Despite the early hour, the living room of Yuu's mansion was already lively with energetic voices.

"Nina, you don't have to eat so quickly. There's plenty more if you want seconds," Mari calmly remarked.

"Mm! Mari-chan, it's delicious today too!" Nina exclaimed, giving a thumbs-up to Yuu and Mari, who had prepared the food. Her face was smeared with beef stew as she enthusiastically praised the meal. Next to her, Namari scolded, "Nina, that's bad manners!" Yet her own face was similarly messy.

"...It's so noisy this morning," Rena grumbled.

"You must have stayed up late again," Mari said knowingly.

"...I had an important task to prepare for," Rena replied, puffing out her chest indignantly at Mari’s remark.

"What task?" Yuu asked, curious.

"...The one and only, most powerful, invincible, greatest genius archmage ever! I, as an experienced adventurer, was asked for help by Colette," Rena proclaimed with her usual self-praise, her hair antenna practically standing on end with enthusiasm.

"Colette asked you?" Yuu ignored her self-glorification and focused only on the mention of Colette.

"Master," Mari leaned close to Yuu's ear and whispered softly, her cheeks and ears slightly flushed.

"Actually, Colette requested our help with training the novice adventurers."

The Adventurers Guild in Kama had been making efforts to reduce the high mortality rate among new adventurers. One of these efforts involved conducting training sessions. However, many of the new adventurers, especially those who had just arrived from rural areas, were not keen on listening to the guild staff. This was especially true for those training in backline roles, which had been a persistent problem for the guild.

To remedy this, the guild had decided to enlist someone with both strength and experience, like Rena, to act as a mentor. They hoped her presence would encourage the rowdy new adventurers to take the training seriously.

"Rest assured, Master," Mari continued. "Rena will be accompanied by other backliners like Ariane and Pokori. I’ve made sure they won’t reveal any of the techniques you’ve taught them."

Yuu glanced over at Rena, who, despite puffing out her cheeks in frustration, had her hair antenna spinning in irritation.

"Just Rena, huh..." Yuu’s gaze shifted toward Nina, who had been happily stuffing her face with bread soaked in beef stew. Realizing Yuu was looking at her, she quickly stood up.

"Yuu! I was asked too!" Nina declared, though she seemed a bit flustered.

"Oh, really?" Yuu responded, unimpressed.

"Yeah! It’s true! I’m going along with Laritte as a scout! Plus, this job earns us guild points!"

"...Haha, this is it... The day I finally become A-rank!" Rena, oblivious to the fact that she was still only B-rank, continued eating enthusiastically, her spirit undeterred.

However, when Namari and Momo pointed out that she was quietly pushing her salad to the side, she was promptly scolded by Mari and begrudgingly began eating it.

After finishing their usual breakfast and cleaning up, everyone went off to their respective duties—cleaning the mansion, tending the garden, or walking the Koro creatures.

"Master, Mr. Nung has arrived to escort you," one of the servants announced.

"Is it that time already?"

Yuu, who had been supervising Namari’s studies, looked out the window and saw the sun was already high in the sky.

The day before, Yuu had informed Nina and the others that he planned to visit Marquis Mus. Mari had offered to send a message ahead of his visit and sent Nepora, who had just returned from shopping, to deliver it to Mus’s mansion. Some of the slave maids had expressed that Yuu should summon the marquis instead of going to him, with the argument that Yuu, as a king, should not lower himself. Mari shared their view but never opposed Yuu's decisions, thus organizing the visit as instructed.

Yuu himself thought all the fuss was unnecessary, but—

"Even if he is an eccentric, he’s still a marquis. Some degree of decorum is necessary," Mari had said, in her typical blunt fashion.

