Chapter 51
"You're here?"
I met Iroha in front of the pyramid.
The British side had already drawn up the list of companions, so we could have entered separately, but Iroha was being considerate because this was my first time at one of the highest-level social venues.
She looked at me and spoke in a regretful tone.
"Oh my, I was going to come out and greet you myself."
Iroha laughed, saying she hadn't expected me to come out first.
It was about ten minutes before the six o'clock meeting time, so it seemed she'd come out earlier than the time we'd agreed.
'I arrived thirty minutes ago.'
There was no need to hurry like this.
However, the other party was indisputably far above me in the hierarchy.
Even though Iroha was fond of me, I thought this was something I had to handle properly.
Han Jihye smiled and said it was a good decision, so this was probably the right approach.
We boarded the private elevator together.
The British residence occupied fifteen floors starting from the top of the pyramid, and the social hall was on the eighth floor, roughly in the middle.
Because unauthorized outsiders were strictly barred from entering, these floors were counted separately from the ordinary ones.
'The guide standing so primly before me now...'
A female staff member came into view.
This was the road to the very top of the world. It was said that even operating the elevator was handled by a thoroughly trained psychic-type awakened person.
If anyone showed the slightest impure intention, it would immediately be detected from above.
"It's truly amazing."
"What is?"
"Britain. It's amazing that they built such an incredible island, and that they reside at its summit like gods."
When I muttered that I was a little nervous now that I was actually here, Iroha let out a soft giggle.
"It's only natural to be surprised. This is the world's most recently completed noble estate, and it's also the largest."
Iroha muttered that this was her first time seeing such a large-scale project as well.
I'd expected to look like a barbarian dropped into a civilized city, but fortunately, that didn't seem to be the case.
The elevator opened.
At the end of a short corridor about twenty meters long stood a set of Chinese-style double doors, which slid open automatically as we approached.
It was the moment the residence of the world's number-one family unfolded before us.
"Isn't it a little small for a social hall?"
"There aren't many people. Though there are thirteen top families... aside from me, only five other families have students enrolled this time."
Come to think of it, this was a playground for juniors.
Han Jihye had briefed me in advance, but unconsciously, I had still felt pressured by the thought, 'When am I going to greet all thirteen families?'
Once I saw how cozy the space was, I felt much more at ease. I began going over the information I'd been given.
'Germany, Christian von Brandenburg. World No. 10.'
'China, Wuxuan Weirui. World No. 8.'
'Japan, Iroha Shimizu. World No. 7.'
'The United States, Rainy Bradley Walter. World No. 3.'
......And Aiden Cavendish and Bella Cecil, the world's No. 1 and No. 2.
Since this was a women's social gathering, I would only be meeting people from Britain, America, and Japan today.
"Please come this way, both of you."
An attendant who had been waiting in advance guided us. Although we were from different families, I was an accompanying guest, so I sat at the same table as Iroha.
Honestly, I wondered whether one table wouldn't be enough when only four people were gathering, but who could know what they were thinking?
At least, the seating arrangement allowed us to converse.
As soon as we ordered tea as we'd been taught beforehand, something with a distinctive aroma was set down in front of us with a clack.
Like the 'Golden Riesling' Douglas sometimes gave me, it had been brewed from ingredients gathered inside a Gate.
'As expected. This restores mana too.'
Putting the good taste aside, it had a special effect. I could feel some of the mana I'd spent crafting items around dawn slowly returning.
Wondering whether there might be something similar in 'Inventory,' I asked Iroha.
"Lady Iroha. Food with special effects like this must be very expensive, right?"
"Hmm... Rather than being expensive, it's simply very difficult to obtain. I hear the 'Kirkalif' you're drinking now is worth whatever price someone names."
Iroha added that if she had to go into a dungeon anyway, she would like to visit a gathering site where ingredients like these could be found.
I felt the same way, so we excitedly began an unexpected discussion about our plans for the future.
A little while later, another attendee arrived.
Rainy of the Walter family. When I moved to cross my arms, she stopped me by raising a palm.
"Ah, leave them as they are. I remember you from the entrance ceremony."
Rainy said this and sat down at our table.
A separate table had been prepared for the Walter family, but she sent away the attendant who tried to guide her there, saying, 'What would I do by myself?'
