24
Chapter 24
It was sudden, but the touch that cooled down my flushed eyes felt nice.
"Your hand is as cold as a corpse. Is there something wrong with your health?"
"My Aura attribute is ice."
Ah, he's infusing Aura into his hand to cool me down. To think Aura could be used so lavishly and trivially.
Grateful for his kindness, I quietly let him for a while before suddenly asking,
"Lord Penadel, you're not asking anything."
I must have seemed suspicious enough.
Even after everything was over, Lord Penadel didn't ask about my circumstances.
Well, that doesn't mean he won't tell the Grand Duke, but for now, I was grateful for his silence.
"If you wish me to ask, I will."
"...You really are clueless sometimes."
He was like that during our first meeting, but he's strangely like a robot.
Even if I said the reason his hand was cold wasn't because of Aura but because it was made of tin, he'd just nod and say, "I see."
"It would be best if you rested now."
Lord Penadel's heavy, low voice gave me a strange sense of stability.
Hearing only his voice without seeing his scary mask, it almost sounded like he was worried about me.
"Are you daring to pity me now?"
Oh dear, our Bel. Just listen to her talk.
I removed Lord Penadel's hand and glanced up at him.
His expression was still hidden beneath the mask, and the only part of his face that was visible, his mouth, was set in a firm line.
I was wrong after all...
"It's not pity, it's concern."
Wait, was he really worried about me?
"With such a stoic face?"
"Was I stoic?"
Lord Penadel reached for his face, but his hand was soon blocked by the mask.
I burst out laughing at his awkward gesture.
"You're quite bad at being honest too, aren't you?"
* * *
Considering what Belinda possessed, it was perhaps natural for Cesar to worry about her.
If something happened to her, the engagement contract would be nullified.
It was just that emotion.
"You're quite bad at being honest too, aren't you?"
However, the moment he saw a faint smile on her face, as if a mask had been removed, Cesar couldn't help but avert his gaze.
It felt like he had accidentally stumbled upon something he shouldn't have seen, and he felt a strange sense of guilt.
"I'm tired. I'll go to my room and rest."
Even after she left, he remained in the empty room for a while.
Only after hearing the sound of her door closing in the distance did Cesar remove his mask and roughly wipe his face.
The reason he didn't ask Belinda about her situation was to avoid getting deeply involved with her.
To exchange what they wanted in a businesslike manner and then part ways.
That was what Cesar wanted.
"I didn't know she could smile like that."
Nevertheless, her smile left a scar on the emotions that Cesar had deeply hidden beneath the surface.
Although Cesar didn't realize it.
* * *
"What? Say that again."
Bruno's face, usually as pale as a corpse, was flushed red.
Bruno's assistant knew that opening his mouth was like pouring water onto a scorching hot frying pan, but he had no choice. He could only hope that the boiling oil would avoid him.
"That... the warehouse you own in the commercial district was completely destroyed by a fire last night."
"Completely destroyed? All those goods?"
"Yes, yes."
"That's nonsense! How many guards did I have stationed around the warehouse! What were those morons doing when the fire broke out!"
"Th-that's... it was such a large fire that they were all engulfed in flames and died."
Bang. Bruno slammed his desk.
Of all the warehouses in the commercial district, only his was completely destroyed.
As a result, Bruno lost about a year's worth of 'Cecil's Lullaby' to sell and hundreds of kilograms of PanShield, the herb essential for making it, in an instant.
He was just about to release a large quantity and make some money.
Everything he had prepared for years, avoiding the eyes of the royal family and the Magic Tower, had turned to ashes in an instant.
'Could it be that the royal family noticed something...?'
Bruno shook his head.
No, that can't be. If it was the royal guard, they wouldn't have secretly burned down only the warehouse like this.
Bruno's mind raced.
Okay, for now, let's forget about who did it and how much the loss is. I can just make it again.
Bruno squeezed out his patience and moved to replenish the supply of 'Cecil's Lullaby'.
And three hours later.
"What? Say that again."
'Huh? Where have I seen this scene before?'
Bruno's assistant felt a strange sense of déjà vu as he examined Bruno's complexion, which was as black as a burnt pan, beyond being heated.