While her statement might have seemed harsh, it wasn’t far from the truth. Once, despite his title of count, Mus had been seen as a troublemaker, with his territory reduced to just the city of Kama and a few surrounding villages due to conflicts with his father and the former finance minister, Value Volyn Nox. But that was in the past. Now, his territory had expanded beyond its peak, and he had been elevated to the rank of marquis. He also belonged to no political faction, which had made him a figure many nobles and merchants wanted to associate with. His rapidly developing domain attracted influential visitors to Kama daily, all seeking his favor.

"Good morning," Yuu greeted as he approached the mansion’s gate, where Nung, dressed in a butler’s uniform, waited beside an extravagant carriage.

"There was no need for you to personally come, Mr. Nung," Yuu said politely.

"Yes, no need at all!" Namari, mimicking Yuu, added, only to be lightly smacked on the head by Momo, who had been sitting on her head.

Namari had insisted on coming as Yuu’s guard, and naturally, Mari was following close behind, as she always did.

"If I hadn’t come, I suspect you would’ve walked all the way here yourself, wouldn’t you, Yuu-sama?"

"Well, that’s true..."

For some reason, Yuu found it difficult to assert himself with Nung, whose demeanor reminded him somewhat of Stella. As a result, Yuu, uncharacteristically, remained quiet and courteous.

"It seems I was right to come, then. It would be improper for someone of your rank—a king, no less—to walk to a noble’s residence."

As Nung spoke while bowing, Yuu tried to respond, but—

"Even if you’re currently acting as an adventurer, it’s still unacceptable," Nung’s gaze shifted, directing his words at Mari instead of Yuu. Mari maintained her usual calm expression, but inwardly, she was clearly unsettled.

"Shall we go, then?"

Nung opened the carriage door, and once everyone had boarded, the carriage set off. After a short ride, the walls of Kama came into view. Unlike their first visit, the gates were now heavily guarded, with soldiers checking the identities and purposes of those entering.

Yuu wondered how the children from the orphanage had managed to slip past the security. The answer came later from Nung, who explained, "They most likely mentioned your name, Yuu-sama." It was confirmed afterward, and the matter was reported to the orphanage’s sister.

"Ah! It’s Mr. Nung. Please, go right through!"

The guards straightened immediately upon seeing Nung and the carriage’s crest, allowing them to pass without delay. They rode through the citizen district, then the shopping district, and finally entered the noble district, where grand houses lined the streets. Among these was the vast estate of Marquis Mus, which dwarfed all others in comparison.

"Wow..."

Namari and Momo couldn’t help but marvel at the grand mansions lining the noble district as they passed by. Their mouths were agape in amazement as they took in the sight of the luxurious estates.

As the carriage continued along the long wall surrounding Marquis Mus’s mansion, they finally arrived at the gate. The guards, upon noticing Nung’s carriage, immediately opened the gates and bowed respectfully.

"Master Yuu, look! There are so many carriages here!" Namari exclaimed.

Indeed, the courtyard was filled with an array of carriages, all of which were clearly owned by wealthy individuals, judging by their luxurious designs.

Yuu could feel the gazes of many people from within the parked carriages. It wasn’t surprising that they were curious—after all, Nung was both the butler and steward of Marquis Mus. For Nung to personally act as a driver must mean that the person inside the carriage was someone of great importance. The nobles and others waiting for their own audience with Mus were undoubtedly trying to catch a glimpse of who it could be, even though the carriage windows were shut.

"Yuu-sama, there’s no need to worry about them," Nung said, as if reading Yuu’s mind.

Those who were watching Yuu and his group were individuals who had come to meet with Mus today. Some of the higher-ranking nobles had been led to a separate annex where they were being entertained while waiting, but not everyone could be accommodated inside the mansion, so many were left to wait in the courtyard. While it might seem inconsiderate, these individuals had insisted on meeting with Mus despite his busy schedule, and as a token gesture, the maids could be seen offering drinks to the drivers outside.

"Welcome to my humble abode, Your Majesty of the Nameless Kingdom."

"Ugh, gross."

