Chapter 48
Despite visiting the bank countless times, I’d never received such courteous treatment.
…Why now? Wild Instinct and Know-It-All vouched for it, so I’d meet them, but it was odd. For a clerk to personally mention it, it must be someone from the Imperium Bank. I had no such high connections.
What was this?
“Then I’ll guide you.”
The clerk stood, placing a [CLOSE] sign on the counter, then bowed respectfully.
“Please follow me.”
They led me forward.
The countless people waiting for their numbers glanced at the closed chief counter.
“…What’s that?”
“A counter’s empty?”
“What’s that mean? In 50 years, I’ve never seen an empty counter! The Elidore Marquis Family runs this place so well! 250 clerks daily, 50 in reserve! It’s never empty… It’s actually empty.”
Other waiting customers looked puzzled at the closed counter, then at me and the clerk.
“…Who is he?”
“Who’s that guy?”
The attention was heavy. Enduring uncomfortable stares, I climbed stairs, up and up. The clerk encouraged me with a professional smile.
“Sorry, Customer. We have indoor teleport facilities, but they leave records reported to the imperial family daily, so I don’t recommend them…”
A considerate act, given my fallen reputation as trash and scoundrel in noble circles.
“It’s fine. It’s not good for either of us.”
If my visit got out, it’d trouble both the Imperium Bank and me.
On the fifth floor, a staff member smiled.
“You can remove your hood now. Only trustworthy people are here.”
I took off my verdant green hood.
It was stuffy, so good timing.
I thought we’d arrived, but we kept climbing higher.
‘To the top floor…?’
We reached the 50th floor. The staff, tireless, maintained a constant smile, revealing they were no ordinary person but someone trained in mana.
“We’re almost there.”
The 50th floor felt different, like a home rather than an office. Clearly where the owner’s family resided.
“Here we are. I apologize for any shortcomings in hosting such an esteemed guest.”
“No problem at all. It’s fine.”
The clerk smiled softly and called inside.
“Marquis Elidore! I’ve brought Customer Martin von Targon Ulvhadin as requested!”
“Let him in.”
The door began opening automatically. The clerk who guided me bowed 90 degrees, unmoving.
‘…Marquis Elidore.’
I vaguely recalled it from the original.
Know-It-All (Lv 2) corrects your memory.
‘Right, that’s it.’
In the latter half of The Fallen Crown Prince of the Cosmos Empire, the Imperium capital falls—the Great Collapse.
The emperor was dead, Princess Adela had become empress and was tyrannizing, and the capital was half-destroyed by a giant slime. Outside, a demon lord’s army invaded.
Three of the Four Great Dukes were dead, with only Duke Tauforos surviving to defend the front.
That’s when Marquis Elidore appeared, leading citizen evacuations and stabilizing panicked vassals.
Many survived thanks to him.
Later, when Gilbert’s rival, Prince Kazaks, dethroned Empress Adela and became emperor, the loyalists and vast resources remained intact solely due to Marquis Elidore.
Though briefly described, no one matched his contributions.
“Martin of Ulvhadin.”
He called me.
***
As the door opened, I immediately bowed. Looking at a higher noble’s face first in a one-on-one meeting was gravely rude.
A deep voice came from inside.
“I hope I haven’t detained a busy man.”
“I wasn’t busy, and answering an esteemed person’s call is only natural.”
I responded with the polished etiquette of nobility.
Look at the military or companies. Even an elderly person, if lower-ranked, must defer to a young superior.
Noble society was stricter. Looking at a higher noble’s face first was rude, and being spoken to informally was expected.
“Better than the rumors rampant in noble circles. Shall we see if you’re the trash they say?”
“Uh, Father…!”
“Stay quiet, daughter.”
A young girl’s voice came from beside Marquis Elidore. It was unfamiliar.
“Raise your head.”
Lifting my head, I saw a marquis far different from my expectations.
Marquis Elidore was a giant, nearly 2 meters tall. Even seated on a sofa, his muscular build stood out.
His physique could be mistaken for a general’s, with shimmering pink hair and eyes—like the pink of ambition, ready to seize anything.
Beside him sat a small, delicate girl, surprisingly someone I knew.
“Greetings. I am Marquis Arnold von Halsa Elidore.”
“Thank you for the invitation, Marquis.”
“This, as you know, is my daughter, Luri von Ciel Elidore.”
“An honor to meet you, Lady.”
