Chapter 1470 – 1470. Dark Moon
I went outside with Yuria.
A carriage I had called in advance was waiting at the entrance.
It was a fancy carriage for nobles. The horse was docile, and the coachman was dignified.
“Is your destination the Prewood Barony? I will escort you safely.”
“Please do.”
I spoke politely, but I was fascinated by the real, living horse, not a mechanical one. A living horse was inferior to a mechanical horse in every way. It would die when it got old, it needed to be fed constantly, it could get sick, and it couldn’t run as long or as powerfully as a mechanical horse.
However, the fact that it wasn’t a machine captivated the hearts of the nobles. Unless it was absolutely necessary, nobles preferred carriages pulled by living horses. It was the style of Neo London, and a part of noble culture.
I took Yuria’s hand to help her into the carriage easily.
“Thank you, but I am merely a servant.”
“It’s okay, no one’s watching. And to me, you’re a lady too.”
As soon as we got in, the carriage started moving. The inside of the carriage was quiet. There was no rattling sound. Neo London’s advanced technology was in the carriage, not the horse.
I looked out the window. This city was fascinating. It was futuristic yet old. It developed technology but clung to old culture. It spoke of the freedom of its citizens, but the class system was still maintained. Neo London was a city-state full of contradictions.
“It’s my first time meeting a noble of Neo London… I’m quite nervous.”
“Don’t worry too much. You’ll do well, Master.”
While I was going over the etiquette of nobles in my head, the carriage arrived at the Prewood Barony. Looking out the window, I let out a gasp of admiration. A noble mansion that looked like it came straight out of history or fantasy was spread out before my eyes.
‘It’s incredibly huge. The security is no joke either. There’s even a barrier… Looking closely, it’s all state-of-the-art.’
The nobles of Neo London disliked machines. But that didn’t mean they rejected them. They used them when necessary. What they truly hated and even loathed was artificial intelligence.
Yuria opened the carriage door and got out first. I followed slowly. Manners and composure were the virtues of a gentleman. One shouldn’t move hastily.
“Mr. Eugene Meyer. Welcome to the Prewood Barony. I am Herman, the head butler.”
The butler standing in front of the carriage greeted me politely. His posture, attire, voice, everything was impeccable. And I quietly gasped in shock when I confirmed the power he possessed. The energy I felt from the head butler was stronger than mine.
“…I didn’t expect the head butler of the Prewood family to come out to greet me personally.”
“Mr. Meyer is a guest invited by the Lady. One of my duties is to personally attend to the Lady’s guests.”
“I’m pleased to be treated so well. I have one attendant with me. She will personally serve me at the dinner banquet. Is that alright?”
“Of course. Now, please come inside. The Lady is waiting.”
“I can’t keep the Countess waiting. Yuria.”
“Yes, Master. I have the box.”
I followed the head butler, Herman, through the garden. I slowly turned my head to check the surroundings. It was full of greenery. The flowerbeds were filled with vibrant flowers in full bloom. The flowers planted in the flowerbeds were all different. It seemed difficult to manage.
I spotted a gardener. She was wearing a maid’s uniform and carefully cutting branches with a large pair of shears that were over a meter long.
‘…A 3rd class. No, maybe a 4th class…? She wouldn’t look out of place cutting off someone’s head instead of branches.’
I also spotted several other butlers and maids.
‘Each and every one of them is extraordinary. They could easily take on a decent military unit.’
The interior of the mansion was also magnificent.
It was so dazzlingly luxurious that it was blinding. What was even more surprising was that items worth at least tens of millions of credits were casually displayed in the hallways.
I knew the Prewood Barony was wealthy, but… I didn’t know it was to this extent.
‘They probably decorated it like this on purpose to intimidate their guests.’
I was a little intimidated.
We arrived at the reception room.
Herman carefully knocked on the ornate door.
“Madam. Mr. Meyer has arrived.”
“Let him in.”
