Chapter 88

■ Chapter 87. Preparation (2) □ ᓚᘏᗢ

As I mentioned before, a festival truly becomes a festival only when there are people. As if to prove this, our manor has become increasingly bustling with people as time has passed.

Just a fortnight ago, our manor was so quiet it was almost serene, but now it is teeming with so many people that it almost resembles a decent-sized city. And this is even before the exhibition has started.

At the same time, I couldn't help but worry. While it's good that our manor is bustling with tourists now, the problem lies in what happens afterward.

As I mentioned before, our manor has almost no distinctive features. Although the royal family is currently providing various forms of support for the exhibition, that is only a temporary effect.

Even if the exhibition is a success, there are still concerns about the maintenance costs afterward and whether tourists will return. For these reasons, I couldn't help but worry.

‘It's fortunate that so many merchants have come, but…’

Tomorrow, the exhibition will begin, and even more people will flood in. Not only humans but also various races can be seen here and there, and many security guards have been deployed to maintain order.

Moreover, the appearance of the manor has changed dramatically compared to before.

According to Lina, although it was hastily prepared, it doesn't look like it was rushed at all. Perhaps it was designed this way from the beginning, or maybe the supervisor has a good sense of style.

Originally, the plan was to develop the manor three years from now, so it seems they have just brought it forward.

‘There shouldn't be any major problems.’

The royal family has also inspected the buildings multiple times to ensure that no accidents occur. I know that the inn where the nobles and artists will stay has been managed even more meticulously.

In addition, many new shops have opened. Originally, our manor only had a few basic stores, a clothing shop, and a blacksmith, but after contracting with the merchants, various branches have appeared one after another.

Of course, as more people come and go, various issues have also arisen. One of the most prominent is illegal street vendors.

Hearing that an exhibition would be held in our manor, they quickly set up their stalls to make a profit.

While most of them have set up their stalls legally after contracting with my father, there are always unscrupulous people.

My father, being a former knight, immediately investigated and expelled any illegal street vendors. Thanks to this, there were no instances of stalls obstructing the roads.

‘But street vendors in the medieval era…’

As always, this world is a peculiar place. I alternated my gaze between the illegal street vendors being dismantled and the furious stall owners before quickly turning away.

There are mountains of more important tasks to handle. While my parents are busy processing the flood of documents, I am swamped with welcoming guests.

The first guests were Mari's family, so I could proceed without much pressure, but from then on, I had to face people I didn't know at all.

Not only nobles from the empire but also distinguished guests from other countries. The tension was intense. If I made a mistake here, it would not only tarnish my reputation but also that of my parents.

Fortunately, all the guests had come because they loved the story of Zeon, so everything went smoothly.

Moreover, most of the guests who arrived a day early had come from distant regions and spent the whole day resting at the inn.

However, not only the nobles but also the artists arrived a day early for rehearsals.

"Nice to meet you. I am Lirius Hughesman, the conductor of the Lirius Orchestra."

"My name is Isaac Duker Marshall. It is an honor to welcome the renowned Lirius Orchestra."

It's Mr. Pringles.

This is my first impression of Lirius, the conductor of the Lirius Orchestra.

His head was completely bald, reflecting the sunlight, but his mustache was somewhat unique. He seemed both cheerful and professional.

In any case, his first impression was impeccable. Most renowned artists are picky or arrogant, but Lirius was different.

As seen in his letters, Lirius was quite polite and humble, yet he exuded a charisma that couldn't be hidden.

He was a perfect fit for his role as a conductor, dressed in a neatly tailored tuxedo that exuded elegance.

"Your red hair is quite unique. Your eyes, which shine like a predator, are also remarkable."

"Your mustache is also impressive, Mr. Lirius. It must be difficult to maintain."

"Your tone is as blunt as your expression. Still, thank you. There are few who appreciate the value of this mustache, but you seem to understand it."

Lirius gently tugged at his unique mustache and smiled proudly. It seems he considers his mustache a part of his identity.

I muttered to myself that his personality is as unique as his appearance, but since I was speaking the truth, I didn't say anything more. Indeed, maintaining such a mustache would be very difficult without considerable effort and dedication.

I sat across from Mr. Pringles... no, Lirius, and quietly spoke.

"Did you like the stage? As you know, it was hastily built, so there might be many shortcomings."

"Not at all. On the contrary, it doesn't look like it was rushed at all. Of course, it's different from the stages in the Ters Kingdom, but that was possible because they had time. If we had time in the Minerva Empire, we could have built an even better stage."

As Lirius said, if the empire had had enough time, they could have built a much more impressive stage. The problem is that the exhibition was pushed onto us by the Ters Kingdom as if to say, "Eat this."

Still, it's fortunate for both me and the empire that he likes it. However, there are still concerns.

