Chapter 219 (1/2)

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Roy’s household, the Rawlsmans, was renowned throughout the empire.

Apparently, they had their beginning with the founding of the empire itself and enjoyed a history lengthier than any other noble household of this continent.

No one really knew just when the Rawlsman bloodline began.

Historically speaking, they were there at the founding of the empire, which meant that the family was already in existence even before they joined hands with the first emperor.

That was the explanation Su-hyeun heard after arriving in the Rawlsman residence.

“Your family is pretty amazing, then.”

“Isn’t your reply a little too soulless?”

Roy, who was doing his best to explain his family’s history until then, shook his head while looking like a deflated balloon.

Su-hyeun lightly lifted the boy off his lap and replied, “You know better than anyone whether I have a soul or not, don’t you? Take a good look now. See how much soul my words contain.”

“I can’t see a single one.”

“Really? I think your ability to see dead people has developed a problem or something.”

“No, that’s not… Hold on, how can words have souls, anyway? Also, my ability is functioning properly. Even now, behind you there are…”

“I told you to not say anything spooky, didn’t I?”

“But, they are really there…”

Roy kept glancing at the space behind Su-hyeun and thought to himself. It wasn’t the first time the boy did that, though, so Su-hyeun simply shrugged his shoulders in acceptance.

It did feel a bit spooky every time he heard of such things, but he was more or less used to it by now.

I mean, I fight monsters for a living, so ghosts aren’t that much, really.

It was rather ironic that, while he didn’t fear the undead that gained physical bodies after their death, he was spooked by the ghosts that had no means to influence the material world.

Moreover, judging from Roy’s reactions until now, ghosts were common existences that could be found pretty much everywhere.

Knock, knock—

Someone suddenly lightly knocked on the door to the reception room where Su-hyeun and Roy were in.

“Dear sirs, the party is ready.”

“Thanks, we’ll be on our way.”

Su-hyeun replied and stood up, but Roy remained in the same spot, unmoving. The boy even had a puzzled expression.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you coming?”

“I was thinking that having a party is going a little overboard.”

“How so?”

“Well, this is the capital city, you know. If it was among my family, I can understand that, but to hold a party where other nobles of the capital are attending just because I’m home, it’s all too…”

“Doesn’t that say how happy they are?”

“It’s nothing much to celebrate about, after all. It makes more sense to keep it as a secret rather than boast about it to everyone, don’t you think so? Also, my mother hates going to parties.”

After listening to Roy, Su-hyeun stared with a somewhat surprised gaze at the boy.

He already thought that the kid spoke like an old man, which didn’t match his current age, and now, it became even harder to believe that the depth of his thoughts or the way he looked at things belonged to a young kid who was only 10 years old.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nah, it’s nothing.” Su-hyeun shook his head at Roy’s question and replied. “Let’s go. The occasion is meant for you, after all.’

He lightly patted Roy on the shoulder and opened the door to step outside. After confirming that the boy was following him, Su-hyeun’s eyes shifted back to the lengthy corridor, his glare getting sharper.

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A wide hall filled with soft music.

The first floor of the massive mansion located in the center of the capital had been transformed into a party venue.

Many nobles, who exuded extravagance and elegance, came to visit and shared small talks, and the main hostess of the party, Reina, welcomed them warmly.

Among them, Su-hyeun’s appearance stood out like a sore thumb.

“Are you sure you don’t need to change?” Roy asked him.

“I actually prefer this getup.”

“Still, this is a party, you know.”

Su-hyeun was still wearing his usual attire.

His rather discreet set of armor was far closer in appearance to that of a mercenary’s compared with the heavy plate armor worn by the knights.

That’s why he stood out so much. Well, a mercenary wouldn’t be able to attend a noble’s party, after all.

“Who is he?”

“Is he a mercenary?”

“I heard that someone brought home the scion of the Rawlsman family, so it must be him.”

“Is he a wandering swordsman? Perhaps a mercenary?”

“His looks are passable, but his lack of elegance is…”

Whispers about Su-hyeun could be heard.

He thought he wouldn’t hear them, but he could hear everything just fine. Some of the attendees seemed to lack tact as they didn’t even bother to lower their voices while voicing their opinions.

Nobles are the same no matter where I go, it seems.

Su-hyeun chuckled to himself.

He had seen many worlds by now, and these creatures called “nobles” seem to exist pretty much everywhere. Even back on Earth, there were plenty of people with wealth and power who acted as if they were bona fide nobles.

Funnily enough, their characteristics were generally similar.

They belittled, mocked, and disparaged those who were worse off than they were. Their standards of judging the worthlessness of others were usually based around on how there were differences in their bloodlines or the lack of power the other party possessed.

Because of things like those, these people were not that different and, therefore, familiar in every regard.

Su-hyeun ignored them all and approached a man in his mid-30s resembling Roy very closely currently standing at the center of the party venue.

The man greeted Su-hyeun first. “Ah, you’re here.”

They had already met each other briefly earlier. This man was Roy’s father, and his name was Herrels Rawlsman.

“So, do you like the party? Reina hastily organized it, saying that it’s for our benefactor.”

“I don’t really enjoy occasions like this, unfortunately. I was planning to get something to eat and retreat for the day as soon as possible.”

“I appreciate your honesty!” Herrels guffawed before leaning closer to whisper to him. “I’ll tell you what, why don’t we make our escape later on and knock a few cold ones together?”

“That sounds good.”

Su-hyeun grabbed and shook Herrels’ offered hand.

Thankfully, it seemed that Herrels had a good first impression of Su-hyeun. He didn’t have any prejudices about Su-hyeun not being a noble and had a rather easy-going personality as well.

Other than their similar looks, his personality was the polar opposite of that of his own son, Roy.

“But from what I heard, you also don’t enjoy participating in parties, Lord Herrels.”

“Did Roy tell you that?”

“Yes.”

“Well, yes… It’s true that I don’t really enjoy them. No, honestly, I detest them. They’re noisy, bothersome, and I don’t enjoy chatting to strangers, you see.”

“We’re pretty similar in that regard.”