Chapter 59 – Incident (3)

“……!”

“……?”

“……!?”

Along with the appearance of Aylen Vale, the atmosphere that had been burning hot just moments ago instantly grew cold.

Everyone was holding their breath.

Aylen Vale, whom everyone thought was dead, had returned alive from hell.

“How on earth…”

In that cognitive dissonance, everyone looked at each other with their mouths wide open.

Then, they looked at the Wayne brothers as if asking what on earth had happened, but their reaction showed that there was nothing strange at all.

No, rather, they seemed to welcome Aylen.

Soon, Aylen, who set the girl down, stood upright toward the crowd.

“…….”

His eyes scanned the crowd.

Although it was a peaceful and listless gaze as usual, the people felt something different from before.

Whatever had happened out there, that man was no longer the Aylen Vale they used to know.

“Why, did you see a ghost?”

At that moment, when everyone’s attention was focused, Aylen lightly spoke in a joking tone.

However, the listeners could not take the joke as a joke.

Because they had truly been treating Aylen as a dead man.

“I’m disappointed. Your reactions are so different from a moment ago.”

As if he had expected this negative reaction, Aylen smirked.

Contrary to his words of being disappointed, his expression did not show that he cared about the cold treatment at all.

He simply walked to one side and handed the whiskey in his hand to someone.

“Jeremy, I kept my promise.”

The recipient was none other than the tavern owner, Jeremy Scott.

“You took your sweet time.”

“I recall we didn’t set a deadline when we first made the promise. I kept the promise properly.”

“They say a man’s attitude changes before and after he relieves himself, but look at the way you talk…”

“Let’s get the facts straight. The place I entered and came out of was not a restroom but the snowfields. I believe the two are strictly different.”

“That chatterbox mouth of yours is still alive. Since you bought the whiskey properly, consider yourself let off just this once.”

Jeremy, who snatched the whiskey, spoke while clicking his tongue, and Aylen deftly brushed it off.

Because the conversation between the two looked like old friends sharing memories, the people could only watch without daring to interfere.

Soon, Aylen bowed his head to Jeremy, who turned around as if he had finished his business.

“Thank you. I will visit you properly soon.”

“For what? Is there any more talk to be shared between us?”

“There’s something I have to return to you. And shouldn’t I also try a sip of that whiskey?”

“You bought it with someone else’s money, yet you’re showing off…”

“Can’t I?”

“Just one sip.”

“That’s enough.”

When Jeremy waved his hand and disappeared, Aylen turned around and stood toward the Wayne brothers and the nameless boy and girl.

“……?”

The people’s eyes were not on him.

They were directed toward his father, Demian Vale, who was standing right next to Jeremy Scott.

Because Aylen had not given Demian so much as a single glance.

“…….”

Demian could not say anything with his face frozen.

While shedding tears at her son’s survival, his wife, Renata, only looked back and forth between her husband and son with a pitiful expression.

As Aylen returned to his place like that, a loud shout burst forth.

It was the person who introduced himself as Jenkins.

“We will now begin the reading of the personal letter and the reward presentation ceremony from Lord Herman Melville, the supreme leader and Grand Magic Engineer of the Immortal Embers, congratulating the Nameless Ember for producing the top scorer of this year’s Novice Magic Engineer Qualification Exam.”

The reading of Herman Melville’s personal letter and the reward presentation ceremony.

At that, the attention focused on Aylen turned to Thomas and Willus like flipping a palm.

Because his survival was merely unexpected, and the one who truly deserved attention was one of the Wayne brothers who had taken top honors.

“Leader Yan Casellos and Head of the Magic Engineering Department Demian Vale, step forward!”

Midst that countless attention, Yan and Demian stood in front at the call of Jenkins, who had unfolded the letter.

The faces of the two were polar opposites.

Yan Casellos was grinning from ear to ear at the profit to be gained from this, but Demian Vale’s standing was narrowing, and he was out of his mind at his son’s blatant disregard.

But regardless of that, Jenkins, who did not know the internal situation of the Ember, simply began reading the letter.

“The Nameless Ember, small in size but harboring infinite potential. Since this Ember has produced the top scorer in the qualification exam conducted this year, I, Herman Melville, bestow five hundred gold coins to commend the leader’s excellent rule and the efforts of the Head of the Magic Engineering Department!”

