53. Roia

“An offer, you say?”

Chloe, who was nestled obediently in my arms, asked back. I caressed her chest and said calmly,

“So that you, Chloe, can become the undisputed successor of the Itern Merchant Guild. I will cooperate.”

At those words, Chloe turned around to face me. Still stark naked, she momentarily covered her chest with her arms, seemingly embarrassed.

But in those red eyes, there was curiosity, as if she had heard unexpected words.

“Are those words… sincere?”

“They are sincere.”

At that one sentence, Chloe’s expression turned serious. Chloe knew very well that this wasn’t just some empty boast from a naive Young Master.

Because the words I had just spoken were as the next ruler of Essenmund.

“Yulian-nim is a precious person who will become a future Grand Duke. Unlike me, your position as heir is secure. So, can I take that as Essenmund will help me?”

“Of course. Essenmund is already thinking concretely about a new alliance to be forged with the Itern Merchant Guild. And the person in charge of the practical matters is Viscount Mason, Reinhardt’s vassal, whom you saw at His Majesty’s birthday banquet. Do you remember?”

“Of course! That person who came as the representative of the Essenmund delegation with Yulian-nim at that banquet? Our Merchant Guild already considers him a key figure in Essenmund.”

Chloe was right.

Viscount Mason, the right-hand man of Wilhelm Margrave. When he visited the Imperial Capital regarding the Ice Crystal Stone matter, I had many words with him.

‘Especially after the banquet, there was concrete talk about the Itern Merchant Guild.’

Viscount Mason is sharp when it comes to practical benefits. Seeing that Chloe and I already knew each other, he asked about our relationship.

‘That Itern Marquis’s daughter has quite the look in her eyes when she looks at Count Yulian-nim. Are you perhaps already close to that young lady?’

I nodded in affirmation. Then, I implied to Viscount Mason that the relationship between Chloe and I was not ordinary.

‘As it happens. I know a lot about her.’

‘I see. To be the daughter of the Itern family with that appearance, she must have a pretty high nose. You truly are amazing. Haha.’

At that point, I had already mingled bodies with Chloe several times. It was the truth.

‘So, Viscount Mason seems to have misunderstood that Chloe and I are lovers. Well, it’s similar in reality, so it doesn’t matter.’

I already have Lilia as my fiancée. So, the lover I’m talking about here is not a respectable relationship.

But Viscount Mason was more interested in things that would benefit Essenmund than such gossip.

‘The Itern Marquis’s daughter, Chloe-yang, is the most promising candidate to succeed the Itern Merchant Guild. I’ve heard that she’s already handling quite a bit of the Merchant Guild’s work under her name. In that case… if our Essenmund helps her, who has a deep connection with Count Yulian-nim, the heir competition will be interesting.’

And if Chloe becomes the owner of the Itern Merchant Guild, it would be a great asset for Essenmund.

In other words, it means that Essenmund’s military power and Itern’s financial power can be combined. That alone would create a massive force capable of vying for the Imperial power.

‘Of course, Wilhelm Margrave is an extremely loyal subject to the Imperial family. But the political situation of the Empire will change chaotically in the future.’

The name of the Imperial family, Aschterich, has already been tarnished by Cardinal Grius for a long time. A connection with the Imperial family alone is not of great help to Essenmund.

So, another massive force. In order to keep Duke Pedro of the South in check, the Itern Merchant Guild had to be made a part of the North.

‘If the Itern Merchant Guild joins hands with the South… the difficulty of the future becomes too high.’

But the important person who could determine the direction of that future was already in the same bed as me.

I continued speaking.

“So, I’ll tell you about a few interesting business opportunities. Expansion of the contract with Cecilia. And the exclusive rights to the Ice Crystal Stone mine in my territory, Harsen. And…”

I told her all the useful proposals that I could provide to her under my name right now.

Her eyes became filled with a different kind of ecstasy than when we were sharing carnal love just now. All of those things would be extremely helpful in the heir competition. She was very excited.

