Chapter 164 : Chapter 164
Chapter 164
‘For now, I won’t tell the Star Child.’
I never thought I, who had just scorned Gilbert for trying to handle everything himself, would make such a decision, but it couldn't be helped. That guy did it out of a misplaced sense of justice, while my purpose was to prevent greater chaos. For now, let's try it on my own.
“I’ll be back in a little while.”
In the end, I stopped by the Coffee Wagon to inform my family.
“I’ll try my best to return, but… there’s also the imperial banquet in the evening, so I don’t know if it’ll be possible.”
As we saw earlier this morning, the foot traffic during the Founding Festival was no joke. I felt extremely sorry for having to leave my post when we were already barely managing the orders, but….
“Aha, that’s good.”
Nerjin stood up with a faint smile and clapped his hands together.
“Pardon?”
“This is your first Founding Festival, isn’t it? It’s a relief that business is booming right now, but if we’re aiming for future sales, we need to check out the other stores and shops as well.”
It was nonsense. Well, plausible nonsense.
“The first day is always the hardest. Bianca, Savo, and I will handle things here. Don’t worry about the Coffee Wagon and go have a look around comfortably.”
Know-It-All (Lv 4) expresses its respect for Nerjin’s white lie.
Wild Instinct (Master) suggests gratefully accepting Nerjin’s consideration.
This might sound materialistic, but this is why I have never once regretted saving Nerjin.
However.
“So, President Martin, why don’t you go with Miss Lilac for a change?”
“What? With Lilac?”
Why was he suddenly telling me to take Lilac with me?
“Yes. Have you forgotten? Now that you are the Patriarch of the Ulvhadin County, according to Imperium noble etiquette, you must be accompanied by at least one servant when attending a banquet hosted by the Imperial Family.”
“Ah….”
It wasn’t that I had forgotten; it was information I didn’t know at all.
Know-It-All (Lv 4) opens the Grand Library and confirms the noble etiquette. It is true. It is an unspoken rule to enhance the authority of the noble bloodline.
…A thought I’ve been having lately is that everyone around me seems to mistakenly think I’m someone who knows and can do everything.
Imperial etiquette… well, it shouldn’t be a big problem. I could just ignore that much….
“Master! I’m all ready!”
Suddenly, Lilac informed me with sparkling eyes. She stood there in a neat maid uniform, holding a thick suitcase, though I didn't know what was inside.
“Uh, huh?”
“Yes! From the day I heard you were invited to the imperial banquet, I agonized over and packed the necessary items! I’m your one and only maid, after all!”
Lilac, who smiled brightly as if excited, even uncharacteristically emphasized her efforts.
‘Oh no…, this is a problem.’
She had gone so far as to learn Stellar Force and gunmanship, saying she wanted to stand by my side. This Founding Festival’s imperial banquet would be a great opportunity for Lilac.
“Uh, so…”
In truth, imperial etiquette or not, it didn't matter if I went alone. I'd get some disapproving looks, but what was the big deal.
‘The problem is that news getting to Lilac’s ears.’
She had already prepared everything to accompany me, so how could I refuse?
Even if I somehow refused and didn't go with her, how heartbroken would she be to hear that I had left a perfectly good maid behind and attended alone, only to get glares?
‘Even if the world collapsed, I couldn't bear to see that.’
I smiled as if I had no choice and gave my permission.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Yes!”
Sent off by Nerjin, Bianca, and Savo, we walked into the center of Imperium Land, where the festival was in full swing.
“Wow…!”
Lilac exclaimed, her cute mouth agape.
Brilliant lights illuminated every corner of the land like firefly fairies, and even the noisy sounds from all directions were so vibrant they felt alive. Strange shops that seemed like they would take us to a new world were beckoning us from all over.
This was it, the festival of this world.
“Master! Look over there!”
One of the symbols of Imperium Land. The grand Ferris wheel, with its arrogant height that was said to look down on even the imperial castle and the grand temple. Standing shoulder to shoulder with that Ferris wheel was another symbol… the ‘World Hero Parade,’ where people transformed into heroes who had etched their achievements in the continent's history and marched.
‘So this is why everyone left.’
The break time it brought was nice, but I had wondered just how great it was for our customers to rush off so eagerly.
‘It was worth it.’
It was a spectacle. The long parade procession included moving castle walls, fortresses, and even what looked like miniature versions of terrains. On top of them, the heroes who were the stars of the stage reenacted their past moments or waved to the people.
‘How could you not love it?’
If my own novel characters were having a parade, I would have run there barefoot.
‘So I have to understand.’
I turned my head slightly to look at Lilac. What a cheeky maid, unable to tear her eyes away from the parade even with her master next to her.
‘I’ll let it slide this once.’
Because the sight of her staring blankly at the parade was cute.
Wild Instinct (Master) checks everyone in the vicinity. If there is anyone with suspicious movements, it can be noticed intuitively.
The biggest change that came with Wild Instinct reaching its final stage was my senses. My five senses now covered a range that surprised even me, and it felt like I was living in a completely different world.
‘Above all.’
Instinct.
Know-It-All (Lv 4) does not trust instinct!
However, even it would have to admit its effectiveness. It was to the point where I could deduce the right answer with just instinct, without any evidence, information, or anything.
‘Is there no one around here?’
