Everyone Else is a Regressor - Chapter 52

◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (52)

Chapter 11. You want to become my partner? (2)

Surprisingly, the lord invited KiJun to stay in the mansion, but KiJun firmly declined.

The best facilities, 24-hour servants, and the safest accommodation in the small town… KiJun had two reasons to refuse such favorable conditions.

Firstly, staying at the lord’s mansion would spread rumors throughout the small town that KiJun, the Flame Human, had replaced Tolchi as Turris’s new knight.

Secondly, staying in the lord’s mansion meant he had to wear his mask all the time.

Despite the comfortable mask, being Jun, the Flame Human, was akin to creating and acting as a fictional character. It wasn’t something he could call freedom, let alone rest.

“I want to be free, at least when resting.”

“There would have been no burden… I even thought of assigning my butler to you.”

Ah, there’s another reason to decline.

Apparently, the lord overestimated KiJun’s abilities and seemed interested in building a good relationship between him and his daughter, the future lord. But KiJun found this rather burdensome.

He also thought his actual abilities fell short of the lord’s high estimation, and he planned to leave Turris once the vampire kingdom’s invasion-related quest was over.

It’s better not to get too close if you’re bound to part ways. It hurts more when you leave.

‘Especially when I’m pretending to be someone else…’

Relationships built on lies are bound to collapse.

Even interacting with the Orc Five Brothers, with whom he accidentally exchanged contact information, made KiJun ponder for the same reasons.

The more genuine they were towards him, the more he was reminded of his deceit.

But what could he do?

This was something he had prepared for the moment he put on the mask.

His safety and future were more important than his friendship with the Orcs.

With a bitter smile, KiJun reaffirmed his resolve and said to the somewhat disappointed lord,

“I’ll find a suitable place and contact you. We can meet again once we have a plan for that ‘rolling snowball’ project.”

“No, no. Let’s do this.”

Despite KiJun’s stubbornness, the lord, unwilling to back down, thought of another way.

“There’s a small villa on a scenic hill near this mansion, where my wife and I used to stay. It’s well maintained, suitable for you, and as it’s my property, others won’t easily approach. It’s close enough for us to communicate easily. It would be better for you to stay there.”

“That sounds more special than offering a room in your mansion.”

“I understand your concerns, but showing this level of relationship is good for our future plans.”

Recognizing the lord’s persistence, KiJun sighed and accepted the offer.

He had shared the quest with Turris’s lord, so he was ready to take on this karma.

“Única!”

When KiJun reluctantly nodded, the lord called out joyfully. Naturally, he was summoning the butler waiting outside.

At the sound of her name, Única, the white-haired butler, quickly entered. The lord, smiling broadly, instructed her,

“Guide Jun to the villa on the hill and make arrangements for his stay.”

“The villa was mother’s…? Oh, I understand, my lord.”

Hearing this, she first cried out in shock but quickly bowed, realizing her position.

The lord chuckled at her reaction and stood up first, offering KiJun a farewell.

“It was a pleasant conversation, Jun. Feel free to do as you wish in Turris for the time being. Make the most of the privileges I’ve given you.”

“Privileges… Alright, I get it. See you next time.”

KiJun finished his farewell with the lord and followed Única, who was hurriedly walking ahead. He pondered the lord’s words.

The lord had given him various privileges, notably the exemption from dungeon tolls.

It meant KiJun should focus on dungeon exploration in Turris, raising his name and seeking trustworthy companions for a while.

Coincidentally, this aligned perfectly with KiJun’s original intention when he first came to Turris.

―See, things turned out just as I thought. This is why politicians are not to be underestimated.

‘It was the best for me too, so don’t be like that, Lucy. If anything, he’s being overly generous.’

―That’s what scares me, Contractor. The debt of gratitude is the heaviest.

Lucy often made insightful comments like this, despite usually being childlike. When KiJun remembered how extraordinary she was, he avoided mentioning her age since she would suddenly pretend to have amnesia like a novel’s heroine.

“Anyway……”

Receiving farewells from the guards and attracting the attention of passersby, KiJun walked for a while until they reached a secluded hill path. Única, glancing back at him, whispered just loud enough for him to hear,

“What happened inside to receive the villa from the lord?”

“I’m just going to stay for a while. …About a year.”

“One year.”

Muttering quietly, she then hardened her expression.

“That’s short.”

“I’d appreciate it if you kept the duration a secret.”

“Of course. But then I wonder even more. The villa hasn’t been used by the lord himself since the lady’s… no, since his wife passed away.”

Why are you getting it? Her questioning gaze met only a shrug from KiJun.

Unable to confront him further, Única grumbled to herself, probably criticizing the lord for not using it himself and now lending it to someone else.

“It’s truly special treatment. Please understand.”

“Yeah. I just thought I’d be lucky not to be kicked out, but your father seems stronger to change than I thought.”

“Tsk…”

KiJun’s comment and chuckle made Única look slightly irritated.

