Chapter 46

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 46

Chapter Title: The Late Nuanoch Heir

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These were the rumors definitely circulating in high society.

"I don't know which one's true, but it's worth checking out."

I could summon his soul with Bune's power, but wasting a demon's ability on something uncertain felt like a bad deal.

"Fathers know their sons best."

I decided to probe the Chairman and flashed a sly grin.

The next day, I gripped the wall at the corner of the corridor and peered around with a quick whip-whip.

The grand Duvered assembly had dragged on from yesterday right up to today, finally wrapping up just moments ago.

I'd watched all the vassals file out to the end, and the Chairman hadn't been among them.

"So he must still be near the council chamber."

Sure enough, there he was, striding down the corridor just as I'd figured.

I lit up with a delighted smile and toddled over to him at full pitter-patter speed.

"Gramps!"

"...What brings you all the way out here, Little One?"

"Came to see Gramps."

"Me?"

He narrowed his eyes at me.

"You helped Leblain yesterday. Gotta say thanks to people you're grateful to."

I spoke as cutely as I could and thrust a chocolate at him.

He stared at me for a long moment before opening his mouth.

"No need."

"Why?"

I blinked in surprise, and he let out a dry chuckle.

"With a face like that, how could I possibly take it from you?"

Oh no.

Guess my disappointment showed.

This was the tastiest chocolate even from the Duke's candy room.

I'd nibbled them all down to just this one left, and now I'd offered it up whole.

"Share half with Gramps."

"You don't need to go out of your way for me."

"But Gramps is so skinny. The other vassal grampses have bellies this big, but you're all this thin."

"......"

"Worried. (It worries me.)"

Sure, I had that sneaky plan to probe about his son, but I really was concerned about how gaunt he looked.

The Chairman had lost his wife young and his only son a few years back.

The estate had servants aplenty, but no one truly cared enough to fuss over his health.

His complexion was poor for good reason.

Word was, while the other vassals snacked steadily through the meetings, he'd skipped meals multiple times.

I crinkled the chocolate wrapper with a crinkle-crinkle, snapped off half, and held it out.

The Chairman's eyes flickered faintly over the chocolate.

He took it from me and gingerly placed it in his mouth.

"Sweet. It's been years since I tasted something like this. Only a few times even when my son was alive."

'Talk about his son!'

I perked up and jumped right in.

"I know. His name's Louis, right?"

"How do you know my son, Little One?"

"They say he was super smart. Like Yohan and Ishak."

"Yes. My boy attended the prodigy academy around the same age as the young masters."

Perfect. The conversation had opened right where I wanted.

The Chairman seemed to enjoy talking about his son.

No surprise there—no one had likely asked in ages.

He was as fearsome to the regular vassals as Duke Duvered himself. No one bold enough would chat him up, let alone risk stirring painful memories and catching backlash.

Using the excuse of seeing him off, I pitter-pattered alongside and asked more about his son.

"Yohan's great at math, Ishak at swordsmanship. What was Louis good at?"

"My son studied geology at the university. Investigating the properties of the earth."

"Oh."

"He had zero interest in family affairs or politics. I wasn't pleased with a son like that. I pushed him hard because of it..."

The Chairman's gaze grew distant.

Most parents who buried their children first regretted just like this, deep in their bones.

"If only he hadn't had a father, he might have lived freely."

I felt bad for him and gently took his hand.

"No. Louis was happier having a dad."

"How would you know, Little One?"

"'Cause Leblain doesn't have mom or dad, so I know."

I answered casually.

"Kids with moms and dads cry 'Mom!' when they fall. Kids without can't. That's super sad."

"......"

"And if Leblain falls, no one's there to pick me up. But Louis had that. Better than nothing."

I looked up at the Chairman.

"Gramps loved Louis so much, so Louis loved Gramps tons too."

His hand tightened around mine.

'Oops, not the time.'

I needed to ask about spinel.

