Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Part 4: What Happened at the Ball (3)
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Simon Count and his family finished their brief greetings and returned to their seats.
Their assigned spot was the seat of honor, befitting the hosts, right next to the Welton family.
It was only natural, as the two houses were the two pillars of the eastern nobility.
Simon Count and his wife approached the Welton family after descending from the platform.
"It's been a while, Lady Welton."
"You're even more beautiful than last year."
They approached Sears and exchanged short greetings.
Sears rose from her seat and responded graciously.
"You're too kind. Seeing both of you in good health puts my mind at ease."
"By the way, is Count Welton not attending this time?"
"No, he'll arrive by evening at the latest. There was some business at the territory."
"I see. I hope it resolves well."
Simon Count said this politely, then turned his gaze aside.
"Your son?"
Sitting there was a small boy who had inherited the distinctive emerald hair of the Welton family.
"Yes, my son Jamie Welton. And this is my daughter Sara Welton. Say hello, you two."
At Sears's words, Jamie and Sara stood and gave brief greetings.
"I'm Jamie Welton, the eldest son of the Welton family."
"I'm Sara. H-hi there."
"What adorable children. Hehe."
Simon Count's wife gazed at the two children with a loving expression.
"Thank you."
Sara beamed at the compliment of being pretty.
Jamie only smiled awkwardly.
Sears couldn't hide her smile at the praise for her children.
"They're smart kids."
"They seem so."
The only one without expression was Simon Count.
He stared piercingly at Jamie with an emotionless face.
He hadn't taken his eyes off Jamie since turning his gaze.
Jamie knew the reason without asking. He was scrutinizing Jamie's body bit by bit—its structure, how it circulated mana, the extent of his class, and more.
Jamie didn't hide anything.
He exuded confidence, as if to say, Go ahead and look if you want.
Then, for the first time, the corner of Simon Count's mouth twitched upward.
It was so subtle it was hard to notice, but it was clear in Jamie's eyes.
"Jamie, was it?"
"Yes."
"Let's meet sometime later."
"Count?"
Sears voiced her confusion at Simon Count's sudden words.
"Sure."
But at Jamie's ready agreement, Sears fell silent.
She had realized the short exchange between them was a conversation between mages.
Once the Simon couple returned to their seats, their eldest son Alf asked,
"What did you think of the Welton boy, Father?"
"Why so much interest in a seven-year-old?"
"Even at seven, he'll lead the Welton family someday. It's no harm to know about my generation's peers."
The count looked at his eleven-year-old eldest son.
Perhaps because he hadn't shown much attention since childhood, the boy's greed grew stronger by the day.
There were even rumors that he was lording over the noble children below him lately.
His reason for asking about the Welton kid now was probably the same. He wanted to put him under his heel from this early stage.
The count knew the reason well enough.
To earn even a little recognition from his great mage father.
The count knew, but showed no sign of it.
He had little interest in Alf, just as when he was younger. There was no special reason. He simply believed that sharing blood was enough.
As a Simon, he would grow on his own, just as the count had. If not, then that was that.
Still, blood was blood. He could indulge him a little.
"Smart kid."
"And...?"
That was it.
The count turned his eyes away from his son.
Alf looked at his father, who had cut off the conversation so curtly, with a hurt expression.
The countess let out a short sigh as she watched the two.
"Get along well. The Weltons are our long-time allies."
"...Understood."
At his mother's words, Alf nodded with a sullen face.
Then he glanced at Jamie, sitting not far away.
He felt nothing particular toward him. Any feelings were directed at himself. So to vent those feelings, he had to make him kneel.
'There's only one way for me to earn Father's recognition.'
In the near future, the eastern nobility would have only one leader.
His mother told him to get along, but he had to crush him while he was even a year younger.
There would be plenty of time to act friendly after that.
Alf lowered his head, drawing a twisted smile.
Watching Alf quietly from the side was a young boy.
Simon Count's second son, Lennon Simon. He quietly lifted the corner of his mouth as he looked at his twisted older brother.
"You need to make lots of friends?"
Sears took the still-young Sara somewhere.
Finally alone, Jamie let out a low sigh.
He was finally by himself.
He had worried she might drag him along since he was still young.
"Make lots of friends, my ass. Sorry, Mother, but I'll hole up somewhere quiet and rest."
Jamie muttered that and tried to slip out of the ballroom. He felt like he could breathe only if he escaped this crowded place even a moment sooner.
He left the ballroom and headed to a quiet park.
As expected of the lord's castle in Rigen, the largest commercial city, the Simon estate boasted tremendous grounds.
The massive lake at the park's center was crystal clear like a mirror from meticulous care, and the woods had been landscaped by experts for maximum relaxation.
He thought the Welton estate was impressive, but this was a step above.
When it came to wealth, they were undoubtedly the best.
