Chapter 447 – The Butler and the Mansion

000

As you slowly walk through the streets of shops that catch the eyes of the three people, at some point you pass through the shops area and the fishy smell that tickles your nose becomes stronger.

There is a processing plant that processes seafood from the sea, and a market that directly trades fresh seafood that has been processed.

Several large warehouses were lined up along the port to store the trade goods that entered Eratus.

And above all else, what draws their attention is the huge ships built to navigate the rough seas.

Merchant ships, escort ships that escort them, luxury cruise ships for the purpose of sightseeing, etc.

In the harbor, there were various ships with the flags of Eastern countries, as well as ships with flags of other countries, including the ‘Kingdom’.

“Yes.”

When Amelia saw the ship with the kingdom’s flag fluttering among them, she looked nervous and shrank her body.

“… Amelia.”

When Cleon looked back at her and quietly called her name her, she could see Amelia’s hand her shaking.

“…It’s okay, okay. Cleon.”

At Cleon’s call, Amelia takes a deep breath, then she straightens her hunched back and takes a deep breath.

“…Because if you show a nervous look, you’ll be more suspicious. …Rather, if you’re confident, you won’t be suspicious even if you stand out.”

“Don’t overdo it. Let’s hurry up and head to the Descartes’ mansion.”

Sasha also nodded her head to Cleon’s words, moved her seat her, and moved Amelia with Cleon’s her.

“But, where is it? All around here are warehouses, shipyards… Buildings like ship management offices.”

As Cleon said and looked around her, Sasha’s ears her twitched and her head her turned.

“…Mr. Cleon.”

At the sound of her voice her calling out to herself, Cleon looks to where Sasha turned her head, and there-

They saw a woman approaching them, clad in a butler’s uniform, similar to those worn by butlers, as seen in the kingdom.

The color of her hair is a clear blue like the surface of the sea, no, closer to the sky blue.

With her wavy hair tied back in a short ponytail, she looked a bit androgynous thanks to her tall stature of her.

Big brown eyes or a pointed nose. And the way her soft lips shimmered was as beautiful as saying that she was beautiful enough without makeup.

Under the black suit, a white shirt. And, wearing a pocket watch tied to a chain around her waist, it was not difficult for Cleon to know that her job was her ‘butler’.

However, what catches their attention more than that characteristic outfit is the unusual mark on her neck.

The three prongs on either side of her neck looked like ‘respiratory organs’, which were out of place in her clearly human-looking body.

Finally, when she comes close to Cleon, she smiles a little and bows her back to greet Cleon.

“Welcome, the end of the world. To Eratus. Cleon-sama, Sasha-sama. …And- the lady from the kingdom. A little while ago, I received a telegram from Atis-sama. Those who newly joined the The investigation team, Eratus He said he was coming to.”

Cleon bowed his head in the same way at Amelia’s caring greeting and her attitude that showed no hostility.

Already, if she knew about them, there was no doubt that she belonged to the Cartesian family.

“My name is Kshat, working for the Descartes family. Lady Fleur is waiting for you.”

To Kshat, who politely introduces herself and tries to guide the three of them, Sasha breathes a sigh of relief.

“Thank you! I was looking for a mansion for the Descartes family, but I was lost because I couldn’t find a decent building.”

“Whoops. All first-timers say that. The Cartesian mansion is in a really inconspicuous place.”

When she smiled and opened her mouth, she could see sharp jagged teeth from within her.

Amelia looks a little startled, but Cleon is now convinced of her identity her.

‘Is it a fish man?’

In Asteris, the capital of the eastern kingdom, beastmen lived without problems, mingling with people.

Then, it wouldn’t be strange if fishmen lived alongside people in the port city of Eratus.

While walking along the wharf while being guided by Kshat, the scenes of figures who appear to be sailors eagerly putting or unloading luggage on the boat come into view again and again.

When the tongs using magic come down from the ship, adjust the position of the luggage to the tongs and load it on the ship as it is.

It was a common sight in a port city, but both Sasha and Amelia followed the movement of the tongs with their eyes as if the scene was a little strange.

“Is this your first time on the beach, you two?”

“Ah, yes…! Originally, I lived in the mountains.”

When Sasha answers Kshat’s question like that, the female butler laughs and talks.

“Then, I guess you can have a little more special experience today.”

“…Is it a special, experience?”

If Amelia could n’t grasp the meaning behind her words her, Sasha’s eyes her would twinkle too.

“What about Cleon?”

If you turn the topic to Cleon, Cleon will answer quietly.

“How many times have you been to the sea? It’s not a lot, but most of it was because of requests.”

“Is it a request from a seaside town? You heard that you’re an adventurer, so that’s possible. By the way, what kind of request do you usually take?”

“…Most of them were extermination of the Marrods who came to the land. It was a village where such things happen regularly.”

“Ah.”

When Cleon answered a little hesitantly, Kshat also smiled wryly and nodded his head as if he had made a mistake.

