Talent-Swallowing Magician - Chapter 45

Episode 45

Invitation from the Neresta family

[Are you sure you’re human? What is that…?]

Did he touch some kind of extraterrestrial being, like a demon?

Of course, a question couldn’t help but cross Elric’s eyes.

『Otherwise, there is no way a human other than Mervinger would have achieved this level…!』

Mephisto suddenly stopped mid-sentence and chuckled.

“is not it? If you think that humans haven’t been idle for the past thousand years, it wouldn’t make sense.』

[…?]

Elric frowned slightly as he couldn’t understand Mephisto’s words.

Either that or not.

Mephisto was busy laughing, wondering what kind of nonsense he had gotten into.

『It’s fun, it’s fun! Is this really true?』

[What is it?]

『This means that although this human is one of the strongest in the modern era, he is not an absolute powerhouse.』

[If that’s the case, there are more similar levels…]

There are too many ‘monsters’ in this era. You could say it’s a world that’s boiling over.

At least in terms of the other six stars, each one was comparable to the head of the Neresta family, and it was no secret that each family had hidden masters who were similar to or better than him.

Is that all there is?

The Lion Gong family, which forms the antithesis of the Magic Tower, is known to surpass the Magic Tower in terms of pure force, and the imperial power that protects the order of the empire cannot be considered easy.

The same applies even if you leave the framework of the empire.

Numerous forces and countries that are not well known are lurking around, such as the Free Revolutionary Army, heterogeneous alliances, and Protestant alliances. The demon camp currently hidden in the shadows cannot be left out.

『Pahaha! That’s right. perhaps! Maybe there is a good reason why Mephisto woke up in this era!』

Elric’s expression turned sour.

[Did you drink medicine somewhere without my knowledge?]

『What does a brat like you know! A wild world where countless wild beasts are waiting for an opportunity to rip off each other’s necks, claiming they will become kings! The confusion and hostility spreading there! And the joy of trampling on them all and ultimately achieving victory…!』

Mephisto was busy chatting loudly, lost in his own thoughts, saying that he needed to regain his strength as soon as possible and that in order to do so, he would need to quickly take control of you in earnest.

However, I could clearly understand what Mephisto was talking about.

Guy Neresta is such an outstanding strongman that even Mephisto admits that he is ‘okay.’

And he is seething with a desire to win.

Thanks to this, my ears felt like they were about to explode.

‘Just cast a silence spell?’

I couldn’t bear to do that because I had sworn an oath to Mana, so I frowned.

“Why are you doing that? Did it not fit well in your mouth? “I told the chef to pay attention to it, but I guess I’ll have to talk about it separately.”

Guy Neresta narrowed his eyes and looked at Elric.

A calm gaze that cannot be read with any emotion.

However, Elric somehow had to feel as if his true intentions were all seen through.

“Oh no. “It’s actually so delicious that it still lingers in my mouth, so I’ll stop… I’m sorry if I caused a misunderstanding.”

“is it? Well then, that’s a relief.”

Guy nodded dryly.

* * *

“I heard you experienced something unpleasant today while you were coming in for a moment, right? “I have given a harsh warning to the Chamberlain, so I hope he will forgive me.”

The whole time I was talking to Guy.

Elric seemed to know the ‘weight’ of being the head of a family, just as he felt for Daisy.

Guy was polite and courteous in every word he spoke, but he also had the power to overwhelm his opponents.

It’s still the same now.

Even though it might not be easy for someone of that caliber to say an apology in person, he didn’t care at all.

Therefore, rather than coming in with a bow, he looked out and looked confident.

‘It’s not just that. Everything around me is perfect.’

The servants and vassals seen occasionally, as well as the children, were polite and moderate in their behavior.

His tone of voice was full of pride in his family.

It seemed as if I could see as clearly as fire how they would act as one body when a crisis came.

Isn’t this the power of a ‘prestigious family’?

‘i envy you.’

