ERMS CH 12

“Create a bank account for the child?”

After checking Baron’s identity through several procedures, the bank clerk took the money from me and made a bankbook.

Soon, a small folded booklet—the bankbook—was placed in Baron’s hands.

Baron looked confused.

“Why are we making this?”

“Because thanks to you, I can do night sea gathering now. So part of the money I earn belongs to you too.”

“Huh?”

I smiled brightly as we stepped out of the bank.

“I’m going to save a portion for you every time I make money.”

Baron looked even more puzzled.

“Why? You’re already raising me, noona.”

“Still, you need to save little by little so you can go to the academy later.”

Baron’s eyes wavered.

“A-academy?”

“Yeah. You’ll go to school, study, make friends.”

“I don’t need that.”

“Of course you do.”

I gently patted his head.

“You’re smart, so you’ll do well at the academy. And since you’re handsome, you’ll be popular too.”

“Popular?”

“Sure. When you’re older, you’ll probably have lots of girlfriends.”

“I don’t need girlfriends. I like you, noona.”

He said it so seriously that I burst out laughing.

“That’s because you’re still young.”

Baron frowned slightly, but I kept going.

“Let’s save money and send you to the academy. If you study hard and graduate, you’ll have more choices. You’re strong, so you could become a knight. Or you could earn achievements and regain your noble title.”

Baron let out a sigh through his lips.

“No. I really don’t need the academy.”

Looks like he just doesn’t want to study.

“You’re acting like this because you’re thankful I got you the search job, right?”

That was obvious.

Baron handed the bankbook back to me and lightly kicked the ground.

“If you’re really thankful, then instead of this…”

“Instead of this? Is there something you want?”

“When we go home, even just for a little… um…”

“Um?”

Baron stayed silent for a moment, then shyly lowered his gaze. His whole face turned red.

“…Can you carry me on your back? And, before bed, give me a goodnight kiss?”

“Huh?”

“I, I want a goodnight kiss.”

Ugh!

That was such a childlike request.

So this is what people mean by heart-fluttering cute!

He was so adorable that I hugged him tightly and rubbed my cheek against his.

“Aww, our Baron wanted a piggyback ride! But that has nothing to do with the search job. I’ll keep saving in the bankbook, and I can carry you and give you goodnight kisses as much as you want.”

“No, that’s not—!”

“Alright, alright.”

He tried to protest, but I just crouched down and offered my back.

Even though he asked, he seemed shy as he slowly leaned against me.

I grabbed him firmly onto my back and stood up.

“Aww, you cute thing. Hold onto my neck tight.”

“O-okay.”

Baron wrapped his arms around my neck from behind and buried his face between my shoulders. I could feel his warm body, and it seemed like he was smiling.

Even without seeing his face, I could tell he was very happy. That made me happy too.

Tonight, I’ll just buy a little bread for dinner and some seeds for the garden before heading home.

After finishing the shopping with Baron on my back, I was humming as we walked home when I noticed something strange.

There had been nothing there this morning—so what was that?

On the empty lot next to our house, a group of workers was building a house.

The land was quite large, and the construction materials piled up like a mountain looked expensive at a glance. It seemed like someone was building a villa near our home.

A well-dressed man was holding blueprints and inspecting the site with someone who looked like a builder. He looked like a noble.

Suddenly, he turned his head and looked at me.

“Uh—?”

His eyes widened in shock, and his mouth fell open. The blueprints slipped from his hands and fell to the ground.

Why is he reacting like that?

He rubbed his eyes several times and looked at me again, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

There was no reason for him to be shocked at seeing me, so the only possibility was Baron.

“Baron, do you know him?”

“No.”

“Then why is he staring at us like that?”

“No idea.”

Soon the man came to his senses and approached us politely.

“I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation. Do you live in the cabin next door?”

“Yes. But why were you so surprised?”

Was it just my imagination, or did his gaze briefly flicker toward Baron?

“Oh, I thought the cabin was empty. When I bought the land, no one mentioned neighbors… but it seems I do have some.”

He cleared his throat and smiled.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Raven.”

“R-Raven?”

I looked at him carefully.

Dark blue hair. Gray eyes. Pale skin. He looked just like Raven, the close aide of the male lead, Bloden, from the novel.

Wow, I’m seeing a major character from the novel in real life! Maybe the male lead, Bloden, is finally appearing in this city.

“Are you Sir Raven Honor?”

My heart pounded with excitement, but the man tilted his head.

“Pardon? You know Sir Honor?”

“Of course. He’s famous throughout the Empire.”

He appears all the time in the novel, after all.

When my eyes sparkled, Raven cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Ah, yes. Sir Raven Honor is quite famous. But I’m sorry—I just share the same name. I’m a merchant.”

“Oh! I’m so sorry.”

I hadn’t even considered that possibility! How embarrassing.

“I was rude.”

“It’s quite alright. I look forward to being good neighbors. Please just call me Raven.”

“Yes, nice to meet you, Mr. Raven.”

After greeting him, I glanced back at the construction site.

“You’re building a large mansion, I see.”

“Yes. A beautiful grand estate…”

Raven nodded slightly, but Baron suddenly interrupted.

“No, it looks about the same size as our cabin.”

Raven nodded more firmly.

“…is what most people assume! But actually, the young friend on your back is correct.”

He rubbed his hands together and smiled brightly.

“I plan to build something about the same size as your cabin. It looks better when neighboring houses are similar in size.”

“What? But the land is so wide. And there are so many materials…”

No matter how I looked at it, it seemed far too much for just a small cabin. But Raven smiled casually.

“The land was prepared with a garden in mind. After putting up a fence, I’ll plant flowers, dig a pond, and make a vegetable garden. As for the materials, I simply miscalculated and bought too much.”

“I see.”

I nodded without thinking much, when Baron suddenly spoke up.

“Really? Then what are you planning to do with the leftover materials?”

I was startled. Not just because he spoke casually—but because his tone sounded arrogant, like he was talking to a subordinate.

“Huh? Baron? Who are you talking to like that?”

I whispered quietly, but Baron answered loudly.

“Who else? Raven.”

Oh no.

“I-I’m sorry. He’s still immature.”

Flustered, I apologized to Raven with an awkward smile and put Baron down. Then I lowered my voice and scolded him.

“Baron, you shouldn’t speak casually to Mr. Raven. You have to speak politely.”

“Why?”

His attitude made me even more flustered.

One of his eyebrows lifted slightly, as if he found my scolding ridiculous.

“Because he’s someone you just met, and he’s much older than you.”

“I’ve never used polite speech with anyone except my parents.”

I smacked my forehead.

Right. He used to be a noble.

I let out a sigh.

“D-did you speak casually to the innkeeper too?”

“Hm?”

“If you did, that bad-tempered innkeeper would’ve gotten angry.”

“…Ah.”