NOVEL WEB Bitter Meal
The days that followed were quiet at the Beckham estate.
True to his word, Bonereghard served Silas nothing but buttered bread and vinegar water.
Silas noticed Diog's portions remained as generous as ever. The skeletal butler took particular satisfaction in watching Silas grimace through each meal.
"I do hope the vinegar isn't too strong for your delicate palate, my lord," Bonereghard commented dryly as he set down another plate. "Though I suppose it's still more palatable than watching your decision-making skills in action."
Silas shot him a glare but remained silent. He had learned it was better not to engage Bonereghard when he was in one of these moods.
Diog spent most of his time resting in the summoning chamber, where the ambient mana helped speed his recovery, as did the potion that Veon gave him.
The acid burns had begun to heal, revealing patches of new fur that were slightly lighter than before.
Though still weak, his appetite had returned with a vengeance.
Bonereghard was all over Diog, constantly bringing him the finest cuts of meat, fresh water, and the occasional potion to speed up the recovery. He often sat beside the recovering Fenrir cub.
"You see, Diog," Bonereghard would say while adjusting his monocle, "this is what happens when one's master has all the strategic forethought and subtlety of a barbarian. Though I suppose we can't entirely blame him. Some people are simply born with rocks where their brains should be."
Diog would wag his tail weakly, and Bonereghard would pat his head approvingly. "Ah, yes, you understand, young majesty. It's remarkable how you've managed to survive this long with... well..." He glanced meaningfully at Silas.
[System Notification: Diog is Currently Unavailable - Injury Recovery]
Estimated Recovery Time: 7 Days
Alternative Combat Solution Required
"We need another monster," Silas finally said, after finishing yet another meal of bread and vinegar. "Just temporarily, while Diog recovers."
Bonereghard turned to him. "Oh? And what exactly do you propose to offer to summon a new monster with?" He gestured to the now-empty summoning chamber storage. "I've taken the liberty of removing and securing all valuable components. We wouldn't want opportunity wasted before you're properly ready."
"Yeah, not at all." Silas sighed and bit back what he really wanted to say.
He looked over the little that remained: some moldy herbs, a half-empty vial of murky water, and what might have once been a magical crystal but now looked more like a piece of clouded glass.
"There has to be something I can use," Silas muttered.
"Well," Bonereghard mused, "you do have your bread and vinegar. Perhaps you could summon something appropriately pathetic to match your current situation."
Silas gritted his teeth but gathered the meager ingredients.
He arranged them in the summoning circle while Bonereghard watched with undisguised amusement.
"Do be careful not to strain yourself thinking too hard about this one," Bonereghard advised. "Sometimes what you have on hand is the best option."
Silas ignored him and began the summoning ritual.
The ingredients glowed weakly, the vinegar sizzling as it mixed with the moldy herbs. There was a pop, a fizzle, and then…
Magic.
A small, rather pitiful-looking creature materialized in the center of the circle.
It was somewhere between a rat and a slug, with grayish skin that glistened unpleasantly. Its beady eyes blinked up at them with a vacant expression.
[System Notification: Successful Summon]
Creature Type: Sewer Slug (Common)
Rank: E-
Special Abilities: None
Notes: At least it's alive
"Ah," Bonereghard clapped his bony hands together. "How perfectly appropriate. I believe I shall call it Silas Junior."
"You can't name my summon," Silas protested.
"Oh, but I already have. See?" Bonereghard pointed to the system notification that had just appeared:
[Creature Registration Complete]
Name: Silas Junior
Type: Sewer Slug
Owner: Silas Beckham
Note: Name cannot be changed once registered
"How did you even–" Silas spluttered.
"Estate privileges," Bonereghard replied smugly as he adjusted his monocle. "Someone has to maintain proper documentation." He bent down to examine the slug-rat hybrid more closely. "The resemblance is quite remarkable, don't you think? The same vacant expression, the same questionable life choices..."
From his cushion, Diog let out what sounded suspiciously like a snort.
"You too, Diog?" Silas muttered.
Silas Junior squelched forward, leaving a slightly grimy trail on the floor.
Silas stared at the pitiful creature in front of him. He knew he had no choice but to make the best of the situation. Bonereghard's sarcastic remarks didn't help, but Silas had grown somewhat used to them.
"Alright, Silas Junior," Silas said, trying to muster some enthusiasm. "Let's see what you can do."
The sewer slug blinked slowly and emitted a low, gurgling sound that could have been interpreted as agreement.
Silas sighed and motioned for the creature to follow him.
