Chapter 53
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 53: At the Exhibition Hall (2)
The newly established mansion on the site adjacent to the Main Castle looked like the residence of a newly appointed Count on the outside, but in reality, it was closer to an outpost where the Wintel family's blade was catching its breath.
Outer walls were clean and the garden was maintained not excessively.
Iden looked at the miniature map of Helon Main Castle hanging on the office wall for a long time, then picked up the exhibition hall layout spread on the desk again.
Protocol and formality a Count should possess, understanding minimal background of invited nobles, and response methods were entrusted to Special Task Force member Erwin.
Rather than wasting time learning subtle wit battles of noble society, he was focusing more on how to control the day the exhibition will be held as the Special Task Force Captain.
Although the exhibition was wearing the shell of a festival, in reality, it was bait to drag out Endermit, and the first large-scale official event held after the Wintel family declared them as 'hostile forces'.
The Special Task Force was only similar in structure to the Knights and Guards belonging to the Wintel family, but its nature was completely different.
If Knights and Guards were arms moving under Wintel family's orders, the Special Task Force was a blade judging itself and cutting first.
Could exercise execution rights under the captain's arbitrary judgment, and had authority to arrest and investigate even nobles borrowing Wintel family's name if necessary.
It was natural that the staff expressed concern.
Because granting excessive discretion to a specific individual always becomes a seed of cracks.
However, Eldmonde suppressed all those oppositions.
Faith.
Faith in the man called Iden whom it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call the advent of Main God.
With just that, Eldmonde led the establishment of the Special Task Force and became its strong backing.
"This much should be enough."
As Iden muttered pointing at a few points marked on the map, Erwin who was leaning against the window approached.
She had already scanned the internal structure of the exhibition hall several times.
Although dressed as a noble young lady, her eyes held the sharpness of a task force member executing a special mission.
"I will watch the ceiling auxiliary passage. Space above decorative chandeliers is wider than thought. If you lay mana sensory circles, can move immediately the moment abnormal signs appear."
Iden nodded.
Erwin confirmed the movement line pointing at the layout on the desk with her finger.
"For you, around here based on the central hall would be good. Since it's a point where people gather naturally. I will watch the flow circling around."
"Wouldn't it be dangerous for you to move alone?"
"If dangerous, you can run over."
It was a word thrown lightly, but natural trust was contained in it, and jealousy towards him who ran towards Emiline and then Vivienne at moments of crisis was also contained.
Subtle longing for his embrace she hadn't received was contained.
On the day of the exhibition welcomed like that, Helon Main Castle's exhibition hall was filled with splendor.
Under the high arched ceiling, large chandeliers poured light, and polished marble floor reflected people's shadows softly.
High-class perfume filled the air, silk and jewels sparkled receiving light, and carriages engraved with each family's crest entered in a row.
Not only Northern nobles, but also figures invited from outside were present, so the exhibition hall was no different from a festival ground.
Iden naturally mixed into the crowd dressed in Count's formal attire.
Outwardly he was one of the nobles holding a glass and chatting, but his consciousness was already spread thinly throughout the space.
Eavesdropping summoning circles and mana sensory circles finished installation.
Behind wall decorations, shadows of ceiling decorations, back of picture frames, and empty spaces inside pillars.
Small patterns were hidden at every inconspicuous point.
Even if his consciousness brushed lightly, sounds and mana waves coming and going there were transmitted.
So far there was no special abnormality.
Only mana of nobles whose emotions intensified intermittently fluctuated, and unpleasant wavelengths or dirty signs unique to black magic were not detected.
The exhibition proceeded smoothly.
"This exhibition's main theme is... record of one man."
Iden raised his head inadvertently, then stiffened the moment the cloth was lifted.
The figure drawn on every canvas was none other than himself.
Appearance of mercenary days wearing worn equipment, scene unfolding summoning circles in Saloon Central Plains, shape cutting enemies fusing with dark red knight, and recent appearance wearing Count's formal attire.
Paintings arranged as if time piled up in layers were forming one narrative.
Gazes of the entire exhibition hall naturally focused on Iden.
He scratched his nape helplessly and smiled bitterly.
"...Didn't expect this."
Erwin standing next to him smirked.
"Dislike it?"
"Rather than dislike... just embarrassed."
"I think it's cool. Especially that battle scene, seems it came out cooler than reality?"
Short jokes went back and forth, but surrounding gazes were still hot.
Nobles approached one by one and offered greetings, and he responded with courtesy as an emerging Count.
Some asked about heroic tales of the battlefield, and some asked questions as if probing the authority of the Special Task Force.
While letting it flow appropriately, on the other hand dispersing consciousness to sensory circles, he continued searching for possible mana abnormalities.
Even during conversation, more than half of his mind was monitoring the entire space.
It was then.
A woman wearing a flashy red dress approached cutting through the crowd.
Blue hair shone more clearly receiving lighting, and gait without a single disarray was that of a person trained in social circles.
Erica Rivan.
"Count Iden Summonfield."
She bowed her head elegantly.
"I heard you are the protagonist of this exhibition. It is an honor to meet you in person."
Minute probing was carried in her voice, but it was an attitude treating a noble meeting for the first time to the end.
Iden answered a beat late, but without wavering.
"It is undeserved praise. I just did my role."
Formal conversation went back and forth.
Erica brought up stories naturally trying to gauge his influence, authority, tastes, and preferences, and Iden responded appropriately with a gentle expression without laughter.
However, the more conversing, vague familiarity was felt.
Blue-grey hair and blue pupils, voice sounding familiar yet unfamiliar felt familiar.
Doubt arising naturally.
