Chapter 135 : Chapter 135
Chapter 135. Baron Spear’s Gift
Clop, clop.
A carriage that passed the gate stone crossed the capital.
It was a crude carriage with a black exterior that wasn't particularly special, but the interior was decorated in the latest style.
It was even installed with magical circuits that made the seats cool when sat on.
“Who really invented this?”
Inette, who was riding in the carriage, admired while pressing the seat.
“I don’t think I can live without this in midsummer. Since I found out about this seat, other carriages don’t even catch my eye!”
It was a moment when Radel, sitting opposite, felt pleased.
Of course, he didn't invent this but only provided the idea though…….
“I wanted to buy the same carriage as you, but orders were backed up so I barely made a reservation. If something like this comes out again later, you have to tell me.”
Inette still hadn't obtained the same type of carriage as Radel. Because reservations flooded Spear Guild, they said she had to wait unconditionally.
Thanks to that, rumors spread that it was a carriage even imperial family members waited for, making it even more popular.
Spear Guild was screaming with joy every day.
Radel was happy too.
He looked forward to the money coming in as much as the carriages were sold.
“You said you have to train during vacation?”
As the temple approached, Inette asked Gusto.
Gusto nodded.
“Originally, holy knights train a lot in summer and winter.”
“Too bad. Since you have to train, you won’t have time to see Radel, right?”
Wondering why Inette spoke to Gusto first for once, it seemed she did so to tease him.
“I will see him every day though!”
Inette laughed excitedly with an expression that she had finally got one over on Gusto after a long time.
However, Gusto answered without his face color changing a bit.
“Well. That is something unknown.”
“What? What does that mean? Don’t tell me you’re coming to the Imperial Capital during vacation?”
At Gusto’s answer, Inette jumped.
“There is no special meaning.”
“What do you mean no meaning! Just now was super suspicious, you know? What does that mean!”
“All I know is the will of the Supreme Deity.”
Inette glared at Gusto, who couldn't be communicated with, and wished the carriage would arrive at the temple quickly.
Gusto also ignored Inette’s gaze and closed his eyes.
It had been a long time since Radel got used to the war of nerves between the two that he always saw.
Beyond getting used to it, he was thinking that Inette and Gusto had become quite close.
It was a remark that would shock the two if they heard it.
The carriage carrying the three ran towards the temple.
* * *
Radel dropped Gusto off at the temple and took Inette to the 7th Princess’s Palace.
“Inette! Radel!”
The 3rd Imperial Consort, Celiana, who was waiting for the two to arrive, saw the carriage carrying them and waved her hand.
“Mom!”
She complained at the Academy, but seeing her mom in person, Inette must have been glad as she quickly got off the carriage.
“Why did you come out? It’s hot, you should stay inside.”
“Oh my, Mom just came out to enjoy a walk?”
Celiana laughed and teased Inette.
“Don’t tell me you worried about me? I’m touched.”
“I didn’t, okay? Just go inside quickly.”
“Why go inside already? Mom is going to talk with Radel from now on.”
“That’s why I told you to go inside! Why is Mom talking with Radel? Mom’s daughter is me, you know?!”
Radel politely greeted Celiana and left the 7th Princess’s Palace, leaving words that he would visit next time.
It was because it felt like fire would spew from Inette’s eyes if he stayed longer.
Soon, Radel’s carriage arrived in front of the 8th Prince’s Palace.
“Finally arrived.”
It hadn't been that long, but it felt like returning after a long time.
The neatly refurbished 8th Prince’s Palace was welcoming Radel.
Unlike the past days when the ground was cracked and trees were dying, a well-managed garden caught his eye. Newly planted flowers and laid grass made it look even more magnificent.
Hiring additional gardeners and investing the budget when Radel came last time was worthwhile.
“So this is why people tend gardens.”
Radel passed the remarkably changed garden and headed to the main gate. A neat main gate, different from the old one that was very worn out, welcomed Radel.
“I would believe it if someone said this is a new house.”
Radel felt satisfied and stepped into the 8th Prince’s Palace.
He had already informed the Chief Attendant via mail that he would arrive on this day.
Thinking it would be burdensome if all the attendants came out and greeted in a line like last time, he had also requested not to do so this time.
Greeting was fine, but standing up to the stairs on the upper floor to greet was not really his thing.
It wasn't like welcoming someone returning from war, wasn't it just coming back from school.
What Radel wanted was an ordinary welcome.
Just enough to feel when returning home after a long time was perfect.
“Welcome back, Prince.”
As Radel entered inside, the Chief Attendant welcomed him.
He skillfully took Radel’s luggage.
As Radel wished, not a single other attendant was seen, perhaps doing their usual work.
The Chief Attendant guided Radel inside and opened his mouth.
“I heard the news. That you became the top student.”
“Rumors reached here already?”
“Of course. So there is something we prepared as well.”
As the Chief Attendant slightly turned his body, things he hadn't seen when entering appeared before Radel’s eyes.
It was a welcome party prepared by the attendants of the 8th Prince’s Palace.
“Prince! Welcome back to the 8th Prince’s Palace.”
The attendants who were not seen anywhere were gathered here.
Although not decorated very lavishly, the food was prepared neatly in its own way, and the attendants also seemed dressed up.
