Chapter 273

The meal that left everyone with nothing but wounds finally came to an end.

During that meal, the only ones who didn’t suffer emotional scars were Mari, who ate with a bright smile, Rosemary, who maintained a haughty expression as if she didn’t want to mingle with the adventurers, and Yuri, who enjoyed the meal with a satisfied expression, praising the food served by Count Astram.

Everyone else sat at the table in a heavy atmosphere, each carrying their own emotional wounds.

At that moment, Count Astram opened his mouth to lighten the mood.

“…Ahem, ahem! Let’s continue the conversation we were having before the meal.”

“Yeah. That’s probably for the best…”

Kurt, unusually, responded weakly.

“Actually, the reason I called you here is because I needed to know what kind of person you are.”

At those words, Kurt nodded with a face that said it was only natural.

Even if he was a count, it wasn’t like he would summon someone he had never met just because of rumors circulating in the city.

No, other nobles might do that, but after having even a brief conversation with Count Astram, Kurt knew he wasn’t that kind of person.

“I thought so.”

“Indeed. A skilled individual capable of defeating a gold-tier monster alone. The existence of such a person could inevitably cause a significant impact on the fate of the city of Astram. Your disposition and character would be a major variable in governing Astram.”

“So, how do I seem to you?”

“At least to me, you seem…”

At that moment, a voice interrupted Count Astram.

“Father! It’s obvious! His disrespectful attitude towards you since earlier! He’s a dangerous person!”

It was Rosemary, who had been uncomfortable with the adventurers since the moment they were invited.

“Rosemary, calm down. To me, you don’t seem like someone who would bring any particular danger to Astram. Rather, you accepted the request of adventurers asking for help without demanding any reward, defeated the Demon’s Hand, and showed no greed afterward. That’s exemplary behavior for an adventurer.”

Kurt, who hadn’t expected such praise, awkwardly averted his gaze, and his companions watched him with amused expressions.

Only Rosemary, still displeased, sat with a pout.

“Well, I didn’t do it for praise. It wasn’t that hard for me.”

“No. Your achievements deserve even more praise. If you could easily defeat a gold-tier monster, you could have easily done other things as well. You could have used that power to dominate others or intimidate those who displeased you. But you didn’t. You only used your power when someone in trouble asked for your help. We call that nobility.”

“Nobility, huh…”

Kurt grew visibly uncomfortable under Count Astram’s continued praise.

“Oh ho~. Mr. Kurt, you’re surprisingly shy.”

“But everything he said is true. Nothing was wrong.”

“What? Are you embarrassed now?”

“As expected of Count Astram. A precise judgment.”

While the others teased Kurt, they also agreed with Count Astram’s words, creating a warm atmosphere.

Only Rosemary still frowned, clearly unhappy with the situation.

In that atmosphere, Count Astram’s expression turned serious again.

“Therefore, as the representative of Astram, I have something to say to you.”

“Something to say?”

Count Astram, now with a serious expression, no longer looked like a friendly neighborhood uncle but a dignified noble worthy of governing the great city of Astram.

Naturally, everyone in the dining room felt the shift in atmosphere and straightened their postures.

They instinctively realized that what was coming next was the main reason Count Astram had summoned them.

“Are you… planning to hire me? If so, I’ll decline in advance.”

“No. That’s not it. If you had wanted to belong somewhere, you would have moved your base of operations long ago instead of staying in Astram for the past six months. And with your level of skill, a mere count like me couldn’t possibly keep you.”

“Father! How can you say your position is ‘mere’…!”

“What I want to say is thank you for protecting Astram. Originally, as the ruler of Astram, I would have had to gather soldiers to resolve the issue, but you alone took care of it. How could I not be grateful? Honestly, before you arrived, I was worried you might be a villain, but that turned out to be unfounded, and I realized you were a good person…”

As he spoke, Count Astram slowly rose from his seat.

“Ah, Father… Surely not…!”

“On behalf of all the citizens of Astram, I, Simus Astram, sincerely thank you.”

With that, the count bowed his head in gratitude.

Though bowing might seem like a humble act, the dignity and confidence radiating from him were befitting of a great noble of Astram.

