Game Opportunities Become Reality Episode 59
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Game Opportunities Become Reality Episode 59
18. Monopoly (2)
The dazed-looking woman munching on snacks was the famous Arcia Klein, the Lord Count.
At the sight of Ibril and the senior part-timer's shock, Arcia let out a little "ahem" as if showing off.
If Adrian had been there, he would have smiled a fatherly smile saying she was cute, but to the two of them, it came across as terrifying.
But then.
Arcia, who had been tossing chocolate cookies into her mouth, fixed her gaze on something.
[Customer Voice]
It was a suggestion box commonly found in stores where customer service was the main focus, such as restaurants or retail businesses.
Usually, even if such a box was visible, almost no one bothered to write something and submit it.
The reason was that putting something into the suggestion box in front of the staff would only be seen as filing a complaint.
But Arcia was someone who had no need to mind anyone's gaze here.
She munched on her cookies, walked over to the customer voice box, pulled out a piece of paper, and began writing something on it.
[Staff was unfriendly / Arcia Klein (seal)]
Then, kindly, she stamped her name and her family's seal the mark of a noble and placed the paper into the suggestion box.
In truth, there was no need to include her name and seal, but it was a habit formed from repeatedly approving documents in her territory.
At that, the senior part-timer who had been unfriendly staggered, and the knights who unintentionally saw the contents due to their height difference over Arcia glared with fierce eyes and reached for their swords.
"How dare you insult the Lord Count?"
Facing the knights glaring at her with terrifying auras, the senior part-timer's legs gave out, and she turned pale and collapsed to the spot.
"S-Sorry."
As her eyes welled up as if she would burst into tears any moment, Arcia shrugged and restrained the knights who were shooting lasers from their eyes.
The convenience store part-timer had been rude, but Arcia didn't think it was enough to warrant the knights drawing their swords.
Thanks to this incident, that girl would never look down on others again.
"Let's go now."
At Arcia's decision, Administrator Cecil extended a hand to Ibril.
"What is the young lady's name?"
"Ibril. Ibril Barnet."
"Then, Lady Ibril, let us head to the lord's castle together. Do not worry about your parents or your job. We will take care of it properly."
And so, Ibril was treated like a princess out of nowhere, leaving the shell-shocked senior part-timer behind as she stepped out of the convenience store.
But Arcia did not know.
That a single piece of paper she had carelessly stamped with her seal and dropped into the suggestion box would throw the convenience store's headquarters into complete chaos.
Even the head of the distribution industry and owner of the convenience store, Lord Count Ford, flew into a rage upon hearing the story and even tried to have the part-timer arrested.
In the end, Lord Count Ford's retainers managed to stop him, saying they couldn't dispose of someone the victim herself Arcia had spared, and the part-timer barely survived, but it was said she was registered on the blacklist of every company under the Ford family.
Her story, which left her unable to set foot in the distribution industry ever again, became a representative example among companies emphasizing the importance of kindness.
* * *
"Phew, well, at least I managed to level up somehow today."
Having been immersed in the game all day, I logged out briefly to meet the girl named Ibril whom Arcia had recruited.
The first thing that caught my eye as I took off the gaming goggles was Arcia's face, and I grabbed her hand, which she extended as if it were only natural, and rose from my seat.
"And the girl?"
"The maids took her to wash and dress her up. It's been about two hours, so wouldn't it be done around now?"
I always try to give the best treatment to those under me.
The girl who would enter the Genius Hall must be bewildered by the sudden change in environment, but I thought experiencing the change firsthand would help her adapt faster than being overwhelmed and cowering in the atmosphere.
Then Arcia brought her hand to her temple, and the Myriad Mirror, which had been hidden by an invisibility spell, appeared.
"Here it is."
"Thanks."
Taking the Myriad Mirror Arcia handed me, I cleaned myself thoroughly with a cleansing spell and lightly draped a coat over myself.
It goes without saying, but this body is really convenient.
The body balance was excellent, and thanks to a face that didn't look like some leech, any outfit I wore suited me perfectly.
Lookism was no different in this world than on Earth, so being handsome never hurt.
"My Lord."
"My Lord."
As I stepped out of the room, maids and servants bowed from every direction.
Our destination was the annex of the grand Marquis Lawrence castle.
When I received my title this time, I moved the entire Genius Hall over, and the annex was where they settled.
Now there was no need to mind anyone's approval, and thanks to my sudden rise in status, everyone in the Genius Hall could focus on their studies without worry.
Moreover, the quality of the teachers instructing them had also risen, and they were on a steep growth curve day by day.
I truly look forward to a few years from now.
By then, how many high-ranking mages and knights would be at my side...
Perhaps even a Grand Mage or Aura Master might emerge.
"We greet the Lord."
"W-We greet the Lord."
When I arrived at the annex newly named the Genius Hall, I could see a blonde girl with rather striking features and a man with a cold, intellectual air sitting together.
"Sir Eric, you're not trying to make a move on her, are you?"
"Sadly, I have no desire to become a criminal."
"Haha."
Eric was one of the senior members of the Genius Hall, a figure with talent and traits related to politics.
Unlike mages and knights who needed to step up level by level, there was no threshold of mastery, so administrative and political talents grew at a very fast pace.
Only four months had passed, but he already possessed ability and quick wits good enough to be used on the front lines.
Ibril in an ivory dress and Eric in a black suit stood in contrast like an angel and a demon.
'Well, she is a Saintess candidate and he's a budding politician. Seems their insides match the outside angel and demon indeed.'
I took the seat of honor with Arcia and turned my gaze to the well-dressed Ibril.
Was it because Arcia was always by my side?
Or because my mother was a woman of breathtaking beauty?
