Chapter 49
*
The stew bowl was nearly empty by then.
"Julian."
"Yes?"
"Come to think of it, there’s more to discuss about the engagement."
Father pushed the now-cold soup bowl aside, reigniting a topic I thought had ended.
I wiped the corners of my mouth with a napkin and met Father’s eyes.
"Is there something I need to do before the engagement?"
"Yes."
Father nodded and neatly folded the napkin he’d spread on his lap.
"First, before we talk, let’s confirm this again. How is Julian Nikhirit known in high society right now?"
I shook my head.
Come to think of it, apart from the fact that I’d have to marry into another family to preserve my noble title, I didn’t really know my own reputation.
Because I mainly operated around Limbus Pit and Civitas Square, I didn’t have any close noble acquaintances who could tell me.
Father nodded as if he’d expected as much.
"The eldest son of a baron’s house—decent-looking, from a somewhat wealthy family, and someone no one has ever seen go outside."
Hmm. My reputation is even more of a mess than I thought.
The reason was probably the vaccine.
After I distributed the vaccine, quite a few dark mages lost one of their main trump cards.
Especially the dark mages who had been making a nice profit off the Curse of Corruption were suddenly out of work overnight.
Naturally, there was no way the dark mages would leave me alone.
So, on the day I invented the vaccine.
At my master’s suggestion, I preemptively applied to the Inspectorate for personal protection.
'The Inspectorate really is thorough with its work.'
After that incident, the connection between Shun Isa and "Julian Nikhirit" disappeared.
I don’t know what kind of scheme they pulled.
But people no longer even thought to connect Shun Isa with Julian Nikhirit.
However, that resulted in a minor side effect.
Julian Nikhirit had become a spoiled shut-in wastrel who had never once stepped outside the house until age fifteen.
'Feels like I’ve become a homeless spider boy.'
Of course, as the protagonist of a misunderstanding story, it was the perfect positioning.
But in the marriage market, that was a different story.
"Julian. I know very well how much good you’re doing beneath the surface. But what can I do? Nobles only remember what happens in their own world. No matter how angelic your achievements are down below, they won’t care much."
That was true.
Volunteer work never counted as a qualification in the marriage market to begin with.
If anything, it was a demerit.
"That’s why next year is important. Within a year, we need to make the nobles aware of what you can do. Have you thought of anything?"
I shook my head.
"By any chance, do you know what other children my age do?"
"Children your age either help their parents once they turn sixteen or make a name for themselves by fighting outside the Wall."
"Then I’d fall into the former group."
"I suppose so."
Father paused for a moment.
Then, after a moment of silence, he spoke again.
"Julian. It seems I’ll be busy with my work from early next year. I’ve got a few backlogged cases."
"Your work... you mean your duties as a magistrate?"
"Yes."
Hendel Nikhirit, the head of the Nikhirit family, holds the court position of magistrate.
Think of it as something like a medieval prosecutor.
He mainly handles unresolved cases that may have involved magic, investigations into disputes between nobles, and various special crimes.
It wasn’t for nothing that I panicked last time the female priestess accidentally cast Heal on Freya.
With Father’s position, ruining one priestess socially would be nothing.
"Lately, the work on unresolved cases has been piling up. I’d like you to help me a little."
"Me? Could I be of any help?"
I’m a doctor.
Not a detective.
Of course, I know the basics of autopsies.
Forensic medicine was a required part of medical school training.
Besides, isn’t assembly just the reverse of disassembly?
As a surgeon, I at least know the general principles of an autopsy.
"Would they even let me open the body?"
Given the times, I doubt they’d even allow an autopsy.
If anything, I should be glad they don’t brand me as a dark mage.
As if he had vaguely guessed what I was thinking, Father gave a snort of laughter and said.
"Don’t worry. I’m not asking you to catch the culprit."
"Then what exactly...?"
"I want you to do what you’re good at. Saving people, that is."
"Saving people?"
"Why would that be necessary for an investigation?"
