12
Chapter 12
'I know it's cheap, but I can't help it.'
I snatched her plate of meat away.
"Ah!"
"Aah..."
Sighs erupted from two places.
Looking to the side, Leo was staring at the meat I had taken from Vivian with a face that seemed like he was about to die of pity.
At this rate, he might even offer his own food to Vivian.
They say even dogs don't bother you when you're eating. Just as I was hesitating whether I was being too petty, Vivian, who had succumbed to her appetite, cautiously opened her mouth.
"Th, that's... well... I made it, but... it's as good as my teacher's. I made it with the research tools my teacher lent me."
"If your claim is true, call the chef who cooked this steak and tell them, 'The reason this steak is delicious is not because of your excellent cooking skills, but purely because the rancher raised excellent cattle.'"
"..."
Vivian naturally couldn't say anything.
See? Why are you spouting such nonsense?
Perhaps because my expression had soured, she hurriedly began to make excuses.
"To make Magic Tools, you need expensive research tools, but I'm... a commoner, so I don't have anything..."
"So?"
"So... while studying under my teacher, in exchange for being provided with research tools, I decided to hand over the copyright and distribution rights of my inventions... to my teacher."
Copyright and distribution rights?
I wondered if there might be some hidden story. But this is just a conclusion that the teacher is trash!
I slammed the table and shouted.
"I'm making you a scout offer. How much are you getting paid?"
Vivian answered clearly with an innocent face.
"I'm an apprentice, so I don't get paid. I'm just provided with room and board..."
"......?"
What the hell is this?
So, they're not paying her anything, making her work her butt off, and then taking all the credit for themselves? And on top of that, they're letting their own student starve to death?
"Why is a Wizard who's provided with room and board begging for food at the temple?"
"Th, that's... because I'm such a big eater..."
My expression must have been so fierce that even Leo started to cautiously read my face.
But I was so angry that I couldn't control my expression.
I took a breath to pour out all sorts of reasons why she was being treated unfairly.
"I'm happy enough just to be able to invent. Thanks to my teacher, I can research alchemy as much as I want."
Unlike Magic, which performs miracles with the Magical Power one possesses, alchemy is a discipline that creates Magic Tools using Mana Stones containing Magical Power.
Both are disciplines that only Wizards born with Magical Power can learn, but alchemy required a more scientific approach.
In addition, it also required abundant capital to the point where one could smash precious Mana Stones without hesitation.
For her, a poor commoner, her teacher's support was essential to research alchemy.
Vivian's green eyes, which had been avoiding my gaze all along, met mine for the first time.
For a moment, I couldn't say anything.
That's because I intuitively realized that no matter what sweet conditions I offered, she wouldn't budge.
Her eyes were shining with such conviction.
She truly considered it a stroke of luck to be able to invent like this, even if she was starving.
But knowing her ending, I couldn't just leave her alone. For her sake, and for mine.
'I didn't want to use this method.'
In the end, I played my trump card. Call it a foul if you want.
"If that's what you want, I won't stop you. But if you have time, try going to this place."
I handed her a map that I had prepared just in case.
"And if you want to change the owner of your leash, come find Belinda Blansche of the Blanche family."
And I handed her the plate of meat again. Of course, I didn't forget to add a line for talent scouting.
"Unlike your teacher, I'm kind to capable and obedient dogs."
Vivian, who had returned to her timid and cautious self, picked up the meat while still showing a firm conviction in her eyes, but I was convinced with a bitter heart.
That she would come to me before long.
* * *
When I returned after enjoying a long-awaited outing to the fullest, unexpected news was waiting for me.
"Belinda, there is a guest who has been waiting for you."
A guest for Belinda. Belinda's personality was so terrible that she didn't have a single friend.
Reminiscing about Belinda's human relationships, which were at a level of annihilation, I opened the door to the drawing room where the guest was waiting.
"Lady Blanche?"
A low voice that made me want to rub my ears made goosebumps rise all over my body.
No, it wasn't just the voice.
The drawing room was deeply tinged with sunset light.
The man's huge frame, silhouetted against the tall window, caught my eye.
Because of the backlight, his features were blurred into a dark mass, but that shadow.
The man's shadow, which stretched out long and reached to my feet, had two hideous horns sticking out.
The only reason I didn't scream was thanks to synchronization.
I couldn't bring myself to step inside and just stood by the door, cowering and asking.
Wh, who are you...?
"Who are you?"
Only then did the man step forward and stand under the chandelier.
A frame so large that it was overwhelming.
A jet-black knight's uniform that covered his body without a gap.
And even a jet-black iron half-mask with devil's horns.
I swallowed hard.
It was only after seeing the mask that I realized. That the man in front of me was a knight from the north.
"My introduction was late. My name is Allen Penadel."
The seal embroidered on the cloak slung over one shoulder caught my eye belatedly.
A black shield entwined with white vines.
A beat late, I remembered which family that crest belonged to.
"I have come to see the young lady by order of Grand Duke Valuashten."
The guardian of the vast barrier that blocked the nests of Demon beasts at the northern end of the continent.
It was the crest of the Valuashten family, known as the Demon Grand Duke.
* * *
Hirome Ending Number 8, the Azure Flame Knight Who Stops the Red Moon.
It is an ending where you enter the royal guard of the Valuashten Grand Duke's family, who rules the vast northern territory, and make a name for yourself. You can see it without difficulty if you put all of Leo's stats into swordsmanship and martial power and steadily run dungeons.
However, little is known about Grand Duke Valuashten even within the game, so all I know are the rumors spread in the royal capital.
The leader of the northern knights who instantly cut off the heads of Demon beasts.
The rumors about the Grand Duke, who rules that barren and harsh land, cannot be mild.
I heard that he always wears a mask to hide his hideous appearance.
His nature is so cruel that it is suspected that poison flows in his blood, and four years ago, he killed his parents, siblings, and even his own brother's children with his own hands and usurped the title.
And now a subordinate of such a person is sitting in front of me.
My hand holding the teacup trembled so much that the contents spilled over.
...That's all just a delusion in my head.
Unlike my tightly frozen heart, my gestures of tilting the teacup were nothing short of elegant.
'I wish he would take off that terrifying mask.'
I knew that there was a strange rule that northern knights had to wear masks at all times when they left the Grand Duke's territory, so I couldn't bring myself to ask.
I barely opened my mouth with a trembling voice.
"So. What business does a insignificant knight from the backwoods of the north have bringing you to this far place?"
Ah, Belinda. Please, your tone.
Fortunately, the knight, Lord Penadel, opened his mouth without showing any signs of displeasure.
No, in fact, I couldn't tell what he was feeling because he was wearing a mask.
That's what makes it even scarier.
"I will get straight to the point. My lord wants the ownership of the Herrington Mine. Therefore, I would like to propose a deal to the young lady."
The Herrington Mine...
I've heard of it.
It must mean that he wants to buy it since 'ownership of the Herrington Mine' is on my list of marriage dowry.
'The rumors are fast.'
There are even people who come to reserve my dowry in advance before I even get married.
I wondered how much he would offer, so I leaned back leisurely and took a sip of tea.
"We propose that you maintain a marital life with the Grand Duke for a certain period of time under mutual agreement and then divorce."
...I almost spat it out.
