ARCHDEUS

INTERIM LORD(2)

His father came home yesterday. Yet for some reason all day his father only frowned and did not even smile at him.

Merry's sad.

He had never seen his father anything like this. Yes, he had seen his father very cold and indifferent but that was when Merry's status was still a slave and had not been raised as a child.

Not only his father, even Rain, the person who was together with his father also had a similar expression.

Merry had never seen Rain become this clover. Although the man was a little stupid but he was an excited person.

Feeling unable to bear all this, he tried to complain to Erline. Eline was arguably his only friend at the moment.

Unfortunately, Erline is currently training.

Well, Erline is a knight. So it was only natural that he continued to train. Alven also spends his days reading books. Lately his father often bought books especially to Alven.

Merry doesn't really like to read so when she sees her father buying a new book without looking any further, she already knows for sure it's for Alven.

Merry realized only he was unemployed at this time.

As she wandered around without direction inside the house, she saw Justin sitting pensively at the door.

He also never saw Justin like a soul-loss man.

As Merry recalls, a man named Justin despite having a low presence but he will always stand behind his father with a serious face.

"Sister Justin."

Merry greeted while jumping as if intentionally to Justin's surprise.

"Miss Merry, what's wrong?"

Justin stood up.

"What is Justin thinking?"

"...."

Justin wanted to say that he was pensive about being kicked out by Alex. But his professionalism denied that saying that. So he also switched the conversation.

"Miss Merry wants a snack?"

"No, I said Merry can't eat sweets often. Teeth can be hollow."

"Oh."

"...."

"...."

Instantly the atmosphere became silent which was filled with awkwardness.

Justin is used to Alex's calm and indifferent nature. So when he has to face the carefree and gentle Merry, Justin doesn't know what to talk and do.  He also saw Merry as if unwilling to leave and continued to look at him. So he also tried to open a random conversation.

"You got snacks?"

"...."

Oh shit! Why am I asking that again!!

Justin wanted to dig a hole and put his face in. He can't believe, he can be made nervous by a 7-year-old.

"Sister Justin, brother doesn't go sword practice either?" merry asked suddenly.

"Practicing swords? No Miss. I didn't do it."

"Then did Brother Justin practice magic?"

"Magic? Not really."

Somehow Justin felt the topic of his conversation would lead to something bad.

"Then, what's Justin practicing?"

"Nothing."

"Sister Justin is weak."

Said to be weak by a 7-year-old girl, Justin's self-esteem as a man seemed to have been trampled.

"I can't use a sword as well as Young Master or use magic, but I'm still quite strong, Young Miss."

"really? But Merry never saw Brother Justin chopping wood or lifting a big bag. Merry just remembered Brother Justin was exhausted from just carrying paper" Merry said innocently.

Instantly the veins on Justin's head stood out but he still gave a smile.

"Miss ... as a man, I can still be considered strong. If you order, I can work on the land created by Young Master."

Merry was silent for a moment as if he was thinking about something.

"But why are the only people working on the land just Kak Rain and Kak Erline? Oh yea. Merry forgot to say it too. Brother Erline seems to have bigger muscles than Brother Justin."

"...."

Justin was grieving when he heard that statement. He never really cared whether he was a physically strong man or not. But when he is perceived as weaker than a woman, his pride as a man is at stake. But come to think of it if he and Erline were in the arena and had a duel ....

Justin swallowed his saliva.

Well, Justin knows he must have lost even less than a minute.

Not having time to reply to Merry's words, the young girl again made a striking statement.

"Merry had also seen Brother Justin sprained due to fatigue carrying a book. Dad carried Brother Justin. Then Brother Justin once asked for help to Brother Erline to bring a large bucket filled with water."

From within his own brain, Justin could hear the sound of temple bells and condolences from the priest who said 'RIP Justin's Masculinity.

Merry also wanted to add 'Kis Justin's legs are hairless, smooth like Merry's feet.' but before he spoke, the horse's voice from outside shifted their focus.

Shortly after, a luxurious horse carriage with the flag of the County of Fetiphile stopped in front of the courtyard of the house.

Then from the train, Alen appeared.

***

He had been doing it for hours without a break.

The service became worried. Even the old maid who was the head of service in the villa that was now Alex's house was obviously worried.

