Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Two Invitations
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‘What the hell is that guy doing?'
Paiyan walked forward deliberately, keeping her eyes straight ahead.
Sticking her hands deep into her pockets and glancing around unsteadily—who wouldn't find that suspicious?
'Carrying this stuff around without a care, handing it over in a flash. Standing up to those weird things that copy people's appearances.'
Her pockets felt heavy. The mana stones and jewels she'd received wouldn't even fit into her coin pouch.
Even if she sold them off quickly, it'd be a fortune, but if she took the time to get full value, it would be an unimaginable sum for an ordinary person.
And then there were her beautiful, powerful companions.
They'd moved without a shred of doubt the moment Adelian told them to come along, as if it didn't matter who he was.
In Labyrinth City Ravine, she'd seen plenty of people with striking or unique looks, and even those so strong she wondered why they bothered delving into mazes instead of carving out a spot somewhere else.
'But those guys are on another level.'
They'd probably shown just enough power on purpose for her to notice, but even that was a thrilling gap.
The rabbit girl who looked like a maid, and the frail-looking girl whose arm might snap under a firm grip—even their auras felt like Aura User level.
'And the other three...'
As a half-yoma with sensitivity to mana, Paiyan sensed it immediately.
Just five of them, excluding Adelian—what they could do if they set their minds to it.
'The key is that he needs me, even with companions like that.'
She knew from the start that her role was different from theirs.
Tools were like that. She was just a slightly dirtier blade, but she was still a weapon in Adelian's hand.
'A solid deal over empty faith.'
That was the security it provided.
'I can get an invitation like that in no time.'
Paiyan was confident. She'd figured out how to use her traits most efficiently.
Her orange eyes sparkled.
* * *
'No matter how I think about it, don't you have a real Trait Collector vibe?'
Rachel slung her arm around my shoulders, and I furrowed my brow, pushing her away.
'What are you talking about?'
'I overheard inside—he's got some pretty rare traits too.'
Well, yeah.
'But Trait Collector isn't that rare. Isn't it a fancy hobby for human nobles?'
That's true too.
'Rabbit. What are this guy's traits?'
Rachel kept trying to use me as an armrest, so I brushed her off and answered.
'Greed and arrogance, supposedly.'
'Pfft.'
'Oh, and Foresight Eye too.'
I said it proudly, but she ignored the last part.
'Don't bully the young master. Come here.'
'Who's bullying? It's an honest question with real potential.'
Rachel placed a hand on her hip and casually scanned the lodging interior.
'Do you know how elite an Aura User is? Not something any mutt or mongrel can achieve. And look around—who here isn't at least that level?'
Everyone except the human kid, she added, reaching for my shoulder again. I dodged and took the scone and fig jam Leaf had brought.
'Rachel, you're misunderstanding. I didn't form the party based on traits. I gathered strong people to make a strong party, so their traits happen to stand out.'
'Liar.'
She grinned, sat next to me, and snatched the scone I'd perfectly jammed.
'It's not just about gathering the simply strong.'
'You think I can achieve what I want just by gathering the simply strong?'
Her expression turned odd at my words.
'What I want is—'
'Ah, don't say it.'
It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. What I wanted—this continent's peace and your happiness. Maybe brush it off as a joke, or say it straight once, half-serious.
Rachel held out her palm as if to cover my mouth.
'You don't have to say it. Whatever you want.'
'Whatever the young master desires.'
'As Lord Adelian wishes.'
—As the Administrator desires.
'Just do it.'
No, after all that prodding?
I chuckled at the others chiming in as they passed by.
'When have I not done things my way?'
I haughtily tilted my chin up.
'Get as strong as I want you to, all of you.'
'How strong is that?'
Rachel grinned, and I rested my chin on my hand.
'As vast as the sky and earth.'
* * *
The hour when ordinary folk would be deep asleep.
'No matter how I look at it, that guy doesn't know us at all, does he?'
As Rachel swept the crumbs Leaf had dropped from her scone into her palm and tossed them on the floor, Luna fetched a broom and spoke up.
'What?'
Rachel pouted at the gesture—like there were droppers and cleaners—and took the broom, sweeping as she replied.
'You know. "As vast as the sky and earth."'
That kind of thing just takes time.
'Humans are hilarious. They treat something that'd take 20 or 30 years like it's the end of the world.'
Leaf and Zero, hardly ones to talk, glanced at Luna.
'Ordinary people can't call 20 or 30 years "just" when they only live about 100.'
'You think he'd settle for that?'
