Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 16 Stung by Meisa's remark, Turan's eyes darted around as he scanned his surroundings.
Of course, no one was paying him any mind.
Amidst the shocking news that the heir of a Great Family had nearly been assassinated, the savior who had rescued a young lord was bound to be pushed down the priority list.
"An assassination attempt at the main estate? But the defensive systems there are so robust…"
"There's likely a mole. Besides, I'm not exactly short on people who find my existence an eyesore."
A deep sense of fatigue permeated the voice responding to Asiz. It seemed that being born with exceptional talent and superior status didn't necessarily make life easy.
Meisa ran a hand through her hair, her knuckles protruding from her thin fingers, and spoke softly.
"I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed. Good night, everyone."
Having wrapped up the situation in an instant, the Princess of Arabion didn't even wait for a reply before heading toward the castle. Quite literally, she used levitation magic to drift off the ground, then summoned a gust of wind for propulsion and took flight.
Watching this, Asiz's mother, Midella, gave an instruction to the elderly maid standing beside her.
"Ena? Please show Mr. Turan to our family's second-best guest room."
It seemed that whether he was a second cousin or not, she couldn't dare refuse the heir's command.
*
Early the next morning, Turan opened his eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.
As his groggy mind began to clear, he remembered that this was the Berk family mansion and that he had arrived as a guest the previous night.
The first thing he did was head to the washstand located in a corner of the spacious room. Just as the maid had explained last night, he pulled a long lever, and a stream of water began to trickle out.
After staring at it blankly for a moment, Turan used the provided soap to wash his face thoroughly before drying off with a towel. Perhaps it was imbued with dehydration magic, for the moisture vanished instantly with a light rub.
The perks of being a family of Enchanters.
The Berk family's headquarters was essentially a treasure trove of magic devices accumulated over centuries. In terms of sheer convenience, it wasn't necessarily better than other noble houses where servants came in every morning to wash one's face personally, but it was certainly novel.
The privileged classes always seemed to derive pleasure from monopolizing things that others could not use.
After donning the robe prepared for guests, he stepped out into the hallway and saw a brilliant white radiance hanging from the ceiling. It was a white light entirely different from the glow produced by torches or lamps. That pale light was embedded seamlessly along the top of the long corridor, shining so brightly it refused to allow even a single shadow to form.
Turan, whose mana had grown quite strong and whose stealth proficiency had increased, could usually maintain complete concealment for hours in a dark place. But here, he would last a minute or two at most.
If a Zahar assassin were to infiltrate this place, they would either have to find and kill their target in a very short time or end up wandering the hallway with their mana exhausted, only to be discovered and meet a miserable end. And even that was assuming one didn't account for the intruder detection and interception magic devices hidden somewhere within the mansion.
"Turan! You're still an early riser, I see! But what are you doing out in the hallway by yourself?"
As he was absentmindedly admiring the magic devices in the corridor, he heard someone calling his name. It was Asiz, looking much more refreshed now that he was back home.
"I just found those interesting."
"Those? Oh, the magic lamps? I used to make those all the time when I was practicing enchantment as a kid… Want one? We have plenty of spares in the warehouse."
"No, it's not that big a deal."
Turan could produce that kind of light himself anyway. One of the first spells he had learned from Keorn was a magic that shaped light to manifest simple weapons. He simply hadn't used it because physical attacks were handled by his sling, and his night vision meant he had no need for illumination.
"Are you hungry? I think my mother will be inviting us to breakfast soon."
"I can wait. More importantly, there's something I wanted to ask."
"Hmm?"
"That lady from Arabion yesterday—is she sick? If it's hard to talk about, you don't have to tell me."
Since the health of a Great Family heir was practically military intelligence, Turan approached the subject cautiously. Fortunately, Asiz only gave a bitter smile and didn't suspect him of spying. In truth, given her appearance, it would have been more suspicious not to be curious.
"She's severely thin, isn't she? She wasn't like that when we were kids, but I heard that at some point, she started consuming only water and salt. She claims being thin makes it easier to fly… I heard a few people tried to copy her and gave up. They said they felt like they were actually going to die."
"She certainly didn't look healthy."
No matter how much mana evolved the physical body to exert superhuman abilities, nobles were still living humans. Common sense dictated that if nothing was going in while energy was being consumed, problems were bound to arise.
