Chapter 20 : Chapter 20
Chapter 020
Yanrof looked calm.
Dressed in an elegant tuxedo and wearing a monocle, he sat properly behind his desk and looked at me. Unfortunately, I could not read his expression.
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
Just how high were Yanrof’s stats?
What I had realized through Training Officer Cornel’s case was that the Status Window did not merely show a person’s abilities. It also provided information about their inclinations.
If Cornel’s Status Window had not shown Traits like Embezzlement, Breach of Trust, and Fraud, I would never have suspected him in the slightest.
“Head Butler, you sent for me?”
“Yes.”
A short reply.
The air inside the Head Butler’s Office turned cold. I stood cautiously before him and waited for what would come next.
Yanrof, who had been staring at me in silence, tilted his head.
“I truly do not understand what possessed you to do something like this.”
It seemed he was talking about the matter of Training Officer Cornel. He looked deeply confused.
But then, so was I.
I had handed the information to Young Lady Sapiela, yes, but there had been no way for me to predict how she would choose to use it.
To be honest, even if Yanrof decided to throw me into the underground dungeon right now, I would have no right to complain.
“I have heard the story regarding Training Officer Cornel. I am told you personally delivered the documents to Young Lady Sapiela.”
“That is correct.”
“And how exactly did you come to learn of Training Officer Cornel’s wrongdoing?”
So things had gone well.
Otherwise, he would not have used the word “wrongdoing.” He was the sort of man who chose his words deliberately.
Even so, I had no intention of letting my guard down until the end.
“When I was working at Rosetta, I came to learn that there was a problem with the ingredients. And then I also learned that more people than I expected had raised objections to the matter, yet nothing had improved.”
“You might simply think that it was because of the drought.”
“On the contrary, I thought that was precisely why they ought to have selected and delivered even finer ingredients. This is none other than the Adeline Marquis House. Is it not only proper that a great house be shown the respect and courtesy it deserves?”
I applied the exact same logic I had once used on Training Officer Cornel. If it had worked on Cornel, then there was a chance it would work on Yanrof as well.
“Hm....”
Yanrof sank into thought.
A little later, he spoke again.
“I have reviewed the materials you collected as well. They are more than enough to prove Cornel’s wrongdoing. But how did you gather them? It seems Young Lady Sapiela does not know.”
To Young Lady Sapiela, I had described them only as materials I gathered at the risk of my life.
I could not tell her that I had raided Training Officer Cornel’s office. Because of her position, she might have formed prejudices immediately.
That was the sort of thing I would rather say to Head Butler Yanrof.
To reveal my plan in advance, I intended to cover over my crimes with the merit I had earned.
“I raided two places that I found suspicious.”
“Raided? Are you saying you committed theft?”
“That is correct.”
Yanrof’s brow narrowed. His expression worsened to the point that wrinkles showed clearly. He was a man who valued principle and order.
But this was a point I would have to collide with sooner or later anyway.
“As I understand it, several of my seniors had already reported the irrational situation taking place at Rosetta. I believed those materials would surely be in the Training Officer’s office.”
“And the other place?”
“The Arkain Merchant Company’s warehouse.”
“What?”
“I said the Arkain Merchant Company’s warehouse.”
At first, Head Butler Yanrof merely looked startled. Then he tilted his head, his expression full of disbelief.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. It is true.”
“Let me give you one piece of advice. There must not be a single falsehood in what you tell me. Your position at the moment is a very... delicate one.”
A chill ran down my spine.
The ability to change the entire atmosphere of a room with a single remark really was remarkable. There was a reason he had become Head Butler.
“Respected Head Butler, there is not a single falsehood in my testimony. I stake my life on it.”
“Very well, let us say I accept the matter of the Training Officer’s office. But how did you raid the Arkain Merchant Company’s warehouse? It should have been guarded by mercenaries.”
“I made use of a small talent of mine. Thanks to that, I was able to leave with the documents without too much difficulty.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
Yanrof folded his arms. His sharp fingers tapped repeatedly against his sleeve. He must have been thinking hard.
“Very well. Then let me ask only one last thing. You would have had to risk your life to do all this, so why? How were you able to do it?”
It was a question worthy of being called the last.
Of course, I had expected it. If I put myself in his position, it was not the sort of thing a powerless apprentice who was due to leave the mansion in a month should have been capable of.
I gave the answer I had prepared in advance.
“I said this to Young Lady Sapiela as well, but it was because the House’s honor was at stake. With loyalty to House Adeline in my heart, I exposed Training Officer Cornel’s outrages.”
“I do not like interrupting a man in the middle of speaking, but there is one point I must address. Why did you go to Young Lady Sapiela instead of to me?”
“Forgive my disrespect. I suspected that you too might be involved in this matter, Lord Yanrof. So I brought it to one of high rank who seemed neutral.”
For an instant, I saw interest appear in Head Butler Yanrof’s eyes.
“So, in other words, you assumed I might have joined hands with Training Officer Cornel and committed corruption together with him?”
“That is correct. Otherwise, how could a mere merchant company dare insult a marquis house?”
It was hard to deny, so Yanrof let out a sigh. But it soon became clear that he was no ordinary man. Rather than grow angry, he simply nodded.
“It seems you were not finished earlier. Continue.”
“There is one more reason. I wanted to keep working here. So I thought I had to earn merit.”
