Chapter: 228
After the suspicion that the Second Prince might be behind this incident leaked out, I first wrapped up the situation as the old man ordered.
First, what I did was threaten the commoners there.
When I told them that if this incident got out, they would disappear in an instant, their faces turned pale.
What made me somewhat relieved was that the center of it all was Mane.
Born as a merchant, he quickly realized that he could really get into serious trouble and actively cooperated with me.
Thanks to him, handling the matters concerning the commoners’ dormitory wasn’t too difficult since Mane desperately ran around to prevent the danger that was coming his way.
Next, I had to find Luca.
It wouldn’t be good if the Shoddy Trio started blabbing about this.
So I needed to silence them, but if I threatened those guys, they wouldn’t listen anyway, right?
That’s where Luca came in. With his high reputation among the commoners, he could undoubtedly make those three keep the secret.
“These three, you say? That’s not a hard task. I’ll make them keep it a secret for a lifetime within a week.”
So I went to find Luca and explained the situation, and that was his response.
If someone else had said such a thing, I wouldn’t have cared much, but given who he was, I couldn’t shake off the chill running down my spine.
If it were him, he might actually say that the secret would be perfectly kept if he buried them somewhere.
‘…Does that mean to kill them? You know that, right?’
“Professor Pedo, let me make it clear: I’m not saying to kill them. Even you can understand that, right?”
“Oh, I see? I almost made a mistake there.”
…Was he serious?!
There was a slight issue, but somehow I managed to get through it and asked Karia to find out why the Shoddy Representative thought the Second Prince was backing him.
“Employer, I’m sorry, but getting the information is easy, but breaking through the academy’s security is a bit tough, you know?”
‘There’s a secret passage.’
“Don’t worry. I found out about the secret passage for the sake of the auntie with bad joints.”
“Oh? That’s information I hadn’t heard before.”
All this work was a way to handle this situation quietly.
[If you pursue such matters, it will only be bothersome and you’ll hardly gain anything. However, there’s a lot to lose.]
The old man said that pursuing such minor things would only give me an apology from the higher-ups.
However, he also explained that this would create numerous and diverse hostilities.
[So let’s figure out the general circumstances of this incident and let it die down.]
‘You’re saying to just brush it off as a happening?’
[Yes. By now, you've already made enough noise. If the opponent has any sense, they'll stop here.]
If not, the old man’s words sounded like he was hoping the opponent would act foolishly.
Not that he didn’t provide further explanation, but one thing was clear.
Going forward, I could just leave such matters to the old man.
Geez, how can a clergyman be so good at politics? Or is it because he’s a clergyman that he’s good at politics?
From what I heard from Johan last time, it seemed like the Church also had its own Magical Labyrinth.
After going through a series of events, the next evening.
I went to the back alley to hear the results of last night when I got this information from Karia.
“Congratulations, Employer! The Second Prince seems totally infatuated with you!”
…What? What kind of crazy talk is this?
At first, I thought Karia was just joking around, but that wasn’t the case. Her statement, while somewhat exaggerated, was not wrong.
The Second Prince had been interested in me for a long time. He came directly to me with a hand extended after the midterms.
At that time, I thought I’d somehow gotten through the crisis, but it seems the Second Prince had been keeping an eye on me all along.
Thanks to that, he was the first one to hear about my duel with the First Prince during the last Partlan Festival. You know, the one where I insulted him in front of everyone.
“I heard the Second Prince doesn’t really like the First Prince.”
“Doesn’t like” is a mild expression.
The Second Prince despises the First Prince.
Because he is a rival for the throne.
Because he is someone with exceptional talent who made himself the comparison point.
And because he is someone who doesn’t even treat him as a rival.
The Second Prince, in my knowledge, wants to scoff at the First Prince while keeping him beneath his feet.
I can only imagine how delighted he was to hear that the First Prince was humiliated.
And how much goodwill he must have felt for the one who humiliated his brother.
“It seems he wants to draw you to his side in some way.”
The moment I heard this, I instinctively realized that I would never be able to escape the Second Prince for the rest of my life.
Someday, somehow, the Second Prince would stand before me, and I would end up calling him the Pitiful Prince.
Sigh. What can I say? As long as I possess the Mesugaki Skill, this is a hurdle I must overcome. Let’s not waste mental energy on problems that can’t be solved and focus on something else.
‘But why…’
“Why did he try to bother me? Because the Pitiful Prince is a real idiot?”
“…Are you talking about the Second Prince?”
‘Yup.’
“Yeah. Why?”
“Hey, Employer. You won’t call him the Pitiful Prince in front of the Second Prince, right?”
