## Chapter 364 – Academy Arc (137) – Archmage Scarlet & Charlotte (59) – Alton Family 4 –
‘There are so many places to wander.’
While Scarlet was taking care of her business at the main family estate, Raul, bored again, freely strolled among the buildings.
As she was an archmage, the main estate had training and experimental facilities for mages, and Raul, after cautiously looking around, entered the area.
Inside, there were various workbenches, much like an alchemist’s workshop, and Raul spotted a middle-aged mage sitting at one of them. He didn’t seem to have a particularly prickly personality.
“Um, excuse me for a moment.”
“Who are you?”
“Ah, I am…”
As Raul introduced himself, the middle-aged mage immediately showed a look of understanding. He had heard of the student that the Archmage had been bringing around these days.
“By the way, what is your name, senior…?”
“Haha. Just call me Anterior. And drop the ‘senior’.”
“Yes, Anterior.”
“But what brings you here?”
“Ah, well. Lady Scarlet gave me some time to rest, and I was just looking around.”
The two chatted briefly. Raul looked around curiously, then his gaze fell on a crystal ball on the mage’s desk. It looked somewhat similar to the surveillance crystal ball he had received from Louis.
“By the way, Anterior, what is that empty crystal ball used for?”
“This? It’s a crystal ball for recording videos. We simply call it a video recorder.”
“You can record real-life videos inside a crystal? Such a mysterious magic…!”
Raul’s honest surprise made the mage laugh as he replied.
“You didn’t know? Well, it’s a niche field… The theory of recording magic was established decades ago. The problem is the process of making a crystal into a video recorder. The formulas that need to be engraved are so complex that it’s not widely used. The manpower to make them is also limited.”
“So, you can engrave those formulas, Anterior?”
“That’s right.”
He went on to say that while he was only an intermediate mage, this was his unique area of expertise, and even most high-ranking mages couldn’t make them properly. He seemed very proud as he shared his story.
When asked if they were actually used, he said that while it wasn’t often, they were used occasionally.
For example, when nobles made very important contracts, they would record the scene as well as the documents. And if problems arose later, the recording would be used as a practical means to prove their case to the king or other nobles.
“I see, that’s what they’re used for.”
“That’s right.”
“That’s a pretty boring use for it.”
“…What did you just say?”
*Clap.*
Raul lightly clapped his hands, putting the mage into a state of hypnosis.
“If it’s something like a recorder, there’s only one use for it, obviously.”
…………
…………
Raul could have stayed at the family estate if he wanted, but he didn’t particularly feel like it. He had to keep an eye on the girls around him, and more importantly, he had found something fun to do.
Raul could now return on his own once Scarlet infused the portal with mana, thanks to the various affinities his body possessed from birth.
It was a bit of a disappointment for Scarlet, who always enjoyed their time together when she took him back.
Before the sun completely set, Raul and Scarlet headed to the external facility where the portal room was located.
She glanced at Raul walking behind her and asked demurely,
“Raul, if it’s okay, would you like to come again soon…?”
Scarlet had to stay at the main estate due to various important duties.
Unless Raul stayed at the estate, it was practically impossible for them to have their sweet moments. Of course, she knew it was dangerous to enjoy themselves at the main estate… But since it was the academy’s vacation, Raul wouldn’t have much to do either. And she could bring him over, as she had always done.
…And she had to make sure to get pregnant within the time limit of the blessing…
“Yes. I’ll come again. I have things to do today, but I want to come often. There are so many interesting things here.”
“Really!?”
She reflexively turned her head to look at Raul, delighted.
She hadn’t expected him to accept so readily, thinking it was a bothersome request. It seemed like she had satisfied Raul’s intellectual curiosity for the first time in a while. After all, there were many mages and related facilities here.
As Scarlet thought this, Raul looked at her with half-lidded eyes. Then, he suddenly reached out and gently stroked her hair.
“I also feel like I need to keep an eye on what kind of sly cat lady is wagging her tail at other men.”
“Ah…”
Raul’s touch felt good.
Raul’s words reminded her of being hit in the face with a huge meat stick in broad daylight.
‘Scarlet is mine.’
“…Hiccup.”
Scarlet, her face flushed like a female in heat, let out a silly sound. Realizing what she had done, she immediately created a mana wave to scan her surroundings. Fortunately, she realized that no one was around and breathed a sigh of relief.
“…Ah, anyway, it’s dangerous outside. It’s dangerous. But since it’s the main estate…”
“Hehe. I understand. Then, shall we see each other next time? Please come pick me up again in a few days.”