“Thank you for Lord Herman Melville’s mercy!”

“Thank you for Lord Herman Melville’s mercy!”

Herman Melville’s personal letter and five hundred gold coins.

Cheers erupted at things that were unimaginable for this trivial Ember.

At the same time, the faces of Yan and the leadership began to be drenched in immense joy.

Because the citizens’ unconditional support for the Wayne brothers, which would be formed through this, would give wings to their plans.

Although they had to read the public opinion, perhaps it was fine to immediately depose the Magic Engineering Department and transition to a leadership dictatorship.

Because of this, the expressions of Demian and the Magic Engineering Department were not only distorted but rotting away.

However, the continued reading by Jenkins was something that reversed the atmosphere.

“This reward is the achievement of Aylen Vale, the only son of Demian Vale, Head of the Magic Engineering Department of the Nameless Ember, who became the top scorer of the Novice Magic Engineer Qualification Exam this year. Your Ember must honor his achievements and treat him accordingly!”

“……!”

“……!”

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the top scorer was neither Thomas nor Willus, but the rascal Aylen Vale.

At that moment, myriad emotions crossed between Yan Casellos and Demian Vale.

In addition, the crowd watching the ceremony also stood blankly with their mouths shut, as if cold water had been thrown over them, wondering if what they had heard was correct.

The Wayne brothers, the elite magic engineers.

The rascal Aylen Vale, who was obsessed with women and alcohol.

This unbelievable twist had no choice but to come as an even greater shock than when they witnessed Aylen’s survival.

At that, Yan Casellos asked back blankly.

“Just now… who did you say it was?”

“The top magic engineer this year is Aylen Vale. I said it is Aylen Vale, the only son of Demian Vale.”

“There must, there must be some mistake! Aylen Vale, that’s impossible!”

When Yan shouted in disbelief, Jenkins also grimaced this time.

He thought that the authority of the Immortal Embers and Herman Melville was being insulted.

Jenkins thrust the personal letter forward and began to demand sharply.

“Are you daring to doubt the authenticity of the personal letter now, or are you doubting me, who has come as the agent of the Immortal Embers?”

“It’s not that…”

“Just answer what you are asked. Of course, you don’t have to answer.”

“……!”

He was bringing up Herman Melville and the Immortal Embers.

It was a justification where neither choice could be made, to the extent that the expression ‘daring’ was only natural.

But not answering could not be a solution either.

Since it would end up disregarding the agent of the Immortal Embers, that would also count as making a choice.

It was truly a dilemma.

“…I am sorry. I made a slip of the tongue.”

Yan Casellos had no choice but to tuck his tail.

“Considering Aylen’s sake, I will let it pass this once, but the leader must watch his words from now on.”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind…”

Just like that, the moment Yan Casellos bowed his head before a greater power and attention was focused on Aylen.

Only then did something catch their eyes.

“T-the golden badge that is said to be given only to the top scorer…!”

Caleb, whose eyes were wide, pointed toward Aylen Vale’s chest with his finger while even stuttering.

The crowd’s gaze followed where the fingertip pointed and reached the golden badge.

The badge, shining brilliantly in gold, proved that the personal letter was a clear truth without a single lie.

It seemed like the presentation ceremony, which left countless questions in everyone’s minds, was ending, but.

“The reason I was able to become the Chief Magic Engineer is thanks to the outstanding leadership of Leader Yan Casellos. I will attribute all this credit to the leadership.”

“……?”

“……!”

Aylen Vale’s move of abandoning his own father and the Magic Engineering Department to praise the leadership was reversing the atmosphere once again.

A great upheaval was occurring.

* * *

“Mother, I am home.”

The first place I headed after bringing immense turmoil to the Ember was none other than home.

Although I had to go to the Magic Engineering Department, the leadership, and the tavern, I could not help it.

Because my mother, Renata, who had shed non-stop tears upon confirming my survival next to Demian, weighed on my mind.

“Aylen…”

Fortunately, Renata was waiting for me at home, perhaps thinking I would return straight away.

“It’s enough that you returned alive. That’s enough…”

Renata, who hugged me gently, said.