Seeing that, Sasha whispered to Amelia.

“…Why are you doing that?”

“Probably, it’s because of the relationship between the fish man and Marrod.”

Merrods are monsters that live on the seabed, and they are beings that distort their appearances hideously by mixing humans with humans.

Among adventurers, they were nicknamed “Goblins living in the sea” Because of their violent nature and large numbers, but in a small town with no proper guards, they were regarded as a disaster.

And, the fact that it was the fishermen who created the Merrod is a widely spread story among intellectuals and slightly experienced adventurers.

Occasionally, fishmen leading the Merrods have been witnessed, and the discovery of underwater mineral weapons used by the fishmen from the Merrods also lends weight to the theory.

Some speculate that the reason why Merrods sometimes kidnap humans is to make more Merrods.

“So, are fishmen enemies of humans…?”

“I don’t know in the Eastern countries, but I heard that at least the perception of fishmen in the kingdom is not that good.

At Amelia’s answer her, Sasha nodded her head and looked at her kshat her.

No matter where you look, she doesn’t look like a villain.

“To clear up any misunderstandings… There are various factions of fishmen. There are fishmen like me who chose to live with humans, and there are fishmen who want to conquer the land.”

“No. I don’t mean to blame you. I’m sorry, too, for bothering you.”

When Cleon responds like that, Kshat bows his head again, saying thank you.

While saying that, the four of them stopped in front of a certain building.

The building looked like a mansion, but it wasn’t.

Its entrance, which looked like little more than a well-maintained warehouse, was guarded by two guards, preventing people from entering without permission.

“Ah, Mr. Kshat.”

And, the guards greet the female butler as soon as they see them.

“I’ve brought guests. Can you open the door?”

“All right.”

At Kshat’s request, the guard nodded and he unlocked the lock on the door he was guarding.

Then, with a clicking sound, the door that seemed to be made of wooden planks opened by itself-

Inside, machines that were not pure wood were installed everywhere.

Both Cleon and Amelia are surprised by that appearance, but Sasha’s eyes shine as if she is just amazed.

The light of the magic lamp that gently flows from the inside.

Kshat looks back at the party and says ‘Come on inside’ and sends the three of them into the building.

When everyone in the party enters, the door of the small building automatically closes as it did when it was opened.

Looking around, there was no furniture to be seen, and mechanical devices of unknown identity or purpose were installed throughout the building, glowing with magic lights.

“You come to the East and get surprised a few times.”

“Even in the East, this is probably the only place like this.”

Kshat, smiling at Cleon’s words, guides the party to the scaffolding in the center of the building.

“Is it an elevator?”

“You know it well. As expected, you have a wide knowledge like an adventurer.”

“No, thanks to seeing something similar a while ago.”

When Cleon answered like that, both Sasha and Amelia looked a little nervous.

“Don’t worry. It won’t shake or fall suddenly.”

When Kshat talks like that to calm his guests, he manipulates the panel attached to the lift.

The scaffold moves smoothly and moves underground.

It looked like it could accommodate several times more people than the one in the antique store, but seeing that there was no vibration or noise at all.

Cleon could see that this elevator was a much newer model.

If not, it’s a difference in technology.

“Is this elevator going to the mansion?”

“That’s right. Only a very small percentage of people can be invited to the Descartes family’s mansion. The lord meets most of his guests outside.”

“If it hadn’t been for Artis’ introduction, we would have been too.”

“Whoops. Was it really like that?”

Kshat leaves a meaningful answer to Cleon’s words.

While going downstairs, Sasha, who was staring blankly at the mechanical walls, suddenly feels that light is streaming in from somewhere other than above, and she looks around.

“…No way-“

Did Amelia have similar thoughts to Sasha?

Looking down with a tense expression –

Soon, as if the mechanical wall had ended, the elevator entered the transparent tube made of ‘glass’ and headed down, down without stopping.

“…!”

When Cleon’s eyes widen in surprise, the two girls exclaimed, “Wow…!”

The elevator the party boarded was moving underwater.

Originally, the sea floor, which should have been dark because sunlight did not come in well, maintained a brightness that was no different from that of the sea level, shining through magic lights installed here and there.

Cleon was able to confirm that there was an oriental-style building that was too foreign to exist on the seabed, surrounded by a huge dome.

“Awesome.”

“Thank you.”

When Kshat laughs and replies to Cleon’s pure appreciation of her, Cleon looks at her.

With a smile on his face her, it seemed as if he was enjoying the reaction of the party.

“…Is that a proud expression?”

“Whoa. Is that so? I’m actually proud of it. People who visit the Descartes family’s mansion for the first time are all surprised. Among them, there were people who said, “I can’t breathe when the elevator enters this area!”

“…”

Certainly, you might want to see a little bit of that scene.

If you wait while thinking the same thing.

The elevator that the party boarded soon came to a stop as it touched the ground on the sea floor.

Kshat gets off the elevator one step ahead and steps down into the passageway connecting the elevator and the mansion we saw earlier.

