Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Inexplicable Man (2)
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Grk.
It was the sound of a throat-clearing cough breaking the silence.
From that moment, the atmosphere in the space focused on Rishir and Gadum grew chaotic.
"Today's cuisine is quite excellent."
"Is it only good today? There's no one in Bondalles as knowledgeable about fine dining as Sir Gadum—"
"I heard the head chef originally worked in that grand noble house's estate—"
"By the way, how's that business you mentioned before going?"
"Don't even get me started. Thanks to Sir Gadum backing me—"
His 'friends' were trying to lighten the mood out of consideration for Gadum, whose composure had crumbled.
It was a beautiful scene of friendship, but Gadum wasn't the type to purely rejoice in such a situation.
"So..."
"What I'm trying to say is..."
If their behavior were expressed onomatopoeically, it might be something like 'reading the room...'?
The seasoned Gadum could tell.
They were pretending otherwise, but their attention was still fixed on him and Rishir.
How would Gadum, who had tried to damage Ran's face only to get burned instead, respond?
That was their sole interest at the moment.
'Damn it all—'
Gadum gazed at the Moda in his hand with trembling eyes.
Sniff sniff. His nose twitched faintly, chasing the lingering aroma of Moda in the air.
A distinctive tartness that pricked the nose tip like a needle.
'It's spoiled... right?'
Confirming that fact repeatedly, Gadum looked at the young upstart before him with a pallid expression.
"Don't hold back. Let me pour you a glass."
He had downed half a bottle of what was definitely spoiled Moda like it was water, and now he was smiling refreshingly.
Instead of writhing from the wine's toxicity.
'How?'
At that moment, Gadum read the discomfort hidden behind Rishir's smile.
'Why make only me drink? Did I do something wrong? Was claiming to be Miss Ran's black knight the issue?'
Those thoughts were plainly visible on his face.
He hoped that expression would convey to Gadum—
—It's uncomfortable, but tolerable.
Gadum was horrified.
'To endure Moda's poison... what kind of monster is this guy...!'
Was it his imagination that Rishir's youthful, unassuming face suddenly felt like a mask?
"On such a fine day, with such fine wine, I can't enjoy it alone. Right?"
No. It wasn't his imagination.
The guy was pressuring him by quoting his own earlier words.
That gesture demanding the Moda!
Gadum reflexively pulled the Moda behind his back.
'Oh no!'
He had even forgotten the enemies and 'friends' around him watching his every move.
"Yes! Exactly! On a day like this, with wine like this, I can't let you drink alone!"
In a hurry to recover, Gadum thrust the Moda toward him and picked up a glass.
There was no choice now but to accept his challenge.
Steeling himself, Gadum downed the Moda in his glass.
Even spoiled, the top-grade liquor Moda retained its unique flavor and elegance.
'That's why he could handle it. Yeah. I can manage this much too.'
Gadum's forcibly composed expression relaxed more naturally.
Just as the Moda reached his stomach.
"...!"
Reflux.
Gadum felt his stomach reject the Moda, sending it back up his throat.
"Hoo..."
Writhing from the twisting sensation inside, he barely managed to keep the Moda down.
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand while grimacing, he clearly saw it.
"..."
Rishir's face twisting as he watched him.
Was it that surprising that he'd downed the Moda?
'Yeah. He must have... no, definitely used some cowardly trick.'
Just as Gadum, newfound confidence surging, prepared to press Rishir—
"Sorry. I feel like I forced it on you."
"...What?"
"I didn't know Sir Gadum had such an aversion to drinking."
"...!"
Gadum realized the implication just in the nick of time.
'What, puking after one glass? Then why hype up the mood? He's making me look like the bad guy forcing drinks.'
'By the way, this aroma is a bit odd. Is this normal for this wine?'
It was mockery.
The guy knew the retching proved he'd overcome Moda's poison.
Yet he was trying to paint him as a pathetic lightweight who gagged after one sip.
"Urk...!"
Wounded by Rishir's merciless psychological attack(?), Gadum could endure no longer. He slammed his seat back and stormed out of the hall.
What about you?
Now they turned to observe Rishir's state.
"Does this mean I have to drink it all?"
Rishir sipped the Moda casually.
"..."
"..."
"..."
What the hell is that guy?
Fear flickered across some nobles' faces.
A short while later.
Gadum, returning to the hall, had to struggle to compose his expression.
"No doubt a servant mismanaged the Moda."
"With Sir Gadum so busy, things like this happen."
"Who knows. Maybe Sir Gadum truly meant to treat Sir Ran sincerely."
He sensed the nobles' characteristic 'passing the buck' in his 'friends'' exchanges.
Nobles were as sensitive to face as they were to power.
Gadum's recent disgrace would have diminished his standing among them.
'How did this banquet turn into...'
No more risks.
This moment had to be the turning point.
'No choice but to bring that up.'
Gadum sat back down and casually addressed Ran and Rishir as if nothing had happened.
"A bit of a commotion earlier. How's the food treating you?"
Ran and Rishir responded guardedly but appropriately.
Trivial questions and answers followed.
As their vigilance softened amid the light conversation—
"Ah, by the way. Rishir. One thing I'm curious about— mind if I ask?"
"Go ahead."
"Then I shall. Kadogan and Lagan. What did you do to them?"
Grk!
Coughs erupted here and there in the banquet hall during the meal.
Gadum's question was that sudden and blatant.
"Ah, if it's too abrupt, forgive me. No need to answer if it's troublesome."
Moreover, Gadum delivered it with utter composure.
Who could maintain calm under such an assault from him?
