Encounter #5
The name “Veizsäcker” spilled from Senior Rolex’s lips, and every senior gathered around froze in shock.
Even the rowdy Forbes looked visibly startled, eyes widening as he muttered “Eh?”
I was equally taken aback, but for a different reason entirely. That unexpected name had hit me like a thunderbolt.
If the Veizsäcker I knew was real, he was nothing more than the veiled watchmaker of the kingdom—a man who had turned the simple act of telling time into a work of art. His creations were said to be more exquisite than even the most meticulously crafted jewels, so flawless that mere mortals would lose their minds just from gazing upon them.
I had heard that his rarity was so extreme that even most noble families had never dreamed of owning one, and that even the heads of great ducal houses only managed to possess a handful at best. The royal family itself could not control him as they wished.
That was precisely why the man who had given me this watch couldn’t possibly be Veizsäcker.
“Lucian, you’ve never used this watch until now?”
“Yeah. I first opened it this morning. It just looked like a regular pocket watch…”
Senior Rolex rummaged through his pockets after my answer and pulled out a magnifying glass.
I should have been annoyed at the habit, yet the way he studied the watch with such meticulous care made me unconsciously tense.
“…Found it. Look here. Can you see the engraving inside the lid?”
At those words, the surrounding seniors finally got close enough to examine the watch properly.
Sure enough, a tiny but crisp inscription was visible on the inside.
Once everyone confirmed it and nodded, Senior Rolex explained that those intricate handwork details were proof that the piece was indeed a genuine Veizsäcker creation.
He added that even the greatest master craftsmen would struggle to replicate the ghostly precision required, often failing midway and ruining the work.
The engraved patterns on both the front and back surfaces were another telltale sign, each stroke made by hand. Even if the lines looked haphazard to the untrained eye, careful inspection would reveal a consistent, repeating pattern, he explained.
“People who wanted to imitate Veizsäcker’s work have already tried. But soon enough, they got caught red-handed and suffered the severest punishment. The royal family was barely managing to acquire the real pieces, yet someone tried to devalue them. Besides, Veizsäcker had already marked each one.”
“Marking them how?”
“By numbering every single item. Look at the back of the pendant here—each piece has its own number engraved. Because there were so few made, it’s easy to track exactly who received which one. The latest clock I heard about was number 36, and apparently that one is now owned by some ducal family.”
“So if there’s no number, this is fake?”
“Hey, Forbes. Even if I don’t know anything else, I’ll have you know I’m the kingdom’s foremost authority on watches. This is the real deal. No other craftsman could ever hope to match the delicacy required. The mainspring, the tiniest balance wheel—every single component was crafted and fitted by his own hand, without sacrificing either strength or beauty. It’s unmistakably the work of a divine craftsman.”
The usually quiet room suddenly exploded with excitement.
Forbes, who had the most to lose, wisely kept his mouth shut.
“I found it. Number… 5. Wow, this is ridiculous. Number 5?”
“What now? Talk sense, you watch maniac.”
“…Veizsäcker’s first creation was supposedly given to a benefactor. The second he presented to Her Majesty the late king. And from the third through the fifth, he kept them for himself. He even said he might gift them to someone worthy in the future. So numbers 6 and up are the ones that have started circulating among the nobility.”
“Then…”
“Lucian, let me ask again. Your benefactor truly wasn’t Veizsäcker, right? At the very least, didn’t he make any watches or have any skill with his hands?”
Senior Rolex’s question made me pause for a moment before slowly shaking my head.
It was certain that the person who gave me this watch was not Veizsäcker in name.
More importantly, that person didn’t seem the type who created things—he was someone who simply lived by the clock: always up at exactly the right hour for meditation, exercise, and meals.
Disappointed that it wasn’t Veizsäcker, Senior Rolex asked again who the benefactor might be and what kind of person he was.
But I shook my head once more, refusing to say anything more.
I had no intention of making that person seem troublesome over some trivial matter.
If there was any connection to Veizsäcker at all, it was a weapon I alone was meant to wield—I would never share it with anyone else.
Left without an answer, Senior Rolex clicked his tongue in mild disappointment.
“…Fine. I’ll respect your wish. If the connection is real, you’d naturally be reluctant to let others approach. Besides, the fact that you’re letting a such a rare treasure go so easily suggests you have no interest in it either. Anyway, the pocket watch you hold is one of the three pieces Veizsäcker ever owned. It must have been given to you by someone who received it from him. Unfortunately, you apparently didn’t realize its true value.”
Removing his glasses, Senior Rolex took a deep breath and repeated the question.
He was clearly excited and restless, yet forcing himself to stay calm.
The sight was almost amusing, like a great explorer who had just made a discovery.
“Rolex, that means numbers 3 through 5 remain uncirculated, right? So this could still be fake? If the kingdom knows about it, anyone could easily tamper with it.”
One of Forbes’s henchmen opened his mouth slightly.
The situation clearly bothered him.
For years Forbes had been mercilessly mocking my accessory tastes, yet here was a dream item that even most nobles could only dream of owning.
The words carried some weight, so Forbes nodded vigorously.
