Chapter 112
Chapter 112
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: The Masked Ball Invitation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fainted Debutona woke up and threw a fit demanding to go another round, while Dimitri, who had poured everything into the one-chip and two-chip bets, simply passed out on the spot.
After teasing them just enough, I returned to find them finally taking a break. Only I seemed a bit worn out; the rest were full of energy, gathered around playing Jenga among themselves.
"Ah, this round's invalid!"
"Nope, it counts. Candy, please."
"If possible, I'd prefer apple flavor."
―Apple flavor's pretty good.
They're having a blast.
With people who have such superior physical abilities playing Jenga, they're not just removing and restacking—they're building it diagonally.
That's practically on the level of an extraordinary feat.
Watching that, I can't imagine it feeling real without the Buoyant Feeling trait. It makes you question if it's even physically possible.
Stacking another block sideways on top of a diagonally perched Jenga tower—apparently possible in their league.
I sat there watching the bizarre spectacle, slouching in a posture bad for my spine but good for my mood, and slowly began sorting through what I'd gained this time.
Time, date, location, and even the minimum requirements to enter: status and an official invitation.
In the end, without even attending the Academy, I'd secured every minimal condition to meet royalty through unofficial channels...
"A masked ball. Isn't that a bit too cliché?"
I fiddled with the invitation I'd received as payment for the wager, propping my chin on my hand.
Black paper embossed with gold leaf, even faintly scented with perfume.
The royal connected to the Dimitri siblings wouldn't only attend this gathering. There'd be standard tea times, casual hunting parties, or outings to watch plays, no doubt.
They'd probably given me the masked ball invitation on purpose.
A party premised on anonymity—far from any connections.
Keeping their promise to the maximum while screwing me over. Hoping I'd wander lost among people hiding their faces behind masks enchanted with anonymity spells.
'Well, actually, identifying people isn't the problem.'
The issue is that I have the means to identify them.
[Adelian Guardian Kruger—Plot Twister]
Representative Traits: [Wealth (SSS)] [Arrogance (S)]
Hidden Traits: [Buoyant Feeling (B)] [User's Eye (SSS)]
Look at that—Buoyant Feeling had already dropped to B.
I could guess why the title changed from "Owner of Ten Thousand Gold" to "Plot Twister."
'It must be pretty twisted from the original story.'
It meant that my existence—twisting the original story more than the massive gold I now held—had a greater impact on my identity.
That was actually a positive sign. The more I twisted the original, the easier it'd be to achieve my goals.
'And the traits remain the same amid all that.'
The title changed, but the traits stayed fixed—there had to be a reason.
Plenty of simple reasons came to mind, but that wasn't important right now.
What mattered was that User's Eye, which I'd been saving so carefully, had already caused Buoyant Feeling to drop to B.
"Hoo..."
To scout royalty or whoever at the masked ball, I'd have no choice but to use User's Eye.
But it's a ball.
Meaning hordes of people. Of course, considering kids this age and their sensibilities, it wouldn't be a massive event with 100 or 200 attendees.
But it wouldn't be just 10 or 20 either.
'Check suspects one by one?'
That'd take forever.
Pre-gathering intel on hair color or builds wouldn't help. Even setting aside that perception-lowering magic doesn't work on me, wigs or dyes were fair game.
Scan everyone at once after activating it?
'And then check my traits to find Buoyant Feeling dropped straight to C or D?'
I hadn't built the massive force to fight the Evil God Cult yet.
I was still raising my main party, the central axis. Even after roaming foreign lands like the labyrinth or Spirit Forest, confirming Cayman wouldn't interfere, now was the timing to finally extend my reach more boldly.
If Buoyant Feeling dropped this much already, what later?
Sure, even if it fully depleted and vanished, it might not change much for me.
Just feeling life a bit more keenly, sensing presences better, vulnerability to mental magic—that's it.
A big change if viewed that way, but under the premise I could cope and had allies to cover me, it was barely a penalty.
'But Rachel wouldn't have just thrown it in there.'
What Rachel gave me upon dropping me here: Adelian's body, User's Eye, and Buoyant Feeling.
Buoyant Feeling was a benefit on par with User's Eye—which let me see everyone's traits in this world, akin to a divine authority—and a body from another world.
'Al Kaido—no, he's busy wrapping up Siren mass production.'
The safest option: bring more of my people to this gathering.
I could forge fake noble identities anyway. Except for Leaf, who struggled with communication outside me and Cain, anyone else would do.
'Then priority is getting more invitations.'
"What's got you so serious?"
As I pondered, the scent of banana muffins wafted from beside me.
Rachel's cheek bulged out on one side, like she'd stuffed her whole mouth.
"This is all your fault."
"Huh? Why the sudden beef?"
No empty words.
"Just thinking of snagging a few more of these invitations. Can't think of a good way right now."
I shook the masked ball invitation as I spoke, and Rachel glanced around before leaning in to whisper.
