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“This is definitely a trap, isn’t it?”
“It’s a trap, no doubt about it.”
“Really? Is it?”
“You need to learn to be more suspicious, idiot.”

Leaving the clueless Momo behind, Nova and Hoshikawa folded their arms and groaned in agreement.

After the previous day’s attack, they were now being summoned directly by the person suspected to be behind it all. There was no way this was going to be uneventful.

“Ya definitely shouldn’t go. The person is a noble; there’s no telling what they might do.”
“Blatantly avoiding it would be more disrespectful. The person is waiting in a separate room, right?”
“Y-yes… they’re waiting in the VIP room.”
“There’s a VIP room…?”
“We occasionally get a chance to use it. By the way, they asked for you to come alone.”
“Got it. You guys wait here.”
“Hey!”

Stalling here wouldn’t improve the situation, and I couldn’t afford to be executed for disrespect. Besides, I was curious to see what kind of person would poison a child like Stell.

“I-I’m sorry, little Laika…”
“No need to worry. If you refuse, your position might be in danger, right? I’ll be fine.”
“Agh! My heart just sank!”
“Maybe it’s okay to abandon you after all.”
“Master, that’s a bit much. Please, try to be gentler…”

✦✧✦✧✦

“You’re late. Making someone wait shows you lack nobility.”

When escorted to the so-called VIP room, what awaited was a creature far beyond my expectations.

To put it mildly, her ample belly occupied the sofa, and the room, with its closed windows, was filled with an overpowering perfume scent.

And on her lap… her lap? It was hard to tell with all the flesh and the dress, but presumably, on the lap of the young woman with heavy makeup sat a young boy.

The boy on her lap appeared to be around the same age as Stell. It was safe to assume he was a rival for the inheritance.

His appearance was quite decent, not resembling his parents. This suggested he was rather pampered, evident from his behavior and the extravagant clothes he wore—even more luxurious than those of his parents.

“…Excuse me for the delay. My name is Laika Galactica. May I ask the purpose of this meeting?”
“Hmph, it seems you do have the sense to understand your position. Very well, I will forgive you.”

Despite introducing myself and offering an apology, even if just a formality, her attitude was as such. Moreover, despite ordering me to come alone, she had her handsome guards by her side.

Ha, she was lucky there were witnesses around. I would have imprinted the etiquette physically otherwise.

“Let’s get to the point. Take this.”
“…Um, what are these gold coins for?”

Though she said ‘get to the point,’ it was quite unclear when she tossed a huge bag of gold coins onto the table.

Even without looking inside, the bulging bag—filled to the brim—was evidently a substantial sum, thrown too carelessly.

“Sigh… it seems you lack a brain. I’m telling you to become my son Konis’ tutor.”
“I see. And in exchange, you want me to quit teaching Stell… Lady Stell?”
“Yes, Konis has much more talent than that little girl. As a wizard, you should understand this, right?”
“……”

The boy on the woman’s lap snorted arrogantly, looking down on me.

His parent’s pride in him wasn’t entirely misplaced; he had some potential, but only some.

He might have room to grow given his age, but right now, he was at best mediocre. Once Stell’s Magic Crystallization Syndrome was cured, he wouldn’t stand a chance against her.

“You should be honored, don’t you think? Teaching magecraft to the future head of the Umravolf family would surely add prestige to your name.”
“I understand. However, I have already been requested by Lady Stell to provide instruction in magecraft. To abandon that would be a breach of duty.”
“Duty? That’s unnecessary. Wizards are an outdated breed, anyway.”
“…Oh?”
“Reciting long incantations is nonsense in this day and age. While it might have made sense in the past, nowadays, we have convenient magic tools.”

As she spoke, she pulled out a small-caliber pistol.

It wasn’t just any weapon; faint traces of magic power could be sensed from the lines etched into its surface. There was likely some enchantment on the bullets it fired.

“I don’t know how skilled a wizard you are, but can you dodge a bullet fired at this distance?”
“…Who knows?”
“Heh, don’t worry, I won’t shoot. As long as you remain sensible.”

Perhaps thinking my response was just bravado, the woman smugly put the pistol away.

The implied threat was clear: defy us, and you won’t live. How terrifying. It made me tremble.

“Is that all? I wouldn’t want to take up any more of your time, so I’ll be taking my leave.”
“Hmph, such a considerate attitude. I’ll await your response until tomorrow. Think carefully about your future.”

With a glance at the overly confident woman and her child, I left the room.

Taking a slow, deep breath, I checked to ensure there was no unnecessary presence around and then opened the door to the room adjacent to the VIP room.

“—Eavesdropping, are we? How refined of you.”
“Ah, well, you see, Master, this isn’t what it looks like…!”

Inside the room, my foolish disciples stood lined up, each with a cup pressed against the wall, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation in the VIP room.