Conspiracy

Anyway, don't touch it.

Just what I wanted. Good night.

After boarding the plane, he warned me, "I'm going to sleep, so don't whine."

He was acting that way because I was a little excited.

It was my first time riding on a private plane.

I did want to chat a little, but... I had a mountain of things to look into, so I gave up early.

'Bring up the quest I got recently.'

Ding-

[Quest: Sculpt a Superior Pygmy (A~S)]

--------------------------------------------

Using Skill 'Pygmy Sculpting LV. 10',

create a Superior Pygmy of A-rank or higher.

Consumed Materials: Superior Essence, Eternal Immortal Tree

-------------------------------------------

Success Reward: 5 Superior Essences

-------------------------------------------

"Hmm, this Eternal Immor..."

"Be quiet."

"Ah, can't I even talk to myself?"

His hearing was seriously sharp, even at a time like this.

I wondered if the person who couldn't sleep just because he heard that wasn't the real problem.

I grumbled a few times in protest, then turned my attention back to the quest window.

'.....What is this Eternal Immortal Tree?'

It was strange.

Like everyone else after the Gates appeared, I had enjoyed looking at all kinds of fascinating items.

Because of that, I should at least have heard the names of most ordinary items.

This was something I had never heard of before.

......No way.

It couldn't be something that didn't exist in this world, could it?

With unease building in my heart, I clicked the name of the material.

Fwoosh!

[Item: Eternal Immortal Tree]

-------------------------------------------

A tree cultivated and grown by Piranians.

Mainly used to create Pygmies.

※Available for purchase in the Shop

※When the amount of essence exceeds a certain number

※Automatically generated by the skill.

-------------------------------------------

Whew...... So it could be purchased in the Shop, at least. 'Shop!'

After letting out a sigh of relief, I immediately opened the Shop.

But what appeared was a UI with a strangely familiar look.

'Does this look like the game I used to play?'

It definitely did.

Although it looked somewhat crude, as if it had been hastily thrown together, and the item list wasn't much to look at, it had captured the feeling perfectly.

Could it have been created based on my memories as well?

I searched through the item list while savoring the strange nostalgia.

'Piranian's Ancient Pendant.'

'Piranian's Ancient Bracelet.'

'Piranian's...'

Why were there so many Piranian whatevers?

......Oh, there it is!

Spot!

[Eternal Immortal Tree]

------------------

Purchase Price: 660G

Selling Price: 180G

------------------

Gold: 26140G

......I have a ton of money.

I had no idea how I had obtained it, but I was glad about it regardless.

After checking the skill, I learned that if Pygmy creation failed, the materials became unusable, so it would be best to prepare plenty.

I immediately bought the item and opened my inventory.

Inside were the essences left over after awakening my body.

Bwoong-

When I clicked the items needed for creation, their physical forms emerged from the screen.

'Spatial magic...?'

The ability that item crafters and dungeon couriers yearned for so desperately.

Although it only had about fifteen slots, it was still on a level that made even S-rank magic look insignificant.

When another ridiculously overpowered feature appeared out of nowhere, my heart began to flutter with excitement.

"Whew—let's calm down first. Now, next is... Pygmy Sculpting!"

Ding-

[Activating Skill 'Pygmy Sculpting LV. 10'.]

--------------------------------------------

What would you like to create?

Lowest-Grade Pygmy

Lesser Pygmy

Intermediate Pygmy

Superior Pygmy

--------------------------------------------

'Superior Pygmy.'

Ding-

[Creating a Superior Pygmy. Use Blade Claws to shape the wood.]

"B-Blade Claws?"

......So that's what it meant.

No wonder there was no tool. Apparently, I was supposed to shape the materials directly with my hands.

After all, a true craftsman's hands were both the tool and the specifications themselves.

The total number of pieces of wood needed to create a Pygmy was six: two each for the arms and legs, one for the torso, and one for the mask and face.

I immediately activated Blade Claws and began diligently shaping the wood.

'I'll make this my greatest masterpiece...!'

***

"Ugh—nnng...! I slept well!"

"You're awake?"

"......You weren't asleep?"

"Yep."

Vincent stared at me for a while. Then he scratched his head slightly and spoke in a puzzled voice.

"Looks like you didn't sleep a wink... Did something good happen? You look awfully happy."

"Hehe—when you're as outstanding as I am, life is always enjoyable. There's not a single thing lacking in my looks or abilities."

"......."

Smack!

The silent Vincent lightly struck his fist against his palm. Then he widened his eyes and put on a bright, innocent smile.

"I know!"

"Know what?"

"You ate something bad, didn't you? ......Jihyeon, bring me something tasty from the options other than what Naraebi ate."

"Understood, Lord Vincent."

The stewardess—or rather, the attendant—gave him a brief bow and left. The moment she brought water to Vincent after he woke up, he assigned her an extra mission.

......Figures. That guy was just like this. He was awful as soon as he woke up.

Wouldn't it have been better for the attendant, too, if he had eaten with me instead of sleeping?

I clicked my tongue and turned my head away.

"That's a real little sister's face. It makes me want to punch you."

"Of course you would."

"Have you eaten?"

"Ah, yes! It was absolutely delicious! I never imagined I could eat authentic Italian pasta on a plane like this. Later, I'll try another menu—mmph...!"

Vincent clapped a hand over my mouth. When I looked at him to see what was going on, he spoke as if I were a nuisance.

"You're going on too long. And I definitely said 'Airbus' earlier, so what's this 'airplane' nonsense? Some noble you are."