"What do you think about holding the exhibition like a festival?"

"That's not a big problem either. If people who love the story of Zeon gather and enjoy themselves, what else could it be but a festival? And from the schedule, it seems that during the day, paintings and sculptures will be shown, and in the evening, we will perform. It seems the plan has been well coordinated."

Mr. Pringles... no, Lirius, is saying flattering things one after another. Thanks to this, I can breathe a sigh of relief.

However, other artists might think differently.

Especially the Matrix Theater, known for its spectacular direction, is said to have a high sense of pride. Not only the Matrix Theater but also other artists generally have high self-esteem.

"It's a relief to hear that you like it. If there are any inconveniences, we will address them immediately."

"Hmm... It's not so much an inconvenience as there is one thing that bothers me."

"What is it?"

When I asked with a slight tension, Lirius opened his mouth with a regretful expression.

"I'm not sure if Zeon will really come to see our performance."

"..."

"Although the publisher said he would attend, it's not certain, is it? Perhaps something unavoidable might happen."

Mr. Pringles is right in front of me. I couldn't help but smile bitterly at his words.

However, the next words from Lirius changed my bitter smile into a question.

"More than anything, I want to show Zeon a certain stage. The Matrix Theater has also agreed to it, which makes it even more regrettable."

"A certain stage?"

"Yes. I can confidently say that it will be a perfect stage for fans of the story of Zeon."

What kind of stage could these people... no, these artists have created to be so confident?

Artists, regardless of the era, often have a certain eccentricity, which naturally piqued my curiosity.

I looked at Lirius with shining eyes and subtly probed.

"Can you give me a hint?"

"That's not possible. It wouldn't be fun if you knew in advance. However, I can tell you that we have rehearsed multiple times with the Matrix Theater before leaving for the perfect stage."

It seems to be a kind of collaboration.

With two world-renowned masters joining forces, I am looking forward to it.

"Understood. I hope you have a comfortable rest after your long journey."

"Thank you for your hospitality. If there's an opportunity, I would like to turn this manor into a cultural city. There would be no need to travel around unnecessarily."

"I will consider it. To be honest, I also have some ambition."

"Hehehe. A street for Zeon... as an artist, I am jealous, but as a fan, I am looking forward to it."

After that, Lirius left, saying he hoped I would enjoy his performance. I naturally developed a good impression of him, who maintained a humble attitude until the end.

'Collaboration, huh...'

What kind of stage will these artists show? A collaboration with the Matrix Theater, known for its exceptional direction.

Although it might be a bit of a stretch to compare it to movies from my previous life, their confidence makes me a bit excited.

I escorted Lirius back to the inn for the nobles and artists and then headed back to the mansion.

Not only Lirius, but there are still people to welcome. The Matrix Theater will arrive soon, so I plan to prepare in advance.

'The real VIPs will visit tomorrow...'

The VIPs above the rank of Duke are already at the royal palace in the capital. They will stay there and then travel to our manor by carriage when the time comes.

By now, Leort and Lina must be dealing with them. Perhaps Cecilie is with them as well.

Just as I was about to enter the mansion, I heard a familiar male voice.

"Isaac!"

"Huh?"

It was a voice I found very welcome.

I turned my head, thinking it couldn't be, and saw a man walking slowly toward me from the gate I had just passed.

He had striking red hair and golden eyes, and overall, he looked like a cheerful and handsome man.

It was Dave, my older brother, who I heard had joined the Navy Knights a few months ago and was in training.

"Brother Dave? Is it really you?"

"Hey, how long has it been? You seem to have grown taller since I last saw you?"

I was surprised, and Dave smiled brightly and ruffled my hair. I couldn't believe the situation and stammered, then looked at his face.

Physically, he hadn't changed much, but his skin was tanned from training in the sun. His arms, exposed by a sleeveless T-shirt, had small scars, and he seemed to have gained some muscle.

"Are you on leave? I thought you were in training?"

"Originally, yes, but for some reason, the deputy commander sent me. I think it's because the exhibition is being held in our manor. I heard it was an order from the royal family, but I don't know the details."

"..."

I have a pretty good idea of who might have influenced this. Still, it's good to see Dave.

I was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to see the exhibition, but it's a pleasant surprise to have him here. I should express my gratitude soon.

"Is the training manageable?"

"Don't even get me started. Thanks to it, I've come to realize how great Father is. Have you ever gone a month without sleeping, eating, and fighting non-stop?"

"How could a human do that? Even an elf would find it incredibly difficult."

"Exactly. But if you push through with sheer willpower, it's possible. Is Father inside?"

"He's buried under a pile of documents."

"Father is also working hard. Oh, right. Isaac, do you know Princess Helium?"

"Huh?"

