【The Old Man of the Expelled Inn Unwittingly Dominates Today Too】Although I Want to Lead a Slow Life, for Some Reason the Strongest Beauties Who Hold Important Positions in the Country, and Were Once My Disciples, Gather Around Me Asking to Be Hired – Even Though I Only Taught Them a Little～ - Chapter 3: Old Man, Pressured by the King and Princess

I was forcibly placed in a carriage. How did things end up like this?

I just happened to hear a scream. I just happened to be able to defeat a monster, even though I’m an old man. I just happened to save a princess.

Alright, it’s not too late. I’ll take my leave now.

I reach for the carriage door.

Click!

The door was locked.

Click! Click! Click!

Eh, they’ve locked it several times…what’s going on?

“Oh? Baldo-sama, what are you doing?”

“No, I was just thinking of taking my leave…”

“Why!?”

Eek, what’s with this girl? Don’t suddenly yell like that.

“It’s the princess! You saved the princess! You can’t run away from this event!”

Oh no, did I accidentally save someone I shouldn’t have?

“Fofofofo, Liena, Baldo is just nervous. Baldo, my daughter Liena might be a bit peculiar but don’t worry about it. Just relax.”

No, while saying that, you’re locking the other door, too. I can’t relax at all!

These people don’t want me to leave the carriage.

“Hmm, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I am Mateus Loy Natris, the king of this Natol Kingdom!”

I know that. Even I can tell you’re not just someone cosplaying with a crown.

“Let me thank you again, Baldo! You have saved my daughter from a dire situation!”

The king leans closer to me. While I appreciate the thanks, his magnificent beard wiggling before my eyes makes me uncomfortable. Are all the royals in this country so close?

“Hmm, but to split a Mithril Bear in two, a creature even skilled knights struggle against. Who are you? You said you came from Fridania. Are you a famous knight?”

“No, no, I’m just a former innkeeper. I’m not some grand knight or anything.”

Yes, this is an undeniable fact. Older men don’t lie.

“But ordinary old men can’t even injure a Mithril Bear, let alone split it. Its hardness is extraordinary, you know.”

Eh? Well, it might be considered problematic, but that’s an exaggeration. I’ve encountered more challenging things before. I had to land several 【One Strike, Two Cuts】 before finally defeating it. It was a monster with a long, cumbersome name, like King Adamantite. She would have destroyed it with a single blow if it were Sword Saint Alesia.

But the king and princess seem to be praising me for some reason.

—Alright! I should go along with this. Going along with the customers’ stories is a skill I’ve gained as an innkeeper. Yes, it’s the older man’s art of social navigation.

“Despite how I may look, I can use 【Fighting Spirit a bit.”

“What! Fighting Spirit, you say!?”

“Eh!? …Baldo-sama is amazing…”

Hehe, they’re both going along with it. 【Fighting Spirit】 is something anyone can use with some training. My disciples learned it easily and quickly became even more proficient than me.

(Hmm, Fighting Spirit, huh… This is the first time I’ve met someone who can use it… Or is it? There were rumors of someone using it during the Blood Battle five years ago… Liena, we might have been saved by an extraordinary person.)

(Yes, Father… I’ve never met anyone who could use Fighting Spirit, either. A fantastic man saved us… Both of us.)

The two pressing me suddenly fell silent, only to begin whispering to each other. I can’t hear what they’re saying clearly. Was my way of handling things too clumsy? I feel embarrassed for getting carried away with my “old man’s art of social navigation.”

In the meantime, we arrived at the royal castle.

Oh no, another castle…

◇◇◇

For some reason, I was escorted to the king’s private room. Just the two of us. Is it okay to let someone he just met today in here?

“Baldo-sama~~”

Liena Princess energetically entered the room. Her golden hair reflected the sunlight that poured through the window, shining brightly; her eyes were the color of amber. Her prominent twin curves and perfectly slender waist also added to her presence. She was indeed a beauty worthy of being called an exceedingly beautiful girl.

“Baldo-sama?”

I mustn’t stare.

