Chapter 96: I Am Sorry, Father (2)
Chapter 96: I Am Sorry, Father (2)
The Flame Kingdom.
The Yuzef Kingdom.
The Decatur Kingdom.
The Atronia Kingdom.
These four nations faced the Great Forest of the East and were classified as the weaker powers of the continent. Because they exhausted their national strength fending off the monsters overflowing from the undeveloped wilderness of the Great Forest, development was difficult.
However, because these four nations acted as a breakwater against the Great Forest, other countries on the continent were able to develop in relative safety.
The Atronia Kingdom, to which Patrick belonged, was no different. Its national productivity was poor, making food self-sufficiency impossible. Consequently, it was a country that could only sustain itself by importing food and necessary supplies from abroad at high prices.
In other words, commerce was nothing less than the lifeblood of this nation.
In the Atronia Kingdom, the merchant group boasting the largest scale of trade was the Elvador Merchant Group. And the man who had raised Elvador to its current position was the current leader, Aaron.
Even in his father’s generation, the Elvador Merchant Group had been quite large, but it wasn't at a level where it could be called the best in the kingdom. However, Aaron took the position of leader at a young age and spent forty years expanding his group far and wide, finally securing its place as the top merchant group in the kingdom.
It was no exaggeration to say that the current Elvador Merchant Group was his creation.
The greatest merchant in Atronia, in name and reality. That was Aaron.
Patrick had come today fully prepared for an important meeting with that man. All of Patrick’s recent actions had been preparations for this single moment.
Having steeled his resolve, Patrick stepped inside, only to be greeted by…
"Oppa!"
"Oh. Jaila. You were home."
It was a cute girl running toward them, her reddish-brown hair—a shade more vibrant than Matthew’s—fluttering behind her. The girl, who looked to be in her early teens, immediately threw herself into her brother’s arms.
She rubbed her head against his chest and said, "Hehe, it’s been a long time, Oppa."
"You’re a big girl now, stop acting like a baby…"
Matthew stroked his sister’s hair, gave her a light peck on the forehead, and set her down. Then, he introduced the friend he had brought along.
"This is Patrick Schneider, a classmate of mine from the Academy. Have you heard of him?"
At Matthew’s introduction, Jaila looked toward Patrick and covered her mouth with both hands. Then…
"No way."
"Huh?"
"Wow… Oppa, is this person the Patrick Schneider? The one rumored to be the Rising Star of the East?"
"Rising Star of the East?"
"It’s a name that’s been spreading through the capital recently. Didn't you know?"
"…How would I know?"
How could Matthew, who lived in the Academy dorms, have heard the rumors? Patrick, too, was unaware that such an epithet had been attached to him.
The Rising Star of the East, huh? At least in this life, I won't have to hear weird backtalk about being a 'Mad Dragon' or whatever.
Patrick knew. In his past life, people behind his back often swapped the characters for his title, turning 'Radiant Dragon' into 'Mad Dragon.' While it was a fitting alias, Patrick himself had felt it was deeply unfair.
However, it seemed that wouldn't happen in this life. Furthermore…
"This is crazy. Crazy. Totally crazy. He’s way cooler than the rumors! He’s so handsome!"
Watching the girl admire him with sparkling eyes, Patrick didn't feel too bad.
The kid has an eye for people.
From that moment, Patrick decided he would be very fond of this girl. Just as he reached out his hand, intending to kindly pat her head…
Jaila brushed past Patrick and spoke to April, who was standing behind him.
"You are so, so handsome! How can a person look like this? Are you even human? Are you an angel?"
"……."
Patrick froze, his hand still extended in mid-air. Matthew turned his head away, desperately trying to ignore Patrick. Judging by the way his body was trembling, he was struggling to hold back laughter.
Completely ignoring Patrick, Jaila showered April with infinite affection.
"Your swordsmanship is great, your face is handsome—kyaaah! With a face like that, your personality and brains must be amazing too. Right? Am I right?"
