An Unsettling Change
Her voice, chilling and deeply unsettling. Franche was acting incredibly strange. I had never seen her like this before, and I flinched in spite of myself.
"...My Lady?"
At my call, Franche merely offered a faint, serene smile. Was it the influence of dark magic? Could a person change this much? I felt a prickle of fear. No, I was terrified.
"Jin."
"Y-yes?"
"Make sure you keep my words in mind."
With that, she sat back down. What was that? The goosebumps on the back of my neck still hadn't subsided.
"So, what is it we need to do next?"
I was bewildered. I couldn't make heads or tails of the situation.
"Jin?"
"Yes?"
"I asked what we need to do next."
The words wouldn't come easily. This unfamiliar side of Franche felt so alien. Or had she always been like this? I had felt something similar back when she revealed she was terminally ill. Perhaps she had been this way from the very beginning.
"We need to hire a secretary..."
"Hmm. No one in particular comes to mind."
Franche crossed her arms and tapped her fingers against her forearm. Tap, tap.
"What about Kazar?"
"She has other duties to attend to."
"Hmm..."
Honestly, Helena was the perfect fit. Though it hadn't been long, she had served Franche faithfully, and there was no risk of betrayal. Besides, the title of "secretary" was mostly nominal; it wasn't a highly demanding role. Just managing schedules and running basic errands. Any critical matters would be handled by either me or Seldas.
"Well, Hel—"
"Jin."
"Yes."
"Did you understand what I said?"
I shut my mouth. Why did she hate Helena so much? I couldn't understand it at all. Was it because she was a woman? But Kazar was a woman too. What was the difference...?
"Ahem. Then it would be best to recruit a secretary separately. I'll commission Seldas to find someone."
Franche nodded, looking as if she had been waiting for exactly that answer.
"Yes, that sounds best."
For some reason, I felt like I was dancing in the palm of her hand. It was probably wise not to bring this up again.
"Now, let's discuss the business in earnest."
I had kept things vague until now, but the time had come to reveal the details. I laid out the core of the Magic Stone business I had been planning. Why I had partnered with Count Dogeza, and how it connected to the Magic Stones and the tower we were building.
"A Magic Revolution."
Franche's eyes sparkled with intrigue.
"It feels like the dawn of a new era."
"It will take some time, though."
We would monopolize the Magic Stone mines. Since demand was currently low, we could buy up the land for dirt cheap. From there, we would collaborate with Count Dogeza to build a tower. The Magic Tower. It was the legendary institution anyone who had read fantasy novels or comics would recognize instantly. By establishing the Magic Tower, we would gather mages from all over the world, develop magic tools, and mass-produce them. From nobles to commoners, everyone's daily life would be transformed. In the process, France Corporation would rake in astronomical wealth and secure absolute, unrivaled power.
"So this is what you've been working toward all this time."
"Exactly. Once this is set in motion, our business foundation is complete."
Honestly, there was more I could do. However, considering my own circumstances, I decided to stop here. I had sworn to hold out and avoid being consumed by the original Jin until I fulfilled my promise, but staying by Franche's side only accelerated the synchronization.
"Then my influence will skyrocket."
I smiled and nodded. The master of the Magic Tower and the pioneer of the Magic Revolution. It was a position so absolute that not even the imperial family would dare touch her.
"And now, both you and Kazar need to achieve a high level of magical proficiency. As the master of the Magic Tower, you will need outstanding capabilities."
Even now, Franche had made staggering progress in a remarkably short period. If she could achieve this much in less than a year, she might eventually become a Transcendental Mage. In the game, she was merely a mid-boss dark mage, but that was likely only because she ran out of time.
"Then it would be best for me to leave the business operations to others and focus entirely on magic."
"Precisely. We've already laid the groundwork with the clothing business, so now we just need to build upward."
The project to make Franche the head of the family was progressing without a hitch. I hoped it would stay this way.
The only issue is Line.
He was being far too quiet. It wasn't like him at all. Well, I could worry about that later. What could he possibly do anyway? I could easily crush him with raw power.
"Now that we're done talking, let's go see the Duke. Since we've successfully wrapped up the clothing business, it's time to secure his backing, isn't it?"
Franche chuckled and nodded, her smile brimming with confidence.
"Of course. There is no one left in this family who can touch me."
Franche stood before the Duke's office. The memory of shivering in fear in front of this very door was still vivid in her mind. But things were different now. She was filled with confidence; there was no reason to be afraid. After all, she had proven her own worth.
Knock, knock. After a light rap on the wood, she opened the door and stepped inside without waiting for an answer. As expected, the Duke was quietly attending to the estate's affairs.
"Is that you, Franche?" The Duke recognized her instantly without even looking up.
"Yes." Franche sank onto the sofa with a soft sigh.
"What brings you here?"
"I'm here regarding the promise you made last time."
"The backing for your business?"
"Yes."
Click. The Duke set down his fountain pen, laced his fingers together, and rested his forearms on the desk.
"Indeed, I promised to support you. What is your next venture?"
Though his face remained expressionless, anticipation seeped through his voice. He seemed curious to see what kind of marvel she would pull off this time.
"It's a business involving Magic Stones."
Duke Descartes's brow furrowed instantly.
"...Magic Stones? The ones used by the court mages?"
Franche smiled and nodded. The Duke tilted his head, his eyebrows knitting closer together.
"A Magic Stone business... I cannot fathom it. What on earth do you plan to do this time?"
Unlike before, curiosity took precedence over suspicion. It was because Franche had proven herself through results.
