Then the Margrave ca to Obern and acted friendly.
Obern couldn't help but be a bit flustered when he put his arm around his shoulders.
"I didn't know you had such refined tastes too!"
"Ah... you an my tastes?"
What taste is he talking about?
"Yes, raising magical beasts! Moreover, I've never seen such a well-tad magical beast."
Margrave Sareb grinned.
And the one who made a surprise appearance from the carriage was none other than Madam Gorilla.
"To think you captured the one that broke the Second Prince's arms and legs. How did you hide it? Uahahaha!"
We couldn't leave Madam Gorilla alone in Obern's lab.
While wondering what to do, I chose the direct approach.
I asked the Margrave Sareb for help.
And Margrave Sareb gladly accepted.
"Delightful, truly delightful. This is why I like mages. They're so unconventional."
There was a separate reason why Margrave Sareb accepted the unreasonable request to 'bring along a magical beast.'
"Look here. Chit, chit!"
At the sound of clicking his tongue, a small animal jumped out from the Margrave's carriage in front.
"A beautiful magical beast. It's called a Two-Tailed Ferret."
It was a magical beast ferret with bright red fur and two tails, and it seed tad as it smoothly climbed up to the Margrave's shoulder using his hand.
The Margrave took out almonds from the pouch at his waist and gave them to the magical beast.
"Though getting bitten and shocked occasionally can't be helped, it can truly be called a noble hobby."
In the kingdom, keeping magical beasts is taboo.
There are actually laws prohibiting their breeding.
But the current Empire was different.
"Since His Majesty the Emperor is deeply into it, raising magical beasts is the best way for Empire nobles to cultivate refinent."
This was a trend that continued from the previous Emperor.
The Aqua Emperor.
It started when he raised wyverns, saying he would create a Wyvern Knight Order.
The Aqua Emperor, who was originally interested in taming magical beasts, ordered the Empire's outstanding scholars to research magical beast studies.
When talent and money were poured in, developnt naturally followed.
thods to ta magical beasts were systematically developed.
When the Emperor took up magical beast raising as a hobby, the great nobles followed suit.
Soon, it beca natural for anyone with so money and power to raise one or two magical beasts.
"That snake, is it your familiar?"
And the Margrave pointed at .
Unlike usual, I was on Obern's shoulder instead of the staff.
"Yes, it is."
Obern answered so.
Finally free from pretending to be a crystal ornant on a staff.
Now that I don't have to act anymore, I felt incredibly relieved.
But then, the Margrave suddenly said sothing strange.
"I'm envious, this is why I envy mages."
"What do you an?"
"That beautiful white color. It's a white magical beast, isn't it?"
"Ah..."
What?
Did he just complint the white color?
Obern seed to understand roughly, but I was curious about what he ant and perked up my ears (which don't exist).
"White magical beasts belong to the Emperor. It's forbidden for anyone except the imperial family to raise white magical beasts."
Oh.
The Emperor's color, white.
"Despite that, the price of white magical beasts is sky-high. The only ones officially allowed to keep them are magicians' familiars."
They say there are many local nobles who secretly keep white magical beasts.
The thods of luxury sure are diverse.
'What a proper country. The Empire.'
To think there existed a world where white magical beasts are treated well.
Of course, that doesn't an I want to beco humans' pet though.
Pelerian suddenly cut in.
"Wouldn't it be comfortable living as the Emperor's pet?"
'Hmm, is that so?'
"What do you an... It was a joke. A joke."
I was quite tempted. So it was a joke.
"Well, shall we go inside to rest, and have a private talk, just the two of us?"
When Obern tried to get on the carriage following Phili, the Margrave said so.
I left Obern and just climbed into the carriage.
The interior was very luxurious and comfortable.
"Wow, beds..."
"Saak!"
The inside was like a luxury train compartnt.
The walls and floor were finished with high-quality wood.
A soft, plush carpet was gently laid on the floor.
There were four beds in total, but even so, the space wasn't cramped.
Instead of the beds, I claid the basket prepared for .
Comfortable and nice.
While I have so ti, I should check what I've gained recently.
──────────────
[Little Prince Serpent Lv14]
[Titles] Ouroboros, Heart-eating Snake, Black Snake King
──────────────
My level has risen quite a bit.
When will the next evolution be?
Maybe Isil or Madam Gorilla's evolution will be faster.
