Chapter 335 – The Magician's Grandson

Elliot’s return, his marriage to Camilla, and their future. With bright topics like the Noble Leaf piling up and Irmhild and the others’ performance layered on top, the banquet had become quite lively.

“The barony’s future is secure, isn’t it?”

“Indeed, completely so.”

From the perspective of the Silun barony’s retainers, that’s exactly how things appeared.

The retainers seemed to be happily getting drunk, chatting and laughing as the festivities continued, but as dusk fell, they returned to inns throughout the town, and the banquet came to a close. Those staying at Ashley’s residence would be the people who came on the Sirius, Father, Malcolm, and Donato, who had promised to share drinks with Kennel.

“Speaking of which… I have something I’d like to communicate to the Moon Temple in the territory—”

With fewer people around, I informed Father, Malcolm, and Kennel about the communication method using the Moon Temple shrine maidens’ prayers and the teleportation using the temple.

“Hmm. So you’re saying the Moon Temple shrine maidens’ prayers reach Termwills?”

Father asked back after hearing my explanation. I’ve become quite accustomed to explaining this part—it’s a new spell formula of the Moon Temple, a technique that can be used by Claudia, an important figure at the Moon Temple.

“That’s correct. This means we can respond quickly if demons or others appear.”

Though I can contact Father and Kennel through communication devices.

Even for the demon group that’s probably aiming for their leader’s revival, the catalyst to cross the barrier seems to be quite precious… They don’t appear to have much spare capacity or time to attack places other than Termwills, but this is just a precaution.

“Understood. I’ll take note.”

Father nodded, and Kennel and Malcolm also nodded with solemn expressions due to the involvement of demons. Next, I need to take Claudia to the Moon Temples in Gartner County and the Marquisate of Broderick… That shouldn’t be a problem.

With the banquet over, I was shown to the room where I’d be staying tonight. It was quite spacious. The sense of the furniture and furnishings was also good—probably the taste of the previous Baron Silun or Kennel.

“Please make yourself comfortable. When the bath is ready, a servant will come to fetch you. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you. Ah, I’d like to confirm tomorrow’s schedule.”

I asked Kennel.

“Before noon, someone who wants to cooperate with the Noble Leaf experiment is scheduled to arrive.”

“Understood.”

Hmm. Since the Sirius is fast, it seems we’ll have some time to relax in the barony.

Whether it counts as a honeymoon or not, Elliot and Camilla will be staying in the Silun barony for several days.

Thinking that having too many people around might make it hard to relax, our plan is to stay one night in the Silun barony, then take Father and Malcolm on the Sirius to extend our trip to Gartner County and the Marquisate of Broderick, and on our way back pick up Elliot and Camilla to return to Termwills.

This relates to what I discussed with Father earlier, but we also have the purpose of increasing the locations where Claudia can teleport. Old Siegmund and Valentina also have business in Gartner County, like visiting Mother’s house and paying respects at her grave.

I sat down in a chair and tilted my teacup.

“Speaking of which… Is the temple in the Silun barony really that small in scale?”

When I asked this, Claudia nodded.

“That’s right. The temple’s scale is somewhat small, so it’s not suitable for teleportation.”

“In that case, creating a monument seems like the best approach.”

When I came to Ashley’s residence before, I created a hidden room underground—it would probably be best to create a monument there. Well, monuments do have some disadvantages though.

Claudia thought for a moment before raising her head and speaking.

“That’s right. Using applications of barrier magic and contract magic, we could make it so only the ruler of this land can use it… That should work, don’t you think?”

“You mean like in Lady Tephra’s and Marquis Zilbolt’s territories?”

“Yes. By covering the monument installation area with a barrier and making it inaccessible to anyone except Ashley and her companions, we should be able to prevent misuse of the monument.”

I see. Ashley will eventually rule the barony, and she’ll inevitably travel between Termwills and the barony more frequently. If there’s a way to move other than Claudia’s teleportation magic, that would be even better.

We decided it would be better to do it today rather than carry the work over to tomorrow, so we proceeded to install the monument immediately.

We moved from Ashley’s room to the underground hidden room. We created a hidden passage in one corner of the hidden room, with stairs leading down and a small room, where we would install the monument.

“Well then, let’s begin.”

Claudia raised her hand in the center of the second basement’s small room, and green sparkles gathered before her eyes. Just as an especially strong radiance appeared, the same monument we see in the labyrinth was enshrined there. Then a magic circle spread from Claudia’s feet.

“Ashley, your blood. One drop is enough.”

“Yes, Claudia-sama.”

Ashley took a knife, made a small cut on her fingertip, and let a drop of blood fall on the small room’s floor. From there, a strong light ran to the four corners of the room—and a barrier was born.

This would make it possible to travel between the monument in my house’s basement and the one in Ashley’s house’s basement. To use monuments within the labyrinth, you need to reach that location… So as long as we don’t invite others here, the number of people who can use this monument to travel will be extremely limited. This should minimize the disadvantages as much as possible.

“Ashley. Your hand.”

“Yes.”

I took Ashley’s hand and used healing magic on the small cut on her fingertip. The healing magic I can use only has first-aid level effectiveness, but it’s enough to close this level of cut. After confirming that Ashley’s wound had closed, I asked.

“Does it hurt?”

“I’m fine. Thank you, Theodore-sama.”

Ashley covered her hand with her other hand and smiled.

—The next day. Elliot and Camilla met at the breakfast table… They were already showing affection from the morning, with Elliot pulling out Camilla’s chair for her.

Those two have always gotten along well, so there don’t seem to be any particular problems. If their marital relationship is going smoothly, that’s all that matters.

After finishing breakfast and relaxing for a while, a visitor came to Ashley’s residence. It was a resident of the Silun barony who wanted to cooperate with the Noble Leaf experiment.

Heading to the reception room with Ashley while carrying Harvesta—there was a woman with red hair in braids, wearing a robe… looking more like a magician than a farmer, waiting there.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Michelle. I’m happy to have been invited this time.”

Michelle seemed somewhat stiff. The Sirius was docked, we’d done various magical displays yesterday, and she was probably nervous about what kind of person would appear.

“Welcome. I’m Ashley Rodias Silun, the head of this house.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Theodore Gartner.”

We introduced ourselves.

“Michelle is the granddaughter of the person who runs the magic tool shop in town. Unlike that person, she owns fields in a nearby village and researches magic and farming methods. Since she’s earned the trust of farmers in various villages, I thought she might be suitable.”

Kennel, who had shown us to the reception room, explained Michelle’s background.

I see. Someone trying to apply earth magic to farming methods. She’s definitely suitable.

…Still, I have an idea about that person running the magic tool shop in the Silun barony.

“The magic tool shop… Could it be that white-haired old man?”

“You know my grandfather?”

“Yes. When I was heading to Termwills before, I bought several magic staffs from him…”

When I answered, Michelle thought for a moment before widening her eyes.

“Ah, I remember now. Indeed, grandfather mentioned that a fine young man aspiring to learn staff martial arts came to his shop. Could that have been you, Theodore-sama?”

“…That seems to be correct. Please tell him that staff was very helpful.”

I remember talking with that shopkeeper about staff martial arts. I’m using Ouroboros now, but the practice staff I bought at that shop, while its durability was another matter, was quite comfortable to use. That must be because the shopkeeper himself practices staff martial arts.

“I think grandfather would be happy to hear that.”

Michelle showed a cheerful smile. Good. I’m glad she seems like a trustworthy person. Knowing that I’m acquainted with her grandfather seems to have eased Michelle’s stiffness.

Well, now that we’ve broken the ice a bit, let’s move on to discussing the Noble Leaf.