Chapter 25
Once my consultation with Anna-ri was over, I began tackling my social schedule in earnest.
Seven nobles had requested meetings with me, so I met with them as quickly as possible, having two tea appointments and a meal each day.
Most of them wanted connections to Eretria or Athens,
and they were mainly curious about how I'd become acquainted with Vincent or April rather than about me.
Some even looked down on me without knowing that I'd received a B rank.
'The worlds they lived in were just too different...'
Well, their attitudes and motives were irrelevant.
With a mountain of work to do, their topics were simply boring to me.
I responded to them appropriately with a sociable smile, and most left satisfied that I had humbled myself before them.
If they were B-rank or higher, they would be treated very differently outside... The purpose of those who had gone so far as to worm their way into noble families was obvious.
"Anyway, it's finally almost over. I didn't make any mistakes, did I?"
"No. You did very well, Lady Raebi."
"I never thought I'd end up missing my lessons with Ms. Hana. Who's this afternoon?"
"Baron Thebes."
......Baron Thebes. Wang Kangdu.
Although he was of mixed American descent, he was one of the few people who used a purely Korean name.
There wasn't much information about him.
He hadn't been one of Douglas Kim's original members, but neither was he the sort of person who roamed around outside.
He simply had the image of someone who interacted moderately with the nobles of Thebes and went on Gate expeditions.
He had also been the one to say first that it was fine for this consultation to be last, so there didn't seem to be anything particularly difficult about receiving him.
After lunch, I waited for his visit in the reception room.
"Lady Raebi, he's here."
I rose from my chair at Han Jihye's whisper.
I saw Anna-ri open the reception-room door, and a man with a distinctly East Asian face entered.
For a moment I mistook him for an attendant, but the people accompanying him told me he was Wang Kangdu.
"I am Raebi Na Tiernected Douglas Kim. It's a pleasure to meet Baron Thebes."
"Mm, I'm Wang Kangdu."
He gave a brief introduction and held out his hand. We shook hands, then each sat in a chair at the table.
'He's... in the mid-170s? Not very tall. And his looks are completely East Asian.'
"Haha! Surprised? Someone who looks like an attendant suddenly walked in."
"Not at all."
"Actually, my father's side is Huaren. I'm American, but my bloodline itself is entirely from this side."
Huaren... Was that something like overseas Chinese?
I gave a vague nod and went along with what he was saying.
We began talking about ordinary topics, and as I watched him, I realized he was a very good talker.
It was the kind of charm that got you excited and made you want to keep talking.
Unlike the other nobles, he didn't ask about the mainstream faction, so it was a conversation I found far less revolting.
"......though I don't have any interest in that sort of thing."
"Oh-ho, Raebi, you have a very mature way of thinking. Is that how you managed to enter Douglas Kim?"
"Haha... I was able to enter thanks to the Family Head's grace."
"Hmm... I hear you're B-rank, and with such a way with words at your age, I suppose that's not all there is to it."
Wang Kangdu looked intently at me. I flinched slightly.
……Had I overplayed it again?
I should smooth it over somehow.
"Thank you for saying so! If you want to make lots of friends at the academy, this much is basic!"
"I see. Oh, speaking of friends, I heard you have some connections with the other annexes,"
'......Could he be like the others too?'
When I stared silently at him, he continued with a gentle smile.
"It's nothing much. I just wanted you to get along with us as well. We're nobles, too, after all, so if we all work together without envying the mainstream faction, wouldn't that be enough?"
***
"Huraaah—! It's finally over!!"
"You worked very hard, Lady Raebi. What was Baron Thebes like?"
"Pardon? Ah..."
At Han Jihye's question, I lowered my gaze for a moment.
......Baron Thebes. Unlike the other nobles of Thebes, he didn't cross any lines, and his manner of speaking was cultured.
He also had an air of refinement.
It was almost as though he had grown up in another noble family.
But...
"Ms. Jihye, can I be honest?"
"Of course."
"......He seems like a good person, but I find him a little burdensome. Especially his smile. How should I put it? It's just... something about it bothers me."
I told her to turn down any future requests from the nobles of Thebes to meet with me.
I felt bad for Han Jihye, who would have to handle the matter, but what good would it do to waste time with people I didn't even want to become close to?
