Yustia Banquet (4)
Having successfully squeezed 40 mana stones out of him like some sleazy loan shark, Zeke turned to Rosnante next.
"Oh, by the way—do you like that brand called Nike's Wings?"
It was to confirm whether this guy was truly the man who'd fended off the bandits chasing Iriel ten years ago.
"Ma... mana stones... 20... plus 40 more... now 60 total... what else do I have to sell..."
Rosnante, mumbling soullessly with dead eyes, finally lifted his head.
"...Nike's Wings, you say?"
"Yeah."
He glanced down at his own shoes.
A trademark embossed in gold thread in a V-shape.
The ones he was wearing right now were Nike's Wings shoes, too.
Made of breathable fabric with excellent comfort, they were perfect for training.
"If I sell these..."
"Hmm, so that's a Nike's Wings product. Take 'em off and hand them over for a sec."
"Y-yes, sir."
Rosnante slipped off his shoes and passed them to Zeke.
Zeke examined them meticulously.
Watching this, Rosnante regretted answering so hastily once again.
...Why'd he ask for those? N-no way. Is he coveting my Hermes 97!? Oh god, no—it's a limited edition, impossible to find now! Selling it would barely net one mana stone!
This swordsmanship instructor had already ripped 40 mana stones off him, and now he was after expensive shoes too?
Rosnante couldn't hide the anxiety flickering in his eyes.
Fuck—stinky feet.
Zeke's nose twitched.
This bastard didn't even train today, so what's with the smell?
Zeke quickly memorized the trademark and handed the shoes back. Rosnante visibly relaxed, slipping them on with haste.
"You wear that brand's shoes a lot."
"...Yes. I've liked them since way back."
"How long?"
"Pretty much since I started walking, I think. Been collecting them."
At least he knew this guy was a fan of the maker.
Still, not enough to confirm. Time to use the eyes.
Judgment Eye
It was the perfect time anyway—needed to check the second prince's case, and dig up past info right now.
Not exactly a lie detector, though.
Still, he could gauge the soul's color to see if the guy lied like it was breathing.
Alright then—tell me if Iriel's really the heroine, and if this is that rom-fantasy that ended ten years ago.
A blue glow settled in Zeke's eyes.
Fear 30% | Frustration 20% | Burden 15% | Resolve 12% | Doubt 10% | Awe 10% | Defiance 3%
[ LIFE 99% | DEATH 1% ]
Average soul colors.
Born averagely average.
Not innately pure like Serena or Iriel, but nothing problematic.
Decent mix of lies and truths—just your standard light. Long, healthy life ahead.
Fear from that one smackdown, frustration and burden? Probably the mana stones.
"Rosnante."
"Y-yes...?"
"One more question. Answer honestly, no bullshit."
"Yes..."
Zeke released a bit of mana for pressure.
"Ten years ago—ever save a red-haired girl at night? Bandits were chasing her. You jumped in, swung a sword, fought 'em off?"
Rosnante couldn't meet Zeke's suddenly gleaming eyes.
Felt like lying here would be a fatal mistake.
"T-ten years ago?"
"Yeah."
Saved a red-haired girl?
He racked his brains, trying to recall ten years back.
But back then, daily events crushed him nonstop.
Academy homework piled like mountains every return.
Too much to learn as a prince, swordsmanship on top—no days off.
Ran from the palace so often I lost count...
Stressed, he'd test his blade on back-alley thugs countless times.
Palace knights tailing secretly kept it safe, of course.
"Can't say for sure. Ten years ago's fuzzy now..."
"Were you into Iriel back then?"
"...?"
Iriel, out of nowhere?
Lightning struck Rosnante's mind.
No way—is that girl Iriel, and he's hunting her savior...!?
First prince did say this instructor was close to Iriel.
If he claimed it was him here—could he pull Yustia fully to his side?
Tempting. Intensely so.
"...Pretty much every student liked Iriel and Serena back then."
But Rosnante chose a safe truth.
Could really be me, though! Hmm. Yustia's invite—because of this?
He'd planned to skip Yustia anyway, thanks to Yohayden politics.
But Iriel's lifesaver.
