The Fat Aristocrat Waltz in the Labyrinth - Chapter 54
Chapter 54: The fat aristocrat’s Mouth Turns Often
“To delve into the labyrinth—you’ve always surprised me.”
The knight’s helmet shifted, and his gaze shifted towards Mitrof.
“Did you take care of my sister?—She must have been a bother.”
“…No, Canule took care of me more than I took care of her.”
“Canule?”
The knight tilted his head and nodded as if understanding.
“Canule huh—you must have thought that changing places and names could change the course of your life.”
“…No.”
“Have you had enough fun?—Let’s go home.”
The knight spoke gently, as if soothing a child.
Canule looked down, as if resigning herself to the situation.
Mitrof furrowed his brow in surprise, but the situation was straightforward. Canule had originally run away from somewhere, and since she recognized the knight as her brother, there was no doubt about her identity.
“Wait, the conversation is moving too fast.”
“Unfortunately, you have no right to interfere.”
Indeed. It seemed that this was a family matter. However, Canule didn’t seem too pleased about reuniting with her brother.
It is not appropriate to interfere with the affairs of another’s family. Mitrof, who was raised as a noble, understands this well. However, if he wants to say something, he has no choice but to assert his right to speak up.
Mitrof thinks carefully.
“——I am Canule’s employer.”
“Oh?”
“I hired her as a porter—It’s troublesome if she is taken away without permission, and it violates the contract.”
“Do adventurers have contracts?—Certainly, that is disadvantageous to you.”
Mitrof took a breath for the moment. His appearance standing in the labyrinth with a knight’s armor was not ordinary, but he seemed capable of having rational discussions with people.
“Now, can you tell me about the terms of the contract?”
“…Canule is to assist me in carrying goods and in my exploration.”
“How long is the contract for?”
Mitrof was about to say “one year” instinctively. He had not discussed the duration of the contract with Canule. He thought it would be okay to say a large number and buy some time.
However, Mitrof’s thoughts turned, and the calmness he had gained through “sublimation” was still working. He corrected his choice of words.
The knight was rational. He respected Mitrof’s use of the word “contract” and confirmed its content. This was probably because he had the correct knowledge and understanding of the terms of the contract.
In an instant, Mitrof searched for an old memory.
“…It’s supposed to be renewed every month.”
“That’s common for an employment contract—if it were unfair, I could have broken it, but that’s a shame.”
A sound of laughter, as if he were exhaling breath from his armor, rang out. Mitrof narrowed his eyes.
“May I confirm the contract in writing?—If it’s just a verbal agreement, it’s another matter.”
“Of course, we exchanged contracts.”
“Then where is it?”
“Well, there was a fierce battle against a red-eyed troll the other day—the contract was torn to shreds at that time.”
“Doesn’t my sister have a copy?”
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t explain properly—the copy of the contract that Canule had was also torn.”
“I see—it’s a surprising story, but such things happen in battles.”
“Yeah, I was surprised too.”
The knight nodded happily, and Mitrof returned a smile.
“So, is the original document safe, then?”
“Yeah, my partner keeps it safe—she’s someone you can trust.”
“Can you introduce me to this partner?”
“I would love to, but my partner has returned to her hometown due to some urgent circumstances—she accidentally took the contract with her.”
“I see, it’s very convenient, almost like a made-up story.”
“I know, I can hardly believe it myself—but it’s the truth.”
Mitrof was, in fact, surprised at how well his mouth moved.
And his way of talking, never admitting inconvenient facts, was just like his father—Count Vansankai—negotiating.
When Mitrof was still expected to live up to his father’s expectations, he was allowed to attend negotiations and had seen his father speak like this.
“So you have a contractual agreement, but the contract is missing, is that correct?”
“No, that’s not correct—there is a contract, but the situation does not allow me to show it right away.”
Mitrof stood tall. The knight’s back was high, requiring him to look up. The knight’s armor and aura were overwhelming.
However, nobles held power through authority, not armor or swords. They are individuals who can subdue others with their own bodies. Mitrof learned this behavior from his father.
Therefore, with no backing, legitimacy, or status, he simply boasted boldly. He stood proudly, boasting that he was right.
“If we cannot confirm the contract clauses correctly, we should respect the intention of the parties to the contract… In other words, if Canule and I recognize that there is no mistake, that is equivalent to the contract’s proof.”
“You seem to be familiar with the old contract law—then you also know that the clause continues like this… However, this is only guaranteed if the individual’s will is undoubtedly free—how do you prove that you did not force my sister’s will?”
“It’s simple.”
Mitrof pointed straight at Canule and declared, as if to say, “See for yourself.”
“——I am weaker than Canule. If she wants to escape, she just needs to defeat me.”
Silence fell. In the distance of the labyrinth, a dull sound echoed. Mitrof thought it must have been the swordhorned rabbit crashing into a wall.
“Huh.”
and.
“Ha ha ha ha.”
A man laughed inside the knight’s armor. However, to Mitrof, the brave silver knight appeared to be swaying unsteadily in a fighting stance, and it seemed comically out of place.
The knight suddenly stopped laughing.
“Very well—I will accept your argument.”
“That would be great.”
“The contract will be renewed every month—at the end of the month, my sister will be free. Let’s talk again then.”
With that, the knight turned on his heel and left without a second thought.
The sound of his footsteps echoed in the darkness of the labyrinth until he disappeared from sight.
Mitrof breathed a sigh of relief.
As the unique atmosphere emanating from the knight engulfed him, Mitrof’s body began to lose all of its strength.
“What an eccentric brother you have.”
Mitrof looked at Canule. At that moment, Canule was sitting properly on the floor, in the traditional Japanese style.
“——Mitrof-sama, I apologize for the trouble I caused you—and…thank you very much.”
Canule spoke in a trembling voice, aligning the fingers of her black leather gloves and bowing her head.
It was the same scene as when they first met in town.
“No, it’s fine.”
Mitrof responded curtly. He’s not used to being thanked by someone.