Silvia's Plan

TL/ED: Lolz

A warm morning sunlight.

Silvia's hair, soaked in sunlight, glowed with a subtle golden hue.

There was something special about the sunlight one received at a café on a weekday morning.

"Hmm. This is indeed a charming tea house. I like the quiet atmosphere."

Silvia closed her eyes, savoring the taste of black tea.

The surroundings were as peaceful as she described.

'Has it been a while since it became famous?'

In the distance, the maid covering her chest with a tray, expressing awe. She might have been the owner.

"Ian, your taste is quite good for a commoner."

"Thanks, but..."

Ian, about to reply, sensed something strange.

"Hey, I'm a noble too."

"Oh!"

Silvia covered her lips with her long hand.

Her surprised expression was both repulsive and fascinating.

"I'm sorry. I recently realized that teasing you is quite fun."

Luckily, Ian had a broad mind. If the opportunity arose, he would pay her back. With that determination, he took a bite of a cookie.

'Hmm, it really melts softly.'

Raising his thumb towards the inquisitive owner, whose face flushed.

"Anyway!"

Silvia interrupted between the glances of the boss and Ian.

"Getting back to the point, Sharon Pierce was the most active in this incident."

"What are we talking about?"

"How to boost your reputation, Ian! Even though you don't care. Really."

Silvia puffed her cheeks slightly.

Ian wondered if she really needed to boost his reputation.

'Pongpong was gradually getting used to it.'

The disdainful glances (mostly from women) that came back even with just a glance had become familiar.

Most importantly, it was comfortable in public places like trams or libraries where no one dared to sit around him.

While thinking about this, Silvia, with her narrow eyes, asked,

"Are you having useless thoughts?"

"No. But I have concerns."

"What?"

"It might be troublesome if I became too famous."

"Huh?"

Silvia, with a confused expression, suddenly grabbed her stomach and started laughing.

"Splendid. Hahahahaha! Hoho!"

Tears flowed as she laughed.

Who would believe that she was a prestigious young lady?

"Hey, maintain some dignity."

"Phew! Ah! S-sorry... Hahaha!"

She barely held back her laughter, hiding her tears.

"Hoho... Ian, sir. How can you be so confident? Do you think becoming famous is that easy? Even I invest a lot in reputation management... Hoho."

An undeniable logic.

Ian silently sipped his tea.

The aftertaste was bitter.

"Well, at least the confidence is good. Anyway, let's get to the real point."

Silvia, back to her elegant self, continued speaking.

"Actually, regardless of what others say, the hero of this incident is Sharon Pierce. Everyone is cheering for her achievements. She defeated four Bloodstone Cultists."

Ian nodded.

Preventing Lina Rosewell was more of a precaution. After all, the only victim would have been the girl lying on the bed with a blissful expression.

On the other hand, Sharon eliminated the Bloodstone Cultists.

Her contributions were outstanding.

"But I think you were no less than her. Some professors also think so."

Silvia passionately continued.

"You appropriately prevented Lina, and most importantly, you proposed the research on the cure for the blue mushroom. That contribution is not small. Thanks to it, some infected students returned to normal. Anyway."

Silvia's face approached the table.

Beyond her translucent, light blond hair, she whispered.

"How did you happen to know and ask the professor for research on the cure? Did you have some kind of informant?"

"Just a coincidence. It looked like a toxic mushroom.”

"That's not the point... Heh. It’s a secret, right? Okay. It's the law not to dig into someone else's trade secrets recklessly."

Silvia, who was licking her lips, continued.

"Anyway, try to focus more on skill evaluation. If you give a good impression a few times, people's perception of you, Ian, will change quickly. I'm sure you won't be ignored like now, at least."

Indeed, Ian's reputation was currently so bad that he was drawing unnecessary attention. If he found the right balance, observing quietly from the sidelines outside the story might become easier.

"Even if your image is still not good, there's a big difference between someone without skills and someone with skills."

To be active in skill evaluation wasn't something he lacked confidence in.

Through this scenario, he felt he had grown considerably. Not only in abilities but also in magical power.

In short, there was no harm in heeding Silvia's advice.

It felt like learning strategies from an experienced player.

'Well, Silvia is an expert in reputation-making.'

Sometimes showing a clumsy side, Silvia was a character with a unique aristocratic arrogance and sophistication, making her quite popular.

A sudden question crossed his mind.

"Why are you being so kind to me?"

Silvia, as if glitching, froze for a moment and then continued.

"Investment. Ian, you seem to have quite a potential."

Despite her words, her eyes were filled with embarrassment.

When their eyes met, she shyly averted her gaze.

For a moment, Ian recalled information about her.

Silvia grew up alone, thanks to her busy parents.

Moreover, she had been attending succession classes since she started learning to speak.

She had subordinates even before she had friends.

"Hmm. Do you have any other thoughts?"

That's why he wondered if she might be feeling lonely now.

Or did he misunderstand her intentions?

Silvia's face turned red.

