The Miracles in the Game Become Reality, Chapter 38
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The Miracles in the Game Become Reality, Chapter 38
12. Avoiding Suspicion (3)
"I threw a bomb at someone I don't feel sorry for, but for a moment, it's unpleasant that I have to entrust Marquis of Ereiven's name to such a person."
"It can't be helped. Adrian still doesn't have the strength to protect the miracle. I think this is, in its own way, a wise response."
The more I learned about the fake miracle user, "Louis Fairmont," the more uneasy I felt.
His record was truly spectacular.
Four counts of aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault, two drug charges, one fatal drunk-driving offense, and he had been investigated by the police.
But despite there being sufficient evidence of his crimes, every case was closed at the investigation stage with no charges, without ever reaching court.
There was no need to explain that his father, President Catro, was involved in all of this.
The poor victims were silenced with small sums of money, while Louis Fairmont, who had committed countless incidents, was rising through the ranks as a high-ranking official in the government.
'How can the president of a country that claims to be democratic keep his power when his son is such a disaster?'
What was astonishing was that the approval rating of Catro Fairmont, Louis Fairmont's father and president of the Republic, had remained above half for fourteen years.
The claim was that he had used the prosecutors and media he controlled to thoroughly crush his political enemies and cloud the public's judgment with incitement and fabrication, but I couldn't easily understand it.
In the end, that meant the Prius Republic was only claiming to be a democracy in words, when in reality it was no different from a dictatorship.
"President Catro's approval rating will go up even more because of this, won't it?"
"It will. Still, electing a president was difficult from the start, so even if there had been no miracle, the situation in that country wouldn't have changed."
"I just hope this incident doesn't create any unnecessary victims besides Louis and President Catro...."
"Unfortunately, since a diplomatic war involving many countries is about to begin, it'll be hard to avoid casualties."
I didn't care what happened to Louis Fairmont or President Catro Fairmont.
But because of my bomb relay, the possibility of innocent victims arose, and that left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"Still, in the long run, Adrian's actions are likely to bring change to the corrupt Fairmont regime. Considering the future of that country's people, it's a very good plan."
If the bomb called a fake miracle were to go off, neither Louis nor President Catro would likely come out unscathed.
Chester emphasized the positive side of our operation.
"If innocent victims do occur, could you identify who they are?"
"Normally I'd have to say no, but this time I'll make an exception and accept that request. The reason Adrian had to go this far is because of our lack of consideration."
"Lack of consideration? Absolutely not."
In order to ask him for anything, I needed permission to use administrator privileges.
Still, I asked because I wondered whether even something like this might be regarded as part of the operation, and unexpectedly he readily agreed to the request.
"But this is unexpected. You care so much about other people's lives? You burned Anna, Cedric, and the Marquis of Ereiven's troops without hesitation, didn't you?"
He meant there was no need to get hung up on the lives of third parties.
Indeed, as he said, I had killed countless people.
Surely each of them had their own lives, and family.
But....
"They were enemies. That's different."
My answer was firm.
Chester responded with a gentle smile, as if he found that very pleasing.
"That's a good way of thinking. Prevent innocent casualties, but don't show mercy to enemies."
Seeing him like this, he doesn't seem like an artificial being at all; he feels like a real person.
If I also reach the 9th Circle, could I create beings like Arcia or Chester, just like Marquis of Ereiven?
"You have one administrator privilege left. Don't you plan to use it yet?"
He must have thought the story of Louis Peyton was over, because he asked what I planned to use the last of the five system administrator privileges I received for after clearing the previous miracle quest.
"Can't I use it to ask for something like being made into a 9th Circle?" ## New Terms Louis Fairmont = Louis Fairmont Catro Fairmont = Catro Fairmont President Catro = President Catro Chester = Chester Louis Peyton = Louis Peyton
"Yes, you cannot use any privileges that are directly related to the miracle quest."
"What about adding a new supporter?"
"That is also directly related to the miracle quest, so it is not allowed."
"Then how about creating funds of about one thousand trillion?"
"Withdrawing from accounts related to the miracle quest is not allowed, and gathering funds through illegal means is also forbidden. However, I can create an investment list that would let you earn money efficiently. The expected return is 20% to 60%."
I shrugged my shoulders.
I already knew, but I asked anyway.
As you can tell from my experience so far, administrator privileges are extremely precious, so I had no choice but to be cautious about using them.
"As expected, I'll pass. I'll keep the last one in reserve for an emergency."
"Understood."
Ending the conversation with that, I checked the time.
Before I knew it, the clock was pointing to three in the morning.
It seems I only need to hunt for one more hour and then I can sleep.
My current level is 205.
It looks like it will take quite a lot of time to reach level 250, the first condition of the 8th miracle quest.
