Chapter 182 - 181: I’ll Teach You
Bev’s long golden hair wasn’t tied up as usual, but instead hung smoothly over her shoulders.
She also wore a hair ornament made of tiny pearls, which made her look both noble and radiant.
"I was originally planning to go to the mines with you to watch you fight."
Bev pursed her lips slightly, looking rather wronged. "But Dad said it was too dangerous and absolutely wouldn’t let me."
"He was just thinking of your safety. That place is no joke," Zelir said soothingly.
"But I really wanted to see how you deal with those Demons," Bev said.
"Didn’t you see enough during the Monster Hunting?"
"I could never see enough."
"Miss Bev."
Marcus and the others bowed. Even Gray put away his usual devil-may-care attitude.
Bev wasn’t a simpleton like Lante.
It was one thing when they were out adventuring and fighting together as teammates. But in their day-to-day lives, they had to show her the utmost respect.
She was a high-ranking noble, after all. Their social statuses were on completely different levels.
"Hello, everyone."
Bev offered a slight smile.
"It seems Zelir gets along very well with you. You were with him for the Monster Hunting, and now you’re with him for this commission."
"We’ve fought side-by-side many times. We’re all teammates who trust each other," Marcus said.
"I also heard Zelir mention that on your team’s very first mission, you encountered a Fog Demon."
Bev blinked. "But you didn’t rout. Instead, you worked together and defeated it, right?"
"That’s right."
"Then you certainly are trustworthy," Bev said with a small nod.
As they were talking, a mature and steady figure approached from the direction of the castle, flanked by two deferential attendants.
"I am Duke Alberti, Patriarch of the Alberti Family."
The Duke walked up to the group and spread his arms slightly. "Welcome, Adventurers."
"Lord Duke." Marcus and the others didn’t dare to be disrespectful and immediately bowed again respectfully.
"Dad." Bev tugged on Zelir’s sleeve and took a few small steps forward to greet him.
"Bev, why did you run over in such a hurry? You couldn’t even wait for me?" the Duke said, giving his daughter a doting look.
"Dad."
Bev introduced him proudly, "This is Mage Zelir, the one I told you about. He’s the youngest Junior Mage in Black Stone Town!"
"Lord Duke." Zelir gave a slight nod, neither servile nor overbearing. He showed respect but did not bow.
According to the laws of the Sel Kingdom, Mages, even commoner Mages, held a social status nominally equal to that of the Nobility.
In social settings, they weren’t required to act subservient.
"I’ve heard Bev mention you many times."
An interested expression appeared on the Duke’s face.
"She said you’re the most exceptional person of your age she’s ever met. For this commission, Bev even recommended you highly, insisting you were more than capable."
"Bev and I were teammates during the Monster Hunting, so we know each other fairly well," Zelir said.
"Haha, is that so..."
The Duke’s gaze swept over the Bracelet Zelir was wearing, but the amiable expression on his face didn’t change.
"It seems her praise for you was no exaggeration. You are indeed far more outstanding than other Mages your age, capable of even slaying a Demon like the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm."
"You give me too much credit, Lord Duke."
"Humility is a virtue. Well now, you’ve had a long journey. There’s still some time before dinner, so please come rest in the castle."
The Duke clapped his hands lightly. "I have prepared a grand banquet to reward you for your heroic performance."
...
"Bev, your home is huge."
As the two of them passed through the magnificent main keep and arrived at the rear courtyard, Zelir couldn’t help but marvel at the surrounding scenery.
What he had seen from the manor’s entrance was only a small fraction of it.
Beyond the main keep lay an even larger area, which not only had tranquil, tree-lined paths leading in all directions but also an artificial lake with rippling emerald waters.
On a small island in the center of the lake stood an exquisite pavilion.
In the distance, several enormous glass greenhouses refracted the sunset into a rainbow of colors. Inside, many strange and exotic flowers and plants were being cultivated.
The other members of the team were either resting in their guest rooms inside the castle or being led on a tour of the manor by attendants.
But Bev was personally showing Zelir around.
"It’s alright. You’ll have something like this someday too," Bev said with a casual laugh.
"Really?" Zelir laughed.
"Of course. Once you become an Upper Level Mage, or even stronger after you complete your Reclassification, all of this will be nothing to you."
Bev linked her arm with Zelir’s. "Look, that’s the Lake Heart Pavilion. It’s where I often go to read by myself."
"This is the garden. I personally tend to all the flowers planted in here."
Bev described her family’s manor to Zelir, who listened quietly by her side.
He even felt that if one didn’t have many ambitions or desires for the outside world, one could probably spend a lifetime in this manor without ever getting bored.
As the two passed a vast pasture enclosed by a white fence, a female groom was grooming a fine steed by the side.
"Elle," Bev called out.
"Miss Bev." The female groom called Elle waved back enthusiastically.
Bev pulled Zelir over to her side and affectionately stroked the steed Elle was tending to.
It was a magnificent, pure white horse, with an agile build and sleek, well-defined muscles.
Bathed in the twilight glow, its smooth coat seemed to be covered in a layer of pale golden light, making it quite dazzling.
"The weather is nice today, Miss Bev. I just finished grooming Juna and was thinking of taking her out for a stroll," Elle said with a smile.
"My father gave me this horse when I was very young."
Bev stroked the white horse’s mane. "She grew up with me. Her name is Juna."
Juna affectionately lowered her head and nuzzled back, letting out a low nicker from her nostrils.
"She’s a fine horse," Zelir said, also reaching out to stroke her.
"Isn’t she? She’s a pure-blooded Silver Moon Horse. Dad searched for a long time to find her."
Bev suddenly thought of something, her eyes sparkling. She turned her head to Zelir and said, "Zelir, why don’t we go for a ride together?"
"Uh... I’d rather not."
Zelir politely declined. "I don’t know how to ride a horse."
"Huh? For real? You don’t know how to ride a horse?"
’Is riding a horse a mandatory skill that everyone in this Otherworld has to master?’ Zelir couldn’t help but complain inwardly.
"Then it’s perfect."
Bev, on the contrary, grew even more excited. "I’ll teach you today. Let’s go!"
"Hey, Bev..."
Unable to refuse, Zelir was pulled into the pasture by Bev, who led him toward her family’s stables.
Inside the spacious stables, the ground was covered with a thick layer of hay, and the place was kept clean and tidy by dedicated staff.
It was rare for a place where animals lived to have so little odor.