Manuke FPS - Chapter 223

Sorry for the delay. Lots of drama and sudden changes in schedules threw me so hard. lol.

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The members of the Zephanell family, led by Chancellor Zephanell, were greeted with great applause. The applause changed sparsely when they saw me coming in. Not only Chancellor Zephanell and Ashley, the next head of the family, but also Sharle-san were recognized by the participants of the dinner party – but I was not. Some people may know Daikokuya Schwartz, or map seller Schwartz, or my other nicknames. However, I barely spent any time on the sales floor after the opening of Daikokuya.

Since I left most of the sales floor to Amy and Presera, who came to help from Marida Company, while I went on an expedition to the Devil’s Mountains and talked with Chancellor Bergman and others.

Only a few actually know my face――。

“Oh! Daikokuya Shwartz! Never expected to see you here.”

A little distance from Chancellor Zephanell and Sharle-san, who began to be surrounded by aristocrats as soon as they entered, I was approached when I received two wine glasses from the waitress.

“Good evening, Crude-sama. I’m accompanying Ashley tonight. And this should be my first time meeting you together with your wife. I’m mostly known as Daikokuya Schwartz, a simple merchant doing his business in the Royal Capital.”

It was the adviser of the Knights, Arley Crude who called out to me. A mature woman who seemed to be his wife stood next to him.

“Good evening, Crude-sama and his wife. Are you acquainted with Schwartz already?”

“Ah, Ashley Zephanell. Still gorgeous as always today. I have Daikokuya to thank for the “miracle water”, and look at this. This is the result.”

“Daikokuya? Is this the person whom you bought the “Hair Tonic” from? You keep saying it was miracle water, even keeping it with you while sleeping.”

“Shush, Sherry. It would be embarrassing if others know and the Knights’ leaders would crush my face.”

Shaking the glass with such a funny story――Sir Crude was embarrassed, but he was constantly putting his hand on his head. When I first met him, he was suffering from early baldness that caused him to have an M-shape hairline. But now it has changed to a beautiful full hairline.

“Oh, that’s true. Anyway, Ashley-san, your hair is beautiful. It smells good. What are you using?”

As Sherry-san said, Ashley’s red-gold hair was brighter than anyone else. The hair of Chancellor Zephanel, Sharle-san, and some beautiful women shining over the venue, all of which are probably due to the shampoo and conditioner sold at Daikokuya. With Sherry-san wow-ing over Ashley’s hair quality on the side, there is no shortage of topics here.

“Well, it’s been a hot topic among the eagles who would stand next to the next head of Zephanell, but this is quite unexpected.”

“There are various things…”

“Various… or, but look behind you, slowly.”

Looking back slightly in response to Sir Crude’s words, I could still see the Aristocratic sons stuck with their partners. Despite having company already, the eyes of the sons glanced at Ashley and me.

“They are young men who haven’t gotten a title yet. Will they join the Order or serve in the territory of their parents? Well, they are promising but have few choices. The story is different if they can get closer to someone important. It might become one of the few turning points for them…”

“Even if you say so…”

“That’s right――but be careful. If anything, they’ll drag you down from the side of Ashley Zephanel in silent unity. For us, it’s a trivial matter. But, I don’t want Daikokuya to be closed. ]

I know what Sir Crude wants to say. He knows that I’ve sent a “Black Shaft” into the Devil’s Mountains at the behest of Chancellor Bergman, though I feel like what he cares about is to get a hair tonic. He knows that I made arrangements to crush the Drum Fortress and hide the Princess of the Kingdom of Drak in the hidden village of Jormu.

But, of course not everything about that assignment, so to speak.

But well, that’s okay. It was Jonah who went wild in the Devil’s Mountains, and very few know that I was directly approached by Chancellor Bergman, and these will not be made public, including the fact that Shaft IS Schwartz.

“Thank you, I’ll be careful.”

After giving a tentative reply, there was a voice in the hall, announcing the entrance of the three Princes.

The elegant string music played by the orchestra stopped, and a solemn song began to play from a keyboard instrument that looked similar to a pipe organ. The voices calm down, and the eyes of all the participants gather at one door.

From the back of the slowly opened door, six figures approached. There were three familiar footsteps.

First person――No, the first couple came in.

“Prince Khan..”

“Prince…”

“I recall he was only sitting at the ceremony”

“He has already recovered to the point that he could walk.”

The surrounding aristocrats saw the first group and let out their voices. Crown Prince Khan Kurtmelga――The Future King who is first in line for the throne. However, his body looks too thin… Is it due to some kind of illness? He had a cane in his right hand, and he walked while being supported by a woman who seemed to be his companion for the party. No way, the Prince, who had never seen or talked to him in the Royal Capital, was in a state where he couldn’t walk without being supported…

With the appearance of the Crown Prince, one hand began to be struck one by one――it changed to cheers and applause. Sir Crude approached next to me as I vaguely stared at the scene and tried to catch it.

“Is this your first time seeing the Crown Prince?”

“Eh, yes…”

“Does he look unwell after all?”

“Is…he sick?”

“Yes. The Crown Prince was born with much more magical power than normal humans, and it is eroding his body. There is no cure or method, and the accumulated magical power must be consumed in the form of magic and constantly released. It is said that his body will eventually collapse.”

“But, isn’t he the crown prince? Isn’t it better to recuperate somewhere and find a way to treat it?”

Following Prince Khan, the Second Prince, Kilik Kurtmelga, appeared. Standing next to him was a woman with a very flashy outfit, and while Prince Khan’s pair was a neat and calm woman, this one who accompanied Prince Kilik was like the total opposite.

“He cannot do that.”

“Why?”

“Because he is the eldest son of the Royal Family, and the second-ranked successor is Kilik. If you keep moving under Bergman, you will soon hear various things about him. If Kilik succeeds to the throne――this country will change.”

Sir Crude never mentioned how it would “change”.

The applause for welcoming Prince Killik is sparse… Rather, the difference between those who greet and those who do not――is huge. Younger Aristocrats are more enthusiastic, and older Aristocrats are less enthusiastic. Speaking of Prince Kilik, he is the master of the largest clan in the Kingdom of Kurtmerga, “Rafflesia”. Near the entrance, one could see the Vicemaster of Rafflesia, the tall Elf Knight with a blonde ponytail――Felix Mendoza.

Felix was not welcoming Prince Kilik, his own Clan Master, and instead was looking elsewhere――. Following his line of sight… There was Prince Khan――and Honorary Chancellor Zephanel. They sat on a long sofa with delicate carvings, which can be said to be a guest seat, with a glass of wine in one hand. I watched as the two people started chatting.

Then, I looked back at Felix. His expression looked emotionless, but his eyes were ruthless and harbored a dark muddy light.

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