Chapter 140. Banquet (5)

Teano’s arrival sent a ripple of murmurs through the crowd. The situation seemed poised to end.

“Cooperate?”

A sharp voice cut through, clear as a bell.

“Hmph, who decided that?”

Sirocco’s words rang out.

Facing Teano, she tapped the ground with her bare foot before Galeil.

“Eek, please, no more…”

Recalling his pain, Galeil looked at her with fear.

Teano glanced at Sirocco but, surprisingly, only observed.

As all watched, Sirocco scanned the crowd, speaking slowly.

“You heard, right? I’m his follower family.”

Her resolute declaration silenced the hall.

She stood boldly before me, meeting the gazes calmly, repeating.

“Remember this. If anyone insults the one I follow, like that weakling, I won’t stay quiet.”

Sweeping back her wavy red hair, she crossed her arms. The crowd stared, transfixed.

Her confident, radiant demeanor hushed the hall.

“Then, I’ll assume you get it.”

Sweeping her hair again, she turned to me, eyes sharp.

“Let’s go. Back to our seats.”

Grabbing my sleeve, she walked. I followed her small tug.

Through the parted crowd, I caught sight of her twitching wolf ears.

In a world of cold meritocracy and ruthless logic, half-mad with injustice, I knew how precious Sirocco’s pure trust was.

I wanted to repay that trust someday.

Moreover, the Sirocco holding my hand now shone, unlike the broken figure in the original.

A mix of emotions stirred, which I quietly suppressed.

Passing the crowd, I glanced around.

Ariadne, wine glass in hand, watched the events with sparkling eyes.

***

“Phew, that was quite a show~!”

Her voice drew my eye to the red wine sloshing in her glass.

Beyond it, her intrigued eye gleamed, distorted by the glass’s curve.

I replied dryly.

“Glad you enjoyed it.”

After the commotion settled, I reached the second floor’s low-tier seats. As expected, Ariadne greeted me, glass in hand, grinning.

“You said you’d watch. Didn’t notice you return.”

“Crowds aren’t my thing. I watched, then came back once it ended. Low-tier’s best up here. Ditched Pyra in the mob.”

“Ditched your follower?”

“Yup. She’s always nagging.”

She glanced at me.

“So, thoughts? First time out of your room, seeing Elsyde’s true face.”

“…”

Recalling the cold, intrigued gazes on Sirocco, I shook my head.

“Not exactly normal.”

“Well, that’s how it is.”

Ariadne turned.

Following her gaze, I saw Galeil, disheveled, being escorted by Teano.

His bowed head, shamed by public defeat, resembled a criminal.

Teano looked like an officer.

“Heh, like a thief caught by police.”

Ariadne, sharing my thought, smiled faintly.

“That Galeil mage had ambitions, I hear. Many want to join a renowned follower family or secure a family post.”

No wonder his tone was sharp. I nodded.

She continued.

“Probably why he didn’t like you, Enoch. A sudden star with unknown power. Jealousy’s natural.”

“Bet he’s not alone.”

Discontent was one thing; acting on it another.

Though Sirocco provoked him this time.

Ariadne replied casually.

“That ego’s a trait for rising as a mage. Curse and blessing.”

Finishing, she sipped wine, exclaiming oddly.

“So, this mess you started—okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“I read your joint mission logs. You used beast-kin treatment as a bargaining chip.”

Propping her cheek, she twirled her glass lazily.

“Won’t this hurt their reputation?”

I glanced aside.

“Nothing to worry about.”

Sirocco roamed the hall, ears and tail alert, like a wolf hunting.

Before coming, she’d said, “Go ahead. I’ll check for more trash-talkers, then join.”

Hands on hips, she’d declared firmly.

Recalling, I added calmly.

“Simple logic. A beast-kin follower got mad when her leader was insulted.”

“…”

“Others might see it as shedding the ‘uncontrollable beast-kin’ stereotype. Wrong?”

