Chapter 49
The request arrived the day Max began.
Arriving at Minerva Academy, Ellen let out a chuckle upon seeing Flora, who had gotten to school earlier than she.
“Why are you holding your book upside down, Girl?”
“…”
Flora’s gaze rolled over and met Ellen’s.
Flora’s face still didn’t clearly reveal her Assessment, but Ellen could vaguely read it.
“Jeez! You act so proper, but does it bother you that much?”
“Even if I trust Max, it’s natural to be worried.”
“If you’re that worried, you should’ve secretly followed him. It wouldn’t even be a big deal if you just said a word to your Family.”
“That would be betraying the trust that allows me to stay comfortably in the office. It would interfere with his work. I’d be hated…”
During their conversation, the cadets in the Classroom and the cadets passing through the corridor all fell silent and listened intently.
Flora Crimsonhowl and Ellen Clements, who never used to share private conversations.
A rumor had spread widely that the reason those two were exchanging personal stories was a rivalry over a single man.
“Hah! You coward. You don’t know how suggestive the mood gets when a man and a woman are in a closed room.”
“Childish. How long are you going to keep bringing that up?”
Flora was no longer shaken by that topic. She wouldn’t show the reaction Ellen wanted.
She knew that Max and Ellen had gone to the Hotel for a request.
“Still, seeing how he didn’t try anything even with a beautiful Girl like me next to him, Max isn’t ordinary either.”
“…That gives me goosebumps.”
“Huh?”
Flora ended up imagining a future where Max and Ellen’s relationship had developed.
Just imagining Ellen Clements becoming her Sister-in-law (older brother’s wife) gave her goosebumps, and she couldn’t endure it.
“Don’t even think about getting anywhere with Max.”
“Don’t you know what I’ll do if you react like that?”
“Your goal from the start was to unsettle me anyway.”
An opening could be seen in Flora, her eyes desperately denying even the slightest possibility.
Ellen raised the corners of her mouth and pushed forward. It was a mount position she hadn’t held in a long time.
“Isn’t that just you interpreting it however is convenient for you?”
“…Even if you’re serious, do you think the Family Head would allow it?”
“This Girl doesn’t know anything. Mom doesn’t stop me from doing what I want.”
The conversation between the two parties held all the hidden meanings that didn’t need to be explicitly mentioned, but it was different for the cadets who were only interpreting the spoken sentences.
Those two from the Magic Noble Family? The cadets who had been partially doubting the rumors, thinking “No way…”, became certain after hearing the conversation.
The rumors at Minerva Academy were quietly deepening.
* * *
Vroooom!!!
The Classic Muscle Car roared with a heavy engine sound as it entered the Vertigo Hotel.
The employees moved in perfect order among the expensive vehicles that seemed unusually numerous today.
Clunk!
As Max got out of the vehicle and rolled his stiff neck, Usagi approached and linked arms with him.
When Max took out the car key and shook it, a specialized valet parking agent politely received the key.
“Unload the luggage in the trunk first.”
“Yep!”
Max tossed out a single remark and leisurely entered the Hotel.
The Employee who grabbed the carrier and the guide followed behind. Thanks to that, there was no need to go all the way to the front desk to check in.
“Could you please tell me the name of the Person who made the reservation?”
“Chris Garland.”
The Employee briefly checked the device they were holding.
A special Customer.
“Thank you. Do you have any services you will be using other than your stay, Customer?”
“The Tetra Hall on the promenade here? I came after hearing that the dinner show there is excellent. I already put my name down in advance.”
The Vertigo Hotel had never once hosted a dinner show. The building accessible from the promenade was the Amphitheater; something like Tetra Hall didn’t exist.
Therefore, it was a sentence containing all the necessary keywords.
The Employee moved quickly and brought a key from the desk.
“This is your guest room key and a card that can be used for entry to the party.”
“It’s an all-in-one, so I only have to carry one thing around. I like it.”
“Thank you. We will always be the Vertigo Hotel that provides the best service.”
They were guided to the Elevator and went up to the 70th floor.
Max showed a relaxed attitude by yawning, but Usagi desperately fixed her gaze to avoid looking around unnecessarily.
“Should I place the luggage here?”
“Yeah.”
Arriving at the guest room, Max took out his wallet from his pocket as if it were a bother.
He grabbed a portion of the thick stack of bills and presented it to the Employee as a tip.
“If you need anything, please call us anytime! We will be on standby 24 hours a day!”
The Employee continuously bowed and exited the room.
Before having a proper conversation, the two took out the sunglasses from the carrier.
Max put his pair on first and handed the remaining pair to Usagi.
“Nelly. How about bringing these to the party?”
“Hmm… I want to look in a mirror.”
“You look pretty no matter what you wear, so why bother?”
Usagi put on the sunglasses and looked around the room, pretending to look for the restroom.
