Nothing beats a short sudden visit to random places than gift-boxes in games. This often happens during holidays especially Christmas.

***

It has been a full month since our arrival here in Berigious. And within those days, a lot of things has happened. Remembering them makes me feel tired since they're nothing but trouble.

Yet even so, there are also good things that happened too. For example:

“I'm really sorry for barging in, sir. It's just that she wants to see you no matter what.”

“Its fine Jane, I'm in my free time right now.”

Walking into my study room, Jane smilingly apologized to me while following Marie who's walking towards me.

Yes, just like I said, she's walking towards me.

“Wow, my daughter's already is starting to run all by herself. The day where she runs away from me for another man isn’t far anymore.”

“Well, if she did, this man probably is as wonderful as you sir.”

Jane said it like it's true, but I think it’s only because she respects me as her master.

“By the way, Jane, has Amly left yet?”

“No sir, she still hasn't left yet.”

Perfect!

I stood up from my seat and went to a small cabinet. After that, I took a ring that has the crest of my household. I only touched Amly's hand one time, but I think I got the right size.

I then gave it to Jane after putting it in a neat blue box.

“Give this to Amly immediately. Tell her that it's a proof of her being a part of my knight order.”

After receiving the box, Jane looked at it intensely. Why do I sense envy from her?

“What? Do you also want one?”

“Ah! No sir! It would be too audacious of me if I ask for something.”

That level of denial, you obviously want it also.

For some reason, I could feel Marie tugging my robe from my side. When I looked at her direction, I was shot by the most adorable line from my daughter.

“I wum papa!”

Oh mah gawd! I feel like my heart is melting.

“Aww, thank you Marie! Who taught you how to say that?”

When I asked her that, she immediate pointed Jane. And since Jane didn’t expect Marie selling her out, her face became a tomato.

“Jane?”

“Ah! I-I-I-I didn't mean to teach her s-s-s-some weird lines. I-I was just thinking of letting her learn things you might like! T-That’s it, it was just a surprise for you.”

Wow, she talks like a machine gun.

“I understand, you don't have to be so embarrassed. I appreciate the surprise.”

Looks like she couldn't handle her embarrassment, she dashes out of the room with the box I gave her.

Next thing after that, Sora showed up on the door while looking at Jane who just ran away.

“What did you do this time man?”

“Beats me, she just ran off on her own.”

When Marie saw Sora, she dashed towards him and called him uncle.

“You know, for a homunculi, she's really adorable.”

“So you consider her as such huh. But she’s literally my flesh and blood, I don't think she's really a homunculus.”

Sora shrugged his shoulders and patted Marie's head.

“Leaving that aside, what was that Jane's carrying. It seemed to be glowing with magic power.”

“Nothing really passes through that eye of yours. That was actually a magic ring with an engraved crest of the Chardelier household. I wanted to give it to Amly since she wants to go and see her family. I wanted her to have it as protection.”

When I said Amly's name, Sora's expression slightly changed.

“Is there a problem?”

“No… Not really. I just thought that it's too early for her to leave this house. She just like, just became your knight. It's too unusual for a commoner to ask a noble for a favor.”

“Oh come on Sora, you and I are from Earth. You should be more considerate. Besides, she just wants to see her family's situation.”

“I guess you're right. I am from earth, from japan no less. I guess this world’s ethics and values have changed my way of thinking.”

When he pushed Marie to me, he also took out a paper from inside his uniform.

“I almost forgot, I actually have a favor to ask. I want to borrow your power for this. And by power, I mean lots of it.”

“I don’t mind.”

He then opens the folded paper and showed it to me.

“Actually, I have—err, we, the 25th Royal Knight Order have been summoned by the king. It says it's urgent.”

“Summoned? Aren’t you supposed to be on leave?”

“This is a Royal Summon, not responding means lese majeste.”

“Sounds tough… So how do you want me to help you?”

When I asked him that, a chalk suddenly jumped out from his shadow to his hand. If I’m not wrong, that chalk is the [Dragon Ash Chalk] or something.

***

I told the girls that I'm leaving with Sora. Marie wanted to come with me, but of course, I can't since what I'm going to do is illegal according to Sora. Even so, I'll trust him to not let me get caught.