“If you pass through this passage, you will arrive at the mansion of the ‘Descartes family’, the leaders of Eratus. Everyone, please do not stop your steps at the scenery outside.”

After paying attention to the party in a familiar manner, the three of them carefully walk inside the sea, a place made for people to breathe normally.

Likewise, the passages are made of glass, so the scenery of the surrounding sea is clearly visible.

Out there, various marine creatures were swimming, and the swaying of seaweeds and coral forests could be seen.

Neither Sasha nor Amelia could do anything to keep their eyes from moving to such an unfamiliar landscape, but they did not stop their steps as Kshat had requested.

In the meantime, when only Cleon walks with a serious expression, Sasha looks up at him and talks.

“…Are you okay?”

“Huh? Aah. It’s okay. …I’m wondering if it’s a relief that I didn’t bring Lila, or if I’ve come to regret it a little.”

“Ahaha…”

Not only was he excited by this scenery, but it was obvious that he would show interest in various machines.

Could there have been any mistakes or happenings?

When Sasha let out a laugh as if agreeing with Cleon’s words, Amelia asked Kshat a question.

“I never thought that the eastern country had enough technology to build such a facility. It looks like an ancient ruin. Is there a place like this in the capital, Asteris?”

“No. Even in the Eastern countries, only the Descartes family’s mansion has facilities like this. The Sea Dragon Company, although smaller in scale than the Dark Dragon Company, is not inferior to the Academy in terms of technology.”

Cleon was silent for a moment.

If that’s the case, there must be some reason for not sharing this technology with all the Eastern countries.

And, the Descartes family was involved in excavating ancient artifacts.

“Cleon-sama.”

Could it be that he read Cleon’s thoughts from his expression her?

Kshat glances back at him and speaks with a slightly serious attitude rather than the same smile as before.

“I think I know what you’re thinking. But as I said before… We don’t want to be misunderstood. Please, talk to the lord. Until then… Please suspend judgment.”

“…Okay.”

At Cleon’s short answer, Kshat nodded as well.

When everyone walks quietly among the party, where a strange tension flows.

It didn’t take that long to reach the mansion building at the end of the aisle seen from the elevator.

“Welcome. To our ‘Yonggung Castle’.”

001

Push- Co- Push- Co-

A unique breathing sound echoed throughout the room.

Whether Sasha or Amelia are not easily calming down or adapting to this situation.

With a lot of questions floating in their heads, they stare at the teacup in front of them.

However, it was the same for Cleon.

She sat across from her own her-

A woman with long pink hair, wearing a silk robe with a characteristic design unique to the Orient.

On her back her, a translucent fabric fluttered, defying her gravity.

At first glance, it was not a human being, but a pure and elegant atmosphere like a fairy from an oriental tale.

Except for the ‘face’.

Guided by Kshat, we arrived at the place where the lord was to greet guests.

In a room like a conference room, a long table and several chairs were placed next to it.

As she left the room, saying she would bring the lady, she was told to sit down and wait, so she sat quietly in a chair and waited—

The Kshat who returned came back with a woman.

Fleur Descartes.

Although Artis said, ‘She is a beautiful girl while looking 10 years younger than her age’.

Actually, I couldn’t see her face her.

Because she was wearing a special mask on her face.

The eye part, made of a large lens, was processed so that the inside could not be seen.

At the corner of her mouth were two barrels of something, attached to either side.

Thanks to this, every time you breathe, a distinctive sound resonates.

Besides, everyone in her party was taken aback by her voice of her, which had n’t said a word since she entered.

Kshat, standing next to her, clears her throat, drawing the attention of her party her.

“…This is the lord of this city, Fleur Descartes.”

Fleur bowed her head at her words her and made a push-up sound.

Then, straightening her back her, she pulls the sleeve of the kshat at her side her twice.

Kshat put her ear her to her mouth her and nodded her head two or three times.

“…Nice to meet you. Cleon-nim. And Princess Amelia. It’s really an honor to meet you like this.”

“…”

When Cleon watches the two of them talking like a joke for a while, and then stares at her mask her-

Once again, dragging the kshat to her own mouth her, whispering in her whisper her.

“He said don’t mind the mask.”

“No, how can I not care…”

When Cleon told him exactly what he felt, Fleur tilted his head and said—

“There is no need to worry about trivial things like masks between us. The story we have to tell is a story related to peace in this country and even on the continent.”

“—You said.”

Eventually, Kshat delivers the words again.

Cleon speaks while looking at such a Kshat with his eyes narrowed.

“First of all, I want you to do something by borrowing the butler’s mouth like that…”

“I’m sorry. Baby- Lord, since I was little, I didn’t want to make eye contact with people and talk – it was difficult…”

“…”

Looking at the nodding Fleur, Cleon sighed.

As for the person himself, it’s been well conveyed that there is no malice, but-

Apparently, I had a hunch that this meeting was going to be quite tiring.