When he arrived at the hospital where Bishop Ron was recuperating, the place was already packed with people.
After what had happened, Bishop Ron, who had received the Lord of Storms' blessing, instantly became one of the deity's favored. The Church of Storms had also dispatched quite a few people to protect him.
Looking at the dense crowd of visitors, Hastur handed his gift to the person responsible for looking after the Bishop and was about to turn around and leave when he happened to run into Leonard, who had also come here.
Leonard greeted his teammates, then walked over toward Hastur.
"Hastur, are you here to visit Bishop Ron too?"
"Mm. I'm on pretty good terms with Bishop Ron." Hastur answered naturally. After all, they had gone through life-and-death situations together.
Leonard glanced at the nobles crowding outside the hospital room and sighed. "You could say he profited from disaster. Now that he's become one of the deity's favored, he's bound to enter the upper ranks of the Church of Storms in the future."
"You could give it a try too. Maybe you'll be the next favored one."
"No thanks. I don't want to be surrounded and stared at like this."
Leonard rejected Hastur's suggestion. After chatting with him for a little while longer, he lowered his voice and said, "Backlund has been a little unsettled lately. You should try to stay home and avoid going out."
Hastur was rather surprised. "Is it that serious?"
Leonard nodded solemnly. After reminding Hastur to stay safe, he went over to rejoin his teammates.
After leaving the hospital, Hastur took a carriage home. Before he even reached home, however, the carriage was stopped.
Hastur lifted the curtain and glanced ahead.
A carriage even more imposing and luxurious than his own family's was parked in front of them. The horses pulling it were purebred steeds with completely white coats and not a trace of another color, looking extremely noble.
A member of the Loen royal family?
Hastur lowered the curtain and sat quietly for a moment. Only when the coachman outside told him that the Second Prince wished to discuss something with him did he step out of the carriage.
The Second Prince was not very old, appearing to be around Greg's age. He had inherited George III's stern and resolute features and was slightly shorter than Hastur.
"Greetings, Your Highness." Hastur exchanged a polite greeting with the Second Prince.
The Second Prince merely waved his hand. His gaze was filled with scrutiny as he descended from the carriage, walked a couple of steps closer, and spoke in a voice suppressing anger.
"Answer me honestly. Did Duke Drink ever come to see you?"
"??" Hastur showed a puzzled expression and said in confusion, "I've never had any dealings with Duke Drink. Why would someone of his status come looking for me?"
"Hmph. Don't let me find out that you're lying today!" The Second Prince turned to board his carriage, but Hastur spoke from behind him.
"I heard Duke Drink tried to assassinate Bishop Ron. Your Highness should probably keep your distance from him, so you don't get implicated."
"You think you're qualified to tell me what to do?" The Second Prince raised his head arrogantly, climbed into the carriage, lowered the curtain, and left.
Tsk. With that temperament and intelligence, it was no wonder the First Prince inherited the throne after George III fell.
Hastur did not care about this small episode in the slightest. If the one questioning him just now had been George III, perhaps he would have been a little nervous.
The Second Prince who was destined never to become the next king was not worthy of his concern.
After returning home, Butler Neil informed Hastur that Earl Hall had sent someone to invite him, asking whether he had time to attend dinner that evening.
Hastur glanced at the time. It was 5:20. He guessed that Earl Hall probably wanted to thank him because of Alfred.
He had someone send Earl Hall a reply, then went upstairs to take a bath.
...
A little after seven in the evening, at Earl Hall's residence.
Hastur's arrival was met with an enthusiastic welcome from Alfred. Seeing how spirited and pleased he looked, Hastur could not help teasing him by asking which family's young lady he was marrying this time, to make him so happy.
"Hastur, you wouldn't understand. I've gotten so used to staying in the Southern Continent that my sense of beauty is almost becoming abnormal. The girls of Backlund are still better." Alfred wore a melancholy expression.
"Looks like you're quite satisfied with your marriage partner this time."
"She's all right. If nothing unexpected happens, we'll get engaged next month and can be married by the end of this year."
"That's fast." Hastur truly admired how quickly nobles got married. It was already almost August, yet meeting, engagement, and marriage could all be settled within just a few months.
It was probably not much different from arranged matchmaking in his previous life. If anything, Alfred was still slightly slower by comparison.