Then, he stammered,
"I-I can't find any PanShield left in the market. Someone bought it all up, leaving not even a single dried leaf. We won't be able to get a new supply until next spring..."
"Then make it happen! That's why I hired you as my assistant!"
In the end, Bruno's anger exploded.
Unable to contain his rage, Bruno grabbed whatever he could and threw it, turning the laboratory into a mess.
"Find out who the buyer is right now and bring them to me!"
The assistant, kicked in the butt, hurriedly left the Magic Tower.
However, after that day, the assistant never returned to the Magic Tower.
Instead, a crumpled telegram found Bruno.
Thinking that the buyer's name would be written on it, Bruno quickly examined the telegram, but a question mark formed on his face.
Bruno, the recipe has been leaked.
"What is this guy saying? Is the buyer's name 'Recipe Leak'?"
Bruno couldn't interpret the context of the telegram to the point of saying such absurd things.
Hastily scribbled handwriting.
Bloodstains on the corner.
The missing assistant.
Only then did Bruno feel a strange sense of unease.
He urgently sent someone to check the situation in the slums.
And the news that came back was...
"The real recipe for 'Cecil's Lullaby' has been spread throughout the slums, you say."
It rather cooled Bruno's head.
The burned-down warehouse.
The monopoly on PanShield.
The leak of the recipe.
It was certain. Someone was interfering with him.
"This is ruined."
If the recipe has been leaked, it's over.
'Cecil's Lullaby' is not a magical drug that requires special skills.
If you know the recipe, even third-rate Wizards who run personal workshops can easily make it.
The guys who are addicted to 'Cecil's Lullaby' without even knowing it will immediately go to a private workshop and ask them to make 'Cecil's Lullaby' according to the recipe spread in the slums.
The addictiveness of the improved 'Cecil's Lullaby' came from the sleep effect that made you fall asleep immediately.
On the other hand, the real 'Cecil's Lullaby' has no sleep effect, so taking it doesn't make you fall asleep like fainting right away.
In other words, if the slum guys take the real 'Cecil's Lullaby' instead of the improved 'Cecil's Lullaby', they will eventually lose their dependence on the drug.
'It would be better to squeeze Vivian to develop a new magical drug.'
His goose that lays golden eggs was developing a potion to heal wounds, wasn't she?
If he uses her well, there will be a corner to make a lot of money like 'Cecil's Lullaby'.
Even as he thought of Vivian, he didn't even suspect that she was involved in this.
* * *
"Vivian? What on earth is that?"
Vivian flinched at her master's scolding as soon as they faced each other.
And belatedly, she realized that she was wearing the new clothes that Belinda had made for her.
Bruno's eyes, accustomed to luxury goods, thoroughly scanned the clothes, which used a generous amount of fabric with a subtle sheen.
There was blatant criticism in his gaze, and Vivian was intimidated as usual.
"Ahem, well, it does suit you. But Vivian, haven't I told you repeatedly?"
He dusted off his clothes for no reason and spoke sternly.
"Those who seek truth and conquer reason must stay away from luxury. You are only an apprentice, and those clothes seem a bit excessive."
"Ah..."
Vivian couldn't say a word and lowered her head.
Bruno, satisfied with his dispirited disciple, brought up the main topic in a generous tone.
"Well, since you went to the trouble of getting it made, I won't tell you not to wear it. By the way, how is the recovery potion you're making these days progressing?"
"That's... it's almost finished..."
"Good, that's good. Bring me a detailed summary of the research process as usual. Then I'll look at it and judge whether it has value as a product."
Normally, an answer would have come back right away.
But for some reason, Vivian bit her lip without answering and opened her mouth with a desperate face.
"Master, am I, am I a very lacking disciple?"
"What?"
"When can I become Master's official disciple and receive the Magic Tower's cape?"
It's already been 8 years since Vivian has been an apprentice under Bruno.
Usually, after about 4 years, you get recognized as a formal disciple, but her apprenticeship showed no end.
Nevertheless, the reason she hadn't complained so far was...
"Vivian, you're a commoner and a woman, and a beggar who can't even touch a proper research tool without my help."
It didn't matter what kind of treatment she received as long as she could develop Magic Tools with her own hands.
