Chapter 355

Chapter 355. Ball (4)

A few days later.

After receiving one of the 2nd Circle magics interpreted by Heinkel.

In conclusion, Alon decided to dedicate about a day to selecting a new mage.

Of course, there were already enough mages, but—

“……Please, please, choose me!”

“I take care of my single mother!”

“My rabbit, who is like family, and my hamster, who is like my daughter, are starving!”

—Because the mages didn’t seem willing to step aside so easily.

…Although, of course, before that.

Why would anyone mention taking care of a single mother or brag about having pets to apply for a basic operations position?

Alon didn’t know.

Anyway, he decided to open an additional selection and communicated that to Penia.

“A new mage?”

“Yes.”

“Hm~ How many?”

“How many do you think would be good to choose?”

“Well—”

While watching Penia meditate, Alon thought of something.

“By the way, Penia.”

“Yes?”

“If you think about it… isn’t it better to have as many people as possible for basic operations?”

“I think so, right?”

“Then wouldn’t it be enough to take all the mages who want to participate and give them work?”

Alon’s doubt was reasonable.

Any mage could perform basic operations.

But Penia replied with a strange expression.

“It’s not that simple.”

“If you look at it superficially, it might seem so… but it’s not like that.”

“As you know, even in basic operations, speed varies between mages, right?”

“True.”

“And now, to interpret magic, not only are basic operations needed, but the mages also need to work linked together.”

“Linked?”

“Yes. Unlike the 1st Circle, in the 2nd Circle the amount of calculations is absurd. So even for a single operation, mages must work in a chain.”

Penia looked for a simple way to explain it and shrugged.

“In short: if just one calculates below the required speed, the speed of the whole group drops drastically.”

In short, ten people were needed to produce a single calculation unit.

“That is, even if nine finish in 10 seconds, if one takes 15, the final result is 15 seconds.”

“Exactly. That’s why the ones we already chose are, in a way, an elite.”

Alon nodded.

“So, did you filter everyone already?”

“Well, there are still some who arrived late. If I search a bit more, I might find a few. Not many.”

“Then take care of it, please.”

“Eh— by myself?”

“…We can do it together, if you want.”

Penia thought for a moment and then—

“Ah!”

She flashed a slightly murky smile, as if she had remembered something.

“No, it’s fine. I can handle it alone. Besides, you are busy, aren’t you, My Lord?”

“Well— I could spare a day.”

“No need. You have to prepare for the ball.”

Alon stared at her.

She, smiling, averted her gaze.

“Why… why are you looking at me like that?”

And she looked away as if hiding something.

“It gives the impression that you want to take advantage of the situation, doesn’t it, Penia?”

“Please be quiet.”

Evan, who was to the side, intervened.

Penia frowned.

“…Lately, the only thing I hear from you people is ‘shut up’.”

“And even if that were the case, I don’t do anything improper with these things! You are defaming me!”

“For someone who doesn’t do anything, you sure enjoyed what happened a few days ago.”

“I already said I didn’t ask for anything! You guys gave it to me on your own. And besides, with interpretation being so important, I’m not going to recruit just anyone!”

Penia didn’t let herself be walked over and retorted to everything Evan muttered.

Alon nodded silently.

It is true that Penia was somewhat… worldly.

But he also knew very well that, when it came to work, she was impeccable.

That is why—

“In that aspect, I’m not worried.”

Alon defended her.

“My Lord—!”

Penia looked at him with shining eyes, touched.

Evan, a bit embarrassed, relented.

“Well… it’s true she knows how to distinguish between what she should and shouldn’t do. Although, honestly, she does seem like someone who wouldn’t refuse a gift.”

To that, Alon responded with a look of “of course she wouldn’t.”

And Penia looked away as if avoiding guilt.

Penia?

Leaving that small episode behind.

A few days passed since Alon departed for Teria, where the ball would be held.

“I won!”

“Impossible! That doesn’t count! You couldn’t move that pawn like that!”

“My pawns move three squares!”

“What nonsense are you saying?! Riaaa! Look at this! Pawns don’t move like that!”

“…Huh?”

“Were you asleep? You said you were going to referee!”

Seolrang and Ryanga were enthusiastically playing chess, one of the board games they brought from the Tower.