"Hastur, you need to put in a little effort too. Your reputation among noble young ladies has always been quite good."
Hastur smiled and stopped discussing the matter with Alfred. If they continued, Alfred would probably start talking about how excellent some family's young lady was and ask whether Hastur had any interest in meeting her.
After entering Earl Hall's residence, Earl Hall and the others were already waiting for him at the dining table.
Hibbert was not home tonight. He had probably deliberately made room for Alfred.
"Good evening, Mr. Hastur." Miss Audrey revealed a sweet smile, still as elegant and poised as ever.
Susie, who was gathered around her feet, also wagged her tail enthusiastically at Hastur. However, when she saw that Hastur had arrived empty-handed, she became somewhat dejected and lay down on the floor without even lifting her head.
"Have a seat." Though it was another family dinner, Earl Hall's attitude toward him was better each time.
"You'll be staying for a while longer this time, right?" Countess Hall asked.
"Probably around half a month." Hastur gave an uncertain answer. There were fewer than ten days left before George III's attempt to become a god. Only after that matter was concluded would he consider returning to Southville County.
Afterward, Countess Hall asked about Hastur's life in Southville County, gently inquiring about all sorts of everyday matters.
Hastur simply answered calmly, occasionally mentioning some of the local customs and scenery of Southville.
By the time dinner ended, nearly an hour had passed.
Only after Hastur finished the last bite of his delicious dessert did he finally relax a little.
The person who had placed the greatest pressure on him during tonight's dinner was Countess Hall. Her warm concern over all those ordinary family matters gave him the strange feeling of being overwhelmed by unexpected favor.
After dinner, Hastur discussed several matters with Earl Hall and Alfred in the study. Their conversation mainly revolved around the Loen Kingdom's declaration of total war against the Feysac Empire.
News of the God of Combat's fall had not yet spread, and even Earl Hall was unaware of it. He only said that the churches were firmly in favor of war and appeared extremely confident.
"Could some major problem have appeared inside the Feysac Empire, giving our Loen Kingdom a perfect opportunity to strike while they're vulnerable?"
This was Alfred's speculation, and also the opinion many nobles, including Earl Hall, had exchanged privately. Hastur did not express much of an opinion. He merely said that he would guard Loen's coastal gateway well.
After the conversation ended, Hastur finally had time to meet with Audrey and Susie.
Once again, they met in the garden. The difference from last time was that Earl Hall did not come over to stand nearby and watch.
"Woof!"
The first to greet Hastur was Susie's voice, carrying a hint of disappointment and anger.
Hastur crouched down and stroked Susie's head, chuckling. "Don't worry. I already brought back the books I promised you. I'll have someone deliver them to you in a couple of days."
Susie's mood instantly brightened. She even gave Audrey a smug look, as though saying, "I got a gift, but you didn't."
Audrey looked faintly at Hastur. "Mr. Hastur, don't you think you spoil Susie a little too much?"
"They're just a few books." Hastur stood up and took out a gift wrapped in an exquisite little box from his pocket, handing it to Audrey.
"Do you remember the Tower of the Mind you encountered in the world of the mind?"
"This gift is related to it?" Audrey's eyes brightened as she eagerly accepted the present.
"Mm. It can help you travel through that world of the mind more safely."
It was a miniature crystal ball. It could stabilize the mind of the observer and also serve as a guiding star, preventing Audrey from losing her way while exploring the world of the mind.
If she encountered the same kind of problem as last time, Audrey could use the crystal ball's guidance to easily withdraw from the world of the mind.
Hastur had found this item in the treasury of the Yellow-Robed Monks organization.
"Mr. Hastur, you don't mind if I open the gift right now, do you?"
"Of course not." Audrey opened the gift in front of Hastur and held the crystal ball, which was smaller than a fist, in her palm to examine it.
Simply gazing at it made Audrey feel her mind becoming tranquil and more resilient.
Susie's attention was also drawn to the crystal ball, but after shaking herself, she quickly recovered and lay beside Audrey's feet with little interest.
"Mr. Hastur, would you be interested in exploring the world of the mind with me? I've discovered quite a few interesting things in there recently."
Audrey withdrew her gaze from the crystal ball and looked at Hastur instead, her eyes filled with anticipation and excitement.