NOVEL SIMPLE
Chapter 46
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]
Chapter 46: Banquet(2)
***
“Oh, look at that, Jackson. It’s a cosmetic product from the Michu sect.”
Sofia couldn’t help but marvel continuously as she observed the items nobles presented to the Earl.
These were treasures that a small family like Viscount Russell’s could only dream about.
“Sofia, there’s nothing to envy. I’ll buy you something even better later.”
“Really? I’m counting on you, Jackson.”
It was when Sofia tightly embraced his neck.
“Here you are.”
A stern voice came from behind. Startled, the two turned around.
“Master!”
Jackson exclaimed with a surprised face. The sudden appearance of the master, who had been unseen since the start of the banquet, was indeed shocking.
“Where have you been?”
“I investigated the participants. It’s necessary to prepare a plan for dealing with Damien Haksen.”
Upon Jacques Noiré’s words, Jackson’s expression seemed to fold, hinting at something unsaid.
“There’s something you need to do. Go and present this gift to the Earl.”
Jacques Noiré extended a glass bottle as he spoke.
Inside the bottle was a fluorescent liquid.
“What is this?”
“It’s Olivia’s birthday present.”
“So why should I offer this to Olivia?”
Jacques Noiré’s gaze turned chilling.
Worried that the master might get angry, Jackson took the vial promptly.
“Master, still, you should explain a bit about this elixir. When presenting it to the Earl, an explanation would be appropriate, wouldn’t it?”
“No need to worry about that. Everyone will recognize it without me saying anything.”
Jackson felt puzzled by Jacques Noiré’s explanation.
“So, don’t worry about unnecessary concerns and go out quickly.”
Jacques Noiré pushed Jackson forward. With no choice, Jackson moved towards where the Earl was.
“Sofia, come with…”
“You stay here.”
Jacques Noiré stopped Sofia.
“What? Why on earth…”
Jacques Noiré stared at her silently, causing Sofia to bite her tongue instead of asking for the reason.
***
Jackson approached Earl Copperhead, holding the gift given by his master.
“Your Excellency, I am Jackson Cutter.”
Bowing with one knee, Jackson spoke.
“Jackson Cutter? Does anyone know who that is?”
“Well, I’ve never heard that name before.”
Not a single noble recognized Jackson Cutter’s name.
Jackson bit his lip in silence.
“Jackson Cutter? Jackson Cutter…”
Even the Earl couldn’t identify Jackson. His face turned even redder.
“Your Excellency, just a moment…”
At that moment, the butler approached and whispered to the Earl. The Earl’s pupils slightly widened.
“You are the Ogre Slayer Jackson Cutter.”
“An honor to be recognized by you!”
As the Earl uttered his title, Jackson Cutter’s face brightened instantly.
“Ogre Slayer? That’s a title I’ve never heard of.”
“Oh, I’ve heard of it. There’s a young knight who hunted ogres alone. Seems like that knight is him.”
“He killed that monster alone? Impressive.”
The nobles started murmuring about Jackson Cutter.
As the nobles talked about him, Jackson’s smile became even brighter.
“Your Excellency, for Lady Olivia, I present this item.”
Jackson took out the elixir and offered it with both hands.
“What’s that? What kind of potion is it?”
“That red fluorescent color… Could it be the Elixir of Vitality?”
“A potion that, with just one sip, keeps you from getting tired for a whole day, isn’t it?”
“I’ve heard about an item sold exclusively to certain customers by the Michu sect. How did he get that…?”
The nobles’ reactions were explosive.
If the elixir was indeed the Elixir of Vitality, it surpassed all the previous gifts in significance.
“Elixir of Vitality! How did you acquire such a precious thing?”
Especially the Earl’s response was noteworthy.
Now, in his old age, he was preoccupied with concerns about his health.
“Olivia, look! Don’t you think it’s an extraordinary gift?”
“I suppose.”
Olivia spoke with an indifferent tone, showing little interest in the gift once again.
“Good. Very good.”
The Earl ordered a servant to receive the Elixir of Vitality.
Holding the elixir, the Earl examined it with satisfied eyes.
Strictly speaking, the elixir was Olivia Copperhead’s birthday gift, but no one pointed out that fact.
Since most of the gifts presented by the nobles were for the Earl, no one paid much attention.
“Jackson Cutter, I will remember your name.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Jackson stood up with a satisfied expression.
As he turned to go back to his place, he hesitated.
Damien was walking out.
“Damien Hakse…”
Damien passed by Jackson without acknowledging him.
In complete disregard, Jackson clenched his fist tightly.
***
Damien stood before Earl Copperhead.
“So, you’re Damien Haksen.”
Even without revealing his name, Earl Copperhead recognized Damien.
“There’s been quite a buzz about you lately.”
“Just a minor reputation.”
Damien lowered his head slightly as he spoke.
“Minor? Defeating the eldest son of the Marquis Ryanbloom without drawing a sword is far from minor!”
Earl Copperhead exclaimed, shaking his head.