And for some reason, Historia was refereeing.

The carriage was noisy with their comedy.

“Hm-hm— that’s more or less what a ball is like.”

“…So, it’s basically a couple’s dance that lasts about five days.”

“Exactly. And they say this one will be especially luxurious, so there will be lots of food.”

“I see.”

Alon remembered the egg tart he ate at the previous ball.

“It was delicious.”

Even sweeter than the ones in his territory.

But that memory was short-lived.

“So, My Lord.”

“What is it?”

“How long do you plan to stay this time?”

“……Well, since I haven’t gone in a while, I’ll stay as long as it lasts.”

“You plan to show your face enough so you don’t have to appear for a few years, right?”

Alon didn’t answer. It was true.

‘It’s just that those places still feel uncomfortable to me.’

For nobles, balls were very important.

In a world without social media, these gatherings were key spaces for communication.

But Alon, who preferred video games in his room rather than socializing, did not enjoy balls.

“Ugh—”

Alon sighed and Evan asked him:

“We know you don’t like crowded places, but… may I know why?”

“If I have to give a reason… I don’t want to waste mental energy.”

“Mental?”

“With nobles and all that, you have to be on your toes.”

“Well, it’s true there are basic norms to follow, but other than that, you don’t have to worry, My Lord.”

“Why?”

“Because your reputation is enormous, and even if you don’t make public appearances… you are still the leader of Kalpa.”

If anyone should fear the other’s gaze… it is them fearing yours.

Alon nodded slowly.

Evan continued, concerned.

“My Lord, I’ve thought about this for a while… but don’t you think you lack awareness of your own position?”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. It’s as if you avoid being conscious of it.”

“That much?”

“Very much.”

Alon meditated.

He had never tried to “ignore” his status.

He had no reason to do so.

And besides—

It wasn’t that he lacked ambition.

Like any human, he had his share of desire for power.

Then, why—?

“I think I understand. Master really doesn’t have that noble air.”

Seolrang reacted while stacking pawns to make a tower.

“Agreed.”

“……Boss… yeah, he doesn’t have the air of someone important. He doesn’t seem aware.”

Ryanga and Historia also opined, as if they had been waiting for it.

Alon remained thoughtful, while the carriage advanced toward Teria.

Without haste, they passed village after village.

And on the day of the ball, they arrived in Teria.

“Master.”

“Yutia.”

As always, Yutia was waiting in front of the royal castle, dressed in her black ceremonial habit.

“Have you been well? Did anything happen?”

“Nothing. And you? Did you finish your work?”

“Yes, thanks to your consideration, Master.”

She smiled purely, then looked at Seolrang, Ryanga, and Historia behind Alon.

“Thank you as well for accompanying him.”

It was a light greeting… disguised as a provocation from above.

The three, who during the trip had fought among themselves, froze.

“Then, shall we go, Master?”

“Let’s go.”

Yutia turned her back on them and advanced with Alon with total confidence toward the ball.

As soon as they entered—

“A pleasure to see you, Marquis Palatio— I am—”

“What a joy to see you, My Lord!”

“Ah, it’s been a while. I am a noble from the east—”

A colossal crowd received them.

Practically everyone present swarmed around Marquis Palatio.

Obviously, he couldn’t ignore them.

So Alon, sooner or later, ended up greeting everyone, even those at the back.

Actually, it wasn’t that annoying.

In fact, in a way, it was useful.

After years without participating in formal gatherings…

He was grateful that they were the ones approaching first.

Because when they greeted, they said their names.

And Alon didn’t want to risk someone talking to him as if they knew him while he didn’t remember their name— it would be embarrassing and politically dangerous.

That’s why receiving greetings wasn’t so bad.

…That wasn’t the problem.

The problem was—

“Hahaha, My Lord, if you ever need to talk about… delicate matters, count on me. I will be of help.”

“Ah, yes—”

“My Lord, if you wish for a private conversation that you cannot share with others, please, communicate with me.”

“…Yes, well—?”

“My Lord. If you need help, support or… confidentiality, tell me. Ah, and know that I am totally on your side.”

The nobles.

One after another, in an insinuating tone, as if saying:

‘Do you want to be my secret little friend?’

Alon understood instinctively.

…Something had happened.

He didn’t know what.

But something was happening again.