Chapter 56: Stars' Ball (2)

One year since my engagement to the Marquis Hausen Family.

After becoming Charlotte's fiancé, my daily life...

...remained surprisingly unchanged.

It was a cycle of going to work in Limbus Pit and occasionally attending my Teacher's class.

It was no different from before I was engaged to Charlotte.

In the end, I returned to Limbus Pit and spent my days seeing patients as usual.

"Next patient, please come in."

"It's been a while, Teacher."

"Wangcho, it has been a while."

Reeking of the slaughterhouse, Wangcho stepped into the consultation room.

"How has your gout been lately?"

"I switched from beer to wine, and I think it's gotten better recently."

"Seems like your finances have improved."

Tap. Tap.

Wangcho rhythmically tapped his thigh, pausing for a moment.

The scar-covered Hyena Beastkin perked up his ears and scanned his surroundings.

Then, he whispered in a low voice.

"Speaking of which, Teacher, what in the world happened in the Smoke Den?"

Smoke Alley.

E-Sector.

That district, located right next to D-Sector, was a place that processed plant-based goods like medicinal herbs, spices, and tobacco.

This was also why my Teacher claimed to be from E-Sector when he disguised himself as a tobacco artisan.

"Well, you see. Didn't you tell me to keep an eye on E-Sector a year ago, Teacher?"

"I did, yes."

"And a month later, their leader disappeared. Along with his entire household. What happened?"

At that question, I could only keep my mouth shut.

The reason the ruler of E-Sector disappeared.

It was because of its connection to the Star Anise Incident.

After that incident, which had turned Prince Auguste's faction upside down.

The Investigation Bureau looked into the circumstances of how the poison star anise and regular star anise got mixed.

And the investigation revealed that E-Sector, which processed the star anise, had intentionally mixed in some poison star anise.

The circumstances were as follows.

Originally, the Smoke Den supplied star anise in two grades.

Premium Star Anise for Nobles.

Regular Star Anise for Commoners.

They would pick out the good quality ones first for the nobles, then mix the leftovers fifty-fifty with poison star anise for the commoners.

This incident occurred when a mistake was made in that process.

The mixed star anise that should have gone to the commoners ended up in the premium line.

And that poison star anise, of all things, ended up being used in the tea for fragile newborns.

The result was, well, as you can see.

The organization that ruled E-Sector became mysterious.

And before they became mysterious, I had contacted Wangcho in advance.

— "Wangcho. Are there any organizations you're currently fighting?"

— "No? We're just having our usual power struggles within our own territories, that's all."

— "Then what about E-Sector?"

— "That old geezer from the Smoke Den? Same as usual. He's always secretly selling drugs in our territory, and when he gets caught, we have a little power struggle. That miserly old geezer. I need to clash with him properly one of these days and set him straight."

— "I don't think that will be necessary. E-Sector will get a little noisy soon. I'd be grateful if you could clean things up then, Wangcho."

— "What do you mean by that? Teacher? Teacher!?"

A few days after that.

The organization that dominated E-Sector vanished overnight.

While other organizations hesitated, wondering if it was a trap or feeling uneasy.

Wangcho's organization, which had prepared in advance, devoured E-Sector in one gulp.

And now, one year later.

"Teacher? Can't you tell me what happened in E-Sector now?"

Wangcho's organization had come to rule both D-Sector and E-Sector.

"Why are you curious about it now, Wangcho?"

"No... It's just... I was wondering if it was okay for me to take it... Now that I have, I'm worried it might cause problems..."

"Don't worry, Wangcho. It's a reward for having honestly supplied me with meat until now."

There was one reason I gave Wangcho this information in advance.

Because he had maintained my trust all this time.

Since we first met when I was ten, Wangcho had never once lied to me or pulled any tricks.

He never passed off dog meat as lamb, nor did he ever tamper with medicinal ingredients.

Sometimes, he even honored our deals at his own expense.

E-Sector was a reward for that kind of loyalty.

However, there was one thing I had to correct.

"But Wangcho, it would be problematic if you misunderstand. E-Sector is not a gift I'm giving you directly."