Wariness arising naturally.
Erica, recognizing something belatedly at Iden's suspicious reaction, continues speaking as if committed rudeness.
This was also a thoroughly calculated action to imprint her existence.
"Ah right, I committed rudeness losing my mind at Count's cool appearance. Hoho."
Erica smiling modestly covering her mouth pinched skirt hem slightly and bowed head slightly too.
And introduced herself.
"I am called Erica Rivan."
Right after.
"!"
Bewilderment and contemplation dwelled in Iden's complexion.
Erica thought looking at that.
Flower of social circles, not dead yet.
**
Rivan Count family's mansion was always organized, and always quiet.
That quietness didn't originate from peace, but from holding breath.
Corridor was long, windows were high, and children's laughter rarely rang out.
In that place, the youngest, Edom Rivan, was always the child standing at the very end.
"You again?"
Bright blue hair sparkled receiving sunlight.
Young Erica Rivan was already an existence standing out by far among peers.
Exquisitely mended dress, upright posture, and aloof attitude as if believing the world revolves around herself was a noble young lady without doubt.
Her gaze fell down.
Edom squatting next to the stone wall at the edge of the garden flinched raising his head.
Dirt was on his hands, and clothes hem was worn somewhere.
Every time realizing the fact that same blood as hers flows in such a thing, goosebumps rose.
"What are you doing?"
"...Just."
Edom's answer was always like that.
Short, small, tone erasing himself.
Erica snorted.
"Just? Must have been looking at bugs again. You always hang out with such things."
Maids standing around swallowed small laughter.
It was laughter to match the young lady's mood.
Erica approached one step and kicked Edom's hand with her toe tip.
Edom didn't say anything.
Just hid his hand behind back.
Bowing his head.
"Why no words? Hate talking to me?"
"...No."
"What no. Expression is exactly like that."
She tilted her head looking down at Edom.
In that gaze, not curiosity, but attitude observing gross creature on experiment table was contained.
"Why are you so unlucky? If looking like a beggar at least be funny. Can't even speak properly. Shameful to death that such thing is same Rivan family."
Edom's fingertip trembled minutely.
But there was no rebuttal.
Meal time where family gathers was more blatant.
Lowest part of long table, seat close to shadow was Edom's seat.
Eldest son close to father, second son next to mother, and eldest daughter Erica always sat in the center.
"Ugh. Almost vomited looking at that bastard by mistake."
At Erica's play-mixed retching, Edom raised his head slowly.
And pretending nothing happened, bowed again pretending to eat soup.
Hand shook minutely and soup spilled a little on bowl edge.
Erica smirked.
"Pfft, look at him unable to even use spoon properly."
Count Rivan sighed and said.
"Stop useless words."
However in those words, annoyance wanting to spend dinner time quietly was contained rather than scolding not to bully younger brother.
Other family members were the same.
Mother who gave birth to Edom, eldest son who is family successor, all dismissed Erica's blatant mockery and contempt as merely loud 'noise', no one cared for Edom called shame and failure of family.
Erica didn't speak anymore, but triumphant smile remained on her lips.
In Erica's world, Edom was already a failed existence.
Only two years difference, but to Erica, Edom was an existence worse than a newborn baby.
Even after that day, minor collisions between the two continued.
One-sided and forced collisions.
Erica always looked down from above, and Edom always looked up from below.
Her words were light, his silence was heavy, and one-sided collision of the two gradually reduced its noise as time passed.
It was a natural flow.
Erica tired of disgusting toy turned off interest.
Hand blocking nose saying smelly, eyes closing tightly saying hate to see, mouth criticizing saying even mixing a drop of blood is creepy, didn't head to him anymore.
Ironically, even the only interest heading to him in Rivan Count family was cut off.
Afterward Edom Rivan was thoroughly alone.
No occasion to encounter except family's official events, and since Edom was completely separated through 'rationing' even for unofficial event dinner held every day, Rivan Count family sometimes even forgot he was a family member.
Such his sudden runaway couldn't even cause small commotion, and Erica also just snorted once.
No one looked for him, and wished natural extinction of failure wouldn't resurrect.
3 years passed like that, and Erica was facing Edom Rivan now.
Offered greeting politely to him.
"I am called Erica Rivan."
Far from wondering about younger brother's survival for 3 years, Erica who was 'grateful' for not having to face gloomy and disgusting face offered greeting to Northern emerging noble having hair and pupils similar to herself.
Although feeling familiar for some reason, Erica didn't care.
Since such familiarity is experienced often staying in social circles for long.
Just approached him to execute thoroughly calculated smile and calculated plan.
If connected with him, would be able to open way with Wintel Grand Duke family naturally.
At least would be able to find connection point with revival forces under it.
Since Iden Summonfield was talent Northern Grand Duke covets, and currently hottest potato in Northern Territory.
Especially he is 'Family Head' of Summonfield Count family without parents.
Since seat next to him was vacant, if connected with him, status elevates instantly to 'Madam' not mere Young Lady.
Although cannot have authority equal to Family Head, can form independent line borrowing Summonfield name.
Man called Iden Summonfield is perfect timber to produce result.
Man called Iden Summonfield was perfect food ingredient as family's next food.
Father will surely be pleased.
Mother will surely congratulate.
Will return to home making result by all means.
Will create result quickly before his title and position elevate more becoming harder to approach.
Erica's greedy smile began to scan Iden greedily.
Sweeping hair to one side showing off slender neckline.
Lifting wrist so sprinkled perfume scent spreads subtly.
Containing submission and seduction as female allowing male in blue light pupils.
"Want to offer greeting formally representing Rivan Count family, is it okay?"