Lord Of High Manor

In the backyard opposite the entrance of the mansion, Diras was walking towards a white building visible in the distance. Even though Gravel followed behind Diras, the size of the distant building didn't change, making the sense of distance feel strange due to its enormous scale.

A circular fountain made of flawless white stone came into view in the open space. Watching the water spouting refreshingly towards the sky, Gravel passed by the fountain and looked closely. Inside the fountain, small statues covered in dark moss were shooting smaller streams of water towards the central jet.

The fountain, which used the natural property of water falling from above in reverse, presented a beautiful and mysterious sight. Diras said to the guests passing through his garden that man-made beauty can also rival natural beauty, pointing to the blooming flowers and well-trimmed garden trees around.

Walking through the beautifully decorated garden path with Mount Hasset visible in the distance, they soon found themselves close to the building they had seen from afar.

"Please come inside."

Standing by the entrance of the building, Diras opened his palm and guided them inside.

Entering the building, Gravel saw a long corridor curving along the right wall. On the left, thick black iron bars separated the corridor from a wide space beyond.

Compared to the narrow and dark corridor, the area inside was bright. Looking up, Gravel realized it was because there were no walls blocking the sunlight except for the thick black iron bars. The sunlight heated the large rocks and the ground inside, making the air warm and blowing towards the corridor.

Inside the enclosure, besides the large rocks, there was a thick brown tree trunk with branches cut off, and soil mixed with small pebbles covered the ground. Green plants were planted here and there to make it less desolate.

Gravel was about to examine the enclosure more closely when he heard someone's voice.

"Welcome, Master Diras."

Hearing the footsteps echoing in the building, two men approached and greeted. They were wearing short clothes unsuitable for the weather outside, and long straws were stuck to their bodies.

"Oh, yes. I came to check on the meat for the little ones these people brought. How is it?"

"Yes… We just unloaded it from the cart, and Wikson, the cook, is preparing it now. The meat is of very good quality."

"It's very fresh meat. It seems like it was caught less than half a day ago. Since the blood hasn't been drained, Grakka will eat it well."

"Oh, haha, that's great. Since we're here, I was thinking of watching the little one eat… If you two have time, would you like to watch together? I'll have the reward brought here while you wait."

"Waiting is fine."

Gravel readily agreed to Diras's invitation, curious about the creature named Grakka that Diras was raising.

The two men walking ahead of Diras quickened their pace to call other colleagues and prepare the tea and food as Diras instructed.

"I'm sorry for making you bring it here directly."

"Pardon?"

"Usually, I wait for the Adventurer's Guild to deliver it, but even though I offered extra money… I requested that you bring it directly."

"Oh… The guild explained the reason for the extra money, so it's okay."

"That's good. I'm glad the explanation was clear. I requested it that way because I wanted to get fresh Altus Boar meat quickly, and you two, Gravel and Nia, brought it much faster than I expected."

Satisfied with the answer that confirmed the Adventurer's Guild had properly explained the reason for the extra payment, Diras smiled contentedly, showcasing his meticulous nature as a merchant, and guided Gravel and Nia further into the building.

Walking along the long corridor with Diras, the narrow walls widened, revealing luxurious chairs with soft backrests and a rectangular white marble table on thick, short pillars.

There were no special decorations on the walls, just a small mana stone lamp lighting the area, and several similar mana stone lamps were shining brightly in the space arranged to view the inside of the enclosure.

"This is a place for visitors to see our little ones. Please sit here."

Diras pointed to the chairs by the table with an open palm, inviting Gravel and Nia to sit.

"By the way, what kind of animals do you keep?"

"Oh? Ah… I didn't mention it."

Gravel asked Diras as he sat down, and Diras flinched, shrugged his shoulders, and looked at Gravel with wide, round eyes.

"I'm sorry. Haha… I thought you already knew…"

Diras let out a low laugh, looking embarrassed.

"It's Griffons. The most beautiful animals in the world."

Diras approached the iron bars, slowly turned his head to look inside the enclosure, and said.

"Griffons? Did you say Griffons?"

"Yes, I said Griffons. The Altus Boar meat you brought today is also for the little ones we are raising in our trading company. We need to fatten them up before winter so they can stay healthy through the winter."

"So, do you sell Griffons?"

Imagining a creature with the head of a bird and the body of a lion, familiar from games, Gravel asked Diras.

"Hmm? Yes. I am a merchant dealing with Griffons . I buy and sell them, but mostly sell. To be more precise, I mainly deal with Hippogriffs, which are born from Griffons and horses."

"Hippogriffs… Hippogriffs… It's not a familiar name. Could you explain?"

Gravel repeated the word "Hippogriff" in his mind, pressing the space between his closed eyes with his index finger. He had heard the name in Grand World Online and other games, but apart from knowing it was a mythical creature, he couldn't recall much, so he asked Diras for an explanation.

"Oh, I'd be happy to. I can talk about Griffons and Hippogriffs for so long that I could go through ten cups of tea and twenty meals."

Gravel, who usually has a different demeanor when talking about worldly matters, and Diras, who can talk endlessly about Griffons and Hippogriffs even through several days and nights.

Between the two, Nia was looking at them alternately with raised eyes, her expression a mix of worry and hunger.

"Perfect timing, the tea and food are coming. Shall we sit and talk slowly?"

Seeing the servants coming from the passage connected to the room, carrying trays with dishes, bread, and tea, Diras walked back to the chair by the table.

A little later, the empty plates were replaced with desserts made of sweet fruits and honey, and Diras had been busy boasting to Gravel about the three Griffons he owned.

"That's why I dare say that Griffons are the best creatures humans can tame. The sight of a knight riding a Griffon is truly a symbol of the Esteta Kingdom."

"I've seen them in Ixtarn."

"Oh, yes. Among our trading company's customers, there is someone in Ixtarn. In the past, only noble commanders rode Griffons, leading armies from the sky, as it was considered a noble commander's duty. But nowadays, besides those nobles, wealthy people in Ixtarn also buy Griffons."

Diras's expression brightened as he spoke enthusiastically about Griffons to Gravel.

"Still, the perception that Griffons are exclusively for brave sky knights is strong. It's said that a commander being able to overlook the battlefield from the sky is a tremendous advantage.

In contrast, Hippogriffs are more associated with nobles and wealthy individuals who have large courtyards and enjoy flying over their estates to admire the view from the sky. However, that doesn't mean Hippogriffs aren't used in battle. They are faster and smaller than Griffons, so skilled scouts often use them."

Taking quick breaths between his eager words, Diras continued.

"Even though Hippogriffs are born from Griffons and horses, they are much harder to tame than horses and are very selective about their riders. If they don't like the person, they mercilessly throw the rider off the saddle and fly away. And being thrown off in the sky, unlike on the ground, often means death."

"Master Diras, the meat for Grakka is ready. And the other room is also prepared."

A servant approached Diras, bowed, and whispered softly in his ear.

"Perfect timing. Now, please see my pride, the best Griffon in Esteta. Bring in Grakka!"

Diras stood up, gestured for Gravel and Nia to come to a spot where they could see the enclosure well, and then walked towards the iron bars and shouted loudly.

The sound of a large iron gate opening echoed.

"Master Diras! The meat we received today is in excellent condition."

From the opened heavy iron gate, a man in full plate armor emerged. It was a plate armor completely different from what ordinary soldiers, knights, or adventurers wear. The man was pushing a cart loaded with red meat chunks. His gait was wobbly, as if he could barely walk due to the extremely thick iron plates layered upon each other. Especially the torso armor was exceptionally thick, making him look like a turtle in an iron shell walking on two legs.