"Huh?"

"I only gave you an opportunity, Wangcho. Seizing it was entirely your own strength."

This was true.

All I did was give him advance information that the owner of E-Sector would disappear.

Quelling the chaos in E-Sector and completely absorbing the district afterward was Wangcho's ability.

"So there's no need to doubt it anymore. You handled it yourself, Wangcho, so it is rightfully yours."

"..."

Wangcho briefly looked up at the ceiling.

The Hyena Beastkin with golden eyes blinked silently, then muttered in a voice close to a sigh.

"Anyway. That old geezer. I told him not to sell drugs to my boys, at least... but he just had to cross the line."

"?"

Drugs, all of a sudden?

It seemed Wangcho was having another absurd misunderstanding.

At this point, I couldn't even begin to guess what my image had become inside Wangcho's head.

"I understand, Teacher. It's not much of a substitute, but I'll completely shut down the drug business within two years."

"There's no need for that. You can convert it for medical use."

I waved my hands dismissively at Wangcho, who was vowing to eradicate drugs with a determined expression.

"From now on, just supply the existing drugs exclusively to our company, and manage them strictly so they don't leak to civilians."

"What? The company wants drugs? Could it be that the high-ranking people..."

"That's not it. Even drugs can become excellent medicine if used properly. That's why management is important."

"Understood. If anyone lays a hand on the company's goods, I'll hang them up in the slaughterhouse myself."

"No, there's no need for that..."

I felt like the more I spoke, the deeper the misunderstanding became.

But he was saying it with a face that looked resolved to offer up his heart, so it was hard to say anything.

So I decided to just let it be.

After all, Wangcho is most reliable when he's misunderstanding things.

***

"Ah, by the way."

After finishing Wangcho's gout treatment.

With no next patient, I chatted with Wangcho for the first time in a while.

"Wangcho, how's Erika these days?"

"Her? Don't even get me started."

Wangcho stopped his limping foot and half-turned his body.

"We've been having some power struggles with guys from other sectors lately. Ever since we took E-Sector, some guys from other districts have started poking at us."

"And?"

"Every time, I take that kid, Eri, with me."

Wangcho clicked his tongue and shuddered.

"That one. She not only uses magic but handles Fighting Aura skillfully too, doesn't she? She absorbs every application of Fighting Aura I teach her and makes it her own. Honestly, if she weren't your bodyguard, Teacher, I would have made her my second-in-command."

Oh.

Wangcho rated Eri higher than I thought.

Wangcho is a powerhouse who can even beat Captain Shen, a mage, if the conditions are right.

For someone like Wangcho to rate her so highly.

It was certain that the number of people her age in the Empire who could beat Eri could be counted on one hand.

"Right. I heard that kid is also learning something from that Buddy Otto and that fire-using buddy I saw before?"

"She's learning martial arts and magic from them, respectively."

"What, are you trying to create some kind of ultimate weapon?"

"I'm just helping that child realize her talent."

"Phew. Must be nice. I wish I had just one good person like that around when I was young."

"You're that good adult, Wangcho. Thank you for looking after Erika."

"..."

Wangcho's eyes narrowed.

Then,

"By any chance, are you leaving Limbus Pit soon?"

"...You knew?"

"You suddenly speak as if we're parting ways, how could I pretend not to know?"

As expected, Wangcho is perceptive.

"Well. You're not someone who belongs in a place like this, Teacher. I always thought a day like this would come."

"I'm not leaving forever. I'll be back a few times a year."

"Yes... Still, I should tell the prostitutes and my boys. These days, they've been living recklessly, trusting only in your treatment, Teacher. Now that the clinic won't be open all the time, I'll have to tell them to live like they used to."

"Ah, there's no need for that."

"Huh?"

I knew you'd say that, so I prepared a surprise.

"The clinic will continue to stay open. No, other clinics will open now, too. You just have to guide people to the one closest to their homes, Wangcho."

"What do you mean by that..."

"Our company recently hired Clinical Trial Healers."

A few months ago.