* * *
Ever since the expeditionary force including Adrian returned to the Lawrence territory, it had been a series of upheavals.
Anna and Cedric's loss of real power, which no one had truly expected.
The second son Adrian, who had been treated as a useless burden within the family, and his lover Arcia revealed the power they had been hiding and effortlessly repelled the surprise attack by the Marquis of Ereiven, which could have been called a crisis of the territory, as if mocking it.
Because of that, the people of the lord's castle—no, people throughout the world—realized.
That the Viscounty of Lawrence was no longer just some random provincial territory.
"Did you hear? I heard the young lord is planning to purchase as many as five Sky Fortresses this time."
"Is that even possible? A viscounty or barony is limited to owning only one Sky Fortress."
"Idiot, the young lord is factoring in that a count title will be granted to himself and Lady Arcia. A county can own up to three Sky Fortresses. Then if you add two newly founded counties to the Viscounty of Lawrence, they'll be able to own a total of seven Sky Fortresses."
"Whoa…"
"Apparently, he originally intended to buy seven, but once he receives the count title, the royal family will gift him one new-model Sky Fortress. So he reduced the purchase to five."
"E–each Sky Fortress costs over ten trillion, doesn't it? Does this territory even have that kind of money?"
"Once they liquidated the assets of the great madam and Young Master Cedric, it came out to the price of one Sky Fortress. And the rest will be paid out of the young lord's private fortune."
"My goodness."
"On top of that, I hear he also plans to equip Vanguard force gear up to the maximum limit of the troops the territory is allowed to maintain."
It was no exaggeration to say that most of the knights, administrators, stewards, attendants, and maids working in the lord's castle were people from Anna's side.
Because of that, their position was extremely awkward, and since Adrian did not bring up any measures against those who had been rude, they were living each day feeling as if they were walking on thin ice.
Naturally, they all thought that if they could just receive forgiveness and continue working, that is what they wanted.
Employees of the lord's castle are civil servants.
Naturally, the working environment is good, the pay is generous, and the retirement age is long.
Moreover, the future of the House Lawrence was currently very bright.
If Adrian and Arcia each become the lord of their respective domains, they will need even more personnel.
This could lead to opportunities for elevation in status, so everyone had no choice but to keep a sharp eye on Adrian's every move.
"But is it really okay for so many lords to be born within a single house?"
"There's no reason it shouldn't be. They're just receiving titles according to their own ability. The young lord is this country's fifth great mage, and Lady Arcia is the sixth aura master. If you treat people like that in a petty way and they end up going over to a neighboring nation, what do you think will happen?"
"But this is just too…"
"You're right, the power concentration is excessive. The young lord is not going to be some hollow new high noble with only a county title; he plans to have military strength befitting that title as well."
"Meaning."
"The emergence of a new power-holder."
Whenever two or more people from the Lawrence lord's castle gathered, this was the kind of conversation everyone had.
An enormous benefit was unfolding before their eyes, but because they could not make it their own, everyone was beside themselves.
In the current situation, the only thing they could do was try, even a little, to get into the good graces of the lord's family.
To prove their own necessity, nothing more.
-Clack.
"Hm? Wait. Let's stop the conversation here."
"What is it?" ## New Terms great madam = English young lord = English great mage = English aura master = English lord's castle = English new-model Sky Fortress = English new high noble = English new power-holder = English
"It's a summons from Lady Arcia. We need to hurry over."
Thanks to this, it was no exaggeration to say that everyone currently working in the lord's castle was showing more than 100% of their capabilities.
However, the one who was benefiting the most from this was not Adrian or Viscount Lawrence, but Arcia.
"Hey! What are you talking about! It's my turn this time!"
"Says who? I'm the one in charge of that area today."
"We agreed yesterday that the staff would take turns going in, remember!?"
Unlike the members of House Lawrence, who felt guilty about their many sins and thus found it awkward to face him, Arcia felt much less burdened.
In addition, despite the terrifying title of aura master, her personality was mild, and the fresh smiles she occasionally showed captivated people.
And above all.
The fact that she was born a commoner yet had risen in status through ability alone made the maids look up to her.
So whenever a summons from Arcia appeared on the terminal, the maids would all argue that they should be the one to go.
"Did you call for me?"
Thus, the maid named Mina, who won the contest among her colleagues, entered Arcia's playroom, notable for its wide-open balcony.
That room was a rest space Adrian had filled with various play equipment and multimedia devices for Arcia, so she would not get bored while he was working in his office.
As always, Arcia welcomed the maid Mina's visit with an unshaken expression and controlled movements.
"Please prepare a new tea table."
At that, Mina's gaze moved to the plates stacked on Arcia's tea table.
There was no one who did not know that Arcia loved snacks.