"They must have tremendous talent in commerce too."
Jamie recalled Simon Count from earlier.
He knew the Simon family had been a renowned great house in the past, but it had grown at an explosive rate since the current count took over.
Humans could be born with various talents, but raising them all to the peak was rare.
In that regard, Simon Count was worthy of being called a monster. There was even a good chance he would surpass human limits someday.
"I'm looking forward to talking with him."
"Talking with whom?"
A sudden voice from behind.
Jamie spun around reflexively, forming a mana spear and aiming it at the source.
"..."
Standing there was a girl with her blonde hair tied into cute twin tails. She stared in shock at the spear pointed at her throat.
Jamie glared at the girl before lowering his spear.
"Hoo!"
The girl, who had been holding her breath in tension, exhaled sharply.
Then she stomped over to Jamie angrily.
"How could you just point that at me out of nowhere!"
"Then who told you to talk to me out of nowhere from behind?"
Jamie shot back without yielding.
She had no rebuttal since he wasn't wrong, so she just went, "Urk."
She racked her brain for a comeback. Then, eyes sparkling as if she'd found the answer, she shouted,
"It's rude to point that at a lady!"
"Be grateful I didn't stab the lady."
"Urk."
No words again.
Jamie smirked at the flustered girl.
He dispersed the mana spear back to nature, crossed his arms, and asked,
"So, who are you? How'd you sneak up behind me?"
Jamie asked casually, but he was quite rattled inside.
He hadn't sensed a thing.
Even if she'd been hiding from the start, a mere child couldn't completely conceal herself from him.
And stealthily approaching was even less likely.
He hadn't been that distracted, nor was he clumsy enough to miss a child's presence.
"Me?"
The girl pointed at herself with an innocent face in response to the question.
She teased, Shall I tell you? Shall I? but she'd picked the wrong opponent.
"I'm not in the mood for games."
Mana writhed from his heart.
He didn't assume she was an enemy, but neither did he think her ordinary.
So if needed, he was prepared to threaten adequately.
Like this.
Ping-!
The girl flinched and looked at the ground right beside her.
A round hole had pierced the green grass. White smoke began seeping from it.
Jamie flicked his index finger with his thumb and said,
"Second-class spell, Air Bullet. Without magic resistance, it'd pierce flesh easily. For a kid, instant death wouldn't be enough."
"W-wait."
"Who are you?"
Jamie pointed at the girl with index and thumb extended.
Air gathered at his fingertip.
If he fired now, a red hole would bloom in her tender skin.
The girl realized he was serious.
"I-I'm Ash Valle! Ash Valle!"
"Ash Valle? Of the Valle Viscount family?"
"Yeah! I'm the second daughter of the Valle Viscount family!"
Jamie knew of the Valle Viscount family.
Now he understood how the girl had gotten behind him without a sound.
"You're a spiritist?"
"Y-yeah. So put that away!"
At Ash's shout, Jamie withdrew his hand.
Still, for such a young girl to be a spiritist.
Spiritists were sorcerers contracted with spirits, the mystical beings born from nature.
There weren't many on the continent, and they were treated as exceptional talents worthy of a barony just for existing.
The Valle Viscounts were one of only three spiritist families in the Kingdom of Seldam. Known for their outstanding affinity with nature, they mainly contracted with wind spirits.
"Wind spirit. That's how you got behind me silently."
Spirits were similar to magic but wielded true natural forces. Erasing their presence from humans was easy if they willed it.
'At my peak, even spirits couldn't hide.'
At supreme heights, the line between natural and artificial blurred into meaninglessness.
'Still impressive. She's about my age, give or take. Already a spiritist.'
Anyone who knew Jamie's true power would scoff at the thought, but contracting spirits required immense affinity.
Nature affinity was innate but usually honed over long periods in nature.
That took at least ten years, and most spiritist families didn't start training until after age ten.
So this girl Ash was...
'A genius born with absurd nature affinity.'
If she trained seriously, she might even contract a 'king,' the pinnacle of an element.
Of course, that was still far off.
As Jamie pondered quietly, Ash grew anxious and called to him in a trembling voice.
"W-why're you quiet?"
"..."
"Hey!"
"Ah."
Jamie snapped out of it at Ash's yell and looked at her.
"And who are you? How does a kid like you know such dangerous magic?"
Now that her identity was confirmed, she turned the tables and interrogated him.
Was she the type to give back what she got?
If she'd judged herself stronger, she might have attacked with a spirit.
But dwelling on hypotheticals was pointless.
"I'm Jamie Welton, heir to the Welton Count family."
"...Huh?"
"Nice to meet you, Ash Valle."
"Ehhh?!"
Another piece of info on the Valle Viscount family.
The Valle Viscount was a loyal vassal of Count Welton.