Seemingly hit twice by the mentions of ‘father’ and ‘strong to change,’ she probably planned to grill the lord about what happened once she returned.

“The way is this side. Please follow.”

True to the lord’s word about the proximity, it only took them about 20 minutes to reach the villa situated on a hill not far from the mansion. The hillside, devoid of public access, was tranquil and adorned with wildflowers in full bloom.

While KiJun was admiring the flowers, Única cleared her throat to get his attention.

“Here’s the magic key. Only registered users can open the locks, so you must carry it with you.”

After handing KiJun a key, Única used an identical one to unlock the villa’s main gate.

KiJun was impressed with the interior. The building, constructed purely of brick and wood, was far more luxurious than any house he knew. The first floor alone boasted a spacious kitchen, a dining room with a table big enough for ten, a large dressing room, a living room for guests, a grand fireplace in the hall, and even relaxation areas. It seemed there were second and third floors too.

“Are you fond of the sofa?”

“It’s nice, but I doubt I’ll use it.”

―Heh.

Lucy chuckled with a sense of superiority, but KiJun ignored it, thinking about replacing the furniture with what he had in his inventory.

“I’ll give you a tour of the interior.”

“There’s no need… Are there any areas I shouldn’t enter?”

“Since the lord has lent you the entire villa, there are no off-limits areas.”

“I’m asking you.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Única finally asked with her eyes closed tightly.

“The room at the end of the right corridor on the third floor… if possible, could you leave it as it is?”

“Sure, I understand.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

After KiJun readily agreed, Única, who had been silent for a moment, deeply bowed in gratitude.

The mood suddenly became somber.

KiJun decided not to delve into the emotions or stories behind it.

Sensing his thoughts, Única lifted her head and smiled faintly.

“Is there anything else you need? If you need someone for cleaning, I could…”

“Ah, right.”

While checking the kitchen, KiJun naturally lit the hearth with his Flame Eyes and looked back at her. The only way he knew to cheer someone up was…

“Would you like to join me for a meal?”

The effect was tremendous.

After refilling her homemade ramen and pork fried rice twice each, Única hesitantly asked if she could visit him again.

KiJun, trying hard to suppress a smile, readily nodded in agreement.

―But weren’t you going to keep your distance from her, Contractor?

That night, in his personal room on the second floor, KiJun lay on the bed he brought from the dungeon. As Lucy suddenly piped up, he shrugged and replied,

“It seems we’ll be involved in business anyway, so I thought it would be better to be on comfortable terms with her.”

―Mmm, comfortable terms, huh? I still think you underestimate your charm, Contractor――

While KiJun smiled at Lucy’s slurred words, he noticed his RetaPhone vibrating and checked it.

It was a message from Viv.

[Partner(Reta): There was an Overflow in Turris?]

[Partner(Reta): Glad to see you’re safe. Why didn’t you contact me about such a huge incident!]

[Partner(Reta): From now on, don’t try to handle tough situations alone. Consult with me, your partner. It feels stupid to have a contract otherwise.]

[Partner(Reta): Are you injured? If anything’s wrong, don’t hide it. Let me know; I can help think it through!]

“Ah.”

Realizing he hadn’t shared the quest details with her, KiJun honestly spilled everything. She was furious for not consulting her, but given the situation, she put her anger aside to give him necessary advice.

[Partner(Reta): So you’re really doing that quest? Staying in Turris?]

[Me: That’s the plan. Maybe the lord wants to make me a hero well-known beyond this city.]

[Partner(Reta): Turris, despite being small, is strategically located with a large market for trading and processing products from nearby dungeons. It’s a lucrative territory. Meaning its lord is no ordinary person.]

[Me: Seems so… Did I make the right choice then?]

[Partner(Reta): Well, if you look at the outcome, yes! But it was reckless to kill a knight and then boldly approach his employer…]

KiJun, not wanting to be scolded again, quickly thought of a good idea.

[Me: The lord seems busy with reconstruction efforts. If I introduce you, maybe you can get involved here too?]

[Partner(Reta): I’ll finish up here and come by tomorrow morning.]

Money talks, indeed.

Feeling Viv’s anger dissipating, KiJun smirked, but she added a few more words.

[Partner(Reta): Let’s also pick some party members when I get there.]

[Me: Huh?]

[Partner(Reta): What’s with that reaction? You’re forming a party, right? We need to select good people from the applicants. I have a good eye for people; I can help.]

[Me: No, I mean… I’m forming a party, but… applicants? Selecting?]

[Partner(Reta): Ah, right. This is your first quest in the Reta continent.]

[Partner(Reta): Don’t go outside until I get there tomorrow. Understand?]

[Me: ???]

The next morning, KiJun understood why the lord had lent him the secluded villa on the hill and why Viv had told him not to go outside carelessly.

People swarmed at the bottom of the hill like ants.

It was the moment the Great Turris Audition began – to select members for Hero (KiJun)’s party.