Family Feud and the Busybody Meddlers (4)
Most people, if you stopped them on the street and asked what the master of the Midas Merchant Group looked like, would give a rather unflattering answer. A man with a thick paunch, greasy skin glistening on his face, eyes brimming with greed, and his entire body dripping with ostentatious jewelry. To the man in question—who looked fairly ordinary except for his somewhat shady eyes—it might feel unfair. But what could he do? It was the consequence of his own actions that had ruined his public image.
Besides, a person's impression could change quite a bit depending on their mental state. I had predicted that in a situation like this, cornered and desperate, his face would look even more repulsive… but the man I saw now was nothing like that.
"To my children and their families. I offer my sincerest gratitude that you have all come to this meaningful occasion. The sight of this banquet hall brimming with vitality feels as though it reflects the prosperity of our family, and my heart is filled with boundless joy."
A gentle smile like a spring breeze lingered on Bern Midas's face. His voice, amplified through a magical tool, was remarkably warm, and his tone was the very picture of paternal affection.
"People say that the prosperity of the Midas family is entirely my achievement, but that is wrong. No matter how hard I may have struggled, how could I have accomplished such monumental results with my power alone? This is all thanks to the efforts you have all made."
The guests who had been listening began exchanging bewildered glances one after another. The words were far too excessive for mere lip service, and more than that, Bern Midas was not the kind of man who would spout such things even if they were empty flattery. No, forget about the others—I myself was so stunned I felt like I was going to die.
What the hell? Was this some new kind of scam? Had he awakened after being pushed to the brink? They say a person's true nature reveals itself when cornered, but if that was Bern Midas's true nature, it went beyond surprising and straight into the realm of horror. I'd feel less creeped out taking a solo midnight stroll through a graveyard.
"I have done my best in my own way to lead the family and the merchant group, but now that my heirs have grown into such splendid adults, it would be unreasonable for this old body to cling to its position any longer. Taking this opportunity today, I shall step down from the positions of family head and group master, and nominate a new successor. Theo. Step forward."
At Bern's single command, the murmuring crowd's gazes all snapped toward Theo at once. Theo wore an expression of extreme suspicion, but in this situation, he could hardly ignore the family head's summons. Bern embraced Theo as he climbed the steps and approached, putting on a lavish display of familial affection, then shouted aloud.
"From this very moment! I, Bern Midas, formally pass the position of family head and the mastership of the Midas Merchant Group to my son with Delia Arund, Theo Midas! If anyone has an objection, step forward at once!"
The various people gathered in the banquet hall exchanged glances, gauging one another's reactions, but not a single one stepped forward. At Bern's gesture, several servants appeared and began distributing something to the guests. On ornate trays decorated with luxurious red fabric rested signet rings made of gold and silver. The golden rings were handed to Bern's children—including me and Fiore—while the silver ones went to their spouses.
"From now on, our Midas family will grow even larger and more prosperous. These are gifts from me to you, and they shall serve as symbols proving that you are members of the Midas clan."
I stared intently at the ring before me.
…Something feels off.
Bern lifted a ring engraved with a far more ornate design than those given to the others and personally handed it to Theo.
"Here, take it. It is the proof of the new family head."
The proof of the family head. Accepting it would make him, from that moment on, the true master of both the family and the merchant group. Knowing this, Theo Midas still could not easily take the ring.
To Theo, the existence known as Bern Midas had always been like an insurmountable wall. His father was cold-blooded, treated his children as tools, and was vicious enough to ignore the resentment and curses hurled at him by so many, while also being competent enough to bear it all. His half-siblings at the academy might have dismissed Bern Midas as nothing special, calling him a damned father or a wicked family head, but aside from Chrome, not a single one of his children had ever dared show such an attitude toward him.
If he hadn't cooperated with Chrome and received his help, he wouldn't have been able to gain the upper hand in the succession struggle, nor would he have been able to pressure the current family head, Bern, into handing over the family like this. Yes, it was he who had pushed Bern, and he who had created this situation.
