Chapter 355 : The Ball (4)

A few days later.

After receiving the interpretation of one of the second-rank spells from Heinkel.

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

Of course, there were already enough mages—

“Please, please pick me!”

“I’m supporting my widowed mother!”

“My family-like rabbit and daughter-like hamster are starving!”

—because it didn’t seem like the mages would easily step aside.

Of course, before that.

He couldn’t quite figure out why applicants for a basic computation spell would try to win him over with stories about widowed mothers or starving pets...

Anyway, Alon decided to hold an additional selection and told Penia about it.

“A new mage?”

“Yes.”

“Hm~ how many?”

“How many do you think we should pick?”

“Hmm—”

As Alon watched Penia hesitate, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

“But Penia.”

“Yes?”

“Come to think of it, the more people there are for basic computation, the better, right?”

“Isn’t that so?”

“Then wouldn’t it be fine to just bring in every mage who wants to do it and give them work?”

Alon’s question was reasonable.

Any mage could do basic computation.

But Penia answered with a strange look.

“If you look at it simply, yes~. But it doesn’t actually work that way.”

“It doesn’t?”

“Yes. As you know, even simple calculations vary from mage to mage, right?”

“That’s true.”

“But the thing is, in this case, what we’re interpreting isn’t just simple math—it requires mages to synchronize with each other.”

“Synchronize?”

“Yes. Unlike the first rank, the second rank requires an absurdly large amount of simple calculations. So even for a single operation, mages have to work in tandem.”

Penia shrugged as if searching for an easy way to explain it.

“Put simply, if even one person calculates below a certain speed, the overall computation slows down drastically.”

Because in the end, ten mages together only produced the result of one operation.

“In other words, even if nine finish within ten seconds, if one takes fifteen seconds, the final result will still take fifteen.”

“Exactly. In that sense, the ones we’ve already chosen are somewhat elite.”

Alon nodded.

“So, have all the candidates been filtered already?”

“Well, there are some who came later. If we search, we can find a few more, though probably not many.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Ah—am I doing this alone?”

“I mean, it doesn’t matter if we do it together.”

At that, Penia thought for a moment.

Then, as if something had just occurred to her, she gave a sly little smile.

“No, it’s fine. Honestly, I can handle it by myself. You’re busy anyway, aren’t you, Marquis?”

“Well, I could spare a day or so.”

“No need. You should get ready for the ball.”

Alon stared straight at Penia.

She laughed, meeting his eyes.

“W-Why are you looking at me like that?”

Penia quickly turned her gaze aside.

“It’s obvious you’re trying to make a profit out of this, isn’t it?”

“Shut up, would you.”

When Evan, who had been quietly standing nearby, chimed in, Penia scowled deeply.

“...Feels like all I hear these days is people telling me to shut up.”

“I may be greedy, but I wouldn’t stoop so low for something like this. You’re slandering me for nothing.”

“Funny, considering you happily accepted things just a few days ago.”

“I told you already, I didn’t ask for that—people just brought it to me! And anyway, since interpretation is so important, I’m not about to pick just any riffraff!”

Penia shot back without missing a beat, refusing to back down to Evan’s muttering.

Alon nodded thoughtfully.

True...

Even if Penia was worldly—no, even if she was quite worldly—

He knew well that she was diligent when it came to doing her actual work.

Because of that—

“That part doesn’t concern me.”

Alon backed Penia up.

“Marquis~!”

Penia’s eyes sparkled as if she were touched.

“Ahem. Well, I do know you can tell the difference between what should and shouldn’t be done. Though honestly, it does look like you’d never turn down a gift.”

Evan backed down with an awkward laugh.

At that, Alon glanced at Penia.

No way, right?

But Penia’s eyes shifted evasively.

Penia...?

***

Leaving behind that peculiar exchange with Penia.

It had been a few days since Alon set off toward Terea, where the ball would be held.

“I won!”

“No way! That doesn’t count! You just moved your pawn somewhere it wasn’t allowed!”

“My pawn moves three spaces at a time!”

“What the hell are you talking about! Ria! Look at this! Pawns can’t do that, right?”

“...?”

“Were you dozing off?! You said you’d be the referee!”

Inside the carriage, Seolrang and Ryanga were noisily playing chess, one of the board games brought from the Magic Tower.

And for some reason, Historia was acting as referee, though no one knew why.

“Ahem—so basically, the ball goes something like this.”

“So, in other words, it’s essentially a five-day partner ball?”

“That’s right. And this time it’s supposed to be especially lavish, so there’ll be all sorts of food.”

“I see.”

Alon suddenly recalled the egg tart he had eaten at the last ball.

“It really was delicious.”

It had been even sweeter than the ones from his own territory.