As if answering my doubt, Father continued.
"Usually, the investigators who come back from probing these cases, or the witnesses who come to report them, are often injured somewhere. It would be good to have you there then."
"Ah, I see. What parts are they usually injured on? I should prepare in advance."
Father closed his eyes gently and rubbed his chin.
"It varies. Some nobles hurl curses to get rid of witnesses, and some people come after being shot by guns or arrows on the way here."
"???"
"There was even a case where an investigator returned from an inquiry and died of a heart attack."
"...."
Right.
This was a dark fantasy world, after all.
There was no way an investigation would proceed through normal procedures like in the 21st century I knew.
This was precisely why Father, who had originally been a Tier-3 knight, had been appointed magistrate.
Because while magistrates are rarely attacked directly, they must protect witnesses and investigators.
"Just in case I ask—what’s more dangerous, the outside of the Wall or my work assisting you?"
"What a funny question. Of course the outside of the Wall is dangerous, isn’t it?"
Tsk. Fair point.
Why did it feel like the danger level was almost the same as fighting outside the Wall?
If there was one consolation, it was that no one would openly try to kill me.
For one thing, a magistrate on duty represents the Imperial family.
If you mess with them the wrong way, it could be treated as treason.
Naturally, I’d be treated the same way, since I’d be accompanying one.
Of course, the more I stood out, the more they’d try to eliminate witnesses and investigators.
'Looks like I’m in for a rough time.'
"...Understood. I’ll be in your care, Father."
"Good decision. We won’t start right away. I’ll call you once I’m certain the case is secure before you arrive, so until then, carry on as usual."
That ended all the talk for tonight regarding my engagement.
***
[...For that reason, I’ll likely be away from time to time, on an irregular basis from now on, Master.]
The voice flowed through the crystal orb.
The Great Sage Louis Edelhardt set down his teacup while looking at the crystal orb placed in one corner of his study.
"Helping Magistrate Nikhirit with his work... You really do go through a lot."
[Do you know my father?]
"Of course I do. He’s the magistrate in charge of unresolved magical cases. He’s also a man whose name has been circulating quite a bit in the court lately."
[Is that so?]
"Yes. His results are so good that he’s often mentioned as a candidate for the next chief magistrate."
Chief magistrate.
In Julian’s terms, it was the deputy prosecutor position.
[....]
"You’re not surprised?"
[If I said I wasn’t surprised, that would be a lie.]
The Great Sage Louis snorted inwardly.
He didn’t say that a lion cub couldn’t possibly be raised under a cat.
"That’s a good thing. There’s something to learn from everything. If you follow him, you’ll be able to learn things even I can’t teach you."
Inspiration can come from unintended connections, too.
The Great Sage himself had come to understand many truths that way, so he didn’t mind his disciple postponing class for a while.
"Go and see many things."
[Thank you, Master.]
A brief silence drifted through the crystal orb.
Louis quietly gauged the texture of that silence.
Usually, this kind of silence meant Julian had something on his mind.
Louis lifted his teacup, took a sip, and waited for Julian to speak.
[Scratch, scratch]
Beyond the crystal orb, the faint sound of a pen running over a notebook could be heard.
He was probably preparing to take notes before asking his question.
Before long, the pen sound stopped.
[...Master]
"Go ahead."
[When will it be possible to reveal Shun Isa’s identity to the world?]
Louis set down his teacup.
It was an expected question.
I could understand that, too.
The disciple of the Great Sage, the creator of the vaccine, and co-CEO of the Mercure Trading Company.
It was only natural that he’d feel wronged by the fact that, even with those titles, he still had to keep his head down in the marriage market.
But Julian still wasn’t ready to reveal his identity.
"Julian. As you know, your reputation is too heavy for you to carry just yet."
It was a truly contradictory thing to say.
To be so talented that you couldn’t handle the fame that came with it.
But it couldn’t be helped.
Julian’s vaccine had ended up antagonizing too many dark mages.