Our watch expert, however, cut him off without mercy.
“You’re all so full of yourselves, puffing up your chests. This field is my specialty. How many of you have even seen a genuine Veizsäcker piece?
I’ve already seen five different numbered works today, and it’s only the sixth.”
No one had eyes that could compare to mine when it came to these clocks!
Senior Rolex’s claim silenced the room completely.
Was this really what people meant by being a hopeless obsessive?
The moment when those who were truly immersed in something looked completely different from the rest had arrived.
“So… Senior, if this really is a Veizsäcker piece, how much is it worth?”
“Worth? No, it can’t be measured in money. Lucian, you know better than anyone—this isn’t something you can buy even with the royal family’s pressure or bribes. You can get only one per year at best. No, it should be called an artwork.”
“Then what about Senior Forbes’s lecture on maintaining dignity…”
“Swear on my life—wearing diamonds all over your body would still be inferior to carrying just one of these.”
So that was the verdict.
I smiled with an extremely unfortunate expression and glanced at Forbes.
Our watch expert said so. What do you think?
Naturally, our rowdy Forbes turned bright red and couldn’t utter a single word.
He was from a noble family himself, after all, so he would certainly understand the weight of the name Veizsäcker.
Comparing himself to something so insignificant was impossible.
The reason he reacted this way was probably not because the watch had sparked his curiosity or jealousy, but because he had boasted and was now being humbled.
“…I still can’t believe it. My father treasures this as one of his most prized possessions, yet the man who owns it is you, Lucian? Rolex, I’m sorry, but no matter how much you know about watches, I simply can’t accept this.”
“You always do this, don’t you? The moment something displeases you, you start nitpicking. Do as you please. Whether you believe my words or not is entirely your choice.”
Senior Rolex sounded genuinely angry at Forbes for completely dismissing his opinion.
Thanks to that, the previously tolerable atmosphere suddenly turned icy.
If things went any further, it would turn into a real fight, and that would be truly awkward.
While I was still pondering what to do, the gentle angel of our class descended beside me.
“Everyone.”
“Huh? It’s the first-year representative. Welcome, Rie.”
“Rie?”
The moment I saw that name, I remembered the way she had glared at me as if she wanted to kill me for daring to claim the next ducal seat of the Cleris family.
The moment Rie’s voice reached us, Forbes immediately switched into his usual smooth, friendly tone to ease the tension.
The way he did it was so disgusting that I nearly gagged.
“I’ve had the honor of meeting many of you before, and I see some of you for the first time today. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Rie Arche von Haniel, the representative of the first-year class.”
“Of course we know. Minerva Academy’s top prodigy, after all.”
“I was really impressed by the way you sparred with Senior Michael. I hear you’re on track to become the kingdom’s greatest swordsman soon. Please continue to fight for our kingdom.”
“Thank you for your kind words. Actually, I came to speak with Lucian for just a moment. May I take him with me? If it wouldn’t be an inconvenience…”
In the eyes of the surrounding seniors, Lucian probably looked like the Literature Division student who was one step away from being beheaded by Rie and the Martial Division student who had come to apologize.
Instead of the suspicious glances or the “Why?” questions I expected, they saw me smile and wave it off with “Sure, go ahead.”
The only problem was that Forbes might start apologizing again, so I had already warned him to be careful.
Thanks to that, I could clearly see Rie’s eyes growing colder.
“…Yes, thank you, Senior Forbes. May we go now?”
It seemed Rie had noticed that Forbes was trying to act like he didn’t care.
Once Forbes finally gave his permission, I was finally able to slip away under Rie’s guidance.
“So what did Senior Forbes say?”
After we moved to a quieter spot among the fewer students, Rie asked directly.
Her expression was clearly displeased, so she was probably already guessing what had happened.
Since there was no need to hide anything, I told her everything exactly as it was.
The arrogant Forbes had lectured me on maintaining dignity.
Then he had turned around and complained bitterly about being exposed.
“…”
The moment my story ended, Rie fell into a brief silence.
Then, as if she had been holding something back for too long, she opened her lips…
“…Idiot…”
“Huh? Wait, did you just call me an idiot, Rie?”
“What? I didn’t say anything like that. You must have misheard.”
“You’re the one saying nonsense. I heard every single word.”
“I never said anything! I swear!”
Rie’s tone was so firm that I gave up trying to press her further.
Being courteous to everyone was Rie’s trademark, even as a noble.
I saw no harm in letting this little secret slide.
“Thank you more than I can say. You pulled me out of that monster’s grip.”
I had known from the start that she had deliberately appeared in front of me to take me away.
So when I thanked her, a beautiful blush spread across her cheeks.
Just moments ago she had looked sharp and dangerous, yet now she was blushing like an embarrassed angel.
“Um, Lucian…”
The angel carefully opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something.
At that moment, my heart began to race with a strange, fluttering feeling.
“Um…”
Ah, why again! Who is this person—damn it!
I was still angry from the earlier scene in the infirmary and the fact that I had been interrupted once more.
So I unconsciously frowned and turned my head—
“…Eh?”
It wasn’t Forbes.
A different person had approached right beside us.