Chapter 46: Splendid Job.

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Splendid Job.

Chapter 46: Splendid Job.

Moreover, seeing the Demi-human behind him was also an obvious tell, since it was known that Demi-humans were naturally more physically capable than average humans, serving as bodyguards for some aristocrats.

"Forgive my earlier folly, young lord." The bar owner quickly lowered his head in submission. "But might this insignificant man ask what brings you here today?"

"That’s more like it." Osborne smirked at the man’s actions.

He then looked towards Julie, who shivered upon meeting his gaze.

"I was in the middle of a hearty contest when this staff of yours ruined the mood by refusing to bring me more ale," Osborne said with a displeased tone.

"In all my days, never once have I felt so insulted before, and from a commoner no less."

"Julie, are you out of your mind?! Why would you do such a thing?!" The middle-aged man berated her.

"B-Boss... It’s not my fault. There really was no more ale left–"

"Shut up!" The middle-aged man smacked her across the cheek.

Osborne’s gaze squinted for a short moment.

"B-Boss..." The bar maid held her now reddened cheek while staring at the middle-aged man, her face looking wronged, as if she would cry the next moment.

"You useless woman! I thought I told you to make sure we had extra stock in case of situations like this!"

"B-But you never–" The bar maid stuttered.

SMACK!

"Still have the gall to deny it, do you?!" The bar owner shouted.

’You dumb bitch, are you really trying to run my business into the ground?’ The bar owner felt irritated looking at the bar maid. ’Just be silent and take the fall!’

"I don’t want someone like you ruining my business. From this moment on, you’re fired, you hear me! Get out!"

"Boss, please!" Julie grabbed at the man’s top, her eyes filled with plea. "I really need this job, please don’t–"

"Get off me, you worthless thing!" The man simply shoved her to the floor before spitting on her.

"Worthless thing," he cursed at her.

He then looked back at Osborne with a fawning expression.

"Young lord, I hope this is enough to quell your anger," the bar owner said. "Please don’t hold this against my business. It’s all that worthless bitch’s fault."

Osborne remained silent. He looked past the bar owner at the former bar maid on the floor.

’Julie Greyheart... The bastard daughter of Lord Greyheart, the patriarch of a well-known family of magic users. Due to her familial background, even after making it to the position of an assistant professor at the academy in the novel at a young age, she ultimately ended up being ostracized due to her half-siblings’ influence.’

’Because she feared engaging in actual combat, the only true way she survived was by working at this inn. While she was no different from a coward at times, the novel never failed to praise her magical knowledge and potential—a woman Osborne felt had the potential to become an Archmage if only she had a proper backer behind her.’

’Thanks to her joining the protagonist in the novel, she eventually lost her natural cowardice and, with his help, grew rapidly, becoming one of his core companions whose power shook the continent in a few years.’

"Tsk." Osborne clicked his tongue in disgust before turning around.

"Natalie, I’m done here. Let’s move on." Osborne began walking off.

"As you wish, young master..." Natalie’s gaze lingered on pitiful Julie for a moment before she followed after him.

---

Sometime later...

Osborne and Natalie sat within the carriage. Strangely enough, they hadn’t left yet.

Knock~ Knock~

"You may enter," Osborne said.

The next moment, the carriage door opened and a hooded figure came in. The same hooded figure from the bar.

Seeing the hooded figure, Natalie had a strange look on her face.

"I can see you’re in good spirits," Osborne let out a quiet laugh.

"You think?" The hooded figure laughed before pulling down his hood, revealing himself.

The person beneath the hood was none other than Gilhound.

It appeared Osborne had called him along.

"For you, miss." Gilhound reached into his cloak and took out a pouch of coins.

Natalie collected the money, then turned towards Osborne with a questioning look.

"I wasn’t going to borrow from you without paying back," Osborne simply said.

’So he was the one behind that rowdy spectacle?’ Natalie thought to herself. ’Wait... Did he already think of this before asking me for money?’

"And here’s yours, young master." Gilhound handed another pouch of money to Osborne.

"I’ve already taken my part like you said, hehehe. Honestly, young master, I never took you for someone this generous. It’s not every day I make this much in one sitting," Gilhound said before getting up.

"Well, I better be heading back. If you need help next time, please feel free to call on me anytime," Gilhound said with a cheeky grin.

"I’m afraid that’ll be sooner than you think," Osborne said.

"What?" Gilhound raised a brow.

"I need you to do one more thing for me," Osborne said before telling Gilhound what he had in mind.

"Huh? You want me to recruit this woman for you?" Gilhound looked even more confused as to why he would ask him to get a bartender as his teacher.

"Remember, don’t let her know I’m the one who needs to be tutored. Be sure to leave that part out, or better yet, be vague about it."

"But young master, if you wanted to recruit her from the very beginning, why did you go through with all that?" Natalie spoke up, a troubled look on her face.

Osborne let out a breath. He knew Natalie wouldn’t be happy with his actions earlier, even if she made no attempt to voice her opinion.

"I’d prefer a tutor who works diligently without fail, someone who views my own fate as their own, not someone who will eventually get lax because they believe they have some form of leverage over me if I were to approach them first."

Natalie froze for a moment, not knowing what to say. Yet in her mind, several thoughts were playing through.

"But, young master, what if she refuses? Or worse, gets greedy and asks for more?" Gilhound said nervously. While he didn’t believe that would happen due to how much he was offering, he still couldn’t help but ask.

"There’s no way she’ll refuse. But if she asks for more, look like you’re hesitating before agreeing. That way she won’t be too suspicious," Osborne said calmly.

He then looked out the window, a light smile on his lips. "Whether she likes it or not, she has no other option but to accept."

"...." Both Natalie and Gilhound turned silent.

---

"Might I ask where we’re heading this time, young master?" Natalie couldn’t help but ask.

They had been on the road for a while now. Gilhound had long since left back at the bar, leaving only Osborne, Natalie, and the coachman.

"Our next destination is a bit farther from here," Osborne said. "But it shouldn’t take too long."

’There’s a village somewhere away from here. There we can meet my next target.’

The coachman continued to drive on until they arrived at the outskirts of said village.

The luxurious carriage naturally attracted the wandering eyes of the simple passing village folk.

Not interested in wasting time, Osborne had the coachman ask around for a man named Silvester.

Which the coachman did. Upon learning of the location of his home, the coachman drove them there.

Once they reached their destination, Osborne descended from the carriage along with Natalie.

Knock~ Knock~ Knock~

He knocked on the door. Shortly after, he heard heavy footsteps approaching.

Creak~

The door was pulled ajar, revealing a tall black-haired man with streaks of grey in his hair, dark bags beneath his eyes, his complexion pale as if he hadn’t seen the sun in a while.

"How can I help you..." The man asked with furrowed brows on noticing Osborne’s attire as well as the carriage parked behind him.

"Mr. Silvester, I presume?" Osborne said.

"That’s me... What’s it to you?" The man asked, sounding rather impatient.

Natalie couldn’t help frowning a bit at his open rudeness.

"My young master and I have travelled a good distance in search of you. The least you could do is lead us inside at the very least."

"Look, if you both don’t have anything reasonable to say, I’d prefer it if you left here now," Silvester said, sounding as if his patience was nearly up.

"Tsk~" Natalie clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction.

"Well, I take it you clearly have nothing important to say. You both better return from whence you came."

"Then can I take it that matters related to your daughter’s health aren’t important?" Osborne suddenly said.

"What did you just say?" Silvester’s head whipped around, his gaze slightly intense.

"Please be at ease. I mean you no ill will. I merely came here because I believed your child was in dire straits. If it piques your interest, I do have the method to cure her."