Chapter 146 : Chapter 146
Chapter 146. To Five Hundred Years Ago (2)
“You…… have been lurking around the Academy, and now you have come back after reading some novel?”
That was Young Master Hamel’s first reaction after I brought out everything I had heard from the Mystic Merchant. He glared at me as though he would devour me at any moment.
Eluna, on the other hand, was calm. She was the perfect third party. She would be able to grasp this situation even more coldly than I could.
I added an explanation.
“This is not a novel. It is the truth. As you must have heard as well, Young Master, the Mystic Trading Company is an extremely famous information merchant, and His Excellency Duke Mydas even gave me a special introduction. Five hundred years ago, it is true that the Delfino Family had its territory taken by House Adeline and was driven out.”
“…….”
He still looked as though he could not accept it. Left with no choice, I drove the point home.
“Before His Excellency the Duke introduced me to the Mystic Trading Company, he said this. He wanted to do business, not engage in a power struggle. What do you think those words meant?”
“It would mean he was indirectly saying that he knows this fact as well.”
There was no reaction from the Young Master. What was he thinking? For now, I continued explaining.
“Some other high-ranking nobles may also know the truth. Perhaps there is also a high possibility that some of them have already been won over by the Delfino Merchant Company. If they moved for the sake of a five-hundred-year-old revenge, they would have prepared thoroughly.”
Even so, the reason the Delfino Merchant Company did not act recklessly was because House Adeline was not such an easy opponent.
A Marquis House of the Kingdom. To confront a house that possessed both a wealthy economy and a powerful army, thorough preparations were necessary.
However, the blade of revenge had been slowly sharpened since five hundred years ago. It was obvious that by now, its edge had grown sharp enough to cut down anything.
The fortunate thing was that this era had no bombers or nuclear missiles. If weapons like that existed, I would have been anxious over when and where an attack might break out.
“I cannot accept it!”
Young Master Hamel sprang to his feet. I had thought he understood, but it seemed I had only provoked his anger.
“Which goddamn bastard made such absurd claims? The Mystic Merchant? Hmph! Tell him to go fuck himself! How dare he try to smear our family’s name!”
I felt pain in my throat. Young Master Hamel had seized me by the collar. Should I be grateful that he had not drawn his sword and cut me down?
But he had not merely grabbed my collar.
Perhaps because he was truly enraged, veins bulged on his forehead, and sparks seemed to fly from his eyes. The muscles of his forearms also swelled.
“Young Master! Please calm down!”
Eluna stepped forward to stop him, but I stretched out my hand and signaled for her to leave him be. When someone was angry, it was better to let that anger out. Instead, I lightly wrapped mana around my throat.
Even if he vented his anger, it would be a problem if I was the one who suffered.
“Please do not turn away from the truth.”
“Shut up! You bastard. I indulged you, and now you have climbed all the way up to my head! You are saying our family committed such a filthy act? Nonsense! How do you intend to prove something from five hundred years ago? With a single rumor drifting through the Underworld?”
“At first, I could not believe it either. However, if we calmly examine everything we have experienced so far, the conclusion comes close to the truth. The corruption that was eating away at the house, the fact that the Young Lady was nearly kidnapped, the clouds of war gathering at the territory border, and all the other suspicious matters that cannot be explained.”
“I told you to shut up!”
The pressure grew stronger and stronger, and at the same time, the Favorability in the Status Window plummeted sharply, but I remained still. Only after he poured everything out like this would there be room for him to listen to me.
I steadied my breathing and spoke calmly. Pretending to be choked was not easy either.
“Young Master. Why would someone as intelligent as you look at the finger? Look at the place I am pointing to. This is neither slander nor a crisis.”
“Then what is it?”
“An opportunity. An unparalleled opportunity that will never come again!”
At that clear statement, the strength in the hand gripping my collar loosened slightly. If I wanted to, I could break free with my own strength. However, I deliberately remained in his grasp.
“I am not telling you to atone for what happened five hundred years ago and set everything right. Therefore, there is no need for you to become agitated.”
“What? What…… what exactly are you telling me to do, then?”
“If you do not know, Young Master, then the other young masters and retainers probably do not know either. Perhaps it is a story passed down only to the Head of House from generation to generation. Or perhaps even the Head of House does not know, and it may have been quietly buried somewhere with only a brief record left behind.”
“Get to the point.”
I smiled broadly. Then I warmly wrapped both my hands around the Young Master’s hands, which were gripping my collar.
“If you resolve this matter well, you will be granted the qualification, Young Master. The qualification to write a new history for House Adeline. To surpass all the other young masters. With these two hands.”
“A new history…… with my own hands……?”
It seemed my persuasion had succeeded.
The strength in his grip on my collar disappeared. Young Master Hamel had let go. A cough escaped me, and thankfully, Eluna took out a handkerchief and wiped my mouth.
If I had not wrapped mana around my throat, I might have suffocated and lost consciousness. That was how angry Young Master Hamel had been.
After steadying my breath, I continued.
“I will say it once again, but whether what I told you is true or false is not important. What would be the point of bringing up something from five hundred years ago? Unless we can turn back time, does it have any meaning? Interpret it in your favor and use it as the foundation for legitimate succession.”
