A Reward for their Service
There were Arch Vampires who had invaded the palace.
That was incredibly serious.
“Serulis, Luchila. How strong were these Arch Vampires?”
“Well, we didn’t even recognize that they were Arch Vampires… But I did feel like some of them were strong.”
“There were some who were immune to my illusions, so it was probably them.”
According to Serulis and Luchila’s accounts, they were quite strong.
“This is bad.”
“Aye, we must plan to deal with this immediately.”
Goran and Eric said with grave expressions.
The capital was surrounded by a barrier that offered divine protection.
Arch Vampires were supposed to be under so much pain after entering, that they would not be able to move.
They wouldn’t be able to use their powers either. The result would make them weaker than lessers.
“What if they have some magic tool that weakens the effect of the barrier?”
“Are you talking about those things in fairy tales?”
“But, isn’t that the natural thing to think? Serulis. What of the vampires’ belongings?”
“We took all of it.”
There was a pile of the spoils of war next to the magic stones.
Most of it was weapons. However, there were a few items that they did not recognize.
“We’ll have to examine these.”
Eric called for the head palace magician and the head palace alchemist and ordered them to investigate the items.
When that was settled, Eric said,
“Ruck. I still have to reward you as the king of this country. What do you want?”
“Ah, that’s right. Right now, it would be really nice if I could have access to the money I had 10 years ago.”
“I’ll have it done immediately. But that was already yours. You understand that that is not a reward?”
“Uh, maybe a house?”
Goran and Serulis reacted at once.
“What? So you really don’t like my house then!”
“Mister Ruck, why don’t you live with us forever?”
“I can’t do that. And isn’t your wife coming back soon?”
“I understand how you feel, Ruck. It’s hard to relax in someone else’s house. Goran, you shouldn’t force him so much.”
“But… Well, maybe you are right.”
Goran reluctantly agreed after Eric persuaded him.
“Hmm. You could also live in the palace, you know?”
“No, I wouldn’t like that either.”
“…I see.”
Eric looked a little disappointed.
There were many people in the palace, so maybe I wouldn’t feel like a freeloader as much.
However, it was not very comfortable to live with thousands of people that you didn’t know.
“I want my own house.”
“I see. Then it can’t be helped. Do you have any wishes in terms of location and size?”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
“In that case, I know of a good place. Just leave it to me.”
“Ah, however, Lord Gerberga and Luchila will live there too, so there should be a little space between the neighboring houses. Also, a garden.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. In fact, it fits your requirements perfectly.”
I would feel bad for Gerberga if he couldn’t cluck whenever he wanted to.
“Ah, thank you very much.”
“Cluck.”
Luchila held Gerberga as he bowed.
Just then, the wolf that we had rescued from the High Lord’s room, came out and started to lick my hand.
It was like it was saying, ‘don’t forget me.’
“Grrooff.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll come with me too.”
After that, we borrowed a room in the palace and slept.
The wolf, Gerberga and Luchila slept in the same room.
The following day, a palace maid came and woke us up.
The maid returned once again after we finished getting dressed and eating breakfast.
Apparently, there was some reward ceremony, and so I went with Luchila to the presence chamber.
The chiefs of the beastkin tribes, Shia, Goran, and Serulis were already there.
After everyone arrived, Eric entered the room.
“Everyone. That was a tiring battle. But we were able to stop the vampire’s attack because of your efforts.”
Eric said, and one by one, he offered them rewards.
To the chiefs of the beastkin, Shia and Luchila, he offered knighthoods and gold.
Aside from the chiefs, the other beastkin were also offered a certain amount of gold.
And to those beastkin who desired it, they were offered jobs among the palace guards.
It was part of the anti-vampire measures that Eric had thought of.
Goran and his daughter were also given gold, and I was given a house.
When the ceremony was finished, one of the beastkin chiefs came up to me.
“Thank you for taking care of Shia.”
“This is my father.”
Shia’s father’s arm was held up by sling.
“How is your arm?”
“Oh, it is completely fine now.”
“The doctors told him to rest, and yet he participated in yesterdays fight. It’s almost as if he wants to die.”
“Hahaha. My daughter has been angry with me ever since this morning.”
Shia’s father said with a slightly awkward expression. But his tail was wagging.
He must be happy that she was worried about him.
After that, they told me that everyone in the tribe had tried to stop him. But he ignored them and joined the fight.
“That’s really dangerous.”
“Seriously, that’s exactly right.”
“But still, our tribe worked together and defeated 2 Lords.”
“That’s impressive.”
“Though, I would have been able to do more if I were completely healed.”
Shia’s father said sadly.
Perhaps since he was the chief, it would affect his relationship with the other tribes if he did not join the fight.
“But I said that it would be fine, because I’m going to fight in his place…”
“As if I could do nothing while sending my daughter to a place where she could die!”
After that, Shia’s father thanked me many times, and I thanked him many times.
In the afternoon, I headed towards the house that Eric had prepared for me.
He was the king, and so he was able to prepare a house for me overnight.
Eric had said that he knew of a good place, so it was probably the same one.
Luchila, Shia, Goran, and Serulis also tagged along.
We all rode in a carriage as we headed for the house. We arrived in no time.
“We could have just walked here.”
“Isn’t it normal for nobles to use carriages?”
“But still, this house. It’s a little too big…”
“Surely not?”
“No, it’s huge.”
“Apparently it’s the house of a baron who died a while ago without heirs.”
Serulis said.
Well, if it was a noble’s house, then it was no wonder that it was so big.
It had 2 floors and looked like it had more than 20 rooms.
“It’s going to be hard to clean this place…”
“Just hire someone to do it.”
“That’s a lot of work in itself.”
Goran saw that I looked troubled, and said,
“So, why don’t you live with us then?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“I-I see.”
However, Gerberga and the wolf seemed to have taken to the large garden.
“Cluck-cluck!”
“Grr-grroooff!”
The chicken and the wolf were happily running around in the garden.
Shia watched them and said,
“It’s good that it’s so big.”
“Shia. You can come and stay with us whenever you visit the capital.”
“Do you mean it?”
“It’s bigger than I thought it would be.”
“That would really help!”
Shia looked happy. Her tail was wagging wildly.
Then, the wolf ran up to Shia.
“Grrooff.”
“What a cute wolf.”
“It really is.”
“What name will you give it?”
“Grr.”
The wolf looked at me with expectant eyes.
“Uhhh…”
“Grrrr.”
“Let me think about it for a while.”
“Grrr…..rr…”
The wolf looked crestfallen.
“I’m going to give it a lot of thought.”
“Grrooff.”
And with that, my chest swelled with anticipation for this new life, in a new house, with the wolf and Gerberga and Luchila.