Together with Max, she went through the process of checking if there were any cameras or listening devices in the guest room.
And the conclusion.
They took off their sunglasses at the same time. The skit was temporarily paused.
“Nothing.”
“Mhm, it’s safe.”
“Even if it’s fine now, they might install something while we’re away at the party. Let’s set up some defenses when we leave.”
“I’ll leave a mark for that.”
Stepping out of her high heels, Usagi lightly stretched her ankles.
Max smoothed out the wrinkled parts of his clothes and packed a thick stack of “Chris Garland” business cards.
“You know smartphones aren’t allowed at the party, right?”
“Of course.”
“If you have anyone to contact, do it in advance. I won’t bother you.”
“…I’m fine. I’ll only contact the Association.”
Having no intention of letting others know about the existence of her Younger Sibling, Usagi declined.
Reading the mood, Max didn’t push further and fiddled with his phone.
He sent a quick message to Flora and Ellen, then called out to Usagi.
“Also.”
“Hmm?”
“It’d be nice if you could act a little more naturally. Watching you makes my heart pound too.”
“I haven’t conversed with anyone else yet. I don’t think there’s a standard to judge by.”
“Facial expressions are a type of acting too. You’re too stiff right now. Even linking arms feels weird, like some kind of joint lock.”
Usagi made a surprised face.
From Max’s perspective, he didn’t know why she was making such a dramatic expression. He let out a laugh of disbelief.
“…A-am I really that bad?”
“Didn’t you know?”
“I thought I was being natural.”
“If you felt that way, maybe you just need some time.”
“…”
“Just think of it as having fun. There’ll be plenty of delicious things at the party. Lots to see, too. You have to blend in as much as possible so there’s no awkwardness.”
Usagi shook her head.
“I have no intention of eating anything. It wouldn’t do to draw attention by trying to eat unfamiliar food.”
“I’ll feed you, so don’t worry. Just send me a signal if there’s something you want to eat.”
“…I’m not a child.”
Bzzzt! During their conversation, Max’s Smartphone vibrated with an alarm.
It was time to move.
“Nelly, shall we get moving?”
“Mhm.”
An alias made the request feel real. Usagi put the high heels she had taken off back on.
Max hid his and Usagi’s powered-off smartphones in the guest room and packed the phone provided by the Association.
“What about weapons, just in case?”
“Just a hairpin will be enough for most situations. And most Ninjutsu doesn’t require weapons anyway.”
Max grabbed the key and turned the doorknob.
As they came out of the room, Usagi wrapped her arm around one of Max’s arms.
Without being conscious of the contact, she pressed closer than before, as if showing off her relationship.
Usagi looked up at Max as if asking how it was.
Only then did Max let out a chuckle.
··
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This Social Party and auction were exclusively handled by the Vertigo Hotel, the super-tall landmark of District 19.
The venue for the party was the Amphitheater located at the end of the Hotel’s promenade.
The Amphitheater in question had a Hologram installed on the ceiling to create a beautiful sky free of Corporation advertisements, and for today, the seats were boldly removed to secure space, transforming it into a massive banquet hall.
Max walked along the promenade with Usagi.
Guards wearing suits began to come into view, taking the path toward the Amphitheater at the fork in the road.
“The majority of the guards are 2nd-tier.”
The middle-aged man approaching and standing at the front was estimated to be 3rd-tier.
He was wearing an in-ear radio.
“Customer. The Amphitheater is currently closed for entry.”
“Chris Garland.”
When he showed the card and stated his name, the Guard briefly exchanged signals through the in-ear piece hooked on his ear, and his attitude and voice changed politely.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
guards holding various types of detectors checked Max and Usagi.
Max wrapped his arm around Usagi’s waist and glared at the Guard.
“Hey, Nelly’s left arm is a delicate prosthetic, so be careful.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
The Guard, having checked the status of the detectors, brought up the expected words.
“smartphones are not allowed inside. We will keep them in our custody.”
“Tsk.”
Max clicked his tongue and handed over the Smartphone provided by the Association. Usagi did the same.
In there was the information built up under their respective aliases, Chris Garland and Nelly Campbell. It wouldn’t be a problem even if the guards opened them up behind their backs.
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
“Just open the way.”
The guards stepped aside in unison and bowed.
“Have a wonderful time!”
“Yeah. Keep up the hard work~”
Max waved his hand lightly and passed by the group of guards with Usagi.
They slowly approached the Amphitheater.
As they got closer to the building, the sound of calm music mixed with the sound of conversations flowed out.
The men smoking outside without entering, and the women giggling beside them, were all people on the attendee list.
“Honey, I want to see inside.”
“Sounds good!”
Usagi moved with Max with a slightly more natural attitude.
Upon entering the Amphitheater, Max moved his gaze as if pulled by a magnet.
And he found them.
A Person of Steiger.