“Well, it might be a slightly exaggerated rumor that you defeated Michel Ryanbloom without even drawing your sword, hahaha.”
The nobles joined in laughter at the Earl’s words.
In the midst of it, Damien remained silent, smiling.
“I’ve also prepared a gift for Lady Olivia.”
Saying this, Damien looked at Olivia Copperhead.
Olivia kept her head lowered, showing little interest in the party dedicated to her.
‘A picky woman.’
Even with Damien’s appearance, she remained indifferent.
It already gave him a headache thinking about how to connect her with Abel.
“Here is my younger brother, Abel.”
Damien first introduced Abel.
However, Olivia still kept her head down, unable to see Abel’s face.
“Abel, present the bow to Lady Olivia.”
Abel walked towards Olivia, swallowing nervously.
“Oh my, what’s that? A bow?”
“I heard Lady Olivia enjoys hunting.”
“But it looks like a strangely shaped bow.”
The nobles in the hall started whispering.
Abel’s bow indeed had an unusual appearance.
“…a bow?”
At the mention of the bow, Olivia finally lifted her head.
Seeing the bow Abel held, her eyes widened.
Olivia cautiously took the bow. Then, with eyes filled with fascination, she caressed the bowstring.
“…a bow made from the horn of a Minotaur?”
And for the first time, she spoke upon seeing the gift.
“Yes, you recognized it correctly. A bow made from the horn of a Minotaur, specifically the leader among them.”
“Impressive… Minotaurs are monsters even the middle class finds challenging to face, and encountering them is even rarer.”
Damien added an explanation.
“As Lady Olivia may know, the horns of Minotaurs possess exceptional qualities for crafting weapons.”
“Yes, I’m aware. They are as hard as steel but flexible like bamboo.”
“Exactly.”
Indeed, the rumor about her passion for hunting was not false.
“Would you like to examine the details of the bowstring? The name of the craftsman who crafted the bow is engraved.”
At Damien’s suggestion, Olivia inspected the bow. As Damien mentioned, the name ‘Auguste’ was engraved on it.
“…Auguste? Could it be the renowned craftsman Auguste?”
“That’s correct.”
Auguste.
He was the most famous craftsman in the Apple Kingdom.
Rumors circulated about how skilled he was in metallurgical skills, to the point that it was rumored that he had been tutored by a dwarf.
Of course, since dwarves wouldn’t teach the art of metallurgy to humans, it was merely a baseless rumor.
Olivia couldn’t take her eyes off the bow. To anyone observing, it was clear she was delighted.
“A weapon made by Auguste… I never thought I’d see such a rare item in my lifetime.”
The Earl, too, was impressed, but not by the bow itself, but rather by its value.
“Once, a shield crafted by Auguste went up for auction and its price skyrocketed.”
The Earl gazed greedily at the bow, silently calculating its worth.
“My brother, Abel, saved it for this day.”
In reality, Damien had acquired it through a deal with the Marquis, but the actual details were not significant.
“Really, you saved it for me?”
Olivia Copperhead lifted her head in astonishment.
Finally, Olivia Copperhead saw Abel’s face.
As soon as she laid eyes on Abel, her lips slightly parted, and a blush appeared on her cheeks.
‘What…’
If Damien wasn’t mistaken, Olivia Copperhead was feeling only one emotion at that moment.
‘Was she also a girl who blushed when she saw someone’s face?’
***
“Fetch more chairs immediately. Make it two more,” Earl commanded the servants, ensuring the esteemed guests were not left standing.
Following the Earl’s order, servants brought two additional chairs and placed them.
“Both of you, please have a seat.”
Damien sat next to the Earl. Naturally, Olivia’s side was now occupied by Abel.
“Sir Damien, I’ve been wanting to have a conversation with you.”
The Earl poured drinks himself and inquired.
“If it’s not impolite, I’d like to hear about what happened during your duel with the Michael Ryanbloom.”
“It might not be very interesting, but if you wish to hear.”
“Still, I’m curious. I’d like to listen.”
Damien inwardly sighed.
Originally, Damien wasn’t the type to go around talking about such matters. But now, it was a sacrifice he was willing to make for Abel.
An opportunity had come for Abel and Olivia to become closer. He couldn’t afford to miss it.
“If you insist on hearing…”
Damien began slowly recounting the events of the duel.
The Earl listened with great interest, pouring himself more wine.
During the storytelling, Damien discreetly observed Abel and Olivia.
“I heard there’s a forest next to Viscount Haksen’s estate. Oh, it must be truly beautiful.”
“Uh, it’s not that impressive. The forest is small, and there aren’t many wild animals…”
“No dangerous beasts? It must be so peaceful.”
The situation was progressing quite smoothly.
Olivia Copperhead took the lead in the conversation, showing a keen interest in Abel.
‘I always wonder how they became lovers in their past lives…’
Damien finally found the answer to that mysterious question.
‘Was the bow really unnecessary?’
Perhaps bringing a bow from Marquis Ryanbloom was an unnecessary effort.
Damien pondered for a moment, seriously contemplating.
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]
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