Know Your Place and Lay Low
Seeing his reaction, Alan shrugged.
One gold coin was enough for a family of four to live for a month in this medieval fantasy land—at least on the premise that all three meals consisted solely of bread. And that was using the cheapest one-copper loaves; factoring in any additional expenses, you'd need about two gold to live comfortably. In Korean terms, one gold equated to roughly four million won. An advance of four million, plus eight million success fee—twelve million total if they pulled it off. No wonder Lenox was flat on the floor.
Felicia eyed Alan with an odd expression.
"You handle people better than I expected, Alan."
Alan scratched his cheek awkwardly. Being the child of a ducal house meant inevitably picking up all sorts of ways to manage others, whether he wanted to or not. After all, your education was designed to place you above everyone else from the start. It was that burden that kept him from having anyone close except Meia.
Even Meia had only been accepted after he'd threatened his father that he'd tell his mother otherwise.
Alan pulled a gold coin from his pocket and set it on the table.
"Anyway, one gold upfront. Do a good job."
"No deadline on the request, target is the one who drew this picture, right? Just find the culprit and report back, is that it, Alan?"
Alan nodded as Diavela reconfirmed the details.
"Yeah. I'm curious what the hell they were thinking, drawing and spreading this."
"Understood. Boss, get up. Before I kick you."
"You're too harsh, Diavela! So sweet to the client, though!"
"No sweetness left for a boss full of empty hot air."
"Harsh?!"
"If you don't get up, I'll really kick you."
"Tch."
Lenox grumbled at Diavela's words but hauled himself up and brushed the dust from his knees.
"Anyway, we'll take the job. We're short on funds as it is."
"Heard your club doesn't have many members. That true?"
Diavela answered Felicia's question.
"Four total. The boss here, me, and two others out on requests. Truth be told, it's been more like an info broker handling odd jobs the adventurer's guild would take for ages now, despite the 'detective office' name."
"Urk! Stop hitting me with facts, Diavela!!"
"Quiet, boss."
"Damn, you're heartless!"
Lenox didn't seem particularly offended—it was clearly routine for him to get scolded by Diavela.
Lin spoke up.
"Young Master Alan. What do you plan to do once you find the culprit?"
"Nothing special. Just want to meet them and hear why they pulled this stunt."
"That's it?"
"They've tired me out, so yeah, gotta give 'em hell."
A question mark floated across Lin's face.
"Hell...?"
"What if I said I wasn't gonna write anymore because of that bastard?"
"Joking, right, Alan?"
"Of course. But if a rumor like that spread, wouldn't there be reactions from all sides?"
"Oh, that's clever. Haters would come crawling out of the woodwork, thrilled. Sounds fun."
"Maybe."
"Oho, impressive. Planning this from the start, client?"
"Think what you like. It wasn't much of a plan anyway. Anyone who hates me is bound to react somehow."
Lenox's eyes sparkled with delight—until Diavela pinched his side.
"Arghhh, Diavela!"
"One more bit of nonsense, and I'll really poke a hole in you, boss."
"Ow... my side hurts so much..."
Lenox rolled on the floor clutching his side.
Alan watched him with pity.
"Your hands are vicious, Diavela..."
"Ahaha."
Diavela flashed an awkward smile. Alan pretended not to hear her mutter that she hadn't wanted him to see this side of things. At least she wasn't cold to him.
Lin said, "The sword forms in this drawing show traces of Kun'Rung swordsmanship. The depictions in the Shuren Chronicle felt oddly infused with it too."
"My mother's a master of Kun'Rung swordsmanship."
Lin's eyes widened at Alan's words.
"Someone from the western empire knows Kun'Rung sword arts...?"
"Alan’s mother, Duchess Sharna Blanc von Mueller, hails from the empire's eastern nobility. The eastern borders touch Kun'Rung."
"Ah. Makes sense, then."
Lin knew that much. The Tyranto Empire's eastern regions abutted Kun'Rung's borderlands—a place where blood had flowed endlessly during their bitter relations. In the process, easterners who embraced Kun'Rung swordsmanship developed styles that became known in the Tyranto Empire as "eastern swordsmanship," eventually synonymous with Kun'Rung arts themselves. It was something she'd learned in recent continental history lectures.
