Chapter 355: The Ball (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 355: The Ball (4)
A few days later.
It was after Alon had received one of the interpreted 2nd Tier magic formulas from Heinkel.
In the end, Alon decided to devote about a day to recruiting new mages.
Of course, he already had enough mages, but—
“……Please—please pick me!”
“I have an elderly mother to support!”
“My rabbit, who is like family, and my hamster, who is like a daughter, are starving!”
—It was because it didn't seem like the mages were going to get out of his way easily.
……Though, before that.
He wasn't sure why applicants for a basic calculation magic position were appealing to him by mentioning elderly mothers or various pets.
Regardless, Alon decided on the additional recruitment and relayed the fact to Penia.
“New mages?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm—how many?”
“How many do you think would be good to hire?”
“Well—”
As Alon watched Penia ponder, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
“By the way, Penia.”
“Yes?”
“Come to think of it, isn't it better to have more people for basic calculations?”
“It is, right?”
“Then can't we just take all the mages who want to do it and give them work?”
Alon’s question was valid. Any mage could perform basic calculations.
However, Penia replied with a peculiar expression.
“Simply put, that’s true—but in practice, it’s not quite like that.”
“It’s not?”
“No. As you know, even with simple calculations, there are individual differences between mages, right?”
“True.”
“But what we’re using to interpret the magic now involves not just simple calculations, but linked calculations between the mages.”
“Linked calculations?”
“Yes. Unlike the 1st Tier, the 2nd Tier requires an absurdly large amount of simple calculations. So, even for a single operation, the mages have to work in a linked chain.”
Penia shrugged, searching for an easier way to explain.
“To put it simply, in the current setup, if even one person calculates below a certain speed, the entire calculation speed slows down drastically.”
This was because it took ten people working together to produce a single unit of calculation.
“In other words, even if nine people finish within ten seconds, if one person takes fifteen seconds, the final result takes fifteen seconds.”
“Exactly. In that sense, the talents we’ve picked so far are the elite, in their own way.”
Alon nodded.
“Then have we already filtered through everyone?”
“Well, there are some latecomers, so we might be able to pick a few more if we look. Though it’ll be hard to find many.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Ah—am I doing this alone?”
“……I don’t mind doing it with you.”
At that, Penia thought for a moment.
“!”
As if she had just remembered something, a slightly sly smile spread across her face.
“No, it’s fine. Honestly, I can handle it well enough on my own. You’re busy, aren't you, Marquis?”
“Well—I can spare a day.”
“No, no. You have to go to the ball, so you should start getting ready.”
“…….”
Alon stared intently at Penia.
She looked back at him with a smile, then—
“Wh-why are you looking at me like that?”
She subtly averted her gaze.
“It’s obvious she’s looking to pull a fast one for a payday, Marquis.”
“Shut up, will you?”
Evan, who had been standing quietly by the side, chimed in. Penia scowled deeply.
“……I feel like all I’ve been hearing lately is ‘shut up.’”
“I wouldn't do something like that for a task this important. Aren't you just slandering me?”
“For someone saying that, you seemed to be raking it in just fine a few days ago.”
“As I told you, I didn't say a word; they brought those things themselves! And since the interpretation is so important, I have no intention of picking just any riffraff!”
Penia countered every one of Evan’s grumbled points without missing a beat.
Alon nodded, humming in thought.
He knew well enough that even if Penia was somewhat…… no, quite worldly.
She was the type to carry out her duties faithfully.
Therefore.
“I’m not worried about that part.”
Alon spoke up in her defense.
“Marquis—!”
Penia’s eyes sparkled as if she were moved.
“Ahem—well, certainly. I also know she can distinguish between what she should and shouldn't do. Though it doesn't look like she’d refuse any gifts that come her way.”
Evan also backed down, looking a bit sheepish.
To that, Alon looked at Penia, about to say, There’s no way she’d do that.
“…….”
He saw Penia awkwardly avoiding his gaze.
……Penia?
* * *
Leaving the strange encounter with Penia behind.
It had been a few days since Alon began heading toward Teria, where the ball was being held.
“I won!”
“No way! This is invalid, invalid! You just moved your pawn to a spot it can’t go!”
“My pawn moves three spaces at a time!”
“What kind of nonsense is that?! Ria! Look at this! Pawns can’t do that, right?”
“……Huh?”
“Were you dozing off?! You said you’d be the referee!”
The carriage was noisy with the banter of Seolrang and Ryanga, who were engrossed in a game of chess—one of the board games brought from the Magic Tower. Historia, who was acting as the referee for some unknown reason, was also part of the commotion.
“Ahem—the ball is roughly like this.”
“……So, I should just think of it as a partner ball that lasts for about five days.”
“Correct. They say it will be exceptionally luxurious this time, so there will be plenty of things to eat.”
“I see.”
