I shouldn't waste this precious time I had away from my sister. I should go back to business.
"Available quest," I commanded and the glowing blue screen floating thing showed me the quests available for me.
[NOTICE: Primary Quest Available: Gain Livius's Trust]
[NOTICE: Secondary Quest Available: A Path on My Own]
[NOTICE: You have (1) New Primary Quest]
[NOTICE: You have (1) New Secondary Quest]
My forehead wrinkled while I was staring at those quests. "I know it is not a good decision to open and do the new secondary quest since I'm not done yet with the other two, so I should set it aside for now." Then it automatically vanishes in front of me.
[NOTICE: Primary Quest Available: Gain Livius's Trust]
[NOTICE: Secondary Quest Available: A Path on My Own]
I have this feeling that the Secondary Quest will help me to finish the Primary Quest because it sounds easier. Doing the easier task first is a pro tip I got from my professor in college before.
I tilt my head from side to side while I'm staring at my current open quest. "I already have an idea in mind for this secondary quest, but the problem is how it will work…"
I pull back slightly while making a 'hmmm' noise.
"Oh, the secondary quest earlier helped me to figure out the current idea I have in my mind right now. Maybe primary quest will helped me do the trick this time?"
A gleam in my eye appeared as I rested both of my hands on the back of my head while I put my feet on the other side of the seat.
I know what I said earlier, but who cares? As long as I'm making progress, it doesn't matter which is it or which is not.
"Hey, you, glowing blue screen floating thing, tell me how can I find the villain in this estate?"
[NOTICE: You still haven't unlocked the 'Blueprint' interface yet.]
"Tsk."
Of course, I don't have any idea what this blueprint thing can do to solve my problem. The glowing blue screen floating thing doesn't show anything yet about it. I only use the search bar to explore it to see what else it can do for me.
So now, I have two things in mind that I need to solve. One, look for Livius Sarrafort. And two, what will I do later after Nicomaine finishes her visit with the crown prince?
Why was the number two suddenly mentioned? Of course, I can't ignore the wrath of my sister!
Well, the answer for the last one can wait until that time comes, but the primary quest can't. If the glowing blue screen floating thing can't help me to find him, I need to start from scratch.
Until I remember Livius's character before he became a dangerous villain of this world. He usually spent his time in a small villa in a deep forest to cultivate his medicine herbs.
He dreams of being a physician like his father and that small villa was built for it, so I think that is one of the places to consider where I can find him.
I am not sure if I remember correctly where is that small villa located at this estate, but I still instructed the coachmen where I think it was.
When we arrived at the spot, I instructed him to fetch Nicomaine after an hour before he got back to me. But I warned him not to tell anything to her if he loves his job and his life outside of a cell.
When he headed away, I looked at a pathway that I'm sure is now headed to the small villa where Livius stays. I waste no time and follow the path.
While walking, there are many things in my head I think might happen after I approach him. For my plan to work, I need a perfect idea to convince him I am a trusted man now and I am different from the Nicodeim who used to bully him when we were kids.
It's a good thing that after so many times I bullied him when we were kids, this is the timeline we are going to meet again as a young man. An age where is perfect to take an exam at the Magindale Academy.
In the original series, I never had the chance to take the exam because before the exam happened, Livius already killed me. It gives me motivation to complete this quest because I wanted to try that exam personally.
Finally, I reached the villa. But it is not what captures my eye, rather the structure made of glass on its side. From here, I can see what is inside of it. There are many seedling trays, and shelving units holding a variety of pots that I am certain it is a herb.
When I spotted the person I was looking for, I didn't hesitate to enter the greenhouse. "Oh, so there you are, my dear friend. I am very brilliant to know that this is the place where I can find you," I said to greet him.
I caught him arranging the plants when I entered the greenhouse. When he heard my voice, he immediately stood up to face me but did not mean to look at me directly.
He did not respond. I spoke once again, "It gives me an advantage that you never had friends to hang out with, it made me easy to look for you."
He keeps on avoiding making eye contact with me. It gives me a reason to continue speaking, "What are you up to now? Are you working with a new medicine or something?"
"M-my l-lord, what brings you here in my greenhouse?" he stutters. He blinks rapidly before he speaks again, "I… I never expected you to… to visit me here early this morning."
A smirk comes out on my lips. "Nothing in particular. I'm just wondering if we can have a small chat, Livius Sarrafort."
He backs away before he answers me. "I… I don't think we have something to discuss with each other, m-my lord," he speaks rapidly.