The Young Master, who had been staring blankly at the ceiling before closing his eyes, suddenly began laughing like a madman.
“Hahaha, hahahahaha! Hahahahahahaha!”
His laughter, full of madness, continued for a long while. However, since I had been observing every piece of his information, I was certain that it was not madness, but the roar of a genius who had seized an opportunity.
The Young Master’s hand touched my body again. This time, he was not grabbing my collar but patting my shoulder.
“The five-hundred-year-old novel you wrote was very entertaining. Thanks to that, a good plan has come to mind. First…… I should find out whether that novel is based on a true story.”
“You may do that, but it would be better for you to act under the assumption that it is true. It would be a waste of time otherwise.”
“What if it is false?”
“Even if it is false, it does not matter. In any case, the fact that we must confront House Astria, or more precisely, the Delfino Family, has not changed.”
Young Master Hamel’s eyes and mine gleamed at the same time. It seemed our intentions had aligned. If each of us did our best in our respective roles, we could both obtain what we wanted.
“Please prevent the war by any means necessary. If you can just reopen the trade route, I will take care of the rest.”
“Did you not say earlier that there may be high-ranking nobles who have been won over by the Delfino Merchant Company? If so, lobbying will become difficult.”
“You have a more naive side than I expected.”
At my provocative remark, Young Master Hamel’s brow twisted. It was a statement so far outside formal etiquette that even Eluna, who stood beside us, was startled.
But that was precisely why it would remain clear in the Young Master’s mind. I took one step closer and spoke as though whispering.
“Do you think those people care about the unfortunate incident that happened five hundred years ago? Not at all. Enough time has passed for the mountains and rivers to have changed dozens of times. They will only chase immediate profit. They will have no interest whatsoever in cause or honor.”
“That is true.”
“You are underestimating our Metis too much, Young Master. I hope you will fully recognize the potential we possess.”
Hamel looked back and forth between Eluna and me, then nodded. I spread both arms and made a forceful proposal.
“Now, let us clearly teach those backroom old men who the master of the new era is! I will look forward to the performance of the wise Young Master.”
His expression turned languid and returned to its usual state. It seemed he had finally regained his composure.
“Dilen. I do not want to admit it, but you are a very capable Butler.”
I laughed at the unexpected praise. However, Hamel also had the same smile as mine on his lips.
“I do not think I will ever forget what happened today. They say beginning is half the task, but it feels as though we have already come halfway. Why not tell me one wish in advance? If I become the Head of House, I think I will be able to grant at least one wish of yours.”
It was probably no coincidence that Young Lady Sapiela’s face came to mind at that moment. However, the instant I blinked, I erased her image. Not now. This was a time that required selection and concentration.
“What wish could I possibly have? I am merely doing what I must do for the house.”
“I do not offer twice. Then continue to be loyal like a slave from now on.”
“I will obey your command.”
“……Ella’s expression seemed happier than I expected. I did well to listen to you. I learned that listening carefully to another person’s words can sometimes be useful.”
I lowered my head with a silent smile. That was the end of it. Young Master Hamel left the room without any special words.
“There was something I wanted to ask.”
I had missed the timing.
I was curious. Once Young Master Hamel achieved everything, how would he treat the Delfino Family? Would he punish them, or would he untangle the knot?
His Alignment was ‘Very Good.’ That was also the reason I had chosen him among the three young masters.
Perhaps Hamel might resolve the five-hundred-year-old grudge in a way I could not even imagine.
“What did you intend to ask?”
“No, it is nothing. I was just talking to myself.”
Now, only Eluna and I remained in the room.
Once the tension loosened, my legs wavered. I sank down onto the sofa just like that.
“Haah. Butler is truly a job one cannot keep doing. It is exhausting.”
“You were truly magnificent. I did not know you were so eloquent, Master. It felt as though I had watched a single play.”
“I should charge a high price for that play. You watched it from the best seat, after all.”
Eluna handed me a teacup instead of money. I gladly took the teacup and wet my throat. The effects of the Starleaf Tea appeared quickly. My mind calmly settled.
“By the way, will the Young Master do well?”
“For now, we have no choice but to believe in him. I cannot be the one to stir everything up myself, can I?”
“Even so, rather than just staying still…….”
“I will help. As it happens, I think I may be able to make a connection with the royal family, so wait and see. It is not as though I am merely playing around here.”
“It seems I spoke needlessly.”
After putting down the teacup, I laid my head on Eluna’s lap.
“Oh my.”
I ignored everything else and closed my eyes. With Eluna’s Favorability, she would tolerate this much. Sure enough, small, soft hands began stroking my hair and cheek.
At that moment, Eluna’s Favorability rose from 97 to 99.
Now only one point remained until the Bond of Fate.
If the Bond of Fate was something good, there were still many people I needed to form it with. Rohan was one, and so was Arthas. Kalmond and Spinel were the same.
Suddenly, I wondered what they were doing now.
If I had a cell phone, I would at least try calling them once. Ah, before that, would I have to invent the telephone first?
I should put this on the list for now as well.