Chapter 19

When Owl turned 10, the harvest festival was unusually warm for autumn, and the sky was clear and cloudless, making it a beautiful day.

This year's harvest festival was more bustling than usual, with families from neighboring villages bringing their children to participate, making it a grand event.

There were two reasons for this. The first was that this year's harvest festival was to be held over two days. Incidentally, the famous wild bull skewers from the fourth day would be served starting at noon on the second day.

The second reason was that two cows would be given to the most popular stall by the village chief.

This time, 30 stalls were participating, and the participants were serious about the possibility of earning money and receiving two cows.

A cow was worth 50 gold coins, and it was quite a feat for the village chief to prepare two of them, but there was a reason for this.

The village of Oren was not originally that large, but thanks to Owl, it had grown to be one of the largest in the Randolf territory, attracting a stipend from the border baroness. As a result, the village chief devised a way to return the favor, and to make it seem fair, he set up a popularity vote for the stalls, with the prize being the cows that Owl wanted.

In a sense, it was a fixed race, but it didn't matter. The villagers and people from neighboring areas were working hard, hoping to win the valuable cows, and it might even attract more immigrants. It was a two-for-one strategy.

"Hey, Ceras! Is there really someone who can make such sweet confections in this run-down place?"

"Yes, Master Gars. I have investigated thoroughly, and it is correct."

The visitors to Oren were the second son of the Filere family, Gars, and his butler, Ceras. Needless to say, the reason for their visit was to find out who made the sweets and to invite the maker to their home, which was essentially a forced invitation.

"Such a person is in this village. If they could serve a noble like me, it would be a great honor, wouldn't it? Besides, if I give them 10 gold coins, they'll probably agree."

"Indeed, Master. Let's hear what the village chief has to say first."

"That's right. Shall we go?"

"Master, I'll go ahead as a messenger."

"Very well, Ceras."

At the village chief's house, the "Breath of the Dragon" and the Duke Adam's butler, Albus, were staying. It was early in the morning, and they were just having breakfast.

"Excuse me, I am Ceras, the butler of the Filere family. May I have a moment...! ? Oh, you are from the Adam family...?"

"Yes, I am Albus, the butler of the Adam family. Why are you here, the butler of the Filere family?"

"Well... (This is bad... If a duke's butler is here, the reason is probably the same as ours. Fortunately, Master hasn't been found out yet...) I heard that famous cookies can be bought here recently, so I came to buy them."

"Ho ho ho, I see. I was also asked by my lady to buy them. Being a butler is quite a task, isn't it?"

"Yes, indeed. I just came to greet you, so I'll take my leave now."

"Albus, why did the butler of the Filere family come here?"

"Good morning, Glen. Yes, he probably came to buy cookies like me."

"Hmm, I haven't heard much good about the Filere family."

"Ho ho ho, indeed. I hope there's no trouble."

(Hmm, the Filere family has caught wind of this. And the second son is probably in the carriage outside. Ho ho ho, this could be troublesome. The second son of the Filere family is known to be greedy and ambitious, and he's been plotting to succeed the family. It seems he has his eyes on the maker of the cookies that made the Lebrant company famous. If he's willing to do anything to rise, this can't be taken lightly...)

"Hey, Ceras, how did it go?"

"Master, the butler of the Adam family was at the village chief's house, so I thought it was a bad idea and came back."

"Damn, the Adam family. This is troublesome... We must find the maker of the cookies before their butler does!"

Thus, the second son of the Filere family and his party entered the square of Oren village.

"Owl, your father and I will go around the harvest festival with Sia, but don't overdo it, okay?"

"Okay, Dad, be careful, Mom!"

"Owl, let's get ready quickly!"

"Sure, Mirei, we'll count on you today and tomorrow."

As soon as Owl's stall opened, many ladies came to visit. Of course, they were there for the cookies. This time, the cookies were made with fruits from the Azalea Spirit Mountain and were priced at 5 copper coins for 10 cookies, which was a bargain.

"Why do the ladies know about the cookies...?"