First, let's see what the newly gained title, Black Snake King, is about.
──────────────
[Black Snake King]
A small black snake wearing a crown.
A terrifying magical beast suspected of causing the dangerous monster wave.
Currently drawing attention from both the Kingdom and Empire.
──────────────
Black Snake King, they say.
Heart-eating Snake also had the effect of increasing my speed.
I wonder what the effect of this title is.
'We should be careful using Black Scales.'
"Indeed. We might reveal our identity if we're not careful."
It seems my appearance when using Black Scales was considered a separate magical beast and the fa spread.
Still, it's a cool nickna that I like.
And from the trait 'Royalty,' I gained,
──────────────
[Royalty]
Dignity: Not much.
Not much remains after consuming too much dignity.
Wonder when I can gather more.
──────────────
Skills have also generally increased in level a bit.
──────────────
[Skills]
▸ Crown
[Steal Lv4]: Form Change Magic Missile: Rotation Lv3, Adhesion Lv3, Explosion Lv3, [Overco Lv2], [Dominate Lv1], [Connect Lv3]
▸ Magic
[Interdiate Elent]: Fire Lv2, Earth Lv4, Water Lv5, Wind Lv2
[Invisible Hand Lv19], [Lightweight Lv5]
[Hell Magic]: Hellfire Lv2, Corruption Lv1
[Form Change Magic Missile]: Rotation Lv3, Adhesion Lv3, Explosion Lv3
──────────────
Actually, I was a bit curious about that 'Corruption' magic among the Hell Magic.
According to Pelerian, it's magic for ntal attacks, specialized for dealing with holy knights.
──────────────
▸ Techniques
[Gigantification Lv3], [Iron Lion Style Swordsmanship Lv7], [Ferang School Dagger Technique Lv10], [Beam Lv6], [Heavenly Thunder Spirit Lv3], [Heart-eating Leap Lv8], [Deadly Poison: Neurotoxin Lv6], [Poison Scales Lv3], [Tail Whip Lv5], [Slash Lv7], [Magic Detection Lv4], [Acceleration Lv8], [Acting Lv5]
▸ Survival
[Resistance]: Poison Lv10, Bleeding Lv3, Pain Lv10, Heat Lv14, Cold Lv1, Petrification Lv1, Electric Lv1, Impact Lv2
[Survival Instinct Lv7], [Black Scales Lv5], [Swimming Lv1], [Breath Holding Lv10], [Stealth Lv10], [Pathfinding Lv1]
[Status]
[At Ease]
──────────────
The status window has gotten quite long.
If this world were a novel, what was just half a page of status window would probably have grown to several pages.
There's also an 'Achievent' section that organizes what I've accomplished.
──────────────
[Achievents]
[Guard Captain Slayer]
[Friend of Centipedes]
[Friend of Goblins]
[Monster Leader]
[Stopper of the Monster Wave]
[Demon Slayer]
[Capital Terrorist]
──────────────
About this newly acquired Capital Terrorist achievent:
──────────────
[Capital Terrorist]
You caused terror in the kingdom's capital.
The black organizations of the capital will be slightly more friendly.
──────────────
Good grief.
I don't understand why I got this achievent when I actually stopped the terror.
The journey to the Empire will be quite long.
Since we can't cross the border through warp gates. It'll probably take several weeks.
During that ti, I can play with Phili and Madam Gorilla.
I should also do so training after a long ti.
Since the Empire's ambassador seems like a decent person, it would be nice if this becos a healing journey.
I had such naive thoughts.
Truly.
Not knowing that fate is like a storm, and also...
==
Rumble-
The thunder is loud.
How many days has it been since we departed? Ten days? No, maybe a little less than that.
And this ti, once again lightning struck nearby.
Crash!
The surroundings lit up through the window.
Then it was revealed.
Empire's Ambassador Margrave Sareb, lying collapsed on the carriage floor rather than his bed.
Obern approached the fallen Margrave Sareb with trembling body.
And after carefully putting his hand near his nose, checking the pulse at his neck, and fussing about.
"Uh, uhh. Uhhhhh!"
He said in a shrill voice as if about to faint any mont.
"He-he's deeeead!"
Crash!
Like the thunder that rang out just then, it was shocking and terrible news.
"No, did-did we kill him?"
"Saaak!"
It wasn't my fault!
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