I opened my eyes wide at Dave's question. Did he meet Cecilie before coming to the mansion? If not, there's no reason for him to ask such a question.

When I looked at him with wide eyes, Dave explained what had just happened.

"Before coming to the mansion, someone called out your name while looking at me. But red hair like ours is rare, so I looked at the person, and it was Princess Helium."

"Where did you meet her?"

"At the entrance to the manor. She didn't seem to be in a carriage but was walking on foot with her guards."

"Really? How?"

"Probably with magic. The direction of the voice I heard was from the sky."

Indeed, as a demon, she could easily use magic to travel without needing a carriage. Still, it was surprising that she came directly to our manor instead of the capital.

'I should go see her soon.'

She's probably staying at the inn for nobles right now. As I thought this, Dave continued.

"Anyway, what's your relationship with Princess Helium? The way she called out to you seemed unusual."

"Just friends."

"Hmm... It seemed more than just friends..."

Dave muttered and looked at me. His bright golden eyes, like mine, were filled with deep suspicion.

I don't know how Cecilie reacted, but from Dave's reaction, she must have greeted me enthusiastically. It's understandable for a third party who doesn't know the full story to be suspicious.

'Will I be labeled as a playboy?'

I tried to avoid his gaze and changed the subject. Dave would know by now that I have a girlfriend.

"By the way, do you get along with the seniors? I heard that places like the Navy Knights have a lot of mischievous people."

"Don't even get me started. They tease me as a trainee every chance they get. Last time, they even said I left my sword behind and told me to go buy one from the blacksmith."

"..."

It's a familiar script.

In my previous life, such hazing was almost non-existent when I joined the military, but I often saw it on the internet.

Without computers or even televisions, the military here is likely to have even more severe hazing than in my previous life.

However, the Navy Knights, who engage in battles almost daily, probably don't have time for such things. They're more focused on staying alive.

"Recently, there's also a rumor that a lady from a noble family made a scandalous statement, which has affected the atmosphere."

"Scandalous statement?"

"Yes. She said that soldiers are like beasts guarding the home. Fortunately, she wasn't expelled from her family, but she's probably suffering a lot now. They put her in a knight training school, not just a regular training camp."

I'm 100% sure of this without even investigating. It's her own fault, and I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at the irony.

A knight training school, not just a regular training camp. The training period is much longer, and the intensity is notoriously extreme.

Usually, talented individuals are selected from regular training camps and sent to knight training schools, but it seems Aila's family forced her in.

Moreover, they probably instructed to completely reform her, so her future is bleak.

"That's really unfortunate. Has it affected you?"

"We're too busy guarding the border to care. Fortunately, there's almost no activity from elf scouts or monsters, so we have some free time."

"When does your leave end?"

"Three nights and four days. The seniors call it a 3.4-second leave, but I doubt it's that short. Tomorrow is the exhibition, so the time will fly, but I should be able to enjoy it."

"Um... Is the story of Zeon popular in the Navy Knights?"

"Of course. It's the same everywhere people live."

I returned to the mansion, catching up on all the stories I hadn't been able to share with Dave.

Thanks to this, I felt that the exhibition would be even more enjoyable.

* * *

"This is his mansion, huh."

Right after Isaac and Dave entered the mansion, someone was watching them from the sky, which was filled with blue. It was Princess Cecilie of Helium.

If she were human, she would have been shocked to see Cecilie standing boldly in the sky, but as a demon, she is one of the races blessed with magic.

Using magic to fly in the sky is basic, and she can even use teleportation to move between spaces, making this a simple task.

'They look similar, yet subtly different.'

Even from the high sky, Cecilie could see the mansion as clearly as if it were right in front of her. Demons have superior vision, and with the help of magic, it's even easier.

'I should have gone to the mansion with them...'

Cecilie felt regret as she watched the brothers enter the mansion. At the manor entrance, she mistook Dave for Isaac due to the red hair and fled in embarrassment when she realized her mistake.

But now, she regrets missing the opportunity to enter the mansion with Dave. As someone who has been waiting for the right moment, she couldn't help but feel disappointed.

The only fortunate thing was that she was wearing her outdoor clothes when she met Dave. If it had been the dress for the exhibition, her disappointment would have been even deeper.

Isaac is the one she wants to see first in the exhibition dress. Just imagining his embarrassed and blushing face, like at the freshman event, makes her heart flutter.

"...Princess?"

While Cecilie was thinking of Isaac, a man quietly called her from beside her. He was also a demon, with horns like a ram, unlike Cecilie's upward-pointing horns.

He had black hair and red eyes, typical of demons, but his face was obscured by a black mask, making it hard to see his features. However, he was still a handsome man.

His name is Garth Balak, a member of the 'Reaper' selected as Cecilie's bodyguard.

Being a demon, Garth was also skilled in