Seeker 355

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Chapter 355. At The Noble's Mansion

Count Holmlund, a noble who resides in a mansion in the high-class residential area of the city of Lahti.

Ove, the butler who primarily serves in that mansion, was exhausted from his work. Having served for over twenty years, his mind had worn down over the years and was nearing its limit.

The reason was clear: The tyranny of Count Holmlund, his master.

The Count had always been inclined to impose unreasonable demands on his servants, but what had accelerated this was—

"Father! Isn't the Roc egg omelet ready yet? I want to taste this legendary omelet as soon as possible!"

"Oh, Elvira! Just a little more patience, please. It’s been three days since I sent a request to the Adventurers' Guild, but it seems no one has taken up the offer yet."

"How much longer do I have to wait?! I want to eat it now!"

"Oh, my dear Elvira. I truly feel bad about this. Just a little longer, just a little longer, please."

This exchange happened during dinner one evening.

Despite the luxurious dishes laid before her, a ten-year-old girl dressed in a delicate gown whined to her father.

Unable to fulfill his beloved daughter’s wish, the father soothingly tried to console her with a pained expression.

However, this had been the same scene played out at nearly every meal for the past three days. Watching this, Ove sighed deeply in his heart.

Count Holmlund had never been a man of strong character, but after the birth of his only daughter, his unreasonable demands only grew worse.

Having lost his wife at the same time his daughter was born, he doted on the girl excessively. In the worst possible way. Once she became aware of things, he tried to grant every wish she had.

And, as always, the burden fell upon the servants.

After dinner, Ove, the butler, was summoned to the Count’s office, where, as expected, he was berated.

"Ove, when on earth will you get the Roc egg?! It's been three days since I requested the Adventurers' Guild! Has no adventurer accepted it yet?!"

"I’m terribly sorry, sir. It’s an S-rank request to deal with a Roc, after all. Very few adventurers are capable of such a task. There aren’t any parties with enough strength to take on the quest alone; it’s almost like a raid quest—"

"I don’t want excuses! I asked you when the Roc egg will arrive!"

"My deepest apologies, sir. We can only wait until an adventurer accepts the request—"

"How dare you give me such a smug answer! You useless fool!"

The Count threw an ink bottle from his desk at the butler. The bottle struck Ove's forehead, splattering ink onto the carpet.

Feeling the blood dripping from his forehead, Ove wondered whether the ink could be cleaned from the carpet. As more troubles piled on, resentment welled up within him.

"Haah... haah...! You understand, don’t you, Ove? Get the Roc egg as soon as possible!"

"…Understood, sir."

Perhaps cooling down slightly, the Count now seemed a bit awkward, but Ove bowed respectfully.

Arguing would only make the senselessness drag on. All Ove could do was wait for the storm to pass.

But for Ove—or for the Count and his daughter, perhaps— another disaster was on its way from outside the room.

"Fatherrrr! Where are you, fatherrr?!"

"Oh, my darling Elvira! What is it? I’m here!"

Hearing the girl’s voice from the hallway, the Count left the office, speaking in a honeyed tone. Ove, relieved that it was finally over, sighed, but he was too hasty.

"Father, there you are! I had a great idea!"

"Oh? What is it, Elvira? Tell me too!"

"Yes! Father, before I eat the Roc egg omelet, I want to see a real Roc first! I heard a Roc is like a giant dragon-shaped eagle. I absolutely want to see it with my own eyes."

"Oh, oh, as expected of my daughter, Elvira! That curiosity will surely make you someone great. But isn’t that a bit dangerous?"

"It’s okay, father. Skilled adventurers will go to slay the Roc, right? I’ll just ask them to guard me!"

"As expected of Elvira, to think that far ahead. You’ve grown up so smart, I’m proud of you."

Listening to the foolish exchange between the father and daughter in the hallway, Ove’s eyes filled with despair.

The Count soon returned to the office and ordered Ove:

"You heard that, didn’t you, Ove? Go to the Adventurers’ Guild and change the request. My daughter Elvira will accompany the adventurers and watch the Roc with her own eyes. And of course, her safety is paramount. Understood?"

Hearing these words, Ove felt a wave of disbelief, mixed with frustration.

Absolute safety? Bringing her along on a monster hunt, and guaranteeing her safety was impossible.

The request to slay the Roc and retrieve its egg was already difficult enough. And now, just because a child wants to see it, they’re supposed to bring her along, protect her, and guarantee her safety? Ridiculous, Ove thought.

At this point, simply waiting for the storm to pass wasn’t an option anymore. Knowing it would be troublesome, Ove decided to speak up.

"But sir—"

"No ‘but’! Didn’t I say I don’t want excuses?! How many times must I tell you, you incompetent fool! Just go to the Adventurers' Guild and change the request already!"

But Count Holmlund wouldn’t listen. He didn’t even pretend to.

It was then that the thread stretched inside Ove finally snapped.

"…Understood, sir."

Ove bowed deeply and left the office.

Even Elvira’s innocent “I’m counting on you, Ove!” only served to fuel the burning hatred in his heart.

"…Ah, I don’t care anymore."

As Ove walked down the hall alone, he muttered to himself. The eyes of the butler, who had served the Holmlund family for many years, were clouded with deep darkness.