However, no matter how many times they saw it, they could never get used to the sheer amount she ate.
Thinking that Arcia probably did not gain weight despite eating so much because she was an aura master, Mina made a suggestion for this gourmet.
"Don't you get tired of eating only sweet things? There are savory snacks as well; shall I bring some together?"
"That sounds good. Then please bring some carbonated drinks along with the tea."
"Understood. Please wait just a moment."
Among those whose work efficiency had increased in hopes of catching the eye of the lord's family was the chef of the lord's castle.
Thanks to this, Arcia was able to fully enjoy masterpieces painstakingly crafted by the domain's finest patissier.
Mina loaded a tray to the brim with the snacks the patissier team had prepared in advance and returned to Arcia's room.
Then, after swiftly arranging the refreshments on the tea table, she quietly watched Arcia as she ate.
-Crunch.
A mouth moving busily.
Her movements were elegant, but her never-resting mouth testified to her hearty appetite.
Just how much had Arcia eaten by then?
As Mina's gaze silently expressed that question, it turned toward her, where she was standing still.
"Do you have something to say?"
"If it wouldn't be impolite, may I ask you one thing?"
Arcia somehow gave the impression that she would not get angry no matter what happened.
She was always composed and rarely showed her emotions.
So, knowing full well that it was rude, Mina nonetheless took this opportunity to muster her courage and resolve her curiosity.
"As long as it's something I'm able to answer."
Once permission was granted, Mina's expression brightened, and she asked Arcia about the treatment of their group, which they had been so curious about.
"Will Young Lord Adrian perhaps dismiss the staff of the lord's castle?"
Arcia was not human.
However, her exceptional learning ability allowed her to acquire a way of thinking closer to that of a human as time passed.
To Arcia, Adrian was both her master and a companion with whom she would spend her entire life.
Because she knew very well what he had gone through, Arcia's expression naturally turned cold.
"Adrian is a good person. He absolutely hates it when others suffer because of him."
Yet the words that came out of Arcia's mouth were the opposite of her expression, making Mina's face brighten even more.
However, everywhere you go, it is a rule that you must listen to a person's words to the end.
"But he is cold toward those he has defined as enemies. Were you ever an enemy of Adrian?"
At Arcia's question, Mina felt the hairs all over her body stand on end.
"N-no, I wasn't."
At Mina's answer, Arcia dispelled the chill in her expression and gave her a smile.
"Then that's fine."
Even as a fellow woman, one could fall for her; Arcia's smile was that beautiful, and despite her commoner origins, she overflowed with elegant dignity.
Maid Mina realized that Arcia's demeanor changed whenever something involved Adrian.
-Knock knock. ## New Terms Mina = Mina
"Come in, Sir William."
Mina had been frozen in place for quite some time, but thanks to having properly jumped aboard the Adrian coin, she quickly fled the spot as soon as William, who had been promoted to captain of the knight order, stepped into the room.
"Why is that maid acting like that?"
"Who knows? Anyway, what brings you here today?"
"Ah, well... If it wouldn't be an imposition, I was wondering if, as an aura master, you might be willing to give our knight order some instruction."
"Have you received Adrian's permission?"
"He said he would respect your decision, Arcia."
"In that case, understood. Let's go."
"Ooooh! Thank you! Everyone will be delighted!"
That day, a certain rumor spread through the lord's castle.
The rumor was that Adrian never forgets favors or grudges, and Arcia abhors those who look down on her lover.
"Mm, you know how there's an aura point around the navel? From there, you draw out the aura and send it to the sword with a 'papap', then condense it all at once with a 'bak', and it becomes an aura blade. Simple, right?"
"...."
"A-as expected of an aura master's explanation—someone as dull as me can't easily understand it. How about teaching us through sparring instead? I think it would be easier to understand if we cross swords directly."
"Shall I?"
And this rumor gained weight when Arcia, as an aura master personally bestowing instruction upon the knight order, harshly beat up the knights who had taken Anna's side.
Thanks to this, those who had subtly looked down on Arcia could no longer do so.
"What's this? Why are the servants acting like that?"
"Who knows?"
Only Arcia and Adrian themselves were unaware of the changes in the lord's castle.
No matter how the servants reacted, the two were so busy that they paid it no mind.
"We have to appear before the Noble Audit Office today. We're going to the royal capital, so get ready."
"Yes."
"I'm sure the nobles are going to swarm us in some way today. So keep your words to a minimum."
"Understood."
Regardless of the employees at the lord's castle trembling in guilt for no good reason, Adrian and Arcia thoroughly prepared for the important event.
Since the Noble Audit Office was located inside the **Reinharts Royal Castle**, it was impossible to predict what kind of unforeseen situation might occur.