Chapter 79: Special Request (5)
There are two families that represent the Commercial City Marzen.
The first is the Portville Sword Family, which showcases the prestige of the Graduate-level swordsman Philip Portville, and closely following them is the Charveau Magic Family.
Some even thought that the moment Philip Portville passed away, the hierarchy would be overturned, so there was no need to further explain the extent of their power.
Of course, even in such a great family, there's always one problem child, and the protagonist was Rupe Charveau, the third son of the current family head.
His magical talent was the lowest in the family, but because he was the child of the family head's most beloved second wife, he grew up receiving much love from a young age.
That was the problem.
Having lived receiving treatment beyond his abilities, he grew up with an arrogant personality and became the biggest headache for the Charveau family.
Even the family head, who initially said it was okay, that he could be like that because he was young, reached a point where he developed hair loss due to stress after Rupe Charveau turned twenty.
‘Wasn't it around that time that they couldn't handle him within the family anymore and had him move out?’
Sheratiya swallowed dryly.
Her tension naturally soared.
The being in front of her was twelve years older than back then, but his childish immaturity and filthy depravity hadn't been corrected at all.
No, rather, it had worsened.
Realizing he had been completely pushed out of the Charveau family's succession race, he became even less mindful of others' opinions, and his irritation, inferiority complex, and anger rained down like a shower on the easy targets around him.
The problem was, one of those ‘easy targets’ was none other than the Viyan family.
‘Dammit, the timing is also the worst. I heard he recently broke off another engagement; his hysteria must be through the roof…….’
Her guess was correct.
Rupe Charveau's gaze was truly like that of a venomous snake, possessing an aspect that made onlookers instinctively shy away.
The Viyan couple felt it too.
Jibrid Viyan, his hands already clammy with cold sweat, muttered inwardly.
‘This bastard's eyes, he's in a foul mood and looking for anyone to pick on…….’
Rage welled up.
He was twenty years younger than him, yet his arrogance pierced the heavens, and as if that wasn't enough, he picked fights with anyone.
If it were up to him, he would have wanted to chase the scoundrel out of the restaurant with a thunderous scolding, but unfortunately, he lacked the power.
At least for now.
What could he possibly do?
Only smile and humor the other party.
Jibrid Viyan forcefully moved his facial muscles to form a smile.
Hehe, after letting out a sycophantic laugh, he said.
“Ah, it was you, Young Rupe. H-Have you been well?”
“Young Rupe?”
“Huh? Uh-oh? Did I say something wrong?”
“No, it just sounds a bit informal…… To dare use an expression like ‘Young’ for me, the third son of the great Charveau family, it seems you still haven't grasped your place, have you?”
“…….”
“…….”
Jibrid Viyan and Ravena Viyan, who had been forcing a smile beside him, contorted their faces.
It couldn't be helped.
No matter how much better the other party's situation was than theirs, they were nobles.
They couldn't just keep smiling at someone who didn't observe even minimal etiquette.
However, Rupe Charveau didn't think so.
Raising one corner of his mouth, he looked at Jibrid Viyan and said.
“Hey, Mr. Jibrid. You're not a noble. You're just someone who used to be a noble.”
“Such……”
“No, wait a minute. I'm not finished talking yet. Instead of rudely interrupting, it would be better for you to open your ears wide and listen to my story…… What do you think?”
“…….”
“Good. It seems you're ready to listen now. Then, listen carefully from now on.”
And so began the story about the Viyan couple.
It was blatant ridicule and criticism, filled with contempt.
Beings who had long since lost the fiefdom they had inherited, and had squandered even the wealth accumulated during their grandparents' time down to a tenth.
Beings who, despite that, couldn't forget their past glory and lived with vanity swollen like pigs.
Therefore, beings without honor, without dignity, and without any discernible pride.
The only thing they could boast was a slightly pretty daughter, but even that daughter was unremarkable, aging day by day without getting married—a truly fallen family walking the path of decline.
That wasn't the end.
As if he had memorized it beforehand, Rupe Charveau continued to pour out words close to curses towards the Viyan family.
He did so while drawing the attention of the people with a voice loud enough to make the customers dining nearby frown.
‘Dammit.’
Sheratiya, watching this, trembled.
The reason that fellow was spewing even harsher invective than usual was obvious.
It was because she had rejected his marriage proposal two years ago.
For about a year and a half after that, Rupe Charveau had lived suppressing his nasty personality to win her heart, but that was the limit of his patience.
The Charveau family's Ruffian had matured into something even more hideous over the past six months, and finally, it was completed here and now.
In its most terrible form.
‘Is there no choice? Should I consider myself lucky to have avoided him well so far…….’
Sheratiya gently closed her eyes.
Continuing to watch that spectacle made her blood boil.
If her usual personality emerged and she antagonized the Charveau family, the merchant guild she had painstakingly built would suffer fatal damage.
That couldn't happen.
For her own sake.
For her parents' sake.
However, even closing her eyes had its limits.
It was a great relief not to have to see his ugly face, but she couldn't help but continue to hear his dog-like voice.
‘Please, anyone, just make that bastard stop talking.’
Sheratiya prayed earnestly.