The memory of that taste lingered only briefly.

“So then, Marquis.”

“What is it?”

“How long are you planning to stay this time?”

“Well, since it’s been a while, I plan to stay for the duration of the event.”

“You’re planning to show your face as much as possible and then disappear again for a few years, aren’t you?”

Alon didn’t bother responding to Evan’s words.

Because they were true.

‘Those places are uncomfortable even now, after all.’

In fact, balls held great significance for nobles.

In a world without social media, balls and special gatherings served as vital channels of communication.

But since Alon’s natural temperament favored staying in his room playing games rather than standing in front of crowds, balls weren’t exactly enjoyable for him.

“Haa—”

As Alon let out a quiet sigh, Evan asked curiously.

“I know you don’t really like places where people gather, Marquis, but may I ask why?”

“If I had to give a reason, I suppose it’s because I don’t like having to care about things.”

“Care about things?”

“Nobles or not, don’t I have to pay attention to them?”

“Well, sure, the basics of etiquette need to be observed, but aside from that, you’re not really in a position where you have to watch others’ reactions, are you?”

“Why not?”

“Because, to begin with, your reputation is already firmly established. Even if you’re not active in society, you’re still the head of Kalpha. If anything, others should be mindful of you, not the other way around.”

As Alon slowly nodded at Evan’s words, Evan, who had been quietly watching him, continued.

“Marquis, I’ve thought this for a while now, but don’t you lack a sense of your own position?”

“Do I?”

“Yes, at least in my eyes. Almost as if you’re ‘intentionally’ avoiding it.”

“...That much?”

“Yes.”

Alon thought for a moment.

Of course, he had never consciously tried to avoid recognizing his position.

There was no reason to do that.

And more importantly.

It wasn’t as though Alon was free of ambition for power.

Being human, he naturally had some measure of desire for authority.

That much was undeniable.

“I think I get it now. Master does feel a little unlike a noble sometimes.”

Seolrang, who had been stacking pawns into a tower until just a moment ago, chimed in at Evan’s remark.

“I agree.”

“Chief doesn’t really give off the air of someone high-ranking. It doesn’t feel like he’s even aware of it.”

Following that, Ryanga and Historia also gave their opinions as if they had been waiting for the chance.

Alon continued pondering with a puzzled expression.

Meanwhile, the carriage steadily made its way toward Terea.

***

Since there was no need to rush, Alon’s group traveled leisurely from village to village.

They arrived in Terea on the day of the ball.

“My Lord.”

“Yutia.”

As always, Yutia was waiting in front of the royal palace, dressed in her black mourning robes.

“Have you been well? Nothing happened while you were away?”

“Nothing special. More importantly, did your work go well?”

“Yes, thanks to your consideration.”

With a graceful smile, Yutia turned her gaze toward Seolrang, Ryanga, and Historia, who stood behind Alon.

“Thank you as well, for escorting Lord safely.”

A polite greeting—thinly veiled as a victor’s provocation.

The three, who had been bickering with each other until just moments before arriving, instantly froze with sour expressions.

“Shall we go, my Lord?”

“Yes.”

With her back to the others, Yutia proudly walked alongside Alon toward the ballroom.

The moment the two stepped inside—

“Greetings, Marquis Palatio, I am—”

“A pleasure to meet you, Marquis~!”

“Oh my, it’s been so long since I last saw you, Marquis. I am from the eastern nobility—”

...

They were immediately confronted with an overwhelming crowd.

In fact, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that practically everyone present had gathered around Marquis Palatio.

Naturally, he couldn’t ignore them.

So, at some point, Alon found himself calmly greeting each and every person, even those standing far in the back.

It actually wasn’t that difficult.

In fact, in a way, it was even a little helpful.

After all, Alon hadn’t participated in proper communication for several years.

So he was rather grateful when people approached him with greetings.

Since when someone greeted him first, they also introduced themselves by name.

He had no desire to be embarrassed by failing to recall a name or, worse, to make unnecessary enemies.

Anyway, that was why greeting the nobles wasn’t so bad.

Yes, that part wasn’t so bad.

The problem was—

“Hahaha, Marquis, if you ever find yourself in a situation you can’t speak of, please come to me. I will absolutely help you.”

“Ah, yes—”

“Marquis, should you wish to have a private and confidential conversation that you can’t share with others, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

“...Uh, yes, well—”

“Marquis, if you ever need assistance with matters like these, or even just someone to talk to, please come to me. And remember, I am always on your side!”

It was the nobles.

“...What?”

Looking at these nobles, each with an overly secretive expression as if whispering, ‘Want to be secret friends with me?’, Alon instinctively realized—

Whatever it was.

Something had happened again.