As soon as they entered the mansion, they were greeted by a grand display of formality from the lined-up maids and servants—and by Mus himself.

Yuu, unable to hold back his disdain, let his true feelings slip the moment their eyes met. His blunt remark caught everyone off guard, especially the servants, many of whom were new hires and unfamiliar with Yuu’s identity. Born and raised in Kama, many of the staff had never even heard of the Nameless Kingdom, let alone its ruler.

"Gross!? Even if he’s a great noble from a major country, that’s a bit too rude," one of the servants thought in shock.

"You call yourself a great noble? If I were you, I’d be too embarrassed to say that," Yuu responded dryly.

"Tch. Well, fine. Let’s not stand around talking here. I’ll lead you to a room," Mus replied, brushing off the insult with a flicker of annoyance.

The confused servants, unsure of how to proceed, looked to Nung for guidance. Nung, ever the efficient steward, swiftly gave them instructions, allowing them to return to their duties with a sigh of relief.

"It’s rare for you to visit me, Yuu. I’m surprised," Mus commented as they sat in the reception room. Yuu and Namari were seated across from Mus, with Mari standing behind Yuu. As always, Nung stood behind Mus with a calm smile on his face.

Namari and Momo’s eyes sparkled as they caught sight of the tea and cookies laid out on the table.

"Every now and then, I like to check on the people I’ve loaned money to," Yuu said casually, pushing the plate of cookies toward Namari and Momo.

"You don’t have to worry about that, Yuu. The money I borrowed from you is being put to good use for the Goffa territory," Mus replied with a chuckle.

"Better be," Yuu responded curtly.

Their conversation soon shifted to topics that, if overheard, would have been worth a fortune. From the political turmoil in the Mandogoa Kingdom to rumors about the Set Republic’s Alchemy Guild, the casual talk between Yuu and Mus touched on issues that could shake entire nations.

However, the tone of the conversation began to darken as they moved on.

"By the way, Yuu, I’ve heard there’s a bounty on your head," Mus mentioned.

At the mention of a bounty, Mari, standing behind Yuu, reacted—not Yuu himself. Her face remained expressionless, but the pressure emanating from her was palpable. Namari and Momo turned to look at her, sensing the change. Realizing her slip, Mari quickly dispelled the tense atmosphere as if nothing had happened.

"Oh? Who’s offering the bounty? Can I find out at the Adventurer’s Guild?" Yuu asked, seemingly uninterested.

"You won’t find it at any guild. It’s not an official bounty—it’s been placed in the underworld. And it’s not just individuals—it’s several nations behind it."

Even hearing that multiple nations were involved, Yuu remained indifferent, responding with a simple, "I see."

Mus’s frustration began to show as he continued, his tone becoming more heated.

"Other countries aren’t stupid. The bounty was placed by countries other than the Udon Kingdom and its allies. Even if they try to investigate, there won’t be any trace left behind."

"Uh-huh."

"I’ve had people look into it, and the total bounty is already over 13 billion Madoka. It’s likely even higher now. A-rank and B-rank adventurers and mercenaries have already been spotted entering the Goffa territory. And besides them, several clans looking to make a name for themselves by taking on the Nameless Kingdom have been—"

"Is that so?"

"You’re really not taking this seriously, are you?" Mus snapped, irritated by Yuu’s indifferent attitude.

"Pointless deaths."

"...Maybe so," Mus admitted, calming down a bit at Yuu’s straightforward response.

"What’s the point of sending A-rank adventurers now? Oh, I see. They’re not aiming for me—they’re targeting the people around me."

Yuu added, almost as an afterthought, "Though whether they can do anything is another matter."

"Or maybe... They’re using me to weed out adventurers from other nations."

Despite being hunted by high-ranking adventurers and mercenaries from multiple nations, Yuu’s attitude wasn’t one of arrogance but calm confidence. Mus couldn’t help but admire Yuu's poise.

(Damn. He’s not only got the strength, but he’s starting to develop the presence of a true leader.)