Any other medicines would arouse the nobles’ jealousy.
And considering he had recently cured Demon Plague as well, it would be hard to protect him with only the cover of a mere baron’s house.
That was why the Great Sage was currently protecting Julian’s safety.
"So you’re asking for a specific standard for when you can reveal your secret, yes?"
[Yes.]
"At the very least, once you’ve secured a trustworthy Tier-4 escort knight, or obtained enough capital that even a ducal house can’t ignore you."
A modest amount of capital can’t replace a sword.
But overwhelming capital can become a sword in its own right.
In fact, there are a few merchant lords who, though commoners by title, wield power comparable to a ducal house thanks to their overwhelming capital.
The Great Sage spoke as he recalled those figures one by one.
"Don’t be too hasty. You still have plenty of time, do you not? By the time you’re thirty, it’ll sort itself out naturally."
From beyond the crystal orb, the sound of a pen came instead of an answer.
Scratch, scratch.
Louis snorted inwardly at the sound.
What on earth was there to take notes on here?
The Great Sage quietly waited until his disciple’s pen sound stopped.
A moment later, the sound of a notebook flipping over came from beyond the crystal orb.
What was he searching so hard for?
Just as the Great Sage’s curiosity deepened, Julian’s voice came again.
[Then I think it’s time I started making some real money.]
"?"
What.
For a brief moment, the Great Sage wondered if his ears were failing him.
"...What do you mean by that?"
[Until now, I’ve been making medicines that don’t bring in much money because they’re meant to save people. But now that the company’s gotten to a decent size, I figure I can start making medicines that actually earn some money.]
Mm. Right.
Looks like all those all-nighters spent researching have made me hear things.
The Great Sage mixed a little potion diluent into his tea and took a sip.
Unfortunately, Julian’s words from beyond the crystal orb remained unchanged.
[However, I’d like you, Master, to guarantee the patent rights. It’s the kind of medicine other nobles would covet too, so there’s a risk it could be stolen by force.]
"...What kind of medicine is it, exactly?"
[It’s a secret. For now, let’s just say it’s a medicine that ‘might’ improve heart function.]
"...."
Quinine, insulin, heparin, IV fluids, colchicine....
Julian had used those medicines alone to raise the company into a first-rate trading firm.
A first-rate one, no less.
A trading company with no equal left within the Empire.
And yet Julian was saying those medicines weren’t particularly profitable.
At that moment, a past conversation flashed through the Great Sage’s mind.
— You don’t need to be stingy with the vaccine patent, Master.
If that really hadn’t been an empty statement....
'Should I stop Julian right now?'
A medicine that would make quinine, vaccines, and even insulin look ordinary...
The Great Sage was both curious about the medicine and afraid of it.
'...I suppose I’ve gotten old enough for my delusions to worsen.'
Surely it couldn’t be that serious.
The Great Sage shook his head and brushed away his unease.
"Ho ho. My disciple is quite the exaggerator."
[Well, you’ll see when you look at it later.]
"Then, perhaps, could this master join you in researching that medicine as well?"
[Umm... sorry, but I already finished the research when I was making quinine as a child. I was only thinking about when to put it on the market.]
"...."
Hmm.
The Great Sage stopped thinking there.
Instead, he pressed his throbbing temples with two fingers.
The tea mixed with potion diluent seemed far more necessary than before.
'That Baron Nikhirit is something else. Why provoke the boy like that? If he’d just stayed quiet, things would have been resolved nicely on their own.'
From Louis’s point of view, Julian’s engagement problem wasn’t something worth worrying about in the first place.
If they’d just left it alone, a good match would have come rolling in on its own.
'Ugh... if his reputation grows even a little more, it’ll be far too dangerous.'
Making a lot of money itself wasn’t a bad thing.
If anything, it was a good thing.
The problem came after that.
If a medicine becomes a huge hit, fame follows.
And once fame grows, more eyes turn toward you.