"Tell that cocky bastard to get them. With your face."
"Rachel, wanna spar?"
"Good ears, huh. Not with you!"
Rachel had whispered really softly, but Cain called her out instantly.
Jenga must've ended; despite just refusing a spar, she grinned and headed off to brawl Cain barehanded, no auras. I clicked my tongue at her retreating back.
She'd flip the table crying foul if she lost soon enough.
"Young master. Need any help from me? It won't be dangerous later, right?"
"Nothing major. I could go alone."
Just praying for a situation where I could conserve User's Eye enough to keep Buoyant Feeling from dropping—while meta-gaming it.
As Luna sidled up to ask, I tugged her ear while flicking Aegis with my other hand.
"And danger-wise, you're all right nearby..."
Knock knock.
The moment I was about to say you'd be nearby anyway.
Someone knocked.
"Kyaha. This time I bet on Cain for candy."
"I'll take Rachel."
"Me too, Rachel."
"Human brat, rethink that?"
[Rachel.]
Rachel clenched her fist at our candy bets, while Zero rose with a good-natured laugh.
"I'll check. Should I... go with Leaf?"
Afraid of blood if he bet on Rachel too, he mouthed Leaf but pointed at Rachel with his finger.
Zero, gone soft.
He'd claim Leaf if a Leaf-masked assassin came, or Rachel if a Rachel lookalike showed.
"Who is it?"
Hoping not like last time—stab on open, spell barrage, or bomb toss.
Cain not rising to open meant no instant firepower strike.
I shoved Aegis toward Zero, who opened the door with a bored tone.
"Huh...?"
"Um?"
Small voices followed.
"Master Adelian, we have a guest."
Zero sidestepped, revealing someone hidden behind his bulk.
"Adelian, how long are you gonna toy with a girl's heart? You bad man!"
"No bullshit in our party."
I shot back laughing at Rachel's grin, scanned inside, then beckoned the paling Fian.
"Come on in."
"I-I'll come back later..."
As Fian tried edging back, Zero kindly shut the door.
Fian wiped sweat from his brow with his sleeve like a dragged captive, shuffling toward me. I smirked.
"Luna, tea please. Rest of you, inside."
"Living room's biggest, but always 'inside.'"
―I'll prepare snacks, Administrator.
Not like I'd drag Fian to my room?
Grumbling Rachel rose, Cain eyed Fian blankly before heading in. Fian sat across from me, looking confused.
"Finding this place means you're accepting my proposal, right?"
I smiled, pressing a sugar-preserved lemon atop rose tea with a teaspoon. Fian sipped his untouched lemon afloat, fingers trembling slightly.
"I've been circling your area lately, observing you in my own way?"
Less shaky now that we're alone.
"But seriously, what are you? I can't wrap my head around it... How do you live like that?"
Fian roughly swept back his white hair, wafting lily scent.
"The people in this room just now... they're really your comrades? No one's been swapped out?"
Or... are you even real?
I leisurely curled my lips at his gaze.
"Scared?"
"Terrified! Wouldn't you be? Just the fakes I spotted watching you numbered over ten. Even I got paranoid."
Who the hell's targeting you? Fian's eyes darted anxiously, scanning everywhere.
'This reaction's a first.'
I found it refreshing. Is this how normal people react?
Fian's a weathered adventurer too, but normal compared to our party.
"That scary, yet you thought of teaming up? No thought some 'you' might kill you and come for me?"
"I did!"
But, Fian clasped his fingertips.
"If something absurd's targeting you, you must be worth it. And... you said it."
"What."
"God's contract."
Right. Fian had the chops to build a force with minimal help. Hadn't checked combat prowess, but Charm alone, wielded right, meant no loss for me.
Trust between us near zero, though—so if teaming up, skip verbal promises; how about a God's contract? I'd floated that.
"Why's that."
Fian met my eyes straight with his orange ones.
"With that, neither can betray the other."
His eyes chilled saying "betray."
Come to think: Homunculus dungeon, explosion from inside.
Like our party sacrificed body parts or one member, so did they.
'And they picked Fian.'
Guessing: his Charm. Benefits—easy affinity, higher ranks deepen to brainwashing with hints.
Meaning: every kindness or positive feeling Fian's gotten might stem from Charm.
Perhaps he's never truly trusted anyone.
Speculation, sure.
Aren't things like friendship, trust, love—euphoric, coveted?
Sold well on Earth; more so here.
"Put in 'no betrayal ever,' something like that?"
"That's what I'm hoping."
I tilted my head, smiling faintly.
God's contract isn't omnipotent—but I alone know that.
Feels like shackles to each other, but if not, no reason to refuse from my side.
"Alright. Then let's contract what each wants."
Rattle—
I spun Kruger's ring once, pulled the contract from sub-space, and spoke.
"After signing, we'll move right away."
I need more invitations now.