I wasn't just aimlessly enjoying the festival. Just as the saying goes, 'to hide a tree, put it in a forest,' I planned to slowly narrow down the candidates starting from the most crowded place.
Know-It-All (Lv 4) reports the results of its information gathering, stating that there are no visible places that could serve as a hideout nearby.
Wild Instinct (Master) says not to listen to a skill that is only at Lv 4.
Soon, Know-It-All and Wild Instinct began to fight tooth and nail.
‘Both of you, shut up.’
A sigh escaped me automatically. In a crisis, they worked together like they’d been partners their whole lives, but in daily life, they were always like this.
‘This system is also an unsolved mystery.’
Who created it, why was it given to me, and what is its true nature.
‘Recola would know.’
The name felt impossibly distant. I hadn't found a single trace of it for over half a year in this world.
“Master, shall we go now?”
“Huh?”
“Huhu, what have you been thinking so deeply about since a while ago?”
While I was lost in thought, Lilac had been staring at me since who knows when.
“Ah, sorry. Are you sure you don’t want to watch more of the parade?”
“It’s okay. The parade isn’t what’s important.”
“Hmm?”
“The fact that I’m watching the parade with you is what’s important, Master. It was my wish.”
“Ah.”
A smile naturally formed at Lilac's small, unheard-of wish.
“There are many more besides that. I want to go sightseeing in other kingdoms with you, Master, I want to try camping, and I want to learn horseback riding. Oh, not just grand things, I also want to just walk along a trail, enter a café we happen to see, and eat the sweet desserts you like, Master. I want to go see an orchestra together, too. Or just taking a single fishing rod and going to a nearby river would be nice too.”
I could hear her chattering, filled with wishes. Even though the festival sounds filled the surroundings noisily. It sounded as sweet as if it were just the two of us, only Lilac's voice.
“Actually.”
And at her last words, for a moment, I almost pulled her into a hug.
“I love every moment I’m with you, Master. I want to try everything with you. Just like when we first left the mansion, I’ll be by your side forever.”
My heart was pounding. Should I warn Lilac not to overuse magic on me? Should I ask if she treats other people like this too?
It was a selfish possessiveness and greed.
“But right now, there’s something else to focus on, right?”
Lilac asked me with a serious face.
“I didn’t follow you just to be a burden, Master. You’re looking for someone, aren’t you?”
I was inwardly surprised. I thought I wasn't showing it, but I didn’t expect her to notice. I was also proud of her.
“You’re sharp.”
“I can know anything about you, Master.”
How could every single word she said be so lovely?
“I learned the ‘Hunter Constellation’ techniques from the Star Child.”
“The Hunter Constellation?”
I knew what it was. The reason I hadn't learned it was because I had Wild Instinct, so I learned more urgent things first. Most of the Cosmos Church's techniques were named after constellations. The Hunter Constellation was, literally….
“You’ve become a sniper.”
“Yes.”
…Pure white starlight gathered in Lilac's purple eyes.
“Near or far, it doesn’t matter how well they’re hidden in a complex crowd. My specialty is spotting the target.”
Lilac and I decided to go to the highest place in Imperium Land. That arrogant Ferris wheel.
‘This is, more than I thought…’
The atmosphere while walking there was different from usual. It wasn't a serious atmosphere. On the contrary, it was so comfortable and refreshing that I wondered if it was okay. As if… a couple was out on a date.
“If we go to the top of the Ferris wheel, we’ll be able to see not only all of Imperium Land but the entire capital at a glance.”
Of course, we didn't forget our purpose.
“Right. Since we can't exactly climb to the top of the Imperial Castle or onto the head of the Grand Temple’s statue.”
Stealth. A secret action. What would it have been like if I were alone? I would have been wrapped in a black robe, wandering through gloomy underground waterways, chewing on my solitude. During the action, I would have silently searched only for my prey.
The only thing that changed about my usual stealth was ‘Lilac’s company.’ Just that, and yet this stealth mission was… much sweeter than I had expected.
“Master! Shouldn’t we hide our identities? As you can see, there are a lot of people wearing masks….”
“S-shall we?”
Lilac bought a dark-brown dog mask and returned.
“This is my first gift to you, Master.”
She personally put it on me, then put on a brown rabbit mask herself. Looking back, I might have been spurred on by that sight.
“Lilac. Before we go on the Ferris wheel… how about that?”
“Oh my, it’s a fortune-telling lottery!”
When I drew a fortune, it was ‘ordinary,’ but Lilac was so happy, confessing that ‘living an ordinary life with you, Master, was my wish.’
“Shall we try some festival food over there? As Nerjin said… um, we do need to analyze the popular shops.”
“Yes! Master!”
The stalls sold fruits coated in sugar water, or colorful candies and chocolates. There were also meat pies and hot dogs, and a great many other foods I had never seen or heard of.
“Mm?! Master, this is really delicious!”
Lilac enjoyed the waffle topped with plenty of fresh cream and strawberries the most.
‘I-is it okay to be doing this?’
Wild Instinct (Master) is certain. It doesn't feel any ominous premonition within Imperium Land.
I enjoyed the festival with Lilac while rationalizing my actions. And then, up to the long-awaited Ferris wheel.
In a small space, a high place just for the two of us, we looked down together at the capital of Imperium, still brightly lit by the sun.