Chapter 18: Banquet (1)

After the duel with Julio ended, a banquet was held to celebrate my birthday.

Honestly, attending was a hassle, but I couldn’t make an Aiden-less Aiden birthday party, so I decided to at least show my face.

I also had personal business.

“Entering now is Aiden, the second son of the Stroke grand duke family, celebrating his fifteenth birthday today!”

Countless gazes focused on me.

The atmosphere had completely changed from before winning the duel.

I felt a strange pride and exhilaration as I crossed the banquet hall.

Soon, someone approached me.

“You are?”

“Claus, the legitimate heir of the Ransberg family. If it’s not rude, I’d like to talk for a moment.”

Upright impression with a subtle smile.

A man who could easily win favor from anyone.

But I’m not particularly interested in building friendships with kingdom or duchy nobles.

Just in case, I checked Claus’s character sheet, but he was an unremarkable figure.

“Prince Claus. I’m quite hungry right now and about to eat—if you have something to say, later.”

“Haha, I was feeling lonely too! How about sitting at the table together?”

“Unfortunately, even sitting with family is rare for me.

I prefer savoring the taste slowly alone.”

“Hmm, understood.”

When I firmly expressed refusal, Claus readily backed off.

“Excuse me, Prince Aiden. From the Adler marquis family…”

“The legitimate heir of the Vine baron family…”

But immediately other nobles swarmed, and I sweated refusing their join-table proposals.

They clung so persistently—I lost count of how many times I politely told them to buzz off.

After some time, a few pretty noble ladies approached.

“Nice to meet you, prince.

Would you consider gifting me the victory from this duel?”

“No thanks.”

Saying that bluntly, the prideful ladies crumpled their faces and left.

It might seem cold, but in public settings like this, even small actions spawn all sorts of rumors.

Better to build an iron wall.

Especially since I have a publicly recognized fiancée.

After possession, I noticed while looking around the streets—this world’s races strangely have better average innate appearances than modern Earth’s humanity.

No need to mention how excellently beautiful noble ladies stand out.

Yet the reason I wasn’t tempted by their beauty is simple.

Even top-tier noble ladies are all relatively squid-like before the one woman I know.

Should I say my cutoff for ‘mind-blowing beauty’ rose?

Better to say I developed immunity to average beauty.

Speak of the tiger, and the Utland duke family’s father-daughter appeared.

The greatest lord currently boasting the highest prestige in the Croa Kingdom, and a girl with beauty overwhelming the crowd.

As the two with tremendous presence approached, the nobles lingering around me also slinked away, minding them.

I stood from the table and bowed politely.

“Greetings, Your Grace.”

“Yes. A truly splendid duel, Aiden.

And seeing now, your consideration for your fiancée seems as great as your swordsmanship.”

From that satisfied smile, he must have watched me firmly reject the noble ladies.

But knowing Utland duke Elvio’s true nature well, I couldn’t help but feel slightly repulsed by the reaction.

The middle-aged man looked at me with seemingly warm eyes, but sticky greed mixed in.

Probably excited thinking of a grandchild born with fairy blood and the Stroke swordsmanship master’s factors.

I brought up the prepared story.

“Come to think of it, it’s been ages since I visited the Utland mansion.”

“Hm. Hearing that, indeed, you haven’t visited since Chesa left for the magic tower 5 years ago.

As the father-in-law, I’ve visited the duchy twice recently—don’t you think it’s courtesy for the son-in-law to visit the mansion?”

“If Your Grace hadn’t mentioned, I was planning to ask permission first—perfect.

I’ll visit the Utland family soon.”

“Haha, you rascal!”

Elvio laughed heartily and continued.

“I’ll tell you something interesting.

I came here today because of Grand Prince Litton’s invitation, but my daughter has slightly different circumstances.

Since the last visit, she’s been probing to visit the Stroke mansion on your birthday.”

“Ah, Father…”

At that, Chesa, quietly standing beside the duke, blushed and gave a slight glare.

“Is that so?”

I asked politely but thought it natural inwardly.

At this point, Chesa returning from the red magic tower without results must be extremely impatient.

In such a situation, someone holding the clue to solving Mana Sensitivity Disorder appeared—of course she’d stamp her feet awaiting reunion.

“Then I’ll tactfully excuse myself.

You wouldn’t refuse Chesa’s join-table proposal too, right, Aiden?”

“Of course not.”

At my reply, the duke chuckled and blended into the nobles heating the banquet hall.

I quietly looked at Chesa sitting across.

Asking her with noticeably flushed expression.

“How was it? The effect of the medicine I gave.”

“…I succeeded in casting a spell for the first time.

What on earth is that medicine?”

Hearing that, I smiled.

In the original timeline, Chesa succeeds in magic use beyond mana explosion 4 years from now.

The starting point pulled forward immensely.

“It’s an essence ground from rare herbs I personally collected.

I’ve been interested in herbology for a while.”

