It's Annoying Because My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage

My pride had been wounded. I swallowed the laugh that threatened to escape and asked the gatekeeper.

“You. When did you start working here?”

“Huh, you? How dare you speak informally, insolent thing.”

I guess he's a newbie. Otherwise, he would recognise me.

No matter how socially reclusive you’ve been, you couldn’t not recognize your youngest master’s childhood friend.

How should I deal with this newbie?

Just as I was about to swallow the sigh escaping me, the gatekeeper glared at me.

“Why aren't you answering, huh? How old are you?”

I glanced over at him, dumbfounded.

I wasn't really upset since he was so insignificant.

“Is there anything else you're curious about besides age?”

“Huh?”
 

“Well, people like you have nothing left but age… ah, did I poke you where it hurts too much?”

“Let's see… hey! Why do you keep talking informally?”

This is why I said he only has his age.

I stared at him in pity.

“You spoke informally first, so I did too. Was there something wrong?”

“You arrogant…”

My retort left the gatekeeper at a loss for words. He probably didn't expect me to argue back.

But it was short-lived, as he took another step towards me with a grim look.

“This damn..! I was gonna let you slide since you're a girl, but you keep talking without knowing your place!”

“Pfft.”

I nearly laughed for a second.

You were gonna let me slide since I'm a girl?

That was the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

It's so ridiculous that I couldn't help but think how empty someone's brain should be for them to say this.

“Oi, did you just laugh? Now you're getting on my nerves-”

“I think you're mistaken about something.”

I cut off the gatekeeper’s words and smiled.

“Just because you're a man doesn't mean you're born with the privilege of being considerate of women at will. Consideration is something the strong do for the weak, so I don't need your bull of a consideration.”

“What the **** are you talking about, *****!”

The gatekeeper's face was flushed red, and the words that came out of his mouth were a string of profanities.

If I continued to argue, my pure ears would be contaminated by it.

“Phoebe, open the gate.”

Phoebe, who had been silently waiting behind me, nodded at my words.

She strode toward the gate guarded by the gatekeeper.

“What are you doing! Stop it right now… h-hey!”

The gatekeeper tried to stop her but froze on the spot.

He had no choice but to do so.

Bang!

She passed him to approach the gate and kicked it with her foot as hard as possible.

It happened in the blink of an eye.

The thick gate, carved from ancient trees, broke down like an explosion.

The small splinters of wood could be seen coming out one by one.

“I-Is that possible…”

He was so shocked that he forgot his duty as a gatekeeper and slumped down on the spot, stunned like a shepherd who lost a sheep.

I whispered as I passed by him.

“It is.”

“You… ah! You, who are you?”

The gatekeeper cried out like a scream of despair.

“I guess you're curious about something else other than my age now.”

He fell on his knees in a hurry at my bemused reaction.

“N-Now I remember! I heard from the senior gatekeeper that you're uh… are you Lady Skyla of Kaerun..?”

“Charge the Kaerun Duchy for the gate’s repair.”

“My lady!”

At my nonchalant attitude, he collapsed on his knees.

“I'm sorry I didn't recognize you! P-Please forgive my rudeness!”

He belatedly began to apologize after realizing my identity.

It always turns out like this that I'm not even impressed anymore.

Since he’s only asking for forgiveness on the surface.

‘I didn't recognize you since you dressed like a beggar! If you're a princess, wear dresses with jewels! But instead, you wore rags for no reason… yet I'm the one getting picked on by you!’

Why do these types of people optimize on blaming others for everything? Were their thinking circuits broken since birth?

“Whatever I wore, aren't you, a gatekeeper, supposed to check my identity?”

“M-My lady…”

“You know, the Duke of Soli is a good guy. Since his house’s security is lousy, tell him Kaerun Duchy will give him a door made of canned gold from our mines.”

I was serious. The look on Lancer’s face made me think it would be better to give him a new door.