Sora and I went to the workshop beside the mansion because it has a bigger space.

“You sure have been busy these past few days, Key. Is the project progressing yet?”

“I think I'm almost done. The only thing that hasn’t been done yet is establishing contract with willing and loyal spirit familiars.”

“Sounds like a pain.”

“Yeah it is. But guess who put me in this place?”

Sora laughed like he finds it funny. But I really can't really complain about it. It's just his way of helping me raise my peerage. But I won't say thank you.

When Sora finished writing the last part of his magic array with his magic chalk, he started channeling his mana to the array to activate it.

“The Royal Capital is a lot farther than [Behemoth’s Mountain], you might feel dizzy from the tremendous drain you’ll experience.”

“That's fine, I can manage.”

“Okay then. Activating Magic Array, Locating Shadow Marker, Transfer Proceed.”

Just like he said, a great feeling of getting drained accompanied by a weight that I never felt before dropped unto my body. The drain is so great that I couldn't maintain my stance and fell on one knee. Even my breathing became heavy.

Though it only lasted for 5 seconds, it felt like eternity.

From my workshop, I find myself breathing roughly in a dark alley of an unknown place.

“Dude, I can almost see the whites of your eyes. Are you still with me?”

I felt a bit annoyed when he asked me that, but it seems he's seriously worried about me.

Maybe its about time I stand up properly.

“I'm fine. I was just surprised by the sudden drain.”

“That's great. Now wear this cloak. You should not be known by the guards that you’re a noble.”

I received the cloak Sora lent to me and wore it. It's not rugged, but it doesn’t look fancy either.

“Why shouldn’t I be known that I'm a noble?”

While peeking at the street, he answered my question.

“Because the Nobles in the Royal Capital do not walk the streets alone without guards or knights with him. If you get caught, you'll lose your credibility of being a noble and at worse, stripped off your peerage.”

THEN WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT EARLIER?!

“Sorry, sorry. It just slipped off my mind!”

“Seriously man, you gotta give some head’s up if you’re going to make me do something like this again.”

After laughing, he then headed towards the street.

“You can do almost anything you want in this place, just don’t get near guards and making trouble.”

“I'm not a kid, there’s no need to remind me.”

When he got to the street, he pulled out a piece of paper and showed it to the passing guard on a horse. The next moment, the guard jumps off the horse and kneeled to Sora like a subordinate. What the hell is Sora? Then later after that, Sora uses the horse and dashed off.

“Just what the hell is that guy?”

I look around me and took some deep breaths.

“Cough! Shit, it smells like sewer here!”

“Who’s there?!”

The guard that Sora borrowed the horse heard me. So of course, I dashed out and led him away.

***

After finally losing the guard by running through random alleys, I also found myself lost in these series of alleys. It's like this whole place is a giant maze.

“I know Sora knows where I am, but I don't.”

I could just fly up if I wanted to, but it would make me look conspicuous.

I decided to scan through my pocket and pulled out a pocket sized item. This item is actually a clock made by Geral. It’s a really a great invention considering that he got the time nailed precisely. I won't say accurate since he told me it's a prototype. It doesn’t run by manipulating the mana flow directly. Instead, it has a self-sustaining mini-generator inside it.

I wanted to know how he built it, but that would mean destroying his carefully crafted clock. Maybe I should ask him about it when we'll have our meeting.

I look at the clock and see where the hands are pointing at.

“1300. There's still 2 hours before lunch time.”

I don't have problem with money to buy food. But where do I buy one here?

Since it really can't be helped, I continued walking the alleys hoping to find an exit.

After walking for several minutes, I stumbled upon a scene where I’m greatly familiar with.

“Spit it out, Wiz! Where did you hide the money that we let you steal?!”

“I didn't hide it! I gave it to Fuzo when we made the switch! I'm telling the truth Quill!”

Or not. I really thought it was a scene where a kid gets ganged up by a bunch of bullies. Turns out it's just a falling out of the members.

However, I can't really overlook what they’re talking about. They look like 13 year olds from earth, but they're stealing? What are their parents doing to let their kids do this nasty thing?

