Volume 4 Chapter 28 Frozen Honey and Tears of Gratitude
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After the auction, Gaedaf handed me a strange request.
They want me to gather ice honey from the 4th-floor dungeon ── ‘Magic-Draining Snow Mountain.’
”Lord Taro, Lord Gaedaf── they said it’s possible to harvest this ice honey, right? If so, could you take on this job?”
A chubby young man looks at me with earnest desperation in his eyes.
That’s Iberigo, the noble behind the asking.
The bottom line? It’s doable.
Snagging the ingredients? Easy.
With the ‘Love Hotel’ warp, I could be there in a second.
Better yet, the freezer inside the hotel already has Ice Honey Grass ── ready to pick.
I can have it prepared in 40 seconds.
Lifia and the others are used to enjoying ice honey as a sweet treat all the time.
Just eating it raw, or dropping it into coffee or tea ── no problem.
A chunk of honey worth millions of Aurum? For us, it’s just a snack.
But that’s not the real issue.
The trouble starts when I think about what happens if I accept and actually pull it off.
The major risk? Information leaks.
If they find out we’re working in the dungeon’s 4th floor, it’s all over.
They could learn about our skills, or even how the ‘Love Hotel’ operates behind the scenes.
Even if Iberigo refuses to talk about where the ice honey comes from, someone might dig it up.
Knowing that, I can’t just say yes without thinking it over.
And the benefits? Honestly, I can’t think of any.
I still don’t know what he’s offering ── the reward, that is.
Money, items, maybe a noble title with the Baron family?
Whatever it is, it doesn’t seem worth risking our secrets for.
Wait── maybe there’s a upside after all.
First, I might get on Iberigo’s good side.
Knowing how stubborn he is, even if trouble comes my way later, he’ll probably lend a hand.
If I can leverage the Baron’s influence? That’s not a bad deal for me.
Besides, his fiancée can’t just be some commoner.
She’s got to be of noble status, worthy of becoming Iberigo’s partner.
Saving her might even open up connections with her family──it’s a tempting possibility.
There must be other benefits to find if I look harder.
Yeah, for example…
…
No, enough with the excuses.
I want to help this man.
Not a single complaint about being deceived, or losing his beloved Tifi.
In fact, he’s just glad she’s safe.
Somehow, that makes me really like this guy.
He’s completely earnest, a bit clumsy, and isn’t hiding anything shady.
Even with his noble status, he’s still humble enough to admit his faults and shoulder the responsibility.
There’s no way I can turn down a request from someone like him.
If that’s the case, then the minor risks are just trifles.
I want to help.
So I will help.
That’s good enough, right?
I let out a light sigh and turn back to Iberigo.
”Please tell me the details of your request.”
”lord Taro…! Thank you!”
Iberigo expresses his gratitude with such overwhelming emotion, but I have to hold him back.
”I haven’t agreed to anything yet. We need to go over the conditions first.”
While I know I’m leaning toward accepting, I still need to confirm the details.
”Ah, ah! Of course!”
Iberigo starts explaining the details of the request.
The reward is 30 million Aurum.
I’ll need at least 5 pieces of Ice Honey.
Preferably ten.
Ice Honey melts at room temperature, losing its medicinal properties.
Fortunately, they’ve prepared a cooling magic tool for that.
The deadline is one month.
After that, his fiancée might not last much longer.
”I know 30 million is low for a request meant for a high-level Adventurer. But this is the limit for the Baron family right now…”
Regret washes over Iberigo’s face.
His family is in turmoil because of his brother’s actions.
They probably don’t have much financial leeway, either.
Well, for me, the price isn’t much of an issue.
”I understand. I’ll accept the request.”
Having won a fortune at the auction, I won’t be too concerned even if the fair price is double the 30 million.
”Lord Taro…!”
He gazes at me with a voice trembling with emotion.
”Thank you! No, seriously──thank you so much… I’ll repay this any way I can.”
Iberigo bowed deeply, his head lowered with a mixture of gratitude and resolve.
”But there’s one condition.”
I keep my tone steady, calm enough to hide the weight behind my words.
”Never ask where we got that ice honey──or any detail about how we took on this job. Keep quiet about everything──about how we accepted this request, about us, everything. If you can swear to that, I’ll move heaven and earth for you.”
Iberigo’s eyes lock onto mine, serious and unwavering.
”Of course. If you’re working for me, I won’t pry, and I swear I won’t tell a soul.”
Good.
I can tell this man keeps his promises ── no doubts there.
”Tomorrow, bring the cooling magic tool. The place? Let’s use… this shop.”
It’s a private request, no guild involved.
Better that way──no eyes watching, no ears listening.
No point in risking it.
”Yeah… thank you… really, thank you!”
Iberigo grips my hand, his tears finally spilling again──grateful, overwhelmed.
Glancing behind, I see both Lifia and Tifi nodding silently──no objections, no doubts.
Lifia’s quiet smile, Tifi’s peaceful nod──comfort in their quiet trust.
”See you tomorrow.”
With that, we part ways for the day.
Even after we leave the shop, he keeps bowing and thanking us again and again, lighter than when he arrived.
His back──the weight seems to have lifted, like he’s finally free.
”Mr. Taro…”
Once Iberigo disappears from sight, Tifi finally speaks, soft but earnest.
”Um… thank you… really, thank you.”
She bows her head just a little, her face quietly relieved and grateful.
Her eyes shimmer with both relief and unspoken emotion.
”It’s nothing. Tifi, you don’t need to worry about it.”
I shrug lightly, offering a gentle smile.
”Plus, I didn’t take this on just out of charity. We’ve got something to gain too.”
”But… still, I’m glad.”
Tifi’s smile blooms softly, touched and sincere.
So… this all started because Iberigo had feelings for her.
He proposed──his brother kidnapped Tifi.
I saved her, and Iberigo took down his brother.
That’s how the wedding talks even got on the table.
It all began with Tifi──her presence was the spark that ignited everything.
How’s that?
I aimed to keep the emotional depth, the undercurrents of unspoken love, and the sense of quiet resolve that runs through the scene.
If I’d abandoned Iberigo here, it might’ve become a weight on her heart.
I’m glad I took the request for her sake.
And it wasn’t like it was none of my business.
I was already in deep.
”Yeah, guess so. Then let’s head back for today. Gotta think about how to wrap this request up.”
”Oh, and congrats on the auction success, Master.”
Lifia’s words brought it all back.
Right.
The auction proceeds were… the dress and tiara set sold for 120 million, and the hair growth potion went for a whopping 1.85 billion.
The actual amount we get is less after fees and all that jazz.
But still, it’s a revenue of several billion Aurum.
For now, or maybe for life, we won’t be hurting for cash.
Or was it thanks to the ‘Love Hotel’ that we were never in a bind to begin with?
”Alright, let’s celebrate in style then!”
”Yes, of course!”
”Heheh, looking forward to it.”
With Lifia and Tifi’s smiles in sight, we made our way back to the Love Hotel.
Waiting for us inside the Love Hotel were Kéa and Yomi, both clearly sulking.
Arms crossed, they glared our way.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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