◈ Episode 161: The Rumos Family (1)
outdoor banquet hall.
It wasn’t strange that Seorn had a separate place for nobles.
As the magic festival is one of the largest festivals in the empire, a variety of people come.
Of course, commoners and nobles could not laugh at each other in one place.
The barracks and conference demonstration booths on the festival street are mainly for commoners and merchants.
City councilors and nobles gathered at the outdoor banquet hall and chatted among themselves.
It seems unequal, but there is nothing like this to prevent an accident, so I nodded my head.
‘what. Rather than putting nobles and commoners in one place and then something happens, it would be easier for Saeorn to separate the places like this.’
The high-ranking people coming and chatting with each other is no different from the banquet hall they experienced that day.
Rather, the level of the people gathered now is much higher than at that time.
But this time, I thought it had nothing to do with me.
‘How did I get dragged here?’
I had no choice but to attend the last reception because I was a new teacher.
I hope you will attend this place.
‘I can’t help it because I’m the winner of magic sparring.’
It was just an impromptu event, but it was unexpected that the reaction was hot.
Even now, there were many people who glanced at me from all over the banquet hall.
It’s not usually uncomfortable to have eyes flying here and there even though I’m just drinking a glass of water.
“Aren’t the gazes around you too blatant?”
To the old man talking to me from the side, I replied with a nod instead.
At least it’s okay to steal a glance.
If you approach it openly, then it really becomes a battlefield.
In that respect, I was benefiting from this old man.
Heyback Kadatushan.
Head of Kadatushan, the 3rd duchy of the Exilion Empire.
Since he was standing next to me, people with lower ranks couldn’t even approach.
‘Well, being thankful means being thankful.’
I glanced at the old man next to me.
I have no idea what purpose this inspiration came to me.
‘It’s hard to read this person’s mind.’
Heyback is a great aristocrat who has been in politics for decades.
No matter how much I tried to analyze the inner thoughts of such a person, it was difficult to find out easily.
Whether or not he knew what I was thinking, the Heyback family lord laughed and went on with his words.
“Originally, all nobles are like that. Befitting their position, they are polite, polite and ostentatious, and they are busy flattering each other. I’m just looking at it with my own eyes.”
“okay.”
I don’t know anything else, but I was very sympathetic to this part, so I also agreed.
It’s just the way I see it right now.
For example, the two men over there with champagne glasses.
One was a small and medium-sized nobleman, and the other was a member of the Laedervelk city council.
The councilor was eagerly appealing something to the aristocrat, and the aristocrat nodded as if interested and listened.
At first glance, the conversation seems to be going well, but in reality it is not.
Because the truth behind it is not that simple.
“Isn’t that man Congressman Pretzel?”
“Do you know someone?”
“I just met him once at a banquet and heard his name. He wasn’t particularly interesting.”
I remember it in pretty detail, to say that I wasn’t an interesting person.
A person of the Duke of Heyback’s rank must have attended a banquet like this once or twice.
Even if you pretend not to, your memory is considerable.
“The noble listening to the story is Count Rolan, who is managing the bank finances. Are you curious about what the two of you are talking about?”
I shook my head.
“I am not very curious. At best, the congressman is persuading to raise money to pass the bill he is going to do.”
It was obvious what the members of the council who wanted something from the nobility said.
I want their support.
“Hoo?”
“A bill that would appeal to the aristocracy would probably raise the welfare of the affluent town of Centerford. Nobles with private villas there are scattered throughout the Exilion Empire.”
It was probably an attempt to win the hearts of the rich and get votes for the Centerford District.
Members of Congress, as always, live only looking at the votes.
“Oh oh. Quite the way. Mr. Rudger is right. Because I was actually trying to budget for that purpose.”
“And Congressman Pretzel doesn’t have a last name, so he must be a commoner, and the reason he came to this position as a commoner must have initially appealed to the general public and won votes. But after he became a member of parliament, he seems to have changed his mind and pursued his policy for the rich.”
“Can you even know that?”
“If you think about it a little bit, you will know. It’s just that Count Lorraine, who listens to the story, doesn’t seem very interested.”
Earl Rolan listened to the story with a smile, but the only emotion in his eyes was boredom.
At once, he saw through Pretzel’s thoughts that he would line up for himself and go through the budget.
“The opponent is a member of the House of Commons. If the Earl of Rolan is in charge of the banking business, it must be a family with a long history, and it won’t be so friendly to commoners. You’re obviously looking down on it. Still, since I am a member of the National Assembly, I pretend to listen to the story for now.”
“Hoo.”
“Congressman Pretzel is no fool. I know that my words won’t work for Count Rolan. He knows, but he’s trying to cheat somehow. I’m thinking of getting the budget somehow and putting off the later work until later.”
Just by looking at those two people, you immediately realize what kind of place this outdoor banquet hall is.
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Where there are no cheaters, only cheaters.
A tedious battlefield where invisible swords are divided.
