Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: An Orchestrated Scene
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As the second son of the family that ruled the city, Julius left the mansion with Reina to inspect the festival.
The festival was no different from what he remembered from his modern life.
The sound of children laughing filled the air. Residents shared drinks, celebrating the joy of the harvest.
The clamor of merchants from all over haggling filled the streets, which were lined with goods that didn't exist in the modern world.
It lacked the splendor he had seen in his past life, but its unique liveliness and clamor were on par with the modern era he had lived in.
A joyous and festive atmosphere.
His steps grew lighter as he strolled through the city streets, bustling with the festival.
“Young Master, perhaps we should return now? The wind is getting cold.”
“It’s gotten this late already.”
The festival was proceeding without any issues.
Perhaps because more soldiers were on patrol than usual, any drunken brawls that broke out were rarely allowed to escalate.
“I suppose we should.”
Julius gazed at the streets, a mixture of remnants from various civilizations, and nodded at Reina’s words.
As he was heading back to the mansion, a small figure came running toward him.
*Thud—*
When Julius looked down, a child of about ten years old lay fallen before him. He instinctively used his Rainbow Mystic Eyes.
‘Indigo.’
*Tsk, useless.*
Regardless of his inner thoughts, Julius put on a kind facade and extended a hand.
“Are you alright? You need to be more careful. If you run around just because it’s a festival…”
“You, you villain!”
*Flinch—*
For a moment, the smile on his face nearly shattered. *What?* The child’s voice was a bit loud, and he could feel the gazes of nearby passersby gathering on them.
“My dad! Because of you! He died because of you!”
The child shouted.
—Is that the second young master? I heard he’d changed…
—Nah… Do people change overnight? He was probably just holding back. The old him is back.
—Isn't he a fake? There’s a limit to how much you can bluff.
—What did you say, you punk?
Julius felt a surge of irritation at the murmurs from the crowd.
‘What is it this time? Hah.’
He sighed internally. This kind of situation was familiar. He had been through it several times before.
No matter how much he proclaimed that he had changed, there would always be those who refused to believe him. That was why Julius wasn't flustered.
Instead, he offered the kind smile he had practiced and replied.
“What have I done for you to call me a villain?”
*I can resolve this like I always do.*
“Could you tell me what happened? If what you say is true, I will apologize personally. Even if you are mistaken, I will not punish you.”
As he looked down at the child with a slightly solemn expression, he could feel the onlookers’ gazes beginning to shift.
—See, what did I tell you? Any other noble would have had him executed.
—Wasn't he a scoundrel? He’s quite different from the rumors…
When Julius knelt on one knee to meet the child’s eyes, the atmosphere began to turn.
The child, seemingly surprised by his action, looked flustered for a moment before gritting his teeth and shouting even louder.
As if it were the only thing he knew how to do.
“My dad! My dad died! Because of you!”
“I will verify it myself. I will have my soldiers investigate thoroughly…”
If it was something the original owner of this body had done, he could simply offer compensation. If it was a lie, he could show his magnanimity by forgiving the child.
‘Come to think of it, this isn't so bad.’
As he was thinking this and continuing to speak, several more people in shabby clothes ran out and surrounded him.
“My daughter died because of you, my lord… *sob*, but why, why…”
“You scoundrel! My son’s arm was mangled because of you!”
“My mother died because of you, Young Master! If it weren't for you, if only it weren't for you…!”
Julius could feel himself growing confused by the rapidly escalating situation.
“Wait, what is all this…”
Where did all these people come from?
He glanced at Reina, but she just shook her head as if to say she didn't know either. He suppressed his rising irritation and annoyance and opened his mouth.
“If this is truly my fault, I offer my sincerest apologies…”
“Young Master!”
But before Julius could finish, soldiers appeared.
‘Have they no tact?’
Julius was displeased that he had been interrupted several times, but he couldn't show it.
With the festival going on, at least twice the usual number of people were watching.
He was just beginning to shed his reputation as a scoundrel.
If he had his way, he would have crushed them with his authority.
But with twice as many residents watching as usual, the situation was not favorable for acting as he pleased.