“Really… what amazing ideas. As expected… Yulian-nim and I. We’re quite a good match, aren’t we? Helping each other like this, I mean.”

As she said that, Chloe subtly reached her hand down below me. Caressing my dick, she cast a seductive look at me again.

“And our sexual chemistry too. Hehe. Like this… we’re becoming more deeply involved, aren’t we, Yulian-nim? A relationship where we desperately need each other. Like that. Huung…”

Chloe’s words were right, but I didn’t have any intention of becoming the lover she was thinking of so easily yet.

I roughly grabbed Chloe’s buttocks.

“Hwit?! I, if you suddenly touch me so hard!”

“Rather than that. Isn’t there something you should say to me first? You know very well that this proposal isn’t something you can easily hear from anyone.”

As I said that, I lightly slapped her butt with my hand. I tapped it lightly so it wouldn’t hurt at all. Chloe reflexively flinched her waist.

“Words… words, you say…? That’s right! I have to give my thanks to Yulian-nim for giving me such a good offer!!”

“Then, try saying it one more time.”

“Thank you… Yulian-nim!! I’m really grateful!!”

I’m proud of the way she actively responds even when I only pretend to scold her a little. I massaged the naked body of the Marquis’s daughter who had been thoroughly trained by me.

“I’ll give you a special reward.”

And I forced the tyrant, who had been erected by Chloe’s handjob, back into her. I had only pretended to scold her a little.

Chloe’s insides were already soaking wet.

---

I spent the rest of the weekend busily.

The banquet on the Imeriaho. At that banquet, I obtained precious genealogy from the heads of the social clubs.

——-

「Secret Genealogy of the Social Club x 3」

* Grade: Rare+

* Details: This is the genealogy of the regular high school exams that has been collected for nearly 20 years at the Pantheon’s social club. The accuracy of the questions is very high.

* Notes: Leaks to outsiders of the social club are prohibited. Acquisition is impossible without a special relationship.

——-

Efficient study became possible through this genealogy. I had already been diligently studying the theory of Pantheon.

There was no great difficulty in meeting the condition set by Cardinal Grius of being in the top two in the theory lecture.

There is also a condition that I must be in the top two in the major exams of the two orders. But that was rather easy.

‘If I do as I’ve been doing, there’s no problem being in the top two. The Combat Order and the Alchemy Order.’

The Combat Order is where I spent the most time attending. The Alchemy Order also invested a lot of time because of the Ice Crystal Stone tribute, so there’s no problem.

Also, I had already easily obtained the genealogy for the theory subjects of the two orders. Fabian for the Combat Order. Chloe, of course, for the Alchemy Order.

With this, Cardinal Grius’s scheme was completely defeated.

“Now, all that’s left is… Royah’s Trial?”

Among the quests generated in Pantheon, the Trial Quest can be said to be the most main quest. There are Trial Quests for each order.

The beginning, Royah’s Trial, which is the quest of the Combat Order, was the most important to me.

‘Agnes was a nun of Royah.’

Royah, the God of Combat. And Agnes von Reinhardt, who rose to the rank of Saintess, equivalent to an Apostle of God, from that order.

As she was called the Great Saintess and the Saintess of Prophecy, there were many growth factors prepared by Agnes in Royah’s Trial.

Of course, the difficulty was also very high. The Wall of Lamentation, often mentioned by Demon King Slayer users. Many users were game over through that trial.

Moreover, in this case, the difficulty was raised to the highest level of trial through the 1st place in power evaluation. It was not easy.

——-

「Official Student of the Divine Academy Pantheon」

* Main Quest 「Trial of the 6 Temples」

: Clear the trials of each order. As a reward, you can acquire clues about the truth of the Pantheon Academy and core items.

### Royah’s Trial (Tier 1)

: You possess the key to Royah’s Trial 「Royah’s Laurel」.

: The difficulty of the Trial Quest has been raised to Tier 1 through the highest-level Trial Key 「Royah’s Laurel」.

: The quest expiration date is approaching. Please enter quickly. (D-10)

——-

‘Tier 1, huh. I have no idea what the difficulty will be.’

