Chapter 77

"Why?"

"Why did you ask why it can't be done now?"

Then, she delivered a lengthy speech for a full 20 minutes on the reasons why Jin couldn't be taken along.

Given that Jin, a renowned swordsman, was pale and could only blink his eyes, she could be considered the best nag in the Pen Rota Empire.

"…In summary, it means that it can't be done because there won't be enough hands at the Weatherwood Manor, right?"

"That's the most important point."

"Don't worry about the workers, Head Gardener. I've brought an excellent substitute to fill our spots."

As I stood up proudly from the garden chair, the head gardener, who was watering the flower beds, looked at me with surprise.

"What do you mean by a substitute…?"

Instead of answering, I opened the front door of the manor. The secret manpower I had prepared for this moment.

The substitute worker I had prepared for Weatherwood Manor was...

"Hey, how are you?"

None other than a bandit maid.

A bandit maid.

At her extraordinary presence, the watering can in the head gardener's hand fell helplessly. His expression was as if he were in a dream, but this was reality.

"How about it? This is the perfect maid that the head gardener has been longing for."

"You really say some outrageous things."

I stood next to the bandit maid, who was twisting her body in embarrassment, and introduced her... no, her... no, his strengths.

"These solid muscles. I bet he can pull a carriage with his bare hands. And agility. He's optimized for peeling potatoes. Third, endurance. He can scrub floors for 30 minutes without a break."

"It's no big deal."

The head gardener couldn't say a word.

"And lastly, the security at Weatherwood Manor is getting tense, right? With a maid like this standing guard, no one will easily step foot here. Additionally,"

I lifted the wooden sign I had been making for an hour, stuck to the garden table.

"Beware of Maids"

"Thorough preparation for any situation by hanging a warning sign on the door! And as a bonus, I'll add another servant. This way, it's worth twice as much for both me and Jin."

I can entrust them with the workload for both me and Jin.

'Of course, they are all Mr. Lu's workers.'

What can I do? Mr. Lu, the owner of these workers, is away from home, and as a result, the workers are at risk of being left on the street.

Since I plan to go to the Northern Continent myself to bring back the owner, the workers have an obligation to help with the workload.

"I'll leave it in your capable hands."

"I'll also ask our organization members to patrol this area regularly. No need to worry."

And the maid who perfectly understands the head gardener's tastes.

'The head gardener likes slaves.'

Especially sturdy slaves.

"...Sigh. If you insist, I have no choice."

See? I was right, wasn't I?

"But! No travel funds. The noble council's support fund has a big hole. You'll have to find the money yourselves. However, absolutely no killing, threatening, or kidnapping!"

"Ugh, so stingy."

"Everyone, dismissed! And you, Bandit Maid, follow me for a moment."

"Hehe, let's go."

Good. That's one big hurdle overcome.

'The remaining issue is the travel funds.'

...Is there really no choice but to resort to threats and kidnapping?

Just as I was about to head to Lu's manor to take some food supplies, someone grabbed my ankle as I was about to push the door open.

"Hey, Sword Demon."

My younger brother and rival, who bears a scar on his shoulder.

The successor of Berkeley Greighton and a rogue, a man named Andert.

"Can you spare me some time?"

It was Andert's visit.

'So it wasn't a dream after all.'

That rude, stew-ruining voice and tone could only belong to Andert.

A voice etched into my bones, one I could never forget.

And it was somewhat surprising.

'Looking at him up close, his face is quite different from what I remember.'

I could understand why he could live as a rogue without any issues.

The shell of Andert I had been wearing and the real Andert only had a slight similarity in facial features. The eyes that dominated his expression and the atmosphere they created were completely different.

'He's even ruder now.'

Well done, kid.

The moment I first saw my younger brother, who looked like a mortician in a black wide-brimmed hat, my feelings were simple.

Joy of reunion?

No.

"Bastard."

"...What?"

I grabbed my little brother by the collar and vented 14 years of pent-up frustration.

"Because of you, I had to roll around like a shellfish on that empty island... and even risk my life!"

"What are you talking about?"

After scanning me with a bewildered look, he soon nodded in understanding.

"Ah, so old sword demons can go crazy without a sword? That's new. But can you let go now?"

Just as Andert was about to shake off my hand with a harsh voice, a familiar silver-haired figure stepped in front of me, making a low metallic sound.

The head of the Weatherwood household and my first disciple, Jin.

"Mad dog. What brings you here, senior?"

...Mad dog? A nickname for Andert? Understood.

With his aggressively hostile face and attitude, Andert's expression also turned cold.

"Rude brat. What's with that look? I heard you ran away from Berkeley Greighton and are now working as a servant. You've become a servant of Lady Weatherwood, I see? You've grown into quite a man in my absence."

"It's none of your business. Your appearance, wrapped in black cloth due to sunlight allergy, is truly mad dog-like. If you have business, state it politely and leave."

"You're the one who looks like a dog. You seem very busy protecting your master. Are you employed as a dog rather than a servant? Huh?"

They seem really happy to see each other after so long.

'Well, if we're being picky, they are half-brothers, after all.'

So, does that make Jin my half-brother too? Wow, that's too much.

I left the two brothers having their joyful reunion and tried to enter the manor.

But just then, a postman arrived at Weatherwood Manor. A boy who recognized my face rummaged through his bag and pulled out a letter.

"Hello, Miss Daisy! A letter has arrived for Viscount Weatherwood."

"Where is it from?"

"Um... It's from Mr. Jeger in Fanula. Please deliver it to the viscount. I'll be on my way!"

Jeger? Who was that again?

'Ah, right. The second son of the newspaper family I met at the noble council.'

He remembered to send the letter.

Tearing open the letter with a joyful heart, Jin, who had been barking at Andert like a dog that saw a monkey, was startled and looked at me.

"Senior? You shouldn't tear open the viscount's letter so carelessly..."

"It's fine."

The greeting is long. I skipped it and went straight to the main content.

They say life is all about timing.

"Jin."

"Yes?"

"I found it. Our money source."

"...Money source?"

Yes, the precious money source that will take us to Rogui.

Behind Jin, who looked puzzled, the mortician in the wide-brimmed hat was getting irritated.

"So, when are you going to spare me some time? You damn sword demons."

I took my brother, who had come as a guest, and the stunned Jin into Lu's manor (lying to the head gardener that I would also collect miscellaneous items).

Jin remembered Jeger from the noble council.

When I showed him the letter briefly, he quickly understood the opportunity but still had doubts.

"But will Mr. Jeger allow us to travel with him?"

"Yeah. He knows that Lady Weatherwood is from the Northern Continent. We can lie and say we're going as her representative."

"I mean, can we make such decisions on our own? We need Lady Weatherwood's permission."

...Oh, right.

'He doesn't know I'm Viscount Weatherwood.'

This is troublesome. Jin is straightforward but also subtly cautious. If I don't convince him, it might cause problems later.

Should I lie and say I'll get permission? But he's not someone I'll be with for just a day or two.

What to do.

"...Jin. The oath you made with the Sword Saint, is it an oath to keep the Weatherwood family's secrets? Or is it even slightly related?"

Jin, who had been listening quietly, shook his head firmly.

"No, absolutely not. I can swear on my soul. The Sword Saint is not the kind of person to force such a despicable oath on me."

"Is that so? Then lend me your ear."

I whispered softly into Jin's ear.

"I am Viscount Weatherwood."

"Excuse me?"

"Lady Weatherwood is Lu."

"...Excuse me?"

"Know this roughly. It's a secret, so don't tell anyone. If you spread it around, I'll be angry. Remember that."

"Ah... Yes..."