Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 168
>Chapter Title: The Lowest of the Low, Supreme Lackey
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It wasn't long before Lana, who had been staring at Aster with dazed eyes, finally spoke.
“I think I might have misunderstood you. Could you say that again?”
Her tone was soft, as if apologetic, but it subtly pointed out his rudeness while clearly conveying her own intent.
Aster couldn't help but think, 'Oh no,' at the sight—not because he realized his rudeness, of course.
'Did I go too far without any filter?'
Not too far; there was no filter at all.
He'd spat out informal speech right from the start, and then told her to go ahead and do whatever she'd been planning?
With that level of brazenness, she might not show what she'd prepared but instead tuck tail and run!
So, what to do?
'What else? Just keep going.'
The water was already spilled; in times like these, brazenness was best.
Well, in this case, it was less brazen and more shameless or utterly depraved, but the effect was outstanding.
And sure enough.
“Yes? Me? I didn't say anything.”
“What do you...”
“By the way, Lady Lana, was it? Sorry for the late greeting. I'm Aster. Nice to meet you.”
“......”
Lana was left speechless by his utter shamelessness.
Shamelessness had its limits; go too far, and it just left you dumbfounded.
In any case, having defused the situation like that, Aster eyed Lana expectantly.
'Now, let's see how you'll react.'
She held a glass of rich red drink in her hand. His shirt beneath the tailcoat was white, conveniently.
And though unintentional, his mindless informal speech had no doubt irked her, so she was probably seething inside.
He was confident, whatever her move.
Trip him, and he'd roll three times and spit blood. Brush his collar, and he'd fall dramatically to draw eyes before spitting blood.
In truth, every countermeasure boiled down to 'spit blood,' no matter her approach...
'Can't help but look forward to it.'
As he calmed his swelling anticipation.
That was when Lana finally spoke.
“Yes, nice to meet you too.”
Lana recovered her faltering smile and glanced at the drink in Aster's hand.
“But that drink...”
“Yes.”
Aster replied immediately, heart pounding.
“Are you going to drink it now?”
“No. I was planning to if I got thirsty...”
“Then, mind if I have it for a moment?”
“......?”
Puzzled but compliant, Aster handed over the glass.
On one hand, he thought:
'Is she gonna splash it?'
You know, that classic bit.
'How dare a wretch like you enter Blandoga and muddy the waters?!' The trope was old-school but satisfying.
Suddenly, thinking that far filled him with deep dismay.
Falling or whatever could pass as mana backlash from shock, internal injury.
'But getting splashed and spitting blood? That's a bit weird, isn't it?'
In the end, though, nothing like what Aster expected happened.
“Hey.”
“Yes.”
“Isn't that glass a bit precarious? Empty it a little and bring a fresh one.”
She passed the full glass to a servant, received one about two-thirds full, and handed it back.
“It looked too precarious. Was that too meddlesome?”
“Too meddlesome...”
Lana smiled at Aster's trailing words.
“Good, I was worried it was.”
No, it was totally meddlesome.
'What the hell is she doing?'
A full glass made the spill satisfying for both toppler and toppled. He'd specially requested it for that. And now she dumps it?
But why?
Lana's baffling behavior didn't stop there.
“By the way, how did you meet the Young Patriarch? I've heard rumors, but I'm curious.”
“The rumors aren't far off. Looking back, it was a real stroke of luck. Thanks to him, a Black-White Slums kid like me gets to enjoy this undeserved life.”
He tossed out some bait, thinking she might finally start.
“Undeserved? The Patriarch is merciful, but he's thorough on matters like this. Don't think that way.”
She comforted him instead, bolstering his confidence.
And not just that?
When he explained the tearful tale of No. 1's birth, she lit up over the dull story and said:
“Unlike what the Young Patriarch says, it wasn't all your idea, Aster? A token of friendship. That's cool.”
By now, it was getting ridiculous.
His origin story had no room for even the 'f' in 'friendship,' yet she packaged it like that?
Wait—Damian was going around saying he made it alone? File that away for later.
Anyway.
The conversation looped like this.
He'd throw bait to give her an opening, and instead of biting, she'd heap on praise and toss it back.
'What... the hell?'
Incomprehensible.
Some new form of bullying?
Finally, worn out, Aster had to speak up.
“Um...”
“Yes, Aster.”
“Mind if I ask something I'm curious about?”
“Of course.”
Aster swept back his fallen hair with a tired face and downed the drink in one gulp.
“So, what's the point? There must be one.”
Slamming liquid refreshed his dry mouth from talking. He looked at Lana.
“Point? Do you need a point to chat and build rapport? Ah! Then maybe my point is just talking to you, Aster?”
Lana still wore her mask.
Aster curled his lips into a bright smile. His patience had peaked.
Right after, Lana's eyes changed.
“Hmm.”
She let out a soft hum, wiped her smile, and—swish—unfurled her fan to hide her cold face.
Aster inwardly cheered at those eyes.
'Finally.'