If this continued a little longer, her nasty temper would erupt, and she felt like she would smash his head with a wine bottle before he could even chant a magic spell.
Because that couldn't happen, Sheratiya continued to pray earnestly.
Please, please let some gentlemanly person appear and shut that Hook-Nosed fellow's mouth.
And a moment later.
That prayer was answered.
“Who are you?”
“……!”
Today's guest, Harang, who had briefly gone to the restroom and returned, was precisely that protagonist.
‘Who is this bastard?’
Of course, he could only receive guest treatment from the Viyan family; from Rupe Charveau's perspective, he was merely ‘Uninvited Guest 1.’
He, whose speech had been interrupted, was about to raise his voice in delight at the appearance of another target for his anger, but then he flinched and took half a step back.
It couldn't be helped, as the opponent's appearance was extraordinary.
Black eyes like obsidian, looking down at him indifferently.
The intimidating Aura emanating from his large and well-proportioned body, and the refined, noble attire surrounding him.
Rupe Charveau, after quickly glancing around, rapidly racked his brains and threw out a question.
“Who might you be?”
“It's Harang.”
“…….”
He was momentarily speechless.
He had spoken out of concern that the opponent might be someone he shouldn't touch, someone of a status difficult to treat carelessly.
But for him to just blurt out his name like that, he couldn't get a feel for it at all.
‘No surname means…… commoner? But even among commoners, there are many you can't treat carelessly…….’
Unlike in the past, this was an era where ability was more important than status.
These days, even a count possessing a vast fiefdom would show courtesy to the master of a famous swordsmanship hall, so he couldn't just treat the opponent recklessly because he had no surname.
Rather, he was slightly intimidated by the confidence of someone who just stated his name so boldly.
Of course, he couldn't just back down.
With a slightly softer voice, Rupe Charveau asked again.
“Um…… My knowledge is lacking, so I don't quite know who you are just by your esteemed name. If it's not rude, could you tell me your affiliation?”
“Hmm…… Affiliation?”
“Yes, affiliation.”
“Well, it's not difficult. I am Harang, a Wooden Plate Mercenary affiliated with the Eddy Mercenary Corps.”
“……What did you say?”
“Affiliated with the Eddy Mercenary Corps.”
“Not that…… after that…… what Plate?”
“I said Wooden Plate Mercenary…… Are you perhaps a bit hard of hearing? Why do you keep asking……”
“Wooden Plate Mercenary, you sayyyy!”
Kwaaaang!
“Ugh!”
“What a surprise!”
“……!”
Rupe Charveau, slamming his fist on the adjacent table, glared at Harang with a flushed face.
Food spilled due to his sudden action, and sauce splattered on the Viyan family's clothes, but he didn't care.
It was absurd.
A Wooden Plate Mercenary!
Not a Gold Plate, not a Silver Plate, not even a Bronze Plate…… a mere Wooden Plate Mercenary, holding his head high in front of him, who was born of a magic family's bloodline?
Whack!
“You crazy bastard!”
Rupe Charveau took out a wooden stick from his bosom.
It was a magic wand.
Although he played the role of the Ruffian in his family, thanks to the education he had received since childhood, he could use 3-star level magic.
Of course, having an ability didn't mean it was right to wield it without regard for time and place, but Rupe Charveau was seeing red.
On top of being rejected by women multiple times, the thought that even a Wooden Plate Mercenary was ignoring him made his anger reach its peak.
To stop him, a Charveau family elder or someone with comparable power would have to step in, but unfortunately, no such person was present in the establishment.
At least, until just before, that was certainly the case.
“Stop it.”
But now.
The moment Rupe Charveau's eyes fell upon Philip Portville, Marzen's top master who had just arrived for dinner, he had no choice but to quell his fiery anger as if hit by a cold blizzard wind.
With a clearly flustered expression, he stepped back and said.
“E-E-Elder. Wh-What brings you here……”
“What do you mean, what brings me here? I came for dinner, of course. Didn't you?”
“Ah, I, I, I also……”
“Hmm, looking at you now, it seems not. Were you relieving your stress on some easy targets again…… Don't do that today. I'm saying this for your own good.”
“O-Of course, of course, sir……”
Rupe Charveau said in a barely audible voice, bowing his head.
Sweat was pouring down his forehead and back.
Even his own father, Karl Charveau, deferred to Philip Portville, the head of the Portville Swordsmanship Family.
He couldn't possibly raise his voice and vent his anger at such a person.
In the first place, it was Rupe Charveau's nature to be stronger than anyone in front of the weak, but more timid than anyone in front of the truly strong.
Therefore, he continuously offered apologies to Philip Portville, again and again, and tried to carefully withdraw from the scene.
The Viyan family and the Wooden Plate Mercenary, whom he loathed to even look at, weighed on his mind, but today wasn't the only day.
He could always meet them again and give them a stern lesson.
As he was thinking that, the Portville family head, who had been looking at him with a displeased gaze, strode somewhere.
It was right where Harang was.
In front of him, Philip Portville, showing a gentle smile he had never shown to Rupe Charveau, opened his mouth.
“Have you been well, Harang?”
“……!”
Rupe Charveau, who had been looking bewildered for a moment, soon wore a horrified expression as if he had realized something.