Entering High Society (2)
By the time the bottom of the stew bowl was revealed, my father reignited the topic I thought had been put to rest.
“Julian.”
“Yes?”
“Now that I think about it, there is more we need to discuss regarding your engagement.”
Father pushed the bowl of now-cold soup to the side. I wiped the corners of my mouth with my napkin and met his gaze.
“Is there something I need to do before the engagement?”
“Yes.” Father nodded and neatly folded the napkin he had spread over his lap. “Before we talk, let’s confirm something. Do you know how Julian Nihilit is currently perceived in high society?”
I shook my head. Now that I thought about it, aside from the fact that I would have to enter a family as a son-in-law to maintain my noble title, I didn't really know my own reputation. Since I mainly operated in the Limbus Pit or Civitas Square, I didn't have any close noble friends to tell me.
Father nodded as if he had expected this.
“The eldest son of a Baron who has a decent face and a moderately wealthy family, but who has never once been seen out in public.”
Hmm. My reputation was even more of a disaster than I thought.
The reason was likely the vaccines. After I distributed them, quite a few dark mages lost one of their primary sources of income. Especially those who had been making a tidy profit from the Curse of Decay became unemployed overnight. Naturally, they wouldn't just leave me alone.
So, on the day I invented the vaccine, I followed my master's advice and applied for personal protection from the Inspection Office in advance.
‘The Inspection Office certainly gets things done.’
After that incident, the connection between Director Shun and ‘Julian Nihilit’ vanished. I wasn't sure what kind of maneuvering they had done, but people didn't even think to link Director Shun to Julian Nihilit. However, a minor side effect occurred as a result: Julian Nihilit had become a good-for-nothing shut-in who hadn't stepped outside his house since he was fifteen.
‘I’ve become the spider-boy who lost his home.’
Of course, as a protagonist of a misunderstanding-based story, this was perfect positioning. But in the marriage market, it was a different story.
“Julian. I know full well what kind of good deeds you are performing down below. But what can you do? Nobles only remember what happens in their own world. No matter how angelic your achievements are down there, they won't pay much attention to them.”
That was true. Volunteer work didn't exactly count as a spec in the marriage market. If anything, it might even be a deduction.
“That is why next year is important. You must make your abilities known among the nobles within one year. Do you have anything in mind?”
I shook my head. “Do you happen to know how other children my age go about it?”
“Children your age help their parents with their work or make a name for themselves by fighting outside the walls once they turn sixteen.”
“Then I suppose I fall into the former category.”
“I suppose so.” Father paused for a moment. After some hesitation, he spoke again.
“Julian. My work is going to get busy starting early next year. I have a few backlogged cases.”
“If it’s your work… are you talking about your duties as a Judicial Officer?”
“Yes.”
The head of the Nihilit family, Hendel Nihilit, held the court position of Judicial Officer. You could think of it as a medieval version of a prosecutor. It was a position primarily responsible for solving unsolved cases that might involve magic, investigating disputes between nobles, and handling various special crimes. It was no wonder there was a panic last time when a priestess cast a healing spell incorrectly on Freya. With Father’s position, ending a priestess’s social life would be a trivial matter.
“The workload for unsolved cases has been piling up lately. I would like you to help me.”
“Me? Could I be of any help?”
I was a doctor, not a detective. Of course, I knew the basics of autopsy since forensic medicine was a mandatory part of medical school education. Besides, they say assembly is the reverse of disassembly. As a surgeon, I knew the general principles of an autopsy. But, ‘Would they even let me cut open a body?’ It was that kind of era; I doubted they would permit an autopsy. I’d be lucky if they didn't accuse me of being a dark mage.
Perhaps sensing my inner thoughts, Father chuckled and said, “Don't worry. I'm not asking you to catch the culprit.”
“Then what on earth…?”
“I'm asking you to do what you do best. Saving people.”
Saving people? Why would that be necessary for an investigation? As if to answer that question, Father continued.
“Usually, the investigators who come back from these cases or the witnesses who come to report them are injured in some way. It would be good to have you there when that happens.”
“Aha. What kind of injuries do they usually have? I need to prepare in advance.”
Father closed his eyes and rubbed his chin. “It varies. There are nobles who cast curses to eliminate witnesses, and some come in having been shot or hit by arrows on their way here.”
“???”
“There was even an investigator who returned from an investigation and died of a heart attack.”
“…”
Right. This was a dark fantasy world. There was no way an investigation would proceed through normal procedures like the 21st century I knew. This was the very reason my father, a 3rd-class knight, was appointed as a Judicial Officer. It was rare for the Judicial Officer themselves to be attacked, but they had to protect the witnesses or investigators.