"Still, she seems fine enough for the most part. Besides, if that's what she wants to do, what can we say? No matter how close we are as relatives, her family is the one in charge, after all."
Yesterday, they had seemed to treat each other comfortably like cousins, but it appeared there was still a certain wall between them.
After their chat, Turan joined the Berk family's formal breakfast with Asiz, just as the latter had predicted. The Family Head couple, Asiz's older brother, and about three other relatives were present, but the lady from Arabion was absent. It would probably be awkward to have her sitting there consuming only water and salt while everyone else enjoyed a feast. She would likely feel the weight of everyone's stares.
"It's not much, but please, eat your fill."
Looking at the food spread across the table, Family Head Midella's words were nothing short of a deception. Setting aside the common soups and breads, all sorts of dishes he had never seen before were laid out like the wheat fields of the Dakein Plains. There was crab meat wrapped in dough and steamed, and boiled potato dough topped with truffles…
Asiz, who was kindly explaining the dishes beside him, spoke up in disbelief.
"Why is the spread so extravagant? There are things here I didn't even see on my birthday. Someone might think the Arabion Family Head himself had paid us a visit."
"Be quiet."
It seemed they had put in extra effort because Turan was Asiz's savior; this wasn't a typical daily meal even for this household.
After indulging his palate with the luxurious feast—though, frankly, a few dishes were so unfamiliar they didn't quite suit his taste—they finished with sweet bread and bitter tea. Then, Midella brought up the main business.
"To continue the conversation from last night, I heard my son promised a powerful magic device as the price for his life."
"Yes, that is correct."
"Is there a specific item you desire?"
"I would like something that helps with defense. It's easy to harm others with magic, but difficult to protect oneself. If possible, I'd like something that can deal with surprise attacks."
This was the conclusion he had reached after much deliberation. Even if the other half of his bloodline turned out to be defensive, adding more defense to defense would only make it better. He had felt this deeply after seeing how the Dark Elf Necromancers he encountered recently were helpless against ambushes. If he were to face such an attack himself, he didn't exactly have a foolproof countermeasure. Relying solely on superior reflexes and movement was far too unstable a means of defense.
"It's something we've made often, so it shouldn't be difficult. However, we don't have any of those ready-made at the moment."
"Then can I make it for him?"
"Unless you intend to drag the Berk family's honor through the mud, don't even think about it."
Melo, Asiz's older brother who hadn't said a word yesterday, spoke up sarcastically at Asiz's suggestion. He turned his gaze toward his parents and bowed his head slightly as if seeking permission.
"I will make it. I've just finished a commission from the main house, so my hands are free."
"How do you plan to make it?"
"If it's to prepare for surprise attacks, an item that can be carried at all times would be best. I'll put it in the form of a ring, earring, or necklace, and design it so that injecting mana immediately draws out the defensive power of the Guardian bloodline."
"That sounds good. And the timeframe?"
"I'll need a month."
Turan had read about the Guardian bloodline in books. Unlike other bloodlines that preferred long-range attacks using magic, they were specialized in physical combat based on exceptional physical abilities. Among their traits, their physical durability was said to be their greatest strength. If he could borrow that power momentarily, it would certainly be an unparalleled defensive capability.
"I know there's nothing more unsightly than a parent boasting about their child, but Melo is already a master whose skills are not far behind my own. In essence, this means a Family Head-level mage of the Enchanter bloodline will be dedicating an entire month of his time to create this magic device."
"I am grateful, but… isn't this a bit much?"
The Berk family's offer was so generous it left Turan, the recipient, somewhat stunned. Synthesizing the knowledge from books and the information he'd gathered from Asiz, the quality of a magic device made by an Enchanter bloodline mage depended on the time invested in imbuing it with power.
Of course, investing infinite time didn't mean one could create something infinitely miraculous; the efficiency of production varied based on the amount of mana and magical talent one possessed. A month was near the limit for most Enchanters. Considering the backlash from the production process, it would mean he wouldn't be able to create another powerful magic device for about half a year. In effect, Turan was monopolizing six months of a Family Head-level mage's time.
"If this is 'too much,' does that mean my son's life is cheap? It is not. Absolutely not. So, for the next month, you shall stay with our family as a guest."
"I worry that I might be overstaying my welcome."