I wondered if I could one day build a family like this.

On the one hand, I felt like I was drawing a rough picture of how my family should go in the future.

“Don’t be too picky. “Rather, I’m just sorry that I made a mistake because I was drunk on the magic circle.”

“Thank you for understanding. And… I heard that they are handing over the excavation rights to the nest to us.”

‘Now let’s get to the point.’

Elric nodded.

“yes. I owe Sean so much. Rather, I thought this was natural. but.”

“Are there any conditions?”

Elric shook his head.

“I think you can think of it as a request or a request rather than a condition.”

“Something?”

“I heard that there were many victims in the imperial capital because of Dean Verlux’s fraud.”

“A victim? I think they were fire moths blinded by greed. That’s not important. so?”

Guy had the same gaze as Mephisto.

and.

‘You’re testing me.’

Elric didn’t miss the fact that Guy’s calm eyes were trying to figure out everything about him.

Is he just wanting to see what his son’s friends are like?

or not.

Is this an attempt to examine Mervinger’s capabilities as he prepares for a new rise?

“I want you to bail them out.”

“Are you asking me to contribute some funds?”

Elric did not miss the momentary disappointment that flashed across Guy’s eyes.

I’m guessing you’re just asking for something like this.

It was a level of conversation that would suffice to ask Sean or another practitioner.

But Elric didn’t care.

“no. “I would like to create a foundation.”

“Foundation? “Isn’t that what it is?”

“no. different. There are many people who have lost their property and jobs, so it will be difficult to even talk about it. “We hire them cheaply and use them for investigations.”

Only then did a deep smile appear on Guy’s lips as he read Elric’s thoughts.

“It means that Bear will have the talent and Mervinger will have the fame.”

“Is that possible? “It’s just part of a public service project that Neresta is also working on.”

Although the nest was discovered, it is so massive that it is said to be the largest ever.

In order to explore, excavate, manage, and preserve it, a huge amount of labor would be needed, and this would inevitably cost an astronomical amount of money.

No matter how much you go to Neresta, it will be burdensome to cover all of this at once.

That’s why Elric suggests that we hire Professor Verex’s victims to save on labor costs.

If they made an ‘investment’, they usually had some amount of wealth or knowledge, so they would be useful in some way.

I heard that there are some retired high-ranking officials and professors, so even those who would have paid quite a high price could be treated cheaply.

Even if that’s not the case, it would be enough to entrust them with simple chores or hard labor.

Moreover, if it was mentioned as a public project, public opinion could also be taken care of, so Neresta had no reason to refuse.

However, everyone knows that the owner of the nest is Elric.

As Guy pointed out, it was clear that the benefits of the public project would go to the Mervingers rather than the Neresta family.

Everyone only cares about the owner and does not care about the users.

For Neresta, it would be like spending money and labor as money, but giving honor to Mervinger, the Holladang.

『I forgot one thing. Mervinger’s face was famous for being very thick. They show condescension and even pamper themselves with just a snap of their fingers. Haha!

』 Your words are harsh. I’m saying let’s all live well together.]

『It’s even heinous. You are the perfect Mervinger.』

Like Mephisto, the other people present also clicked their tongues at Elric’s thick face, but ended up laughing as they saw no reason to reject him.

Sean just made a bewildered expression, saying, ‘That guy again?’

but.

Gai smiled even wider, as if he was having fun.

His eyes, which had been calm until now, were suddenly shining intensely.

The eyes of a wild beast, as if it had found delicious food.

Those are probably the eyes of the real Neresta matriarch.

match!

As Guy applauded loudly, the chamberlain approached and bowed his head politely.

“Did you call me?”

“Let’s find out the procedures for establishing a foundation. “Leave all the founders, operators and owners here with Elric Mervinger.”

“…!”

In an instant, Elric’s eyes widened.

Guy turned to look at him and raised one corner of his mouth.

“Why but? Is there any problem?”

