“Captain Ivan, dinner is ready in the dining room.”

An old veteran walked into the study while wearing a fashionable butler’s uniform, though a sword was on his waist. He bowed slightly as he spoke, but turned around again as soon as he finished his announcement.

“Hah~ About time.”

Ivan sighed heavily and stacked the remaining papers on his desk and pulled out a bottle of wine. He reclined in the chair and downed the entire bottle in almost an instant. He had dropped his hard working mode quickly, as he pulled out yet another bottle.

This time, a different man walked in. He wasn’t dressed in work clothes, nor was he wearing military clothes. Instead, he was wearing a suit, much like the ones nobles wore. Well, perhaps because he actually was a noble, the clothes he wore could be called a noble's attire, but even then...it was rather eccentric and showy. He wasn't as old as the Duke, but he had a mature air about him as he grinned deviously.

“I see you are quick to drink, as always.”

“Peh, I don’t feel like myself otherwise.”

The man chuckled and walked over to the desk so he could look outside while also standing next to Ivan.

“Yet as soon as dinner is over, you sober up and get right back to work. It was because of things like this that made you a General.”

“I’m a Captain now.”

“In name, that is. I am sure hundreds of thousands of soldiers would rise to your calls. Even if it was against this kingdom!”

The man started a chuckle, but it turned into a sputtering cough. It wasn't quite evident, but not only was the man's garb awkward, but he tended to eat weird things as well, so he kept the fact that he could taste the chocolate covered cheese he ate for lunch to himself.

“Geez, don’t die on me, old man. Besides, don’t talk like that. You could end up getting us both in trouble.”

Smoothing himself out, the strange man chuckled and waved his hand, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

“Hehe, why don’t you instead just take over? If you keep doing pansy stuff like this, then you will only get involved even more so.”

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The old man gestured towards the stack of papers before pointing outside.

When he used to be a noble, Ivan had trouble getting used to governing his own land. However, he understood exactly what he did wrong after the fact. Thus, this was his second chance.

Before, he promoted the army and managed to have an astounding amount join him. However, when they all died in the surprise attack, the people back home hated him immensely.

“Earl Grayson, if you would be so kind as to let me be drunk in peace.”

“Of course. I will come see you again, old friend.”

“Che, you’re the only one that is old.”

“Hehe, well, I will return, and hopefully with Dalton in tow.”

His sarcasm was met with a promise of return, so he couldn’t help but scowl. However, Ivan’s attention wavered as he turned back to his desk. He focused his senses towards the dining room where Abigail and Janet were arguing about her next day off.

“I just want to visit it, that should be fine. With Ivan’s help, it won’t take forever.”

“No! It isn’t safe for a little girl to go to such a place! The Gilded Glade is a monster spot!”

“But I wanted to see the falls. There is supposed to be a flower that grows along the side that helps increase magical power.”

Ivan perked his ears. This was the first he had heard of this. He instantly circled his magical energy to ward off the drunken stupor and plan a day to go and check the place first. Otherwise, she would be undergoing a wild goose chase.

In fact, after thinking about it enough, he couldn’t help but call in a couple of guards to keep a close eye on Janet as he went to check.

The Gilded Glade was located in a deep pit-like valley. It was a dense forest, almost to the level of being a jungle.

At the Gilded Glade, a magnificent tree grew in the center. It was actually a large monster that used its pollen to make intruders and prey suffer from illusions and nightmares. By making it appear magical and amazing, the dark truth of the forest usually consumed all who entered. However, there was a magnificent waterfall that fell down the mountain and watered the Gilded Tree. This was such a steep cliff, that it was easier to say that the Gilded Glade was far below the planet’s surface while the mountain was one of the tallest in the world.

Sure enough, Ivan found several flora that contained high levels of magical energy along the cliff face, but they were not what Janet said they were. Instead, he recognized the location he was in just before he saw some monsters darting around to the side of his vision. Wasn't this where that creature was reportedly seen?

“I see. So that’s your plan. Fine, I see. I will play along.”

Ivan grinned as he pulled out a wine bottle and started drinking while sitting at the edge of the cliff, the beginning of the waterfall. He overlooked the land around the mountain and saw the hole the Gilded Glade sat in. If one could see from even higher, they would have noticed that the cliff face was unnaturally curved somehow. In fact, it matched the round hole the Gilded Glade was in. This steep mountain was more like a pole or an object that had penetrated the ground below, revealing the teeming forest to the surface.

But Ivan didn’t care as he was back at the mansion later that hour.