He and the other servants were not heard by Alex. He asks Justin to persuade Alex. But what happens is Alex gets angry and drives Justin away.

What Alex did was an embodiment of his anger.

From the moment he got out of the dungeon to his return home, he was anxious to destroy something.

Alex's anger is not without reason.

Alex had long tolerated all forms of humiliation for him starting from his call as a trash nobleman, to follow religious ceremonies and then pray to 6 lowly gods. But what Alex does not tolerate is that he does not accept if he is threatened especially he hates it very much if his goods are taken for granted.

Damn nightorb!

He and Rain were caught carrying items from the dungeon. So that the Nightorb Company who claimed ownership of the dungeon seized everything for public security reasons.

The Orb of Wisdom from Erau which was handed over to Rain, the Stone Tablets from Farka to him, which rocks they collected, to the seeds of the magic plant that he stored.

All they took! Goddamnit!

Alex wants to kill everyone from the Nightorb Corp. But he knew that the adventurer they hired in this case was Barnard's Orion party wouldn't let him.

Those Nightorb bastards were the ones who hired Orion's party to conquer the dungeon. Although Barnard has helped her but if the problems that arise threaten the lives of their clients, Alex believes Barnard and other adventurers will be on the side of the Nightorb Company. Obviously if that happens, Alex will not win.

So to vent his anger, he dug the ground to make a well.

Well true! It's a excavation well that will be used to help water the magic plant.

Even though Alex was angry, he still thought productively. He did not want to smash a giant rock or punch a tree until it broke. He used his anger as a buff to make a well.

What a productive anger.

Alex had already dug at least 9 meters deep.

Alex even thought of using his privilege as a noble to deal with Nightorb. But he remembered, he currently had a conflict with Harol.

Alex is a stubborn and arrogant man. He won't apologize first. As a result, the relationship between father and son is still quite hot.

Blup up!

When it lifted its hoe from the ground, a small stream of water came out.

Finally he found a spring.

For a moment this made Alex smile but only for a moment. The flow of anger still dominated.

Even the shoots from the plant they took.

Recalling the buds he had previously found had now been in the hands of others made him even more furious.

He continued to hoe until the depths of the water had reached his knees.

Alex decided to stop.

He used the wooden stairs that had been provided by the servants to get out of the well hole.

When he came out, he met a stranger.

"Eyeah? What are you doing here?"

Alen looked at his mud-filled young master.

The face of his young master who used to be always clean is now dull because of the sunlight and dirty sweat lodged in his forehead.

He also saw the clothes of his young master who used to dress lavishly and domineeringly now only wore a shabby and dirty tank top.

Alen's heart ached to see the condition of his young master now

Alen has been taking care of Alex for 15 years. He had seen how the child had grown from a toddler until now.

He could not imagine how his young master who lived full of luxury now had to live with full limitations like a hick.

Alen who felt that his young master was now no longer maintained glanced sharply with murderous air to the servants in this villa including the old maid and Justin.

All the servants including Justin lowered their gazes in fear.

"Young master ...."

Alen voice raspy. He endured the tears of grief and apology for making Alex live like this.

"What's wrong?"

Alex who was still annoyed at the thought of his items being taken accidentally gave off a rough tone.

Young master, even you lost the ethics of a noble. Now you are truly a hick, cried Alen inwardly.

"Young Master, I'm relaying news from Mr. Count to bring you back to the mansion."

Although full of emotional turmoil, Alen still can convey the message well.

"Huh? Why?"

"Master, right now Lord Count will be taking part in the war against another kingdom. He ordered you to be the temporary leader for the county."

Alex just kept quiet and gave nothing back.

Alen thought his young master would refuse. So quickly explain.

"Young Master, I beg you please do not refuse this order. As the eldest child and also for your future, My Lord, please accept it. You don't have to do anything complicated. For meetings and other complicated matters leave it to the servant. I beg you, let this lowly servant see my Master's ever-groaning Greatness."

Alex feels the desperation of Alen who continues to ask him to accept a position as interim government.

Alex didn't want to refuse.

On the contrary, even though he is an archdeus who is not bound by fate but for a moment he will sincerely thank anyone who has designed the most favorable circumstances of the moment.

Finally, Alex who had been glum all day now gave a bright smile that was very rare to be seen by anyone other than Merry.

Right, it was time for him to take back his belongings.