"Let's take you outside," he said, leading the way to the estate training grounds.
Bonereghard followed after them. "I do hope you have a plan for this... delightful addition to our group."
"Yeah, me too," Silas muttered under his breath. He led Silas Junior to an open area where Diog had often trained.
"Alright, Junior," Silas said, turning to face the slug. "Let's start with something simple."
Silas stood in the training grounds, Silas Junior squirming on the grass before him. The slug-like creature left a slimy trail behind as it awkwardly tried to navigate the uneven terrain.
Silas grimaced.
"Alright, Junior," he started, trying to add some enthusiasm to things. "Let's see if you can do anything useful."
The sewer slug blinked slowly, completely not understanding anything. .
Silas scratched his head, thinking back on all that Diog was capable of doing.
He felt frustrated. What am I even supposed to do with you?
The creature let out a soft gurgle, which Silas interpreted as indifference.
"Okay then," he muttered. "How about some basic movement drills? Let's see what you can manage."
The slug watched him intently for a moment before doing a sluggish slide forward, leaving a wet trail behind.
"Not quite what I had in mind," he muttered under his breath.
Silas trudged back inside the estate, glancing back to ensure Silas Junior was following.
“What about the registry?” he asked Bonereghard as they went back inside.
“Ah yes,” Bonereghard replied with exaggerated effect. “It is a possibility. Surely Silas Junior is up to the task? Like master, like summon, as they say.”
“Nobody says that.”
“I just did.” Bonereghard turned toward Diog again. “You see what I have to work with? It’s a wonder the estate is still standing.”
Diog wagged his tail weakly, seemingly amused.
“The Registry’s odd jobs typically involve deliveries, basic monster control, or document filing,” Bonereghard continued. “Surely even Silas Junior can handle carrying a piece of paper from one place to another. Though…”
He watched as the creature finally managed to catch up to them and was panting for breath. “Perhaps we should start with something even simpler. Like breathing. It seems to be managing that. Mostly.”
Silas slumped in defeat against a nearby wall. “Fine. We’ll start with the smallest jobs possible. But as soon as Diog is recovered—”
“Yes, yes,” Bonereghard waved a bony hand dismissively. “You can return to your regularly scheduled mismanaging. But for now…”
He produced another plate of buttered bread and a glass of vinegar water from seemingly thin air.
“Dinner is served,” he announced dramatically, setting down the offerings for both Silas Senior and Junior.
Silas Junior perked up at the sight of food; its tiny form eyed the bread hungrily.
“See?” Bonereghard said with an air of triumph. “It even shares your sophisticated palate. Though it probably has better table manners.”
“I hate you,” Silas muttered.
“A sentiment I’m sure Silas Junior will come to share given time,” Bonereghard replied cheerfully.
With a heavy sigh, Silas sat at the table beside Diog while Bonereghard shuffled away momentarily.
“Now then,” Bonereghard called out over his shoulder as he returned with a ledger in hand, “shall we review the current state of our estate?”
Silas nodded absently as he tore off a piece of bread for himself while Silas Junior greedily devoured its share next to him.
Bonereghard opened the ledger and began reading aloud:
Estate Status Update:
《Estate Status: Beckham Estate》
《Mana Output: 30 Mana/Week (Allocated: 20 Mana to Bonereghard, 10 Mana to The Gemini)》
《Treasury: 2,986 gold (Hidden Reserves)》
《Active Debts: 28,112 gold (Tax Office)》
《Current Creatures:》
《Diog: Unavailable - Recovery》
《Silas Junior: Active》
《Estate Condition: Functional》
《Notable Issues: Everything》
《Immediate Concerns:》
《Revenue Generation: Required》
《Combat Solutions: Diog Recovery》
《Upcoming Tasks:》
《Registry Odd Jobs: Pending》
《Basic Training: Silas Junior》
Silas eyed Silas Junior, the pitiful slug-rat hybrid, and sighed. "Come on, Silas Junior," he muttered, holding out his hand.
The creature gurgled softly and sluggishly climbed onto his palm.
With a grimace, Silas placed the slimy summon on his shoulder.
"We'd best be off," he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. The slug-rat's weight was negligible, but its presence was a constant reminder of how low he'd sunk.
Bonereghard watched with thinly veiled amusement as Silas made his way towards the estate’s entrance.
"Do try to return before nightfall," the skeletal steward called after him. "I would hate for you to become another tragic tale of lost heirs."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Silas replied dryly, stepping out into the overgrown yard.