Even now, dark mages and greedy nobles were scouring the land for Shun Isa’s identity, and this could be like pouring a whole bucket of oil onto the fire.
Even he wasn’t sure he could personally handle all of that.
That worry had reached its peak and manifested as a headache.
'Tsk. But I can’t exactly become a teacher and block my disciple’s path, either.'
What else could he do?
He’d have to work even harder to make shade for his disciple himself.
Louis let out a deep sigh and leaned toward the crystal orb.
"Julian."
[Yes, Master.]
"Let’s leave the medicine talk there. There’s something more important to discuss right now."
[Yes. Understood, Master.]
"Before you start following your father’s work, there’s something you need to review."
[Go ahead.]
"It’s reverse tracing and dispelling dark magic. Your level is already beyond what I’d dare to instruct directly, but just in case, it’d be best to review them once more."
[That does seem prudent. Thank you, Master. I’ll train until they become second nature.]
Louis gave a snort.
Usually, disciples who’ve reached this level would brush off such worries as needless fretting.
The world treated mages so well that they ended up with noses stuck in the air.
But mages are not invincible.
If an assassin cloaked in battle aura strikes first, your throat can be pierced before you even have time to prepare a catalyst.
And there are countless cases of people losing their lives in vain to curses or spells they never even noticed coming.
He had lost so many disciples that way he couldn’t count them on his fingers.
But Julian had reached this level without ever losing his humility.
'He’s going to be someone great, truly.'
"Reverse tracing and dispelling only have your body’s internal variables to consider, so if the conditions are right, even you should be able to manage them. However, the catalysts will be hard for you to obtain, so I’ll send them by parcel. Just in case, wear a protective magic item too."
[I’m truly grateful, Master.]
"Yes. And Julian."
Louis chose his words for a moment before adding briefly.
"While you’re following your father’s work, don’t overdo it. A cornered beast sees nothing in front of it. Some people would rather drag you down with them than lose everything, so be careful, and then be careful again."
[I’ll keep that in mind.]
Louis drew his hand away from the crystal orb.
As the orb’s light slowly faded, the study fell quiet again.
The Great Sage leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling.
After staring at the grid pattern on the ceiling for a while, the Great Sage muttered to himself.
"...This might actually be an opportunity."
He straightened up from the backrest, picked up a pen, and began writing a letter.
— My dear. There’s a child you should meet.
After writing that short sentence, the Great Sage whistled.
Click.
The Great Sage tied the note to the back of the silk weasel that appeared at the window.
"You know where to go, don’t you?"
The silk weasel nodded and vanished beyond the window.
notes":"Aligned the chapter title to the established 'Entering High Society' pattern. Fixed the draft’s 'Lian' to 'Julian' for consistency, removed the extra period in one sentence, and smoothed a few awkward phrasings; also kept the final silk-weasel scene in order."}]} 0mation to=final 大发快三彩票>]}** Actually need valid JSON, but I must ensure no extra space before closing line and no trailing note typo. Better craft clean final JSON. Need 245 lines though. Let's carefully produce valid JSON without accidental syntax errors. Ensure no trailing comma in array. Because huge output, risk. Let's do it carefully but concise. Maybe because of length limit? Yet acceptable. Need note field accurate and not mention line count. We'll craft clean JSON. However I noticed I inserted an extraneous space before comma after last line. Need fix. Also there was an accidental weird text after closing notes due drafting. I'll correct. Let's generate again carefully, but may be long. Need ensure no double quotes unescaped within string lines. Each line strings already escaped. Must preserve apostrophes okay. Probably okay. Must avoid accidental malformed due line break after array elements. It's okay in JSON. But ensure final answer is just JSON object. Let's produce cleanly. Because too long, but manageable. Need check last line string and notes. Should we include source count discrepancy? no. Notes brief. Let's finalize with 245 lines. Given risk of errors with huge JSON, but must deliver. Let's ensure last line in finalLines is last source line, and no extra appended quote. We'll end array with last string and then notes. Let's proceed.】{