After being hugged by Elena for a while, I finally managed to escape.
First, the conclusion.
Elena seems to have fallen in love with me because of the combination of the Traits of [Ditz] and [Gold Digger]. It's embarrassing to say the least, but that's the way it is.
In hindsight, it was kind of weird to see her giggling at me from the beginning when I was explaining the plan to her.
But I didn't think it was for this reason.
Why didn't I tell her?
I'm not interested in interpersonal relationships and I'm not good at building them.
"Anyway, if you have time for bullshit, just make the potion properly. Got it?"
"Yes… hiccup!"
Again, Elena drank.
She's still looking at me, her face a little flushed.
"Ha… Mei, please help me make the Griffin's Heart Elixir. I have no one else to trust but you."
"Yes. Don't worry too much."
Mei nodded, then warned Elena to be careful.
Well, a warning, if you want to call it that, or a ruffle of hair like I usually do with Rona, or a look in the eye and a few words… but that's enough for now.
I was worried that this would go in the wrong direction.
Turns out, she's surprisingly useful.
I wait a moment for the commotion to die down, then look at Elena and Mei and speak up.
"You will be using the room next to the maids' quarters that Zitri and Rona use for the time being. I've taken care to renovate it and make it suitable for alchemy, so you shouldn't have anything to worry about, and we have all the medicinal ingredients you need. We also have a family physician, so if you need anything, put my name on it and hang up the tab."
Grine will pay anyway.
He just wants my name on it.
"A capable man… wonderful!"
"Elena! What kind of a bullshit idea is that for Nox-nim! Are you out of your mind?"
Elena covered her mouth with her hand and said with an emotional expression, and Mei slapped her on the head once again. Despite that, Elena just giggles.
Hahaha, considering the hell that was the Chasers district before….
this place must feel like heaven.
I thought I was going to die at first, too, but the food was better than I expected, and I'd gotten used to being an asshole, so I actually liked it. It wasn't bad at all.
…This isn't getting me in trouble, is it?
I shook my head, then put a headlock on Rona, who had been annoying me with her antics earlier.
I have enough on my plate without her, and to freak her out by making her jump on me?
Even thinking about it now, how surprised I was….
I can't help myself.
"Ouch, Young Master, I won't do that again, please don't hurt me!"
" I'll spare you. Tell me instead when you're almost half dead, and I'll let you go."
"Fuck."
Rona feigned death, and a vein sprouted on my forehead.
She's still playing with me… she has a way with words.
I tightened my grip and applied a headlock.
"Hieek, you said you'd let me live if I was half dead!"
Rona shouted in frustration, but I ignored her.
"I changed my mind. Dead men don't talk."
"Ack! I'm alive, I'm alive!"
I ignored Rona's screams and turned to Zitri this time.
"So, Zitri, how many days do we have until we enter Eldain in total?"
"About a month, Young Master. The Chasers' region should be all processed by then, too. Besides, the head master says he's going to teach you the first three formulas of the Supreme Black Sword beforehand, though he says it's only the first three...."
My ears perked up at the news, and I couldn't help but express my bewilderment.
I'm barely an adult, and the Supreme Black Sword. He's going to teach me the first three?
What the hell is wrong with Theo?
I put on my best dumbfounded face and replied.
"...Yes. It's ridiculous, I'm not qualified, and it's not something Allen and Hartz have learned yet, but I'll take it up with Rodwell and the Patriarch."
I must escape.
By the time the thought had sunk in, I continued.
"I have no intention of learning the Supreme Black Sword, and I have no intention of becoming the Patriarch."
* * *
I've talked about it in the past.
The Supreme Black Sword.
It's a remarkable skill, arguably the best swordplay in the Inner Lunatic, but it doesn't mean much to me.
The reason it's so hard to learn is because there are all sorts of problems with it, even with the genius trait.
First of all, while it's true that the first three formulas are strong, you can't handle the sword properly unless you learn the middle and later ones.
A fully trained second-tier swordsman can easily surpass a first-tier swordsman who has only learned the first two.
As I've said in the past, this is the world of Inner Lunatic, where it is accepted as truth.
'I must become the Patriarch in order to master the Supreme Black Sword."
Also, becoming a vassal is a bad ending.
Your heart will be pierced by Talia von Steiner and other units, and you will die.
No matter how important swordsmanship is to the game, it's not worth my life.
No, not just me, but anyone.
Anyway, I've already decided not to learn something I can't touch.
Besides, I'm already working hard to learn other swordsmanships that are comparable.
For example, the Southern Swordsmanship I learned in Chasers.
This is the foundation for other higher level swordsmanship.
Since it can only be learned in Chasers, it's better to have it already.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I don't need to get involved in the House Feud right now. That means there's no reason for me to learn the Reinhafer Family Sword.
"Young Master… are you serious?"
Rodwell asked, turning to me as if he didn't think so.
I nodded.
"I am. I'm interested in the swordsmanshipo, but I don't want to learn it while bringing bloodshed to my family. I'm not as stupid as you think I am, and I'm not as good as you think I am."
"That's not what I meant…! The very foundation of House Reinhafer lies in the sword, and the Supreme Black Sword is the best swordsmanship anyone on the continent could wish for… and Young Master Nox, wielder of the first House Lord's sword, refuses to learn it...!"
