Ch.92Exhibition (4)

I stared blankly at the backs of Cecilly and Marie as they left, saying they needed to have a private conversation.

When I asked how long they would take, they said it would be a while and told me to enjoy the exhibition until they returned.

Based on what just happened, I could guess what they wanted to talk about, but there was no way for me to interject, so I had no choice but to stay put.

I was supposed to enjoy the exhibited works until they returned, but I couldn’t help feeling curious.

“Hmm…”

We started out as three, but in no time at all, I was left alone. I stared at the direction where Marie and Cecilly had disappeared, then looked around.

Although I was suddenly left alone, there were still many people walking through the town. Everyone was busy viewing the exhibition and enjoying the festival.

It meant that hardly anyone was paying attention to me being alone.

‘I might as well walk around.’

Since Cecilly said it would take a while, it would be better to look around than just stand still. I started walking and began appreciating the artworks I hadn’t seen yet.

While sculptures were lined up on both sides of the street like buildings, paintings were displayed throughout the town, offering various pleasures. And it wasn’t just artworks at the exhibition.

“Above the common people are nobles, above nobles is the king, and kingdoms exist because there are nations. But what sustains a nation is clearly the common people. In other words, whether king or noble, they are nothing before the people. Yet you, Count Crost, are slandering the foundation of the nation simply because they annoy you. Truly the behavior of a genuine noble, isn’t it?”

“Shut your mouth! How dare you mock me?!”

“Mock you? I merely stated facts. I’ve heard that people get angry when facts hit too close to home, and it seems that saying is true.”

There was also a theater troupe performing on the central stage set up in the middle of town.

I should mention that the Matrix troupe wasn’t the only one visiting the exhibition, and there were occasionally actors who worked in theater as a hobby, not just professional troupes.

You might think that voices wouldn’t carry well in the town square due to the crowds of people passing by. However, the actors’ voices came through clearly to my ears, as if some special work had been done.

Moreover, although not on the grand scale of the Matrix troupe, the actors’ performances were excellent even by my standards, making it easy to become immersed.

For these reasons, quite a few people were watching the play. Those sitting in chairs at the front were mostly nobles judging by their attire, while those standing and watching from behind were presumed to be commoners.

‘I wonder what the nobles think when they see this.’

The play currently being performed was from the early part of Volume 8, a scene that represented the light and darkness of nobility.

It was a satisfying scene where a noble who tried to trap Xenon when his vested interests were threatened by him ended up being countered instead.

One might think that most of the audience would be commoners, but surprisingly, quite a few nobles were watching too. They showed no signs of displeasure and were focused on the play itself.

Honestly, as the original author, I was worried they might be uncomfortable, but fortunately, that concern was unfounded. In fact, nobles had said that the scenes from early Volume 8 gave them much to think about, so perhaps this was part of that.

‘Even if someone causes trouble, the guards will stop them, so there shouldn’t be any problems.’

I watched the play from a distance, then moved on to see other exhibits. There were too many displayed works to focus only on the play.

Soon, I found a piece that caught my eye.

“Someone actually drew this.”

There’s a very famous meme in South Korea called the “Hectopascal Kick.”

It depicts a scene where a girl delivers a drop kick to a boy who was causing trouble. Beyond the scene itself, the term “hectopascal” has such a powerful sound that it became a meme.

I had described that scene in detail in the Biography of Xenon. It was when the female protagonist and heroine, Mary, made her grand entrance by delivering a satisfying drop kick to some thugs.

It was an extraordinary first appearance in this world where most descriptions were plain, so it was etched into the minds of many readers.

‘They really drew it well.’

Although the art style was inevitably different due to this being the medieval era, apart from that, it was 100% identical to the Hectopascal Kick I knew.

Mary with her purple hair flying as she delivered a drop kick to a thug, and the thug’s expression as he was hit while crossing his arms.

The composition, characters, expressions—everything was perfect, the Hectopascal Kick itself.

‘Could there be other reincarnators besides me?’

That’s how ridiculous a thought came to mind. I looked down to find out who the artist of this piece was.

Like the sculptures I saw earlier, there was a plaque with an explanation.

First, the painter’s name was Karls Zvasa, from the Empire of Minerva, not the Kingdom of Teres.