Glancing at Mirei, she was clearly avoiding eye contact and whistling, so the culprit was probably someone close to her.

"Did you advertise for me?"

"Y-Yes! That's it!"

However, thanks to this, sales were going well, and the ladies were enthusiastically voting, making it likely that Owl's stall would be the most popular. Of course, he was also getting votes from men.

The bacon was cut thicker than usual and grilled over an open flame, and the pita bread sandwiches were filled with more ingredients than usual. Despite being only 5 copper coins, they were very satisfying and filling.

...Ha, it's a victory of strategy. These two cows will be mine!

Sales were going smoothly, and by noon, a troublesome customer arrived.

"Are you the owner of this shabby stall? Are you the one who makes those sweet confections? Hey, you there, bring me some cookies."

"Yes!" said Iria, a friend of Mirei, who handled the noble.

"Owl, a strange noble has come. Are you okay?"

"Finally, they've come..."

"Owl, I'll handle it. I'll bring out the cookies for now."

"Noble sir, these are our famous cookies."

"Wow... How beautiful...!!"

"Huh?"

"How about it? Make my wife. There's no greater honor than this. With these cookies, I can succeed the family and become a baron!"

"No, thank you. I already have someone I like."

"What...?! You'll regret it! Do you not care what happens to the maker of these cookies?!"

"...I don't think you can do anything to me. Eat the cookies and leave."

"...Ceras, investigate this person named Owl. Also, find out about the people around him. If you find out who he likes, tell me. I'll kill them myself. Then, he'll give up and come to me."

"Understood."

There was someone watching this exchange from the shadows, but no one noticed.

"Excuse me, can I have some cookies, miss? And I would like to meet the person who made them."

"Yes!"

"Owl, Owl! A very distinguished-looking gentleman has come to buy cookies! He looks like a butler! His aura is incomparable to the one from earlier! And he wants to meet you."

"Again, I'll be there soon. ...I'm sorry, Mirei."

"It's okay. Just go quickly!"

"I'm sorry for the wait. Here are the cookies."

"Ho ho ho, these are works of art. ...Excuse me, but is the person who made these cookies not here?"

"...No, I made them."

"Ho ho ho, I see. I apologize."

"Is there something you need?"

"No, I just wanted to meet the person who made these sweets out of curiosity."

"...Is that all?"

"This is unexpected. You don't seem to be as simple as you look. To the point, would you come to the capital? I am Albus, the butler of the Adam family."

"I am Owl from Oren village. ...May I ask why the capital?"

"Recently, the cookies you made have become popular in the capital. When my lady tried them, she liked them very much and wants to meet the maker."

"That is an honor. However, I am still a minor at 10 years old. I'm sorry, but..."

"Of course, it won't be for free. How about 50 gold coins?"

"50 gold coins... It's very tempting, but I'm sorry."

"I see... I'll be here until tomorrow, so let me know if you change your mind."

Owl watched Albus leave, but he was still on guard.

That man is quite capable... He was constantly assessing me and didn't let his guard down at all, even though I'm just a 10-year-old child. I shouldn't let my guard down either.

After that, nothing unusual happened, and night fell. The villagers and participants, excluding the children, were served alcohol, and everyone was in a frenzy. They drank until the alcohol ran out and went home before dawn. ...It goes without saying that the ladies faced a storm of anger.

"Damn it, Ceras! Have you found out anything about this guy named Owl?!"

"Yes, Master. Owl is the inventor of cookies, bacon, and even the fragrant soap that is secretly popular in the capital. Also..."

"...Is there more?"

"The girl you liked, Mirei, seems to have a crush on Owl."

"...I see."

"However, this Mirei. Thanks to helping Owl every year, she can make cookies, bacon, and pita bread."

"What?! If that's true, even if Owl dies, Mirei can take over, can't she?!"

"That's right."

"Ceras, tonight. Go, and don't fail. Make sure no one sees you."

"Understood."

"Hahaha, if that brat Owl dies, I can get Mirei and learn how to make the cookies. It seems luck is on my side!"

