Chapter 81

I take a closer look at the letter again.

The sender is Fida Plata Argento. The Argento family, as Fei explained, is apparently the second-largest family in the country after the royal family. It’s a much more powerful family than the Redgard family, but I can’t really grasp that. What does it mean to be much more powerful than the Redgard family? Does it mean they own a large forest or something?

...And the content of this letter is an invitation from such a powerful family, asking if I would like to become their resident artist. The letter is very straightforward, saying, "Why don’t you leave the Redgard family and come to us?" I can only think, wow, they must be really confident.

I don’t really feel like it’s about me...

“...So, this is basically a story about a very important person offering me a very good deal?”

“Yeah, I guess you could say that...” Fei, who had been peeking at the letter from the side, nodded with a complicated look on his face.

“The Argento family, huh. You’ve really made it, haven’t you...”

“Is that what it means?”

“Yeah. That’s what it means. Just being known by the Argento family is a big deal. It means you’re not just some guy drawing in a corner of the world, but someone who’s recognized as drawing in the center of it.”

...I’m a bit at a loss when he puts it that way. I mean, I like drawing in the corner of the world.

“...If you want, I can talk to the Argento family for you.”

“I’m not going.”

Fei seems to think I’ll accept the offer, but I’m not really interested in the proposal. I don’t want to leave the Redgard family. I like this forest. Besides, I’ve become a forest spirit...

“Hey, Fei, how should I turn this down?”

So, my current problem is how to decline this offer.

“...No, wait, Togo. This is something you should seriously consider, regardless of any sense of obligation to me.”

“But I don’t even know this person.”

“Then get to know them. ...Togo, this is a big deal. If the Argento family wants you as their resident artist, it means they think very highly of you.”

“Hmm...”

...Even if you say that...

...But Fei is right; I should get to know them. If I don’t know them well, I should learn about them and then make a decision. But...

“Fei, do you think I should go to the Argento family?”

“...It’s your decision, no matter what I think.”

...Fei’s lack of enthusiasm makes me even less inclined to accept the offer.

After that, I managed to write a reply to the letter.

In my usual style, I wrote on blue stationery with white ink, saying something like, “I don’t understand much, so I would like to hear more details.” Curoa reviewed it.

“Well, with this wording, they won’t think you’re being rude. The Argento family has probably heard of the ‘Mysterious Gallery,’ and if a boy who doesn’t understand the human world writes a letter expressing confusion, they won’t ignore it.”

“Huh, this is that kind of wording?”

...I’m not writing that I’m not human, right?

“Yes, it is. It’s a bit naive and detached, with a fluffy feel. ...I like it because it’s you.”

Curoa smiled charmingly.

...I have my thoughts, but I’ll try not to worry about it...

After sending the letter, I was restless, and Fei was even more restless.

“...Fei, are you okay?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I’m fine.”

“You’re being possessed by a pipe fox...”

“Huh!? ...Oh, really! Hey, hey, you guys, I’m not Togo, so don’t get into my clothes! Ah! Stop it! Get out! Don’t tickle me!”

...Fei seems to be quite absent-minded if he didn’t notice the pipe fox until now.

While saying it’s not good, I pulled the pipe fox out of Fei’s clothes. It came out reluctantly, looking satisfied. Yes, it must have been nice to get into a place it usually can’t.

“...Hey, Fei.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

I asked Fei while holding the pipe fox I had pulled out.

“Do you really think I should go to the Argento family?”

“...It’s your decision. We can’t say anything.”

Fei said this with a very troubled expression.

...Fei knows more about this world than I do, has more knowledge, and is better at dealing with people.

So, there are things he can see that I can’t, and things he feels that I don’t.

...I want to know those things. I want to make a decision based on that knowledge.

“If you have any thoughts, I want to consider them as well.”

...But Fei, with a wry smile, ruffled my hair and said,

“Then, after you hear from the Argento family. It would be unfair if I told you first. It’s better not to have preconceptions about the Argento family.”

...I understand his point, but it makes me even more anxious.

But... yeah. Fei is right. I should talk to someone from the Argento family and then decide.

The reply to my letter arrived two days later.

The envelope was embossed with gold foil and sealed with shiny silver wax. When I opened the expensive-looking envelope, it said something like, “Then come to the Argento family.”

“I guess I have to go to their house.”