“Fuzo told me you didn't give him anything. Why are you lying?!”

What's this?

“What?! I almost got caught by the guard because of it! Do you really think I'm lying?”

This Wiz kid seems to be different from these Fuzo and Quill. Judging by their grins, I can tell that they're ganging up against him. I’m guessing that they're hiding the stolen money somewhere else.

But it seems that Wiz kid noticed their grins. His expression immediately changes from desperation to despair.

“Y-you're lying.”

“What?”

“You hid the money elsewhere didn't you? You're backstabbing me!”

The Quill kid got angry when he got called by such word. He threw a punch to Wiz’s face which made Wiz drop on the floor while writhing in pain.

“Who're you calling a backstabber? We never betrayed you, you're just not part of our group. Stop getting too full of yourself!”

The next moment, the rest of the group started kicking Wiz who's already down on the floor.

“These kids are rougher than I expected, I better interrupt—no.”

I really wanted to come out of the corner to break the fight, but a thought suddenly hits my head.

This kid deserved it. From the start, he already did a crime. Having someone backstab you is just the retribution of your actions. I will not interrupt.

“Maybe I'll just stay here until this is over.”

It took quite some time, but the bullies finally got bored of beating Wiz to a pulp. It seems that they’re satisfied with it. They just left him lying and writhing on the floor.

Though I'm feeling some pity to Wiz kid, I gotta say, I'm impressed. I never heard him cry or ask for help. He just lied there taking all their kicks.

“I know you've been watching me. You can come out now.”

Oh? So he actually noticed my presence. I guess there’s no point in hiding now.

“You've got some strong will for a kid. You're name's Wiz right?

I offered him my hand to let him stand, but he slaps my hand away and raises himself with his own two arms.

“Tell me kid, why'd you steal?”

“So it's an interrogation before throwing me into jail.”

He spat his blood near my foot. I kind of expected it, but I'd be lying if I say it didn’t surprise me.

“Don't worry, I'm not a knight nor a guard. I just came here with just a friend.”

“You talk funny. Are you from here?”

Hmm, he doesn’t to answer my question huh. Let's just go along with his pace.

“Yes, I'm not from here. Is it really that obvious?”

“Not really, but you look like someone whose lost in these alleys.”

“Hahaha, you're sharp. How'd you know I was lost?”

Looks like he got irritated when I laughed. Well, I really can’t blame him since I only watched him getting beat up.

“Hah. I'm leaving.”

He stood up and started walking away from me. Even though his body is obviously in a lot of pain, he's trying his best to stand up on his own.

And as the good man I am, I just can’t ignore this.

I scanned through my pockets in a rush. When I found I was looking for, I immediately offered it to Wiz kid.

“Drink this. It's not really as powerful as a healing potion, but it will lessen the pain.”

What I offered Wiz is a vial that is only as big as my thumb. It' one of Cherry’s prototype potion, but I can guarantee it's safe to drink.

“I don't have anything in exchange.”

For some reason, he looks really shocked when he saw it. After that, he looked really down while saying he couldn’t pay for it.

“I’m giving it to you for free. But in exchange, lead me out of this maze.”

He gave it a thought for a minute. After that, he took the small vial from my hand. Yet for some reason, he doesn’t look like he's going to drink it immediately.

“Deal! I'll lead you out of here.”

***

A few minutes have passed since we walked together. According to Wiz, we're already near the street. I really can't trust some random kid to ask for directions, but he doesn’t look like a liar.

Also, though he doesn’t know it himself, I actuality gave him a magic boost to hasten his movement and lessen his pain. He doesn’t look like he has a broken bone so its safe to put a bit of a boost.

“Sir, you're not some kind of an assassin are you?”

Oh? Looks like Wiz kid here finds me suspicious. Well, that's pretty normal.

“What makes you think so?”

While making limping steps, he looks at me from head to toe. Looks like he's assessing me.

“Maybe no. If you really were an assassin, you wouldn’t lose your way.”

“Oh, I thought I could give you some funny misunderstanding. You're quite smart.”