What on earth was the correlation between a face and one's personality or intelligence? Patrick couldn't understand the heart of a teenage girl, but one thing was certain: this girl had fallen head over heels for April.
"How can you live life with everything like that? What’s the secret? Do you have a girlfriend? You like cute younger girls, don't you? Right?"
She was being incredibly aggressive. April broke into a cold sweat, looking flustered and unsure of how to respond. Matthew, who had been suppressing his laughter, finally stepped in.
"Jaila."
"Ugh, what?"
"Can you look at your brother for a second?"
"Don't talk to me, you’re interrupting my view."
"……."
Now she was even casting aside the brother she hadn't seen in ages. What a terrifying child. Jaila stared with wide eyes, as if determined not to miss a single second of the divine beauty before her, searing it into her retinas.
It was actually a bit scary. Seeing his sister’s eyes turning bloodshot, Matthew said, "My friend Patrick Schneider is this way."
"Huh? This way… Oh? …There was a person here?"
"……."
Because of April’s excessive beauty, Patrick’s very existence had been blurred out. Like a candle left burning uselessly in broad daylight, Patrick was practically non-existent light to this girl.
Wow, this is the first time I’ve been ignored this hard.
In that moment, Patrick quietly added 'young girls who only care about looks' as the fifty-fifth item on his list of things he disliked. It was the first update to the list in quite a while.
Matthew cleared his throat and spoke to his sister. "Ahem, Father is inside, right?"
"Yes. He’s waiting for you."
"Right. Then I should go greet him first. Patrick, you’re coming too, right?"
"Of course."
The reason Patrick had come here was for this very meeting. The group headed up to the second floor. Matthew led the way, followed by Patrick, with April bringing up the rear…
"What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time? Have you ever thought about changing jobs? I’m looking for a tutor…"
"…I have no intention of changing jobs, Lady."
"Kyaaaah! He called me 'Lady'!"
"……."
Trying his best to ignore the girl’s squealing, Patrick and Matthew arrived at a room on the second floor. Matthew knocked on the door first.
Knock, knock.
"Father, it’s me."
"Come in."
After hearing the reply, they opened the door and entered. Inside, they saw a middle-aged man sitting at a desk, processing paperwork. His completely white hair and the wrinkles on his face were clear traces of the passing years.
I thought he’d be younger since he’s Matthew’s father, but was this guy a late-born child?
Indeed, just as Patrick suspected, Matthew was the son Aaron had fathered late in life. Having neglected his personal life to focus on growing the merchant group, Aaron had married after turning forty, and Matthew, his first child, was born several years after that.
Thus, now that Matthew had entered the Academy, Aaron, the leader of the Elvador Merchant Group, was over sixty years old.
"Wait a moment. I cannot take my eyes off these documents right now."
"Yes. I understand, Father."
Even though his son had arrived, Aaron showed a side of himself that prioritized the documents in front of him. Matthew waited, seemingly accustomed to his father’s behavior. However…
"Hey, Patrick?"
"Yeah? What?"
"I think we’ll have to wait a bit."
"We can just wait. What’s the problem?"
"…You actually know how to wait?"
"……."
How exactly has this guy been viewing me?
Patrick felt hurt. Though, to be fair, he had brought it on himself.
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long. Aaron was a capable man, and the pile of documents was quickly approved and cleared away. Ten minutes later.
"Whew…"
Aaron finished his paperwork and rose from his desk. Then…
"Oh, my beloved son. Welcome."
"A-Father. It’s been a long time."
"Yes. How much have you suffered at the Academy for your face to become so thin? Are you eating properly?"
"I am. I’m eating well."
"You look so gaunt…"
The capable merchant who had been reviewing and signing documents with cold eyes just moments ago was gone. In this moment, there was only a doting, foolish father.
Man, his mental switch is really something else.
