At Heinri's stern command to entertain guests, Xenon grumbled inwardly but also felt a pang of guilt.
Whenever he visited occasionally, he had seen just how busy Heinri's days were.
Not only had Heinri become the Crown Prince, but he was also working to receive an early abdication from the Emperor.
Although the vigorous Emperor was stubbornly holding out, judging by the general atmosphere, it didn't seem like it would take much longer.
In any case, Heinri was truly busy. Frankly, if Xenon weren't the next Tower Master, he would have been hauled off for insulting the imperial family long ago.
If that had happened, he probably would have become a fellow inmate of the Duke and Duchess of Roam.
'No, wait.'
The expression "Duke and Duchess of Roam" was incorrect. Their titles had been confiscated.
Roam met a disgraceful end, and the vassals who had tried by any means to inherit their position were torn apart and scattered.
From what Xenon could discreetly surmise, it seemed none of them had met Heinri's standards.
Or perhaps there were circumstances known only to the noble lords...
'What do I care.'
Xenon shook off his thoughts and busied himself. After all, he wasn't well-versed in imperial palace affairs, nor was he interested. Heinri would surely handle it.
More importantly, he had to hurry to plant the newly acquired flower seeds. He needed to plant them quickly so they would bloom.
Having already decided where to plant these flowers, Xenon's steps were unhesitant.
After several warps and passing through private warp gates, the scenery changed rapidly.
Stopping by shops along the way to buy a few gardening supplies meant his hands were full by the time he arrived.
"I should have brought a spatial magical artifact."
Xenon, walking while greedily clutching his load lest he drop anything, suddenly halted.
He had spotted two massive shadows standing tensely facing each other at the castle entrance.
'Should I warp even now?'
Out of habit, he was about to check the moat and enter, but perhaps he could let it slide just for today...
The moment that thought crossed his mind, the two shadows simultaneously turned to look at Xenon. Caught off guard and meeting their eyes, Xenon forced an awkward smile and reflexively opened his mouth.
"Uh, um, hello?"
It was closer to a mutter to himself, but it seemed to have been loud enough for them. As evidence, they were now making incomprehensible cries.
"Grrrruk."
"Kyaaak!"
"...You two seem to have been fighting; don't mind me, carry on."
"Grrrrr!"
"Kyak!"
Xenon flinched involuntarily, his shoulders trembling, and with a pale face, he slowly began to widen the distance.
Seeing them—that is, a giant troll and a giant wyvern—exchanging sharp cries, it seemed they were indeed having some kind of conversation.
However, he wasn't Anelli, so he couldn't understand the monsters' dialogue at all.
Fortunately, the monsters didn't charge at Xenon. More precisely, the moment the troll, who hadn't been at Veladia Castle for long, showed wariness toward Xenon, the wyvern cried out as if scolding it and intervened.
Xenon remembered Anelli greeting that wyvern warmly. The wyvern probably had quite a friendly relationship with Anelli.
The wyvern also seemed to know about Xenon, albeit one-sidedly.
Since it acted as the leader among the various monsters and beasts gathered at Veladia Castle, its personality might even be quite good.
"Kyak!"
...It *is* good-natured, right?
"Um, well, I'll be going now."
Xenon drew a wide arc and slowly passed them. The wyvern flapped its wings threateningly at the troll, and the troll stomped its foot in response.
Regardless, Xenon quickened his pace and crossed the moat.
Glancing down as he crossed the bridge, he saw a shadow cutting through the water below the surface.
"Kids these days grow up so fast."
Just yesterday, its tail definitely wasn't that long.
He had occasionally witnessed the wyvern throwing hunted beasts into the moat a few times; it seemed the surrounding monsters were taking good care of it.
Letting out an admiring sigh, he entered the outer ward only to be met by countless bones this time.
They were going about their own lives as if they were residents of the castle, and upon spotting Xenon, they were extremely pleased and wiggled their shoulder blades.
*Clack, clack.*
Instead of cries, the sound of teeth clacking echoed all around.
"...Uh, nice to see you too."
With a face more disgusted than before, Xenon hesitated for a moment before darting through them faster than light.
The skeletons, who had gloriously triumphed in a brawl against the goblins that had previously occupied the castle, had proudly claimed one side of the outer ward.
Moreover, for whatever reason they regarded Xenon, they approached him very amiably.
Sometimes even to the point of seeming obsequious.
"No, wait, it's not that heavy, no need to carry it for...!"