"Pfft—! ......Don't pick on me like that. What can I do? I've lived such a pitiful life."

"How do you know it's pitiful? You said you don't remember a thing."

"That's what makes it pitiful."

"Tsk."

He turned to stare out the window. He looked uncharacteristically unhappy.

But he didn't seem to be troubled by our conversation just now. He looked as though he were thinking about something.

'He'd look like a movie star if he just stayed still like that.'

A chiseled face and superior proportions. If the Gates hadn't appeared, he might have ended up working at a host bar somewhere.

But then.

Prrt-!

"...?"

"What are you looking at.”

Along with the sound of something leaking, Vincent began to get angry. I hadn't said a word, but simply because our eyes met, I received a threat that he would kill me if I told anyone about it.

It was the most undignified side of him I had seen so far.

I desperately suppressed the laughter threatening to burst out,

and my challenge to keep from laughing finally ended when the delicious smell of food wafted over.

"......Naraebi."

A little while later, while cutting into his steak, he called my name.

When the food had arrived, his expression had briefly become bright and innocent, but by now he had entered dark mode again.

Wondering if he was still worried, I answered with a cheerful smile.

"I told you I won't say anything."

“It's not that, you moron."

But his face had lost all trace of laughter. When I looked at him, sensing that the mood had suddenly changed, he began speaking about an entirely different subject.

"This is just an FYI, but you're speaking properly right now."

"......Are you being sarcastic?"

"No. Keep using honorifics like you are now."

......Didn't he tell me to use casual speech before?

Unable to understand Vincent at all, I tilted my head slightly.

As if he had read my thoughts, he spoke with a distant look in his eyes.

"That's just how nobles are. I came here on a business trip, treating it like a vacation, so I said that because I wanted us to be comfortable together, even if only for a little while."

"Then when you said to use casual speech..."

"It was just my wishful thinking. You'll understand when you see it, but the inside of the estate is truly suffocating."

"......Hmm."

Suffocating, huh.

Only then did I realize why he had been in such a bad mood.

With that crazy personality of his, a stuffy atmosphere clearly wouldn't suit him, but apparently the noble system was even stricter than I had imagined.

I opened my mouth with a hint of unease.

"Is it full of schemes and intrigue and all that...?"

"Ah, no, it's not like that. Of course, it would be different if you were aiming for the position of the next head of the family, but otherwise you don't need to worry much about that."

"Phew... What a relief."

"Instead."

Vincent held up his index finger. I quietly urged him to continue.

"Instead...?"

"You probably shouldn't talk too much. About your abilities, for instance, or badmouthing someone behind their back."

"Ah-."

......I see.

What he said definitely made sense. Considering how awkward things had become when I acted on my own earlier, it would be best to exercise as much caution as possible.

'I really need to learn the rules beforehand.'

After that, I began asking Vincent about the atmosphere inside the estate and various other things. Although he seemed a little annoyed, he still answered fairly earnestly.

And I didn't hear the explanation for my earlier mistake until we were nearly at our destination.

"......A chance to get our stories straight?"

"Yeah, you dumbass. You weren't supposed to reveal that ability just like that. The ambassador must have wanted to discuss with you beforehand what information to let me have."

In short, it came down to this.

That it was 'dangerous.'

After hearing the details, I realized it truly was dangerous.

If the family learned about this, not only could they use me however they pleased, but they might even uncover the secret behind the source of my abilities.

The situation would become especially serious if a mind-type ability user interfered with me.

I might have asked why I couldn't simply refuse, but the nobles were governed by a strict hierarchy. Even ordinary nobles, not just the head of the family, were capable of transcending the laws of the old world.

"So you'd better keep your mouth shut from now on. If you want to protect yourself, that is."

"Ah... I understand. But why didn't you want to tell me this? It's important."

"I didn't tell you because it's important, idiot. What noble in the world gives away information for free? Besides, from now on, you're going to hide information even from me, aren't you?"

'.......'

"That's really harsh."

"What?"

"I'll tell Vincent everything important from now on. So don't be so uptight in the future."

I said that with an easy smile.

I understood that the noble system was rigid and vicious, but what else did that leave besides living without a single person to trust?

I had no desire to live such a cold and lonely life. I firmly rejected the idea.

I immediately continued.

"Vincent. Want me to show you something fun?"

"......Something fun?"

'Inventory.'

Fwoosh-

A yellow, translucent rectangular box appeared before my eyes. After confirming that no one was watching, I took out a Lesser Essence from it.

Bwoong-!

"Here. It's a present."

".....?"

Vincent accepted the essence with a bewildered expression. He stared intently at the object resting in his hand, wearing a blank look as if he couldn't understand what was happening.

But...

It was merely the sort of water receding from a beach just before a tsunami. Soon, an immense shock began to spread across his face.

"S-spatial magic...!"

Vincent clapped both hands over his mouth. There was no one he particularly needed to be wary of besides the attendant, yet he began scanning the surroundings with startled eyes.

I approached him, sat down in the seat beside him, and asked,

"W-what do you think? Can you trust me now?"

"......Forget trusting me or not. First, let's get our stories straight. Seriously."

Vincent swallowed once. Then he placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a blazing look.

His grip tightened enough to make my shoulder hurt.

"On top of superior buffs, rapid growth, and summons, ...you even have spatial magic. You—this is something even the head of the family must not know."

"Huh? Why not?"

"...Simple. Because I don't think Douglas Kim can handle you."