The Money-Obssessed Archmage's Second Life As A Broke Duke-Chapter 50 - Can Lack Of Salt Cause Hallucinations?

Chapter 50: Chapter 50 - Can Lack Of Salt Cause Hallucinations?

Chapter Fifty

"Get off me, Kaelen."

"How could you just vanish like that, Master!? Do you know how worried I was?" Kaelen was practically vibrating, his hands hovering over my shoulders as if he wanted to shake me and check for missing limbs simultaneously.

"Ugh..." I groaned, trying to pry his grip off my cloak while giving him a disgusted look. "Let me go, Kaelen. I’m eating. Plus, I finally got a chance to relax. I’ve been working non-stop since I woke up."

"I see. You should have still told me. Also, why is this kid kneeling though, Master?" Kaelen finally paused, his eyes narrowing as he glared down at Lukas. "Did you start bullying people again? All my hopes... Haizzz."

Why is this fucker acting like me? Did I influence him or something?

"No! The Duke didn’t bully me," Lukas blurted out, his forehead still practically glued to the snow. "He’s a nice person!"

Kaelen and I stared at each other, so stunned we forgot how to speak for a full second.

...Nice person? Me?

Could lack of salt cause hallucinations?

[Ping!]

[Actually, it does cause hallucinations.]

Damn. The kid is high.

[Ping!]

[He isn’t high, Host. You just offered to make their lives better.]

When did I do that???

[Ping!]

[Didn’t Host just offer to make an academy for kids?]

Ohhhh! Yeah. I see how that could cause misunderstanding.

[Ping!]

[What is Host talking about?]

I’m not making academy for them. I’m making academy to use their talents to make money during retirement.

...

What?

I slowly turned my gaze back to Lukas. He was still kneeling. Still earnest. Still looking at me like I’d personally descended from the heavens to save his entire bloodline.

I didn’t feel good about this.

Kaelen noticed my silence immediately. His eyes sharpened, flicking between the kid and me. "Master," he said cautiously, "what did you do?"

"I ate meat after a long time. Sir Garrow hunted mountain wolves," I replied flatly.

"That’s not what I meant."

"Yeah! Lucas is right! The Duke is a nice person!" Local and Oddball chimed in from the background, their voices perfectly synced like a pair of creepy, unwashed cherubs. "Stop bullying him!"

Oh god! Did the kids lose their brain cells or something?

Well... it’s still an opportunity to mess with my dearest knight. I wasn’t just going to waste it.

I slumped my shoulders, letting my lower lip tremble just a fraction.

"Yeah, Kaelen... Don’t bully me..." I sniffled, dabbing at an imaginary tear with the back of my hand. "I’m so pitiful... being bullied by my own knight... Sob... sob..."

"Wh—Master! Stop that!" Kaelen recoiled as if I’d bitten him. "I am not bullying you! Can anyone even bully a bully?"

"Look at him!" Local shouted, pointing a greasy finger at Kaelen. "He’s yelling at His Grace! Bad person! How could you call His Grace a bully!? His Grace just promised us a school! He’s a saint!"

"You heard that? I’m a saint." I grinned, moving my eyebrows. "You’re bullying a saint. Tch."

"Haah. Seriously, Master." Kaelen signed as he ran his fingers in frustration. "Anyway, due to your crates of antiseptic we managed to give first aid to everyone."

"Sir Kaelen... Does that mean none of my bandits died?" Garrow stared at Kaelen with tears in his eyes, his entire body trembling.

"Ah. Yes. No one died, thanks to Master’s expensive antiseptic. Lady Selia said that one box of that stuff costs about one thousand gold."

Damn. Is that really true, Sysi?

[Ping!]

[We did tell Host they’re at a wholesale price.]

Have I ever told you-

[Ping!]

[No. Don’t even try.]

Fine. Fine.

"Well, I’m full." I dusted the charcoal soot from my hands and rose, my knees popping like dry twigs. "Thanks for the meal, kids. You should hurry and feed everyone else. Garrow, show me the place where I can rest."

Ughhh... There’s nothing more fun than resting.

"Ah! Yes." Garrow stood up abruptly, his massive frame casting a sudden, hulking shadow over the fire. "Let me lead you to the hut, Your Grace."

"I’ll guard outside the hut, Your Grace!" Kaelen declared, his eyes were wide and bloodshot.

Looks like he hasn’t rested in a while as well.

I rubbed my eyes, the exhaustion finally hitting me like a physical blow.

I’m so sleepy... Ugh.

"Haah... Just sleep outside. Don’t cause trouble, Kaelen."

"When do I ever!?" He scoffed, looking genuinely offended for some reason.

"Haaaw! Your Grace, don’t you trust me a bit?" I gave him a tired shrug and a disgusted look before I began following Garrow’s heavy footsteps through the crunching snow.

Crunch. Crunch.

"Oh, and I rescued a fox-woman."

"YOU WHA—" Kaelen started, his voice hitting a pitch that probably alerted every wolf within three miles. Then, he stopped. He let out a long, wheezing breath as his shoulders sagged. "No. At this point, I’m not even surprised anymore, Master. I’ve given up asking. You only ever ask me for money I don’t have anyway."

"I see." My gaze settled on a hut slightly larger than the others. Garrow’s footsteps eased as he stepped aside. "Thank you, Garrow."

"Please rest well, Your Grace." Garrow bowed, the movement causing his battered armor to clink softly. He retreated into the darkness, his presence slowly fading until only the crackle of distant fires and the whistling of the wind remained.

Looks like, it’s just me and Kaelen now.

"Master?"

"Yes, Kaelen." I paused with my hand already on the woven door-flap.

"I trust you, Master."

"What?" I turned slightly, squinting at him.

What is he high on again?

"There’s no need to carry the burden by yourself," Kaelen’s voice lacked its usual boisterous edge. He sounded older, tired in a way that had nothing to do with sleep.

"There is no burden. Stop being sentimental. It’s disgusting," I snapped, though the bite wasn’t really there. "Good night, Kaelen."

I stepped inside and pulled the heavy flap shut, the rough material scraping against the frame.

Trsssh.

"Night, Master!" his muffled voice chirped from the other side, instantly returning to his usual, annoying self.

"Haah."

I collapsed onto the pile of furs. They smelled of cedar and old campfire smoke.

Finally, peace...

[Ding!]

[Daily Task Reward Claimable!]

[Host is suggested to lie down and close your eyes to see through the memories before the knowledge of the career.]

[Memory Loading...]

[Dream starts in 3... 2... 1...]