Not even Councilor Ran or the city's influential nobles present.
Now that daunting task fell to a young mage barely of age.
Could he handle it adeptly?
Not fumbling his words would be impressive enough.
And sure enough—
Rishir's mouth didn't open right away.
That much was as everyone expected.
But what followed—
"?"
Rishir.
He stared blankly at Gadum.
What're you talking about?
It was a dumbfounded reaction, as if those bewildered words echoed aloud.
That utterly nonchalant response instead made the questioner look foolish.
"No..."
Gadum, who had smoothly led conversations, found his words falter emptily.
Fooling Gadum, who had tamed countless power players in Bondalles, was nearly impossible.
No matter how skilled the acting or deception, he always found and exploited the gap.
But now, Rishir showed not the slightest opening.
'Kadogan? Lagan? Who the hell are they?'
Rishir had never visited [Liquor in the Left Hand] himself or met its barbarian owners, so it was only natural.
Unimaginable for them.
"Isn't that a bit irresponsible? Twisting my goodwill like that!"
"Sorry. I'd love to help with a sincere answer, but I truly know nothing—"
"No... damn it!"
Gadum writhed in frustration.
No.
This is the guy, right?
The one who robbed Kadogan and Lagan—definitely him?
How can he be so brazen?
The nobles watching the two looked entranced.
Gadum, toyed with unilaterally by that young noble.
'Rishir, what the hell...'
'Where'd a guy like that...'
'Why ask him about Kadogan and Lagan? No way, the one who wrecked [Liquor in the Left Hand] is... him! Not Ran, but that—'
Gadum and Rishir.
The 'friends'' gazes converged on the pair.
In that instant.
Gadum and Ran could clearly sense it.
Their 'friends'' hearts drifting away from Gadum.
And some of those drifting hearts turning toward 'Rishir'.
"He's quite the unique one, isn't he?"
"Pardon?"
Ran seized the opening.
She addressed a city noble staring vacantly at Rishir beside her.
"I'm talking about Rishir."
"Ah... y-yeah?"
As Ran turned her gaze, another city noble jumped in eagerly.
"Councilor Ran. I heard that Rishir is an honorary mage of the Magic Tower. How did you meet him?"
"Well, you see—"
The momentum spread like wildfire.
"He expelled cultists? Really!?"
"Without guard help, no less..."
"By the way, Sir Ran— that orphanage you're sponsoring. I was just thinking—"
Gadum's 'close friends' watched awkwardly,
While his 'awkward friends' showed keen interest in Ran.
"..."
Gadum could only watch the hall divide into two.
"Oh..."
Rishir, observing it all, let out an exclamation.
Poaching Gadum's people from his own territory.
Impressive.
Rishir looked at Ran in admiration.
"..."
Shaking Gadum's allies' loyalties in his domain like this.
Impressive.
Ran gazed at Rishir in admiration too.
"Hee hee..."
"Hee hee..."
Their sense of solid camaraderie grew as they freely interpreted each other's expressions.
The banquet stretched later than planned.
Thanks to Ran and her new friends' lengthy chats.
Gadum wanted nothing more than to forcibly end it, but how could he?
It was his banquet, his invited guests.
Stopping it mid-enjoyment would just come off as sulking: 'Why play with them instead of me?'
His face was already shredded by the Moda reflux show, but he still had some dignity to preserve.
In the end, Gadum resorted to a loophole.
"It's late today, so let's continue tomorrow."
He declared an extension to the banquet.
The guests moved to the rooms he provided.
"..."
Left alone in the hall, lost in thought, was Gadum.
"Sir Gadum."
An armed man approached and spoke to him.
A guard—acting on Gadum's behalf.
"We found Damal."
"..."
Damal. He managed one of Gadum's businesses.
Not as big as [Liquor in the Left Hand], but sizable. Amid the chaos from that incident, he'd tried fleeing with the business's slave assets.
"What should we do?"
"...Any accomplices who helped him escape?"
"Yes. Damal promised compensation to their families."
"Track them down and drag them here."
"Pardon?"
"Make an example."
"..."
Example.
The man nodded, hand on his sword hilt.
Gadum's orders didn't end there.
"And fetch Dogal right now."
He summoned the guards to the mansion.
Arriving in his assigned room, Rishir sat on the bed and focused his mind.
He planned sword training in his inner world before resting.
"Mastew!"
"Hm?"
Verbandes's voice came then.
He looked down at the sand girl gazing up from before the bed.
"Oh, Verbandes. What's up?"
"Nuffin!"
"?"
"Mastew..."
The sand spirit girl's body trembled.
It was a tricky task requiring full concentration.
"...whewe!"
Yet her stubborn tongue refused to cooperate.
But the plucky girl proudly showed off her pronunciation anyway.
"Got it!?"
"Sigh, yeah, sure."
"As expected of Mastew!"
Verbandes clambered onto the bed wriggling.
Meeting Rishir's eyes, she said,
"Mastew! Busy now!?"
"About to be."
"Mastew's a busybee!?"
"Sorrybee."
"Then, can I go out a bit!?"
"Go out? Where?"
"Smell good food!"
"..."
After the banquet leftovers, maybe?
'Eh, should be fine. Leftover food anyway.'
After some thought, Rishir nodded.
"No causing a ruckus. Go and come quietly. Got it?"
"Yup!"
Nod nod!
Verbandes shook her little head vigorously.
Turning to sandstorm, she slipped out through the closed window's gap.
Rishir closed his eyes, preparing to enter his inner world again.
"Hm?"
As if remembering something, he opened his eyes and muttered,
"Do spirits get hungry too?"