Examining the book Alan had brought, Lin continued, "This drawing was definitely done by someone versed in Kun'Rung swordsmanship. No one versed only in western styles could illustrate it this precisely."
"Though the crucial mana circulation diagrams are missing from these pics."
Alan chuckled wryly at the two princesses' words.
"It's fan art from a novel to begin with. Anyone who could cram mana ops into that would be a genius. Someone capable of manifesting descriptions from just words? You'd have to snatch them up."
"True. Can't pass on talent like that."
"Please don't recruit them, Princess Felicia."
"No chance."
"Tch."
Alan turned to Lenox, who was clicking his tongue.
"Anyway... best of luck, Lenox."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. We'll give it our all. Bring back good results."
"Good."
Lenox, still half-dazed from the conversation between the two princesses and Alan, nodded blankly. Just speaking to imperial princesses was an honor—but Alan bantered with Felicia and Lin like it was nothing.
What kind of life does this guy lead...?
With his blackish-blue hair and blue eyes giving him that pretty-boy look, it was understandable, but still. Lenox couldn't help thinking the world was unfair.
...This rotten world!!
On the way back after leaving the Morrison Detective Office, Alan glanced back at Shen, who was silently trailing behind Lin.
"...Come to think of it, your reputation's pretty bad."
"What're you talking about."
His voice was beyond stiff—positively icy. Clear contempt etched Shen's face. Unfathomable hostility. Alan had no idea why, but he decided not to care. Even if Shen tried something, he couldn't beat Meia. And an eastern princess's guard couldn't touch Alan anyway.
"Shen."
Lin smacked the back of Shen's hand as he scowled.
"Princess."
"I've been wondering since last time—you're weirdly hostile to Alan. Word is you even spoke rudely to him."
Felicia halted and turned to Alan and Shen.
"No idea such an attitude could cause friction? Or do you think there's no connection? Unless you're outright scorning House Mueller, I can't imagine that level of thoughtlessness."
Shen stayed silent, lips pressed tight as if holding back words.
Felicia's eyes sharpened.
"You don't seem to grasp how politically vital a princess's guard is. Meddling like this with a foreign counterpart—what a nuisance to your charge, do you even realize?"
Even Lin, who should protect Shen, said nothing. She'd halted his telepathic warning to Alan earlier with threats of punishment. No way she'd shield him from this sharp criticism.
Shen swallowed a deep sigh and bowed his head.
"...My apologies. It won't happen again."
"Apologize to Alan."
"That's—"
"Shen. Apologize."
"Princess..."
Shen pleaded with his eyes, but she was firm.
"Need an order?"
"...Sorry."
He bowed, but it was hardly apologetic.
Alan smirked.
"That's why rumors you're out to get me are everywhere. The noble cadets hospitalized even mentioned reaching out to you."
"For real?"
"Rumors spread like wildfire. Quite the buzz."
Lin's gaze turned blade-sharp toward Shen.
"...Shen. This won't slide easily."
"Princess."
"Quiet. No excuses. I warned you to restrain yourself how many times?!"
Shen, out of words, bowed his head.
Lin sighed and turned to Alan. She placed a hand on her chest and bowed slightly. Her ample curves swayed with the motion.
"I'd love to ship you back home right now, but forgive me for not doing so. Young Master Alan, Lady Felicia."
"Well, semester's started—can't send you back now. Just stay out of sight."
"...Kuh."
The sound of Shen grinding his teeth carried.
For a 'guard,' you should've known your limits...
Why let it slide before? It was just Albert and Alan then, no backup nearby. House Mueller's prestige was immense, but against a foreign princess's guard, he'd surely claim her protection. But with equal authority present now, it was different.
Alan said, "Keep a low profile. And don't pick fights."
Know your place and stay low, he whispered passing Shen.
He felt Shen tremble but didn't look back.
"I'll head out first, then. Let's go, Meia."
"Yes, young master. Excuse us."
Meia bowed deeply in courtesy and followed Alan away.
A tense wind blew between the remaining group: Lin and Shen, Felicia and Stella.
Felicia smiled.
"Shall we talk amongst ourselves, then?"
"...Very well."