Brought into the depths of the luxurious mansion, sharing the lounge room with the welcomed guest, he sat across the mayor.
Irene set down a pristine cup for each, pouring fresh tea into each.
Leon gave a thankful nod to the maid as he lifted his, taking a whiff of the herbal brew as he sat back with a smile. It was his best way of holding himself as an "esteemed lord", taking a fair bit of joy in his status.
"So, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Leon asked.
The Mayor coughed, graciously accepting the tea as he sipped it beneath his pale mustache, "…Well, as you're well aware, the Schoeller family has a unique position among the noble houses. That is, the Schoeller head has always been one of the most powerful heroes in the land of Wuxtria."
"Go on," Leon said, taking a sip.
"In times of need, the Schoeller head has always come to Newfard's aid. I'm afraid this is one of those times, Lord Schoeller," the Mayor regretfully said.
It almost seemed like a "flagged event" to Leon, if this world operated like an RPG game in some ways.
The Mayor continued, "It's a dastardly ogre by the name of "One-Eye" that has been attacking our merchants. None of the adventurers in Newgar have been able to defeat it—there have already been twelve deaths."
Leon drank the rather tasty tea some more before responding, "Let's talk compensation."
"Ah? Well, of course—the Schoeller Estate will be compensated for your aid in this," the mayor confirmed. "Newfard isn't the richest town…I can offer around one thousand gold—"
"Oh, I don't want gold," Leon interrupted the old man.
With the vast scope of his estate, there was no need for standard currency—he clearly had enough. Instead, he set his sights on something more worthwhile.
'If I'm being honest, I don't really care about any compensation. I'm more interested in testing my abilities and trying to level, but…Don't work for free, right?' He thought.
The Mayor looked at him with a waiting gaze, "If it's not gold, then what is it you want, Lord Schoeller?"
"A grimoire," Leon answered.
"A grimoire?" The old man repeated.
It was a surprising answer it seemed, though he could tell he wasn't off base by his request.
'If my memory serves me right, I learned about this at…some point. Most cities in this world have special grimoires that are reserved and protected,' he thought, having to search through his unfamiliar memories.
After his lesson with Beatrice, he felt a clear thirst in expanding his magical repertoire.
The Mayor put his hand to his chin, taking another drink of the tea as he adjusted himself in the velvet chair. "Hmm…Well, I suppose it would be safe here in the Schoeller estate. Perhaps even safer than in Newfard."
"So, you'll accept those terms?" Leon persisted.
"I suppose," the Mayor nodded.
"Great," Leon clapped his hands. "Give me a couple days."
Delving into his new life with endless energy, he trained himself, taking care to take in the lessons of the knight and witch, neglecting neither sword nor magic.
[...In the lecture hall…]
Beatrice watched him as he carefully guided bright-blue flames between his hands, weaving the strands of heat through the wind. It felt like massaging dough into a unique shape, having to be careful as not to let the fire explode throughout the chamber.
"Impressive…You're like a sponge for magecraft. I imagine dissecting that brain of yours would be interesting," Beatrice noted. "That's just a joke, by the way."
Leon huffed, casting the gathering of fire away, "It better be."
As the day of the ordeal came, there wasn't any time wasted in hopping into a carriage with the mayor, heading towards the town. Of course, it didn't seem that no matter what he said, he could leave the premises of his estate without at least two of his servants accompanying him.
To his right—
["Salvatore Mecalin"] [CLASS: Butler] [Designated Lv: 16]
To his left—
["Ruby Harma"] [CLASS: Maid] [Designated Lv: 15]
He sat there on the cushioned seat as the carriage wheels moved, sighing, "I think this is something I could've handled alone."
Salvatore ran his glove through his hair with a small smile, "Our presence here isn't to diminish your capabilities, Master. I believe wholeheartedly you could handle some simple barbarian."
"So? Why're you here then?" Leon asked again.
"There are countless problems that can appear in the world! We're just here to provide support and lighten your burden!" The scarlet-haired maid beside him explained.
Even though she spoke with a sweet, innocent voice, it was hardly convincing with the massive battleaxe she held on her lap.
'How does a small girl like her even wield that thing?' He thought.
Across from him, the Mayor sat, nervously fiddling with his own fingers. It looked like the old man was practically sweating bullets as the carriage chugged along the roads of the grassy valley.
"Don't stress too much, Mayor," Leon said, wearing a confident smile. "I'm pretty strong."
"It's not that I doubt you, it's just…This ogre is a foul one. Even now, I feel so impatient being away from Newfard," the old man admitted, putting his hand over his heart.
"Rest assured, it'll be going down," Leon comforted the old man.
He took the time to appreciate the scenery of the Vagrant Region, watching the hills pass. It was only a couple hours before the carriage found its way into the premises of the quant city—Newfard.
"Here we are," the old man said, lowering the hatched window on the side.
As the carriage rolled in, passing by the guards that recognized it, the sights of the calm streets welcomed the young lord.
It was a sight straight from the shows he'd seen; a mix of humans, elves with pointy ears, and even those with animal features. Leon had to keep himself composed, almost jumping right out at the sight of a cat girl.
"Is there something the matter, Master?" Salvatore asked, seeming to notice his intense gaze out of the window.
Leon looked away, brushing it off, "—Ah, nothing. Just taking in the scenery, y'know?"
The carriage ride met its end as he finally got to stretch his legs, walking out as he set his boots on the cobblestone. He looked around at the bustling streets of the colorful town.
"Newfard prides itself on being a hub for all kinds of people across the world. Think of it as the "welcome" for those entering this land," the Mayor proudly explained with a smile.
He looked at the buildings around, seeing some people coming and going clad in armor, some carrying swords and staffs. There was no doubt in his mind—they were adventurers. It was all sights that he recalled vividly from fantasy, never expecting to see it firsthand.
"There's a lot of strong looking people," Leon remarked, watching a tall man in scarlet armor pass by. "I'm sure some of them could handle this "One-Eyed" ogre guy, right?"
The Mayor hesitantly nodded with a sigh, "If you come inside my office, I will explain everything."