Maria acted coldly in response to his poor comedy.

"You really know how to pretend kid!" The old man laughed, clearly not taking Maria's anger seriously. "I remember you came up to me last time, asking about how Earl here looked-"

"-SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP YOU OLD MAN!" She interrupted furiously, giving him a death glare that could chill a continent quickly muffling his mouth with her hands.

What's she talking about? When I looked what?

Despite my curiosity, and his pretense, the old man showed no true intent of revealing Maria's secret, helplessly letting his mouth be covered but there was mirth in his eyes, observing the heaving Maria.

After a bit, he moved her hand and sighed. "I don't get you young couples, so ashamed of such simple things. Why, back in my days, you just grabbed someone you liked and dragged them back to your cave. If you were feeling nice, you hunted one of them big pointy toothed tigers to show off." He sighed.

As usual, I couldn't help but wonder how old this man was.

At the very least, I had never heard of some of the creatures he mentioned.

Like hairy elephants. While not rare, those were often monsters. But normal animals? That was a truly nonexistent phenomenon, extinct even.

The old man moved on, waving a little cage in front of me. "Like it? I found it for you." He said happily, and I took a closer look.

A magpie... with a third deformed leg.

... Yippee?

I didn't want to be rude though, so I accepted the cage uncertainly.

"I mean if you don't want it, I can just keep it for myself." The old man teased, but this time I held it firmly.

If nothing else, the old man has a good handle on what's good and what isn't.

"What is it old man?" I asked him and he chuckled.

"Oh nothing, just a magpie suffering some bloodline atavism. It's ancestor is the golden crow."

Golden crow, golden crow, golden crow...

... yeah doesn't ring a bell.

Seeing my confused look, the old man explained.

"The golden crows were an ancient prehistoric lineage, capable of generating solar energy. Wherever they flew, it was like the sun itself had descended. They were terrifying in battles, causing millions to die at a time due to the immense heat they emitted.

They were also great for nurturing plants, as they were able to condense an even more nurturing form of solar energy.

Unfortunately, they've nearly all been hunted down because of how valuable they are. Only one true golden crow remains in the buddhist paradise.

He is known as Lu Ya the son of Dijun, but also Zen wuchao and the Vairocana Buddha."

Woah.

"Only one?" I ask unsurely.

According to the old man, such a creature was extremely valuable. Even if they were hunted down, surely they were kept to nurture fields or serve as contracted familiars.

Clearly the old man saw through me as he explained. "Golden crows are innately prideful, similar to the dragon clan. It's hard to get a pure golden crow to submit, so they often force bred them, producing impure golden crows.

Not only that, but as a high level monster, golden crows were already a sparse race, only made more spare by the human-demon war a million years ago. I think only 20 of them were left after the war."

He said it casually, but all the stuff he said was absolutely mind blowing.

"Old man, did you say a million years ago?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"Hmm? Yeah, more or less. But it's been so long. My memories probably a bit off."

Before I could speak, Maria spoke first. "A million years old? Old man, you're a million years old? I know you were old, but that's downright ancient! I don't think I know a single god as old as you!

Not even rocks can compare in age!"

She kept exclaiming, and the old man's face turned as black as a pot listening to her slander him.

"I'll have you know, I look wonderful for my age! I'm as old as humanity, and I don't look a day over 60." He said proudly, puffing his chest out. I gave him a weird look, watching as an old man proudly announce he looked good as an elderly man.

But I had to admit, he's right. Technically, compared to other million year old beings, he looks good.

It's just that as far as I know, at a million years old, most people are dust in the wind.

"You're thinking something rude again." The old man complained, flicking me in the head.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Ouch!

Feeling the giant red welt on my forehead, I decided to remain in my turtle form later.

Hopefully it'll be less noticeable later.

"Anyway, enough joking. Let's go meet your elven friends. It should be the group hiding at the hotel right? Two children with high potential, one in the mental path and one in the path of mage. Interesting." He said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Yes, that's our group. Is there another group?" Maria asked curiously and the old man nodded.

"Yes, there is another group, watching the other group. Seems like a bunch of termites managed to sneak into your territory.

Well since we're old friends, let me lend you a hand. " He said casually, flicking a finger.

The elven commander looked up in horror

Finally, they had found a lead, following the royal guards to this far out territory.

Their goal in hand, they paid no regard to the rumors of a strongman appearing in the territory.

Could any be compared to their god?!

Only now did he realize how foolish they had been to underestimate them.

No matter how strong their god was, he was not here, but far away. And the threat was here.

A transparent axe hung over head, yet it felt like the world itself was crashing above them.

A casual finger flick from the old man caused the elves to fear for their life, as a booming voice echoed through their minds

'I don't care what you do, but if you dare run crazy on my territory, I'll show you what it means to prove the way by force.'

The voice and axe faded, yet the heretical elf was left sweating.

He would have to consult the higher ups.

Whether it be to heed the mysterious beings wishes, or call upon the lord's help, a choice must be made.

"Is that it?" I asked, and the old man nodded.

"Yup, ready to go?" he asked.

I paused for a moment before shaking my head.

Maria gave me a knowing look, sighing. She already knew what I was going to do, but made no motion to stop me.

