Damned System

Chapter 75. Reunion and Meeting (7)

With that immense strength, she pulled my hair, and I was thankful that my worries ended at just hair loss. Should I at least give a thankful nod?

“Of course, it’s meant on the surface.”

It wasn’t challenging to grasp the meaning behind the following words.

There probably were people trailing the little one in unseen places.

‘A kind of bodyguard, I see.’

Nothing was detected from Mana Detection, yet there was an eerie chill under the skin.

If I had done anything harmful to her, I might have become the first Outsider to be executed in Bihar by now.

“Haha…”

As I stifled a hollow laugh, Chandler smoothly provided answers, prompting an inquiry that had just popped into my mind.

“It’s a random question, but is there some bad blood between you and Temoria or Rivel?”

Hesserma’s reaction at the Resistance base was quite odd.

With a sense of curiosity, I asked just in case.

“Um?”

A glimpse of surprise flitted across Chandler’s face as he glanced back.

His expression seemed to be questioning how I knew that.

“An incident last year involved the eldest son of Marquis Philome, who was six years old, fatally assaulting a child of plants and beasts.”

The wife of Marquis Philome is the eldest daughter of Greg Tembon.

The eldest son who killed the child of beast is therefore Greg Tembon’s grandson.

“I heard that Lord Horfe personally punished the son by tearing his limbs apart.”

Marquis Philome’s family held a considerable influence within Ferrell, and since Temoria’s apostle is his grandfather, the matter stopped right there.

In other words, it meant the beast side couldn’t get enough revenge.

‘Ultimately, the beast side that didn’t end the grudge and the marquis who lost his son, both had lingering resentment.’

It made sense that Hesserma would feel troubled.

Thanks to the story I just heard, I was able to confirm something for sure.

‘If I don’t want to fall out with the beasts, I must definitely steer clear of Greg’s line.’

A chance encounter had provided useful information.

I inserted the keyword ‘conflict’ between the category of beasts and the name Greg Tembon.

While I pondered, walking along the second-floor hallway, Chandler stopped in front of a door.

It seemed to be the reception room he mentioned earlier.

I passed through the door Chandler opened and entered.

“Wow.”

Involuntary words of admiration escaped my lips due to the impressive room.

The mansion was all stone construction, and even the corridors were sparkling marble, so I had some hint of it.

Upon facing the opulent and vintage space akin to something out of a movie, my gaze became preoccupied.

While I, like a country bumpkin, busily took in the room, Chandler politely inquired.

“Aren’t you hungry by any chance? Shall I prepare some food for you?”

Though I departed Earth around noon, due to the time difference, bihar was already in the process of sunset.

Yet, since I had eaten lunch, I wasn’t hungry.

As I shook my head, Chandler stepped back with understanding.

“Then I’ll prepare some light refreshments for you.”

“Thank you.”

“If you need anything, please ring the bell on the table.”

With a courteous bow, Chandler closed the door and left.

‘This feels a bit overwhelming.’

After staring at the door from which he’d left, I soon averted my gaze.

I then examined the room once more.

“This place is insane…”

Since I entered the mansion, I had thought this, but it was excessively luxurious for a division commander’s rank to use.

The sculptures in the garden were at a level appropriate for museums or art galleries; words were unnecessary.

One might think they should be designated as cultural assets.

‘I was genuinely busy gazing, with that little one perched on my shoulder coming in.’

Is this wealth based on the social standing as an apostle?

‘There’s still something odd…’

It was due to Chandler calling Rashar a ‘young lady.’

If it was because of her position within the order that she enjoyed such wealth, shouldn’t she be treated as an apostle?

Additionally, the temple of Palao, which I saw, was contributing to my sense of incongruence.

There were not enough personnel to manage the facilities, leading to the closure of some parts of the building.

When the temple is in such a state, is the apostle lavishly enjoying wealth?

‘She didn’t seem like someone of that nature.’

If so, there could only be one conclusion,

‘Personal wealth, then.’

This was individual property. In other words, it meant—

“Sniff, sniff.”

Rashar had the odor of a golden spoon about her.

“Hmm…”

Why doesn’t she support the temple she belongs to, while living so lavishly?

After pondering the situation, I observed the room anew.

‘Young lady…’

Maybe Rashar might not be able to spend the assets of the Bennett family as she pleases.

‘It’s the individual, not the whole family, who inherits the estate.’

This meant that there was probably someone responsible for it.

Most likely, it was a parent or sibling of Rashar.

‘It’s certain that there is a familial figure of higher status than her.’

Once those thoughts were sorted out, I settled myself on the sofa.

‘Wow, look at this leather.’

Truly soft. It had a type of comfort that made one’s body sink deeply on its own.

Everything that happened afterward had a lot to do with that sofa.

* * *

The tea with an unfamiliar name was bitter yet with a pleasant aftertaste, perfectly matching my palate.

Moreover, the cookies, sweet and crispy, were delicious.

Because of that, a decision to drink just a single cup quickly turned into finishing a whole pot, and a choice to eat one cookie led to an empty plate.

Tasty snacks, warm tea, and a constantly relaxing sofa made me unknowingly nod off.

Given such comfortable circumstances, it was only natural that I would fall asleep.

I had only slept for an hour after waking to the server connection alert early this morning.

There wasn’t any significant problem from skipping a night’s sleep.

I merely felt less fatigue, but it didn’t mean I did not need rest.