The results of the Sildenafil clinical trial finally came out.

The results showed its effect as a heart medicine was somewhat disappointing.

Compared to the existing heart medicine, Digitalis, its performance wasn't overwhelmingly better.

However, an 'unintended' side effect was discovered during the clinical trial.

'As expected of the Guild Master. He was conducting a proper clinical trial.'

That side effect was Male Enhancement.

I told it to revive the heart, but an entirely different part of the body came to life instead.

— "D-Director. A volunteer for the clinical trial... his... vigor won't subside..."

— "Uh... why do the patients keep refusing to lie down in bed?"

— "What? The Guild Master wants to participate in the trial too? The other directors as well? What??"

Right after that effect was discovered.

There were a few happenings at the company.

In any case, after that clinical trial, a certain project began at our company.

"Our company now plans to consistently conduct clinical trials for all our drugs. We'll even be testing drugs whose results are already known."

There might be 'side effects' we don't know about.

Just like with Sildenafil.

In that hope, the company's board of directors unanimously agreed to this project.

However, there was one problem in this case.

Recruiting all trial subjects as volunteers like we were doing would cause costs to skyrocket astronomically.

To solve that problem, the Merkur Trading Company took a special measure.

"Don't tell me..."

"Right now, our company's clinics are being set up all over Civitas Square. They'll soon be installed in Limbus Pit as well. Exclusive Healers contracted with our company will be stationed there."

And those healers will 'test' our company's various drugs on the residents.

"Of course, we'll only be testing drugs that have passed Phase 3 clinical trials. You don't have to worry about serious side effects."

"..."

"Residents who agree to the trial will be able to receive treatment at a low price. And the company will be able to get data on the drugs."

It was a win-win relationship for everyone.

Citizens who found the price of Divine Magic burdensome could receive cheaper treatment in exchange for consenting to a clinical trial.

The company could extract clinical trial data without spending much money.

Finally, the healers also benefited.

Since the amount of Divine Magic they could use in a day was limited anyway, they could earn a hefty sum through these clinics.

This was all the positive influence of Sildenafil—Viagra.

...Sigh. It would have been great if the medicine wasn't just an aphrodisiac.

"So you don't have to worry too much just because I'm gone. If you feel sad, you can send me a letter sometimes, Wangcho."

"..."

Sniffle.

"?"

I whipped my head around at the sound coming from Wangcho.

What is this? Is he crying?

A Mafia Boss who hangs people on meat hooks and carves them up is crying over something like this?

"Teacher... I'm truly grateful."

The Hyena Beastkin took off his hat and bowed his head, as if to hide his tears.

"Until you ascend, I'll somehow make that kid Eri into a Rank 1. Even if I have to pass on everything I have."

"You don't have to push yourself so hard..."

"No. Compared to what you've done for me, Teacher, I'm ashamed that this is all I can do for you."

Wangcho put his hat back on, wiping away the moisture that had gathered in his eyes.

"Once again, as the representative of our streets, thank you, Teacher."

***

After parting with Wangcho, I returned to the mansion to find the house in a state of disarray.

Servants were bustling through the hallways, the usually closed warehouse door was open, and I could smell something burning.

For the record, it was the smell of something being burned during ironing.

That servant was being chewed out by the Head Maid in a corner.

I stopped a busy maid passing by.

"What's going on?"

"Ah, you're back, Young Master. We're in the middle of preparing for the Founding Festival. Dinner might be a little late today."

I'd be cooking dinner anyway, so the servants being busy didn't matter.

In any case, I knew the reason.

The Founding Festival.

It's basically the Empire's version of the First Full Moon Festival.

Once at New Year's, and once at the Founding Festival.

The Empire has a total of two major holidays like this.

As soon as I heard that, I understood why the servants were so busy.

When the Founding Festival comes, my parents have many places to go.

Freya also gets busy meeting her friends.

That was why the servants were busy, too.

Organizing the clothes their masters would wear, preparing to entertain the guests they would bring.

It was an event that made the whole house busy in many ways.

'Well, it's got nothing to do with me.'

But it wasn't my concern.

