Chapter 302 – Did Not Leave in the First Place (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Claudi’s mansion.

The vast interior is being filled with guests. I wondered how many would visit, but first of all, it’s above expectations. Whether looking at the head count or the level of each individual.

“It has been a while since we faced each other.”

“Is that so?”

“You have certainly matured more than before, Argentress.”

Polymorph.

With the Earth Dragon’s giant body, he cannot enter and exit the mansion. Kudhanax conversed with the elf, Argentress, in the mansion in the form of a horned Dragonian.

The conversation between a dragon and an elf.

The momentum exuded by two out-of-standard existences.

Ordinary people would have no choice but to walk on eggshells.

“As expected of Claudi’s banquet, Assistant. We get to see a good spectacle even before it starts. Isn’t that right? Isn’t that right, you seriously rough red-eyed gentleman over there?”

“Indeed. It would be good if only you were in your proper place.”

“My proper place?”

“How about getting up on the table even now.”

“Haha, another barbaric joke.”

Because they were conversing relatively calmly.

Before we knew it, it was the promised time.

Even though Claudi’s territory was not easy to visit.

Because there were no exceptions to Granfel’s sharp time promise.

Ding─

A bell rings and concentrates their gazes.

Several people are startled and ask each other.

“If it’s a bell ringing by itself in the empty air, it must be a magic tool, right?”

No, it’s not a magic tool.

The ones I hired…….

To be exact, the spirits hired by Hiel filled the Claudi mansion. Traditionally, a mansion needs employees. However, where would there be manpower on the devastated Arcana continent?

‘Thank you, Hiel.’

{Unique Spirit}, Hiel.

As if that wasn’t enough, thanks to the World Tree’s blessing, Hiel became an existence outside the spirits’ hierarchy. I didn’t know much about the spirits’ hierarchy, but the person herself, Hiel, kindly explained it comparing it to something else.

-“In human realm ranks, it would be close to a Grand Duke.”

If it’s a Grand Duke in the Spirit Realm, it’s not a Spirit King, but should I consider it the rank right below that? You’ve come up in the world, Hiel. No, in some ways it might be better than a Spirit King.

‘Since a Spirit King can only command spirits of their own identical attribute.’

However, the {Unique Spirit} Hiel, as you can see.

Could command spirits of all attributes.

The sights of such spirits, head full of flowers…….

No, they were clearly visible in my vision that had not lost the sensibility of my pure days.

Ding ding─

The lower wind spirit Sylphid rings the bell.

Fwoosh─

The intermediate flame spirit Ifrit lights the candlesticks.

Besides that, spirits of all attributes moved busily.

They were preparing the start of the banquet.

“……A, Are they all magic tools?”

Setting abilities aside, it was only chosen ones who could witness nature state spirits. To the majority, it would seem like the bell rang by itself and lights turned on.

However, that’s not what’s important.

I opened my mouth.

“I speak to you who have responded to Claudi’s invitation.”

Even while spitting out words, my mouth runs completely dry.

It couldn’t be helped!

Because from now on, I had to run my mouth as the family head of the Claudi family, Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo. Yes, is there any other way now that I’ve come this far, Ho-yeol.

……Damn it, firmly clenching both fists, I open my mouth.

“I, Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo, welcome you all.”

I am sincerely glad this isn’t reality and there are no eyes watching me.

Is it because I’m mentally stabilized thanks to that.

Or is it thanks to my shameless thick skin.

I met the pouring gazes without even a change in complexion.

The one to open his mouth first was a man with a glowing face.

“Master of Diamond Merchant Guild, Gamond Phil. I offer infinite congratulations on Claudi’s return! As I thought my sincerity would not be conveyed through words, I have prepared something…….”

The one who introduced himself as Gamond stepped forward.

He clearly looks totally like a merchant starting from his exterior.

The expressions appearing on his smooth face are also quite rich.

Thanks to that, I could notice immediately.

“I have prepared presents hoping it would be of some small help!”

Indeed, the carriages he drove over in a bunch were the presents?

Actually, who in the world would refuse a present.

I, Lee Ho-yeol, am the same.

‘It’s a kind of housewarming present, right?’

Did he say Diamond Merchant Guild?

