Monster Girl Menagerie - Celestial Archive-Chapter 66 - 64 - Asking For a Room

Note: [Once more I apologise for the inconvenience I have caused. This past week had proven to be a very strange week for me. To put it in simple words and to offer you a piece of advise: look out into the world more. There's so much out there that sometimes you wonder how you didn't bother looking for it in the first place. The point is—enrich yourself with the wonders this world has to offer and try to learn about it. It's a wonderful experience, indeed.]

***

The inside of the room was massive, though not on the same scale as the main hall. What it lacked in size, it made up for in grandeur.

In the center, against the far wall, stood a desk and a chair, with neatly organized papers and thick tomes atop it. To the right was a tall bookshelf, tightly packed with books of various natures, while a plush lounging area stood invitingly before it, complete with soft rugs and an even softer divan.

The left side was mostly empty, save for an armored effigy that gleamed under the sunlight streaming through the window. Standing beside that window, overlooking the field where men trained, was a man of middle age and considerable experience.

Baron Tristane Feylance.

"My Lord, the person I mentioned has arrived," Aldrin announced in a high-pitched voice, adopting a stiff posture. No matter how friendly he might've acted earlier, he now looked like a man who wouldn't hesitate to drop all pretense should his liege come under any harm.

Thankfully for him, we weren't here to throw a massacre party.

Hmm? Though Amara might like that, considering the blood and all, I mused, offering a curt glance her way. Of course, I wasn't entirely sure whether Amara held any particular fondness for blood.

"Enter," the Baron said, finally breaking his gaze to direct his attention toward us. He motioned toward the sofa, and we made a beeline for it.

Pyra was quick to pull me along as she sat, while Tania claimed the spot on my other side. Amara, on the other hand, looked at us with a stoic expression before choosing a chair beside us, holding herself with a regal poise.

I had always thought she looked more noble than some of the actual nobles I had seen. It made me wonder if it had something to do with her Origin.

The Baron took his seat before us, though Aldrin remained standing behind him, his back straight and eyes fixed forward.

"Had I known you would arrive today, I would've arranged a formal welcome party," the Baron said, offering us a polished smile. I noticed his gaze briefly flick toward me, the faintest twitch at the corner of his lips, before he shifted his attention to Amara.

"That would've proven unnecessary," Amara replied.

"Maybe," the Baron said, "but it would've been worth it for those who provided help when no one else did."

"I'm glad you appreciate our help," I said, smiling. "In fact, the reason we've come is directly related to that."

"The Hunters Guild, you mean?" the Baron remarked. I nodded. ƒreewebɳovel.com

"I've been made privy to your circumstances by Captain Aldrin," he continued. "And I must concur, it's difficult for me as well."

I didn't let my reaction show on my face, though inwardly, I was frowning. He had made his position clear from the very start, which would allow more wiggle room in this negotiation. A quick glance at Amara confirmed that she had also caught on to his words.

"Surely, you could use the Royal Family as a deterrent to avoid any hassle. Our act of providing aid should work to remove any problems you might face," Amara said.

"Normally," the Baron nodded, "yes, that's exactly what would have happened. But let's be frank—neither of our situations is what you might call normal right now."

"Elaborate, please?"

"Sure." The Baron nodded again. "Let's talk about you. The people you claim to be friends with—the ones you took with you soon after leaving—were members of the guild. And even before that, I reckon your relationship with the guild was less than amicable. Under such circumstances, and with mounting evidence, I doubt the Royal Family would bother offering much protection."

"But that's where you come in," Amara noted.

"Exactly," the Baron said. "That's where I would come in — or rather, would have. You see, things haven't been smooth on our side either. I, especially, am in no position to call for aid from those who stood by and watched as my territory was nearly ravaged by monsters. I don't even need to provide evidence for that, as I'm sure you already have a decent grasp of the situation outside."

That... was unexpected. I sat still for a moment, contemplating the information we had just been given. It was a lot at once, and I was fairly certain the Baron hadn't revealed most of the underlying causes. Not that I could fault him for it. If his situation was truly this precarious, then he might be in even more trouble than us.

"In the first place, there was no guarantee that you would be able to provide any help, so at least we aren't too disappointed," Amara said, leaning forward. Her words drew a frown to my face, though I was sure she wouldn't waste her breath if she didn't have something to follow up with.

As expected, Amara waited a few seconds, watching the Baron's reaction before offering the faintest of smiles. "That's why," she continued, "we aren't asking you to act as our shield. We don't need permanent protection — just some time to stall them."

