Crownblood: Novel's Untold Story-Chapter 33: Dinner for All

_Clink!

The clattering of plates echoed in the big hall.

Two servants moved back and forth, setting the table for dinner.

The dining hall of the small mansion wasn’t grand, just long enough for a twelve-seat table.

Soft light bulbs hung from the beams, casting warm halos over the polished table.

_Pop!

The crackling fireplace at the far end filled the silence with gentle pops.

I slowly staggered out of the room, my whole body aching.

’Damn that old hag.’

After a full day of ’character development’, there wasn’t a single part of my body that wasn’t screaming for rest.

’Damn, how is she so strong?...’

Despite her modest build, her body packed a lot of power.

[She was indeed exalted in the martial aspect.]

’Well, it’s a good thing.’

Thanks to her, I learned the limits of this body.

’The situation is lot worse than I expected.’

This body couldn’t exceed the human limits.

Even if I optimized mana runes to their fullest, even then, I couldn’t conjure a big attack.

That closed the path of the swordman and mage for me.

Second, the recovery rate of the mana runes was painfully slow.

If the average D-rank took an hour to recover, the mana rune would recover in two.

Which didn’t leave me with much choice... except assassin or hunter.

’I never had done any assassin work before, and I lack the precision for it.’

So, in the end, I was a hunter again.

This classification was not internationally recognized or anything; it just gave me a better vision to expand my powers.

’Well, there are spirits too... Orran, I need your help to train me.’

[You want to be trained in spirit arts.]

’Yes.’

[Hmm, alright, this aligns with my goal. So why not?]

’Thanks.’

Just as I was making my way to the hall.

_Creak!

The main door of the mansion opened, and a man in armor walked inside.

The man froze as his eyes met mine.

Then,

_Clank!

He fell to his knees,

"I greet the Lord!" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

’Huh! Ah! Right, there was this guy too.’

The knight captain of the Eisbourg, Grey Walker.

I looked at the middle-aged man with a strange look. Grey hair. Silver eyes. Pointy ears.

’So people do respect me.’

From the behaviour of people I met so far, I felt like a servant rather than a master of this mansion.

My lips twitched slightly,

’This feels good.’

"Ho! Uncle Grey! It’s good to see you too. How was the patrol today?"

I greeted the knight back in a warmer tone.

"I was here to report that. There is no danger around the area thanks to the grace of Lord... and I also came to welcome you, my Lord."

’Hehehehe! This guy, I like him.’

"Alright! Thanks for coming. Now that you are here, please join us for the dinner," I stepped closer to him.

"No, I can’t-"

"It’s alright, just come. It’s my welcome party."

"Then, if you insist."

And just like that, I dragged him along with me to the dining hall.

"By the way, how is the situation about monsters?" Suddenly remembering something, I asked.

"Ah! There was unusual activity of the Silver wolves near the city, but thanks to Miss Rin, they were all taken care of," Grey replied.

He was a pretty straightforward guy, no roundabouts just straight to the point.

"Had there been more monsters in this month than usual?"

"... That was another thing I wanted to discuss. Although the number of monsters was low, they were indeed more than usual."

’So it’s happening.’

I was hoping for that not to be the case, but it seems it is inevitable.

Suddenly, Rin appeared beside me.

’She likes to appear out of nowhere.’

"It’s okay, apparently there an Elite class monster has appeared out in the ruins. But we would take care of it soon."

"Miss Rin," Grey bowed to her slightly.

"Sir Grey," Rin greeted in her usual tone.

"An elite monster? Alright, I would like to see it too," I declared.

"Absolutely not," and my declaration was quickly shot down by Rin.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because it’s dangerous."

"I agree with Miss Rin. Please leave it to us. We can take care of it with the help of Golden Crow."

Golden Crow was an alias of Granny Eris.

"...Alright," I replied.

I will follow anyway.

"Haa..." Rin sighed.

"No matter what trick you use, you won’t be able to come with us."

"What are you talking about? I said it’s alright," I frowned.

’How did she know?’

"Your face says it all," Rin said.

Grey nodded slightly beside her.

’Hmm, so she can read through expression what a fearsome ability.’

"It’s written all over your face."

".."

"We will talk about this later," I intended to end the conversation.

I was going to follow anyway.

"There is nothing to talk about. You aren’t coming."

I glared at Rin, and she stared back at me with hollow eyes.

And just like we reach the dining table.