I couldn’t bring myself to answer that. I might not want to, but I would surely say it.
“Wow.”
Karia muttered, thinking she should investigate the Second Prince’s faction too, and continued.
“To continue the story, the one who orchestrated this isn’t the Second Prince; it’s someone from the Second Prince’s faction.”
Those people in the Second Prince’s faction were the ones who knew better than anyone that the Second Prince’s favor was directed towards me.
I used to be just a talented person, but things had changed now.
Since I had achieved the unprecedented feat of overpowering the First Prince, the Second Prince’s attention was focused on me. If I were to join the Second Prince’s faction, it would be obvious that he would cherish me.
“It’s just a light check on someone who might become a competitor. It seems they wanted to tarnish your reputation in some way.”
So, to summarize, they thought I might become a hindrance to their rise and wanted to preemptively check me.
Hearing this just made me chuckle.
Wow, I can really feel my reputation has risen. If it were before, I wouldn’t have faced such checks. Now, are they treating Lucy Allen as a threat?
[Hmm. If what this person says is true, this won't be a one-time event.]
‘Exactly.’
Since the Second Prince is interested in me, they’re checking me.
If he doesn’t lose interest in me, then various schemes and ploys will surely come pouring in from all sides.
Anyway, it seems like only idiots gather around idiots.
…Huh?
While I was thinking that, a Eureka moment struck me.
If the Second Prince has an interest in me and that leads to them checking me, then wouldn’t resolving his interest solve all my problems?
“Old man, old man.”
[What is it? I was thinking for a while.]
“Should I just start calling him the Pitiful Prince?”
Bam!
Visi, who had never tasted anything as delicious before, sparkled her eyes and chuckled at the girl watching her.
“Why?”
“Uh, um, don’t you want some?”
“I have mine separately.”
“R-Really?”
Days had passed since I took on Belma under Lucy’s orders.
At first, Visi thought she was nothing but a burden, but as time went on, her perspective changed.
Belma had a certain resemblance to Visi’s long-lost younger sister.
Her naive demeanor that seemed oblivious to the ways of the world, the way she expressed her joy so purely, and her clumsiness in caring for others.
So, somewhere along the line, Visi began to earnestly look after Belma.
After all, she did receive something from Lucy, so it seemed only fair to take care of her, even though it sounded like a poor excuse.
In fact, it wasn’t entirely an excuse. The book Lucy had given her was definitely something immense.
Visi still remembered.
The impossible book written in a language from the past that she couldn’t even begin to interpret. And the moment Lucy handed that book over to Adri, the expression she had shown.
– …Where did you get this?
Adri trembled as soon as she received the book. It was as if she was facing a treasure she thought she’d never find.
‘I got it from Lady Allen.’
– From the Lady?
As she blinked her eyes, repeating that name, she suddenly burst into manic laughter.
It wasn’t a joyful laugh of the living but rather a demonic cackle of the vengeful dead.
Having only seen Adri’s usual polite and childlike demeanor, Visi was completely overwhelmed by that laugh, but it was only for a moment.
Before long, the laughter ceased, and Adri returned to her usual self.
– Please express my gratitude to the Lady later. It will be a very precious item for both me and Visi.
‘…Is it really that amazing of an item?’
– Of course. Oh, by the way, if you ever have something to ask later, please let them know I will do anything.
As it turned out, that book contained the secrets of a necromancer who once led a family.
If it had ended up in the Underworld, its price would have been staggering.
Any necromancer would be on fire looking for that item.
Lucy had casually given away such a thing to Visi without demanding anything in return.
Initially, Visi had followed Lucy’s commands out of being cornered, but it was different now.
Having received so much from Lucy, her feelings of gratitude were now greater than her fear.
She had been seriously pondering how to repay that kindness.
But honestly, what could she give back? That family is already well-off. They have excellent gear like maces, shields, and armor. They have plenty of money, a sharp mind, and now abundant connections.
Was there any way I could repay them?
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t think of anything I could do.
With her chin resting on her hands, she frowned, and with the thought that there were no answers, she sighed and took her stress out on the dessert that popped up before her.
When she returned to the academy’s dormitory, she saw a crowd gathering in the square.
Was there some kind of announcement?
Visi tilted her head in confusion, then spotted a friend at the edge of the crowd and approached her.
“Hey. What’s going on?”
“Who? Ah, it’s Visi!”
She quickly confirmed Visi’s face and lowered her voice, whispering to her.
“Hey. Hey. It’s totally chaotic right now!”
“So what is it?”
“I heard Lady Allen just called the Second Prince derogatory names?!”
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