Several skeletons divided Xenon's load among themselves and clattered ahead.
Just how was he perceived among these monsters?
While he didn't want to know, Xenon buried the curious truth deep in his heart and let out a long sigh.
"Please take them to the inner ward's front courtyard."
At his resigned voice, the skeletons clacked their teeth again.
He didn't need an answer, so please, just stop making that sound.
* * *
After Xenon declared he would make Veladia Castle his residence, the Magic Tower was thrown into an uproar.
The reactions largely fell into two categories: the insane suggestion, "Since you're there anyway, properly investigate the Trevi Mountains and become the first great mage to conquer the mountain range," and the reproach, "Has your belated adolescence made you run away from home?"
The former came mainly from the young and spirited mages of the Tower, the latter from the seasoned elders and his master.
For Xenon, it was difficult to provide clear grounds to persuade them.
If it was for research, the Tower was already a place with excellent research facilities. And Veladia Castle wasn't exactly a pleasant place to live either...
Especially since his master, who had once fallen backward during a video communication call when a skeleton suddenly popped its head over Xenon's shoulder, was urgently demanding his return.
Even now, it was the same.
―What do you mean, running away at your age, you brat!
"Who's running away? This is independence."
―Who goes and becomes independent in a monster den!
"A monster den? That's not true."
―Then what's that flying thing behind you if not a gargoyle!
Oh dear, it wasn't time for the gargoyles to be active yet.
Xenon clicked his tongue briefly and subtly shifted his location. Gargoyles were monsters active mainly at night, and it was still quite bright out.
It seemed one had woken up a bit early.
"Are you seeing things in your old age?"
―Is that any way to talk to your master!
"Instead of supporting your disciple's independence, why must you always nag with things that won't work anyway?"
It was about time to give up.
Xenon glanced at the flowerbed where he had finished his work. Having busily planted each seed he received from Heinri one by one, the day had passed, making his usual contact with the Tower later than usual.
Perhaps that was why his master was so upset.
Even though Xenon diligently made contact and showed he was fine, his master still worried.
"Isn't it about time for you to go have your meal?"
―And you, are you eating and living in that desolate place?
"Of course. How can a person live without eating?"
―And Nessi?
"She's fine. Gamon too."
―You even took this old man's precious companion animals! Even if you starve, make sure Nessi and Gamon are properly cared for!
At his master's spiteful remark, Xenon just laughed.
Because he knew very well the sentiment with which his master had attached Nessi and Gamon to him.
Since Xenon stubbornly refused to take any person along, his master had attached reliable animals instead, making the best of a disappointing situation.
Anelli was like that too; it seemed everyone saw Nessi as a trustworthy wolf.
―So when on earth do you plan to return? You must attend the regular research presentation, mustn't you?
The regular research presentation was one of the Tower's major events, also a venue for evaluating new magical artifacts to be sold externally.
Achieving good results could allow one to leap several floors within the Tower, so everyone tended to stake their lives on their presentations.
Naturally, it didn't end in just a day or two.
"I'll go, but I can't stay long. The flowerbed arrangement isn't finished yet."
―You lunatic, what flowerbed arrangement!
"The skeletons have bony hands and can't plant delicately, so there's no choice. Even if it takes time, I have to do it myself."
And that wasn't all. This Veladia Castle truly had too many places needing attention.
Even if basic repairs or cleaning could be handled with magic at once, meticulous decorative work inevitably required personally procuring items and putting in effort.
At Xenon's somewhat carefree words, his master let out a deep sigh.
―Going to all that trouble, who are you trying to show off to?
"How did you know? I was just about to complain. I'm so busy every day, pondering how to show off effectively."
―To that Resurrected One?
Even without explanation, his master seemed to quickly guess whom Xenon was waiting for here.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Xenon gave an awkward smile. Without waiting for Xenon's answer, his master continued.
―I heard the Resurrected One's trail suddenly vanished. The paladin who had embarked on an unofficial pilgrimage with the Resurrected One returned in tatters. Do you know how Morico pestered me over that?
"Why did Priest Morico come to you to complain about that paladin being beaten to a pulp?"
―Why? Because you were there with them, to find out the circumstances!
Xenon frowned and shook his head. Temple people, honestly.
―He suspected for a long time whether you fought and caused that state, so I almost blew up that damned Temple!
"You should have just blown it up."
―No, you brat!
Seeing his master looking at him with a gaze that pitied his childish words, Xenon pouted his lips.
He meant it.