It would only make my item-crafting schedule tighter.
After that, I abandoned everything else and began crafting items.
They were works that didn't fall short of the samples April had shown me in performance, while also receiving careful attention to their design.
I had never done things halfheartedly to begin with, but I took special care this time.
This was a matter of Douglas Kim's—and Korea's—pride.
Thanks to my concentration, I finished all the crafting by the fourth day after accepting the commission, and informed April that everything was ready.
'Piranian's Flame Circlet, Firestarter Necklace, Recoil-Control Ring, Flame Duration Bracelet'
"I'll bring them over shortly! What do you think? Perfect, right?"
"......They're all good, but repeat what April said earlier."
"Pardon? Um... 'Any woman would be captivated by...'"
"Not that part."
...What was it?
"An item's performance is what matters...?"
"Yeah, that. Don't you notice anything strange?"
"I'm not sure."
Then Vincent gave me a sharp tap on the forehead.
His wrinkled brow and displeased downturned lips were clearly saying, 'This is frustrating.'
He picked up the ring from the table and asked me with a mocking look,
"Hah- what a sly little vixen. Hey, how much do you think this is worth?"
"Well... I don't know? Since I agreed to receive 100 million won, 25 million each?"
"25 million... An item used by an A-rank fire-magic Hunter is worth 25 million?"
"Yes. That's the price I understand they go for outside, too."
That was only natural, since they weren't staves, but merely accessories.
Accessories mostly served to support magic or control one's skills so they wouldn't inflict damage on the user.
They weren't particularly essential even to a skilled mage with a good staff.
More precisely, they were necessary, but they didn't require extreme quality.
I tilted my head in confusion, and Vincent flicked me sharply on the forehead.
"Ow!"
"You idiot. Just the ones April showed you were well over 30 million. That's the minimum."
"Whaaat? Then what about my work?"
"Let's see... You said yours are higher quality, right? In terms of efficiency, probably 120%?"
"Uh......um. Yes. About that."
Vincent began stroking his chin.
"Commoners may not know this, but among nobles, even a one-percent difference in efficiency can make hundreds of thousands or millions of won change hands. So how much do you think this is worth?"
'A one-percent difference is worth millions...?'
I slowly opened my mouth, gripped by an ominous premonition.
...50 million?
"No."
...S-seven... seventy million?
"More."
"A hundred million...?"
Clap!
Only then did Vincent clap lightly.
"That's right. Just going by performance, it's worth 100 million. And once you add the design... among high-ranking nobles, this is something they could name their price for."
“What?”
“Think about it. There are only a handful of crafters capable of such delicate workmanship. Does it make sense for that not to affect the price?”
......!!!!
"W-What do you mean?! Then the contract I drew up in Athens...!"
"You got ripped off, that's what. April probably never imagined you'd consult me about something like this."
"……."
Watching Vincent chuckle as though he found it amusing, I opened my mouth.
To be honest, I had thought there might be some price gouging, but this was far beyond anything I'd imagined.
No, it was outrageous!
Would someone really haggle items worth at least 100 million won down to a quarter of their value?
This wasn't merely a matter of money. It was about my feelings and my pride. And... and...
"This is a matter of business ethics! I'm not selling! I'll break the contract and pay the penalty! Big Brother, lend me the money for the cancellation fee!"
"No, calm down."
Vincent firmly pressed me back into my seat after I jumped up in excitement.
Then he kept patting me as he said,
"Just go and formally protest. April probably played a little prank on you over your refusal to join Athens, but if you seriously take her to task, she'll back down."
"Really?"
"Of course, idiot. No matter how crazy she is, she isn't that far gone."
"......Then that's a relief."
Right. That couldn't be true.
No matter how far nobles went, there was no way such an absurd scam could be possible.
Especially when the other party wasn't a commoner, but another noble.
Thinking Vincent had a point, I headed for Athens.
"Isn't that Lady Raebi? What brings you to Athens...?"
"I need to see Big Sis April."
"Um, as I understand it, she doesn't have any outside appointments at this hour. I'm sorry, but would you mind waiting a moment?"
At the gatekeeper's question, I smiled and nodded.
The gatekeeper also smiled and called someone.
The voice I heard through the speaker didn't seem to be April's; it sounded like one of her personal attendants.