I quickly scanned the reception room.
The room was, of course, luxurious. I had expected it, so it wasn’t surprising. What was surprising was the Countess of Prewood.
She was beautiful. Her blonde hair sparkled, and her skin was as white and smooth as jade. Her white dress, adorned with jewels, was of an unimaginable value. She was covering her mouth with a wine-colored feather fan, but from her exposed nose and green eyes alone, one could tell how stunningly beautiful she was.
‘I heard she wasn’t young… but she looks like she’s in her early twenties.’
Her ears were pointed.
An elf.
More precisely, a human with elven genes. And a congenital one at that.
Herman went to stand behind the Countess. I stepped forward and greeted her according to etiquette.
“I am Eugene Meyer. I work as a mercenary and run a small restaurant.”
“Yuyu Chicken, you mean. The chicken they sell there is delicious. Was it called Korean chicken?”
“Yes. I recreated the cuisine of Great Korea, a country that existed in ancient times.”
“I am Garmelia Prewood. My husband is the head of this family. Please, have a seat.”
I slowly sat down opposite her.
“Unexpected.”
“What is, may I ask?”
“I’ve met many mercenaries before. But only two or three of them knew how to behave like you. All of them were former butlers, but you are not.”
“Yes. I am a stranger. I am very interested in the culture of Neo London, so I have learned a few things. I’m glad I wasn’t rude.”
“You’re more polite than my cousin’s grandson. I don’t know who taught you, but… you learned very well.”
She asked me many questions.
Starting with why a 5th-class mage was working as a mercenary, to why I settled in Neo London, and what I did before coming to Neo London.
There were several annoying questions, but I answered without showing any signs of discomfort.
“I heard about what happened a few hours ago. You killed the mother and daughter of Gomez Clinic and the security guards, and used my name to the London Guards, didn’t you?”
I immediately bowed my head.
“I apologize if I offended you. At that time, I prioritized the Countess’s dress.”
“It was a little unpleasant, but it’s a minor matter that can be overlooked since the dress is intact. Explain the whole story of what happened. I smell something interesting from you.”
Her green eyes sparkled, and her pointed ears perked up.
There was no hatred or fear of a mass murderer. Only curiosity.
‘It’s just as Yuria said.’
While riding in the carriage, Yuria had said that most nobles, including the Countess of Prewood, didn’t care how many citizens died. They only cared when they suffered a loss themselves.
I summarized the whole incident from the beginning. How I went to Gomez Clinic with the Blue Distortion, how I subjugated the Prong gang as a condition from Lana Gomez, and how Prong was working with D-roids. At the fact that Prong was working with D-roids, she frowned. She folded her feather fan and angrily hit the table.
“So that’s why D-roid fighters appeared in Neo London. Traitors to humanity…!”
“I dealt with him using my trump card.”
“Continue. Why did you cause such a commotion at Gomez Clinic?”
“They were trying to sell me to Cavallia Industries. Have you heard of the Cavallia Research Institute?”
“Hmm. I’ve heard of it… They conduct heinous experiments, I hear. I thought the Gomez mother and daughter were decent people… You can know the depth of the water, but not the depth of a person’s heart…”
Gomez shook her head.
After the story was over, she looked at Yuria.
“I want to see the dress.”
I gestured to Yuria. Yuria approached and placed it on the table.
She let out a gasp of admiration at Yuria’s movements.
“An excellent maid. Her actions are full of grace. They say you can tell the master by looking at the servant. I can feel your dignity.”
“Thank you, Madam.”
“How did you hire the maid?”
“I met her by chance in Neo London. I came to Neo London empty-handed, so I needed someone’s help, and she needed experience.”
“What’s her maid rank?”
The Countess asked Yuria. Yuria answered calmly without panicking.
“I do not have a qualification. I plan to obtain a certificate after gaining experience.”
“Is that so? Would you like to gain experience under our family?”
“I’m sorry, Madam. My master is only one person.”
