Reunion with Oswald

Freya quickly found Oswald in the crowd.

But she immediately regretted it.

It would have been better if we hadn't found it at all! Oswald's old face was beaming with smiles as he held a full glass of ice-cold beer, his arm around a human youth who looked to be no more than twenty or thirty years old. And that youth was the one whose roar had nearly pierced Freya's eardrums.

"I told you, didn't I? I said it! Pierre Rick is a hero!"

The young man's face was already flushed.

He put his arm around Oswald's shoulder, his face beaming with excitement. "He did it! Three goals in the last ten minutes, a comeback!"

He then flipped over and stepped onto the bar counter table—one foot on the stool and the other on the bar counter. He moved his right hand passionately through the air as if he were playing a musical instrument.

"Reverse~"

He stared at the Lizardman bartender calmly wiping the glasses, leaned closer and sang passionately, while the bartender patted his right leg, which was resting on the bar table, signaling him to take his foot down.

Seeing that the other person ignored him, the young man stood on one leg, holding his wine glass high in one hand, and started spinning around in the swivel chair, chanting, "Reverse—spin—"

The other people in the bar joined in the commotion, curious to see how long he could keep spinning like that. Even Oswald joined in.

He clapped enthusiastically and cheered loudly for him.

Just then, as the young man spun around, he noticed Freya and Lily standing at the door.

He whistled and walked up to the two women. Then, as if he had become a different person, he bowed slightly, extremely gentlemanly, and placed his hand on his chest in a salute. "Good morning, beautiful ladies! But... have you come to the wrong place?"

"Don't kick out my guest, Robert."

The Lizardman, calmly wiping the glasses, grumbled in dissatisfaction, "I also sell curry fried rice here!"

"I was just thinking... okay."

The young man called Robert looked around and shrugged.

There's no doubt that it's not even noon yet. Anyone out drinking at this time is basically there to watch the game.

In a place that's dark, hot, smoky, and noisy, there's no way a young, pretty girl would wander in. It's understandable that Robert would think they'd come to the wrong place.

But when Robert turned around, he saw Oswald looking like he'd seen a ghost.

"Is it your daughter? Or your granddaughter?"

The middle-aged man next to her glanced at Freya's slightly pointed ears, then looked back at Oswald and asked, "Here to see you?"

"... Not really, but they're probably here to see me."

Oswald got up somewhat awkwardly, straightened his clothes, and regained his calm demeanor.

But without a doubt... neither Freya nor Lily could ever apply the cold and rational demeanor of Oswald to this old elf again.

It's as if a stereotypical image of a thin, ghostly figure has come to life.

... However, that feeling wasn't exactly unpleasant.

Oswald followed the two men out, and soon a burst of laughter erupted behind him.

The Elf Butler nodded and bowed respectfully, then put his hands behind his back. "It's been a long time, Miss Freya. Please don't mind their rudeness; they are all good people and meant no harm."

Clearly, he had always remembered Freya.

"I certainly wouldn't care about such a thing," Freya said, crossing her arms and looking the Elf Butler up and down. "But you... old man, you've let your guard down."

"If this were before, you would have noticed us when we came in. You would have definitely turned around to take a look no matter what."

"After all, I'm getting old."

Oswald sighed and replied softly, "I've already come to the Second Ring to retire."

Freya blinked in surprise. "That's quite something, Oswald. Are you finally admitting you're getting old?"

"After all, my mission is complete."

Oswald's lips curled up slightly.

On that gaunt face, like that of an old wolf, a smile that was almost never seen before appeared, "Miss Yulia is healthy now, and Young Master Iver no longer needs me. Young Master Edward is also on the right track, and the Master has given me my freedom... It's wonderful to know that you are doing well as well."

"What about the master..."

Lily keenly noticed one of the sentences: "Oswald, have you found the master?"

"Yes, I found the master as soon as I arrived in the Theocracy."

Oswald nodded. "His Pope Your Majesty entrusted us with the protection of the Founding Family of Avalon... a protection that would last until death. But if the family we are protecting no longer needs us, then we will be free."

"The master, in the name of Moriarty, relieved me of my duties as a guardian. So now, I am no longer a guardian spirit. I originally wanted to go back to continue protecting Young Master Iver, say a proper goodbye, then help him with the process of inheriting the Moriarty Family, and finally find him a reliable new butler. But the master said I don't need to return to Avalon anymore—this was his final order to me, so I have no choice."

"After suddenly having so much free time, I felt a bit lost. I wanted to see His Pope Your Majesty to report on my duties and ask if there was anything else I could do... but His Pope Your Majesty refused to see me."

"... Is it a refusal, or is it that you can't see me?"

Lily pressed for an answer.

"It's a rejection."

Oswald added very affirmatively.

Because he still remembered His Pope Your Majesty's words—"Let my knights rest a bit, I'm running out of time too." These were Cardinal Matilda's words relayed to him.

Oswald, however, trusted Cardinal Matilda's reputation.

Thinking of this, the old elf glanced at Lily, keenly sensing something. "Why are you asking this... is there some problem with His Pope Your Majesty? And, Lily... since you're here in the Theocracy, doesn't that mean Young Master Iver is also here?"

He didn't say much, but simply stated, "You should follow Young Master Iver."

"Iver has important things to do."

Freya comforted him, "He wanted to go alone—you should have some faith in Iver, old man. He's no longer the little boy we need to take care of. As a man, he'll always do what he has to do, so just leave him alone."

"Compared to that..."

As she said this, she looked around the street and asked, "Is there a suitable place here where we can sit down and chat?"

Please follow me.

Oswald agreed.

Clearly, he had become quite familiar with the area over the past few months. Many people on the street even greeted Oswald, and the elderly man, whose appearance was somewhat intimidating, politely nodded to everyone.

That stiff, cold expression, like that of a corpse, is no longer visible.

Seeing all this, Lily felt genuinely gratified.

"If Young Master Iver could see this scene in person," she thought.

Soon, Oswald found a teahouse.

This is a teahouse opened by a traveling merchant from the Primordial Empire in the Theocracy... Although the tea itself is produced using local divine magic, the tea-brewing techniques and tea-frying skills are all from the orthodox craftsmanship of the Primordial Empire.

They found a private room, Oswald skillfully ordered a pot of tea and some snacks.

While waiting for tea and refreshments, Freya told Oswald about what had happened to them.

The old man listened, nodding repeatedly. He occasionally offered constructive suggestions—the old man's experience was invaluable; a centuries-old elf who had lived in Avalon, his shrewdness was among the best in the entire Theocracy, and even the world. He usually remained silent, simply to uphold his identity.

When he heard the last part, Oswald frowned slightly.

He picked up a piece of Wild Jujube Cake with his fork and fell into deep thought.

"Cardinal Loki..."

The old elf murmured, "I've heard this name before; the master mentioned it to me not long ago."