The atmosphere in the situation room instantly turned cold.
Only one person, Sojin, wore a look of utter confusion.
“Well, you see…”
Another crew member whispered an explanation to him.
Then, Sojin looked at me with a face full of pity.
“Ah! If it’s the Shoggoth race, I can understand. You must be heartbroken, Young Master.”
“I didn’t come to see my ex-fiancée. I just stopped by for supplies.”
No one believed me.
There were plenty of other routes to get to the capital of the Marshal’s Office much faster.
However, I couldn’t tell them I was here to obtain a holy relic. The location of the relic was inside the manor of the Doros family. This was, in a sense, theft.
Of course, they didn’t even know such a relic existed. Unless I intervened, it wouldn’t be discovered until the very end of the game.
I only found out about it by chance. That’s why I came to steal it without any pangs of conscience. No one else would use it if I didn’t, anyway.
“Since the Young Master says it isn’t so, I shall believe him.”
“Yes, yes. Of course not.”
I replied half-heartedly, feeling resigned. They wouldn’t believe me no matter what I said.
[This is Control. Please follow the guidance from now on.]
Our ship slowly approached the station. The size of the station was considerable—enough to make the Pepe colony look embarrassing by comparison.
Thud!
The ship docked. I stood up from my seat and spoke.
“We will be undergoing maintenance here for two days. Enjoy your free time according to the orders of your department heads.”
The command was issued over the broadcast. Cheers erupted from all over.
“Woooooah!!!”
It was only natural. This was a planet inhabited by one of the “Beautiful Races.” Naturally, the entertainment industry was highly developed. However, the cost of living was very high. Nevertheless, those who visited this place, regardless of gender, did not hold back their spending.
“Let’s goooo!!!”
Everyone rushed out like madmen. Did the department heads not control them? The officers were the first to run out.
“Follow me!!!”
The crew members’ wallets were thick. In addition to their previous bonuses, Sojin had rewarded them handsomely. To those with money, this place was an earthly paradise.
“Is it all right to let them loose like that?”
The Vice Captain asked cautiously.
“Actually, it’s a bit disappointing.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“They’ve worked so hard, yet I can’t give them more time to enjoy themselves.”
“I didn’t know you cared for your subordinates so much.”
The crew members still remaining in the situation room looked touched, but in reality, it was nonsense.
‘Go and spend it all!’
Hardly anyone had boarded the ship voluntarily. Most of them had been sold or forced onto it because of money.
What happens when such people suddenly come into a lot of money? The moment we reached the capital of the Marshal’s Office, they would desert.
‘It’s better if you squander every penny.’
That way, they’d have no choice but to stay on the ship.
“By the way, absolutely do not go to the casino.”
The Vice Captain was an exception. She stayed not for money, but for her career.
“I do not enjoy gambling.”
“That’s a relief. The Shoggoths are skilled in deception. Even if they weren’t, you can never win against them in gambling.”
They say the hand is quicker than the eye, but those guys had eyes everywhere. Even without that, they were extremely skilled at gambling. They had a knack for seeing right through an opponent’s mood.
“Well then, I’m off. You should enjoy yourself moderately as well.”
“I will follow the Captain. Shouldn’t you have at least a minimum escort?”
“Is that necessary…?”
The security on this planet was top-tier. It was hard for problems to arise in a place ruled by a single family like a king.
‘No, I should take her.’
I was here to steal a relic. Some of the places I had to go weren’t exactly high-security areas.
“On one condition: you must not speak of what you see today.”
“Do not worry. Even if I see you weeping unsightly, I will be understanding.”
The Vice Captain was also deeply mistaken. She probably thought I was going to grab my ex-fiancée’s hem and beg for her back.
Step.
I set foot onto the space station.
“Please sign here, Young Master.”
The administrator handed me some documents. I signed them lightly and was about to leave when he caught me.
“The Clan Head is waiting for you. We have prepared a limousine to escort you.”
I didn’t want to see him, but refusal was impossible. I was a guest at someone else’s home; I couldn’t reject the host’s invitation.
“They will guide you.”