He puffed his cheeks and moved forward while ignoring my smile.

“Hey kid, why did you steal? I can see that you're a smart kid. There must be a reason for you to do such crime.”

“It's none of your business!”

He got angry. So he did the crime reluctantly. I guess there is really something that pushed him to this point.

While we were walking, all of a sudden, we heard a bottle falling on the brick path. Then for some reason, Wiz's expression became pale.

“Oh no! It's the Bottle Drop bandits!”

Wait what? That's quite a funny name for a bandit band.

“We need to run! They've set their eyes on you!”

Unlike before, Wiz became erratic and tried to pull me by force.

“There's nowhere to run already, you guys are surrounded!”

I don't know where the voice is coming from because of the echo, but I can tell that it's close.

Somehow, it feels like a cliché trope from fantasy movie and books. Well, what's wrong with riding this one?

“They’ve blocked our way out already?! No way!”

Seconds after Wiz said that, 6-no, 9 hoodlums came out with daggers on their hand. Wait, why is that guy holding a dagger with his mouth? Is he trying to look imposing? It looks really unhygienic instead.

“You, handsome guy. Give us everything you got if you don't want us to break your face!”

“Thanks for the compliment, but I really don't have the time to play with you guys.”

I don't want to waste my time here. I want to sight see around the Royal Capital.

Wait a minute. This might be a perfect moment to test one prototype part of the “Sentinel” I'm currently working on.

“You fell quiet all of a sudden. Did you regret trying to scare us off?”

While ignoring one of the thug's lines, I pulled out a small palm-sized metallic silver colored ball. This ball has some weight proportioned to its size. Also, the ball has some runic engravings which are actually magic arrays I made using > a few days ago. It took quite some time, but I finished it somehow.

While I wasn't looking, one of the thugs jumped behind me with a dagger pointed at my back. I was able to tell because of the shadow.

“Activate >”

Glowing in luminous blue light, the ball levitates from my hand. The next moment,

“Gohuf!”

It instantly flew and hit the thug right in the stomach. Not only that, the force and strength was so strong that the bandit was thrown away and got knockout at the same time. I think he was unconscious when he landed after hitting the wall.

Seems that these thugs didn't expect me to retaliate, they froze on their knees. Are they about to run or just watch me knock them down one by one?

“D-don't be afraid! He's just one magician! He'll need time to—BOGUH!”

It seems my > is the impatient type. He didn’t let the thug finish his words when he deemed him the moment he spoke.

I guess I was right in limiting the power of the prototype >, or else they'll be having another pair of holes in their bodies.

I think they've realized that they messed with the wrong guy. They started running off one by one with their tails between their legs. However, > wasn't letting them trying to escape unscathed.

It didn't even take 30 seconds to knock them out one by one.

“If the prototype is this intelligent, I guess the full structure of it's body will make it overpowered.”

But if I considered a demon's strength which I've never seen before, I think it needs a bit more power.

“Y-you're amazing sir! You're an attack mage aren't you?!”

Oops! My thoughts are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But what's an attack mage? It sounds a bit conspicuous, maybe I'll just erase the misunderstanding first before it gets worse.

“I'm not an attack mage, kid. I’m just your average magician.”

A little lie can help.

It seems that he somehow believes it. After that he hurries up his guiding while we leave the unconscious thugs.

It seems he rarely sees magicians around, he became thrilled seeing me use some of my weak spells (which are just illusions I use to entertain Marie). He suddenly became talkative and kept asking me how I'm able to use magic. It's slightly annoying, but it keeps me from getting bored so its fine.

After some time, we finally hear some sounds from the streets. It sounds like a very busy place because of all the random yelling and hooves hitting the stony ground.

“It might be a bit noisy for you sir, but this is the only place I know that doesn’t make you look suspicious.”

“You're quite thoughtful AND smart for a kid your age. How old are you?”

“You've been calling me a kid since we met. Just call me Wiz and I'm 10 years old.”

It seems that the pain he's feeling has subsided on its own. He's hitting his chest full of pride.

When we finally got to the main street, I find myself standing in the middle of a busy market place. And just like Wiz said, it really is noisy.