The old man shrugged. "Whatever, go crazy. Worst that happens is I scrub their minds."

"You can do that?"

"Yeah, hit them hard enough, and they'll forget what happened tonight." I gave him a helpless look.

"Although I am no longer their lord, they are still my subjects. Please do not bludgeon them over the head." I requested and he shrugged.

Leaving them, I went to go meet someone.

Someone, amongst my whole traitorous family, whom I treasured deeply. Someone who differed from his brother so greatly, it is like night and day.

My cousin, whose brother tried to assassinate me.

Dilucius' brother, Michelangelo, quietly scratched his head with frustration, reading the reports sent to him, the new Marquis of Gamoceras.

Or Rudelius. Papers usually used the former, but occasionally, some of them would use the latter, causing his work to become disorganized.

And that was just the start of it. The more work he did, the more he realized how difficult it was to manage a territory, and how skilled his cousin Earl had been. He truly didn't understand his brother Dilucius' ambition, his drive to seize this pile of work. Was less sleep for more wealth so desirable?

Naturally, he understood that he was different from his cousin, who was groomed for the position of Marquis. His parent's had long coveted that spot, ever since his uncle and aunt died. But they had never chosen to seize it directly, preferring to fuel the eldest's ambition.

As for him? He was the second son and was treated thusly. He enjoyed wealth, but little responsibility. Nothing was expected of him, other than to marry into other families, or to serve as backup for his brother. He was treated well on paper, but in reality, was spurned.

The result was that he lacked ambition and had a good relationship with his cousin Earl. He wasn't stupid, the comfortable life he enjoyed was in no small part due to his cousin's efforts, and his family's cold shoulder versus Earl's more welcoming nature made it so that Michale enjoyed his company more.

Inadvertently, it also meant his transition to Marquis was smooth, since Earl's people knew him, and knew his nature, understanding that Michaelangelo would never get involved in such nefarious efforts. Few people tried to undermine if any.

Even so, Michael wished his cousin was still alive, taking over all this nonsense.

Wasn't he Anubis' favorite? Surely the minister of the dead could look the other way-

"Hey, stop thinking rude things about Anubis-sama." Interrupted a blunt voice, but it was like a call from heaven to Michaelangelo.

"Earl? Is that you!? I knew you weren't dead! Oh, thank goodness, I've been so tired! Here, you take the seat and I'll sign the papers reaffirming your status as Marquis-"

"No, no, no. None of that. I'm not the marquis anymore." Earl refused and Michael couldn't help but protest.

"Why!? You're clearly fine right now? Just take over and everything will be alright!" Michael pushed but Earl shook his head in firm refusal, pushing the workload back into the tired man's hands.

If he was unsure before, Earl was sure now.

Thank the lord that's not his spot anymore. In a sense, becoming a monster had freed his hands. He'd forgotten how tiring it was to be lord until he saw his cousin practically half dead.

"I'm sorry Michael, but I died in that building. There is no longer a marquis Earl. Only Earl."

"You died? Then how are you here? Wait!" He paused in realization before nodding. "I see, I see, so lord Anubis did open a backdoor for you!" He said with confidence, as if he understood what had transpired.

He didn't and Earl emphasized this by smacking him over the head.

"Don't slander lord Anubis. It's a pantheon wide initiative. Certain favorites of the gods who've lived an unfulfilling life have been sent to be reborn as monsters. Anubis chose me, so I'm not human anymore, and have in essence, severed all connections to my past life."

Earl said, though his eyes softened.

"I just wanted to make sure that you were doing fine as the new marquis. I'm glad to see that I didn't misjudge you." He said, reassuring his cousin.

Hearing that, Michaelangelo couldn't help but sigh helplessly knowing that his cousin had decided, and that nothing would change his mind.

"Thanks. I'll do my best for the territory." He said confidently before laughing, much to Earl's confusion.

Michael explained. "Just a month ago, you were the one working tirelessly and I was the one lazing around, but now I'm the one working my ass off and you're the one slacking."

Earl snorted hearing this factually false statement.

If escorting a high elf into a den of cultists is considered slacking off, then clearly, he spent his whole previous term as Marquis slacking off.

Still, after all this, chilling out as a turtle living his slow life did sound appealing....

He shook off the nice dream, and informed Michael.

"Oh, and I'll be taking the old man with me for a bit."

"Hmm? Oh, ok. He and I don't have much in common and it's been a bit awkward between us. By all means, take him, you'll be taking a load off my back. " Michael said indifferently, clearly indifferent to the old man's departure.

Well, he is a bit eccentric. I think I'm the only one he really vibed with.

"Well, I'm going to get going now that I've seen you working so diligently. I know the people will be safe in your hands." Earl said and Michaelangelo turned serious, assuring his cousin.

"Don't worry. Now that I'm lord, I'll do my best to take care of the people."

Earl was satisfied, leaving the mansion to go meet up with the others.

As he left, he locked eyes with the captain of his guard, a man who had been stationed at his home that fateful day, sparing him the same fate.

The captain didn't even blink, knowing it was his lordship despite the circumstances.

A truly loyal warrior.

Nothing was said, yet the two understood one another clearly.

The captain would stand guard and make sure the territory would be safe in his absence.

Even if it lasted a lifetime.

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