Kurt and his companions, witnessing this, were both stunned and impressed by the count’s ability to remain dignified even while bowing.

At that moment, a loud *BANG* echoed through the room.

It was Rosemary, who had been visibly uncomfortable since the beginning, slamming her fist on the table.

“Ah…”

“Rosemary! What are you doing?!”

“Father, have you no pride?! You’re bowing to adventurers who always cause trouble, drinking, fighting, and making us clean up their messes?!”

“Adventurers, you say?! Apologize for that remark!”

“Why should I?!”

With that, Rosemary ran out of the dining room, tears in her eyes.

As she left, silence fell over the room.

“…I apologize. You’ve seen an unsightly scene. To show such disgrace at a gathering meant to express gratitude for Astram’s kindness…”

“No. I understand. Kids that age are sensitive in many ways.”

At Kurt’s words, Count Astram, who had just moments ago been dignified, now looked like a tired neighborhood uncle as he sat back down.

“Hoo. She grew up without a mother, so I’ve spoiled her, wanting her to lack nothing… Maybe I spoiled her too much.”

“No. Rebellious phases are something you can’t avoid no matter how you raise them. It’s best not to worry too much.”

“A rebellious phase, huh… Huh. Did you go through one too?”

At that, Kurt reflexively thought of his past.

Not a rebellious phase from a previous life, but from this one.

Of course, since Kurt had been reborn with memories of his past life, he hadn’t experienced a typical teenage rebellious phase…

But there had been a time when he felt a disconnect between his past life and his life as a Lizardman, leading to a rough period.

A time when he saw everyone in his village as monsters and himself as a human born in a monster’s body, despairing and raging at the world.

Of course, now he had accepted his race and lived as a resident of this world…

But to overcome that rebellious phase, Kurt had paid a heavy price.

“Mr. Kurt?”

“Yeah. I went through a big one.”

Kurt’s expression darkened for a moment, but when Mari spoke up, he quickly replied with a nonchalant expression.

“Even someone like you had a rebellious phase. It’s hard to believe.”

“More importantly, when it comes to your daughter, most kids come to their senses as time passes, so don’t worry too much.”

At those words, Count Astram sighed, seeming somewhat relieved.

“Hoo. To worry a guest like this. My dignity is in shambles. I’ll have my daughter apologize at dinner. She needs time to sort out her feelings for now.”

“Right. A wise choice… Wait, dinner?”

“Of course, I’m talking about dinner. I can’t just serve you lunch and send you away.”

“Dinner…”

“Why? Do you have other plans for the evening?”

At that, Kurt remembered the lunch menu, which had been drenched in salt and pepper.

Honestly, it wasn’t a taste he wanted to experience again…

“No. No other plans. Then I’ll gratefully accept your hospitality for dinner.”

In the end, Kurt accepted Count Astram’s kindness.

The food might not have been great, but he felt goodwill toward Count Astram himself and was willing to accept the hospitality.

“Hahaha. Good. I’ll make sure to serve you a delicious meal this time! One that will definitely make you say it’s tasty!”

With Kurt’s agreement, Count Astram smiled, determined to elicit a positive reaction from Kurt and his companions this time.

“Then I’ll prepare a guest room for you to rest until dinner. If you wish, I can assign a servant to show you around the mansion.”

“Ah. Really?”

“Hmm… A noble’s mansion… But nobles… *Tsk*!”

“Will there be wine at dinner…?”

At the count’s words, Kurt’s companions smiled, pleased.

“Ah. Then I’ll go after Rosemary. I think I should talk to her and comfort her…”

“Right. Take care of my daughter.”

“Of course. Rosemary is my precious friend!”

With that, Count Astram and Kurt’s group each rose and headed to their respective rooms—the count to his office, and the adventurers to their guest rooms.

To pass the time until dinner.

However, they never got to enjoy the dinner Count Astram had prepared.

.

.

.

“E-Excuse me, Count! Lady Rosemary has been attacked by an Abnormal Bird on the outskirts of Astram!”

A few hours after Kurt’s group had gone to rest in the guest room, a battered soldier rushed in with urgent news.