Chapter 5: Leaving the Royal Capital

“Welcome, Baron, may I help you with anything…?”

The sharp-eyed attendant in charge of greeting customers instantly noticed the special identification badge hanging at Farra’s waist.

The thing was not really eye-catching unless it was made of bronze, silver, gold, jade, or the like.

Unfortunately, a Baron rated nothing better than iron.

That was why, if the greeter was not sharp enough, a petty Baron would certainly give them a hard time.

Then the boss would kick them out of the shop, and they would end up unemployed and destitute.

Therefore anyone working reception had to be extremely sharp-eyed.

“Help me pick out a few sets of clothes for her.”

Farra gestured at Freya, who stood beside him.

“Certainly, this way please…”

The attendant immediately led Farra to the women’s section, called over three salesgirls, and instructed them to choose new clothes for Freya.

They asked no unnecessary questions and handled the matter briskly.

They took her measurements, selected suitably sized garments, and had Freya change into them.

Farra did not choose anything himself… or rather, he had no need to ask; one look made it clear that he and Freya were superior and subordinate.

What puzzled the clerks, however, was that they had never heard of a noble personally bringing a servant out to shop.

Bored, Farra waited at the side, flicking a silver coin back and forth between his fingers.

That single silver coin amounted to half a year’s income for countless ordinary people.

…This world was truly strange.

Many races existed, the social system was ancient, living standards neared modernity, yet warfare remained in the cold-weapons era.

If the non-human races living near mankind had not developed, humans would never have been able to beat them down.

As for the powerful races, their numbers were so small that they were rarely seen.

Even so, their existence had been confirmed.

Dragons, for example.

As for the Strength system, Farra had explored it earlier and discovered that this world possessed almost no complete framework for Strength.

Practical combat skills and martial techniques did exist.

But they clearly had not reached a “fantasy” level.

While Farra was spacing out, the newly transformed Freya was soon led before him.

“…”

Her golden hair had been carefully combed, and her fair skin, together with that youthful face, made Freya look like an exquisite porcelain doll; unease flickered in her emerald eyes, and a faint blush tinged her snow-white cheeks.

She now wore a dress made from the fine fabrics common in the bustling capital, white ankle socks and tiny leather shoes on her legs, which were pressed tightly together as if she had nowhere to place them.

To be honest, after one glance in the fitting-room mirror, Freya had not dared come out.

She feared that the moment Farra saw her like this, he would turn into a beast and pounce, doing this and that, that and this—every filthy dark side of nobles she had only heard about but never witnessed happening to her all at once…

Even the salesgirls who helped her change could not help whispering, “She looks just like a noble young lady.”

Of course, such remarks would never be uttered in front of Farra.

Even a fool could see that Farra and Freya were not close.

All the more so for clerks with maxed-out skills in reading faces.

“I’m doomed…”

Freya clasped her hands in front of her and gripped the hem of her skirt.

Farra had no idea what was going through her head; he gave her a casual once-over and nodded. “Not bad, you finally look human.”

“…”

Freya, already nervous, froze for a second, then cursed inwardly.

“What do you mean I finally look human, you bastard!”

“Was I not human before!”

“Pick another two… no, one more set for her. Hmm… do you have maid uniforms in her size?”

“We do, Lord.”

“Then choose one maid outfit for her as well, and make sure it’s not the long style.”

“Yes, sir.”

At the order, the three salesgirls led Freya away again.

This change of clothes was just as quick.

When Freya was brought back before Farra, she was already wearing a perfectly fitting maid outfit.

Little Maid Freya, summer limited edition.jpg

This time Farra only glanced at her and offered no further assessment.

“Pack up the entire previous set, take two extra of this maid outfit, and ring it up.”

“Understood.”

The staff efficiently carried out Farra’s instructions.

When they left the clothing store, Freya had several bundles in her hands.

“…Such extravagance…”

Laden with goods, Freya followed behind Farra, muttering inwardly.

Just now Farra had casually spent yet another silver coin.

For only a few pieces of clothing, one silver coin had simply vanished into thin air.

Absolutely outrageous.

She remembered how, long ago, she had suffered terribly for two or three copper coins.

Comparison really was the thief of joy.

“Nobles… damn them…”

Farra did not go anywhere else; instead, he headed to the edge of the capital, bought a carriage, and then purchased some supplies to stock it.

“Lord, do you truly not need a coachman?”

“No need.”

“Very well, safe travels then…”

A trace of surprise flashed in the merchant’s eyes.

He was not surprised that a noble bought a carriage, but one who drove it himself… that he had never seen.

Farra picked up the whip, climbed aboard, and glanced back at the bustling royal capital behind him.

When he had entered the city, he had worn heavy armor fresh from the battlefield, coming to the royal capital to receive his title.

When he left the city, the armor was gone, replaced by noble attire, and an unremarkable badge now hung at his waist.

Four years of bloody slaughter had earned him only this.

As he departed, not a single person came to see him off.

He had no friends or acquaintances in the capital.

To be precise, he had none in the entire Nosbaro Kingdom.

In the 19 years since he crossed over, Farra had known the dead better than the living.

Thinking back on it now, that really was ironic.

“Hyah!”

The swaying carriage slowly rolled away from the royal capital.