Alon suddenly recalled the egg tarts he had eaten at the last ball.
They were definitely delicious.
They had been sweeter than the ones he usually ate in his territory.
After a brief moment of reminiscing about the taste.
“So, Marquis.”
“What is it?”
“How long do you plan on staying this time?”
“……Well, since it’s been a while, I plan to stay for the duration of the event.”
“So you intend to show your face for as long as possible so you don't have to go out again for several years.”
Alon didn't bother to answer Evan’s remark.
It was the truth.
Places like that are still quite uncomfortable for me.
In fact, for nobles, balls held a very significant meaning. In a world without things like social media, balls or specific gatherings served as vital arenas for communication.
However, Alon’s innate temperament made him prefer staying in his room playing games over standing in front of others.
The ball was not particularly enjoyable for him.
“Whew—”
When Alon let out a quiet sigh, Evan asked curiously.
“I know you don't particularly like places where people gather, but may I ask why?”
“If I had to give a reason, I suppose I just don't want to have to care.”
“Care?”
“Whether they’re nobles or whatever, don't I have to be mindful of them?”
“Well, certainly, one must observe basic etiquette. But Marquis, aren't you in a position where you don't really need to worry about others beyond that?”
“Why is that?”
“I mean, your reputation is what it is. And even if you aren't active publicly, you are the head of Kalpa, after all.”
In the first place, it’s not you who should be mindful of others; it’s others who will be mindful of you.
As Alon slowly nodded at Evan’s words, Evan watched him closely.
“Marquis, I’ve been thinking this for a while, but don't you have too little awareness of your own position?”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, that’s how it looks to me. It’s as if you’re ‘purposely’ ignoring it.”
“……To that extent?”
“Yes.”
Alon pondered for a moment.
Naturally, he had never purposely tried not to be aware of his position. There was no reason to do so.
And above all.
It wasn't that Alon lacked a desire for power. Since he was human, he certainly possessed a degree of ambition.
He surely did, and yet.
“Ah—I think I get it. My mentor does have a bit of a—non-noble feel to him.”
Seolrang, who had been stacking pawns into a tower until a moment ago, reacted to Evan’s words.
“Agreed.”
“……The Boss definitely doesn't give off the vibe of a high-ranking person. It doesn't feel like he’s conscious of it, either.”
Ryanga and Historia chimed in with their opinions as if they had been waiting.
Alon continued his thoughts with a puzzled expression for a while.
Of course, even during all this, the carriage steadily made its way toward Teria.
* * *
Since there was no need to rush, Alon’s group moved leisurely from village to village.
Alon arrived in Teria on the day of the ball.
“Master.”
“Yutia.”
In front of the royal castle, Yutia stood waiting, dressed in her usual black mourning clothes.
“Have you been well? Nothing happened on the way?”
“Nothing much. More importantly, is your work finished?”
“Yes, thanks to your consideration, Master.”
Yutia smiled purely, then turned her gaze to Seolrang, Ryanga, and Historia standing behind Alon.
“Thank you all as well. For escorting Master safely.”
A light greeting filled with gratitude.
At this provocation from the "winner"—disguised as a greeting—the expressions of the three, who had been bickering until they arrived, hardened in unison.
“Shall we go then, Master?”
“Sure.”
Yutia turned her back on them and walked confidently toward the ball with Alon.
As soon as the two entered the ballroom.
“Greetings, Marquis Palatio—I am—”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Marquis!”
“Oh my, it has been quite a long time. Marquis, I am a noble from the East—”
……They were met with a truly massive crowd.
It was a crowd so large that it was safe to say practically everyone attending had gathered around the Marquis of Palatio.
Naturally, he couldn't ignore them.
Alon calmly greeted each person, one by one, even those standing far off in the distance.
It wasn't actually that difficult. In fact, in a way, it was even slightly helpful.
From the perspective of Alon, who hadn't participated in proper social communication for several years.
He was actually grateful that they came to greet him like this.
When they approached first, they would state their names.
He didn't want to be embarrassed by not remembering the name of someone who acted like they knew him, nor did he want to make enemies unnecessarily.
Anyway, receiving the greetings of the nobles wasn't so bad.
……Yes, that part wasn't so bad.
The problem was.
“Hahaha, Marquis—if you have any troubles you can’t speak of, please be sure to tell me. I will definitely be of help.”
“Ah, yes—”
“Marquis, if you ever desire a confidential conversation that is difficult to discuss with others, I would be grateful if you contacted me here.”
“……? Yes, well—”
“Marquis. If you need help with that sort of thing—no, if you just need someone to talk to, please let me know separately. Oh, and I am unconditionally on your side!”
It was the nobles themselves.
“……??”
Looking at the nobles, who all had secretive expressions as if asking, “Wanna be secret friends with mister?” Alon realized instinctively.
……He didn't know what it was.
But he knew that something had happened again.