He checked various appointments with the person on the phone, then spoke to me.
"An attendant will be here shortly. I apologize, but please wait just a moment."
“Thank you.”
……Could she want to inspect the items?
Noble dignity and all that—under normal circumstances, I would have sent her back after giving her a barrage of scolding, but today was different.
After waiting a little, just as the gatekeeper had said, an attendant came out through the main gate,
and I followed her down the hallway on the third floor of the Athens annex.
Before long, we reached April's room.
Creak-
"Big Sis..."
"You came? You seem pretty confident about this. You're two hours earlier than scheduled... Kyaaah!!!"
I rushed at April and grabbed her cheeks, stretching them sideways.
April's face became grotesquely distorted for the first time ever.
Startled, she levitated me with telekinesis, and I wildly flailed my hands while suspended in midair.
While the attendants on both sides, including Han Jihye, were too stunned to speak,
April rubbed her reddened cheeks and shouted,
"What on earth are you doing all of a sudden?! No matter how uncultured you are, there are limits!"
"What refinement are you talking about?! How can someone so refined pull a scam!?"
"F-Fraud? What are you talking about all of a sudden...?!"
April denied it shamelessly.
But I caught the momentary wavering in her eyes and began picking apart her words point by point.
I laid out every bit of information Vincent had told me.
Even so, having had experience making deals as a woodworker, I was able to construct an airtight argument.
In the end, unable to offer any real counterargument, April admitted her wrongdoing.
"Haah......Seriously. Fine, you're right. I played a little prank on you. Let's draw up the contract again."
"Good!"
"Then the youngest must apologize first."
"Pardon?"
What? Had I heard her wrong?
"Why should I?"
"You made a scene just now, youngest. So you need to apologize."
"You should apologize first! You scammed me first!"
"......Even so, do you really want to do this? I'm your older sister, you know?"
Ah, right. There was no way this woman would meekly lower her head.
In the end, we started arguing again.
I was furious at having been scammed.
April was the most prideful child in all of Douglas Kim.
Even though we both knew what we had done wrong, the tedious standoff continued.
Whether my attendants tried to stop us or hers did, we kept repeating the exact same claims.
In the end, after failing to find common ground, we were summoned by the Baron of Athens, who had only belatedly realized what was happening.
After hearing the whole story, the baron opened his mouth with a bewildered look.
"April."
"Yes, Father."
"......How old are you this year?"
"......"
April didn't answer and lowered her head.
The baron then turned his gaze toward me. I had expected him to reprimand me for harming his daughter, but his eyes were warmer than I'd anticipated.
"You said your name was Raebi, right? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"That's right. Um, Baron Grant, I'm sorry for being rude..."
"That's enough. Anyone who's been wronged can get excited."
"Ah, Father..."
April looked wounded. She seemed disappointed that the baron hadn't taken her side.
The baron said to her,
"April. I've told you time and again that pranks are only acceptable between people of similar rank or those who are close. You started this, so apologize first."
"......Understood."
April composed her expression and looked at me.
Seeing the sorrow in her eyes vanish in an instant, I thought, As expected, nobles are nobles.
'Her emotional control is psychopath-level...'
"I'm sorry, Raebi. I went too far with my prank."
"I-I'm sorry too. I apologize for rushing at you without warning..."
"Exactly. How undignified."
Huh?
"I-is this really an apology?"
The baron chuckled heartily.
"Accept it at that. You may not know this, but maintaining our standing is more important in Athens than you might think. ...More importantly, I have something to ask you."
"Please, ask."
"How many more items like those can you produce?"
"A-a reasonable amount."
"......I see."
After that, the baron said nothing more about the commotion.
He invited me to dinner, but I had no choice but to decline because I looked a complete mess.
He examined the items intently, said he would deposit the money into my account,
and after returning to my room in Thebes, I felt my phone go bzz- and looked at the screen.
---------------------
[Sent by Wep]
Songdo Finance
800,000,000 won deposited
Balance: 880,553,400 won
---------------------
"Eek...!!!"
"Lady Raebi?"
......800 million won. Vincent said each one wouldn't exceed 150 million?
I showed Han Jihye the phone screen and said,
"Please print out the entire waiting list of attendant candidates. Starting tomorrow, I'm going shopping!"