Volume 4 Chapter 10 Gaspar Redless
"I am of the noble Obsidian magic Dukedom, the head of House Redless, Gaspar Redless! Can you not hear what I'm saying?!"
Sevenstar Academy. The main building's first-floor reception room.
Horace and Velto, the academy heads, were seated across from each other at a table, facing the man, Gaspar.
Red hair, short and round, with a robust body.
Dressed in high-quality garments that suggested considerable wealth, but his demeanor lacked serenity, giving the impression he was wearing the clothes rather than the other way around.
"Your demand is that I teach everything──my skills and knowledge──to House Redless, is that right?"
"Indeed! As the Golem Master who trained the hero who defeated the Demon Lord, your expertise could further elevate House Redless. We are a family that has contributed to the world as one of the Great Three Houses. As its head, I recognize your value. It's only logical that you should surrender all your information! Why can't you understand that?!"
"..."
Horace sighed inwardly.
...If there was one thing Horace acknowledged about his studies, it was that learning essentially boiled down to 'observe, mimic, steal.'
Among Horace's 'personal studies,' there had been various shifts in technology, which ultimately led to him possessing a level of technical skill and knowledge recognized worldwide, but that didn't mean others could perfectly handle Horace's technology.
The answer was simple: Horace was still dealing with 'theories that don't even have a common name,' and as a monster, his physical structure was slightly different from that of an ordinary human.
'Physical enhancement' was one of the technologies Horace had arranged for Rangella and the others, which improved their physical quality to the point of becoming exceptionally beautiful young women with looks and style to match.
However, this was possible because it was easier for them to 'manipulate my body as I please' due to their unique physiology, and although Rangella and the others were taught, they couldn't reach that level.
Rangella, who actually has experience defeating a Demon Lord, couldn't even touch Horace in their dungeon training, because Horace's teachable skill level has limitations.
Since even Rangella, who were directly trained and taught, haven't reached Horace's level, Gaspard definitely wouldn't.
"...If I gave you my techniques, what would *you* even do with them?"
"I'd obviously use them to help the Redless family flourish! And then, I'd forbid you from using the techniques you gave me. Makes sense, right? You can't get in the way of my success, and interfering with my profits is a crime!"
"...Are you serious right now?"
"What are you talking about? The 3 great families of magic Dukedom should have the most advanced knowledge in the world! You wouldn't understand without an education, but──"
"Okay, here."
Horace showed him a single sheet of paper.
"What is this?"
"A test. If you can't understand this, there's no point in me doing anything for you."
"Are you mocking me?!"
Gaspard ripped the test paper to shreds.
"You're treating me like a child! Enough with the insults! You don't know how scary the Redless family is!"
"The guy who failed so hard his debt ballooned to 20 million coins is saying what?"
"Debt? What are you talking about?"
Gaspard tilted his head, looking genuinely confused.
"...You owe Luster Report 20 million gold coins, right? That's how your debt within magic Dukedom was paid off."
"...What are you talking about? Any money someone without an education has belongs to me. Adventurers, who don't even know the first thing about academics, should be handing over their money to me. It's not debt. It should be called a donation, right?"
Gaspar said it without hesitation, as if he truly meant it. Velto, who was listening next to Horace, was shocked.
Horace, however, seemed to be hung up on something as he asked a question.
"Hey, you... I'd guess you're in your mid-forties, right...?"
The question that seals my certainty.
"Ever earned any money?"
"What are you saying? I'm the head of the 3 noble families. Money isn't something you earn; it's something you spend."
Inside Horace, something felt as if it had cooled.
Character Notes:
Mone - Earth’s spirit, the security guard, the one who allow Saburou to enter the Lady Uno's realm, expresses interest in being a wife, specifically called “Earth's Mone.”
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