Usually, only my parents were busy during the Founding Festival, while I would just stay home and do research.

This year, I was planning to stay home and research ways to promote Viagra.

Just as I was thinking that and nonchalantly heading for the kitchen's back door.

"Ah, Young Master. You're back from work. Perfect timing."

Head Butler Wilhelm approached from the end of the hall.

The silver-haired Head Butler walked toward me with his back ramrod straight.

"This year, you and Miss Erika will also be participating in the Founding Festival, so we will begin fitting clothes and reviewing etiquette starting today."

"Me?"

"You are turning seventeen this year, are you not?"

Ah, right.

The Founding Festival isn't just a festival.

It had a special meaning for the children of nobles who were turning seventeen.

If the time until sixteen was for making a name for oneself in high society, from seventeen onward was when one began to seriously search for a fiancé.

The Founding Festival also served as the event that marked that beginning.

In Wuxia terms, you could say sixteen is the age for one's debut in the martial world, and seventeen is the age to participate in the Dragon Phoenix Assembly.

For reference, the Dragon Phoenix Assembly is like a Number One Under Heaven Youth Tournament where all the promising talents of the rising generation gather to show off how great they are.

However, one thing about the Head Butler's words made me wonder.

"But I already have a fiancé, don't I? What happens in that case?"

In short, the Founding Festival is a place to find a fiancé.

I couldn't understand why I, who had already found one, needed to go there.

"That is correct. Which is why this Founding Festival will serve as the place to officially announce your engagement with the Marquis Hausen Family."

"I see."

"This is unexpected. That there is something the Young Master does not know."

"That's a side of things I didn't look into in detail."

I had thought I wouldn't need to go.

I can't be expected to know things I haven't studied, can I?

Next, the Head Butler also spoke to Erika, who was standing beside me.

"Miss Erika will also have her clothes fitted starting today."

"Wha? Me too?"

From behind me, Erika mumbled with a piece of bread in her mouth.

I didn't ask where she got it.

She obviously pilfered it from the warehouse on the way here.

"Why am I going?"

"Miss Erika, you now bear the seal of the Nihilrit Family on your back, so to speak. Therefore, we, the family, will also manage your social activities."

He said that, but there was a more practical reason hidden within.

Usually, a mage recruited by a family is unfamiliar with the rules of noble society.

So the family manages the parts the mage doesn't know.

This is because the family might be able to manage a portion of the rights she obtains when she achieves success later on.

Of course, seeing how Mother has been treating Erika lately, it seems more like she just sees her as a daughter.

"You do not need to feel burdened. This Founding Festival is also an occasion to inform other families that the Nihilrit Baronial Family has acquired an exclusive mage. The Young Lady might also be able to form a good connection at the Founding Festival."

"A good connection?"

"Yes. Isn't Miss Erika at that age now?"

As if she didn't like what the Head Butler said.

Erika paused her chewing on the bread and began to think deeply about something.

She soon replied, looking somewhat reluctant.

"I'll think about that. By the way, is there a lot of good food there?"

"The best cooks in the Empire will have gathered to prepare the food."

"Okay. I'll skip lunch that day."

The Head Butler nodded with a wry smile.

Then, his smile returned, and he turned his gaze to me.

"And Young Master. At the Founding Festival, there are times when one offers gifts to the Imperial Family. Lord Handel will prepare most of them, but it would be good for you to think about it as well."

"I understand."

"Well then. If you need anything, please let the servants know."

Leaving those words behind, the Head Butler excused himself.

I stood in the hallway for a moment, lost in thought.

A gift.

It would be good to offer a gift that shows the family's unique character.

But the Nihilrit Family isn't distinct enough for that.

Hmm.

'If the Imperial Family member is a man...'

Would the not-yet-released Sildenafil count as a gift?

'I guess that's probably not it, right?'

Even with the Misunderstanding Genre Correction, I don't think this is it.

Then, besides Sildenafil, what kind of gift could I give to the Imperial Family?

For a while after, I stood in the hallway, thinking about a gift that would remain in the memory of the Imperial Family.