Rachel leaned on the broom, laughing as if to say who here only lives 100 years?
'Knowing him, he'll find something to live long without aging. Right?'
Unless struck by unbeatable foes, incurable diseases, or curses, Rachel was a dragon, Leaf a golem.
Zero was a doppelganger with unknowable lifespan, and even pure human Cain would grow stronger, living centuries easily at this rate.
Luna too. Now an Aura User, she'd live longer as she grew.
So who here feared dying young?
Just 20 or 30 years.
'Half of us in here will be sky-and-earth strong by then?'
Excluding Rachel, who'd limited her power, Cain for sure, Zero and Luna likely, and Leaf if that revival flight contraption worked.
'You're overlooking something.'
Cain, who'd been listening silently, spoke slowly.
'What if those 20 or 30 years aren't granted?'
Rachel slowly closed her eyes, then opened them, tilting her head.
'Something like that possible?'
Even if a volcano erupted, a mad dragon breathed on the empire, or lazy demonkin invaded the middle realm.
'I think we could hold out 20 or 30 years easy.'
Many lives would fade. Empires burn, continents shatter.
But Adelian's party wouldn't fold in 20 or 30 years.
Unless those disasters targeted our party specifically.
'Well... I told him not to spill since the mystery's fun, but you guys okay just following without knowing exactly what he's up to?'
Rachel chuckled lowly.
'We'd stake our lives on a single glance or gesture.'
'We owe our clans everything—we must repay somehow.'
[The Administrator's command is absolute.]
Rachel's eyes turned to Cain, who spoke slowly.
* * *
What is a masquerade ball?
'A place to wear masks and dance.'
And that dance?
'Noble gathering, so probably some social dance?'
That was the problem.
I'd coasted on Adelian's wastrel reputation—manners and etiquette skimmed over superficially.
But this time was different.
The fellowship's theme was a masquerade, but I doubted it'd be a showcase of dance skills.
'Still, you never know.'
I slowly scanned Luna, Cain, Zero, Leaf, and Rachel before speaking.
'Anyone know social dances?'
No one answered. I hadn't expected any.
'I figure at least one of you'll come with me to the masquerade?'
Paiyan's traits, acting, and resourcefulness were better than expected.
She'd snag at least one invite somehow.
'But what if someone wants to whisper secrets while dancing?'
'Shall we find a dance instructor now?'
'That'd be trouble.'
This was the imperial capital. Hiring from outer provinces might draw lesser nobles or non-hereditary titled folk.
But the capital was different. Proper instructors were real nobles, and who knew how many tied to the Evil God Cult.
The cult was hypocritical—prioritizing humans but using monsters as fodder. They favored humans, especially nobles.
No need for needless contacts.
With limited slots anyway.
'No choice. Prepare by memorizing every move in case we have to dance.'
Luna was beastkin, Leaf with me and Cain—only possible without Luna. Rachel was hot-blooded.
That left Zero and Cain.
But Cain hated and distrusted humans.
He was better lately, but... a place not full of saints, picking him just for strength and utility?
'Who's handling the aftermath?'
Cain glared like, *You wouldn't pick me, right?* Zero looked awkward, like *Me?*
I grinned brightly.
'You can do it?'
'Y-Yes, probably.'
'Probably?'
'I'll... memorize it on the spot, no matter what.'
Good. I'd stick to the wastrel act at the masquerade anyway.
If someone asked me to dance, they'd regret it—better pack a potion.
'Finding the target first would be ideal.'
My goals weren't grand.
Among attending nobles, who'd used doppelganger potions? Zero could spot them roughly.
Any imperial family? I'd confirm.
If yes, their reach hit the palace—replan.
If not...
'Spread doppelganger rumors with countermeasures.'
If they reached royalty, spreading the antidote might provoke backlash.
Otherwise, manipulate opinion like urban legends.
Got Paiyan too. Siren mass-production soon.
Could've been faster without safeties and my tweaks.
'Soon, info will be mine.'
Info meant power, money, opinion control.
'Then we'll standby nearby?'
'Yeah. Close enough to rush if you scream.'
'You keep saying that lately. Shouldn't you come before I scream?'
I tossed back a light joke when someone knocked—Elsa's signal rhythm.
I recalled a fragment fading from memory unless rehearsed, and smiled.
'Already?'
Rachel opened the door curiously. Paiyan stood, fussing with her white hair.
Faint lily scent wafting.
'This much is needed to keep up with your level, right?'
Paiyan, pale from effort but smirking confidently, held two invitations.
Yeah.
Two?