Chapter 22.

"Its fine. I have enough money to last through my journey."

Even with just the change, I had enough money to manage a small territory for 10 months.

Despite looking ashamed, Lisbon looked seemingly interested as he asked about my destination.

"Where is your destination?"

"Im going all the way to the capital."

"Oh, really? Then would you like to come with us?"

"Oppa!" Alice yelled in protest at the suckers proposal.

However, Lisbon only flashed a bright smile as though he couldnt hear his sisters voice.

"I would appreciate it if you were to accompany me since I dont know much about the world, but wouldnt this be an inconvenience?"

When I spoke humbly in contrast to the excitement I was feeling inside, Alice immediately, coldly replied, "Yes, it is an inconvenience."

But there was a nice sucker sitting next to her.

"No, it wont be. Its nice to have more company."

"Oppa!"

I calmed down Alice who was becoming angry.

"If you're worried about the financial situation, you don't have to worry about my share. As I said earlier, I have plenty of money now."

"No, you can just screw..."

"I can also contribute money to some extent."

I added in these words before Alice could tell me to screw off.

" How much?"

When she asked with a slightly softened expression, her brother Lisbon quietly called out her name.

"Alice."

"Oh, its all right. I dont know your schedule, so its hard to give a definite answer on how much I could provide support."

I grinned at Lisbon.

"If youre not planning on going straight to the capital and planning on taking a detour, Ill have to take a detour as well so the amount of money I would provide will be reduced correspondingly."

Before listening to their plan, I called the waitress to make an order.

"I'd like 5 wheat bread, 1 mushroom soup, 1 roasted chicken leg, 2 parmesan cheese on tomato soup, and 2 garlic steaks."

I realized while placing the order that I had ordered the same menu for Lisbon as his sister.

"Oh, would it be okay if I ordered the same menu as your sister for you?"

"But if you did that, that money wont be enough....

Lisbon looked worried as he looked at the refined bronze coins I had taken out.

He was definitely a sucker! He was worrying over my finances when he could just say thank you and eat the food I bought for him.

I took out three more refined bronze coins and placed them on the table.

"I told you I have enough money. Please take the order as I just said."

"Yes, Sir."

The waitress went away after writing down the order and Lisbon looked at me with an apologetic face.

"You don't have to be so sorry. You said you wanted to be a knight, right? You must be pretty strong, so please escort me safely to the capital."

I told Lisbon who was looking at me with sorry eyes.

"Would it make you feel better if this dinner and financial support is the sincerity for the escort you will provide?"

"Well, but....

Perhaps it was because she felt uncomfortable about receiving free money or she was just frustrated at her brother, Alice said, "Oppa, you are protecting the weak according to the chivalry code. That man is just expressing his gratitude. Its not like he told you specifically how much money he will provide. Hes just providing us with the extra bit of money he has excluding the amount he needs for himself. It could just end with several refined bronze coins." Alice tried to persuade her brother quite desperately.

How much money had the sucker thrown away for a noble lady like her to talk as such? I was a little curious but decided to refrain from asking for now.

Despite Alices persuasion, Lisbon remained silent. It seemed as though she was angry at his silence since she shot deadly glares at him.

"What is the problem? Are you saying that you cant accept it because the gratitude of the weak is worthless? Is that your chivalry code?"

"No, thats not it."

"Then what?"

I decided to send some backup.

"Or are you uncomfortable traveling with me?"

"No? No way. It's just... Im bothered with taking money....

At this rate, even the spectators would get cancer. It would make me feel better if I were to tell Alice later to take away even the iron coins from her brother. Taking away the last bit of money from his hands should teach Lisbon a lesson.

"Then how about this? Ill lend money to you instead of providing you with support. You can earn that money when you arrive at the capital, right?"

He was a noble, so wouldnt he have a base at the capital?

Even if they didnt have one, they could request money from their family so money probably wasnt an issue for them.

"If Im lending money instead of providing support, I think I'll lend you as much as my limits go, so itll be a better trip for you guys. What do you think, Miss Alice?"

Alice replied with such a smile to my question as if she had never