The frown on my face faded as realization struck. Wow, was I always this smart? I couldn't help but wonder. Watching the Baron's face closely, I could tell he had caught on to her meaning too, if his twitching eyebrow was anything to go by.

We waited patiently, but the Baron didn't reply. So, we continued to wait patiently. I could tell he was weighing his options, and I could only hope that his decision would prove favorable to us.

Honestly, even if it didn't, the situation wasn't that dire. The Guild might try to search for us and even issue a warrant, but when you're in a party full of monsters, retaliation is the least of your worries. What I truly wanted was to find some semblance of peace before we dove back into work.

"Right," the Baron finally said. "Even if the Guild is powerful and comes knocking on my door, they would maintain the basic courtesy of not harming my guests. I suppose I should indeed throw that welcome party for you, considering you'll be staying a while."

Amara's smile grew wider, and she answered, "As I said, that would prove unnecessary."

"Very well then." The Baron nodded and turned to Aldrin. "I suppose you can show them to the guest rooms. They must be tired after such a long period of travel."

"As you command, My Lord," Aldrin said, offering a shallow bow.

Before long, we found ourselves marching down the hallways, following behind Aldrin.

"Wow," Tania remarked, "the Baron just allowed us to stay here."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "It would be more accurate to say that we asked for a room," I replied.

"We did?" she asked, frowning.

"In a way, yes," I said with a nod. "We just cashed in the favor and paid a short-term rent."

Seeing her eyes light up in surprise, I suddenly found her just so cute. I decided against kissing her in the hallway and instead settled for a gentle squeeze of her hand.

***

Interlude - Tristane Feylance

Tristane settled back into the sofa, the softness offering a rare comfort to both body and mind. Had it not been for the mountain of work awaiting him, he would have gladly chosen his bed and slept off the exhaustion. Unfortunately, with his territory only now showing signs of recovery, he couldn't afford to relax just yet.

Though, taking a moment to enjoy the comfort wouldn't hurt.

The door creaked open, and Tristane glanced up to find Aldrin already returning. He briefly wondered if his short rest had somehow stretched long enough for the Captain to escort the guests to their rooms and return.

Truly, happiness was fleeting, while despair lingered.

"I suppose they had no complaints about the arrangements," Tristane remarked, nodding toward Aldrin.

"None," the man replied, though the earlier somberness had faded from his tone. Without further formality, Aldrin approached and flopped onto the sofa with a sigh of relief.

The duo settled into a companionable silence—one that seemed to stretch for minutes, though it felt as if only seconds had passed. Finally, Aldrin spoke.

"Why?" he asked. "Why did you allow them to stay here? Especially with our current circumstances."

Tristane knew exactly what Aldrin was implying, but his decision hadn't been made lightly. He had given it plenty of thought, even before Amara and her companions arrived. It was only after seeing her in person that his mind had been firmly set.

"Everything is a mess, Aldrin," he said, taking a deep breath before exhaling slowly. "I have no doubt people are plotting my downfall, and the Royal Family seems all too content to stand by and watch it unfold." His gaze lifted toward the ceiling, where lines of colored glass cast a vibrant, fractured glow across the room.

"Then wouldn't allowing them to stay only make things worse?" Aldrin asked, his voice tinged with concern.

"It would," Tristane agreed with a nod. "But to be honest, I don't think it matters. The people who wish us harm are strong and numerous. Even if our guests provide them with a reason to act more boldly, they also serve as a deterrent."

"Meaning?"

Tristane leaned forward, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "It means, Aldrin, that they are monstrously strong."

"Hmm?" Aldrin straightened, his curiosity piqued. "Really?"

"That's right," Tristane confirmed with a firm nod. "If we're going to make enemies anyway, why not skip the political games and get straight to the point?"

"I suppose that works too," Aldrin replied, nodding thoughtfully.

Tristane bobbed his head in agreement, the two of them briefly falling into the same rhythm. Then, a sudden itch caught in his throat, forcing him to cough.

"Should I fetch you some water?" Aldrin offered.

Tristane shook his head. "No, it's alright. There's too much work left to do. I should get back to it."

Aldrin gave a terse nod and rose to his feet. "I suppose I should get going too. Otherwise, those bastards will start growing lax."

Tristane watched as his friend left the room. With a resigned sigh, he turned his attention to the documents piled on his desk, knowing he had plenty to do. And he had a feeling that things were only going to get busier — now that he had new guests to entertain.

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