I don’t know well, but just looking at the name, they seem incredibly rich.

More than anything, receiving Claudi’s invitation letter was proof of it. From the perspective of such Merchant Guild Master Gamond, that level of presents might just be equivalent to toilet paper.

‘Just comfortably closing my eyes.’

If I receive it, it’s good for both of us.

However, who is Granfel.

A principled person who strictly distinguishes public and private matters.

The mouth I had been worried about starts to run wild.

“Is it a present truly containing goodwill.”

“Yes, of course…….”

“If not that, is it a bribe containing an ulterior motive.”

You’re really just asking it openly, so openly.

A small laugh is heard at my words.

It’s obvious who would joyfully observe complicated human affairs.

The dragon and elf exchanged their appreciations.

“Looks like he’ll have to answer wisely here?”

“It is a blasphemy. If it were me, I would have cut him down.”

“To at least give a warning first. You’ve certainly become softer, Argentress.”

There is no such thing as goodwill without a reason in the world.

Gamond’s head definitely holds a businessman’s estimate sheet. But who is his opponent. Even if you punch the calculator for a hundred days, you won’t be able to estimate the speech and behavior originating from pride.

‘When even I can’t predict it.’

However, as expected of a grand merchant.

“Of course, it is a pure present! I believe you will understand if you see the items. Because I only put together items that will be helpful for the territory’s reconstruction. Haha.”

As if there was no estimate sheet from the very beginning.

He casually answers without even showing a change in expression. Seeing him make such a bright expression makes me feel sorry like I doubted him for nothing. The misunderstanding resolved, I spoke benevolently.

“I understand.”

It would have been good to end it there.

Didn’t I tell you?

This damn mouth never lets anything slide roughly.

I shifted my gaze.

This wasn’t a statement meant only for Gamond.

“However, it seems you all are misunderstanding one thing.”

“……?”

Questions pop up on everyone’s faces.

The only one who wasn’t flustered was one person.

No, one dragon Kudhanax.

Naturally so, because Kudhanax had already heard an earful.

“Claudi has not returned.”

What grand ‘return’?

By Granfel’s standards, Claudi had never left the Arcana continent in the first place. The red-eyed man, the man who introduced himself as Shahin Dune, bowed his waist politely and spoke.

“Family head of Claudi. May I, Shahin Dune, the leader of the Dune Clan, dare to ask a question?”

He said he was the Dune Clan, right.

Because he showed a polite attitude unlike his rough appearance.

From the perspective of formality, it’s a passing mark.

When I nodded, Shahin continued his words.

“I do not dare to doubt the great family, Claudi. It is simply because I have a question. Since not returning implies not having left in the first place……. Then where have you been and what have you been doing?”

Where and what.

‘Because the Lee family, not Claudi, also declined, you see.’

I half-forcibly quit Arcana Continent Biography and was busy living my real life. But there’s no way the absolute Granfel-style speech could state such circumstances straightforwardly.

Therefore, I answered proudly.

“I watched over the Arcana continent from a completely different world.”

……Well then, come to think of it, it’s not a wrong statement.

Even though I quit Arcana Continent Biography, I used to hear major news regarding it through word of mouth. However, it seemed people including Shahin found it hard to understand.

“A completely different world…….”

“Are you speaking of a new continent, not Arcana?”

“Huhu.”

If it was just me alone, it might have not been easy to convince them. However, isn’t there an experienced person here who glided through that completely different world yelling at the top of his lungs?

Kudhanax stops laughing and speaks.

“A completely different world is a world where even us dragons have to exhaust our efforts to access. To put it a little more friendly, it is the homeland of all adventurers.”

The sound of murmuring follows.

“If it’s adventurers, are you talking about the ones who possessed the authority of resurrection?”

“The homeland of those adventurers…….”

“To say it’s a world where even dragons must exhaust their efforts to access. With what intention did you enter such a harsh world?”

That’s because I am an adventurer myself!

Because before that, reality was truly my, Lee Ho-yeol’s, real homeland.

I wanted to refreshingly spill everything out but.

If that happens, eclipsing my claim of being Granfel.

I would have to explain about Lee Ho-yeol too, right?

