Renjiro deeply understood the power of etiquette.
Because when you know how to wield it, you can earn tremendous favor in the eyes of those who also understand manners.
And if you run into someone utterly lacking in courtesy…
Hmm, no doubt about it. With my current strength, even fools like them would have to speak properly to me.
For example, today…
"Ah? What did you say?"
"You want to help Liliruca change her allegiance?"
"Yes."
The location was at the main gate of the Soma familia headquarters.
Renjiro, acting almost like a protective guardian, brought the slightly nervous Bell and Liliruca here.
At this moment, the three of them weren't even invited inside.
Because even at the gate, they were stopped by a few scoundrels.
Among them…
"Canoe Belway."
The leader, a hulking dogman, was one of the lackeys under the Soma familia's leader, Zanis Lustra.
If Renjiro remembered correctly, in the original timeline of this world, this fool—out of greed—once rushed to move the box that sealed the Minotaur Ottar, only to be cut down in a single blow.
This trash had been persecuting Liliruca for some time, coveting her money, intending to use her and then toss her to the man-eating ants.
And this was clearly not the first time.
How many innocent adventurers and supporters had this bad apple stained with blood?
Then…
"So you think having someone cover for you makes you brave, huh? Arde?"
At the gate, the dogman, unaware of the danger closing in, continued to bark.
"Forgot your manners? Shouldn't it be Canoe… pft~"
The noisy scoundrel was sent flying.
BOOM
Landing on his back, his face bore a shoe print.
Dogman teeth were scattered everywhere, bloodied, head cracked.
"So noisy," Renjiro muttered with a frown, his tone filled with disgust.
Even if you're a familia leader from another familia personally visiting for serious matters, having some subordinate ramble on like this is a waste of time.
"Very well!"
He turned to the others still standing.
"If this is how the Soma familia treats guests, I don't mind cooperating in a different way."
These words…
[May the Great Blessing of Fire descend upon your cause, may fierce flames reveal your courage—]
[Fireball]
A simple and undoubtedly the most common magic spell on the continent.
Within the Soma familia, at least ten people probably knew this trick.
But…
"Hng~"
Renjiro raised his right hand, lifting only his index finger.
From its tip, a sun with a radius of more than ten meters ignited.
Fireball? You call this a fireball?
"Still standing there?"
As the assorted scoundrels at the gate instinctively started to step back, swallowing nervously, Renjiro's calm voice rang out.
"If you don't learn proper hospitality, I'll start knocking."
"P-please wait…"
A human man immediately reacted. He didn't even bother helping Canoe up, instead bolting inside the headquarters.
Even the dogman no longer dared to bark.
In his heart, he cursed silently: No wonder Arde has such confidence.
Fireball wasn't rare.
It's just that, due to the high mana cost per cast, even expending a lot of mana doesn't make it significantly more effective, so it's considered "low-grade."
Most adventurers would be proud just to summon a fireball the size of a basketball.
But this…
"What kind of monster is this?"
Seeing the "sun" large enough to destroy a building and feeling the rising heat, Canoe wisely chose silence to save his life.
Finally, the Soma familia members seemed to grasp the basic notion of etiquette…
WHOOSH~
The massive fireball dissipated. Renjiro casually waved his hand.
Bell and Liliruca instinctively wiped sweat from their foreheads, faces filled with astonishment.
Especially the rabbit boy…
"This… this is magic? So powerful."
"No, only the leader is powerful."
Liliruca, with much more experience than Bell, stated sharply:
"This is just the lowest-grade fireball spell, but…"
She looked at Renjiro.
"…I've never seen anyone summon one this big before."
"Renjiro-sama, your mana must be immense. Why waste precious spell slots on such a low-level spell?"
She couldn't help but feel it was a shame.
Seeing her reaction…
"I'm not wasting my slots."
Renjiro's answer was brief.
"Some things will wait until your matters are settled. Once back at the headquarters, then we'll talk."
"Oh~"
Liliruca nodded.
Just then…
"This is truly unfortunate. A distinguished guest arrived from afar, and no one notified me. My apologies."
Inside the Soma familia headquarters, a man with a middle-parted hairstyle and gold-rimmed glasses arrived at the gate, flanked by several people.
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100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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