I no longer felt much stir at feminine beauty.
Besides, she was pretty, but not to the level of Arcia.
"We greet the father of the Lawrence territory, His Grace Lord Marquis Adrian Lawrence."
"Welcome. I am Adrian Lawrence."
She was awkward with noble etiquette, but from her gaze at me, I could sense admiration, expectation, and shyness.
I extended my hand to her.
Not knowing what it meant, she tilted her head, and I asked for her hand.
A slender, small hand carefully placed atop mine.
When Ibril's face flushed, I immediately withdrew my hand.
"A good pick."
"Thank you."
And then I said something to Arcia that wasn't strictly necessary.
To those who didn't know, my actions would look like I'd confirmed Ibril's potential.
I'd staged it that way on purpose.
"Miss Ibril, you said your dream was to become an administrator, right?"
At my question, she nodded emphatically, her eyes sparkling.
Her appearance was mature, but she was only a fifteen-year-old girl.
In Korean age, that was only sixteen or seventeen, so she didn't seem used to hiding her emotions.
With a slightly apologetic expression, I dashed her hopes.
"Unfortunately, Miss Ibril's talent is not in administration."
She was visibly disappointed.
But at my next words, not only she but even Eric Jones, who had been seated with us by chance due to his political talent, widened both eyes.
"I see in you a talent for Divine power. And your aptitude is extraordinary. Perhaps enough to aim for the position of Saintess."
"What?"
"Lord Marquis, is that true?"
The ceiling for Grand Mage or Aura Master aptitude and that of a Saintess had different cutoffs.
The moment one was chosen by the gods to become a Saintess, she became a user of holy magic on the same level as an 8th Circle mage, and if the Order fell into crisis, that power would leap to the 9th Circle level.
Furthermore, the position overseeing all priests worldwide rivaled the power of the Empire's Emperor.
Eric Jones, who trusted my words absolutely, looked at Ibril with a newfound gaze.
At the mention of the unimaginable position of Saintess, Ibril was left dumbstruck.
"Of course, becoming a Saintess isn't something that's possible just because there's potential. You have to stand out in the sight of the gods at the competition where the Saintess is selected."
"Then what about you, Lord Marquis?"
Eric, who had caught onto my intentions, swallowed nervously, and I gave a big nod.
"The gods have sent us talent like this, so I can't just sit idly by. I looked into it, and a competition to select the new Saintess or Holy Son is coming up soon. I intend to give my full support to make Lady Ibril the Saintess."
"M-Me, a Saintess? That's absurd."
"Seven out of ten Saintesses and Holy Sons come from commoner backgrounds. There's no reason it can't be done. Of course, it won't come for free Lady Ibril's own effort and will are needed too. Until the competition, you'll have to learn everything from etiquette to theology and holy magic."
I'd hired her in the form of a 200 million contract fee with a monthly salary of 500, but if I saw potential in her, would it really end there?
Even ten times, a hundred times that wouldn't be a waste.
If I could create a Saintess with my own hands, that alone would be enormous power.
"Think of it lightly. You're just switching from administrator to priest, aren't you? Both are professional jobs, right? Haha."
At my laugh, Ibril forced a smile with a pale face, and Eric, who had been quietly listening from the side, wore an expression that said he found it amusing.
'Wait a moment...'
I'd placed Eric here without much thought, but the combination of these two might not be bad.
If Eric, with his political aptitude and talent, supported her, wouldn't they be able to create a synergy effect of their own?
"I know you're confused right now. For now, let's have Lady Ibril start by adapting to this place. As of today, you're a member of the Lord's estate."
"Th-Thank you, Lord Marquis."
"Then Eric, you take care of her personally. From what I can see, you two seem to have gotten quite close in a short time."
Quick-witted Eric sensed there was a reason behind my order and bowed his head.
"Understood, Lord Marquis."
I wore the most benevolent smile I could and reassured Ibril.
"I'll also make sure Lady Ibril's parents can visit the Lord's estate anytime. Feel free to stay at ease."
Times like this, a handsome face comes in handy.
Whatever schemes you have, just meeting eyes with someone brings trust.
At my consideration, Ibril conveyed her thanks with a much softer expression.
* * *
When Ibril was in the middle of adapting to her new environment.
"This is annoying."
I was logged into Chronicle Online hunting monsters, and I furrowed my brow with a sigh.
The slow growth rate couldn't be helped.
Naturally at a point where party hunting with 5 to 10 people was essential, I was roaming the hunting grounds with just 2 people plus 1 beast, even if I was armed with gear and cash.
Even if it took a year to reach the next stage, it was still far faster than learning magic directly, so I didn't pay much mind to the slow leveling speed.
But the problem wasn't the slow growth rate it was something else.
"As expected, once you pass level 200, players start coming into view more and more."
Chronicle Online is a game that's become a veteran's game ten years after launch.
Before this, I rarely had contact with other players, but after passing level 200, encounters with other users increased.
The level cap in Chronicle Online is 300.
My high-level hunting grounds and activity range were starting to overlap with theirs.
'The problem is that anyone who sees our battles can't help but tilt their head in confusion.'
Because real-world senses were linked, my crazily agile control stood out, but Arcia who was far too intelligent for a supporter and Black Eagle, a sub-supporter system no one had ever heard of, were bound to draw attention.
Especially players who saw Black Eagle came one by one asking what that thing was.
Each time, I made excuses that it was a wild beast temporarily tamed through taming magic, but that only works once or twice...
If it kept happening, rumors were bound to spread one way or another.
I absolutely refuse to draw unnecessary attention.
And if the game company launched an investigation, it could lead to a difficult situation.
Something needed to be done.
"What's the market cap of Chronicle Online's developer? Should I just buy it all up?"