“…I ask just in case, but which is more dangerous: outside the walls or assisting you?”
“What a funny question. Obviously, outside the walls is more dangerous.”
Sigh. That was true, but why did the level of danger feel no different from fighting outside the walls? If there was one consolation, it was that no one would openly try to kill me. A Judicial Officer on duty represented the Imperial family, so touching one could be linked to treason. Naturally, I, who accompanied such a Judicial Officer, was treated half that way. Of course, the more I performed, the more the other side would try to eliminate witnesses and investigators.
‘The road ahead looks like a struggle.’
“…Understood. I’ll leave it to you, Father.”
“Good thinking. We won't start immediately. I will call you when I am certain the case is safe, so until then, carry on as usual.”
With that, all topics related to my engagement for this evening were concluded.
[…For that reason, I think I will be absent frequently and irregularly from now on, Master.]
The voice flowed through the crystal ball. The Great Sage, Louis Adelhart, looked at the crystal ball placed in a corner of his study and set down his teacup.
“Helping the Nihilit Judicial Officer. You certainly have a lot of trouble ahead of you.”
[Do you know my father?]
“Know him? Of course. He is the Judicial Officer in charge of unsolved magical cases. He is also a man whose name is circulating quite a bit within the court lately.”
[Is that so?]
“Yes. His track record is so good that he is frequently mentioned as a candidate for the next Chief Judicial Officer.”
Chief Judicial Officer. To borrow Julian’s expression, it was the position of a Chief Prosecutor.
[….]
“Are you surprised?”
[It would be a lie to say I wasn't.]
Great Sage Louis chuckled inwardly. He didn't say that a lion cub couldn't possibly be raised by a cat. “It is a good thing. There is something to be learned from everything. If you follow him, you will be able to learn things I cannot teach you.”
Wisdom often comes from unintended encounters. Since the Great Sage had realized many truths in such a way, he did not mind his disciple postponing his lessons for a while. “Go and see much.”
[Thank you, Master.]
A brief silence flowed from the other side of the crystal ball. Louis quietly gauged the texture of that silence. Usually, this kind of silence occurred when Julian had something on his mind. Louis picked up his teacup, took a sip, and waited for Julian to speak.
[Scratch, scratch.]
The sound of a pen running across a notebook faintly reached him from beyond the crystal ball. He was preparing to record before asking a question. Soon, the pen stopped.
[…Master.]
“Speak.”
[When will it be possible to reveal Director Shun’s identity to the world?]
Louis set down his teacup. It was a question he had expected. He also understood. Being a disciple of the Great Sage, the creator of the vaccine, and a co-representative director of the Merkur Merchant Guild—it was only natural to feel aggrieved that he had to bow his head in the marriage market despite holding these titles. However, Julian was not yet ready to reveal his true self.
“Julian. As you know, your reputation is too heavy for you to handle just yet.”
It was a truly contradictory story. That his reputation was too heavy to handle because his abilities were too outstanding. But it couldn't be helped. Julian’s vaccine had made too many dark mages his enemies. Other medicines would invite the jealousy of nobles. Considering that he had recently cured the Devil’s Disease, the ‘mere’ shadow of a Baron’s family was not enough to protect him. That was why the Great Sage was currently protecting Julian’s identity.
“You are asking for concrete criteria for when you can reveal your secrets, aren't you?”
[Yes.]
“At the very least, you should bring in a 4th-circle guard knight you can trust, or obtain enough capital that even a Duke’s family cannot ignore you.”
A ‘somewhat large’ amount of capital could not replace a sword. However, overwhelming capital could be a sword in itself. In fact, there were a few merchant guild leaders who were commoners by status but possessed power comparable to a Duke’s family due to their overwhelming capital. The Great Sage recalled their faces and said, “Do not be too impatient. You still have plenty of time. It is a problem that will naturally be solved when you turn thirty.”
Instead of an answer, the sound of a pen came from beyond the crystal ball. Scratch, scratch. Louis chuckled inwardly while listening to that sound. What on earth was there to take notes on here? The Great Sage waited quietly until his disciple’s pen stopped. A moment later, the sound of pages turning in a notebook reached him. What was he searching for so diligently?
Just as the Great Sage’s curiosity deepened, Julian’s voice was heard again.
[In that case, I think I should start earning money properly now.]
“?”
What was this? For a brief moment, the Great Sage doubted if his ears were failing him. “…What do you mean by that?”
[Until now, I’ve been making medicines that don't make much money to save people. But now that the company’s size has grown to a decent level, I think it wouldn't hurt to make some medicines that bring in money.]
