Rather than a shop or the Marquis’s mansion, Jennifer had designated his own residence in the royal capital for our meeting.

Honestly, I was grateful for that. In a shop, there would be too many prying eyes, and we wouldn’t be able to have a deep conversation.

“So this is Jennifer’s house…”

“Mii…”

By the way, Sanshita wasn’t with us today.

Though Ivy’s magic had made him small and inconspicuous, staying in that form apparently made him feel uneasy.

So, we had decided that he would only accompany us when he actively wanted to, safely tucked away in a pouch.

“Hello~”

There was a metal knocker on the door, so I gave it one, then two knocks.

As I waited for someone to answer, I stepped back slightly and took in the mansion’s appearance.

It wasn’t particularly large, but it was well-maintained.

With its modern black-and-white aesthetic, it felt more chic and stylish than luxurious.

The door creaked open, and a figure appeared from within.

To my surprise, it wasn’t a maid but Jennifer himself who had come to greet us.

“Bruno, and Ivy! It’s been a while. Have you grown taller?”

Jennifer looked just as lively as the last time we met, and I felt a little relieved.

I had heard he had been working tirelessly like a horse since coming to the capital, but at least it didn’t seem like he was at his wit’s end.

But… have I really grown taller?

It’s true that I might still be in a growth phase, but I don’t measure my height every day, so I had no way of knowing.

“I don’t think so… What about you, Ivy?”

“Mii!”

Puffing out her chest, Ivy proudly declared, ‘I’m always growing!’

Jennifer and I both smiled at the sight.

“Well then, let’s not stand around talking. Come inside.”

He led us inside.

We were greeted by a single maid and a single butler.

“I prefer a minimalist lifestyle, so my residence is on the smaller side, and I keep my staff to a minimum. Rather than spending money on land and servants, I’d rather invest in field research.”

“I see… I kind of understand that feeling.”

“Oh! You do?”

The house we lived in on the outskirts of town wasn’t very large either.

We had considered bigger mansions, but in the end, we chose a small but well-kept home.

Too much space would just make cleaning a hassle.

And since we weren’t used to having servants like other adults, the idea of strangers constantly being in our home felt stressful.

We were led into what seemed to be a reception room, where Jennifer personally prepared tea for us.

Taking a sip, I was immediately overwhelmed by its intense sweetness.

Meanwhile, Ivy, who adored sweet things, visibly beamed with joy.

“Instead of sugar, I used a special honey that I developed with Icicle.”

“Ah, so that’s why it’s so overwhelmingly sweet.”

I had heard that the magic honey Icicle was developing with Jennifer and the Marquis had finally entered mass production.

Initially, people in urban areas, including the royal capital, were reluctant to accept it simply because it was a product made by magical creatures.

But apparently, public opinion was beginning to shift.

“You could also say that people are simply running out of room to be picky.”

It wasn’t just the invasion of the Demon King's Ten Fingers—incidents caused by magical creatures were occurring all over the place.

According to Jennifer, these events weren’t limited to the Ilias Kingdom.

I recalled the chaos caused by the Black Legion in the Holy Principality of Celie.

Though not on that scale, incidents involving magical creatures were steadily increasing worldwide.

“Compared to before, magical creatures are becoming more ferocious and powerful. And on top of that, there have been consecutive years of poor harvests. It’s hard to notice in the capital, where supplies gather from all over, but the kingdom’s food situation is getting worse each year.”

“Really? I didn’t notice anything like that while in Akoup.”

“The Marquis's territory has developed techniques to domesticate magical creatures for livestock, ensuring that the famine from years ago never happens again. It’s thanks to his efforts.”

Jennifer gazed out the window with a small smile.

I remembered that he had been close friends with the Marquis for a long time.

Most likely, the two of them had worked together to develop the process of domesticating magical creatures.

As he reminisced, Jennifer’s expression carried a faint melancholy, a mix of nostalgia and sorrow.

“Public perception is shifting because attention is finally being drawn to the frontier, which had long been looked down upon as savage. As a result, previously shunned magical creature-based foods are gaining recognition.”

“That’s just normal in Akoup, isn’t it?”

City folk rarely ate magical creatures, but to us, it seemed like such a waste.

Magical creature-based ingredients often had a strong flavor, but many were delicious.

For example, cave boar meat, which the Marquis had domesticated, had a slightly strong smell but was fattier than pork. When seasoned with herbs and garlic, it had a rich, punchy flavor.

The magic honey produced with killer bees was so intensely sweet that it could overwhelm the taste of sweets themselves.

But because only a small amount was needed, it was much more cost-effective than sugar.

With advancements in breeding and the use of non-killer bee species, milder variations of magic honey were also becoming more common.

“By the way, Bruno, you and your group have played a major role in bringing attention to the frontier.”

“We have…?”

“Mii?”

Both Ivy and I tilted our heads in confusion, prompting Jennifer to chuckle.

“Of course, that’s not the only reason, but…”

Amid all the gloomy news, the sudden emergence of a beacon of hope—me, a Griffin Rider, eliminating magical threats—had been a much-needed boost.

The king himself had aggressively promoted us, ensuring that my name spread throughout the capital.

No wonder I had felt more stares than usual… That king had been stirring things up again.

I understood that people needed hope, but still… I wished he would consider how I felt.

For the first time, I felt like I could understand the Marquis’s deep-seated resentment toward the king.

“But Bruno, you’ve matured a bit, haven’t you?”

“You think so?”

“Yes, you’ve lost some of your naivety—in a good way.”

Jennifer’s words didn’t quite register.

He had said something similar earlier, hadn’t he?

Since I rarely looked in the mirror, I couldn’t tell.

“What do you think? Have I grown?”

“Mii mii.”

Ivy, ever the strict judge, made a small gesture indicating ‘just a little.’

Her standards remained high.

Oh, right!

I wasn’t here to chat. I had come to ask Jennifer something important.

“Jennifer, if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you a few things.”

“Of course. Ask away.”

For once, he didn’t ask for Ivy’s scales in exchange, which was a relief.

I had already decided on my first question, so I spoke without hesitation.

“To begin with… what exactly is the Demon King?”