"I don't recall that when the Patriarch gave me the sword, there was a condition that I must learn it. If not, I will return it."
"...."
Rodwell had no choice but to turn back.
My attitude was too stubborn, but it was not my fault.
It was a matter of life and death.
I can learn swordsmanship later. Right now, I just need to prepare to enter the academy.
"Young Master, I have prepared everything you said."
Zitri and Rona brought the items and laid them out on the floor of my room.
I looked at them and smiled a faint grin.
I had sent Zitri to borrow books to familiarize myself with the things I needed to learn before entering Eldain Academy.
Rona must have gone along for the ride.
I flipped through the pages of the book they brought.
[History of the Ackheim Empire] / [Demonology] / [The Disappearance of the Angels and the Fallen Wings] / [Basics of Magic] / [Basics of Swordsmanship] / [Swordsmanship and Magic in the Provinces] / [Social Life of the Nobility] ....
There were so many books that looked like a chore to read, even for a pretender, but I wasn't worried.
I have a trait that is optimized to overcome this.
[Talent 'Master of Memorization'].
[The speed at which I can read and memorize print increases dramatically].
[Gifted in memorization].
It's not just in the academy, either. It'll help you to recognize the Inner Lunatic threads in the game that you've never really explored.
That's why I asked them to bring mostly history books.
For now, let's read.
Zitri poured me a cup of tea.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" [Zitri]
Rona had already made it clear that she didn't want to read.
At Zitri's words, I hesitated, then patted the seat next to me.
"Sit down, let's read together."
"…What?"
"The more my maid knows, the better for me. I thought you were going to take better care of me, so sit down."
"…I see."
Zitri sat down, unable to refuse my request.
And so it went, day after day, night after night, reading, and morning after morning, practicing swords and magic in the training hall.
About three weeks passed like a bolt of lightning, and I was able to receive the materials for the Chasers' transfer from the Reinhafer estate a little sooner than I had expected.
Theo summoned me to his chambers and held out a thick, enchanted parchment document.
"The Imperial House has been pleased to recognize the merits of House Reinhafer and has granted us the Chasers' estate. I will give it to you as I said, and you may take care of it as you see fit."
"Thank you."
In that moment, I realized that the imperial family is too stupid to be trusted.
This is land that will increase in value hundreds of times in less than a year, and they're giving it away for free....
Of course, in the current situation, it doesn't make any money and only pays taxes, but it's still a dumb idea.
Anyway, it's a good thing for me.
After accepting the documents, I met with Grine before managing the estate.
Before he left to manage his business, he drew up a contract that gave me the money from the sale of the griffin's corpse, as well as the shares in the two mines he was supposed to hand over.
It's enchanted, too, so I don't have to worry about him defrauding me.
"With that, I owe you nothing."
"Of course."
It was dirty work, but I'd gotten a lot out of the Chasers.
I returned to my room and leaned back in my chair.
There was only one thing left to do.
"Husb… No, I mean Young Maassterr…! I'm finally done!"
You're a bad person after all.
I smirked, for it was then that I heard Elena's voice.
She held up the liquid in the small container she had crafted.
It's clear. It was the elixir made from the griffin's heart.
'This is going to work.'
"I'll be right there."
I reply curtly, throwing on a robe and heading for Elena's renovated room.
I see Mei's dark circles creeping down her cheeks to her eyes. It's clear she's been taking care of her.
Seeing her sleeping with her eyes open, I put my hands over her eyes and cover her with a robe. I finally get the elixir from Elena.
This is the elixir made from the heart of a griffin…!
I'd spent quite a bit of money on the ingredients along the way, but it wasn't much compared to this.
It wasn't my money anyway.
'Rodwell's facial expressions became more colorful, which made it worth watching….'
It's scary, but I have to live, don't I?
For now, it's best to take some medicine and build up my strength. Once I'm stronger, I'll be able to extend my life by slaying the mighty, just like I did when I captured the griffin.
"Huh... It was hard work. At last."
The timing is right.
Two weeks until I enter Eldain. That should be enough time for my body to absorb the elixir.
I think so.
The item's information popped up with an unmistakable system chime.
__________________
[Basic Information]
Name: Wind Elixir
Classification: Consumable
Rank: High
Properties: Wind
Stats: +1 Physique/ +3 Dexterity
Wear Restrictions: -.
Special Effects: -.
*Forged by the alchemical genius herself, Elena, the effectiveness has been increased by 200 percent!
__________________
The effect was simple, but the ripple effect was profound.
The time it takes to raise a stat in Inner Lunatic is at least months.
But this item, just by "consuming" it, gives you a 1 Physique boost and a whopping 3 Dexterity boost.
How ridiculous is this?
Memories of sprinting through the training grounds to increase my Physique flashed through my mind.
And now, thanks to Elena's [Potionmaking Genius] talent, the effect is doubled. Tears blur my vision. To think of all the trouble I had to deal with that lunatic...….
"Young Master…? Is that… crying?"
"Noisy."
I quickly regain my composure and turn my attention to Elena.
I heard a small voice behind me say, "Even a grouch can be charming," but I tried to ignore it.
I quickly poured the elixir into my mouth to test it out.
It took less than ten seconds before I felt a change in my body.