The highest trial I entered in Demon King Slayer was Tier 2. Since I’ve never seen any other users write that they’ve entered Tier 1, the difficulty might be beyond imagination.

However, as the difficulty is the highest tier, the reward will definitely be great. The grade of the items obtained through the Trial Quest is at least Unique.

As such, it becomes a core item for capturing the nest. Not only that. Just like when I entered the hidden space of Pantheon with Lilia.

The clues to the secrets hidden in this place, Pantheon Academy, will also be obtained through that quest.

‘I must pass it.’

I had made sure to prepare for it. In Demon King Slayer, I couldn’t even reach the 4th level at this point, let alone enter the realm of White Nights.

‘But it’s different now.’

Now it’s not a game, but real life. What’s happening to me is not a game where saving and loading are possible. I haven’t let go of the tension since the possession.

So, compared to Demon King Slayer, I’ve been playing almost perfectly so far. But I still can’t let my guard down.

‘If I make even a slight mistake. Not only me, but this world will be destroyed.’

Of course, I don’t have the mission to save the world as much as Wilhelm or Agnes, who are heroes.

Since I can’t survive if the world is destroyed anyway, my determination was certain.

So, I visited Cecilia’s workshop from the morning for thorough preparation.

Today is Monday again. I was planning to enter Royah’s Trial tonight.

---

A few days ago. The Imperial Sword was broken due to the battle with Izelteer in the Colosseum.

Since it was not possible to repair it and use it at all. As soon as I came out of the Colosseum, I sent someone to Cecilia. I entrusted her with the production of a new sword.

“Um… Count Yulian-nim… no. Older brother. I have finished making the sword as you said.”

Cecilia said, bowing her head as if she was embarrassed. While feeling awkward at the word ‘older brother’. Cecilia seemed to want to call me that.

“This Imperial Sword… would you like to check it?”

I took the sword from her. I appraised the Imperial Sword with the system.

——-

「Enhanced Ice Crystal Stone Imperial Sword – Rune Enchant」

* Grade: Rare++

* Performance: This is an Imperial Sword with significantly improved attack power compared to a normal Imperial Sword. Special effects are activated through rune enchantments. In addition, cold damage is added due to the Ice Crystal Stone core.

### Rune Enchant 「Affection」

: The attack power of the Imperial Sword is increased due to the effect of the rune word ‘Affection’. It also becomes possible to generate an enhanced Magic Power Resistance Shield.

——-

‘She put a lot of effort into it.’

The production difficulty was higher than the previous Imperial Sword.

If it’s a sword that can’t withstand Izelteer’s strength, problems will arise in the future.

I invested a separate Ice Crystal Stone that Mason Viscount brought from Harsen for me, besides the one for the Emperor’s tribute, into this sword.

So, one more + grade was added compared to the last Imperial Sword. And the rune engraved on the sword changed.

‘Affection, huh.’

The last enchantment was will. This time it’s affection. It seems that the desire to rely on me has developed into affection in the meantime.

As I was looking at the letter, Cecilia was embarrassed.

“I made it… more diligently than the last Imperial Sword.”

From Friday night until now. She made such a high-grade sword in that time, which wouldn’t even be three days at most. It meant that Cecilia had put in a lot of time and effort.

Of course, she would have used the divine power of Endier, the God of Technology. The Mana consumption would have been great.

“You’ve worked hard, Cecilia.”

I stroked her platinum blonde hair as if praising her.

“Heeung… it’s nothing… Older brother…”

But unlike those words, Cecilia seems to want more. She closed her eyes tightly.

‘She wants me to kiss her.’

Cecilia is my destined partner, brought together by the blood of the dragon. It was the same for her, so her courtship of me was active.

I lightly kissed her. Not a deep kiss, but a light peck. So, I said to her, who was making a disappointed expression.

“Take off your necklace, Cecilia. It will be easier for me to give you my essence that way.”

Then Cecilia’s cheeks turned bright red.