That was something I had not said to anyone. Not even to Young Lady Sapiela.
The reason was simple.
If I spoke only of lofty principles and noble causes, my superiors would naturally suspect my hidden motives.
The man called Dilen was a commoner. He was not wealthy, and he came from the countryside. If I said nothing practical and only spoke in clouds, their suspicion would only deepen.
So I judged it would be acceptable to reveal some personal desire as well.
I did not care how the real Dilen had entered the Adeline Marquis House as a Butler Apprentice in the first place. At this moment, it was better to show desperation and emphasize that I was only human.
“I do not wish to lose the chance I struggled so hard to obtain. Please show mercy and grant me the chance to fulfill my dream!”
Naturally, I lowered my head.
I intended not to raise it again until I received an answer.
What sort of expression was Yanrof making now, I wondered?
A moment later, his answer came.
“You have committed crimes that cannot easily be overlooked. You stole documents from the Training Officer’s office, and on top of that you raided the warehouse of a partner merchant company. If this becomes known, it will cause a great uproar.”
After I came into contact with Young Lady Sapiela, the fact that I raided the merchant company could no longer remain a secret. Even if I had not raided it, the documents from that place were now in my hands, so either way, they were evidence linking me to the attack on the warehouse.
But no matter.
I do not know whether you remember something I said in passing once before. That I would one day build an organization that served me faithfully.
I had chosen the Scorpion Gang as my first target. Before long, I intended to find an opportunity and turn the Scorpion Gang’s headquarters upside down.
My plan was to bring them under me.
The fastest way to gather information was not in the light, but in the shadows. In that sense, the Scorpion Gang was a suitably attractive organization.
Not too small, yet not too large either. Perfect for a tutorial.
Does that sound absurd?
More than possible.
Because I had the strength for it. I was growing stronger with every passing day, so taking over one petty organization would be nothing at all.
After that, all I had to do was devour them one by one like a game.
“But....”
Was this going to be the reversal?
I smiled to myself while keeping my head bowed.
“It is also clearly true that you have earned enough merit to cover those crimes. By this, the discipline and honor of House Adeline will be set aright.”
Please stop drawing it out and grant me my reward already.
“Dilen. Raise your head.”
I slowly lifted my head and met his gaze.
With perfectly composed eyes.
“Young Lady Sapiela has entrusted this matter entirely to me. In other words, it is something I can handle with my own hands, even without reporting it to His Excellency the Marquis.”
He rose from his chair. Then he walked slowly toward me.
“Your attendance has been good lately.”
“That is only because my seniors looked kindly on me. I merely did my utmost.”
“Why did you not act so before?”
Because I changed as a person.
But since I could not say that, I offered a suitable excuse instead.
“After I was injured from falling off the balcony, I set my heart straight. And when you came to check on my condition, Lord Yanrof, I made up my mind. I decided that I wanted to become a splendid butler like you.”
“You are honest.”
Nodding once, Yanrof gave my shoulder a light pat.
“Hm? Why do you look so startled?”
“No. It is nothing.”
Of course I was startled.
Because your Status Window had just appeared before me. I had hooked it by sheer accident, but it was quite a catch.
○ Yanrof de Merius
Rank: ★★★★
Level: 54
Traits: Administration S, Social Grace A, Eloquence A, Dignity B, Cleaning B, Mathematics A, Astronomy A, ???
Status: Expectation
[Not Unlocked]
[Not Unlocked]
......
Was this for real?
For the first time, I had finally seen an S-rank. It was truly a set of stats worthy of the man who stood at the head of all butlers in House Adeline.
I decided to analyze the Status Window later. For the moment, I looked back at him boldly.
“By my own authority, I will extend your apprenticeship. You may remain here until you sit the Butler Exam. However, do keep in mind that just because you have rendered service does not mean you will receive bonus points on the examination.”
“Thank you. Thank you very much!”
I was genuinely delighted.
I had no real interest in becoming a butler.
But I did like staying in this mansion. I had two good friends here already, and there were several bastards who still needed to be taught a proper lesson.
Staying here for a while longer would not be so bad.
Since I was at it, I might as well take the Butlet Exam too.
At that moment, the beautiful image of Young Lady Sapiela flashed through my mind.
Yes.
Let me devote myself a little more to this House.
***
“Really? That is incredible! Hahaha! You bastard, I knew someday you would pull off something huge!”
Rohan had come running the moment he heard the news that my apprenticeship had been extended, and he congratulated me wholeheartedly. Because of this matter, I had come to trust Rohan completely.
The same went for Arwen, of course. Without her, I would never even have gotten close to Young Lady Sapiela’s shadow.
“Once we get leave later, let us go out and eat and drink in style. You are paying, right?”
“Sure.”
“Hm? Why do you look like that? Something this good happens, and you are not even overjoyed?”
There was one thing bothering me.
Training Officer Cornel had received severe disciplinary action. He had been completely removed from the post of Training Officer. After that, he had relinquished his butler position and left the mansion as good as driven out.
And yet I still had not been able to open that mysterious box I had hidden.
It might be nothing more than another set of materials that would make the collusion between Training Officer Cornel and the merchant company even clearer.
But my sharp instincts were stirring.
Was there not something else hidden inside? Just like the way the box itself kept its mouth tightly shut.
And then, at that very moment, something unexpected happened.
DONG! DONG! DONG!
The bell in the mansion rang out loudly three times.