Gathering thirty Gold Coins too quickly might make Father Vic think he had quoted too low a price, tempting him to raise it on the spot. Being too late, on the other hand, could mean losing the noble title. The timing of this required careful handling.
After struggling through two days, Carl’s ’devotion’ finally earned Father Vic’s recognition, and he agreed to bestow the blessing.
In this world of extraordinary power, only with the blessing of the deities could one become a true noble.
As for the ritual, though inheriting a title was far less complicated than a knighting ceremony, it still required bathing, changing clothes, and praying. The entire process would take one to two days.
Carl, clad in a white shirt and red robe, placed his weapons and Soft Armor upon the altar. He then held the scriptures to swear his oath.
"I, Carl Bergman, before the great icon of the Master of Dawn, do hereby swear to uphold loyalty and honor for all my life..."
"As a noble, I shall treat the weak with kindness, bravely confront tyranny, and fight for the defenseless..."
At the church entrance, a blonde woman nodded to Carl, who was just emerging from the ceremony. "Congratulations."
"Commander Dina?" Carl stopped, his voice filled with surprise. "What brings you here?"
The woman standing before him had distinctive facial features and a tall figure. A sheathed Longsword hung at her waist, and her shoulder-length blonde hair seemed to possess a natural lift. Tight-fitting trousers hugged her slender legs, and a leather top perfectly conformed to her body’s curves, lending her a wild sort of beauty.
Dina Yeager, Chief Inspector of the southern district and third daughter of Viscount Shaxon, was also Carl’s immediate superior.
The two were not well acquainted.
The young, beautiful woman produced something from behind her and handed it over. "A gift."
"Thank you." Carl bowed in gratitude and accepted the gift.
It was a gentleman’s cane, crafted from fragrant paulownia wood adorned with silver, beautifully shaped with an excellent grip.
"As a noble, how can you be without a cane?" Dina said with a light laugh. "I happened to be dealing with something nearby, so I thought I’d come and see."
"Something to deal with?" Carl tapped the ground lightly with the cane. He didn’t continue with pleasantries, as she clearly wasn’t short of money. "Do you need any help?"
"No need, you’re still on leave." Dina turned away, hands behind her back. "Two civilians were killed last night. Some say it was the work of a vampire, so I have to make a trip."
"Vampires?" Carl’s expression changed. "Is that true?"
"Of course not!" Dina chuckled. "It’s not even certain if vampires exist in this world, but the victims’ bodies were indeed drained of blood."
"Although it’s a bit strange, it’s fine to leave it for the police officers to handle."
They were Inspectors and would only personally intervene if a case involved the nobility or had a significant impact. Routine peacekeeping and apprehending fugitives were the responsibilities of the police officers. That was the distinction between their ranks.
"Carl," Dina said as she began to leave. "Do you remember I have a cousin named Martha?"
"Martha?" An image of a young, cheerful girl from a banquet flashed through Carl’s mind. "I remember."
"She’s not yet married," Dina said, glancing at Carl. "She’s only a few years younger than you. How about you get to know her?"
"This..." Carl hesitated. "I don’t want to marry so early, and with my looks, I’m afraid I’d scare her off." He touched the scar on his face as he spoke.
"For a man, being good-looking isn’t that useful," Dina said. "Now that you are a noble, plenty of women will be willing to marry you, some even bringing fortunes."
Carl remained silent.
He had no objection to being supported by a woman, but he was uncomfortable when others tried to force such an arrangement on him. Before he had become a Baron, she had never mentioned this matter. Bringing it up now clearly showed her interest was in his noble title.
Just like his uncle, Gegil.
"If a family wants to prosper, relying on one person alone won’t do," Dina continued. "Our Yeager family is where it is today because we have many children, and the influence of our Bloodline is significant."
"Yes." Carl nodded, then suddenly said, "It seems the Commander hasn’t settled on a fiancé yet?"
No sooner had he spoken than he regretted it; this woman was not one to be trifled with, but by the time he realized it, it was too late.
Dina’s expression darkened, and she stopped in her tracks. An invisible pressure enveloped the area. Her majestic life force felt almost tangible, causing Carl to catch his breath.
It was said that she was already a peak-level Knight Attendant and on the verge of becoming a formal Knight. It seemed to be true.
The blonde beauty before him was anything but fragile; even three of him might not be her match in a fight.
Carl had been trained from a young age, but his constitution was ultimately that of an ordinary person. Facing a peak Knight Attendant was like a mouse encountering a cat. The life force of such a higher-tier being exerted an instinctual, life-or-death intimidation on him.
"Commander," Carl swallowed hard. "I’ve just remembered I have something urgent to attend to at home. May I leave first?"
"..." Dina remained expressionless, merely humming softly through her nose as Carl hurried away.
"That guy..." Watching Carl’s retreating back, Dina’s eyes revealed a touch of surprise, and she murmured thoughtfully, "Has his personality changed from before?"
The Carl of the past had been impetuous, prone to yelling and shouting. His current behavior, though slightly disrespectful, was much more cautious.
She stroked her chin and shook her head slightly, deciding not to dwell on it further. It was common for someone’s personality to change drastically after facing a life-or-death situation.
Returning to his dwelling, Jenny was singing as always, her voice even more melodious than before.
Her talent for singing was indeed remarkable.
Carl threw himself heavily onto the bed. He interlaced his fingers, staring at the ceiling as if in a daze, though his mind was racing.
Having a noble title indeed makes things much easier; even Commander Dina took the initiative to play matchmaker.
But what I want isn’t money!
If he wanted money and a comfortable life, marrying a wealthy merchant’s daughter would undoubtedly be the best option. With the title of Baron, this wouldn’t be difficult to achieve.
But Carl wasn’t lacking money.
Well, at least not for the time being, and likely not in the future either.
The Otherworld, though somewhat dangerous, still made acquiring a certain amount of wealth relatively easy.
What I want are breathing techniques!
As far as he knew, the majority of breathing techniques were controlled by the Church. Another portion was passed down among the great noble families and Knights. Very few were found outside these circles. Acquiring them was extremely difficult; even some noble families with centuries of history lacked these techniques.
Compared to here, breathing techniques in the Otherworld are easier to come by; at least with money, there’s a chance to buy them.
「Several days later.」
Carl pulled back the curtains and looked up at the full moon in the sky.
"Master of Dawn, bless me..."
He pulled the curtains shut, gathered all his prepared items in his arms, closed his eyes, and transported himself to that mystical place.
Passing through the gateway of the mystical place, Carl once again arrived in the Otherworld, carrying numerous supplies.
This time, that bone-chilling, penetrating cold did not appear.
"On the Day of the Blazing Moon, the mists dissipate, the half-dead creatures dare not show themselves, and the Black City becomes safe."