The reason he chose this scene among many was because it instantly revealed Mary’s personality and identity.

Also, unlike other artists, he drew it in a comical way to bring laughter to those viewing the work.

‘Karls Zvasa… I should remember this person too.’

I took out my notebook and pen to save Karls’ name in my memory, as he had drawn something identical to the Hectopascal Kick in my mind. This was in case I forgot his name later.

After the exhibition ends, I would need to mention some artists’ names to prove I attended, so it was essential.

“Whoo~”

“Hiiik?!”

While I was writing the name in my notebook, someone blew air into my ear. The ticklish sensation that bordered on creepy made me let out a strange scream.

I dug into my ticklish ear while turning my head to see who had done such a thing.

As soon as I identified the culprit, I couldn’t hide my bewilderment.

“…Adel noona?”

“Haha. Fancy meeting you here?”

It was Adelia, who had left the mansion to view the exhibition before me. I made an incredulous expression as she greeted me with her characteristically cheerful smile.

Adelia usually wore simple clothes even on weekends, but today she seemed to have put more effort into her outfit for the festival.

Her brown bob hair grown to her neck and her beauty without a trace of makeup remained the same, but as they say, clothes make the person—her brown vest over a white shirt and leather pants showing off her legs fully expressed her unique character.

Only her outfit was different from when I saw her at the academy; her cheerful and energetic charm hadn’t faded at all.

“Where did the others go? Why are you wandering around alone?”

Adelia asked me in her distinctive husky voice, placing her hands on her hips.

I continued digging at my still-ticklish ear with my finger and answered curtly.

“They had something to do for a bit. What about you, Adel noona? Weren’t you with my sister?”

“I was, originally. But Nicole disappeared while I wasn’t looking.”

“…Don’t tell me she got lost?”

“That’s not it. I didn’t lose my way; I lost Nicole.”

That’s what we call getting lost. I let out a hollow laugh at Adel, who was beyond confident to the point of being shameless.

Although the exhibition was being held, our territory was quite small, so the fact that she got lost made me wonder how she managed at the academy.

Adel seemed embarrassed by my laugh and scratched her cheek while grinning sheepishly. She must have realized how absurd her statement sounded.

“So… will you accompany me until I find Nicole? I’m such a terrible navigator that I can’t even find my way back to the mansion.”

“I don’t mind accompanying you. But not being able to find your way back to the mansion seems a bit extreme, doesn’t it?”

“At the academy, I once wandered around all day because I couldn’t find my dormitory. Impressive, right?”

“That’s nothing to brag about. Anyway, are you enjoying the exhibition?”

“I am enjoying it, but…”

Adelia hesitated at my question, then put on a bright smile. I felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort in that smile.

It seemed forced, especially compared to her genuine smile from earlier. This made me even more curious.

“Yes. I’m enjoying it without any problems. You don’t need to worry too much.”

“Hmm… I see.”

Her question was clearly an attempt to change the subject. I had roughly figured out that something was going on, but I decided to pretend not to notice.

Still, curiosity is curiosity. I continued the conversation to understand the situation better.

“Of course I’m enjoying it. This is the first time in our territory’s history that it’s been so lively. I’m especially proud to see people of all races enjoying the festival.”

“Ah. Now that you mention it, I’ve occasionally seen demons as well as beastkin. I was really surprised. Demons usually rush to hide their identities.”

“It’s all thanks to the Biography of Xenon. What did you think of demons before the Biography of Xenon came out, noona?”

“I didn’t think much about them. Whether demons or whatever, I was too busy trying to survive on my own to worry about others.”

She said it casually, but I couldn’t dismiss it so easily. It was content that gave me a glimpse, albeit fragmentary, of Adelia’s past.

It seemed that she had a more complicated past than I had thought. I’ve heard that people who laugh a lot often have many inner wounds.

Perhaps Adelia was like that too. I stared at the smiling Adelia for a moment, then quietly spoke.

“By the way, where is your hometown, noona? My sister told me you’re from somewhere very far away.”

“Uh… there is such a place. It’s a village without even a regional name, so it’s awkward to tell you. Getting into the academy was a stroke of luck in the first place.”

Adelia answered while interlocking her fingers behind her head. Judging by how her gaze shifted to the right, I could tell she was lying.