Ariadne’s face showed quiet surprise, agreeing.

If Sirocco had attacked randomly, beast-kin reputation would’ve suffered.

But I knew she wasn’t that reckless.

I’d planned this, predicting most outcomes.

Attending was designed for maximum gain.

“Enoch, you…”

Her languid eyes sharpened with surprise.

“Where’d you learn that? I thought you were cooped up.”

“Not exactly learned. It’s basic logic.”

I tilted my head.

“Sirocco and I are a unique follower family bond. I just used that.”

“You, ugh…”

Speechless, she clutched her head, sighing.

“You, barely out of your room, debut in high society and orchestrate this with your follower bond. Make sense?”

“Sounds like you think I planned it all.”

I feigned indifference, but she tapped her glass, smirking lazily.

“Don’t play dumb. This sister’s sharper than you think.”

“…”

“Oh, partly true?”

She raised her empty glass smugly.

Peering through it, she framed Sirocco, saying.

“That girl, Sirocco, made a good choice.”

“…”

“Without your unique position, finding someone to squad with a beast-kin in the empire would be tough.”

Smiling languidly, she gave me a meaningful look.

“You might be a born strategist, Enoch. A daring gambler.”

“Out of nowhere.”

“No exaggeration. Even if the family doesn’t know your hidden power, you’re clearly sharp.”

I didn’t reply. She’d sized me up. Arguing was pointless.

Her assessment, while not fully agreeable, wasn’t negative.

Strategist or gambler, having my planning ability recognized was useful.

I scanned the hall.

Watching the varied mages enjoy the banquet, I sensed strategic planning would grow vital.

To prepare for the future.

The Great Catastrophe was foretold. I needed to uncover the world’s hidden secrets.

That required unraveling invisible threads, one by one.

The Great Catastrophe.

The Book of Gnosis.

The Sword Saint’s past truths.

Unknown strong figures absent from the original.

Ordinary methods wouldn’t suffice.

Beyond growing stronger, I’d need to forge ties with powerful mages here, planning their strategic use.

As I thought, Ariadne gestured.

“Hey, Enoch, look.”

Before I turned, Sirocco approached, her eyes sharper than usual, taking the seat beside me.

She asked coolly.

“Are Elsyde people always this rude?”

Arms crossed, jaw raised, she seemed more irked than before.

“Rude how?”

“Hmph, I checked for more bad-mouthing you. Some gave me stuff, saying I was cool or had it tough out there.”

She plopped a pile on the table. I nearly laughed.

A plate heaped with sweets a girl her age would love.

Some attendees had filled it for her.

Puzzled by her pout, I asked.

“Why’s that rude?”

“Obviously rude! I asked them—since I’m training to get strong, if they liked me, let’s spar. They all refused.”

So she’d challenged strangers to duels. I chuckled wryly.

Her reputation hit was assured.

Beast-kin unfamiliarity might be excused, but the blame would fall on me for not controlling her.

All as planned.

I replied simply.

“Dueling a direct descendant’s follower needs family approval. Challenging someone showing kindness isn’t a great response.”

“So complicated.”

“Anyway, good work.”

She crossed her arms.

“No big deal. I wanted to.”

“Still, thanks, Sirocco.”

Her ears twitched. Glancing at me, she said.

“Hmph, if you’re grateful, grant me a favor.”

A favor? I tilted my head.

“If it’s within my power.”

“Hehe, it’s this.”

She pushed her sweet-laden tray toward me.

“They gave food but no fork.”

“…So?”

Staring as she met my eyes, her tail wagged, and she grinned.

“Like before, feed me?”

“…”

Facing her sparkling, expectant eyes, I sighed wryly.

She could ask a waiter for a fork. No way she didn’t know. She was pretending.

Ignoring Ariadne’s excited “Oh, feeding her?! Tell me more—,” I turned to the arched window’s sky.

Dusk had lifted, and a full night had fallen.

Countless stars twinkled.

The brief banquet was nearing its end.

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