"I'll let you know once the foundation is laid. You should look forward to it this time as well."
The Duke was displeased by Franche's teasing manner, but he found a certain charm in the anticipation. He nodded.
"Very well. I am sure you have your reasons. I shall provide the financial backing as promised."
Franche cheered inwardly. The Duke, of all people, was no longer looking down on her. He was treating her as an equal, as a proper human being. It wasn't merely the joy of a daughter being acknowledged by her father. It was the profound satisfaction of proving that everything he had done to her in the past was utterly wrong.
"Thank you."
"Is that all you came for?"
"Yes."
"...Very well. You may leave."
For some reason, a hint of lingering regret clung to the Duke's voice. Did he want to talk to her a bit longer? Franche felt a brief flicker of curiosity, but she brushed it aside.
Thud. The office door closed.
"..."
The Duke massaged his temples and let out a cold sigh. Watching Franche grow day by day reminded him of his late wife. For a long time, he had been consumed by madness, burying himself in work. He had committed terrible wrongs against Eden and Line as well. He didn't deserve to be called a father. But when Franche turned eighteen, the memory of his wife had finally snapped him back to reality. It felt like waking from a long nightmare. Every time he looked at Franche, he felt as though his departed wife was watching over them.
"Whew." The Duke shook his head and focused on the paperwork before him. There was no way to mend his broken relationships with his children. All he could do now was maintain his position and accept the retribution that would inevitably come.
"Damn it! Curse it all!" Crash! Line kicked the table, unable to contain the rage that had been festering inside him.
"It's all because of that bitch, Franche."
Ever since the imperial banquet, a single rumor had been relentlessly ringing in Line's ears.
"The most incompetent sibling in the Descartes family is Line."
Eden had stood at the vanguard of the war against the Barenberg Kingdom and had a track record of repelling the Disaster Wave. On top of that, he had reached the exalted realm of a Sword Master. And Franche had even driven out Frida, which had held a monopoly on the clothing industry in this massive empire. Many had tried before, but it was an achievement no one else had ever managed.
In contrast, Line had absolutely nothing to his name. His swordsmanship was mediocre, and his administrative skills were average at best. He had played no part in the war, had never fought in the Disaster Wave, and hadn't even managed to manifest Aura. Now, the title of the most incompetent and useless existence in the Descartes family belonged solely to Line Descartes.
"Damn it..." Line clenched his fists tightly. His inferiority complex was so intense that it practically radiated into the air around him. His current situation, his past, his future—Line hated everything about his life. After their mother passed away, he had lived under the violence of a father driven mad. Eden had suffered the same. While Eden's emotions had died as a result, Line had gone the opposite way. His anger had festered, and his hatred had blossomed.
"Whew." Line exhaled a ragged breath. He glared into space, gritting his teeth.
"I have no choice."
If he couldn't climb up by building his own strength, he would just have to drag everyone else down to his level. Once they were on equal footing, he could step on their heads to rise above them.
I'll have to put a tail on them and see if I can find anything.
Returning from the office, Franche looked out the window, humming a cheerful tune. She seemed absolutely delighted to have proven her worth to the ducal family. Seeing her so genuinely happy brought a small smile to my lips. Then, suddenly, Franche turned her head and looked at me.
"Jin, I'm giving you a vacation. Two days."
"A vacation? All of a sudden?"
"Yes. We've been quite busy lately, haven't we?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
A vacation. It wasn't a bad idea. The France Clothing Store wouldn't reopen until the inventory was fully restocked, and there was still plenty of time before operations stabilized. There was no rush with the Magic Stone business either. Since we were partnering with Count Dogeza, manpower would be easily secured, and Seldas could handle the land acquisitions. But what was she going to do while I was away? Out of curiosity, I asked.
"What will you be doing, My Lady?"
"I'll be staying at Kazar's house."
"To study magic?"
"Yes. I'm happiest when I'm practicing magic."
Improving her magical skills was good, but was she sure she didn't need a break? I wasn't the only one who had been exhausted lately.
"Are you holding up physically?"
"I'm fine. Magic is my way of resting."
Was it? Well, if she said so. There was no need to stop her. It didn't seem like she was overexerting herself.
"By the way, have you spent all your allowance? Do you need more?"
"No, I haven't even spent ten percent of it..."
"Really? Then why don't you go on a trip?"
A trip? She wanted to send me away? Until now, Franche had done everything in her power to keep me by her side. A strange, inexplicable sense of foreboding washed over me. I understood she was rewarding me for my hard work, but why did it feel like I was being exiled?
"My Lady, do you perhaps have something else planned?"
"Huh? No? Not really. Why do you ask?"
Franche tilted her head with an innocent expression. Today, the other day, and recently... she had been acting so strangely. It was as if she wasn't the Franche I used to know. It was natural for her guard to drop and her personality to soften as we grew closer. When a person's life changed, they changed with it. But this was different... There was a bizarre, unsettling dissonance to it.
"You're worried about me, aren't you?"
"Pardon?"
"You're hesitating."
Had she read my mind? No, she probably just picked up on my body language.
"It's nothing. I'll enjoy my vacation."
"Good. Get some proper rest, and I'll see you in two days."
I bowed and stepped out of the room.
Something is definitely wrong.
Over the past few days, it felt as though her very essence had shifted. Is it the influence of dark magic? In the game's lore, I had never heard of or seen dark magic altering a character's personality. Having cleared every quest and uncovered every hidden element, it would be bizarre if there was something I didn't know. I should go ask Kazar.
I headed to Kazar's house before Franche could get there, determined to find out what was happening to her.