"The attendants sit there."
"Lady Rainy, attendants aren't supposed to sit..."
"Don't make me say it twice."
"......Understood."
Despite the Cavendish attendants' attempts to stop her, she freely let her aides and bodyguards relax around her.
She also urged our attendants to sit down, and Iroha and I nodded as well.
Before we knew it, Koreans, Americans, and Japanese were seated together at two tables.
'How free-spirited. Is that the American style?'
"Lady Rainy, you're very considerate."
"It's less consideration than the fact that it's pointless. Isn't it funny? Who would come all the way here and try something underhanded?"
"Haha, I can truly sympathize with that..."
'Because everyone here except me is S-rank.'
"Oh my, really? Adopted nobles are less stuffy after all... Hot!"
Fsssh-
Rainy used magic to lower the temperature of her teacup. The steam vanished, so it seemed to have cooled completely.
Only then did Rainy seem satisfied, and she slurped down its contents.
This was our first proper conversation, but somehow, I instantly understood her style.
She and Iroha seemed to know each other; they exchanged casual greetings.
"What's this?"
Bella, who was the last to enter, stopped and blinked.
She couldn't hide her bewilderment when she saw the table where the attendants were seated.
Rainy chuckled as though she found it hilarious.
"I had them sit down, Bella. Doesn't it look nice and cozy?"
"......I'm sure it does. Since things have turned out this way, you all should go sit there too."
Faced with Rainy's shameless expression, Bella seemed to give up as well.
Considering that the British family lived and died by decorum, this must have been a considerable mental shock, but the fact that she accepted it without much friction suggested she was accustomed to situations like this.
However, Bella didn't join us and instead sat separately at the Cecil family's private table. Seeing that, Rainy whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Let's move over there."
Iroha followed without a word, so I stood up as well.
Bella lowered her head and pressed the spot between her brows.
"Honestly, if I collapse from stress somewhere, know that it's all your fault, Rainy."
"Pfft. ......See? This is how you break an awkward silence. Learn well, everyone."
Despite the way they spoke, the two of them seemed quite close.
The automatic translation system thoroughly analyzed intonation and nuance, so not appending the 'nim' honorific to each other's names wasn't an error or a mistake.
After that, an ordinary dinner took place. I'd thought some great scheme must have been in the works, but apparently not.
While I had no idea why Bella had called me here, only ordinary conversation passed between us.
"......This one irregular Gate is giving me a headache. I'd rather have an S-rank Gate."
"Puhuhu, perhaps it's because you haven't experienced an S-rank Gate yet, but I can sympathize to a degree. Come to think of it, wasn't there one in Japan recently?"
"Yes. It occurred as an instant-opening type in Osaka. The commoners cursed us for responding so slowly..."
"Did the commoners say unpleasant things?"
Bella's gaze changed.
"Yes. The victims' families protested. We had to assemble a force capable of minimizing Hunter casualties before we could clear the site, and apparently many people died in the meantime."
"......It was only the proper course of action. They must have had a difficult time."
"They were simply ignorant, so we should be understanding."
"Hmm, how is it now? Is it still noisy?"
"It's quiet. One of the bereaved family members tried to form a subversive organization, but the Ryukei family dealt with it personally."
'They're talking about it as though it's nothing...'
...The Osaka instant-opening Gate.
I'd heard that the death toll at the time had exceeded a thousand.
It occurred at a marine exhibition hall called the 'Marine Pavilion,' and there was a movie theme park right next to it. Even though it was a B-rank Gate, I remembered that the damage had been far greater than at Korea's Mt. Inwang.
There had been people protesting in grief over the loss of their families, but judging from the conversation, it seemed they'd been eliminated without a trace.
"Ryukei... They seem to be quite competent for adoptees."
"Ah, um. Yes. That's right."
At Bella's subtly dismissive remark, Iroha gave us an apologetic look.
But I smiled gently to show that I didn't mind.
I'd anticipated this degree of provocation from the outset.
Bella seemed to sense the atmosphere as well and apologized to me.
"Ah... I was being insensitive. I wasn't referring to you, Lady Raebi. I'm sorry for causing an unnecessary misunderstanding."
'......This is my chance!'
I'd been left out of the conversation the entire time. I decided to use my tried-and-true strategy.