Her beauty, which could hardly be considered that of a commoner, and other factors made it clear that she had strong connections to nobility.

I glanced at her as she lied, then continued in a nonchalant voice.

“That’s a shame.”

“What is?”

“That you can’t enjoy the festival with your family because the region is so far away.”

“Family…”

Adelia muttered meaningfully, then chuckled and answered softly with a hint of wistfulness.

Her husky voice combined with the wistfulness made it feel even stronger.

“You’re right. As you said, festivals like this should be enjoyed with family.”

“… …”

“It would be so much fun. Chatting with siblings, eating delicious food with parents…”

Her atmosphere and voice were completely different from her usual boisterous self. Her normally husky voice had lowered, giving off a subtle feeling, but I could also sense the sadness suppressed in her heart.

Perhaps she had lost her family in the past? Otherwise, it would be impossible to make such an expression.

I know what expression someone makes when they’ve lost their family because I experienced losing my entire family in my previous life. They look up at the sky and reminisce about memories, just like Adelia was doing.

What used to be ordinary daily life turns out to have been the happiest time when looking back. Family members who were the most reliable allies.

I waited quietly while Adelia was immersed in her memories. I didn’t want to forcibly pull her out of them.

“Hmm…”

But why is she suddenly looking at me? Adelia, who had been looking up at the sky with a wistful gaze, seemed to have emerged from her reverie and shifted her gaze to me.

Just as I was wondering about her staring at me with those sky-blue eyes, she grinned and spoke softly.

“It would be nice to have a brother like you. I’d pamper you every day.”

“I’m not really into boisterous people like you, noona…”

“Come on, don’t play hard to get. I’m good to my siblings, you know? And having a cute brother like you makes me want to protect you. I can see why Nicole cherishes you.”

“Hey now. Hands off. I have a girlfriend.”

“Not right now, you don’t. Let me touch you just a little. Hmm?”

“No way.”

I firmly rejected Adelia, who was clinging to me like a pervert. Adelia must have been joking because she backed off without resistance when I firmly refused.

Still, she seemed quite disappointed by my firm rejection, suggesting that her comment about wanting a brother like me was sincere.

“Tch. Is this how it’s going to be between us? That’s harsh.”

“What do you mean ‘between us’?”

“Friend’s brother and brother’s friend relationship?”

“That’s what we call strangers.”

“Isn’t that too cold?”

“That’s rich coming from someone who threw a ball at me when we first met.”

“…I’m really sorry about that.”

While chatting with Adelia and viewing the exhibition, we occasionally bought street food. Of course, I paid for everything.

Originally, Adelia tried to pay instead, but as the son of the lord, I wanted to decline at least that much.

Because of this, Adelia thanked me and tried to subtly touch my cheek, but she backed off disappointedly when I threatened her.

“By the way, when are your girlfriend and the demon princess coming back?”

“I don’t know. They said it would take some time… Huh?”

It was while we were leisurely walking around eating chicken skewers. I noticed people gathered in one spot, which piqued my curiosity.

Adelia seemed to feel the same way, as she fixed her gaze in the same direction and muttered in a puzzled voice.

“Is there something to see?”

“That’s likely. Shall we go take a look?”

“Let’s do that. I was getting bored anyway. Yawn.”

Adelia finished all the remaining meat on her skewer at once and threw it behind her. She didn’t litter; there was a trash can behind her, and that’s where she put it.

I made a strange expression at Adelia’s skill in throwing the skewer into the trash can without even looking back, then I headed toward where the crowd had gathered.

As we got closer, I could gradually hear what they were talking about.

“Royalty from the Kingdom of Teres has come?”

“Yes. They say it’s the crown prince and two princesses.”

“That’s something. Royalty from Teres visiting our empire.”

From what I could gather, it seemed that dignitaries from the Kingdom of Teres, and royal ones at that, had arrived.

I stretched my neck to see what they looked like, but there were so many people that it was hard to even glimpse their faces.

Just as I was about to give up and decide to look when I got the chance later, I belatedly realized that Adelia’s reaction was not normal.

“Those people… came here…?”

“Adel noona?”

Had she received some great shock? Adelia’s complexion rapidly turned pale, and her sky-blue eyes began to shake aimlessly.

