A New World, an immersive game experience

Chapter 489 - Rewards Given

[Through valorous deed and self-sacrifice, you have been called a hero by the people. However, it is far easier to be called a hero than to actually be one.]

[Never forget, what truly matters is your belief in what is right. In what must be done. A hero is someone whose core belief is to help everyone, no matter their origin. No matter their past.]

[Affect (if active): Upon seeing the title of hero, most would open you with open arms. However, to some, it will make you a target.]

[Progression: Live up to the title. Accomplishing this will be by no means an easy task, but the rewards will also not be meager. A hero is not just blessed by the heavens, but also by the earth. By Gaia.]

Reading the last part, Eldrian was certain that this was Ziraili's attempt to explain something to him.? 'Would all people with this title get the same description, or did she deliberately state mine as she had.'

'I would assume, normally, a hero would be blessed by the gods. However...' Eldrian frowned as he tried to decipher the riddle, coming out of his stupor when he felt Vivian's hand on his shoulder.

"You alright?" Her concern touched Eldrian and allowed him to focus on the task at hand.

"I am, thank you." Nodding and stepping forward, the spotlight again fell onto Eldrian. Many were shocked that the one with so many achievements was the same one who had dazzled them with his strange foreign dance.

Another shocking fact for everyone was that Observe indicated a different name than what was called. No one brought this up since Pelaros seemed to be aware of this himself and hadn't stated that this elf wasn't the so-called Eldrian.

"Eldrian, also known as Haru. You are not from this world, yet you have done great things for us. Normally, people would contest the rewards I would bestow on you, but, I doubt many remain after hearing your achievements."

"As a reward, the Crown has decided to bestow on you the fourth rank of count and a manor fitting such a title. Along with this, a magnificent weapon has been forged by one of our greatest smiths."

Upon saying so, one of the servants quickly brought forward a decorated case nearly two and a half meters long.

"So as to keep the identity of the weapon a secret, we have also prepared this case for it. Finally, a reward of two hundred seventy gold is included in the case."

"Please kneel," Pelaros asked, and Eldrian of course did. Following was the common ceremony of having a sword placed on each shoulder, and then, "Please rise, Count Eldrian."

[Possible name change, do you wish to match avatar name and given name with the title?]

'Yes,' Eldrian replied to the system message while standing up.

"Have you decided on a household name?" Pelaros asked and Eldrian nodded.

"Avgi."

"Then, from henceforth you will be known as Count Eldrian of the house of Avgi. May your household grow strong and survive long."

Nodding, Eldrian accepted the case and slowly returned to the crowd. Unsure what to think of his new names, but determined that he wanted it as it was now.

"Count Eldrian?" Vivian joked as Eldrian returned.

"Baroness Vivian?" Eldrian joked back while storing the case, the gold automatically added to his inventory count and bringing it just a few gold short of 700.

"Don't."

"You started it."

"Fine, I yield," Vivian said with a smile as the two returned their attention to Pelaros who was now reading out the achievements of Sodren, the lead commander at the end of the stalemate.

"Evale and Evules, please, come forward."

Stepping forward, the two immediately knelt. "You have served well and showed all your loyalty, as well as what you are capable of. You are still young, and many would use this against you in ruling over a town growing as quick as Trowcrawling."

"Their complaints are overshadowed by your achievements, the Crown promises that no matter how much Trowcrawling grows, its governance will stay in your house."

Following this, around another ten or fifteen people were called forward to receive their rewards. Of course, only those with major achievements would be awarded in the gala. Naturally, Katania and Thesolis were also among them.

Finally, with the official matters finished, song filled the air once again and the festivities began anew. Now, with the nobles knowing who to crowd around and try to establish connections.

Of course, Eldrian and Vivian made themselves scarce knowing what would happen if they stayed any longer.

As they walked in the night, enjoying the stars and the simple silence filling the air, Vivian asked, "Why did you decide to name your household Avgi?"

"Because I owe a great deal to the alicorns. Outside of Dave, they have been my only true teachers. Helping me understand not just magic, but also myself and this world. If just a little better."

"Cephaphyr is also from there, and if not for him, none of this would have been possible. At least not with how well it had turned out."

Nodding, Vivian found his reasons as a nice way to pay homage to those who had helped him, silently they walked on.

The two wandered aimlessly for a few hours before finally returning to the house that was soon to be redundant.

As the lights of the house came into their vision, Eldrian paused. "Vivian, I've been thinking."

Pausing and turning to look at Eldrian, Vivian smiled. "The house?"

"Yes, why don't you take it over when I go to my mansion?" The word mansion sounded so foreign and strange to Eldrian. Especially with a 'my' attached before it.

"Why?"

"It will go to waste, or I will need to sell it. I thought that this might be the smarter move."

...

Around a week had passed, during which most of the things needing to be sorted had been sorted.

Eldrian had found that it was truly easy for him to find people to hire, deciding on who to hire however was far more difficult. The admin of a noble's life had stopped him from progressing much in magic, outside of simple experiments he could do amidst a crowd.

"Are you sure about this?" The clerk who was helping Eldrian asked. He was Darren, a middle-aged centaur who had helped plenty of nobles get the servent and retainers they needed.

Eldrian, Eldrian had made his job truly difficult.

Normally the requirements of nobles were simple. For maid, they must be pretty and young. The male servants needed to be either handsome, or they needed to be strong.

With retainers, most nobles simply had a Tier requirement and then would have their butler handle the interview.

What did Eldrian do?

He asked that the maids be those who needed the help the most, only requiring that their loyalty be ensured as he would certainly be experimenting and didn't want that to simply spread throughout the city.

Male servants were a similar case, and Eldrian didn't have a butler. Thus he would need to do all the interviews with his possible retainers personally.

This would have been fine if Eldrian had chosen a high Tier requirement. Instead, the elf had gone and declared that anyone, even someone with just a basic understanding of magic (Tier 0), could apply.

AN: A big thanks to everyone who continually supports this on WN.