Chapter 100 : Chapter 100
Chapter 100
I had heard that marriages between blood relatives were not uncommon here. So I was not sure whether a taste for men would really count as a flaw, but I figured I ought to look through the territory law first.
I pushed the Status Window aside and focused on the Young Master.
“But what brings you here? I heard from your lieutenant that you’ve been quite busy.”
This was not some harmless little courtesy question about how busy I must be. He was pressing me over why I had not come in person when I made the proposal.
Maybe it was because I had spent so much time reading professors’ moods in graduate school, but I came to my senses immediately.
Putting on a flustered expression, I bowed my head at once.
“My apologies for not coming to see you sooner. Since the company has only just been established, there has been a great deal to do. Next time, I will certainly......”
“Ah, there’s no need to go that far. I’m not scolding you. I only said it because I found it a little regrettable. I also didn’t expect to run into you here. I heard you put up an item for sale?”
“Yes. Since it was such a rare object, I had no choice but to go through this place.”
“That makes me look forward to it. I’m curious to see how much it sells for.”
His eyes gleamed with desire.
It seemed Young Master Kaien already knew that the premium fountain pen had come onto the market. He had likely come here to obtain it.
The premium fountain pen had become more than a useful and functional object. It had become a symbol. A refined writing instrument possessed only by the Marquis in this kingdom.
In other words, if someone could obtain the same object, he could use it as a symbol showing that he was qualified to inherit House Adeline.
Once I had followed that line of reasoning through, one possibility came to mind.
If that was true, then another Young Master would appear at this auction house.
And it did turn out to be true.
Several guard knights entered through the auction hall entrance, and then Prah, the second son of House Adeline, showed himself. He looked around, then smiled gently in our direction.
Don’t be fooled. Young Master Hamel already told me that smile was a mask.
“Well, if it isn’t my elder brother. Hahahaha. I never expected to see you at an auction house. This pleases me. And who might this gentleman be? If he’s someone my brother is speaking with, then he must surely be quite an impressive person.”
“You’ve come, Prah. Pay your respects. This is Master Suhyeon of the Metis Trading Company.”
“Metis Trading Company?”
His eyes curved gracefully like a bow. I had heard he had a kind and pleasant impression, but seeing him in person was something else. If this was acting, then Young Master Hamel would have to surrender his title as a genius actor.
“I’ve heard a great deal about you from Father. They say you recently presented him with a fine gift.”
“The fact that His Excellency the Marquis accepted it at all was an honor to both my House and my company.”
“And humble as well. It pleases me to meet such an admirable gentleman after so long. Hahaha.”
Prah took my hand and gave my shoulder a pat. At a glance, he looked as though he had only just turned twenty, yet the way he behaved resembled that of some fifty-year-old politician. I was beginning to understand why Young Master Hamel had warned me that it was all an act. There was a slight gap between his expression and his behavior.
If I had not been able to handle Mana, I would never have noticed such a subtle discrepancy.
In any case, that was not what mattered right now.
Today was turning into a harvest of Status Windows. Quite unexpectedly, I had been given the chance to open the Status Windows of the two people standing closest to the succession itself.
○ Prah de Adeline
Rank: ★★★
Level: 24
Trait: Acting S, Eloquence A, Emotional Control A, Dignity B, Social Dance C, Drinking C, Philosophy C, Magical Power D, Necromancy D, ???
Status: Favorability
Areas of Interest: The existence of the Afterlife, fundamental inquiry into Necromancy and the existence of demons, murderous impulse.
[Not Unlocked]
……
“Hm? Is something the matter?”
The contents of his Areas of Interest were so shocking that I found myself staring blankly with my mouth slightly open. Both Prah and Kaien looked at me with puzzled expressions.
“Master.”
At Eluna’s worried voice, I came back to my senses.
“No, it is nothing. I merely felt a little dizzy for a moment. I’ve overworked myself lately, so my health has not been the best. My apologies.”
“I see. That is unfortunate. Shall I call a doctor for you?”
“I’m all right. I’ll recover if I sit and rest for a while. I showed such an unsightly side of myself before such distinguished people. I will greet you properly another time.”
“What are you saying? Shouldn’t a person’s well-being come first? There’s nothing unsightly about it.”
Shut up.
Now that I can see it’s all an act. Acting at S-rank? That’s absurd! There was so much nonsense in his Status Window that I was starting to lose track of which part was the most absurd.
Still, I did not let any of it show on my face. Instead, I smiled affably and praised him.
“So your heart truly is as warm as I had heard! I can now understand why the people of the territory admire you so deeply, Young Master. I am moved.”
“You embarrass me. My elder brother is the one who is held in even greater esteem than I am. After all, he is the one who will one day govern Adeline Territory.”
“Enough with the gilding. There are many eyes upon us. It is embarrassing.”
“Ah, my apologies, Brother.”
“Our conduct must never make the honor of our House seem light.”
An awkward current flowed between the two Young Masters.
The important point here was that Young Master Prah had openly indicated Young Master Kaien as the heir. He made it seem as though he felt not the slightest desire for the position himself.
Which was probably precisely why Kaien’s eyes saw it as hypocrisy. He would likely feel that Prah was acting innocent here while scheming behind the scenes.
