The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated

It couldn’t be helped. He only has a month after all, so every single day mattered.

Money is something that he can earn any time, but a chance like this might not come about again.

He already has his basic needs met at the Latrard home, and he still has a few pieces of gold left in his pockets. Thus, he should be able to tough it out for the month.

Should…

As he thought of that gluttonous kitten over in the palace and that adorable loli who similarly needs to be fed at home, Shien was very uncomfortable.

“Even though neither one of them are mind, so why do I have to spend so much money to keep them happy?”

If one of them were his, then he’d at least feel like it’s worth it.

The problem is that they aren’t.

“They’re two freaking big shots. Even though they obviously shouldn’t lack the money, they’re still forcibly stealing from my poor wallet. It’s too much. It’s way too much!”

Shien cursed as he headed toward the direction of Lillet’s confectionery. Once more, he spent some money and brought some pastries along.

That vicious little kitten already told him that before he head off to the underground library, he needs to first go see her and hand over what he had promised.

Otherwise, for the next month, that kitten will turn into a snake and constrict him at all time, making it so that he won’t have any time to go to the library.

What else could Shien do?

He could only present his offerings and first appease this goddess.

“I really did bring it on myself…”

Shien could only sigh as he walked through the palace toward Lucy’s apartments with several boxes of pastries.

Right at that moment though…

“Please wait a moment.”

A voice rang out, calling Shien to stop.

“Eh?”

Shien stopped, tilted his head, and looked toward where the voice came from with a questioning look.

The next moment, Shien saw a knight.

“Hello Sir Shien.”

A handsome looking knight, with blond hair, blue eyes, fully equipped in elite magic armor, with a polished silver magic weapon long sword at his waist came before Shien and lowered his head in a greeting.

“You are…?”

Shien looked upon that unfamiliar face uncomprehendingly.

The other person smiled.

“Allow me to introduce myself, I am Limgir Stalim, a knight of the royal knights order.”

The person was indeed Limgir.

“Stalim?”

Shien raise an eyebrow.

Although he didn’t recognize the royal knight before him, Shien had not forgotten that family name.

“Who’s that duke from yesterday to you?”

Shien asked with a knowing grin.

Limgir however didn’t show any change in his expressions. He simply continued to smile as he spoke in a very even tone.

“He is my father.”

Limgir very clearly admitted to that.

There was no need to hide this point, nor was it even possible to do so.

Thus, Limgir simply didn’t bother to hid it at all. He admitted it right from the start.

“So you’re the young master of a ducal house huh.”

Shien had guessed that as well, and the smile on his face turned even more knowing.

There was the saying about how after beating up the little one, the big one will come out. This time, could it be that after beating up the big one, that instead ended up provoking the little one to come out instead?

Only, he never expected that the duke in question had a son currently acting as an official royal knight. His actual strength seemed to be pretty high too.

At the very least, Shien’s [Appraisal] skill had very successfully seen through the other person’s true strength.

His level is 75. All his skills were close combat types, and said skills were decently leveled too. There was even a level 7 [Two-handed Sword] and a level 5 [Magic Sword]. From just a single look, although he doesn’t match up against Lucy, he’s still a lot stronger than most others his age.

It looks like he’s quite a little prodigy himself.

Shien, having collected quite a bit of information without giving a single thing away in just that moment, spoke up.

“So what might the young master of a ducal family stopped me here for?”

Shien did rather want to see just what this young master was planning to do.

However, in response to Shien’s somewhat rude and playful attitude, Limgir didn’t do anything. Nor did he say anything. He just calmly gazed at Shien for a bit before finally responding.

“I’m sorry.” Limgir suddenly bowed and apologized, “Yesterday, my father seemed to have been rude to you, so I hope for your forgiveness.”

The apologetic tone and sudden bow had turned Shien’s knowing look into one of surprise.

“You’re here to apologize?”

Shien’s surprise was practically written on his face.

“Yes.” Limgir continued speaking in an apologetic tone, “Father’s attitude was obviously overboard against someone who contributed so much. That’s why I came to apologize to you in the hopes of gaining your forgiveness.”

In response, Shien frowned.

He really did not expect the other person to have come here for that of all things.

“You’re not here to pick a fight then?”

Shien gave a blunt response.

“Of course not. Please don’t misunderstand. Our Stalim family was at fault for this matter from the start after all.”

Limgir hurriedly shook his head and waved his hands to deny it. It really did look like he didn’t want Shien to misunderstand.

Shien didn’t detect any hostility from Limgir either.

Therefore, this young master of a ducal family really didn’t plan on causing trouble for Shien then?

He really is here to apologize then.

“… Did the duke send you here?”

Shien was silent for a bit before asking that.

Those words instead made Limgir laugh.

“There’s no way.” Limgir spoke with some disgust, “That person won’t ever admit that he did something wrong. So long as it’s logical, he could do anything, no matter how terrible. How could he possibly consider getting in someone else’s way as a mistake?”

Limgir’s words made Shien raise an eyebrow again.

Given the dislike in his eyes, those should be his real opinions.

In other words, there seems to have quite some conflict between this person and his father.

Shien felt it was pretty interesting.

“Your old man’s not here to apologize, but it’s instead you who came to apologize on your own initiative. Is that not strange?”

Shien feels so anyways.

However, Limgir disagreed.

“No way.” Limgir looked straight at Shien and spoke with a small smile, “My father only has one son, me. He also focused all of the family resources into me, thus raising me to this point. Thus, it can be said that the future of the Stalim family can only be inherited by me. There are no other possibilities.”

“But I don’t want the Stalim family to offend someone like Sir Shien.” Limgir chatted away, “Father isn’t a knight, so he doesn’t understand just how terrifying Sir Shien, who could release an aura like that, really is. I’m different though. I cannot allow the future Stalim family to end up in a feud against someone as strong as you.”

“Thus, I came to apologize to you for myself.”

“I hope that you will accept my apology.”