"Please, do not think of it as a burden. Stay as long as you need."
*
"I think my mother has her eye on you."
As soon as they stepped out after the feast, Asiz spoke up with a serious expression.
"On me?"
"Yeah. Actually, I talked to her more about you before I went to bed last night. From how your magical talent isn't inferior to Meisa's, to how you never slack off on your training. I originally did it so she wouldn't look down on you just because you're a wandering noble without a proper backing, but…"
"It sounds like she's decided she wants to recruit me into the family instead."
The first person Turan thought of was Izella of the Baltas family. He had been repulsed by how she casually used knights as shields, but even aside from that, she was far from his ideal woman. Broadly speaking, this wasn't much different from the case of the Lug Family Head trying to sell her off. The only difference was between a remote provincial family and a direct vassal family of a Great Family.
"Exactly. They shower you with gifts to make you feel indebted, and then they try to lure you in by introducing a pretty lady. There are actually several adults who joined the family that way."
He mentioned that the noble of the Guardian bloodline who would be assisting in the creation of the magic device was one of them. Turan hadn't known, but to imbue a magic device with the abilities of a bloodline magic, a noble of that specific bloodline had to assist in the crafting. Upon learning this, the psychological burden on Turan doubled.
"This is troublesome."
Asiz waved his hand dismissively with a laugh, telling him not to worry.
"Well, don't sweat it too much. They're giving you a good magic device just to win your favor; they won't force you to get married just because you took it. My mother isn't that unreasonable."
"Is that so?"
To Turan, that was even more unsettling. If they had forced him to join the family in exchange for the item, he could have just stolen it and run away without any guilt. Sometimes, people find unpayable kindness more burdensome than hostility, and Turan was one of those people.
Of course, even so, marrying into the Berk family and staying there was absolutely out of the question. If a child born later were to awaken the Zahar bloodline, how on earth would he explain that?
"I'm telling you. Oh, do you have anything to do right now?"
"Why?"
"Let's go out and have some fun. Jabilin isn't the capital, but there's still plenty to enjoy here. Surely you're not planning to stay cooped up practicing magic the whole time like you did in other cities?"
"Actually, I was."
"Oh, come on. Let's enjoy life a little. Friend!"
At the word 'friend,' Turan was eventually led out of the Berk mansion by Asiz. He was able to see the city landscape in broad daylight, which he hadn't been able to see properly last night after the curfew.
A few of the people passing by reacted slightly to the outfits Turan and Asiz were wearing, but they didn't bow deeply or prostrate themselves as people had in other cities. They simply bowed their heads slightly in a gesture of respect as they passed.
After walking for about ten minutes, they reached a bustling district lined with various shops.
"So, what are we going to do for fun?"
"Well, that depends on what you like. Alcohol, gambling, women… which is your preference?"
"The library."
"I'm realizing this all over again, but you really have old-fashioned tastes."
"I haven't had many chances to really have fun. But the three things you suggested don't seem very appealing."
He had tried alcohol a few times when invited by various families, but it was just mediocre. As for gambling, his mother had told him many times as a child never to do it, so he was wary. And as for the last one—women—there were several reasons he was hesitant, even without the warnings from his mother or Keorn. Especially here, in a region where the bloodline he was born with was despised.
"Hmm, none of those… then how about a play?"
"A play?"
He had seen brief descriptions in books. Wasn't it something about acting out specific events or legends on a stage? Of course, he had never actually seen one. Hearing this, Asiz's eyes went wide.
"What? You've never seen a play in your life?"
"Never."
"Well, then I simply must be your guide. It just so happens that the most incredible theater in Jabilin isn't far from here. They even have knight actors there."
Turan, who knew that actors were a profession similar to jesters, found the idea absurd. People who were regarded as almost mythical figures near Hisaril Hill were performing for the public here… The territories belonging to the Great Families were truly like a world completely apart from other regions.
"Welcome, guests!"
A short while later, as they arrived at the theater, a young boy bowed deeply to greet them. Asiz grinned and pointed to the performance advertisements posted on one side.
"Look over there and see if there's anything you like. The titles and a brief summary of the performances should be there."
Turan looked over the advertisements without much thought, but the moment he saw one particular poster, he froze. Asiz, who had approached from his side, saw it and spoke.
"Hero Keorn? You want to see this one?"
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