‘Great (Ho) and Joyous (Yeol)…….’

Seeing me born as the fourth child into a family rich in daughters.

My name that my grandfather built for me while greatly rejoicing.

I try imagining explaining this in front of them.

If that happens, wouldn’t they definitely ask the backstory?

‘What is Granfel, and what is Lee Ho-yeol?’

If the story proceeds that far…….

There will be no more room for excuses for me.

It means I might have to clearly reveal my dark history……!

However, fortunately.

“Claudi moved, isn’t it obvious?”

“……Don’t tell me?”

“That is right, humans. The collapsing Arcana continent and the world of adventurers. Claudi has been protecting the two worlds. From the days even my kin and I failed to notice, until now.”

Thanks to Kudhanax adding an extremely undeserved explanation, I avoided death by embarrassment. Because a dragon, the King of All Things, said it as if affirming it, no matter how unbelievable of a story it is.

“Indeed, it was natural that it was unfathomable for me.”

Bow─

Shahin who had raised the question also had no choice but to bow his head.

Is it because I was relieved.

Only then did I become self-aware as the host of the banquet.

‘Even so, I have to follow the procedures of a banquet.’

Looking around at the attendees.

Thanks to the spirits moving busily, everyone had glasses in their hands. As all glasses are filled, and I hold my glass up, the banquet will begin in earnest.

‘We can share more detailed stories as much as we want later.’

Click─

When I picked up the glass, the spirits busily went around filling all the glasses. The only ones who can see spirits are Kudhanax and Argentress. The two lightly express gratitude to the spirits.

“I appreciate it, little friend.”

“Thank you.”

“…….”

“T, Thank you……?”

As the dragon and elf look at the empty air and speak, the people walking on eggshells also convey thanks one by one. Was that funny? Kyahaha─ The spirits’ laughter tickles my ears.

Right, I also feel like laughing.

‘……It really shatters the mood here.’

Eventually, what filled the glasses wasn’t red wine, nor was it clear water. That’s right. By this point everyone else would have probably guessed? What was contained in the luxurious glasses was green liquid.

That’s right, it was green tea.

Though they say Claudi is the law in Claudi’s territory……. Even so. Isn’t powdered green tea that I brought after getting Rocket Delivery put in such expensive glasses a bit too much?!

Incorruptibility and dignity as a great noble.

The person who realizes an incompatible contradiction in this manner.

Through all of reality and the Arcana continent, it will only be me, truly……!

.

.

.

The banquet’s atmosphere was okay.

“Haha, now you tell me to get on a plate.”

“Isn’t that where a pig belongs?”

“Then is the Dune Clan going to sleep in the stable today? Haha.”

……Well, the war of nerves among big shots continued but.

Because my order is absolute in the Claudi territory.

No matter how intoxicated they get, it would only end at the level of childish wordplay.

More importantly.

‘They really were amazing guys as expected.’

While having conversations with them…….

I seemed to understand the reason why they didn’t reveal themselves on the continent even when the Arcana continent was devastated. Just like how the Mage Tower couldn’t act due to complicated circumstances.

‘Because they were too strong, they were bound by the setting.’

Of course, it’s unknown how that setting was realized. However, what’s important is that Claudi’s invitation was even stronger than that setting, right. Because of that my shoulders shrug proudly without reason.

‘Did I say an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?’

Whether it’s the Omen of Ill Fortune, or Raymond Sean.

Since my dark history is never a pushover, be prepared.

It was the moment I made an oath inwardly that I couldn’t tell anyone.

“I am sorry for being so late.”

Drop.

Suddenly, an old man in shabby attire appeared from empty air. First of all, I did not act surprised. Not only could I not be surprised even if I wanted to due to Granfel’s face, but also that just now was portal magic power, right?

‘He knows the exact coordinates of the Claudi territory.’

Because that was like proof that he wasn’t an uninvited guest.

However, soon, only after locking eyes with the old man who raised his head.

I flinched without realizing it.

The old man spoke.

“Oh my. What I received was definitely an invitation letter from the youngest family head of the Claudi family, Sir Granfel, but…….”

He looked straight at me without avoiding my eyes and asked.

“……Who are you?”