Magic Gems Gourmet

Chapter 249

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ED: LonelyMatter

Chapter 249 – Summon

A few days had passed since Leonard and Batz arrived in Strohm.

They had finished preparing the mansion that Duke Fors had used on the first day, and now Batz was staying there.

Batz had planned to rent a room, but Leonard refused.

It would be easier to communicate if they were in the same place, and it would save money.

Ain had heard from Leonard that Batz was excited about their new life together.

The next day, the two met Marco, and the investigation team began their work.

“I’m tired…”

Ain sighed in exhaustion.

It was after 1:00 a.m. in the port city of Strohm.

Why was Ain out at such an hour? There was a reason for that.

“Did I cause trouble for Graff-san?”

“It’s okay. My grandfather seemed to be enjoying himself, didn’t he?”

Until just a moment ago, Ain had been discussing the Baltic strawberries.

So why did the discussion drag on until such a late hour? The reason was simple: there was no other available time.

As the Lord of Strohm, Ain had a lot of work to do, and meeting with people late at night to discuss matters was not uncommon for him.

He had to decide on distribution channels and select processors.

It may sound simple, but there was a lot to do.

Even when it came to distribution channels, many people were involved, and there was more than one processor.

Although Krone was in charge of the details, Ain was not completely uninvolved. When it came time for the final decisions, he often had to sign the documents himself.

“I’m tired, so please forgive me,” Ain thought.

Ain grabbed Krone’s hand forcefully. Krone looked at Ain’s face for a moment, wondering what to do, but quickly smiled and accepted his gesture.

With no guards around, the two enjoyed this rare moment together.

The sea breeze was cold, blowing freely through the gaps in their clothes.

Her fingertips gradually grew cold, and she leaned against Ain’s warm body and wrapped her arms around him.

“Was Marco staying overnight?”

“Yes, at the Fors family mansion. He said he would start the investigation in earnest tomorrow.”

That meant he had to deliver the order, which was problematic.

“Guard Officer Dill is back in the capital with Martha-san, isn’t he?”

“It can’t be helped. I feel bad about leaving Lloyd alone for so long.”

Ain lowered his eyelids and rubbed his cheek.

His voice was laced with regret for not being able to do what he really wanted.

If Martha and Dill were in Strohm, then Lloyd must be alone in the capital mansion.

The three Glacier family members prioritized this situation because they understood each other’s roles.

However, because they served Ain, he also wanted them to relax together as a group from time to time.

Therefore, Ain made a suggestion.

“It’s decided. I want them to return to the royal capital twice a month and report on the situation there.”

This was strictly an order as part of their duties.

It would allow Martha and Dill to return to the royal capital without feeling uncomfortable and enable Lloyd to spend time with his family.

However, such an excuse could easily be seen through.

Naturally, the two of them quickly saw through his intentions and refused strongly at first.

The royal decree was a last resort, but Ain was glad he could convince them one way or another.

At first, he wondered if it was right to use the royal decree for something like this.

Ain was walking through town with Krone. This was the reason why.

The Black Knight and the Royal Knights weren’t accompanying them, but they’re currently guarding the town. They were scheduled to meet up with them on their way back.

“Krone, are you cold?”

“Yes, just a little… But I’m fine.”

“Then you can come a little closer.”

Krone naturally drew closer and let him hold her.

Compared to a moment ago, walking was a bit uncomfortable, but that was a minor issue.

There was no way she could feel uncomfortable doing this with the person she loved. Then, she acted as if she was enjoying it.

“I’m still cold. Hey, can you get a little closer to me?”

“I don’t mind…”

Ain stopped gently.

“If we get any closer, I’ll have no choice but to hug you.”

No one could see them—well, there was no one around anymore.

Still, Ain couldn’t help but smile at Krone’s boldness.

…But then Ain realized something. His fear of being seen had become a reality.

“Krone. Come here.”

“Huh? Ain?”

He took her hand and held her close to his chest.

While Krone was shaken with a sense of strength, Ain looked around with a stern expression.

He felt that the sea breeze had stopped and that the air had somehow changed.

“Shh, be quiet.”

He closed his eyes and sharpened his senses. Gradually, he became aware of a faint breathing presence that did not belong to them.

It did not seem like just a passing presence, at least.

If they were hiding to avoid being noticed, they were definitely not friendly.

Then, they revealed themselves.

“…Who are you?”

About a dozen figures, cloaked in robes that hid their faces, emerged from behind buildings and rooftops.

They advanced, surrounding Ain and Krone.

“For the sake of God.”

“For the sake of God.”

“For the sake of God.”

Several figures uttered those words.

What was a god? Ain couldn’t think of anything other than the loli goddess he had seen before.

What was she doing now? Even in this situation, he found himself casually thinking about her.

“What do you want from me? Why are you surrounding me?”

There was silence. Suddenly, they fell silent abruptly.

As if the air had frozen, silence returned. Then, as if on cue, everyone drew their swords.

“Ain… Are those the members of that criminal organization?”

“I don’t think so. I think they’re probably connected, but I don’t think they’re just criminals.”

The words “dragon worship” crossed his mind.

He remembered hearing those words from Leonard just the other day.

Once again, Krone showed no signs of fear. The only thing that concerned her was the men in robes.

Remaining close to Ain, he signaled to her not to interfere.

“It’s okay. Just stay as you are.”

Hearing this, Krone simply replied, “Yes.”

She entrusted herself to him as if he were her husband.

Pressing her soft chest against his strong abs, she felt Ain’s warmth.

“Also, I’m sorry, but I have to catch those guys, so I’ll have to use some force.”

“Force…?”

“I’d rather you didn’t see. It would be helpful if you could just wait like that.”

It was an awkward thing to say, but Krone agreed without hesitation.

In fact, she buried her face in Ain’s chest as if to say it was exactly what she wanted.

Then, the men in robes attacked Ain.

“Sorry, but I won’t let any of you escape—not a single one.”

In that instant, the cobblestones cracked in several places between Ain and the men. At the same time, the men stopped in surprise.

Thick, knotted vines emerged from the ground.

“The great Elder Lich told me that these were monsters that lived in ancient times.”

The vines gathered together, gathering more and more.

They intertwined in a complex manner, becoming a single thick vine. A large flower bloomed at its tip.

In the center of the flower, a mouth opened and revealed sharp, hideous fangs.

“You’ve never seen them before, have you?” After all, these creatures are extinct. They serve only one master, and their sole purpose is to protect a great tree.”

Even Sylvia, the Elder Lich, had never seen them before, not even when they met in the capital city of Heim.

Afterward, she searched through old books in the Demon King’s castle to learn about them.

That was the truth she discovered.

“Their name is…

Their name was Man Eater. They were monsters that eliminate evil beings for their master. They were his minions tasked with capturing them.

Not a single one will be spared.

Summoned from the world of gluttony, they will capture you at all costs.

“…Ehe… Ha… Hahaah…”

As Ain pressed his hand over Krone’s ear, the Man Eater let out a hideous scream. Obeying Ain’s command, it extended its vines toward the men in robes.

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