Knock knock

"Who is it?"

"It's... I have some information about the child named Owl."

"Hmm... I'll listen."

Gars was staying in a carriage because there was no inn in Oren. Normally, he could have stayed at the village chief's house, but the butler of the Adam family was there, and this was the territory of the Randolf border baron, so he couldn't be too reckless.

Since he could hear about Owl, Gars got out of the carriage and was immediately stabbed in the heart with a sharp weapon. The wound was fatal, and there was no time for recovery.

"What...? Why..."

Bang.

And so, the second day of the harvest festival arrived.

"Hey, Owl, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

He was not fine at all. His presence detection reacted in the middle of the night, and the opponent was quite skilled. Since it was dark, he couldn't use high-level magic, but he managed to repel the attacker with a barrage of low-level magic.

(And from the feel of it, I probably killed them... It was my first time killing someone, but it was self-defense. Still, I guess I'm a part of this world now. I can kill without feeling anything.)

"Well, let's work hard today. We'll close around noon and enjoy the festival after that. Everyone is working hard, so I'll give them a bonus!"

"Yay!"

Sales went smoothly, and they finished around noon. The butler from the Adam family came again but didn't try to recruit Owl; he just bought a lot of cookies.

"Thanks for the money, Owl! See you later!" Mirei said as she ran off with her friends.

Well, it's about time for the wild bull skewers to be served. I'll go eat a lot this year too!

"Hey, Chief! I'm here for the skewers!"

"Hehe, Owl, you really love the wild bull skewers. This year, I made them with rock salt and the sauce you gave me. Try them!"

"Sure! Meat, meat, meat~!"

The sauce the chief wanted was for this! The chief is really something, using such expensive sauce. The sauce made from these fruits, soy sauce, alcohol, and sugar is really delicious. I'm really good. Still, the wild bull is really delicious no matter how much you eat. The chief must be doing well this year, as he's really going all out.

Screams!

Is that Mirei!?

"What happened, Mirei!"

"Owl... Look!"

"That's... the noble who was hitting on you yesterday."

"I saw blood and thought someone was hurt, but this person was dead..."

More and more adults gathered. Among them were the "Breath of the Dragon," Albus, and even Lady Muel.

"Quiet! I am Randolf von Muel, representing the Randolf border baron. I will take charge of this situation! Is that the butler of the Adam family? Can you help?"

"Ho ho ho, of course. It is a problem if a noble's son dies in another territory."

"That's right. We will search for the culprit here. I examined the body just now, and there were no traces of magic. The culprit killed the victim physically."

"By the way, I don't see the butler of the Filere family."

Gars

"Oh, the butler was with him. It's strange to leave the master alone. I wonder why."

Gars

Muel and I made eye contact. I couldn't help but look away.

"...Hmm. For now, everyone disperse! We will conduct interviews, so be prepared!"

I have to sneak away...

"Owl, come here."

"...I know."

"Tell me what you know."

"Well, it was like this..."

"Hmm, the attacker was probably the butler of the Filere family. I heard from the butler of the Adam family, Albus, that the butler used to be a famous underground figure. I won't ask how you repelled him now, but you need to cooperate."

"Okay..."

So, we started the autopsy.

"Hmm, it looks like a single stab wound from a sharp blade."

"Ho ho ho, the body is stiff all over, so it's been at least 12 hours since the death. So, the time of death was probably around midnight."

"Rigor mortis, right?"

"Ho ho ho, you know a lot. Owl is quite knowledgeable."

"...Can you tell all that from the body? And the blade length is about 30 cm... There's nothing particularly strange... Hmm? Is this powder? A small amount..."

"What is it...?"

"Ho ho ho, we can't figure it out just by thinking here. Let's conduct some interviews, shall we?"

【Interview 1】

"Did you see anything strange or suspicious?"

Villager A's testimony

"Well, we were drinking all night, so I don't remember anything. I didn't see anything."

Villager B's testimony

"Indeed, I drank too much last night. But, if it's related, I saw the butler asking about Owl and Mirei around noon."

Vill