"I think this matter isn't easy. The fact that even your family neglect you mean they already expect you to lose. By the way, did your uncle prepare a scheme on you or just blatantly harm you?" Alicia slowly got
interested on Luke's matter.
"I say sometimes he used explicit or implicit ways. For the example, my uncle would send magic stones for me in a sudden. When I opened the box, there was an explosion. Luckily, I had my protection charm at that time. When I confronted him directly, asking why the magic stones exploded, he just
answered he didn't know about that and promised to investigate…"
Luke continued, looking at everyone seriously, "After that incident, another magic stones would be sent and just as I thought, it suddenly exploded. Fortunately, I'm not doing it for a second time and has a way to
check on it. One time might be a coincidence but I don't believe the second time also falls into this coincidence. That is why I have a hunch that my uncle targets me. The reason is still not clear, but I will find out."
Baston was only silent when Alicia and Luke were having a discussion. At present, he only knew he must help Luke to kill his uncle. As for the reason, he could only accept that Luke wanted to fight back because this man tried to harm him in possible way. The cause and the impact were very simple but there might be interesting fact later on.
Alicia as a noble girl from other family could only give her opinion as bystander since she had no importance about the matter. The noble society was very complicated so it was better not to meddle in someone's family.
She wouldn't intervene but Baston would likely do it since this secret meeting came from his request. Although there was no intimate relationship between them, but she worried that he would kill Luke's uncle directly just like what he had done with Levan. The death of noble was serious matter in the kingdom, different for poor, commoner, and merchant. It sounded unfair but this world accepted this way.
The meeting lasted an hour before everyone went back. Baston himself didn't go back because he wanted to enjoy the food on the restaurant. Alicia who saw him thought there was still a secret business in here, but she didn't dare to follow him since the shock of 2 rare elements from before still lingered in her heart. With nothing to concern, she then went back with her personal guards while wishing Baston to be safe.
After the magic competition, Prius Academy turned normal again. While Alicia was having boost in her reputation as the winner, Baston
himself didn't experience the same thing. It was just like everyone forgot about him, even though his battle was quite spectacular to watch. The people outside recognized his ability, but the students here only recognized the winner. Only a handful people like Panto and other commoner students congratulated
him for the fight before. Considering the purpose of getting away from the limelight, Baston said the recent situation seemed quite good for him. No one would look him for trouble and he also didn't have to strike a boring conversation with the classmate that he even didn't know the name.
Days by days, Baston stayed and studied as usual at the academy until the time for another vacation started again. The time was quite long which was about one month. Nobles like Alicia should go back to her family and the same also happened with Panto. Only a student like Baston who didn't
know where he had to go. With the status of poor class, his movement would be limited since he had no access to few cities. The best he could go was a village or town plus several cities that wouldn't forbid him to enter.
Although he sometimes wanted to take a vacation, he felt it would waste his money so he rejected the idea. Anyway, the matter about Luke was still ongoing and this vacation was the best time to strike back. The boy was safe once he was inside the academy, but he also could do nothing from
there. That was why with this one month, there would be enough time to prepare
everything for his uncle. The thinking was good but the plan wasn't so simple. As the noble, Luke's uncle must be living with many protections from his guards. Not to mention the magic protection in the surrounding, they also had to be wary of any hidden guards. The fat boy didn't have any good plan to
infiltrate so he just handed this matter to Luke and Alicia as the noble themselves. Once again, they gathered at the unique and quite restaurant to formulate the plan.
"I think if Baston wants to follow you safely, he either must disguise himself as the servant or the slave," Alicia started.
"I think the servant is good. He will just follow me and help when the opportunity comes," Luke replied.
"Personally, I prefer for Baston to disguise as slave. People won't expect anything from him by then, thus lowering their guard when
confronting him."
While 2 people were having an argument, Baston on the other hand just sat silently for being a good listener. He was baffled because the matter of killing a noble seemingly easy to decide, even though it would implicate many people in the future. Both of them didn't ask anymore question
regarding why the fat boy had an intention to help Luke. Baston didn't know that Alicia and Luke had their own thinking about the true reason.
The noble girl knew Baston's target was only the cult, so the true reason why he needed to help Luke to kill his uncle must be related with the cult. There was a big possibility that this man was a member of the cult, despite being a noble himself. In this kingdom, everyone despised the dark wizards but not the hidden organization since many of them would likely have their own purposes, but didn't have any inklings to the dark magic. Even though so, people couldn't be sure the organization itself was safe enough to be
ignored because sooner or later, it would have an impact to the kingdom. Whether this cult told by Baston was more despicable than dark wizards or not, only the fat boy knew.