I saw how Phoebe was sweeping away a path in a hurry with her foot, afraid I’ll get a splinter, as I approached the gate.

“Please come inside, my lady.”

“Yes.”

I walked leisurely on the path Phoebe made me go.

Thus, I unintentionally opened two job positions today.

Yeah, this is the real creative economy.

Ah, what a rewarding day.

* * *

It's been a while since I came to the Soli Duchy.

I didn't go here much because Lancer would usually come over to the Kaerun Duchy instead.

Plus, as a representative of Kaerun Duchy, I've been a lot busier so it's hard to visit Lancer.

After passing the gatekeeper, Phoebe and I strolled through the gardens until the knights who had heard the news rushed up to us.

“Lady Skyla! Why are you walking?”

“We’ll take care of you! Hop on the horse!”

I went to the mansion with the Soli Duchy’s knights.

They didn't ask about the purpose of my visit.

This was an implicit rule in our duchies.

If Lancer visited Kaerun, the servants would always inform me, and similarly, if I visited Soli, the news would go straight to Lancer.

I would like to apologize to the duke and duchess for coming unannounced, and for destroying the wooden gate to replace it with a golden one out of courtesy.

But the butler told me that they had just gone on an inspection of a neighbouring territory and won't return until tomorrow night.

“They're both away at the moment.”

“Ah, then I'll come back tomorrow and apologize.”

“Yes, I’ll notify you when the duke and duchess return.”

After speaking with the butler, I headed toward the drawing room.

I'm sure Lancer would suddenly appear in front of me again.

I slumped on the sofa.

Lancer usually leapt to his feet when he heard I had come and used teleportation magic.

Teleportation magic takes up so much magic power that you usually only use it once a day. What a waste of magic power.

10 minutes have passed since I've been waiting for Lancer to appear.

But no matter how long I waited, Lancer hasn't even shown a strand of hair.

“Where’s Lancer?”

I asked the maid, Rachel, who came to ask me if I needed anything.

“Well…”

She didn't answer easily, but a look of perplexity crossed her face.

Something feels off.

“What's wrong?”

“I'm afraid to say this but…”

Rachel stammered and tried to avoid my gaze.

But I held my gaze firmer and spoke determinedly.

“What's going on with Lancer?”

She hesitantly opened her mouth again.

“The youngest master… is very upset.”

“...”

I was at loss for words.

I wanted to doubt if I had heard that right.

He's upset?

He's not a baby, why’s he upset?

“Why… why is he upset?”

“I don't know either. But he's been sulking since he came back today...” Her words sank back unclearly. 

She then glanced back at me nervously, as if she wants to hear an answer from me.

I soon heard her inner thoughts.

‘The youngest master went out to see Lady Skyla and had locked himself in his room ever since he came back… did they fight?’

Ah, I see.

Rachel thought I was why Lancer got upset.

It wasn't a bad guess since I was the only one he saw today.

But I don't remember fighting with him.

A little indignant, I rose from my seat.\

“Take me to where Lancer is.”

“Huh? But the youngest master said he wanted to be alone, he even skipped dinner and-”

“He might've been upset because of me, I’ll go and comfort him.”

Rachel beamed when I spoke.

“If my lady doesn't mind, will you?”

It seems like Rachel was also worried about him.

You have a great servant, Lancer.

I meant it. I could feel her genuine concern for him.

I followed Rachel to Lancer’s room. I made Phoebe wait in the drawing room with refreshments.

Lancer’s room was in the highest part of the Soli Duchy.

In other words, his room was in the furthest place from the main gate.

Newcomers of the Soli Duchy often wondered why Lancer used the furthest room in the mansion since rooms on the top floors are usually occupied by eyesores in the Duke’s eyes or illegitimate children.

This led to an absurd rumour that Lancer was an illegitimate child.

But I was well aware of why he chose the furthest room.

“Youngest ma-”

The moment Rachel was about to knock on Lancer’s door.

Bang!

An ear-piercing explosion rang out.

This was why.