Chapter 51
"Yes! I want to know who the elders worthy of respect are-nimida."
At Iri's single remark, the grumpy old man's gaze shook violently.
Everyone in the world had told him.
Why obsess over such useless family doctrines.
But Iri was different.
She looked down at the family tree with sparkling, wondrous eyes.
Milligan's chest swelled achingly full.
And all of this was going exactly according to the scheming Confucian child's plan.
Martial arts? Perfect.
Etiquette? Perfect.
Character? Perfect.
The chance to serve a master possessing all three virtues was exceedingly rare!
Moreover, the opportunity to teach Karhen beside her too!
Iri tightly clutched the arm of quietly seated Karhen.
Then she said.
"Karhen here is super interested in etiquette too-nimida!"
Milligan's two eyes flashed like lightning had struck.
With the momentum to soon call him 'my puppy'!
It was going very smoothly.
"The 31st generation ancestor said this. 'Respect your elders.'"
"Heok, tremendous teaching-nimida! I learned one more-nimida. I'll engrave it in my heart-nimida."
At the response straight out of an etiquette textbook, Milligan shuddered.
But right then.
Kalben opened the connecting passage from the office to the bedroom and said.
"Duke Bechen has arrived."
In that instant, Milligan's expression changed.
"Ah, then I'll step out for a bit."
"......?"
"Stay in the bedroom. That damn bastard, no, after finishing my talk with my old friend, I'll continue the etiquette lesson."
Iri tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
*'Grandpa looks super scary!'*
He looked just like someone completely eroded by magi.
*'Even though he was a bit weird today, he's still my precious master!'*
Up to then, Iri had no thought of spying on his situation.
But.
Shortly after, the sound of fighting came from beyond the door.
She didn't want to eavesdrop, but ended up doing so!
Even Cookie, sleeping soundly in her pocket, woke and sent telepathy.
[What's that? Sounds like a few furnishings breaking.]
Their gravelly, noisy conference voices pierced Iri's ears.
Thanks to that?
Iri realized the identity of the 'egg' Milligan had been hugging to his bosom.
It was precisely......
* * *
Meanwhile, the office connected to Milligan's bedroom was exploding with his excessive rage.
His long-time nemesis from Academy days.
Duke Bechen, ruler of the western desert, had come and immediately asked.
"Heard you got a spirit beast egg?"
That's right. What Milligan carried in his bosom was a spirit beast egg.
"I waited knowing you'd come, and yes my nose is made of stone, but facing your mug sours my mood. So get lost."
Duke Bechen crossed his legs with an expressionless face lacking any impact and smirked.
"Heh, when the spirit beast hatches, it'll guard the northern seas you've protected in your stead, eh?"
"That's right. So get lost."
Even after two 'get lost's, Duke Bechen didn't waver.
He sneered mockingly.
"But what's the point of having the egg? It won't hatch anyway?"
"Why wouldn't it hatch? So get lost."
Did the third 'get lost' finally land a hit?
Duke Bechen's expression twisted.
"You know the hatching condition for that egg too, right?"
"......"
"You know? You can't hatch that egg."
"Why can't I? I'll find a way to hatch it!"
"Seems you don't get it, so I'll explain. The spirit beast egg obtained in the North can hatch in clean land located similarly in the North."
Bechen smirked as if bestowing a great favor.
"But in the North where all regions are infested by magi, there's no clean land?"
"......"
"Just give up."
Having said that, Bechen whistled seeing Milligan grinding his teeth.
"Ah, by the way. For reference, this cutie tanuki spirit beast was born in our west's clean land and is awfully strong."
Come to think of it, a palm-sized tail peeked from Bechen's front pocket.
The baby tanuki spirit beast hopped down to the floor.
Milligan glanced at the spirit beast.
Just as magi has ranks, spirit beasts had ranks too.
That tanuki spirit beast looked exceedingly strong at a glance.
"3-star spirit beast. Emerged from land with almost no magi."
Spirit beast ranks ranged from 1-star to 5-star as well.
But 4-star or 5-star spirit beasts had never been reported.
Thus, the baby tanuki was the strongest existing spirit beast.
Bechen smirked glancing at Milligan's eyes.
The two were tremendous rivals.
But the difference between one with a spirit beast and one without was clear.
Bechen gleefully mocked Milligan's twisted expression and proffered documents.
"Well, so I prepared something. Aren't I your old friend?"
[Space Purification Magic Tool Rental Agreement]
"What? Space purification magic tool?"
"Recently collaborated with the western Magic Tower to make a magic tool that purifies space. Can purify about one pyeong of land harboring 1-star magi."
"What, one pyeong?"
"Yeah, one pyeong. Isn't even that a situation where you need clean land, no matter how small?"
"......Ha."
Unable to retort since it wasn't wrong, Bechen chattered on smirking.
"As you know, even purification sorcerers can't purify intangible things, right? This magic tool is revolutionary. So don't be so stiff and rent it. I'm bestowing favor as your friend."
Right, it was a situation where he should be borrowing, not lending.
Spirit beasts could repel magi beasts in a certain radius for three days just by breathing.
"1-star is certainly very weak compared to our tanuki, but what's that matter?"
Bechen grinned widely, not forgetting to boast.
Milligan couldn't bring himself to speak.
That's right. No matter the star rank, if the spirit beast awoke, it would be a blessing.
His Blue Knight Order subordinates could secure time to look after families away from magi's danger.
He had to yield one to Duke Bechen, his lifelong rival.
Bechen tapped the documents and lifted the corner of his mouth.
"Don't agonize too much. As old friends, I'll give you a special 1% discount."
[Rental Amount: 1 Billion Gold / 1% Discount Available]
"Is a 1% discount even a discount, you scoundrel?"
Bechen chuckled mockingly.
"Nothing in the world is free, old friend."
But Bechen didn't know now.
That his words were leaking to the children in the bedroom.
And what hint his words gave to Iri!
