Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Debut in the Capital
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The territory Sein had received from Demorus was not a named estate.
It was something Demorus had given him because Sein was the only one he could hire with the money he had.
It was like going to buy luxury goods.
"Give me the cheapest one."
It was something like that.
In other words, it wasn't named.
Just like anyone else, acquiring what one desired wasn't easy.
A named estate would be tantamount to picking out exactly what one wanted, requiring an enormous amount of money.
Moreover, with Sein's fame having risen so much now, that price would have skyrocketed astronomically.
"He must have gone through a lot."
Remi must have paid an absolutely massive sum to summon him.
"Identity confirmed."
Guards and inspections that felt like looking at the past.
"Welcome to the Imperial Capital, Porishe, Sein Demorus."
Sein entered Zone 2, the Imperial Capital Porishe, without a single attendant.
It was a place where only a limited number of guests could be invited unless they were from the Center itself.
Zone 2 was a city in its entirety, the very heart of the empire.
"Impressive."
Sein said as he took in the scenery.
It had been like this starting from Zone 4, but Zone 2 was on another level entirely.
Just like Sanctuary from his past life.
No.
"It's even better than that."
The density of mana he could feel, the well-constructed buildings.
Even the planned city layout and the impeccably paved roads.
"Pleased to meet you, Sein Demorus."
The etiquette, the smiles, even the faces of the people.
"I am Harcom, servant to Lady Remi Borfeo. I will escort you to Lady Remi's residence."
It was so identical to the past that it even stirred nostalgia in Sein.
As Sein rode in the carriage and moved forward, he continued to take in the surrounding scenery.
"There are more people than I expected."
He had thought Zone 2 would be a land inhabited only by a select few chosen ones, but in reality, it was bustling with more people than any other zone.
"It's a city of nobles, after all."
Sein nodded at Harcom's words.
Nobles.
They were born to stand above others.
And so.
"You're saying there's no world where only nobles exist."
Sein said, cradling the back of his head.
That was the essence of nobility.
If there were no one to trample, what use would their power and authority have?
They might compete in hierarchies among fellow nobles, but even the one at the very bottom was still a noble.
They needed beings below them, like the servant Harcom standing before him, to satisfy their sense of superiority.
Therefore.
"Lucky slaves."
The city's citizens were nothing more than better-off slaves.
They might trample others themselves, but in the end, they were the lowest class here.
Indeed.
"Halt."
Another inspection followed.
"Clear."
The world that unfolded beyond it was.
"Insane."
A sight as if every ounce of the world's gold and wealth had been slathered on thickly.
Houses and buildings scattered in a chaotic competition over who had the bigger or taller ones.
In terms of aesthetic unity and beauty, the area outside the checkpoint might even be superior.
-Noble City, Rabor.
It was Rabor, the city that existed alongside the Imperial Capital.
*
*
*
"The Center you used to sing praises for, why the long face?"
Even at Sein's mocking tone, Remi showed no reaction.
Gulp.
She merely drank her wine.
"Do you know how much one of these costs?"
Remi smirked and said.
"It's free."
In the lower zone of Borfeo, the same wine would have cost 100 gold.
That was about the monthly tax revenue of an average lower-zone estate.
"Money isn't money here."
A world where trivial wine like this could be free without issue.
That was the Center.
Remi's residence was incomparably more lavish than Borfeo's.
But this too had likely been received without any real cost.
"I never imagined a world like this."
He had heard the stories.
And dreamed because of them.
But experiencing it firsthand was different.
"Do you regret it now?"
Sein lay back on the sofa and took a sip from his wine glass.
"Why? Want to go back?"
"Go back?"
Remi, who had been expressionless, had her lips stretch into a long grin.
"The only regret is why I didn't come sooner."
Sein finally smiled.
"That's more like it."
If she had been overwhelmed and crumbled in this mad world, he would have been disappointed.
She was still the person Sein had chosen.
He had invested in her seeing that potential.
"Sein Demorus."
Remi called Sein's name. She had done so in Borfeo too, but the feeling now was different.
Back then, it had been forced to avoid being looked down upon, but now it seemed she truly believed her position was somewhat equal to Sein's.
It wasn't wrong.
That was what nobles in the Center were like.
"Do you know what I can't stand?"
"Don't get all sentimental. I don't want to hear it."
"That I was just a mere monkey!"
Ugh.
Sein plugged one ear with his finger.