“Your loyalty is admirable. Eugene Meyer, I apologize. As you can see, I sometimes lose my reason when I see good talent.”
She didn’t seem sorry at all. I suppressed the urge to slap this woman’s cheek and answered.
“It’s alright. I’m fine.”
The box was opened, and the dress was revealed.
It was a luxurious dress even at first glance, but when magic was activated, it became even more magnificent. It was as if a starry night had been transferred onto the dress.
‘Honestly, I don’t know if this dress needs to be made with magic, but…’
How would I know what a noble was thinking?
The Countess, who was looking at the dress, frowned.
“The light is weaker than I thought. Herman. Can you find a seamstress?”
“…I will try my best, but I cannot guarantee that it will be repaired before the party.”
“I don’t like it, but do I have to wear it like this…”
I, who had been staring at the magic dress, opened my mouth.
“I can repair it for you on the spot. It’s not difficult to make the light stronger.”
“…You? I’m not ignorant of magic. This dress may look simple, but it’s intricately woven. Do you see the constellations here? You can see that the brightness of the stars is different.”
“Yes, that’s right. If you’re not careful, the balance will be completely ruined. But I am confident. I won’t throw a tantrum like a child. The owner of this dress is you, Madam, so you choose.”
Swish!
She unfolded her fan and moved it gently as she fell into thought.
“…I’ll entrust it to you once. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
“Yes. May I have the dress?”
I received the dress, opened my astral, and used a moment. I checked the magic structure engraved on the dress. It was intricately woven. But that was more like a lock placed for magic security. If you looked at it one by one, it wasn’t that complicated.
Mana moved. Mana containing my will instantly took control of the dress’s magic.
I increased the brightness of the starlight.
“Is this brightness enough?”
“…Oh. Did you understand and take control of the magic in an instant? Impressive. Increase the brightness a little more. Hmm. That’s good. I will pay you for this.”
“No, it’s alright. This is my favor to you, Madam.”
“I don’t usually accept favors, but… I’ll remember this. Herman. Is the food ready?”
“Yes. I will guide you to the banquet hall.”
The dinner banquet began. I faced a table over 10 meters long, filled with food. The taste was excellent. It was indeed a noble’s meal.
I couldn’t eat comfortably. There were many etiquettes to follow.
‘I feel like I’m going to get indigestion trying to eat while paying attention to etiquette. I want a cola.’
After finishing the banquet and saying goodbye, I went home.
***
“Herman. What do you think?”
The Countess asked the head butler, Herman, while drinking tea.
“He is not an ordinary mercenary. He had dignity.”
“A 5th-class mage can’t be ordinary.”
Originally, she had planned to summon Eugene Meyer, scold him, and hold him accountable. Mila Gomez was a decent designer, after all. At the same time, she was going to coax and persuade him to join her. It would be convenient to have a 5th-class mage under her command.
But the Eugene Meyer she saw in person was different. He had formality. Her gaze also went to the silver-blue-haired maid next to him.
“A maid from the knight training academy, was she? What do you think?”
“She was flawless. To be honest, she was chilling.”
“You, a Flower-class? Was she that strong?”
“I don’t know how it will sound, but she wasn’t strong. At best, a 3rd class. Yes, she’s still at that level now. But I… I’m not confident that I can completely defeat her. I don’t know why. I can only call it a feeling…”
“It’s the first time you’ve rated a maid so highly. I want her even more… Can we bring her to the Prewood family?”
“Her loyalty is genuine. Even if you force her to come, she will not obey.”
“…It seems so. What about Eugene Meyer?”
“He is a very skilled mage. He is also good at business. If he continues like this, he will become a big shot in the mercenary world.”
“Are you saying he’s not good enough to become a big shot in business?”
“It seems too early to judge now.”
“Hmm. I want both of them, but… let’s watch them quietly for now. If they become big shots, we will naturally meet again.”
***
[The game is over.]