It seemed it did not matter to her whether I was the Chief Magic Engineer or what.

She was simply this deeply moved by the fact that I had returned alive.

“I’m sorry… Mother.”

I spoke like that as I felt her tears, bursting out once again, wetting my chest.

I had not gone to die, and I had returned with the glory of being the Chief Magic Engineer.

But because what she wanted was not such a thing, but only my survival.

At that pure and earnest heart thinking of her son, I choked up without realizing it.

Outside this world, wouldn’t my real mother on Earth, where I originally belonged, also be waiting for me anxiously?

‘…No. My mother would also only want me to be alive. Don’t think weak thoughts.’

Therefore, let’s do my best to survive.

Calming my trembling heart, I hugged Renata tightly.

Because I felt that the real Aylen Vale would have done so.

Enjoying the brief reunion, I wrapped my hands around her shoulders and spoke.

“Mother, we have guests.”

“It seems so. Who are these people?”

“In order, they are Natasha McGrain, and the siblings Will Ford and Williana Ford.”

As I stepped aside and called their names, they began to greet her in order.

“Nice to meet you for the first time. I am Natasha McGrain.”

“Hello. My name is Will Ford, and this is my younger sister Williana Ford. Williana, greet her.”

“Hello!”

Natasha was formal as always, and Will Ford was amiable, contrary to expectations.

Williana was cute and charming, fitting for her age.

My mother, Renata, welcomed each of them warmly.

“By the way, who is this pretty young lady? Surely you haven’t got another girlfriend?”

She threw a very troublesome question.

While I was flustered, Natasha instead smiled brightly and answered in my stead.

“I was the escort who accompanied Lord Aylen for his license issuance. Somehow, I also ended up taking charge of the escort mission and followed him here.”

“Oh dear, I didn’t know that… I’m sorry. This rascal Aylen has such a complicated relationship with women that I ended up misunderstanding.”

“Mother, those words are a bit…”

“You keep quiet.”

As I shut my mouth at her scolding, Natasha continued speaking.

“Not at all. Perhaps because he is so handsome, there were many people stealing glances at him in our Ember as well.”

“Really? Was that so, Aylen?”

“Anyway, I wondered whom Lord Aylen resembled, and now I see. He must have been this dashing because he takes after his mother.”

“Did you say your name is Natasha? Come inside. You must be hungry, and I cannot let you go without preparing at least one meal.”

‘I suppose those guys tailing me to kill me if necessary count as people stealing glances…?’

Unlike me, who stared blankly at Natasha as she casually spouted lies, my mother giggled like a young girl and was delighted.

However, I was surprised by Natasha’s flexible social skills rather than Renata’s reaction.

Although she had treated me so businesslike when dealing with me, once the target changed, her attitude and speech became completely different.

She was definitely indeed a secret agent.

But it was not uncomfortable.

It was not like she had told any grand lies, and thanks to her, I could comfortably bring up the story I had to talk about anyway.

I spoke to Renata, who was bringing them inside to treat them to a meal.

“Mother, so there is something I want to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I plan to have these three stay at our house for the time being. I don’t know if you know, Mother, but the snowfields have become dangerous, and a snowstorm has been forecasted. Would that be alright?”

“All three of them?”

“Yes, all three…”

“Hmm…”

At this moment, everyone, including me, read her expression.

Having more mouths to feed meant that much more work, and letting outsiders into the house was no easy task.

Besides, the two drivers who came along, Harley and Jenkins, fortunately secured a place to stay since there was a vacant room.

However, we could not let Natasha, the only woman in the group, and the Ford siblings stay there together with them.

Of course, as they were subordinates under Herman Melville, it was not a matter of trust but that they would be uncomfortable with each other.

Thus, our house was practically the last bastion, so everyone watched Renata’s mouth anxiously…

“Ma’am, did you make this yourself? It is really, truly so pretty! Are there any more besides this?”

Williana pointed at the stuffed doll Renata had made in her spare time, her eyes literally sparkling.

“Oh my, do you want to see more? There are plenty more in the storeroom!”

“Wow, really? Can I look at them and play with them?”

“It would take all day to do that, you know?”

“I’d love to!”

Williana Ford.

Her social skills were better than her brother’s.