“Of course. They can’t ask you to come to the forest.”

...Is that so? Would “How about a forest bath?” be okay? No, it wouldn’t. Yeah.

“...Will you come with me, Fei?”

“No... Sorry, but I’ll pass this time. It might complicate things.”

I see. ...The Argento family is asking me to leave the Redgard family, so it would be awkward if Fei were there.

“Then, I’ll ask Laocles to come with me.”

“Yeah. Do that. ...And if possible, ask Curoa to come too.”

“Huh?”

Curoa is probably in a position where it’s better not to go out right now.

When I asked Fei about this...

“If it can be solved by force, Laocles will be enough if you’re in trouble. But if it can’t be solved by force, it’s either me or, if I can’t, Curoa.”

Fei said this with a serious face.

“...Got it. I’ll ask Curoa.”

“Yeah! Do that! Thanks!”

Fei, who had a serious face, suddenly smiled and patted my back, but... I’m getting more and more anxious.

“Does it suit me?”

“Yeah, it’s very beautiful.”

After that, we started preparing to visit the Argento family.

First, Curoa. ...I asked her to come as my “secretary.” So, we got her dressed appropriately.

A knee-length dress decorated with black lace and a white jacket, both in a tight design. Curoa also decided to tie her hair up neatly. ...It looks quite secretary-like.

“...Well, if it comes to it, I can buy you some time. Charming an Argento family member might be troublesome, but in an emergency, I can’t afford to be picky.”

...I’m really worried about that.

“I’m dressed like this, but if it comes to a fight, I won’t be able to buy much time. I don’t think the Argento family’s guards are any less capable than me.”

Laocles will be dressed in armor, looking like a guard.

...But I’m still worried.

“I’ll summon a unicorn and carry you away if it comes to it. Got it?”

“I can ask the phoenix to carry Curoa...”

“Oh, you come first. I can escape anytime, so you go first.”

...Hmm.

I’m really worried!

...I was worried, but worrying won’t change anything. The next day, we set out for the Argento territory.

The Argento territory is on the opposite side of the capital from the Redgard territory. ...Actually, the area beyond the capital is mostly the Argento territory. They must own a huge amount of land.

We stayed in a corner of the capital (I was worried Curoa might be caught) and then set out early the next morning, arriving in the Argento territory and staying in a town there for two nights.

...The reason we’re taking so much time is that we don’t want it to be known that we’re traveling by unicorn or phoenix.

A dragon, unicorn, or phoenix could get us to the Argento territory in two days, but other means of transportation, like a regular carriage, would take much longer than two days.

So, we’re delaying our departure by a day and then taking a bit of time in the Argento territory to disguise our mode of transportation.

“I’m nervous.”

“It’s okay. They want you, so they won’t treat you badly.”

“I just wanted to decline, so maybe it would have been better not to meet them directly...”

From the reactions of Fei, Curoa, and Laocles, I think I should be very cautious when visiting the Argento family. I don’t think I’ll be imprisoned or anything, but it’s better to be careful.

...What should I do? I’m getting nervous.

“...Well, after the talk, why don’t we explore the town in the Argento territory? You might find a landscape you want to paint.”

“Yeah...”

But being nervous won’t help. For now, I’ll try to calm down by thinking about what Curoa suggested, enjoying the town after the talk. Yeah...

After two nights of poor sleep, I finally stood in front of the Argento family’s mansion.

“Hello, I’m Togo Uesora. I received a letter from Fida Plata Argento.”

In front of the Argento family’s mansion was a grand gate, and next to the gate was a knight in impressive attire. When I showed him the letter, it seemed the matter had already been arranged. He led us inside.

...While waiting in the reception room, I was very nervous.

“Are you Togo Uesora?”

Eventually, a man entered the reception room.

...He’s an old man with silver hair and a beard. He entered the room leaning on a black ebony cane decorated with silver.

Then, the man standing in front of me extended his hand and said,

“I am Fida Plata Argento, the current head of the Argento family. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Togo Uesora.”

...I shook his hand, extremely nervous, and managed to say, “It’s an honor to meet you.”

...Behind Argento, there were several guards. They stood along the walls of the room, looking intimidating.

“Well, let’s get down to business.”

Argento said this, sitting on the sofa opposite us, but I... I just can’t get into the mood for business!

I feel like I’m in front of someone really important!