“It’s all cheap skits.”
“That is correct.”
Duke Hayback grinned and nodded.
“To notice such a thing at once simply by looking at it. Did you hear anything about it beforehand?”
“It was just visible.”
Reasoning and analysis are skills learned and learned while working as a private detective, one of the new identities after abandoning the identity of <James Moriarty>.
Private detective <Eugène François Vidocque>.
The first private detective in Earth’s history, who was a criminal but later turned detective.
It was a pseudonym I borrowed because it was similar to my situation at the time.
“But don’t talk too harshly. Cheap skits have their own taste.”
“I know. It just doesn’t suit my taste.”
“Sometimes you have to see a work that doesn’t suit your taste. Especially if you’re an extraordinary person like Sensei, people around you will keep bothering you. Let’s see this, let’s see that.”
“You mean like now?”
As a provocation, he threw a boney word, but Duke Hayback laughed instead of getting angry.
“no. Rather, I’m more of the one protecting you from the annoying jackass.”
“One lion is far more terrifying than several hyenas.”
“Was the teacher looking at me like that? Well, I understand. But on this occasion, to be honest, I don’t expect anything from you.”
don’t you want anything?
The words came out of Duke Hayback’s mouth, but I didn’t believe them.
“Looks like I can’t believe it. But it’s true. In the first place, when you get to this age, you don’t live for greed and purpose.”
“Then what do you live for?”
“It’s fun.”
Duke Hayback smiled like a bad boy.
It was a smile full of wrinkles on his face.
Paradoxically, that smile was more childlike and innocent than anyone else in the room.
“When I was young, I burned my body for all kinds of passions. But as I get older, I don’t have the strength to do that. It can’t get hot as easily as before. That’s what getting old is like.”
“It doesn’t look like it.”
“It used to be worse than it is now.”
“That’s kind of curious.”
“The older you get, the more indifferent you become to everything. I’ve already been through a lot of surprises. As a result, I naturally find inspiration. funny thing. enjoyable thing. That has become the joy of life now.”
To dismiss it as an old man’s nonsense, I’ve heard something similar before.
My teacher used to say that often.
Did he say that he took me in, raised me, and taught me magic because of his interest?
“The head of Kadatushan must have found me having fun.”
“Feel free to call me Heyback. Isn’t it too disrespectful to call you by your last name? And the answer to the question is ‘yes’. Having said that, you are a very interesting person and are attractive to other nobles. Do you know?”
“I am well aware of that part.”
don’t you know me
Right from the moment I got involved with the Kuma Tower at the last banquet hall, I knew that this would happen.
Founder of new magic.
Even so, he doesn’t have a strong back, so he’s an easy-to-touch person.
That was the man they were looking for, Ludgar Celish.
“And I am fully aware of how to act in case of an emergency.”
“Chuck. The teacher is pretty brutal. He’s something I felt from the first time I saw him, but he has grit. Isn’t that why I’m standing next to you like this? I don’t want a fight to be caused by useless flies.”
Here’s what Duke Hayback says.
I’m interesting, so let’s have a conversation next to me and wash away boredom.
In return, I will prevent those around me from flirting with me.
It was a silent transaction that was made naturally even though they did not talk to each other.
“I also agreed with Duke Heyback’s will, so I’m just staying still.”
“Yes, yes. The teacher knows something.”
“but.”
“… … ?”
“If, by any chance, the Duke crosses the line.”
I said, staring hard at Heyback.
“You’ll find out what’s really fun.”
At my words, Duke Hayback’s face went blank for a moment, then returned to normal.
“I get it, I get it. Eh tsk. Maybe it’s because he’s young, so he’s full of blood.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
Even if this person said so, I could tell.
A fleeting smile on Duke Hayback’s face.
Maybe this person had a lot of trouble during the time of the chalna.
Will it be really fun? do.
Then, in the end, that desire was suppressed.
Like a scary human being.
I’ve given Heyback enough warnings, so he won’t bother me anymore.
As a fallen aristocrat, it might seem disrespectful at first glance for me to speak to the duke in this way, but considering Heyback’s personality, I wasn’t one to take offense with such a thing.
At least he doesn’t lash out at his pride like other people do.
That is the dignity of great nobility.
‘I’ll have to drink a few glasses of water in moderation.’
With that in mind, I was about to drink water to empty the glass in my hand.
I saw a familiar face in my gaze.
Flora Lumos.
She was not wearing a school uniform, but a blue dress appropriate for the formality of the banquet hall.
She was uncharacteristically hesitant and hesitant.
‘What’s going on here?’
I watched Flora carefully.
Flora’s gaze was directed to the people seated on one side of the banquet hall.
‘The Lumos family.’
Among the people gathered, what stands out by far are the people who stand at the center.
The head of the Lumos family, Cayden Lumos.
Starting with the man, on either side of him were a man and a woman who looked like children.
Are you here to see your family?
Heyback opened his mouth, probably noticing my gaze just in time.