“Young Master, are you alright?”
The soldiers seemed to have rushed over immediately upon hearing of the commotion.
“You people! How dare you lie before the Young Master! You will not be forgiven!”
A soldier raised his voice, glancing at Julius.
They threatened to drag the accusers away, hoping to get into the good graces of the man whose reputation had recently been on the rise.
Before Julius could speak up about their actions, which were taken without his consent, others intervened.
“Stop right there!”
Their attire was mismatched, their equipment a chaotic mess.
With their fierce appearances, they were clearly mercenaries.
“Wait…!”
They shouted loudly, as if determined not to let Julius get a word in.
“Who do you think you are, bullying the weak!”
It was as if they wanted everyone else to hear.
“Living up to your name as a scoundrel, I see!”
As they shouted and burst onto the scene, the residents who had been threatened by the soldiers hid behind the mercenaries as if on cue.
“I just couldn’t stand by and watch. From now on, the Rebec Mercenary Corps will protect them!”
The soldiers reacted too slowly to the mercenaries’ sudden appearance, and before they could move, the two groups were locked in a standoff.
“Hold on. Who do you think you are…”
Feeling displeased with how the situation was unfolding without his control, he was about to shout when a hand touched his shoulder.
“Young Master.”
“Reina.”
“…Please take a look around you.”
Following her words, he spread his senses and felt an even larger crowd gathering in this direction.
“Shit…”
*It’s too late to resolve this quietly with a heartwarming story.*
“For now, how about we quell the disturbance first?”
“…That would be best.”
Before turning to leave, Julius scanned them with his Mystic Eyes.
Indigo, indigo, violet, indigo, blue.
‘Trash that wouldn't even qualify as supporting characters.’
He resumed his stride.
“You son of a—”
“Scoundrel—”
“Let go of me—”
From behind, he could hear resentful cries directed at him and the triumphant shouts of the mercenaries.
‘This doesn’t seem like a coincidence…’
His eyes grew cold as he headed for the mansion.
* * *
“Haha, please, go on ahead, Lord Allen. Thank you so much.”
“No, I’m the one who was able to get information, thanks to you, Head Merchant.”
The head of the merchant group Allen had saved bowed deeply. Beside him, the mercenaries only glanced over, none of them daring to speak to him.
It was only natural.
He was the legitimate son of the family that ruled this land. The fact that he was in the same place as them did not diminish his status.
“By the way, my lord, is there anything else you might need? If you just say the word, I…”
“No, that’s alright.”
Allen shook his head. But the head merchant, unwilling to let this opportunity slip by, pressed on.
“Please, don’t say that, my lord…”
“I don’t need anything else.”
“Perhaps this Rineve gemstone…”
In his haste, the merchant bit his lip and grabbed the shoulder of Allen, who was walking ahead.
“Enough.”
When Allen brushed his hand away with a cold gaze, the head merchant finally realized he had crossed a line.
He hadn't had enough money to hire high-ranking mercenaries and had nearly been wiped out by bandits.
The thought that he might be able to establish a connection with a noble had blinded him.
He immediately bowed low.
“I-I apologize, my lord. I was very rude. Please, I beg you to forgive me just this once.”
Allen paused for a moment before answering. The merchant’s expression darkened.
“……”
Only when the merchant’s face had grown even grimmer did Allen finally speak.
“Head Merchant Karic.”
“Yes, please speak, my lord.”
“It’s natural for a merchant to try and seize his opportunities. But don’t you think your greed is a bit excessive?”
Allen had saved them from the bandits, and they had given Allen clothes and information. Their transaction was as good as finished there.
“Yes, yes.”
Whatever the merchant was thinking, his expression clouded over as if he were burning up inside.
Only after seeing the merchant’s expression did Allen dangle a suitable carrot in front of him.
“Still, you did receive a small bit of help from me…”
An image of a red-covered book flashed in Allen’s mind.
‘It wouldn’t be a bad idea to establish a connection with a merchant group while I’m at it.’
There was someone he needed to find among the merchants. The group from which he had obtained the demonic book before his regression.