"They summoned a monkey from Zone 8 who dared to imprison Demorus bloodline just to gawk at it!"
Was it the alcohol?
She hadn't been like this in Borfeo.
Bang!
Remi slammed the table hard.
"That must hurt."
"Once the spectacle ends, all that's left is indifference. They let me stay in the Center, but that's it."
It clearly hurt.
Her voice had sunk.
"Just smiling for show, performing tricks to curry favor with them."
Out there.
"No different from those lucky slaves."
Even among nobles, hierarchies existed.
Those below were, as Remi said, just more lucky slaves.
Slaves who owned more slaves, higher slaves.
"So what do you want me to do?"
"My entire fortune."
She had liquidated everything in Borfeo to come to the Center.
The money she gave to nobles here under the pretext of maintaining dignity exceeded Borfeo's annual tax revenue.
"I emptied my entire fortune to hire you this time. Now I have to starve. But it's a relief. Wine's free. I can survive on this alone, right?"
Up and down.
If it wasn't the alcohol, then this city was the problem.
"You picked the wrong spot. Bad location."
"You're not hoping for just that much, are you? Sein Demorus."
Remi's eyes.
In one corner of them, the fire he knew blazed.
No, she had been steeped in it from the beginning.
"Make me the protagonist."
Madness.
"So that a monkey from Zone 8 who dared defy Demorus can bring that very Demorus into her party as escort and partner. So that I can prove I'm more valuable than those senile old monsters think..."
Remi said.
"Through you."
*
*
*
Sanctuary was an incredibly realistic game, which was why it caused a sensation.
However, even Sanctuary had its flaws.
-Why are the nobles like that?
-Ah, fuck. Couldn't take it and killed one, now I'm wanted.
It was a game set in a medieval backdrop, so nobles existed.
The disconnect came from how unrealistically they behaved.
But.
-What are you talking about? That's historical accuracy.
They knew one thing and not the other.
-It was probably even worse in reality.
-Bullshit, how could humans act like that.
-Watch some TV.
Thinking about it.
-Oh. Yeah.
Reality was no different.
Even the publicly known scandals were nauseating enough, but delving into their private lives and depths—how much worse would it be?
That was humanity.
That was power.
Sanctuary was.
-Really fucking realistic.
An incredibly realistic game.
If it was like that then, what about now?
He could confidently say that someone like Remi Borfeo would be on the kinder side among this mad world's nobles.
-Gladly.
That was Sein's response to Remi.
She had driven her connections all the way to the Center; if she rose higher, he had nothing to lose.
She was a woman burning with ambition yet possessed sharp realistic senses.
She wouldn't easily betray him.
"Come out already!"
With the massive mission fee received, it was only right to play along.
Remi urged Sein from outside.
"We're going to be late!"
Today was the day of the mission.
The day to attend a party of Center nobles.
"You're not running away, are you?"
At that moment.
Creak.
The door opened, and Sein emerged.
"You should cut back on the drinking."
"......"
"Or I might just kill you."
Remi looked up, and Sein looked down.
Sein had attended a few parties in his final playthrough, but back then, there had been no need for formal attire.
But this was Sein's debutante as well.
The moment Sein Demorus first revealed himself in the Center.
"......You."
In the silence, Remi hesitantly opened her mouth.
"Are you really Sein Demorus?"
Remi stumbled back.
Her words carried undeniable sincerity, without a shred of doubt.
"......Impossible."
Sein's usual appearance was already impressive.
His near-silver white hair, tall stature, broad shoulders, and sturdy build.
But his habitual rough hair-sweeping, soaked in venom and madness, often evoked decadent beauty alongside repulsion.
However, now.
"Are you drunk?"
Sein's appearance was pure fantasy incarnate.
His pristine white hair neatly combed back, his formerly unkempt skin now refined.
Instead of battle gear or unpleasant equipment, he wore a tuxedo Remi had splurged on.
Sein's physique, face, and aura, unhidden even by the tuxedo.
"What are you..., royalty or something?"
"Didn't you know? I'm a Demorus."
"Ah...."
It somehow made sense.
Remi still stared at Sein in a daze.
Sein naturally approached her.
"Uh.... Uh...."
Remi unwittingly backed away.
Wobble!
She twisted her ankle and staggered.
As Remi was about to fall ungracefully.
Whoosh.
Sein roughly pulled her waist toward him.
"Don't piss me off. I might tear up the mission and all."
"......Will you marry me?"