Sticky, flesh-colored slimes squirmed the eyeballs on their tentacles. I had almost ended up married to a race like that. I decided that from now on, I would never let the family decide my marriage.
Anti-arranged marriage!
I am a believer in free romance. Starting today.
Wiggle. Wiggle.
The creatures guided my group to the limousine. It was a soft, elegant shuttle shaped like a snail.
“Please, get in. We will escort you comfortably.”
The interior of the limousine was finished with high-quality fabrics. The space allocated for one person was quite large.
Squelch!
As I sat down, the seat moved softly. It felt like a waterbed. It had a different kind of comfort compared to the Captain’s chair.
“We are departing now.”
The limousine left the space station and descended toward the planet. The light was a bit blinding. This star system was a binary system with two suns. Therefore, there was no night.
“It looks like something out of a fairy tale.”
The planet was overall tinged with pink. ADP and phosphate were abundant, so ATP synthesis occurred frequently. In that process, it emitted a pink light. This planet was rich in adenosine triphosphate (ATP), making it an ideal place for slime-type life forms to thrive.
Whirrrr!
The limousine landed at a place that looked like a giant palace. Eyeball monsters were lined up there. Just because they were eyeball monsters didn’t mean they all looked the same. Each had its own personality.
“Wow!! To think there are so many Shoggoths. I am one blessed Picol.”
The Blue 07 made a fuss. For reference, this guy’s name was The Blue. What was the number at the end? He said he had six older brothers. He mentioned that the second oldest was our family’s butler. If that was the case, his name could easily be deduced as The Blue 02.
“Welcome to the Doros Manor.”
A being who appeared to be the butler approached. He observed me closely with his many eyes.
‘Damn it…!’
I was flustered. The creature squelched and changed its appearance in an instant. It was an Elf. At a glance, it looked very similar to my Vice Captain.
“Captain. Are Elves your type?”
The Vice Captain spoke coldly. She seemed to distance herself by half a step. My face heated up as if my inner thoughts had been caught.
“Ahem. Well, Elves are one of the Top 100 Beautiful Races, after all.”
Elves were a bit of an acquired taste for some, which is why their ranking had dropped.
“I see. But strangely, it looks a bit like me…”
“You’re the first Elf I’ve seen, so I suppose it was influenced by that. You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen, after all.”
“To… to say such things so casually.”
An air of misunderstanding seemed to flow between us. I quickly spoke up.
“It’s not that I have any ulterior motives, so don’t worry!”
“I. See.”
Why did she seem even more annoyed? More than that, it was fascinating.
Squelch, squelch.
The butler’s appearance changed slightly moment by moment. This was why the Shoggoth race was among the Top 10 Beautiful Races. They could change their appearance to match the observer’s ideal type by gauging their reactions.
However, it was a bit subtle. The butler before me wasn’t a perfect Elf. It was something between a monster and an Elf. Or perhaps like a piece of art by an impressionist artist.
‘It’s even more gruesome!’
I felt a bit nauseous.
“Oh, Young Master. Your taste is truly sophisticated!”
The Picol fellow looked convinced as he watched the transformed butler. It was as if he were admiring a work of art.
‘That’s sophisticated?’
Did the people of this world have a Van Gogh filter over their eyes?
‘The more I look at it, maybe it’s not that strange… damn it!’
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. It was terrifying how I was slowly getting used to it as a human. The butler wore a thin smile, appearing satisfied with my reaction.
“Please, come inside. The Clan Head is waiting for you.”
The butler, in his pseudo-Elf form, pointed the way with a tentacle. He could have at least formed a hand shape. In any case, the butler’s transformation seemed to be a service for the guests. However, I was very uncomfortable.
“Can you do something about that appearance?”
The other employees around were all transformed into similar vibes. Dozens of eerie-looking Elves were terrifying enough to appear in nightmares.
“Oh dear. It seems my skill is lacking and failed to satisfy you. If there is another form you desire, please look into my eyes and…”
“No. Just stay in your original form.”
“Ah, I see. It seems you don’t like your preferences being discovered. There are people like that occasionally. Contrary to the rumors, you are quite shy.”