Cold eyes. If moments ago they were a blooming noble lady's, now they were a mage's.
Lana had revealed her true self.
Aster's mental simulator fired up right then.
'Alright, so how should I fall to make it the talk of the town?'
He was even confident about spitting blood from a drink splash now. He'd brainstormed during the chat.
Waiting eagerly.
Then her first words.
The instant he heard them, Aster slumped against the pillar like a collapsing pole—or more like squatting down.
Why?
A message spell in his ear.
[You must have heard from Uncle Henji. Sorry if it feels like I tried to deceive you unintentionally.]
Henji... Yeah, Henji.
He'd expected it to take time, but what method did she use? Convincing Zilox's Patriarch couldn't have been easy...
Lana's words didn't end there.
[Aster, I sincerely apologize for the Paijin incident, even if it didn't fully happen. And for dragging you into this one, even though nothing came of it.]
Cold tone, but polite courtesy.
So, what was needed now?
'Material sincerity...'
“Whew, damn it.”
Aster sighed deeply and hung his head.
He didn't even have the energy to speak.
The nobles urging him to act tough now distanced themselves like they'd seen something vile, and even his last hope, Zilox, pulled this.
He couldn't frame an innocent person as a criminal, either.
[Aster...?]
Waving off Lana's message spell in his ear.
“Just go.”
[Zilox truly means well toward you, Aster...]
“Everyone's just trying to make a living. I get it. So just go, please. Not now.”
[......]
Lana eyed him briefly, bowed her head, and turned. Her face was back to a typical noble lady's.
As she walked, she suddenly glanced back at the crumpled Aster.
'...Why?'
His expression screamed world-ending despair.
Incomprehensible mood swings.
To puzzle it out, Lana replayed the conversation mentally—just as Carmel approached from chatting with other nobles.
“What did you think of him?”
“In my view...”
Lana organized her thoughts.
She could glance at Aster anytime, but she stubbornly judged from memory.
Seeing him crumpled would just end in 'pathetic.'
After some deliberation.
Lana voiced her assessment of Aster.
“He has a big vessel.”
“Oh?”
Carmel's eyes gleamed.
Lana rarely called anyone's vessel big.
“May I ask why?”
“Uncle Henji must have shared our family's info with him.”
“And?”
“Even knowing all that, Aster chatted with me smiling, without a hint of hostility. And crucially... he readily accepted my apology.”
“Hmm.”
Carmel was shocked on two points.
First.
'Henji shared our family secrets?'
That meant Henji fully trusted the kid—a shock to anyone knowing Henji's nature.
Second.
'Knowing that, he talked to Lana without hostility? Even accepted her apology?'
Most shocking.
Only two types could face known enmity with a smile and forgive: giants with unfathomable vessels, or serpents hiding killer intent behind grins.
Henji was the latter. Either way, impressive.
'At just fourteen...'
Even Henji at fourteen wasn't that far along. Astonishing.
'No wonder the Patriarch took notice.'
Then, Carmel had a 'what if.'
Maybe that flippant speech hid deeper intent? Like historical heroes concealing themselves before readiness.
“By the way, he told the Patriarch he reformed Paijin himself.”
“Yes, I heard that too.”
“I thought it mere venting excuse... but maybe not? What do you think?”
“Probably aligns with Father's will.”
Carmel nodded firmly at her reply.
“Right, exactly.”
His daughter shared his view.
The Black-White Slums stray wasn't petty; he moved with grand purpose beyond appearances.
So, what to do?
Carmel glanced at Paijin and messaged.
[Watch Paijin closely for now. If he truly shows signs of reform, we invest in Aster too.]
[Invest how...?]
[Whatever it takes. So when he hears 'Zilox,' he feels gratitude.]
Hearing that, Lana narrowed her eyes slightly.
[I get the investment, Father. But why tie it to Paijin...?]
[Why make that lackey the condition?]
[Yes.]
Carmel chuckled.
[Lana, you think Paijin's just any lackey?]
[......?]
[He's the lowest of the low, supreme lackey. People are shaped by environment, but not him. Any Tulk bloodline like that?]
[......No.]
“Right. He self-taught elitism and pioneered every bully trope himself. Tulk law is strict; he hasn't crossed irreversible lines yet, but such lackeys are rare.]
It made perfect sense; Lana nodded with a hum.
But then:
[Still, 'reform' involved violence, didn't it?]
Anyone strong could beat a mad dog with a stick. True challenge was reforming through action.
But Carmel shook his head.
[Think he never got hit by his dad? He endured harsh discipline yet stuck to lackey ways. Reforming that? Know what it means?]
[That...]
[It means Aster has that power. Power to reform a lackey parents couldn't lifelong.]
Carmel glanced at Aster.
His next words were grave and serious.
[And those with such power always achieve something. Like the founding Patriarchs who built houses.]
[......!]
Lana whipped her gaze to Aster in shock.
Father never praised anyone this highly. Not even Damian, 'generational talent' of Blandoga...
'Such a pathetic kid?'