I shook off his hand, which was staring blankly at me.

"Louis studied earth, so he knew where gems come from, right?"

"Of course. He even said he'd found a spinel deposit. He was on his way to verify it when the carriage accident happened. Otherwise, he surely would have."

"But people say Louis lied..."

I asked carefully, and the Chairman's face twisted.

"Nonsense from the ignorant. The accident destroyed all his data—he couldn't prove it."

"I see."

"Yes. I still can't forget my son's excited voice when he told me he'd found the spinel deposit."

The Chairman was a man of reason over emotion.

For him to answer so firmly meant he truly believed Louis Nuanoch had found it.

I hummed to myself inwardly.

'Then all I need is to hear it from the man himself.'

That night.

I lay in bed pretending to sleep until Lea left the room, then quietly slipped out.

I checked for any presences.

Good, all clear.

Holding Etwal, I murmured inwardly.

'Bune, manifest in human form.'

A hazy glow gathered in curving lines around Etwal, and Bune appeared before me.

I beamed at Bune, whose eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"Wait long for the gem?"

"Even waiting was a joy."

He tapped my cheek lightly with his fingertip.

I pulled the Tear of the Goddess from my pocket and offered it.

Bune stared at the gem in my hand, swallowing a trembling breath.

Then, ever so carefully, he pressed the hand holding it to his forehead.

"At last, my master..."

Master?

I blinked in confusion, but Bune bowed and met my eyes.

"You granted my wish, so I'll grant yours. Now, Little One—what's your wish?"

"Summon the Nuanoch heir."

Bune's eyes curved softly as he gazed at me.

He planted a light kiss on my brow. My head spun. Blood drained from my body in a rush.

In that instant, the window rattled!

Pure moonlight streamed through, shattering along Bune's silhouette. He faded bit by bit.

[Someday when you... need me... let's meet again.]

A tender, enigmatic voice flowed into my ear.

And before me appeared—

"Greetings, Little One."

A man with a shiny bald head and a plump face.

'Huh?'

I blinked in bewilderment.

He scratched his head, seeing my shocked expression.

"I am indeed Louis Nuanoch. I come at Lord Bune's command."

"Bune just left..."

"Time flows differently there and here. A moment could be an eternity, or vice versa."

He asked sheepishly.

"Disappointed? Most who meet me after seeing my father are."

"Not disappointed. Just surprised."

The Chairman had a sleek, elegant air—like a sleek black panther, if you had to compare.

But Louis Nuanoch looked like a gentle bear.

"You look a bit different, but up close, you're similar."

Louis Nuanoch smiled warmly at my words.

"Thank you. But why did you summon me, Little One?"

"Louis, you know all about spinel, right?"

His eyes lit up instantly.

"Yes! Spinel on this continent is special. Unlike elsewhere, it conducts divine power. I suspected environmental differences, so I researched relentlessly. Started with soil density comparisons, and that's when things got fascinating...!"

He launched into a torrent of complex explanations. After listening blankly for a good ten minutes, I clapped sharply.

"Get to the point!"

"Ah... Father's least favorite habit rearing its head again."

He chuckled innocently, scratching his head.

"In short: there are no spinel mines or deposits anywhere in this world."

"What?"

I gaped in shock.

"But the Selbon Trading Company has mines! And the temple has deposits!"

"Spinel doesn't deposit naturally anywhere. There are only transformation sites created by nature."

He ticked off on his fingers.

"Three conditions: volcanic activity, elza tree habitats, and divine power."

"......"

"Where all three align, rock transforms into spinel with a certain probability."

Oh my god.

So bury rocks, and you get infinite spinel.

Must feel like finding a diamond mine that never runs dry.

As I gazed in rapture, Louis Nuanoch said,

"Of the known sites matching those conditions, only one remains undiscovered: in Duvered territory."

I recalled Mina's line for times like this.

'Jackpot.'