Exactly what kind of life had I been living? I heard from the servants that I hadn’t caused any particularly huge scandals.
“Then, let us go.”
In his original form, the butler guided me to the drawing room.
Click!
The door opened. In the distance, I saw a Shoggoth who appeared to be the Clan Head.
‘Hmm?’
But something was strange. He wasn’t the Head of the Doros family I knew. In the game, the skin of the Clan Head was a brilliant sky blue, but this Head was a dark gray. It didn’t seem like he was teasing or testing me.
“Welcome. Successor of the Park family. I know you are deeply saddened by the broken engagement, but to come here without so much as a message is quite improper.”
Contrary to the heavy atmosphere he tried to project, there was no energy in his voice. It even sounded a bit raspy. It felt as if the shadow of death was looming behind him.
‘Ah!’
Then, I noticed his eyes were bloodshot. Looking closer, the blood vessels were clumped together in the shape of hearts. I had a rough idea of how things were playing out. If this was the case, there was no need for theft.
“Why are you staring at me so intently? Are you here to argue about the broken engagement?”
“Ah! No, it’s not that. You just looked exhausted, so… my apologies.”
“I suppose it shows. I haven’t been sleeping well lately. Regardless, what is your business in visiting our manor?”
“You may have heard the rumors, but I am currently serving as a Patrol Flight Leader in the Pepe star system.”
At my words, the Clan Head narrowed nine of his twelve eyes.
“I’ve heard the stories. You must have been heartbroken over the broken engagement. But our family only gives its daughters to diligent men.”
What about children born between different races? There are four possibilities: mother’s race, father’s race, hybrid, or miscarriage.
Humans and Shoggoths? As far as I recalled…
Human: 70%
Shoggoth: 20%
Hybrid: 0%
Miscarriage: 10%
That’s roughly how I remembered it.
The 20% was the problem here. The Shoggoths did not like their genetic material leaving the clan. Thus, they made prior agreements to take back any children born as Shoggoths.
And noble bloodlines were especially precious. If they sent one away, they wanted at least one back. It was only natural that I, rumored to be a wastrel, was dumped. There was a high probability I’d just act like a profligate spreading my seed everywhere rather than focusing on the lineage.
Then, couldn’t they just take in a son-in-law? That was nearly impossible. If there was a difference in Force purity, pregnancy was difficult.
Most of those with high-purity Force were nobles. And there weren’t many places willing to send a noble as a live-in son-in-law.
Regardless, I failed the criteria. I wasn’t at all disappointed, but for the sake of politeness…
“I fully understand. I am aware that my reputation is poor. Sadly, the young lady of the Doros family is far too good for me.”
The Clan Head’s expression softened slightly.
“I merely stopped by purely for supplies. And I intend to purchase a large quantity of lenses, which are a specialty of this place.”
The price of lenses would continue to rise. They were an essential component for ships. The price had already gone up significantly, but now was the cheapest they would ever be. Since I was here anyway, I had to buy as many as possible.
“Is that truly all?”
“Yes. You need not worry, as I will certainly not cause any trouble.”
“Ahem. If that is the case…”
The Clan Head leaned his back completely against the chair. He seemed a bit relieved.
“However, I believe the one-sided notification of the broken engagement was a great discourtesy on the part of the Doros family.”
In an instant, the atmosphere in the drawing room plummeted. Several tentacles with eyes sprouted from the bodies of the servants and glared at me.
I didn’t know the exact standing of the Park family, but the Doros family was one of the top prestigious families in the Humildas Marshal’s Office. In other words, for someone like me, who wasn’t even the head of a household, to speak up like this was an act out of turn for my rank.
But I spoke with confidence.
“Therefore, I must receive compensation.”
“As the rumors say, you are quite insolent.”
“The Doros family won’t be on the losing side of this deal either.”
“What do you mean by that?”
I spoke with a faint smile.
“I am aware of the illness you are currently suffering from, Clan Head.”
The reason I hadn’t seen the current Clan Head in the game was simple. He was dead from the start.
“You know of our clan’s genetic disease?”
“What you are suffering from is not actually a disease.”
“Then what is it?”
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