S-Rank Harem: I Became My Character with Extra Control Skill-Chapter 24: Debt – The Heroine Demands Her Reward

After reuniting with the guards and his companions, Ryan headed outside the inn, where the carriage waiting to take them to meet the Baron was parked.

From the window, in her child form, Karol waved at them.

Now Ryan had an idea of how the guards had found out where he was staying.

"Get in! Or are you still dazed from whatever you did last night?"

"Huh? What? What is she talking about, Ryan?" Mirian asked, puzzled.

’Do they not remember anything?’

"You can chat on the way. Please, just get in already," the guard intervened.

"Yeah, yeah, how annoying."

After complaining, Helen was the first to get in.

Once they were all inside, Ryan sat next to Helen, and Mirian sat on his other side.

The carriage began to move.

"There are plenty of seats, you don’t have to sit here too, Mirian," Helen said as she leaned against Ryan.

"Same here. Go sit in the front."

Karol sighed.

"Now that I see them up close, they’re quite beautiful," she murmured.

"Hmm? By the way, who is this little girl? Oh, I remember her. She was at the inn when we arrived."

"It’s a bit of a long story. Have Ryan tell you later."

"Don’t talk to him so casually!"

"Alright, that’s enough. She’s Karol... and well, I met her recently. She helped me with something, so she’s here too. She’s probably the one the guards contacted first, and then they came to find us."

"That’s right!"

They started talking. Helen and Mirian had many questions, but Ryan refused to answer, since he would probably have to repeat the same explanation to the Baron.

So he told them they would hear everything once they arrived.

Reluctantly, they agreed.

During the ride, Karol remained quiet, which was quite unusual.

Once they arrived, they were invited inside. The house wasn’t very large.

They were led to a room on the first floor, where they found a woman dressed in typical maid attire.

She had them sit down and went to inform the Baron that the guests had arrived.

"Sir Ryan! Miss Karol!" A child’s voice came from one of the doors.

"Hehe... so this is where you were," Karol replied with a smile.

The boy stood in front of Ryan.

"Are you alright?" Ryan asked.

’He looks much better.’

"Yes, they treated me very well in the infirmary, and they brought me here this morning. Lord Thomas said my father will come pick me up. He should arrive in a few days, I think..."

"Tsk." Helen stood up from her seat.

"Are you going to tell us what happened these past few days already? This boy, that brat over there... Everyone seems to know you, but I have no idea what kind of relationship you have with them."

"I want to know too. Please, Ryan, just tell us what happened. We were worried sick looking for you, and now you’re being all mysterious."

’They’re really impatient.’

Ryan rested his elbow on the armrest and propped his chin on his hand.

He was about to speak, but a voice interrupted him.

"I will explain." The voice of a man in a black suit echoed as he entered the room.

When he stood before them, the same woman from earlier accompanied him. He gestured to her, and she told the boy it was time to continue his task, so she left along with him.

"So, you’re the Baron?" Helen asked.

"Yes, but you may call me Thomas." He walked to the center and sat in one of the armchairs in front of them.

For a moment, everyone remained silent.

Ryan used Inspect on the Baron. He didn’t notice anything unusual.

Though he remembered his previous encounter with a noble and began to feel uneasy. There were also things he wanted to ask.

But Helen, impatient, spoke first.

"Alright, Thomas... we’re listening. Tell us what you said you would explain."

Thomas began explaining his relationship with the boy’s father and why he was there.

Although Ryan wasn’t fully convinced, Thomas showed him a memory crystal, where scenes of meetings and celebrations with the Viscount could be seen.

It turned out that the boy’s father was a Viscount from the nation of Varvylon and also the leader of the merchants’ guild.

Thomas worked for the Viscount.

He also recounted what Ryan had told the guards and how he had rescued the boy together with Karol.

Ryan added a bit more about what had happened, including the fact that he had to fight demons from another territory.

Helen and Mirian were very surprised. They had never imagined that Ryan had actually been in demon territory.

"That makes things even more troublesome. If someone kidnapped Alan and it was orchestrated by a noble, it means not only him, but likely many others are being manipulated by demons," the Baron commented, clasping his hands tightly.

"It’s true that demons shouldn’t be underestimated, but for a human to be foolish enough to be manipulated like that... it’s disgusting. I’d make sure to cut him in two with my sword."

After a brief silence, Thomas spoke again.

"I came here on the Viscount’s orders a few days ago, but I never imagined Alan would appear so far away. In fact, his disappearance was reported weeks ago in the Varvylon Adventurers’ Guild. The Viscount offered a large reward, so many adventurers set out to find him."

"Do you have any idea who might want to harm the Viscount?" Ryan asked.

"To be honest, the list is long. But it’s hard for me to believe any of them would go this far. The Viscount should arrive in two or three days, so I ask that you wait. He will make sure to reward you properly."

"Reward?" Helen murmured.

"Is that all you can think about?" Mirian grumbled.

"Of course not. But if they want to reward us, I don’t see the problem."

"How greedy... especially for an S-Rank," Karol remarked.

"Tsk. By the way, something doesn’t add up. You say this girl helped with the rescue? But she’s just a child," Helen questioned.

"I’m not just a child." Karol stood up and walked over to Helen. She placed her hands on both of her cheeks.

She began draining her mana until she returned to her adult form.

"See? I’m a mage."

Mirian stepped closer, observing her with curiosity.

"Hmm... I get it now. You’re a Wizard and a cursed mage. Were you really that foolish?"

"Hey! Don’t make fun of me!"

"That’s enough, both of you!" Ryan scolded them.

Then he turned to Thomas.

"To be honest, we can’t wait for the Viscount. We should already be heading back to our city to report the mission..."

"But Ryan!" Helen complained.

Mirian sat down, crossing her legs.

"Hehe... that’s true... we didn’t gather any materials because we were busy looking for Ryan. Sophia is definitely going to be mad this time."

’What do you mean you didn’t gather anything?’

"But then..." Thomas interjected.

"You may ask me for anything. I will reward you on behalf of the Viscount."

"Huh? Really, anything we want?"

"Yes..."

"Can you give us a dragon?" Helen asked.

"Of course not!"

’Wasn’t she the one who said they only make contracts with demons?’

"Then how about a wyvern? We’ll settle for just one for now."

"I’m sorry. I don’t have the authority to deal with wyverns..."

"Then an epic weapon?"

"I’m afraid I don’t have one either..."

Helen crossed her arms.

"Tsk. No dragons, no wyverns... but you said anything. So what can you give us?"

Thomas swallowed.

"In truth... I was thinking of land, or perhaps a title... or money."

’Land?’

Ryan stood up.

"Then can you give me a property in this village?"

"Yes, of course. And I’m certain the Viscount will also send you the reward he had promised to the Adventurers’ Guild."

"Are you planning to live here, Ryan?"

"No, but having property here isn’t a bad idea. We’ll probably come back someday, don’t you think?"

"Yeah, you’re right."

After the meeting, they agreed to meet later so Thomas could give Ryan the location of his new property.

Once they all left the Baron’s house and walked away, Helen began to complain.

"There’s something that’s been bothering me ever since this mage grew up..."

"Huh? What’s bothering you about me?"

Helen stepped in front of her.

"Why does your body smell so strongly of Ryan?... And why are you acting so familiar with him?"