“huh? Hey, are you interested in the Lumos family? ah. Didn’t you say that there is a Lumos family child among the students in your class?”
“yes.”
I nodded.
Flora was looking at her father from far away and couldn’t easily approach her.
Seeing that, I intuitively realized what place she was in the family.
It was the same with Duke Hayback.
“Flora, that child. What a pity.”
“Regretful? What do you mean?”
“For a child born with the greatest magical talent to be ignored simply because he is the son of a concubine. What could be more pitiful than that?”
“… … .”
At those words, I felt my back throb.
Old wounds that I thought I had forgotten enough of now.
* * *
Flora Lumos was troubled.
Should I leave the banquet hall as it is, or should I still say hello face to face.
‘okay. Just this once.’
I’d be lying if I said I had no expectations.
Didn’t you change your clothes to do that?
Since coming to Seorn, she has accomplished so much.
Flora Lumos was a genius who did not miss the first place in the grade with her outstanding magic talent.
‘That I’m not what I was when I was in my family, that I’m different now.’
let me tell you
And let’s show it.
That your daughter, the child you didn’t pay attention to, has grown up so wonderfully.
He believed that if he did that, his father would look back on him.
I made such a resolution and walked slowly, but my legs trembled strangely.
My chest was throbbing and my heart was throbbing with pain.
‘calm down.’
Flora took a deep breath.
Without disturbing his expression, he gazed straight ahead and maintained his pace.
‘Don’t be afraid.’
He is no longer the weak child of the past.
‘Don’t be afraid.’
He showed growth worthy of the name of the proud Rumos family.
As a member of the family, the qualifications were sufficient.
‘You can’t be scared.’
But why
why.
Is it so painful and suffocating?
Across the space where unsettling emotions wriggled, Flora reached within reach of the headmistress’s voice.
The people around her recognized Flora one by one.
However, the family head did not even pay attention to Flora.
Haven’t you found this one yet? Or are you deliberately ignoring it?
-father.
Flora took a deep breath and tried to call her father.
But before that.
There was someone who intercepted Flora’s words and approached.
“oh? Who is this? Isn’t that half Flora?”
The one who spoke was a girl with dark blue hair like Flora.
She smiled mockingly at Flora.
“Oh right. You enrolled here at Seorn, right? I guess you ran away when you said you couldn’t see the family recently?”
“… … Katrina.”
Katrina Lumos.
The half-sister of Flora Lumos, and the eldest daughter of the family.
Katrina frowned when Flora called her name.
“Can you please stop calling me by my first name? I feel bad about talking about dirty blood.”
“Uh, what is it? Is it Flora?”
A man approached Katrina.
A man in his mid-twenties with moderately curly dark blue hair.
Flora greeted them with a noble example.
“long time no see. Brother Kamal.”
Kamal Lumos.
The son of the Lumos family and the man who will become the next head of the Lumos family.
He smiled at Flora as he greeted him.
“You look good. In the past, I would not have been able to speak properly. Did you enjoy life at the academy that much?”
“… … .”
“Oops. You shut your mouth again You always kept silent when it was against you.”
Flora didn’t respond.
If he refutes Kamal’s words here, he will try to eat her as if he had waited.
From old experience, Flora knew that she had to curl up here.
Kamal clicked his tongue at Flora’s indifferent reaction.
At the same time, he conveyed it to the family head next to him, as if he was deliberately asking him to listen.
“father. Look who’s here now.”
“hmm.”
Only then did Cayden Lumos react for the first time.
His inorganic, piercing gaze was directed at Flora.
“… … .”
Flora’s shoulders trembled at the cold feeling of not feeling even a single ounce of emotion toward her own flesh and blood.
“What.”
The response that came out of Caden’s mouth was callous.
The cold chill pierces the skin like needles.
Flora opened and closed her lips.
‘The voice doesn’t come out.’
The hand holding the hem of the skirt trembled. The blood drained from his hand, which he clenched so tightly that it looked as pale as a corpse.
Flora could not meet her father’s eyes.
I didn’t have the courage to face that gaze that seemed to see me as a separate being rather than a child.
It felt like the spell that had been blown into me just a moment ago had been erased as white as a sheet of paper.
‘I am… … .’
What the hell did you come here for?
I was so sad that I tried to shed tears.
I promised not to cry anymore.
So I put on a mask. It was to avoid showing her own weakness.
However, even such trivial complaints were not allowed here.
It was as if everything in the world was pointing a finger at her.
It was then.
One person stood between Flora and Caden.
“what?”
Kamal frowned at the sudden intruder, and Caden stared at him with a reticent gaze.
“ah.”
Flora saw that broad back.
I just couldn’t see it.
Broad shoulders, a nice coat, and flowing long hair.
Standing there as if guarding this side, it seemed to see a strong bulwark keeping her safe from the world.
Standing as if protecting Flora, Rudger opened his mouth to Cayden, who was staring at him.
“Is there something wrong with our students?”