“Personally made something that amazing?

Sensitivity disorder was a problem even the magic tower couldn’t find a clue to solve…”

Chesa seemed unable to easily believe my words.

Sorry to the alchemist who discovered Yin-Yang Herb’s effects in original history, but strictly speaking, I’m the only one in this world who properly knows the Processed Yin-Yang Tea recipe now—so it’s not a lie.

I coughed.

Now for the main point.

“One thing to tell you.

The Processed Yin-Yang Tea you drank is a great elixir, but continuously drinking it alone won’t dramatically improve the sensitivity disorder.

For complete cure, a few additional measures are needed.”

“Those measures… what are they?”

Chesa swallowed dryly and asked.

Lips quickly dried, pupils shaking with tension.

Seeing Chesa like that made me tense too.

“Before telling that, there’s one condition.”

“…?”

“When the time comes, I plan to leave the duchy and create a ‘clan’.

I hope you’ll join me then, Chesa.”

Chesa made a blank expression for a moment.

Soon asking me.

“A clan? Certainly, for you not the family heir, it’s not a bad choice…

But why specifically want me?”

“I need your magic talent.”

At that casual words, Chesa widened her eyes in disbelief and looked at me.

What?

Did I say something that shocking?

“Really? Not because I’m a childhood friend or fiancée, but because I seem talented in magic?”

“Ye…

Yes.”

…Come to think, not 10 years later but at this point, it must sound quite fresh to Chesa.

She must have heard countless compliments on appearance, but the opposite for magic.

She asked me.

“If I refuse the proposal, what happens?”

“…I’ll still tell you the improvement method for sensitivity disorder.

But I can’t stay by your side diagnosing the condition directly.

Complete cure will be delayed.”

Even if I can’t recruit Chesa now, considering events in parts 3~4, curing the sensitivity disorder is unconditionally beneficial.

But thinking how desperate she is, the chance of refusing my proposal is extremely low.

So I was honest.

“…Let me think about it.”

Chesa answered as if her soul left.

Seems hard to get an answer right now.

I stood from the table and said.

“As I told His Grace earlier, I’ll visit the Utland family soon.

I’ll hear your answer then.”

***

Escaping the bustling banquet hall, I strolled the garden.

Confirming no one around, I said in a low voice.

“Spiro, are you here?”

“Pretty late.”

In one blink, Estriel appeared before me.

Surprising, but his attitude so natural as if he was there from the start—no discomfort.

“It’s my birthday party, hard to slip out.

By the way, with countless knights and magic troops on alert, you slipped through surveillance into the mansion.”

“Despite looks, I’m confident in stealth.

In this mansion, the only one to watch for is probably your great-uncle, one of the Continent’s Twelve Heroes.”

Shrugging, Estriel then praised my duel performance.

And pointed out a few shortcomings.

Etching the advice deep in my heart, I asked him.

“Spiro.

You said you’d return to the Circulation Church today, right?

Then how do I learn the remaining two forms of Resonance Shatter Art?”

“Hmm.

Do you need to learn the other forms?

Honestly, if you can properly use just Vileshaker, you won’t get beaten anywhere.”

“At least my goal is to become strong enough to beat up our great-uncle.”

Mentioning the Continent’s Twelve Heroes, Estriel giggled.

“Quite ambitious?

If you feel lacking, come find me—in the Holy Kingdom, inquire about the Alsigima Style, and you’ll soon reach our main base.”

Smiling and giving a hint, he slightly turned his head and said.

“Then time to part.”

“Ah, one more before that.

Spiro, you’re a top-tier assassin of the Circulation Church, right?

What business does such a big shot have coming to the Stroke duchy?”

Why did Estriel want an elixir like the phoenix heart?

As a rereader of Reca Chronicles multiple times, I was too curious not to ask.

Unexpected question—he blankly looked at me.

“Hard to answer?”

“Hm… not particularly, telling is fine.

Somehow, I obtained info that a great elixir is buried in ancient ruins nearby.

So I came to find it.”

Mind cleared.

Reason for seeking elixir aside—

He even knew of the Phoenix Spirit Tomb’s existence and came here.

The setting book only mentioned failing to find the phoenix heart like other adventurers and returning.

No, wait.

He knew the ruins existed?

Then perhaps?

Sensing something, I asked Estriel in a trembling voice.

“S-so, did you find those ruins?”

“Took nearly a month to discover.

Inside were golems and traps in magic empire style—definitely thought jackpot…

But reaching the deepest part, the important elixir was already taken by someone.

Struck out beautifully.”

The moment Estriel chuckled saying that.

A Tripper system message appeared before me.

[MacGuffin No.717 / Recovered the Tomb’s First Visitor.]

As expected.

Estriel doesn’t know, but he unwittingly played a huge role.

Because if he hadn’t visited the ruins first, the protagonist Ephio of Reca Chronicles would have died horribly in part 1.