“Could it be that I enchanted you?”

“Ah, well, Princess Liena, you are wonderful…”

Why am I telling the truth? It’s creepy for an older man like me to stare at a beautiful girl and call her pretty.

“Oh, I’m so happy! I’m glad I changed my clothes~~”

“Of course. My daughter is the cutest girl in the world. But tell me, Baldo, why have you come to Natol? It’s not for tourism, is it?”

I could have lied, but the king’s gaze was too intense, so I told him the whole story.

“What! You were a teacher of the Three Gods!”

“Wow, Baldo-sama is incredible!”

“No, I’m a former teacher. They’re far stronger than me now.”

“Hmm~~ But you seem to be quite impressive as well. To exile someone like you… What is the Prince of Fridania thinking? No matter how powerful Fridania may be, the country will falter if a fool becomes the royal representative.”

“That’s right! Exiling Baldo-sama, is that Prince, an idiot?”

The Prince Genus is being bad-mouthed…

But they’re overestimating me. I’ll repeat it; I’m only slightly more potent than an ordinary soldier.

I have no idea why these two are so taken with me. Could they suspect me of being a spy from Fridania?

Alright, I should leave quickly. I was thinking that when the king blurted out something outrageous.

“Hmm, Baldo. As a reward for helping us, I’m considering granting you the rank of Baron. What do you think?”

Huh? A noble rank??

What is this person talking about?

I was confused and unable to understand what the king was saying.

“Unsatisfied? How about the rank of Viscount?”

“No…”

“Then, Earl!”

“But…”

“Then how about a Marquis?”

“Wait a minute…”

“Hmm, someone of your caliber, I want to keep you in Natol.”

No, you can’t just hand out titles like you’re peddling bananas.

“Wait, wait a minute. I don’t need a title or anything like that! I’m just an ordinary person who wants to be an innkeeper!”

I’ve had enough of dealing with royalty and nobility. I want to live the rest of my life leisurely as an old innkeeper.

But I got carried away and used “me.” Was that rude? The king looks annoyed.

“Hmm, then I will grant you an inn.”

“Wha~~~~~t!?”

Huh? What? He’s giving me an inn?

“Um, what does that mean?”

“Just as I said. It’s on the outskirts of the royal capital, but there’s a vacant inn there. I’m saying I’ll give it to you.”

Really!? I only killed one tough bear… and that’s worth an inn!?

“However…,” he said.

I knew it. Of course. They wouldn’t just give me an inn for defeating one tough bear.

“You will become Natol’s [Special Envoy]!”

Wha~~~~~t!?

Whaaaaat!? I was exiled because of that role!

Hmmm, but wait, he’s giving me an inn. If I work hard to buy an inn now, I’ll be an old man when I can afford it. I want to avoid that if I can. But I don’t want to be a “Special Envoy.”

If he wants to reward me for helping, the inn is fine.

According to the king, a “Special Envoy” helps the country as a temporary mercenary when Natol is in a critical situation.

It’s just like the time in Fridania, like a military reserve.

Fridania’s time had no opportunities, but Natol is a small country with many neighboring states, and a large forest surrounds it. So, a massive monster stampede is entirely possible.

In other words, there’s a high chance of actually being summoned.

This is something to ponder. My old brain is working overtime.

Hmmmmm~~~wait!

If I become the innkeeper, I must always be at the inn. I don’t have the money to hire employees. I can’t leave the inn unmanned. That means the matter of being a Special Envoy is practically a non-issue. Alright, let’s go with this!

“Ha ha~ Your Majesty! I am grateful for your words, but I’m a poor innkeeper, so hiring employees will be a long way off. Once I’m prepared, I’ll consider the Special Envoy matter, but first, I will serve Natol as the innkeeper.”

Perfect! Now, I can live the life of an inn’s old man without dealing with royalty. I did it!

“What are you talking about? You have an employee right here in front of you.”

“—Eh?”

Something soft and bouncy jumped at me.

“Baldo-sama~ Please take care of me forever~~ Call me Liena♡”

Huh? What are these people talking about?