For Luke himself, his thinking was very simple. He recognized Baston's behavior and ability. Just his ice element already
categorized him as special, but now with the flare element, he was very rare that even the royalty would involve themselves to get him. As for the hidden intention, Luke didn't think too much since the fat boy was unlike the noble. They liked to conspire and spread rumors, playing with words every day. Baston himself was just a simple boy who hardly betray his teammate. At least, that
was the strong impression for the noble boy.
"Servant!"
"Slave!"
"Servant!"
"Slave!"
"Can I just become my true self?" Baston thought, looking silly between Alicia and Luke.
While 2 people were choosing the fate of Baston, the fat boy himself ate the snacks on the table. There were few creampuffs which made him wanted to comment and give 5 stars for such delicious cake to exists. He
thought he could enjoy such high quality one in Alicia's house, but today, this simple but expensive restaurant gave him a surprise. It had been already long enough that he didn't come here since he got the free voucher. Even though the atmosphere was good, he couldn't afford it if he always visited this place every day. Sooner or later, his money would be emptied out.
Eating the puffs, Baston also thought about what choices he should make. Being the servant or the slave, each position was already low but they had different responsibility. There were advantages and disadvantages when he disguised himself as the servant or the slave. For the servant itself, he could follow Luke mostly everywhere. He had to help the boy whenever he was needed. There would be a time he had to become a temporary coachman or guide when Luke was out of his residence. He had to learn more and he must keep his attitude in check because Luke's face was also represented by his behavior.
Since the servant had quite responsibility, Luke as the boss wouldn't treat him badly. For the example, when the noble boy stayed at the inn, he also had to book another room for the servant. When he ate, the servant
also had to eat. This kind of treatment wasn't bad because as long as you served the lord to the best, there would be an opportunity to enjoy what your lord had in their wealth. Sadly, it was very different for the slave.
Although both the servant and the slave followed their lord, the treatment they got was not the same. The servant was a person while the slave was an animal. The nobles might treat their servants well, but not to
their slaves. As long as they were still alive, it was good enough. If the lord stayed at the inn, the slave could only stay at the shed. If the lord ate a sumptuous food, the slave could only eat a hard bread. Considering this, it would be better to be a servant, but Baston kept looking to the discussion
between Alicia and Luke. He wanted to heard different opinion from them.
"Baston can't be a slave. It's inappropriate such strong wizard will become a lowly person," Luke exclaimed.
"But people outside don't know much about him. Besides, if he disguises himself as your servant, he has to learn much from the beginning. Do you think you will wait him until he knows the basic?" Alicia countered.
"Do you think everyone will believe such fat boy is a slave?"
Baston took a look at his own body, thinking Luke was right. There was no way such abundant size was a slave. Instead getting thin and sickly, he enjoyed double portion every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This treatment was far from what the slave could get, even the servant wasn't good
enough like him. Surely, people would doubt whether he was a slave or not.
"Do you think there is a servant who always silent and seldom speak to anyone?"
Once again, Baston pondered if he rarely talked to anyone. He sometimes talked a lot and sometimes, he also chose to be quiet. If it was related to the quest, he would have more motivation speak. Except that, he
would prefer to talk less. Regarding Alicia, he actually wanted to have a minimal contact since it was troublesome to handle many envy and jealous sights from other boys. By not to overly close, he would keep the distance and no one would try to make a trouble.
Every option indeed had the advantages and disadvantages. If Baston picked the slave, he would be ignored completely, making his existence not to be noticed easily since no one would take attention. Despite that, the
treatment he got also would be the worst. If he couldn't preserve, he would lose himself. As for the servant, it would be better than the slave where everyone would treat him humanely. Still, there would be a time he needed to talk a lot when his lord ordered something. You couldn't expect Luke would take the initiative to talk first while Baston as the servant didn't do anything.
"Let's think it further…" he pondered, but soon became dumbfounded when he saw Alicia and Luke.
They were checking a coin before both of them nodded. Luke held the coin, ready to toss it in the air. Although he didn't want the
discussion ended like this, it would lead into stuck development eventually when both of their arguments had their own reasoning. He breathed in and breathed out before telling something to Alicia.
"If the coin is head, I win. If the coin is tail, you win."
"Alright, toss the coin!" Alicia was ready.
"Wait…" Baston held his breath, noticing something wasn't right.