Michael followed the maid through the manor, inspecting his surroundings once again.
Regardless of whether this building was placed on Earth or in Aurora, its style and design would make it a prime tourist attraction. But in the Land of Origin, things were different.
At least in these parts, this was the current aesthetic.
Anything considered ancient here—probably like the first location Michael had found himself in—would be a museum exhibit back in his world.
As he admired the architecture, it didn't take long for him to reach the mayor's dining room.
It was quite large, and a few people were already seated at the table.
Among them were the captain of the knight team, the mayor, and Mage Lian.
However no one sat at the head chair not even the owner of the manor.
A little puzzled why having some guesses Michael didn't attempt to be different and sat down on the side of the dinning table. The side mage Lian just happened to be on and in front of the knight captain and the mayor.
"Good morning sir Mic."
The mayor was the first to greet him, standing up and giving a short bow.
"Good morning, Mr. Mayor."
Michael hesitated for a brief moment, unsure whether he should stand and return the greeting.
In the end, he made his decision on the spot after observing the situation.
For one, the mayor had a genuine look of respect in both his expression and movements. And, more importantly, the two other men at the dining table did not seem to find the greeting out of place.
Instead, they acted as if it were completely normal.
For some reason, it reminded Michael of the way the maids acted around him. So, just as he had done with them, he chose to act as he imagined a person in power would.
Even as he spoke and remained indifferent to the gesture, the mayor still smiled before taking his seat again.
Following the mayor, the knight captain also stood up to greet him.
Michael, however, felt mentally drained when he realized that just as the mayor sat down, the knight captain had already risen for his own greeting.
Even though the man didn't bow but simply gave a salute, the action was ultimately the same.
Michael couldn't help but wonder how they would react if they ever found out he was a fake noble.
The only one who gave a simple greeting without standing was Mage Lian, and in more ways than one, Michael was grateful for that.
After responding in kind, Michael watched as the town mayor, who had been waiting for everyone to settle in, picked up a small bell from the empty table and rang it.
Michael had noticed the bell earlier and wondered about its purpose. It didn't take long to find out.
Soon, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed through the manor, followed by the scent of various foods.
Maids and male attendants streamed into the dining room, carrying plates, cups, and an assortment of dishes.
In moments, the once-empty table was filled with a lavish spread.
Though Michael kept his expression neutral, he was quietly impressed.
He also realized that the others had been waiting for him before officially starting the meal. But since no one spoke and he had nothing to say, he focused on the food instead.
That wasn't to say it was the best meal he'd ever had. Under Aunt Mia's care, he had learned to cook and even considered himself a decent cook.
Of course, Aunt Mia—an actual chef, even if she wasn't the head chef of her establishment—was on another level.
Michael didn't think his cooking or Aunt Mia's was inferior to what he was currently eating, but he had to admit the new flavors were exceptional.
If not for the fact that he didn't truly need food anymore, wasn't particularly greedy, and was more interested in the conversation happening at the dining table, he might have eaten more.
What confused him was the whole necessity of food.
Back when his stats were still growing, he needed more food to sustain himself.
But after reaching a certain threshold, everything changed. His endurance increased, and his need for food significantly decreased.
Still, he didn't see it as a bad thing. As long as he avoided reaching the point of true hunger, it wasn't an issue.
Using numbers as an example, it would be like the combined hunger of over forty starving humans compressed into a single body.
"It's morning now, and the monster still hasn't attacked. Nor has any sign of movement been spotted outside the forest—whether in the air or on land. So, I think it's safe to say the creature isn't planning to leave anytime soon. What remains uncertain is how long that will last… and whether it has other plans."
This was the current discussion at the dining table among the four men.
Michael listened quietly but didn't fully agree with Mage Lian's assessment.
The night before, he had flown over the entire town yet remained undetected. That alone proved the mage's senses had limits. Who was to say the monster didn't have flying underlings already surveying the town?
However, pointing this out would only risk exposing himself and cause unnecessary panic. Besides, there were already contingency plans in motion.
"I've sent a message to the capital requesting aid, but as we all know, we must report the situation in person as well," Mage Lian stated.
He exchanged a few more words with the mayor and the knight captain while Michael remained silent.
Only after they concluded their discussion did Mage Lian turn to him.
"Sir Mic, if I recall correctly, yesterday you mentioned that you weren't familiar with the way to the venue or the Duke of Evermoon's competition, correct?"
"Yes, that's right," Michael confirmed, wondering silently where this conversation was leading to when Mage Lian spoke again.
"Then why not travel with us?"