Lady. A term to respectfully address another’s daughter. The person was Luri.
Her vibrant personality shone through her twinkling pink twin-tails. She was the victim whose soul was suppressed by the demon summoner Helaine.
After the Big Bang and the Diamond Bullet, I’d rescued her and left her at the academy’s infirmary.
Luri shyly greeted me.
“Uh, I’m honored to meet you too, Young Master Martin.”
Young Master. A term for a highborn son. Naturally, not a term a marquis’ daughter should use for me. Was she nervous?
Unusually, Luri wore a lavish, beautiful dress for meeting someone like me. Her face was flushed.
She likely met another high noble before me. Higher than a marquis would be a duke or royalty.
Wild Instinct (Lv 2) denies it.
Denies it…?
“Sit. It’s not for ill intentions.”
With Marquis Arnold’s permission, I sat on the sofa.
I wanted to end this quickly and leave, but I couldn’t. Leading the conversation or getting to the point was the higher noble’s prerogative.
“Martin of Ulvhadin. Why do you think I called you?”
“….”
Wild Instinct (Lv 2) tries to discern Marquis Arnold’s intent but fails, blocked by his poker face.
Know-It-All (Lv 2) attempts to analyze Marquis Arnold’s intent but fails.
Let’s think. The only reason to call me would be the Helaine incident. If a daughter went through such an ordeal and relied on someone, it’d be her father. The marquis likely knew all about that day.
Simply thinking ‘he called to thank me for saving his daughter’ was too naive.
His daughter, a marquis’ heir, was controlled by a demon. If rumors spread, what would happen to the family and her reputation?
In the worst case… eliminating witnesses could be the goal.
But saying that outright wasn’t wise. I needed to tread carefully.
“…To claim property damages from the slums incident?”
“No, wrong. I said it’s not ill-intentioned, so speak freely. I seek honest dialogue.”
Honest dialogue. In noble circles, it meant speaking frankly without circumlocution.
But even rechecking the marquis’ face, I couldn’t guess his intent.
“Perhaps to inquire about the details of that day’s events?”
“Martin von Targon Ulvhadin. I said honest dialogue.”
“….”
Wild Instinct (Lv 2) is certain Marquis Arnold can discern truth from lies!
Know-It-All (Lv 2) is convinced the chance of successfully lying to Marquis Arnold is less than 3%.
This man… was truly terrifying. If he could see through any mask I wore… that was frightening.
“Then I won’t hold back…”
I couldn’t retreat further.
I poured out all the doubts swirling inside me.
“Did you call me to kill me to silence rumors?”
“No.”
I was a cynic.
“To negotiate a hush deal?”
“No.”
No matter what anyone said, I believed I was right.
“Do you want me to fabricate the truth and spread rumors?”
“No. Enough.”
Marquis Arnold’s brow furrowed. The first emotional shift. It felt like exasperation.
“You’re far sharper than I thought. I, we, called you purely to express gratitude.”
I looked at the displeased Marquis Arnold and the fidgeting Luri beside him.
Could I trust this?
“It’s fine. I didn’t do it for reward.”
“You tie gratitude to reward. I understand your character. You’ve been burned quite a bit, haven’t you?”
“….”
It stung. He hit the mark.
Luri grabbed her father’s arm.
“Father…!”
“….”
Marquis Arnold sighed and stood.
“I’ll leave first. I know you’re not the type to harm my daughter.”
In return for my honesty, he openly shared why he was here.
Competent. Impressive. Working with him would guarantee success. That was my impression of Marquis Arnold. Worthy of being the overseer of the Imperium Bank, a multipurpose administrative body spanning the empire and beyond.
As he left, Luri approached me.
“Um, hi… Young Master Martin.”
“I’m not someone to be called Young Master, Lady.”
Young Master, Lady. Terms for highborn heirs.
“No. You’re… my savior. To me, you’re Young Master Martin.”
“….”
When she put it like that, I couldn’t insist otherwise.
“Father, no, I mean…”
Realizing ‘Father’ sounded childish, Luri corrected herself.
“…Father! Father said we just wanted to thank you. If Father’s actions upset you, I apologize.”
“No need. It’s not something to apologize for.”
Who would fault a father protecting his daughter from a notorious scoundrel?
“That time… thank you so much. For everything.”
“So you do remember being controlled by Helaine.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Luri gave a shadowed smile.