The return trip was also very safe. There were no obstacles whatsoever, not even anything just even for the peace of his mind.
It all felt very suspicious. Very very suspicious.
'...Hmmm. This is not bad but something doesn't sit right here.'
He wasn't buying it. For the plot to progress, conflicts were needed, it was like bread and butter. If there is no conflict then there is no progress.
'Get a hold, Damien. It's only been a day without any conflict, I'm sure something is surely waiting at home.'
Such was his life. He wanted to find some solace or semblance in his hustle of life, and the ladies helped in that area.
"Young master, we are in the estate."
He heard the wagon driver's crispy and cheery voice, obviously happy to enter the estate after the faithful encounter with the thieves.
The luscious greenery and familiar sound of knights training penetrated his ears. The sun was ready to set in the east.
'I wonder how the balls had gone? Was there any event revolving around the ball? No shit, can't remember.'
The two behemoth gate was closed off as one of the two guards manning the gate came forward and talked with the wagon driver at the front.
The guard was wary of the coming unfamiliar wagons but seeing the familiar faces riding them, he became more confused.
After several nodding and amused expressions, the guard signaled to the other guard; who in turn, hurriedly opened the estate gate by injecting some mana into a small box protruding from the walls, near the gate.
The box suddenly lit up and the gate creaked open.
Both the guards bowed as the wagons passed through the gate.
'It's good to see the castle. I could call it my...home, I guess.'
Though, he certainly felt distant and weird, calling it home didn't bother him as much as he thought it would.
Damien would've loved to just laze around his room and whore around without any problem at all, but what to say, he is someone who has higher goals that cannot be comprehended by the mortals of this realm.
The wagon came to a stop as it reached its destination. He got out of the wagon to see another load of wagons parked on the premise.
??!!
It was only then he saw the decorations around the normally bleak and plain castle.
"...Who?"
Though the Zadkiels were a prominent power in the books, there wasn't much of a description of their day-to-day activities in it.
But seeing the decorations, he was sure someone really powerful and authoritative has visited the castle.
He looked at the wagons, specifically at the sigil. Since the author was very descriptive about the main characters and their "life," he knows most of the main noble houses.
But the 'Flaming cat' was new to him.
"Luther, who are they?" He asked as he was sensing trouble.
"...Forgive me, young master, I don't recall that banner," Luther said in a low voice.
"...This much wagons can bring trouble. Who might it be?"
"Welcome back, young master."
Amid his brainstorming, he heard a familiar sound, a sound he won't forget nor plans to forget.
Lily, bowed elegantly as she welcomed the young master. She was wearing a regular maid costume and not the custom-selected one, as the young master has ordered not to wear it around guests, for reasons she can't fathom.
Her face had a tinge of redness in it and combined with her warm smile, she looked like an angel.
"Ah, yes," he said as he approached her. "Who are the guests?"
"...Uh...that's one of the old friends of the lord." Her face became redder as he approached her.
"Old friend...? That doesn't ring a bell."
"It's duke Farel, from the Autumn kingdom," she said shyly.
??!!
'The Autumn kingdom? Again! Why do they always pop out with different kinds of problems each time? and isn't that duke a small kind of duke, as he was only mentioned a few times across the whole book? I should've completed the series. Shit!'
He wanted to just shut this kingdom from the other kingdoms, as they always brought problems with them.
'I thought about completing the side missions before doing any main missions, but it seems I don't get to decide what I play.'
"How long have they been here? Was there any particular reason for their visit?"
"They have been here for three days and forgive this lowly maid for her lack of knowledge, young master. I don't about the reasons for their visit."
"...I see." he thought about the many main events that happened on this estate, but none of them were aligned with a duke from another kingdom.
"Prepare my bath. I need a good shower before meeting our dear guests."
"...As you wi-wish, young master." Lily's face was tomato red as she thought about preparing the bath for the young master. He always did dirty things to her in the bath.
She felt a tingling sensation between her legs.
"You can resume whatever you were doing but take a rest if you want to." He said to his servants, who accompanied him through his arduous journey.
"Thank you, young master!" They all said and bowed in perfect unison.
!!!
He was tempted to say 'thank you for accompanying me,' but changed his mind as the relationship between him and the men in front of him was of master and servant and not buddy buddies.
He nodded and headed towards his room with Lily tagging behind like a cute little kitty.
He took a route to his room that was isolated from the eyes of the guests. This was common as there are always some nobles who must not be in any form to meet others, and if the guests were other nobles then it was always better to hide and be ready than meet and get humiliated.
His room was the same as the old without any change or anything after all, he does lock it, and unlocking it is an invasion of privacy.
"Prepare the bath and leave." He said in a commanding voice.
"Bu-but, young master…" She wanted to say more but no voice came back. She wanted to embrace him and whisper 'I missed you,' but seeing his stoic face, no courage pumped into her sad little heart.
Seeing her saddened face, he relaxed a bit. His stoic expression changed to that of a charmer.
He took her face in his palms. "Prepare the bath and leave and wait for my call."
Her pupils shook as she felt his warm breath and body heat. He leaned in and suddenly pecked her forehead.
Chuuu~~
??!!!!!!
Her whole body shook as she wasn't able to register what the fuck was going on.
"…Be ready when you come back." She heard his whisper under her ear.
All the screws on her head were turning. This was new. A completely new experience.
All the time he was just using her like a pleasure toy and now…this.
'What's the meaning of this?' She contemplated herself. 'Is this affection? From the young master…?'
She didn't know that she was spacing out.
Confusion overtook her by surprise. Never in her life she thought he would do something like that. Yet, here she is, being kissed gently by the young master himself.
'I guess, this was completely new to her.' He shook his head.
"Lily," No answer. "Lily!" Even with a firm tone, no response. "LILY!"
???!!!
This time, it worked.
"So-sorry young master. I-I di—"
"Heard what I said?" He asked with a playful tone.
Nod~ Nod~
"Then off you go!" He gestured to the Bathroom.
She, like a happy puppy, went to the bathroom and heated the water in the bathtub with her magic. Though she could use magic it was not much of a use as her mana capacity was that pitiful.
She heated the water and bowed towards the young master who was slouched on the couch, not daring to look at him directly
She timidly and shiveringly trudged out of the room.
"Phew~ Now the time has come, little friend. We shall truly start our heroic journey from the moment." He clenched his fist and raised to the sky, announcing his arrival to the world.
It was the time. The time for medicine and the time for healing.
He doesn't know if the medicine will have any effect on his strength and mana, as the original Damien Von Zadkeil, never consumed this medicine.
'Respect to you, senior, for all your adventure with this pitiful body.' He paid homage to his idol.
He uncovered a tiny cloth, which revealed a plant. The plant was nothing special, at least from the outside perspective, but anyone who read the book knows just how much of a divine medicine this is.
If there were any Gods, he was sure he/she was also blessed on this plant.
He took the plant and…
Chomp~
…just bit on it.
There was no fancy cauldron cooking or young master concocting or similar shits, just plain ol' chewing did the work.
Though that was not how the Autumn King took it, it was also said by the healers that this indeed was the fastest way to absorb the medicine.
Now, the reason why the Autumn King used another method was because of the taste of it.
Hurk!-
The unpleasant and almost shit-like taste and smell invaded him wholly. He wanted to throw up but if he did that, then the medicine would be just a waste.
'Endure it, damn it! Just this and the whole world will be yours!!!' He reassured himself with otherworldly promises.