't be helped I'll focus on eating. I wonder if I'm being treated? Since the King said something about distinguis.h.i.+ng between things it's probably his treat. This is considerably good. I'll use this restaurant on certain occasions from now on. Thinking that I was chomping away at my food.

"Hey, you all, come look at this. It's the new model of rubber armor."

Baron Logan called out to the knights who were observing things over here like that. The knights all came closer to here while saying "excuse me." and started looking at the armor with great interest. The design has changed slightly to match my body but it's fundamentally not that much different from Mill and the squires. It's only limited to some improvements I made to the loins or changed portions of the ebonite plates using D rings in various places like the third generation protector I gave Mill in the past. It's only evolved a bit generally from the one I gave them. Just, everyone is saying "light" or "if it's this then it's plenty strong". Hmn, it shouldn't be all that different from the armor I gave to sister or the squires though? Have that not shown enough of it for them to inspect?

"Umm? It shouldn't be all that different from the one I made for my older sister and the squires but.."

I tried saying that. And,

"We were interested in the model of armor. If we're going to buy it then isn't the newest one best?"
"You can make a s.h.i.+eld with this material right? Lord Greed's has a s.h.i.+eld attached to her left arm right."
"If it this, then it should be plenty able to protect the hips."

And each saying different things. I wonder if this is a chance?

"Umm, if you're interested in purchasing this then I'll get into contact with my home town. Should I take your sizes before sending notice? However, in that case since it will be ordering close to 10 suits of armor, I think it will take around 3-4 months for the lot of your order to be ready but.."

I tried saying that. And then starting from Baron Logan everyone jumped at my words.

"I..Is that true!? I had heard from Lord Greed and the others that I would need to go to Bakuddo in order to make it. Even if it takes a bit of time for the delivery it's just four months right? My metal plate-mail took over a year to make. Compared to that it's fast!"
"And if you'll come to take our sizes then that's even better! It's not like we can take over a month and a half break just to make some armor after all."
"Alright, this is the time to use my secret savings!"
"What's the price? Hey~ around how much is it!?"
"Ca...Can I ask for a s.h.i.+eld as well? A kite s.h.i.+eld!"

Oh~ this seems like it will be some good business.

"I guess so. Since even I can take your sizes, if you let me take your measurements then we can make it. At latest...I guess so, since it's already close to September, I think we can barely deliver it by the end of the year. Also, about the cost, but if you're fine with the same type as me then I think about 30,000,000 Z (30 gold coins) should be appropriate. In order to make parts of this we have to condense the superior quality rubber material so it uses a considerable amount of rubber. Ah, it's fine if you pay half of the amount in advance and the remaining amount on delivery."

I tried saying that. I blew up the price quite a bit. Well the real battle begins when they start haggling after all. It's 30 gold coins. It's the same type of price that high-quality splint-mail costs. I'm sure it'll settle at around 20,000,000 Z (20 gold coins). Then if I take around 1 gold coin per suit of armor in profit then I'm sure I won't be cursed.

"Gu..After all it costs about that much huh..No, but.."
"After all it's a considerable price. I guess if you think about the weight and defense it's cheap.."
"No, it's cheap right?"
"It's not like we can't buy it right."
"What about a s.h.i.+eld? How much do s.h.i.+elds cost?"

Huh? They aren't trying to haggle. As expected of the first knight group. They have a high salary. Then there's no need for me to hold back. Since it's better for me to take as high of a margin for myself as I can.

"Also, since it's an order from the first knight group that is taking care of my older sister. As a special service but I'll even put an emblem in one spot on the chest of it for you. Of course, I'll make it a relief so it doesn't have any effect on the defense of the armor. The size is..I guess around 5 cm in every direction would be good. I don't mind if the emblem is your family emblem, the one for the knight group, or one for the kingdom or anywhere else."

I added that as well. If it's Taylor them I'm sure she can make it without problem.

"Mu, I see. So you'll even put an emblem in for us.."
"Eee..Maybe I'll put in my family emblem?"
"Wouldn't it be cool to a.s.semble this as matching armor for our platoon?"
"Oh~ that sound's good. The commander of the platoon is on guard duty right now right? Let's try asking him later."
"Wi...Will you put the emblem into a s.h.i.+eld as well?"

Oh..they're interested. One more push.

"Furthermore, about the repairs, but since my older sister should be able to repair it you don't need to worry. Since one of it's characteristics is that you can wash it with water at any time, it won't take as much time for maintenance as plate-mail, unlike splint-mail or banded-mail which uses layers of leather on the inside it won't start to smell bad from sweat as well. Well, while it's still new there might be the smell of rubber for a bit but it's been about half a year since I made that armor of mine and the smell has about stopped bothering me."

How about that?

"Gumumu..I knew that it didn't take much money to repair at all but..it's cheap.."
"Every time I take a sword my splint-mail ends up costing money.."
"I see, the fact that it's cheap to maintain is also appealing."
"Lord Greed doesn't stink after all."
"I wonder if Lord Greed will be able to fix a s.h.i.+eld if I ask?"

I'm getting a good feel. It's no good to get too greedy here.

"Since I'll be accompanying you to the capital tomorrow as well, it's fine if you give me a response at that time. And most likely I will still be in Baldukk for a few years so it's fine if you call out for me at any time."

It's fine if I pull back here for today. If you hurry too much you'll miss your chances after all. Tomorrow, after I finish repairing the King's water bed I'll be taking their measurements.

The dinner that night was delicious. The food you eat on other people's money is delicious (..However, excluding Jabba).

I return to "Boil Manor" while chuckling to myself and immediately start doing optimistic calculations. Umm, I'm sure that father and brother want to get around 20,000,000 Z (20 gold coins) per suit of armor. In other words, I can take out 10,000,000 Z (10 gold coins) per suit. If it's 10 suits of armor then that's 100,000,000 Z (1 platinum coin). Uha, uhaha, uhahahaha. I've started to get excited at the unprecedented profit. Eh? Aren't I taking too much profit margin? I mean, it uses more charcoal and sulfur for the ebonite so it doesn't use as much rubber, and even just one suit of protectors only takes up the amount of rubber used in 50 pairs of sandals or so.

Though it's true I'm sure there's also the yield rate of ebonite we have so it will take a bit more though. One pair of sandals is 40,000 Z (4 silver coins). 60 pairs is about 2,400,000 Z. Even with just that it's a huge profit, so if I'm selling that amount for 20,000,000 Z then the ones who make the most profits are father and older brother. That's why, isn't it fine if I take the leftovers of that? It's amount that makes exploring the dungeon seem idiotic but I've heard that the number of people in the first knight group is about 100 knights and 50-60 squires. If I sell it to them once then it's close to the end but I can still keep entering the dungeon after this.