He's making sidelong glances while keeping his head still. While I remain looking at him.
I scoff. "Livius, come on! You don't need to act formally in front of me. I come here to talk to you as my dear friend!"
He isn't a talkative one. But it doesn't make me stop talking to him. "We've been friends since we were kids, right?"
I'm thinking of asking him for a high five but I don't think things like that are applicable in this world. Instead, I offer him a handshake.
Rather than take my hand, he immediately steps backward away again from me as he lowers his gaze. It surprised me, to be honest, I never imagined this was the effect of my presence alone with him.
I get down my hands and sigh. "Okay, I admit we had a minor issue when we we're a kids. But its all done now. Come on, I'm only here to make up to you. Can't it be possible?"
It took him a second before he answered but in a low voice. "What do you want from me?"
My gaze shifts to the herbs. I know from the start that it's useless to act nice in front of him, but I still give it a try, because why not?
But now, it seems I need to think of another way to gain his trust.
"You really like your herbs and staying in this small villa, aren't you?" I asked, still looking at the herbs in a pot.
I put my hands in my side pocket as I looked at him again and said, "After all, you abandoned the real world for all of this."
From that, he comes forward one step on me while raising his both hands as if he's protecting the herbs from me. "I believe… herbs don't need to be involved between us."
Knowing about the series and Nicodeim's memories, I am certain this is the first time that Livius acted tough. A grin flashes on my lips.
I pulled my hands from my side pockets and waved my right hand in the air. "Come on, I won't waste my energy to destroy those plants!" I said.
Then I looked at him seriously before speaking again. "I know even if I blow this place up, you will just try to rebuild this villa and replant those plants again. And I told you, I'm only here to have a little chat with you."
Finally, he lowered his hand. While not looking at me directly, I sensed that he now believed in my words.
I crossed my arms before I spoke, "You know, being the eldest and the son of a duke… is such a pain!" I frown at him. "To be honest, I'm sick of my life!"
Then I shook my head and nodded as I spoke again, "But if I didn't figure something out to impress my father, my life will be sicker than I ever imagine…"
I caught him looking at me for a second, but when he noticed that my gaze was on him, he looked away again.
I just turn my gaze to the herbs. "So, I need you to do something for me." I said with a serious tone.
"Therefore, you need to obey me if you want to continue taking good care of these plants," I said while still looking at the herbs. Then I looked at him and from that, we had our first eye contact for a second.
I already tried to act nice to him, but it seems hard for this character to do that. So I'll just act like how Nicodeim should act to be more believable.
He is shaking, it's obvious he wants to run away from me but he can't because I'm still inside his greenhouse.
It's easier to order him than to convince him I won't do anything to him. When they were a kid, Nicodeim used to order him around and Livius immediately did it to avoid trouble.
A smirk comes out to my lips as I speak again, "Come on, it's just a simple task for you! You just need to cure my father's subordinate. If you suceed, you will be rewarded. Perhaps people of this estate might recognize you got a real talent, right?"
"But… my lord… I believe I am not a worthy person to do such a thing. Perhaps you should—"
"Enough of your drama! Just do what I said if you don't want me to take my words back about blowing this place up! Are we clear on that?!" I said in a louder voice.
He bows his head, but I notice that his clenching his fist. "Yes, my lord. I will… do… it," he said in a very low voice.
[NOTICE: Primary Quest Completed! Rewards have been issued to your inventory.]
[NOTICE: Livius's hatred increases to 35%.]
My eyes widened when a glowing blue screen floating thing suddenly appeared. Livius is here, why did this thing appear? What would happen if he saw this?!
And what the hell it's talking about Livius's hatred?! Does it also have a feature to measure someone's hatred?!
My gaze bounces from side to side. "Excellent!"
I clear my throat. "Now, just… stay put in here! Then, I… I will order some coachmen to fetch you here when it's your time to come to our manor…"
I couldn't stay still until I decided to turn around from him. "Don't break your words, Sarrafort!"
I immediately walk away. I don't know if he notices the glowing blue screen floating thing when it suddenly appears in front of me. What I know is he shouldn't see this.
As I walked away from Livius, I decided to hide in the closest tree I spotted to have my time alone with this thing.
"Why you did do that?!" I said while pointing at it as if it would answer me.
Of course, this thing will not answer me. It still just shows the notification same as earlier regarding the quest I completed, the hatred thing regarding Livius, and progress with the primary quest.
[NOTICE: Progress Achieved in Primary Quest: Gain Livius's Trust: Level 5%]