"You should know that any academy will accept you and in future you will definitely become someone strong and will be granted a noble title and have very good life. Then why do you still want to become my servant?" Max asked.
He found this confusing and it wasn't like he forced him or anything. If he was in this guys place, he wouldn't want to become anyone's servant no matter if the said person helped him. At most he would think of some way to pay him back.
"It's because in my hopelessness, i vowed if anyone helped me at that moment, I would follow him. Moreover you aren't like other nobles who treat everyone as trash. After this short time, I came to admire your character. So I wish to follow you." Neer said honestly.
Max looked at him in surprise. He didn't see expect that someone like him would still exist in this world. On earth, he had seen many people going back on their promise after obtaining what they wanted. After all they already got what they wanted, so what if other party accuse them of not keeping their word.
However, he now met someone who made a vow that no one knew about and wanted to complete his it even if it meant to become someone's servant. Such character was respectable yet foolish in his eyes.
And Although he helped him and wanted to help the grandfather-granddaughter duo too, it was only because he felt some sympathy towards their plight. If this was not the case, he wouldn't have batted an eye even if they begged him.
But he understood his perspective, so he said "If that's the case, you can follow me but It'll not be as a servant." He then gave him five gold coins and said "After resting a bit, you can buy yourself some decent clothing."
Neer looked at the gold coins in his hand in a a daze. His eyes turned red but not a single tear drop appeared. He banged his head in front on the floor and shouted "Thank you young master. I won't disappoint you." Although his tone was slightly hoarse, Max could feel that he was genuinely moved by his actions.
He smiled bitterly, he had no intention to make him feel indebted. He gave some money so that he can get rid of his tattered clothes. After all now he was going to follow him so he had to treat his follower nicely. Wouldn't that be embarrassing for him as a noble if his follower dressed poorly?
He sighed 'This world is too cruel. By an act of kindness and only five gold coins, I earned his sincere loyalty. What kind of life must he have lived before to behave like this?' Thinking this, he felt ashamed of himself. In his previous life, he used to compare himself to his rich friend despite having almost everything necessary to live a good life and would blame his family for being a middle class family.
Max helped him stood up and patted his shoulder "Go and rest now. You need a calm state of mind for the upcoming recruitment." After saying this he recalled that most likely he wouldn't have to go through trials after showing that he had dual elements.
"Yes young master." Neer clenched the gold coins and bowed before leaving his room.
...
...After one and a half hour...
Max laid in the bed with his eyes closed. He was sleeping when a knock on the door woke him up.
Then Rou's sweet voice sounded "Young master, I've prepared the food. Please come and eat."
"Okay I'm coming." Max opened the door and was led to the first room on the right where the duo lived.
A table was set up in the middle of the room with three seats placed around it. Neer and driver were both stood there. Seeing Max come in they saluted him with with one hand across their chest and bowed. Max nodded at them and sat on one of the seats. After that Neer and the driver also sat down. Neer was no longer in his previous rag clothes. He was wearing black pants and a bluish half sleeved shirt.
Rou served the food. There were rice buns, salad and meat soup. "Young master I put more efforts today, I'm sure you will like it." She said cheerfully.
Max didn't say anything but his driver looked at the food and then Max. Max knew what he was thinking and slightly shook his head towards him. Then he drank a spoonful of soup after carefully blowing on it. After tasting it, his eyes lit up and praised the little girl "It's really delicious little Rou."
Little girl's smiled blossomed hearing this. Her grandpa however, shook his head. He knew that his granddaughter's cooking was very good. However, how can their low quality meat and rice be palatable to the nobles like him. But seeing that Max didn't complain, his opinion of Max and the way he looked at him changed. The previous wariness was replaced by gratefulness.
Max wasn't praising half heartedly like the old man thought, he really liked the food or her cooking. Even with normal wild beast's meat, she made the soup very delicious. Neer and the driver also ate without a word after tasting the food.
After finishing their meal, Max gave the little girl 10 gold coins and rented the house until the recruitment was over. The little girl, although very happy to receive such a huge some of money, was reluctant to accept it. However, when Max threatened to leave the house without paying she accepted and gave it to her grandfather. The old man cried the tears of happiness and thanked Max again and again.
...
When it was evening, Max with Neer and the driver went to the market to buy something useful for the recruitment examinations and explore the city. When they reached the market, they found It full of people like it was in the day.
"Young master what would you like to buy?" Neer asked as he walked behind him.
"Do you know what kind of tests they would conduct during the recruitment?" Max asked. If he knew what kind of test he had pass, it would be easy to buy some things to aid him.