Might be him—mind tilting toward attending.
Zeke's Judgment Eye faded.
Mana in his eyes dissipated smoothly.
Zeke smacked his lips.
Thought he'd pin it down this time—still just vague info, no certainty.
Figured a stalker-level fanboy would remember, but this prick—stalking's his daily routine?
Just tanked Rosnante's stock further.
Anyway, can't dismiss Iriel as heroine yet.
After swordsmanship class. On the way home.
Soy Spoon.
The girl teetering on the edge of demotion from romance fantasy heroine to mere bread shuttle.
She let out a deep sigh.
Haa—
Lately, feels like I'm being left out somehow.
No matter how tasty the bread she baked, Zeke's unchanging nod killed the satisfaction.
Of course, the brutal training she endured daily somehow.
Morning muscle screams adapted fast now—soreness manageable.
Status and name worries sailed smoothly too.
Iriel Yustia and Serena Yohayden—kind, gentle despite high birth.
Yuri Gilbert and the second prince? Haven't chatted much yet.
Seemed more normal than expected.
But...
This bad mood's probably because...
She eyed the invitation in her hand.
[ Yustia Banquet Invitation ]
Elise. Please attend the Yustia banquet. — Iriel Yustia.
Neat handwriting, short and sweet.
"...How am I supposed to go to a place like that?"
Even as plain baker-girl commoner Soy Spoon, she yearned for such banquets.
Beautiful music, dressed pretty, dancing joyfully home— that dream.
Friends with Iriel, Serena, even royalty now—but moments like this hit the status gap hard.
Realizing anew how elite her circle was.
That's why I'm salty at the instructor too. Said no discrimination!
Grumbling, she kicked a roadside pebble.
"Even my prettiest dress would make 'em cringe. Spilling drinks might be the least worry. Hell, won't even get in."
Serena and Iriel might play nice at academy, ignore her at the banquet.
She was just the local baker's daughter, after all.
Eh.
Soy scratched her head, sulking vaguely, trudging to Hilais Bakery.
Hm? What's that noise?
Store inside abuzz with commotion.
"Hic. Sniff. Hic."
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
"Sis... r-really? We don't have to pay the debt anymore?"
"That's right."
Soy entered, stunned.
Silia wiping tears nonstop on her apron.
Mom clutching a man's hand, bowing repeatedly.
James sparkling-eyed, clinging to the man.
And that man was—
"Instructor...?"
Soy called his name.
He turned, expressionless gaze meeting hers.
"Hm. You're back."
"Wh-what's going on...?"
"Didn't you say today was the day?"
Oh shit.
She'd told him today to quit the grueling training ASAP.
Iriel said absolutely refuse!
No—more than that.
"Why's everyone like this...?"
"The instructor..."
Silia spoke, voice still choked.
"Uh... what about him?"
"Those bastards harassing us? The ones who kidnapped Mom."
Loan sharks from her sister's mouth—Soy's face hardened instantly.
"What. They demanding more cash?"
Silia shook her head.
"The debt... we don't have to pay it."
"Huh...? Why?"
"Instructor caught 'em all, handed to security."
Soy's eyes wavered.
Thought he wasn't paying attention to me lately...
Meanwhile.
"Iriel Yustia."
"Serena Yohayden."
Having tailed Zeke secretly, they bumped in an alley.
"Where you headed?"
"That's my line."
They glared, eyes locked in battle.
Iriel yielded first.
Couldn't waste time—who knew what was happening.
Mana road work! Couldn't let that shameless procedure slide. Told Elise separately, but Zeke's type— he'd push through.
Would Elise flat-out refuse if Zeke insisted?
"...Today, Zeke's checking Elise's mana roads."
"...I know. What's that got to do with you?"
"You neither."
"Me? I'm observing in person to study mana."
Serena replied smugly.
"I got mana roads now too. Qualified to watch!"
"Hmm...?"
"A-and Elise is my bread buddy!"
Serena couldn't hide her shock.
Calling a commoner 'friend'?
Iriel added quickly.
"He's probably started by now. Hurry."
"Uh, yeah..."
Serena nodded awkwardly.