Even when I called her name, even when I grabbed her arm and shook it, Adelia just stood there as if nailed to the spot.

“Noona.”

“… …”

“Noona. Snap out of it.”

“Ah? Aah.”

In the end, I had to pinch her cheek and pull it to force her to come to her senses. Adelia was startled when her cheek was pinched, then blinked her sky-blue eyes a couple of times.

Then she looked at me with a somewhat dazed expression, took a deep breath, and smiled broadly. It felt strongly like she was forcing herself to smile, and it was a really awkward smile, as if something was off.

“S-sorry. I must have spaced out for a moment.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Not at all. I’m the picture of health.”

Judging by her nonsensical response, there’s definitely a problem. I thought about the royalty from Teres who would be beyond the crowd.

Perhaps Adelia had some connection to them. It’s highly likely, considering her soul seemed to leave her body as soon as she heard people saying that royalty from the Kingdom of Teres had arrived.

‘It seems there are more complicated circumstances than I thought.’

It would be better for both me and, above all, Adelia if we escaped from here quickly.

I grabbed the hand of Adelia, who was still confused. I felt her flinch when I took her hand.

“…Cutie?”

“Let’s go somewhere else instead of staying here. There are too many people to squeeze through anyway.”

“Can… can we stay here for a moment?”

“Why?”

“I-I want to check something. It’s my personal business, so you go ahead without me.”

Adelia asks me with a trembling voice. And her still pale complexion, trembling eyes, and cold sweat starting to flow down her cheeks.

The fact that cold sweat started flowing in such a short time was concerning enough, but Adelia’s lips were also trembling. She was showing symptoms of anxiety beyond nervousness.

If this continues, something might happen to Adelia. When people are in a state of extreme anxiety, they can’t maintain their sanity.

For her sake, and also because I might get involved in complicated matters, I firmly refused.

“No way. Do you even know what state you’re in right now? I don’t know what’s going on with those people, but I think you should calm down now.”

“N-no, absolutely not. It’s a strictly personal matter, so let go. Just, just let me check for a moment, okay?”

Adelia became urgent and slapped my hand repeatedly, telling me to let go, but I ignored her and pulled her along. She seemed unable to use her strength properly, probably because her anxiety symptoms were worsening.

How anxious must she be for someone who serves as a martial arts assistant at the academy to become so vulnerable? If she had been a stranger, I might have ignored it, but she was Nicole’s precious friend, so I couldn’t leave her alone.

“First, take a deep breath and calm your mind. I can feel your pulse racing just by holding your hand.”

“R-really? Is it that bad?”

“Why don’t you put your hand on your chest and think about it?”

At my suggestion, Adelia placed her hand on her chest. And as if she had finally realized her condition, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

Just as I was about to let go of her hand…

“Adel unnie?”

A clear and youthful voice entered my ears. Both Adelia and I turned our heads toward the source of the childlike voice.

The first thing that caught my eye was sky-blue eyes, just like Adelia’s. Not the deep blue of Marie and Rina, but a light shade like aquamarine.

Next were the two people beside the girl. All of them had sky-blue hair and eyes, handsome men and beautiful women with unique characteristics.

The color contrasted sharply with my red hair, making it seem even more mysterious.

“It’s Adel unnie!”

In a situation that seemed momentarily frozen, the doll-like cute girl shouted Adelia’s name with sparkling eyes. At the same time, Adelia flinched and stepped back.

Just as the girl was about to step forward to approach Adelia, someone grabbed her shoulder and stopped her.

The owner of the hand was a woman with a stern expression standing beside her, wearing what looked like a knight’s uniform rather than a dress. Combined with her ponytail style, she exuded a mature charm.

“No.”

“Huh? Hyria unnie?”

When the uniformed woman prevented her with a concise and blunt tone in a medium-low voice, the girl looked at her with a puzzled expression. Despite the girl’s confusion, the woman called Hyria kept her gaze fixed on one spot.

If nothing else, it was certainly not a friendly gaze. It would be fair to say it was close to contempt.

I slowly turned my head toward where that gaze was directed.

“… …”

Adelia’s sky-blue eyes, identical to those of the people in front, shook aimlessly.

Thump- thump- thump

Even though I was just holding her hand, I could clearly feel her heart pounding violently.