He couldn't be sure if they still possessed the book now, but…
‘I’ll have to check.’
The merchant group was small, but it would be sufficient for creating a natural point of contact.
Allen replied calmly.
“I’ll give you a letter of recommendation. With this, you should be able to pass through the territory’s checkpoints a bit more easily.”
“Pardon?”
The head merchant looked up with a surprised face. But Allen paid no mind to his reaction.
As if bestowing a great favor, as if forgiving his transgression.
“I won’t write my name on it, but just having a letter with the family seal will make it easier for you to do business in this territory from now on.”
Elves and dwarves could usually receive letters of recommendation without much restriction. Humans, however, could not obtain one unless they were directly vetted by a noble of the territory.
The head merchant’s face, which had been in the depths of despair, brightened instantly, and he bowed so low it almost touched the ground.
For him, who ran a group so small that the head merchant himself had to go on trade runs, this letter was an opportunity to greatly expand his reach.
“Thank you, my lord!”
“However…”
When Allen trailed off, Karic bowed his head as if to listen intently.
“I would like you to get acquainted with a certain merchant group for me.”
“A group of your choosing, my lord…?”
“What, do you have a problem with that?”
Like a true merchant, Karic instinctively calculated the pros and cons.
With a letter of recommendation, doing business in the county would become much easier. And if the price for that was simply granting the young lord a small favor…
‘It’s worth it. No, I must seize this opportunity.’
While coming to this conclusion, Karic still left a little room, just in case.
“N-No, not at all. It’s just, I wonder how much time it will take…”
As if unconcerned by his weighing of options, Allen gave a small smile and replied.
“If you succeed in arranging a meeting within a month, you will have few troubles in this county from now on.”
In short, he was offering to become his backer.
It was a verbal promise with nothing in writing, but Karic believed him. Even if he didn't, he could still earn Allen's favor, so it was a gain for him either way.
“I will, without fail, arrange the meeting within a month.”
“I’m counting on you.”
Allen turned away.
He recalled the rumor he had heard on his way back to El Round from the merchant.
‘Julius is dueling a mercenary corps, is he?’
“Thank you!”
Allen gave a small wave in response and started walking toward the mansion.
Once he was some distance away, a voice that only he could hear echoed in his head.
“Why did you do that just now? That hand at the end, you could have dodged it, right?”
Allen gave a small laugh at her question and replied.
“I can give out letters of recommendation anytime. But if I had agreed right away, how do you think he would have reacted?”
“Hmm, he probably would have just accepted the favor as something he was due, right?”
Correct. He had seemed desperate to establish a connection.
“Yes. He would have considered it payment for giving me clothes and information. But what about just now?”
“He was overjoyed, and… ah.”
Vestla, seeming to understand, trembled her blade slightly and replied in a fed-up tone.
“Aren’t you a little too devious?”
It wasn't difficult for a noble to bestow a small favor.
However, depending on how the other person received it, it could produce various effects.
What if he had just given him the letter?
He would have felt a moment of joy, but that emotion would have gradually faded over time.
But by waiting for him to make a mistake, Allen was able to gain a psychological advantage over him afterward.
It would remain more strongly, and for longer, in his memory.
On top of that, he was able to get a few things done with just a verbal promise, so it was a worthwhile action to take.
“No, it’s a fundamental of gaining the upper hand in a relationship. The art of handling people. When governing others, you must be able to grasp every single action and every one of their reactions.”
That is what a noble is taught, what a noble is forced to live by.
The lighter a noble’s favor seems, the greater the price.
“You live a very hard life.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Is it?”
As they were chatting, Allen stopped in his tracks. He tapped the hilt of his sword twice, and she fell silent.
It was a signal they had created.
It was to prevent their conversations from getting mixed up when he was talking to someone else.
“Young Master!”
“Lord Allen!”
He looked up and saw Inellia and Linbelle running toward him. He had sent someone ahead from the checkpoint, so it seemed word had already spread.
They must have completed their training well during his absence, as their posture remained steady even as they ran.
Though he couldn't know what they were feeling inside.
He began to walk.
“I’m glad to see you’ve been well.”
It was time to get busy again.