“Okay, I’ll be using the portal to Charlotte’s mansion, so you can think of it as using that route.”
With that, Raul returned to the academy on his own, using the mana and formulas that Scarlet infused into the portal.
…………
Some time passed, and one night.
Amar, the head of the Alton family, was preparing for bed after finishing his work. Although, his work was essentially just agreeing with Scarlet’s decisions or repeating what she had already approved…
‘…Come to think of it, I haven’t been able to share a bedroom with her lately.’
They had occasionally slept separately before, but that was rare. Not being able to sleep together even though she was staying at the main estate for a long time… Of course, he knew she was tired because of the overwhelming workload.
Could he have triggered this period of ennui? Come to think of it, he hadn’t been actively trying to improve his relationship with his wife lately… And, though it was awkward to admit, his recent secret hobby had been draining his energy.
Watching a maid’s affair.
The maid he had accidentally assaulted had been like a stone, but when she was having an affair with her lover in secret, she would let out the sweetest moans. As a man, as a male, he was being thoroughly compared, and the tingling sensation in his chest was indescribable. When the assaulted maid showed him pity and asked if he didn’t know his own sexual preferences, if he was a masochist, it really made his head spin.
‘Hoo. I should just go to sleep tonight.’
Amar was about to change into comfortable clothes when he was startled and couldn’t help but look at one corner of his bedroom.
A suspicious person wearing a mask was standing in front of him.
Judging by her curvy figure, she was obviously a woman.
“Who are you! How did you get in here?”
“Shhh… Please be quiet, Earl.”
The voice was that of a young woman.
“If you don’t kneel immediately, I’ll use magic…!”
“…I have your weakness, Earl.”
“What…”
At that, Amar’s body stiffened and his eyes trembled slightly.
“You’re talking nonsense. There’s nothing that can threaten the head of the Alton family.”
“Is that so…? Would you mind taking a look at this crystal ball?”
The woman slowly took out a crystal ball and began to infuse it with mana.
“…A video recorder?”
“That’s right. Take a look at who’s inside.”
The moment Amar looked into the crystal ball, his heart nearly stopped. It showed him secretly masturbating while watching the maid’s affair. He was using a wall-penetration spell to enjoy his disgusting hobby.
When? How?
He turned pale and reflexively condensed mana at his fingertips, but he had no choice but to release it when she spoke next.
“Of course, there isn’t just one crystal ball. If you harm me, the others will be released to the public.”
“W-w-when did you get this… Th-this. What are you trying to get with this?”
“Actually, I’m not trying to threaten you, Earl. I’m just a simple errand runner. I’m very sorry that it turned out this way. I came here today to introduce you to a product.”
“A product…?”
As the conversation took an odd turn, Amar took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He listened quietly to what she had to say.
The masked woman said that they were selling products to upper-class people with unusual sexual desires. The products were simply video recordings that would satisfy the customers, and they contained various kinds of lewd acts.
“Other high-ranking nobles are also secretly using our products.”
“What is this…”
Amar was dumbfounded by what he was hearing.
Using advanced video recording technology to make such lewd videos?
And selling them to wealthy upper-class people at high prices?
She gave various explanations, but Amar was still ashamed of his image in the crystal ball. He begged her to get rid of the crystal balls, offering to pay any price, but the woman shook her head.
She sighed and handed Amar another crystal ball.
“You may be feeling confused right now… But you’ll be fine soon. I’ll leave this product we talked about here. If you become interested in our products after watching this, please let me know when I visit again in a few days. Then, I’ll be on my way…”
The masked woman placed the crystal ball on the bedside table and calmly walked out the door.
“…Damn it!! What kind of messed up situation is this…”
He wasn’t usually one to swear, but he couldn’t help but curse in this situation. If his weakness had been exposed like this, wouldn’t he be destined to be threatened and used? And yet, she wanted to maintain a healthy business relationship.
Nonsense.
Amar punched the wall in frustration and slumped onto the bed.
A moment of silence.
Then, the recording device that the woman had left on the table caught his eye.
…But what kind of video was inside?
‘…It could be another video of me, so I should check it first…’
Amar stared at the recording device for a moment, then glanced around before approaching the table and picking it up. He brought it to his bed.
After hesitating for a while, Amar slowly infused mana into the recording device to activate it.
“………W-what is this?”
Amar let out a dumbfounded sound as soon as he saw what was inside the crystal ball.