“Thanks kid. But I've noticed this for a while now. Why aren’t you drinking the potion I gave you?”

When I pointed it out, he grabbed tightly his pocket where he put his potion in.

“I'm not going to drink it. I'm going to give this to my little sister!”

Oh? So this is why he was stealing. He wanted to buy potion for his little sister. What a thoughtful big brother he is.

“So we actually have something in common. I also have a little sister of my own, but unlike other girls, she quite a tomboy. She keeps stealing some of my clothes and wears them like it's hers. We fight a lot, but I guess that what makes us siblings. But I got to admit, she keeps me from getting bored. Oops, sorry. My mouth ran on its own. Ahahaha!”

I thought he was going to be happy when I said that. Instead, his face became a bit sad. Did I poke my nose where it's not supposed to?

“Did I say something weird?”

“No. It's just. I'm quite envious of you. Your have a very lively sister—”

Wait, I know this! It's the “My sister is a frail girl and she can't play with me because she's weak” trope!

“—but my sister is quite the opposite. My sister is sweet, kind, and thoughtful. But about a month ago, she suddenly fell ill and couldn’t move like she usually do.”

…. Okay… that was a bit off from what I expected.

But if he makes that kind of face, I really can't stop my heart from wanting to help. Maybe giving one or more potions could fix this, but let's check on the patient first before we give it to her. She might get overdosed by the potions.

***

When I told him that I’m going to lend a helping hand, he suddenly became bright. He cried and thanked me while hugging my leg. It gave me a lot of weird stares so I made him hurry up to where his sister is.

It wasn't really much of a walk since the destination is near the market. However, I wasn't really expecting that my destination is actually an Orphanage. I can tell since there's a sign.

“Welcome to my home. Well, it's not much of a building, but this place is a very lively place.”

“I can tell.”

I know I'm not in the right place to complain, but isn't this place more fitting to be called a barn rather than an orphanage? I mean, other than the kids running around, there are chickens everywhere, an untied cattle, and isn't that a pig? Why are the kids playing with a pig!?

“Oh my goodness, Wiz! What happened to you? Did you get bullied again?!”

I didn't notice here presence at all. A woman suddenly comes out behind me and went to Wiz. She’s panicking while looking at Wiz's bruises. Is she his caretaker?

“Don't mind me, I have some good news! I got a magic potion! Big brother here gave this to me in exchange for guiding him outside the maze alley.”

No wonder it felt like a maze.

Well leaving that aside, the woman finally noticed me when Wiz pointed me out. She stood up all flustered while holding Wiz in front of her.

“D-did you really give him a magic potion for free?”

“Yeah, I did. And you might want to let go off of him, he looks like he's in pain.”

When she noticed that Wiz is trying his best not to cry while she’s gripping his bruised shoulders, she immediately lets go off while apologizing non-stop.

Nothing but a salt to the wound. What a clumsy woman.

Hmm? Although she looks kind of plain, her long straight hair makes her look cute. And not only that, she's got some nice assets. Wait, what am I looking at?

“Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Zetta, I'm this orphanage’s current caretaker.”

“My name is Key, just Key.”

When I offered my hand to her, she looked at me straight to my eyes for some reason.

“Is there a problem?”

After asking her that, she came to her senses and grabbed her cheeks.

“S-Sorry! It's just… it's my first time seeing such a handsome man. …!”

I heard that last like very clearly, and she seemed to realize that she just said that. She immediately covered her face, but she's obviously embarrassed. Her ears are beet red. What a clumsy woman.

“Oh, and by the way, big bro. She doesn’t have a lover. We'd be happy here if you take her as one!”

“Wiz!”

This kid makes some crazy jokes.

“Well, I don't mind. She's quite a beauty after all.”

“Wha?!”

When I said that, she looked again at me. It's like she suddenly overheated, next thing after that. She collapsed. Apparently, my joke was way worse. But I'm not lying in the latter.

We had a nice atmosphere going on here. However, I forgot what I actually came here for. Thankfully—

“Wiz! Sister! She's having a very high fever again!”

--a little girl ran out from the front door reminded me.

I hate myself for saying “Thankful”.