“Congratulations on being the Academy top student.”
“We are happy that the Prince came.”
“You worked hard all this while!”
The attendants offered words of blessing to Radel one by one.
They were words where their sincerity was felt.
“They were so happy to receive clothes and shoes from the Prince last time that they insisted on repaying you, so we prepared a small gathering among ourselves. I do not know if it will be to the Prince’s liking though…….”
“I like it very much.”
Radel answered immediately.
More than anything else, he liked the comfortable appearance of the attendants.
Thinking about how everyone in the 8th Prince’s Palace used to avoid Radel, it was tremendous progress.
“Just in time, Baron Spear also sent a gift hearing that the Prince is returning.”
The Chief Attendant handed a letter to Radel.
Looking at the letter sent by Baron Grandal Spear, documents were enclosed along with a check, saying it was the royalties for the meantime. It was a document containing the sales performance of the carriage made with Radel and plans for additional production.
‘I earned quite a lot?’
Radel’s mood improved upon checking the check.
Although profits were being generated from the Dice Shop and House of the Undead in Marcellent, it wasn't enough to recover the initially invested funds yet. Amidst that, a quite large amount of cash came in.
It was an amount enough to make Radel’s heart generous.
On top of that, the Chief Attendant delivered another welcome news.
“And the Baron also prepared another gift.”
It is enough even now, what other gift did he send.
Radel was guided by the Chief Attendant to the stable behind the 8th Prince’s Palace.
Two black horses were waiting there.
Just by looking, they were horses of good pedigree with glossy coats.
Judging by the faintly felt Magic Power, it seemed they were mixed with the blood of magical beasts. To obtain horses of this level, aside from the price, it would be impossible with ordinary connections.
‘It must have been hard to obtain.’
I just returned home for vacation, but is it okay to receive so many gifts.
The Chief Attendant conveyed Baron Spear’s words that he sent them thinking they would match Radel’s black carriage.
“Do you like them?”
At the Chief Attendant’s question, Radel grinned.
There was no reason not to like them.
“Of course.”
* * *
It was the evening after the welcome party ended.
Radel entered the secret passage of the 8th Prince’s Palace.
As soon as he entered, a flow of mana different from before was felt.
‘No, the flow of mana is the same.’
The secret passage remained the same as before leaving the 8th Prince’s Palace, but Radel had changed.
Walking along the mana felt much more delicately, Radel adjusted the pack carried on his back. His destination was the Secret Training Ground.
“It was a tremendous magic circle.”
Arriving at the training ground, Radel clicked his tongue seeing the magic circle engraved on the cave floor.
Things he couldn't recognize before came into Radel’s eyes. Health recovery, Magic Power recovery, and even formulas raising mana sensitivity were included.
Well, he was a person who drew magic circles enough to bind a Great Spirit in the Academy library. This much wouldn't have been difficult.
Only now could he know that magic was actually cast on the wooden training swords rolling on the floor.
“No wonder the wooden swords were strangely hard.”
Muttering, Radel put down the pack he carried on his back onto the floor.
Thud!
What he brought were chunks of meat swept from the kitchen and food storage.
“I will succeed this time for sure.”
That was it.
The reason Radel brought a huge amount of meat chunks to the training ground was to tame the Griffin.
Last time, he challenged after listening to Venus’s advice but failed.
When Radel asked how to tame a Griffin, Venus told him as follows.
First, when taming a flying monster, lure it to the ground first.
Second, all magical beasts have favorite food, so utilize it appropriately.
In fact, this was all.
He said the rest could be handled by appropriately training with carrots and sticks.
However, Radel, lacking taming experience, suffered a painful failure back then.
Knowing that the Griffin liked meat, he succeeded in luring it with food, but the clever Griffin only took the meat away.
Next time when he blocked it from taking it, it attacked Radel and then disappeared holding only the meat again.
It was fortunate that he had experience getting hit by the Griffin several times while trying to upgrade Troll’s Heart before……. If he had been hit defenselessly, he would have almost crossed the river to the afterlife while taming.
‘Still, there was some progress.’
Although the Griffin attacked indiscriminately when seeing Radel at first, after tasting the meat, it showed more interest in the food.
It seemed to gradually recognize Radel not as an intruder invading its territory but as a being bringing delicious food.
Still, since it was a monster of such high rank, he couldn't let his guard down.
“But now I’ve got the hang of it to some extent.”
Radel recalled the Cryptozoology lecture a while ago.
Back then, he only had the thought of making it smell a delicious scent to lure the Rock Eagle flying in the air somehow.
But the effect was better than expected.
Watching the Rock Eagle unable to control itself when jerky was roasted on fire, Radel got a hint.
Monsters also have noses and mouths!
The answer was cooked food.
Even a Griffin would get tired of eating only raw meat.
It wasn't something to be tamed with raw meat only. It was necessary to show the Griffin the taste of more delicious meat.
Only then would it keep thinking about that taste.
Making it fly over as if possessed just by smelling the scent was Radel’s goal.
Radel sat down determinedly and lit a campfire. And took out a large frying pan.
Salt, pepper, he brought all the spices he could bring. Rubbing butter on the heated frying pan, Radel smiled a smile of conversion.
Now was the time to grill the meat deliciously.