Duke Kleinert possessed a large territory on the western edge of the empire. After arriving in the centrally located capital of the territory where the lord resided, I immediately paid a visit to Duke Kleinert's manor.
"I am Silver, SS-class adventurer. I wish to see the duke."
"You, Silver? Give me a break. The Adventurers' Guild would've sent notice days in advance if such a famous adventurer were coming. Leave off the stupid pranks and go home."
The young, blond guard brusquely denied me entry. For a moment, I considered giving him a piece of my mind, except that doing so would ruin my purpose for coming all the way here.
Suppressing my irritation, I took out my Adventurer Card, which functioned as an adventurer's identification. Written on the card were one's name, rank, and other information. Made using the Guild's secret technique, the cards were unable to be copied or forged. Once the guard got a look at it, I was sure he'd be convinced. However...
"I don't need to see your card. Hurry up and get out of here! I'm busy!"
"Excuse me?!"
The guard turned me away without even glancing at my card. His attitude made me grimace, but at the same time, it also afforded me a golden opportunity.
My original intention had been to help out the duke in order to earn his obligation, but now, I realized, there was another way to put him even deeper in my debt.
"You know, I was sent here on direct orders from Prince Leonard, but I guess he was overly optimistic about Duke Kleinert's character. You be sure to let the duke know he's brought disgrace on both me and Prince Leonard."
"I'm not telling anyone anything! Get outta here, now!"
The guard stubbornly maintained his arrogant attitude. The Kleinert household was a prestigious family with a history far older than that of average nobility; it surprised me that such a boorish man was allowed to guard their manor. Maybe they were low on personnel because of the influx of monsters, I reasoned.
This was ridiculous. To specifically hire an SS-class adventurer cost three rainbow coins, the highest value coins in imperial currency.
The imperial currency was circulated not only within the Adrasia empire but throughout the entire continent. It consisted of bronze coins, gold-copper coins, silver coins, white-silver coins, gold coins, white-gold coins, and rainbow coins with bronze being the lowest value and each denomination increasing by tenfold as you rose up the list.
The monthly salary of a typical empire resident was seven or eight white-silver coins. The highest value coin in circulation among the general population was at most a gold coin. The average person would never even lay eyes on a top-value rainbow coin. SS-class adventurers were worth three of those. Even a duke would be hard-pressed to hire one himself.
Well, even if it was mostly this incompetent guard who was responsible, a failing of the duke's guardsman was also the failing of his master. I felt bad for Duke Kleinert, but I started hatching a plan to make him sweat anyway. Just as a calculating grin spread across my face behind my mask, I caught sight of a young woman peeking out from a second-floor window of the manor.
Even from far off, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl was very beautiful. I also recognized her.
Two years earlier, the emperor ordered the country's craftsmen to create hair ornaments featuring birds. One of the final products, a blue gull, caught the emperor's attention.
He was so taken with the ornament that he declared it befitting of the most beautiful woman in the empire and summoned attractive women and girls to the capital. Selected as the most unrivaled beauty was then fourteen-year-old Finne Von Kleinert, daughter of Duke Kleinert. She was gifted the blue gull hair ornament and given the matching name Blau Mowe, earning her the admiration of men throughout the empire.
Seeing her now, two years later, her beauty had only grown.
"But, just like Sebas said, this is no time to be getting distracted," I told myself.
Recalling Sebas' warning, I reluctantly left the manor and returned to the imperial capital once more with transfer magic.
"You're back rather soon."
"I'm doing exactly what I said I'd do! We're going to the Kleinert territory. Get packed."
"...After you've just been and come back?"
"After Silver went there, you mean. This time, it'll be Prince Arnold who goes. Heh, now the duke'll have no choice but to beg Leo for forgiveness. I've more or less got his support in the bag."
"That's quite the evil grin you've got on your face."
I ignored Sebas' quip and began preparing for our journey. Sebas, watching me humming as I packed, let out a frustrated sigh but wordlessly started packing as well. We soon set off on horseback, and after five days of riding, we entered the Kleinert territory.