Patrick evaluated Aaron as he watched him. Matthew pulled himself out of his father’s embrace and introduced his friend.
"This is Patrick Schneider, who is studying with me at the Academy."
"Yes. I heard through your letters. So this friend is that Patrick Schneider."
Patrick was now a celebrity. Aaron gazed intently at Patrick. The genius boy who had recently set White Town abuzz. He did not take lightly the fact that this boy had requested a meeting with him.
Unfazed by Aaron’s scrutinizing gaze, Patrick spoke.
"I am Patrick Schneider. Thank you for taking the time to see me today."
He was neither rude nor subservient. Matthew was slightly surprised by Patrick’s calm and practiced manner.
What’s this? He looks like a refined intellectual who actually learned manners.
Usually, Patrick didn't show such courtesy to his seniors at the Academy, let alone the professors. If someone tried to force him to greet them…
[Heeey there.]
He would give a crooked greeting with an attitude that seemed to embody all the delinquency and insolence in the world. Because of that, Matthew thought Patrick had some strange internal conviction like, 'I don't do manners.'
He should act like that normally. That damn guy…
Matthew wore a sour expression, but his father, Aaron, didn't see it. He was too busy appraising the young man before him.
Hmm, so this boy is that Patrick Schneider.
He looked at Patrick with an intrigued gaze and said, "So you are the man who achieved the greatest feat since the founding of the Academy."
"Yes, that is correct."
"Does it not bother you? That a mere merchant like myself is speaking informally to the Rising Star of the East?"
"Not at all. You are my friend’s father, after all."
"Hahaha. Is that so?"
Aaron laughed heartily. But even while laughing, his eyes never left Patrick’s face. To avoid missing even the slightest change, he continued to 'watch' Patrick.
Those who say pleasant things while thinking the opposite often show signs on their faces. Moreover, was his opponent not just a child who hadn't even had his coming-of-age ceremony? His insight, tempered by tens of thousands of negotiations, wouldn't miss a boy’s shift in expression.
"…Why?"
"Ahem, no. It’s nothing."
At least he doesn't seem like someone who says one thing and means another.
Aaron couldn't find any awkwardness in Patrick’s expression. He adjusted his posture and spoke to Patrick.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Aaron."
"I am Patrick Schneider."
"Right. Let’s have a seat first."
The group sat in the seats prepared in the reception room. Aaron then began to brew tea himself. Seeing this, Patrick asked with a hint of surprise, "You have servants, yet you brew the tea yourself?"
"Tea is one of my few hobbies. From choosing the tea set to selecting the leaves and brewing them, I do it all myself."
"So you’re a tea master?"
"A tea master? That’s a term I’ve never heard before."
"Well, there is such a thing."
Thinking back, his master in his past life had also been obsessed with the way of tea and used to brew it himself. He didn't use particularly expensive leaves, but the tea his master brewed was…
Wait, it wasn't anything special. It was just tea. Seriously, my master wasn't good at anything.
What a savage disciple.
Anyway, after a short wait, the tea brewed by the top merchant of the Atronia Kingdom was served.
"Here, try some."
"Thank you."
Patrick’s movements as he savored the tea were perfect. From lifting the cup to appreciate the aroma, taking a sip and holding it in his mouth before swallowing slowly, to quietly setting the cup down and exhaling—there wasn't a single flaw.
At that sight, Aaron spoke with a voice tinged with subtle admiration.
"You have been well-schooled in etiquette."
"It is merely enough to not be an embarrassment."
"Hahaha. You are even humble. I didn't know the Rising Star of the East, rumored to be a genius full of ambition, was such a polite young man."
"I am simply grateful that you see me in a good light."
Listening to the conversation between Patrick and Aaron, Matthew shook his head.
What is this? Why do I feel like I’m watching my family get scammed right before my eyes? And Patrick, this guy knows how to use such sophisticated etiquette? Why did a guy who thinks most of the world's problems can be solved by bashing them learn etiquette in the first place?