Hmm. Yes. I must be hearing things because I’ve been researching all night. The Great Sage added a splash of potion diluent to his tea and took a sip. Unfortunately, the words Julian spoke from beyond the crystal ball remained the same.
[However, I would like you to guarantee the patent rights, Master. It’s a medicine that other nobles will covet, so there is a risk of it being snatched away.]
“…What kind of medicine is it for you to be like this?”
[It’s a secret. For now, let’s just say it’s a medicine that ‘might’ improve heart function.]
“….”
Quinine, insulin, heparin, IV fluids, colchicine…. Julian had raised the guild to a 1st-class merchant guild with just these medicines. It was 1st-class. A merchant guild that now had no equal within the Empire. Yet Julian was saying that those medicines were not particularly profitable.
A past conversation flashed through the Great Sage’s mind.
— You don't need to regret the vaccine patent, Master.
If that really wasn't an empty statement….
‘Should I stop Julian now?’
A medicine that made even quinine, vaccines, and even insulin look ordinary. The Great Sage felt curious about the medicine, but at the same time, he felt fear.
‘…I must have grown old and developed delusions.’
There was no way it could be to that extent. The Great Sage shook his head and brushed off his anxiety. “Haha. My disciple has a tendency to exaggerate.”
[Well. You will know when you see it later.]
“Then, by any chance, would this master be allowed to join in researching that medicine?”
[Hmm… I’m sorry, but I already finished the research when I was making quinine as a child. I was just thinking about when to release it to the market.]
“….”
Hmm. The Great Sage stopped thinking there. Instead, he pressed his throbbing temples with two fingers. It seemed he needed the tea with the potion diluent much more than before. ‘That Baron Nihilit is also quite something. Why did he have to provoke the child? If he had just left him alone, it would have been resolved well on its own.’
Julian’s engagement problem was not something to worry about in the first place, as far as Louis was concerned. If he had just left it alone, a good match would have rolled in on its own. ‘Ugh…. If his reputation grows even more in a mediocre way, it will be too dangerous.’
Earning a lot of money itself was not a bad thing. It was actually a good thing. The problem was what came next. If the medicine becomes a hit, his reputation grows. If his reputation grows, more eyes will be drawn to him. With dark mages and greedy nobles already searching for Director Shun’s identity, this could be like pouring a barrel of oil onto a fire. He wasn't even sure if he himself could handle all of that. The result of that worry manifested in the form of a headache.
‘Tsk. Still, as a master, I can't block my disciple’s path.’
What could he do? He had no choice but to work harder to create a shadow for his disciple. Louis sighed deeply and leaned toward the crystal ball.
“Julian.”
[Yes, Master.]
“Let’s stop talking about medicine for now. There is something more important.”
[Yes. I understand, Master.]
“Before you follow your father to work, there is something you need to review.”
[Please tell me.]
“It is the back-tracing of dark magic and Dispel. Your level is already beyond the point where I dare to tell you what to do, but just in case, wouldn't it be good to review it once more?”
[That is certainly true. Thank you, Master. I will train until it becomes second nature.]
Louis chuckled. Usually, disciples who reached this level would hear such worries and let them go in one ear and out the other, saying that worrying was a waste of time. They had become arrogant because the world treated mages so well. But a mage is not invincible. If an assassin wearing aura launches a preemptive strike, one could have their throat pierced before even preparing a catalyst. It was also common to lose one’s life in vain to a curse or magic that flew in without one knowing. He had lost so many disciples that way that he couldn't even count them on his fingers.
However, Julian never lost his humility despite reaching this level. ‘He is a child who will become great, truly.’
“Since the variables to consider for back-tracing and Dispel are only within your own body, you should be able to do it sufficiently if the conditions are met. However, since it will be difficult for you to obtain the catalysts, I will send them by parcel. Wear protective magical tools just in case.”
[Thank you so much, Master.]
“Yes. And Julian.” Louis chose his words for a moment and added briefly, “Do not overdo it while following your father’s work. A beast driven into a corner sees nothing. There are always people who would rather take you with them as a companion than lose everything, so be careful and be careful again.”
[I will keep that in mind.]
Louis withdrew his hand from the crystal ball. The light of the sphere slowly faded, and the study became quiet again. The Great Sage leaned back against the chair and looked up at the ceiling. After staring at the grid pattern on the ceiling for a while, the Great Sage muttered to himself.
“…It might actually be a good opportunity.”
He lifted his body from the backrest, picked up a pen, and began to write a letter.
— My child. There is someone you should meet.
After writing that short sentence, the Great Sage whistled. Tweet. The Great Sage tied the note to the back of the silk weasel that appeared at the window. “You know where to go, right?”
The silk weasel nodded and disappeared beyond the window.