"You might be right," Mus agreed.

"See? That makes more sense. By the way, I heard you’ve been receiving a lot of marriage proposals lately," Yuu said with a smirk.

"Gah, where did you hear that?" Mus grimaced as he reached for his tea.

"Haha, come on, Mus. For someone your age, it’s about time. Most nobles your age have several kids already. Shouldn’t you be happy? The annoying finance minister is dead, you’ve been promoted, and all the nobles who avoided you are suddenly eager to cozy up to you."

"Happy? What’s there to be happy about?"

Mus groaned in frustration before continuing, "Oh, now I remember. You’re the one who made the Adventurer’s Guild slap me with that ridiculous 20 billion Madoka fine! Do you know how much trouble that caused me?"

"Your retainers are the ones who caused that mess."

"Even so, 20 billion is absurd! That’s 40 billion for the two of them! Is Morphis planning to build a castle in Kama or something?!"

"Who knows? It’s not my concern. Besides, I paid it off in full just to spite you."

"Ugh!" Mus let out an undignified grunt, a sound unbecoming of a noble. Nung, standing behind him, subtly covered his mouth to hide a smile.

"So, what about him?" Yuu asked.

"Him? Oh, you mean Joseph?"

"Who said anything about Joseph? But yes, where is he?"

"He’s not here."

"What?"

"Didn’t you know? Joseph has—"

By the time Yuu returned to his mansion that day, he was reportedly in an exceptionally bad mood.

As the sun set and the night sky filled with countless stars, the streets of Kama bustled with activity. Restaurant employees called out to potential customers, and the light spilling from the establishments illuminated the streets like lanterns, casting a warm glow on the people passing by.

"This is delicious!"
"So is this one!"

At a tavern in Kama, the members of Polar Star were savoring their meals. Koa, devouring a dish of stewed chicken, gulped down ale before reaching for another piece of meat. Not to be outdone, Smoke, the blond man with the soft mohawk, tore into a thick pork steak.

"Indeed, it’s quite good," At said, taking a bite from a drumstick. The flavorful spices and the rich juices from the meat elicited a satisfied hum from him.

"As expected of a big city, they have everything," remarked Gran, the usually quiet red-haired scout, who seemed unusually talkative, perhaps thanks to the good food and drink.

"Yeah, I didn’t expect they’d have beef," At agreed, gazing at a plate of sliced beef before him.

In their homeland, the Kingdom of Kala Mu, it was unthinkable to find beef in such an ordinary tavern. Chickens and pigs were common fare, but cattle were valuable work animals, used for farming. They were only consumed if they died of old age or by accident, making beef a rare luxury.

"Exactly. By the way, where’s Pari?" At asked, noticing his absence.

"He stepped out for some fresh air," Smoke replied.

"Hmm. He’s seemed troubled for a while now," At commented.

"I can guess what’s on his mind, but it’s nothing for you to worry about," Smoke reassured him.

Outside the tavern, the main street was packed with people, and the noise from the crowd drowned out most other sounds.

"Uuurgh..."

In a secluded alley, Pari stood alone. He had his fingers down his throat, desperately trying to vomit, but only saliva and stomach acid came up. He hadn’t eaten much recently, and what little food he had consumed had already been expelled. His stomach was now completely empty.

"Haa... haa... Damn it, why do I have to go through this?" Pari muttered between breaths.

He knew the cause of his distress: overwhelming stress. His brother’s advice had been in vain, as Pari had failed to manipulate At’s thoughts and actions as intended.

(Calm down... remember your mission. It’s just a negotiation. You’re not going to fight. It’ll be fine. Everything will be fine... Even if you fail... no, failure isn’t an option. If I mess up, the country... No, I have to stay calm.)

After scanning his surroundings to ensure he was alone, Pari sighed deeply. He wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, gathered his composure, and returned to the tavern, his expression neutral once more.