"No. It is true that adoptees have a bad reputation, and I think there's a good reason for that. ......To be honest, I don't much like adoptees either."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I myself am quite lacking and clumsy."
"......From the looks of it, you're not just saying that. In what ways?"
Bella asked with interest.
Adopted nobles probably had more of a victim mentality than natural-born nobles, and among those who deliberately ‘bought’ their noble status, few people practiced self-reflection, so this must have seemed unusual to her.
I gave several examples of times when my own mistakes had made things difficult for those around me.
Bella's mouth fell open in surprise for a moment when she heard them.
"To start with, that certainly disqualifies you as a 'noble.'"
……Honestly, she was right.
"But, ......for someone your age to have such an attitude. Many possibilities will open up before you."
"Thank you...?"
'How unexpected.'
Her sudden change in attitude left me speaking awkwardly.
Judging by her behavior up to now, it was clear that she had looked down on me, and her jab about 'adopted nobles' just now couldn't have been accidental either.
When I stared at her blankly, she spoke again.
"Lady Raebi. May I be a little direct? You're probably curious why you were invited today, too."
"Yes? Ah! Yes, please."
"Actually, I invited you today partly to express my disappointment. You deliberately refused to give 'Cecil' the answer it wanted. You know what I mean, right?"
......So she'd heard something, after all.
I didn't deny it and nodded.
"But after seeing you today... I think I more or less understand you. At least, you're not like the disgusting sort I had in mind."
Bella went on to mention the incident involving Wang Gangdu's expulsion. Apparently, she liked the fact that I'd boldly called her and had an adopted noble expelled.
To me, it had been about protecting someone on my side, but to Bella, it had been an act that strengthened the status of natural-born nobles.
"So I looked into Douglas Kim's circumstances... and found them interesting in many ways. It might not be bad to visit someday."
"You'll be tired, so just stay here. I'll go in your place, Bella."
Rainy said this while munching on Golden Riesling.
She seemed interested in the matter as well.
Bella gave a small laugh and looked back at us.
"Well... we can discuss visiting later. So what are you going to do, Lady Raebi?"
"What? What do you mean, what will I do...?"
At that moment, Iroha took my hand beneath the table. She began whispering with a faint smile.
'She's asking whether you'll cooperate. If you have something to offer, put one of your cards on the table.'
"Ah..."
So, instead of dancing around the subject, she wanted me to reveal a secret.
......A card in my hand.
I quietly brought up Inventory.
Bella had suddenly requested Enrico's lessons, and she was also engaged to Aiden.
It seemed I needed one move that would satisfy both of their questions at once.
You might say that revealing information was too dangerous, but...
-On the surface, this is Lady Iroha's invitation. Lady Raebi's actions will also reflect on Lady Iroha's honor.
This was an attack I couldn't avoid from the outset. If I offered too little, I would put Iroha in a difficult position.
"Actually, I've prepared something for all of you. Would you wait just a moment?"
I closed the Inventory window again for the time being.
I'd considered it for a while, but I still couldn't reveal subspace magic.
I called Han Jihye and left the table with her, then stood at the entrance to the restroom and took out something to use in its place.
“Ms. Jihye, hand this over while pretending you've had it all along.”
[Tiamat's Ring: Replica]
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An item that imitates Tiamat's Ring
as closely as possible to the original.
A powerful force of the sea lies dormant within.
Equip Effects
-All Stats + 9
-Infinite Diving
-Water Attribute Resistance (proportional to mana)
-Movement Speed in Water + (proportional to mana)
-Automatic counterattack when hit (equal to stored mana)
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Shop purchase price: 1.68 million G
Shop selling price: 430,000 G
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Because it consumed so much mana, I could make only three of this item.
Its specs were enough to work against even most top-tier A-ranks and S-ranks, and its design went without saying.
Water-attribute items were made using methods entirely different from ordinary ones, so I couldn't have created this without the blueprint I'd obtained from the merfolk.
In other words, even setting its specs aside, the effect itself was extremely rare.
It would probably be a tremendous help when clearing the occasional water-attribute field.
"Lady Raebi, this is...?"
"Since we've already attracted attention, there's no helping it. I'll give them information, then get just as much out of them in return."
Right then, I decided to present myself as a master crafter of high-grade rare items.