But after seeing the Status Window, I could tell that Prah truly had no interest in the heir’s seat.
If he had wanted it, there ought to have been a line like the one in Kaien’s Areas of Interest: defeating rivals and inheriting the House.
Awkward atmosphere aside, I needed time to think alone, so I stepped in myself.
“It seems I will be traveling to the Royal Capital soon on company business. Once that schedule is complete, I will visit both Young Masters at once. I shall offer my formal greetings then.”
“Please do. I look forward to that day. Then I shall excuse myself first.”
Prah, unusually courteous for a member of the royal bloodline, gave his farewell and withdrew. Young Master Kaien, who had been watching his retreating back with displeasure, also left soon after.
I watched the two of them for a moment.
Young Master Kaien sat a short distance away with his arms folded, staring at Prah, while Prah kept that same benevolent expression on his face as he exchanged greetings with distinguished figures from every walk of life.
Kaien’s expression twisted more and more.
But thanks to that, the three of us were able to discuss what had just happened in peace.
“This is unexpected. I never thought the Young Masters themselves would participate in the auction.”
“There was no information about it?”
At Eluna’s remark, I asked the question, and she shook her head.
“I obtained the attendance list in advance and checked it, but there was no sign that they had recently participated in any auctions. In the first place, it was noted that House Adeline rarely took part in auctions at all.”
“So this is their way of saying they refuse such money games?”
“Not exactly, but perhaps it’s because they can obtain most things they need without difficulty.”
I nodded. That was a reasonable explanation. For the moment, I set aside my impressions of their Status Windows and brought up the general matter instead. The two of them needed to have their political instincts sharpened.
“But the two Young Masters had no choice except to come. The succession struggle is tied to this place.”
“What do you mean?”
“The premium fountain pen. Only His Excellency the Marquis has one, doesn’t he? So what would it mean if someone else could obtain the same object? It would let him borrow that dignity for himself.”
“......I see. I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“The final price may end up lower than expected if this is how things are.”
If a Young Master of House Adeline entered the bidding, what sort of person could truly compete? Even if it caused no problem immediately, it could leave a deep mark later.
I clicked my tongue.
If things went badly, there was now a real chance it could sell for a price only slightly above the opening bid.
Because the apparent rival, Young Master Prah, had his interest elsewhere. He would not lay a hand on the fountain pen. He had no interest in the succession.
Young Master Kaien, on the other hand, had likely assumed that Prah would of course bid and had brought plenty of money with him.
But if Prah did not bid, that would be its own kind of headache for Kaien. He would have no idea what his younger brother had truly come here for.
If he wanted peace of mind, then in a sense it would be better for Prah to bid.
Perhaps my thoughts looked too tangled, because Eluna, who had been watching my expression, lowered her head.
“Master, I’m sorry. I think I chose the wrong auction house. It would have been better to contact buyers privately and demand a higher price......”
“What’s the point of trying to scoop up spilled water after it’s already fallen? And money isn’t everything. It’s all right. Thanks to this, I obtained good information. That alone makes bringing it to auction here worthwhile.”
I smiled and tried to comfort Eluna. But the apologetic look on her face did not fade easily.
“This is going to become a truly fascinating auction.”
At this point, how much the fountain pen sold for had ceased to be the real issue.
What exactly had Young Master Prah come here to buy?
The most unexpected thing in Young Master Prah’s Status Window was that both Magical Power and Necromancy had been unlocked. They were only D-rank, but their existence alone was astonishing.
Because since the Twilight of Mana, ordinary people could no longer sense Magical Power, and only an extremely small number of chosen individuals could wield it.
In short, the second Young Master was a Mana User.
And yet no one spoke of the fact that the second Young Master could wield Mana. Which meant that, like me, he was hiding his strength.
Although our reasons for hiding it seemed rather different.
There was one special trait on his Status Window that I had never seen before.
Necromancy.
And when Magical Power and Necromancy were placed together, one word came naturally to mind.
Dark Magic.
That meant he was cultivating his power in the wrong direction.
And that was not all.
He was deeply interested in the Afterlife, was plagued by murderous impulses, and was even researching demons. If people ever learned the truth, there was a real chance a great storm would descend upon the House.
First, I needed confirmation. What exactly was the real item that the foolish second Young Master, who had fallen into Necromancy, was aiming for?
“Eluna.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Is there perhaps a catalogue? A booklet describing the items being auctioned today?”
“There should be. I’ll fetch it.”
Eluna left her seat for a moment.
A short while later, she returned with a thick booklet. Sitting with one leg crossed, I opened it.
As befitted Noblesse’s reputation, the booklet had been put together remarkably well. Not only did it give the names and history of the objects, it also included drawings of their actual appearance, which made everything much easier to understand. This really was no ordinary auction house where just anyone could walk in. A booklet like this alone seemed as though it ought to cost several Gold.
As I turned the pages, one particularly interesting item caught my eye.
And at the same time, a smile spread across my lips.
“So that’s why he came.”
I closed the catalogue and looked toward Young Master Prah, who was still smiling brilliantly as he chatted with the assembled distinguished guests.
It was a smile chilling enough to raise goosebumps.