"One last thing—could you tell me what your goal is?"
Just as I was about to look for the right moment to excuse myself, the Marquis of Endlord stroked his beard and posed the question.
His face appeared as casual as when we were exchanging small talk earlier, but now that I focused, I could sense the seriousness he exuded when we first met.
It seemed this was a question of great importance to him.
And of course, it made sense.
For someone in charge of this city, it was only natural to be cautious.
A group capable of defeating and taming a griffin was wandering around in his territory.
No amount of second-hand information or direct conversations would be enough to set his mind at ease.
To him, we probably looked like a pair who could assassinate him on the spot or cause chaos in the city, leaving destruction in our wake.
Of course, Ivy and I had no intention of doing anything like that.
Such actions would be pointless.
But expecting someone to understand that without explanation would be selfish and arrogant of us.
If you want others to understand you, you have to make an effort to be understood first.
Human relationships are complex, but often the simplest things hold the most importance.
That’s how I see it, at least.
So, I decided to speak honestly, without holding anything back.
Maybe that’s why he warned me not to lie earlier—to set the stage for this question.
If so, you’re overthinking things, Marquis.
Because the reason we came to this city is...
"We just want to live in peace. To escape persecution, exile... we came here to live quietly in some remote town."
Hearing my words, the Marquis looked stunned, his face clearly showing surprise.
It was a genuine expression, free from the guarded politeness he had shown before.
This might be the real Marquis of Endlord.
...I wondered what he had thought of us before this.
Did he mistake me for some ambitious hero, aiming to rise to power in the kingdom with his support?
If so, he couldn’t have been more wrong.
Because Ivy and I... we just want a quiet life.
"Quietly, huh? Haha... sigh. It’s tough getting old."
The Marquis let out a chuckle, then slumped back into the chair behind his desk. He opened a drawer, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it with the help of a servant.
He wore a range of expressions—from laughter to solemnity—like a master actor.
After blowing a smoke ring into the air, he turned back to me.
"It feels ridiculous how much I’ve been on edge. You’re serious about that, aren’t you?"
"Of course. I’m not lying."
Hearing my response, the Marquis gave a wry smile.
He didn’t press me with questions like, “With that power, why not aim higher?”
It seemed he could sense we weren’t interested in such things.
Ivy hadn’t grown strong because she wanted power.
She simply grew bigger and stronger day by day—it just happened.
In some ways, Ivy might be the biggest victim of her circumstances.
If she’d been an ordinary, beautiful turtle, I’d probably still be a farmer, and she’d just be my beloved pet.
I let the thought of that alternate future linger for a moment before focusing back on the present.
To me, the Marquis didn’t appear as a tyrant wielding unchecked power but rather as a dependable lord trying to protect his city from irregularities like us.
That’s why the words came naturally, without hesitation:
"We want tranquility. That’s why, Marquis, we seek your protection."
"It’s true, for folks like you trying to live peacefully, it’s not going to be easy. Even though the age of chaos has passed, the nobles still wield immense power. Foreign nations are ready to pounce at any opportunity, and there’s also their existence to consider."
He stubbed out his cigarette in an ashtray and stood up.
Extending his hand toward me, he said:
"Of course, if things get really bad, I might ask for your help. But as long as you’re in my domain, I’ll guarantee your safety. Sure, there’ll be noise and hassle from the outside, but aside from that, just live your life as you please."
I slowly extended my hand and shook his.
That handshake carried his promise to take us under his protection.
With that, we finally finished preparing for a peaceful life.
We had gained stability and security, though achieving true tranquility might still take time.
But for now, the immediate problems were resolved.
I had made connections with both the guildmaster and the Marquis.
We had established ourselves as capable adventurers of the third rank, earning a steady income.
Being recognized as a griffin rider gave us enough clout to deter most threats.
...Come to think of it, maybe Ivy had insisted so much on riding the griffin for that very reason.
A lot had happened, but the people at the Adventurer’s Guild were generally kind.
Riding the griffin also seemed to improve our reputation with the townsfolk—things were looking good.
The Marquis even mentioned developing griffin-related products to boost the city’s economy.
All that was left was to earn some extra money, pay off the damages, and settle into a relaxed life.
It had been a fast-paced few days for us, but we could finally settle down.
Ivy seemed to like this town, too.
We’re still new to all this, and there are plenty of challenges ahead.
But let’s do our best, Ivy.
Together.
"Mii!"