"ALL RIGHT!! YOU ALL BRING OUT THE COW!! YOUNG MASTER IS BACK!"

Eris’ voice rang through the mansion.

My eyes twitched slightly at her sight.

’Why is she sitting on the head’s chair?’

"P-please let go of me."

Melissa was struggling under her arms.

I walked to her,

"Oye! That’s my chair..."

"Hmm! Young brat! You can have it if you can take it,"

She replied with a grin as she squeezed Melissa tightly in her embrace as if trying to get something out of her.

"...But since you are an Elder, I will let you have it. Enjoy."

I pulled another chair from beside and placed it along hers, then settled down.

’Now there are two head chairs. Wonderful!’

"H-Help!"

Melissa’s watery eyes turned toward me.

"I think you should let go of the girl. Or else she might die."

"No way~ She is such a cutie."

This granny was known for loving little kids... to their demise.

’Haa... But I want to talk to her. Guess I have no other choice.’

"That’s a command," I said sternly.

Silence settled over the hall.

"Tch! You’re no fun," Eris let go of Melissa, who looked around nervously.

Then, she put her chair back in the row.

"It’s nice to meet you, Miss Golden Crow." Grey greeted her.

"Hmm, isn’t it Walker’s brat, good! Good! Come join us, we are having a grand feast tonight."

"I will be most delighted."

’Good, this is how it should be.’

"How are you feeling now?" I asked Melissa.

Melissa, wearing a black overcoat with black trousers, looked silently at me.

’Wait, are those my clothes?’

Then,

She bowed her head.

"Ah! I am feeling much better. Thank you very much. Thank you for saving me. Thanks to you, I am still alive. Thank you for being there when I was at my lowest. It’s embarrassing... but it meant a lot to me. Truly, thank you very much."

"Alright! Alright! Take a breath!"

’Whao! I asked a simple question! Why is she narrating the whole poem?

Her body trembled.

"T-Truly... t-thank you..."

"Huh!"

’She is not crying, right?’

"Ho! Look at this lord making a little girl cry," Eris smiled sheepishly.

I was completely perplexed.

’I didn’t even say anything.’

"T-there is something I wanted to ask about s-sir Ewan." Melissa tried to change the topic, her head still bowed.

I tilted my head.

’Ewan? Who?’

[... The knight who was with you.]

’Ah! him!’

[You seriously forgot him.]

’Haha! I have a little bit of a bad memory. But him...how should I answer this?’

[..]

"We got separated while escaping. His current whereabouts are unknown."

Melissa’s shoulder dropped instantly.

"I-Is that so?"

".."

I turned toward the Rin,

"Have you contacted her family?"

Rin took a seat on my left and replied,

"Yes, I have sent the message. We will soon receive a reply."

"Alright."

I turned to Melissa,

"Good for you. Soon, you would be with your family."

For some reason, her face darkened even further.

"Yes."

’What with her?’ I frowned.

’Is she not happy about it? Well, what do I know..’

I never had a family,

and Cale’s family was as cold as their land.

So, I don’t know what it meant to have a family.

"Good evening, everyone."

Soon, Varn and Leto also crawled out of their basement.

Although their wounds were healed, their clothes were still ripped in some places.

"Looks like everyone is here. Please have a seat."

Just as I said, everyone in the hall took a seat.

Servants included.

There were a total of ten people in the hall.

Rin, Eris, Grey, Melissa, Varn, Leto, and three local servants, Erica, Anna, and old man Roan.

And the last one was me.

There were a total of people in this mansion.

The closest thing to family Cale had.

Which he lost to the cruelty of this world.

Melissa also took a seat beside Eris, her expression gloomy.

"Don’t think too much... Thinking too much takes the joy out of life," Eris said to Melissa, with a rare kind smile.

She patted her head lightly,

"Just steady your heart with a smile and enjoy life. Everything will fold for the better."

"...Yes," Melissa replied in a low voice, her lips slightly lifted.

".."

’Right... There is no point in thinking.’

I lifted the glass of juice from the table.

Everyone’s attention turned toward me,

"Okay, everyone! To my safe return and to welcome our new guest."

I paused then continued,

"Che-"

"~BRING OUT THE COW!!"

".."

"Haa..."

Somebody let out a sigh,

My hand froze in the air as my brows twitched.

"YOU!!- WHY YOU ALWA-"

_BANG!!

Drowning my outburst was the bang sound of the main door opening forcefully.