But now that the very thing he had longed for was right before his eyes, Theo found himself unable to accept it so readily. And for good reason—it was far too smooth. That Bern Midas was giving up everything so easily and raising the white flag? What on earth was he plotting…
"I'm sorry."
And that suspicion and wariness shattered mercilessly before a single phrase he had never heard once in his entire life—one he had never even imagined he might hear.
"Now that I've been driven into a corner, I finally understand. Just how viciously I have treated all of you. It's only natural that you cannot trust me, your father."
"Father…"
"I won't ask you to forgive everything at this late stage. But won't you at least accept this as a token of my apology?"
The calm yet sincere tone made something surge up from deep within Theo Midas's chest. Perhaps this was an act as well. Since defeat was already a foregone conclusion if things continued this way, he might be lowering his head to Chrome and himself in hopes of securing some position. Even if it stemmed from such calculations, though, he couldn't simply shake his head coldly at the sight of him bowing so earnestly.
"I accept it with gratitude, Father."
After examining the large signet ring engraved with a gold coin, Theo slipped it onto his finger. Bern Midas looked on with satisfaction, then grasped Theo's hand and raised it high as he shouted.
"From this very moment! The Midas family shall be reborn! Offer your loyalty to the new family head!"
Someone who had already put on their ring raised a fist overhead and shouted.
"Glory to Midas!"
Another person cried out.
"Blessings upon the new family head!"
One by one, voices joined in as people raised their ringed hands, and the chorus grew. Even those who had planned to simply clap along began reading the room. The performance felt a bit—no, quite excessive, but hesitating here would make it seem as though they did not acknowledge Theo Midas's succession. They had no choice.
'What a ruthless bastard. He's putting on a whole show because he's afraid of being shoved into the back room after earning his children's hatred.'
'Damn it, this is so embarrassing. Does it really have to go this far?'
'Hah, seeing the family head go this far, the succession must be set in stone. He made the declaration openly in front of so many eyes—there'll be no room for objections now.'
'I need to get on the new family head's good side no matter what. If they realize I'm a kite with its string cut, my in-laws will cast me aside immediately.'
While inwardly grumbling with dissatisfaction, they all put on smiling faces and began slipping the rings onto their fingers.
Meanwhile, Chrome, who had been staring at the ring in his hand through Dantalion's Monocle, also furrowed his brow. He had sensed something suspicious and examined it thoroughly, but no information appeared. Just to be safe, he checked the other items around him and observed Theo's reaction, but there was nothing unusual.
"What is it, Chrome, Fiore? Do you not intend to celebrate your family's succession?"
At Bern's words, every eye in the room turned toward Chrome and Fiore. Aside from the guards who hadn't received rings in the first place, they were the only ones among those bearing the Midas name who had yet to put one on.
Chrome remained silent for a moment, then smiled brazenly and said, "My apologies, Father. Seeing my elder brother finally ascend to this glorious position left me so overcome with emotion."
In the end, Chrome and Fiore also slipped the rings onto their fingers and raised their fists to join in the cheers.
Amid deep fervor, the new master of Midas was decided just like that.
That night, in Bern Midas's bedchamber.
The man who had now lost both the title of family head and the position of group master bowed his head toward a black shadow.
"The task is complete. I made every child, their spouses, and even the grandchildren put on the ring with their own hands at least once."
Those who had been shocked by Bern's outrageous behavior during the succession ceremony were numerous, but if they saw him now, they would realize an even greater shock awaited them. The cold, greedy demeanor he usually showed, nor the benevolent and gentle aura he had displayed earlier that day, could be felt from him at all. There was only a doll here, mechanically reciting lines devoid of any emotion.
The contract has been established. Over the next three days while the banquet continues, the rings' effects will slowly begin to devour them.
Dead eyes. Dead words. A vanished expression.
The 'something' that had merely slipped on Bern Midas's shell mechanically bowed its head toward the shadow in the corner of the room. As if satisfied by the sight, the shadow writhed several times before vanishing completely.
Left alone in the room, the something muttered in a low voice.
And at the same time.
Someone was tossing a golden signet ring and another ring of similar design into the air and catching them as casually as if they were weightless, muttering to themselves.
"Now, what should I do next?"