"W-what ridiculous thoughts are you having! Do you think I want to welcome you as a son-in-law to the Laurents!? I've never thought that even once! For a hundred years! Hmph!"

Misinterpreting and pretending to be offended, Silvia, in her own way, showed a funny but interesting reaction.

Still, it was also funny to see her blushing as she glanced at him and then avoided his gaze.

"I was going to ask if you needed a friend, you know?"

"Hmpf!"

"You seem like you’re only working without having any friends."

"I-I'm busy, that's why I don’t have any!"

"Is that so?"

Fiercely nodding, she looked at him with determination.

"Well... it might be good to have one, I guess?"

Saying so, she tried to calm herself by bringing the teacup to her lips.

After lightly savoring it, she placed it on the saucer with a small sigh of admiration, and there was not even a clinking sound.

Truly elegant and aristocratic manners.

If the lack of friends was a characteristic of her human side, another aspect of Silvia Laurent was that she wasn't simply moved by emotions.

She was a top successor and the vice-head of the Laurent family on the continent.

Even though she sometimes showed a clumsy side, it was more accurate to say that her actions were calculated.

Pulling out Lena Rosewell from the disciplinary committee was also such an example.

Right now, taking care of Ian himself was another.

She was undoubtedly trying to gather people.

Wondering why she would do that.

One fairly plausible conclusion could be drawn.

"Are you going to fight? With Emilia's Raymond family."

The movement of Silvia's hand, which was heading towards the teacup, halted abruptly. Her expression looking this way was incredibly serious.

"You have a good eye."

"That's how it is."

"Well, not now, but... it seems a big name will enroll in the academy... Oh."

She stopped herself from saying more, covering her mouth.

"Please forget about this. It's confidential."

Ian shrugged.

He roughly guessed whom she was talking about.

"I'll probably need a lot of support. I also have the feeling that when that time comes, Ian, you might stand by my side."

"It's a bit expensive if you want to hire me."

"I know. I already have a lot of debts. So if there's any problem, please let me know. Like the Elixir last time. I owe you a lot."

Ian smiled at Silvia's words.

"Don't you dislike it?"

"...What? In such a situation, it's obvious to say it's fine!"

"No."

Ian's mouth curled up with a grin.

Silvia, who had been teasing Ian enthusiastically just a while ago, suddenly felt like she was shivering.

"I'll wait until you beg me, Silvia, saying, 'Please, please let me repay my debt.'"

"...What?"

"You'll become a debtor to me, living each day with the obligation. In other words, you'll become a debtor head of the family."

Debtor.

At that word, Silvia's shoulders trembled.

"I... dislike it."

As Silvia's breathing became rougher, Ian gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Calm down, Silvia. Take a deep breath and listen to me."

"Uh-huh..."

"Now, close your eyes and imagine."

"Yes..."

"Imagine a pile of debts growing every day like a snowball rolling downhill. The sound of the interest you owe me increasing day by day."

"Ah, ah..."

Rumble, rumble.

Silvia's gaze, trembling all over her body, gradually became blurred.

Ian chuckled and lightly tapped her shoulder.

"It's just a joke. Why are you making such a distressed expression?"

"Ian, you!!"

Successful revenge.

A satisfying smile spread across Ian's face.

Well, small revenge like this was enough.

After the possession, it's the first time someone had taken care of Ian like this.

Ian, who straightened his neck, spoke solemnly.

"Thanks for caring."

"Hmph!"

Silvia, who pouted her lips, turned her head away abruptly. Her expression seemed to say, "As if I care”, but her slightly twitching tail couldn't hide her amusement.

"..."

Perhaps realizing the fact, she hurriedly took out her Kiritos terminal, covering her face. Then she stared intently at the screen for a while.

"What are you looking at?"

Turning her head to the side, she replied.

"There's a popular prophet on the Kirito's bulletin board these days. Rumor has it that they accurately predicted the Median House incident. They're said to be the successor of a great astrologer. There's a rumor that they'll respond if you leave a message at this hour."

Then Silvia buried her face in the terminal again.

By the way.

"Hmm."

Wasn't that a familiar catchphrase?

Even without checking the bulletin board, it was easy to imagine what happened.

Ian rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

'Now, should I start preparing for the investment?'

If Silvia was so immersed, there must be a considerable accumulation of prophecy requests. Extra funds should be available soon.

"Silvia, do you happen to know a trustworthy exchange guild?"

Ian's smirked as he asked.

◆

Meanwhile.

Temporary dormitory set up for Median House students.

In one of the rooms, a girl was staring blankly at the mirror.

Somewhat disheveled red hair that hadn't been properly combed. Dark eye bags on skin so pale it looked almost white.

It was Lina Rosewell, who had been subjected to disciplinary measures.

"..."

Staring at herself in the mirror, she brought her hand to her neck.

A pitch-black choker.

More precisely, a handkerchief that Ian handed her to cover the handprint.

Even though the handprint was already gone, Lina couldn't bring herself to remove it for days.

Because this was the only trace Ian left behind.

"Ian..."

Standing in front of her mirror, Lina was endlessly fiddling with the handkerchief.

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