Perhaps my body was trying to make up for the lack of sleep, using the soft sofa as a friend and falling asleep.

Naturally, peace lasted only briefly.

The little girl, Berta, stormed into the reception room after consuming her fill of chocolate, startling me awake.

– Hey, don’t scratch!

Did she think my head was a nest or something?

Leaving a perfectly fine sofa but continuously climbing over my head!

Being harassed by her led Chandler to again knock at the reception room door.

– Sir K, are you hungry by any chance?

Perhaps because of my hunger after waking up, I nodded, and the food arrived.

From appetizers to dessert, a full course.

It tasted better than expected, so I devoured it with great enthusiasm.

Simultaneously, I took care of the little one who kept climbing over my shoulder and head.

– Don’t eat with your hands, you’re getting it on my clothes!”

To avoid getting food stains all over myself, I had no choice.

Despite the effort, sauce still stained my hair, but the time spent wasn’t all bad.

At least while wiping my face with a wet wipe, I learned from Chandler that Berta’s mother and the Bennett family shared frequent interactions.

Thus, I obtained the information that the Bennett family currently maintained active exchanges with the beast tribes.

Feeling satisfied with this result, I patted my comfortably full stomach and glanced at the clock.

It had been four hours since I arrived at this mansion.

The oranges painted sunset sky was now long gone, replaced by darkened skies.

Yet, Rashar hadn’t come.

Wondering when she would come, I asked Chandler.

– I apologize. It seems that Miss Rashar is neither at the headquarters of the order nor at the Habon temple.
– As soon as she returns, I will immediately convey your message, so why not wait a little longer?”

The answer was simply that she couldn’t be reached.

‘On her vacation, why is she gallivanting when she has a home?’

Of course, it wasn’t inconvenient.

For someone barging into a hostless house, it was quite comfortable.

‘No, honestly, it wasn’t just quite comfortable.’

Considering I barely noticed the passage of time, it was extremely comfy.

I felt slightly dazed, amazed to be treated so well here in Bihar.

Thus arrived the thought: Surely there’s a spare room within this large mansion.

‘Even exchanging money costs mana.’

The newly installed exchange function on the store also costs mana as the price.

‘If I could spend just one night here, that’d be ideal.’

It’s precious mana, perhaps more valuable than blood.

While blood can be replenished through adequate nourishment, mana doesn’t get generated for free.

Savings are indeed necessary where possible.

Having made up my mind, I gingerly laid down Berta, asleep on my thigh.

Instead of shaking the bell and waking her—prone to cause trouble—I simply vacated the room.

‘If she wakes, it’ll just be more trouble for me.’

Since encountering her at the temple entrance, I spent more time being bothered than the opposite.

I couldn’t just retaliate against a little one for pulling my hair.

‘Avoidance strategy is best.’

I stealthily exited the room and glanced around the deserted hallway.

Lacking the option to use a bell, I intended to find a worker and ask them to arrange a meeting with Chandler.

After all, it’s necessary to ask if I can lodge for a night.

If not, I’d have to step out and search for lodging.

Yet, perhaps due to the lateness of the hour, not a soul was in sight.

On my way to the central staircase connected to the hall, I encountered no one.

‘Should I call out?’

Without a cellphone, it was distinctly inconvenient.

‘Since Rashar isn’t a player, I can’t even…’

Pausing mid-thought, I froze on the spot.

‘Hold on a minute.’

In curiosity, I accessed the order homepage.

Then, I opened the organization chart and firmly pressed on Rashar’s name.

No new window appeared.

‘Can’t add friends or chat, huh.’

Reluctant to give up immediately, I entered the order-exclusive community page.

There, I tried leaving a post in the empty space.

「Title: Rashar, where are you exactly? ‑ Author: K

Content: Waiting at your mansion, won’t you be back soon? Waiting so long I think my neck’s stretching.」

I knew, being the only player affiliated with the order, viewership wouldn’t increase.

‘But it is.’

Surprisingly quickly. Each refresh came with more views.

Even more astonishing was what followed.

– Rashar Bennett: I’msor^%^%! to’m n@*&blerigh^%@wa^*&

“……”

The name with the title signifying apostle from the organization chart clearly matched Rashar.

Though the content was comprehensible gibberish, it was indeed a comment.

‘At least she appears aware that I’m at the mansion…’

Now, it merely required patience until she returned.

While scanning my surroundings, a suitable place caught my eye.

Heading to the second-floor corridor from the central staircase.

A rounded area with backless chairs and a small table was visible, jutted slightly outward like a bay window.

‘Looks like a waiting spot.’

I settled comfortably there and sat down.

Arms folded, one leg crossed over the other, I waited a few minutes.

The Mana Detection that I habitually left running since I exited the temple caught a considerable amount.

Though I couldn’t identify mana, I had a certain confirmation. It had to be Rashar.

“K, butler, K, butleeeer!”

Sure enough, her mana rushed closer at an astounding speed, filling the mansion with a familiarly loud voice.

“K where are you?! K!”

She was ascending the opposite, western staircase, not the eastern one where I was.

I blinked at her decisive strides.

‘What on earth happened?’

Her usually calm blue hair was nearly unkempt, despite several days of camping.

Baffled yet acknowledging her search, I made my presence known.

“Hey, over here.”

Rashar, on the western staircase, sharply turned back at a speed akin to light.

“K!”

Her fervor was such that I involuntarily shivered my shoulders.

Damn System.