“Oh no. However, the capital must be provided by Neresta, so it seems absurd for me to put my name on the foundation.”

“Don’t worry. “It is a gift from me as my friend’s father, in addition to expressing my gratitude for the excavation rights.”

“….”

『Pahaha! You took a hit, kid! “He’s such a snarky python.”

Mephisto was so embarrassed by this scene that he threatened to die.

As expected, Elric planned to hand over all the headaches of ownership and management of the foundation to the Neresta family and only eat the delicious fruits.

On the contrary, Guy transferred all the names to Elric so that he would have both authority and responsibility.

It made it so that he couldn’t take a step back no matter what problem occurred.

With this, Elric and Neresta have become a community of destiny.

No matter what Elric did in the future, the foundation’s reputation was bound to be affected, and the name of the co-owners, the Neresta family, would inevitably be attached to it.

From the outside, it would appear that Mervinger and Neresta have established a close relationship.

Or rather, if you look at it in terms of reputation.

Wouldn’t it be seen as if the Neresta family is supporting the ‘rising hero’ Elric?

『Perhaps they are trying to swallow Mervinger in one gulp.』

Mephisto chuckled, wondering what Elric would look like when he was in danger while trying to use a slurp.

however.

[no. I don’t know if it’s actually a good thing?]

『…Hmm?』

[Because my position will also increase as I have Neresta on my back.]

『…!』

[Rather, it is a loss for Neresta. There would be no greater gamble than getting close to me, who doesn’t know what will happen in the future…?]

『Why?』

[As much as Mervinger has been famous, there are many places that regard him as a thorn in their eyes. Especially the Six Stars.]

『Hoo.』

Elric stroked his chin with his hand.

[They say they will join hands with me even if they risk something like that… I don’t know what they are thinking. Anyway, this is an unexpected harvest.]

Elric was curious about Guy’s thoughts.

What on earth made him think so highly of himself?

It seemed like the purpose of the initial invitation was simply to check the face of the new Mervinger.

It felt like my direction of thinking changed significantly along the way.

What is it?

Just because he’s my son’s friend?

no. I wasn’t the type of person to judge between right and wrong under such circumstances.

Because you have a family name?

no way. In modern times, the reputation of the Neresta family is no less than that of Mervinger.

It’s not even about mentioning the foundation.

Then, all that remains is….

‘Could it be this?’

Elric slowly pulled up his sleeves.

A seal of cruelty stamped on the back of the hand.

The essence of Cheongyeon was flowing within this.

Perhaps Gai noticed that not only did he escape from Cheongyeon’s Jinggung in a short period of time, but he also secretly improved and used it?

Even if you don’t know why, what if this made you think differently?

So I wanted to ask you about this.

Quaaaang!

Suddenly, one wall of the head office exploded with a loud explosion.

Stone dust splashed and dust rose.

The Chamberlain, said to be the head of the ‘Shadow’, was suddenly standing there as if protecting Sean and Tasha, and the waiting soldiers were surrounding them as if they were guarding the matriarch.

Elric was also able to avoid the attack by creating a ‘cold wall’ that he had memorized in advance.

‘what is this…?’

It was just absurd to him.

How dare you think of terrorizing the head of the Neresta family in the middle of it!

I thought that if I wasn’t crazy, I was no better than a piece of shit.

‘Smiling?’

It was only later that I noticed that Guy was smiling without any agitation.

But…Guy’s gaze was fixed on Elric, not the wall.

As if something interesting was going to happen from now on.

At that moment, Elric’s spine stood on end with an inexplicable feeling of anxiety.

“you!”

Soon, I heard an old man’s cry coming from the side of the wall that had burst, and my head automatically turned towards that direction.

‘No way back then…!’

The voice of an old man heard when he was trapped in Cheongyeon’s Jinggung.

My eyes met an elderly man clad in a robe.

He was smiling cheerfully as if he had found a valuable treasure.

“Become my disciple!”

Wizard who swallowed talent