The conversation around the table dragged on, a delicate dance of thinly veiled barbs and hollow niceties. It was a performance in hypocrisy, vanity dressed as courtesy, and Ludwig couldn’t help but marvel at how universal this behavior seemed, whether here in Lufondal or back on Earth. Nobles had a way of speaking volumes while saying absolutely nothing of substance.
Ludwig had done his part, engaging enough to hold their interest while keeping his disdain for the game well hidden behind polite smiles and measured words. The experience left a bitter taste in his mouth, but it wasn’t new. It was just another day in the world of power and pretense.
Finally, after an eternity, Ludwig and his companions excused themselves. “Unfortunately, we must return to the academy,” Ludwig said, his tone as polite as ever.
“Do you know? It is a shame to see you leave, I had hoped you would stay for the day,” the host said.
“We have exams soon, and we need to be well rested once they start, I appreciate the hospitality though it would be much better to be informed next time, I thought I was going to have to fight my way through your knights.” Ludwig laughed.
“Ah, once again I apologize for the discourtesy my knights had shown, we will escort you back to the teleportation gates then,” he said.
“No, we need to head back to the inn, we still have some of our belongings there,” Ludwig said.
“Then the inn it is,” he said and gave a command to one of the servants.
Soon, Ludwig’s group left on the same carriage that brought them in, this time the banner of the Urbaf House fluttered above them and in the hands of a few of the riders.
“So…” Hoyo said.
“So…” Kassandra also added.
“What?” Ludwig questioned.
“What was all that about?” Hoyo said in a hushed tone hoping that his words won’t be heard by the riders next to the carriage.
“What do you mean?” Ludwig asked.
“Well, everything, I mean, the way you ate, the way you spoke, and how you were adamantly defending Alva. Did you fall in love or something?” Hoyo said.
Ludwig gave him the ‘the hell you on about,’ look. And then explained. “I didn’t like it,” he said.
“What didn’t you like?” Kassandra asked. “You seemed pretty practiced for such things.”
“The way they were behaving, treating us as pawns, I don’t like that, I respect power but would never bow down to it,” Ludwig said. He came from power and influence after all, and knows very well that the moment you let your guard down around people of his circle, he’ll be eaten up and spat faster than one could blink.
“What abut all that food things…” Hoyo said. I’m sure as hell that you’re not a noble, you don’t act or speak like them… well, you did so perfectly earlier somehow.”
Ludwig sighed, shaking his head. “I’ve been around people like them before mostly in the academy. Let’s just say I know how to deal with them.”
Hoyo tilted his head, unconvinced. “You didn’t just deal with them; you outplayed them. That etiquette lesson? The way you handled their jabs? You made them look like amateurs. Where’d you learn all that?”
“I had a lot of practice,” Ludwig replied vaguely. “The rest is just common sense.”
“Common sense?” Kassandra repeated with a laugh. “You call pulling a dining masterclass out of thin air ‘common sense’? I’ve never seen anyone handle nobles like that, not even the professors at the academy.”
“Which is pretty impressive,” Hoyo said, “First the King’s Gambit, and now dining etiquettes and speech control, one would honestly have a hard time believing you to be anything but a noble, but still, the way you talk with us is proof that you’re anything but.”
“You make it sound like I’m some sort of thug,” Ludwig said.
“Yep. Definitely a thug… good looking one though,” Kassandra chirped in.
Ludwig could only sigh at his friends and watched as the scenery slowly changed.
Once they were at the inn, the innkeeper was the first to meet them, “Are you all good?” he asked.
“Oh, thank you for worrying,” Ludwig said.
“Who said I was worried,” the innkeeper replied immediately. For a burly looking man like him he sure was gentle. A Tsundere what they call them.
Ludwig smiled, “I saw that you were about to bash a few heads in with your dough-roller. Thanks for that, but there was nothing serious, they just wanted to talk.”
“I see, do you boys… and girl, need some food?” he asked.
“Sadly we were stuffed full, but I wouldn’t mind some good beer to down some of the grease.”
“Grease? This early in the day, poor lads you had it rough, Vinni, get me some warm beer for these boys.”
“Do you not have anything cold…” Hoyo complained.
“Beer is best served warm, if you want cold beer you can go have it somewhere else!” the innkeeper replied sternly and protectively.
“Did you not know, that cold beer numbs the taste buds and mask the flavors of a well-crafted brew? A fine beer should be served warm.” Ludwig explained.
“Ah, the boy knows his stuff, for you, your drink is free!” the innkeeper smiled at Ludwig.
The group sat on their table and began having their drinks while Vinni presented his unique catch phrase “Here’s some Bear Deer,” which was awkward but seemed to grow on the people of the inn.
The patrons of the inn were eyeing their group a bit too much, and you could still hear from the whispers that they were talking about the events of yesterday.
“We really just became the talk of town,” Hoyo said.
“What do you mean we, it’s all Ludwig,” she said as she drank from her own mug.
“I’m not a big fan of it, too much attention sucks,” he said.
The group continued on until later in the afternoon where Ludwig had to leave.
“Where are you going?” Hoyo asked.
“Back to the academy,” Ludwig said.
“Already? The day is not over, we still didn’t get to fully explore the Mage Masquerade, the event hasn’t ended yet.” Kassandra said, “There is still a dance and a firework at the end…” she said her eyes looking like a puppy begging for a treat.
‘did she want to see the fireworks or maybe dance that bad?’
“As much as I want to, I was asked by Master Van Dijk to present myself as soon as possible. Please have fun in my stead. I need to go and meet him.” Ludwig explained.
Disappointment was clear in their eyes, but they couldn’t say anything, “Also here,” Ludwig said as he placed one of the two pouches of gold he now has in their table, “Get me something from the event,” Ludwig said.
“What about you?” Hoyo said, “Isn’t that all the money Master Van Dijk gave you?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Ludwig said, he wasn’t about to tell them that he received the missing portion of the money yesterday. “Have fun on my behalf,” He said and left.
Ludwig wandered through the streets of Rima, heading toward the central square where the teleportation to the academy was.
But as he was moving past the streets he noticed a small alleyway that had a single store deep inside it.
The store itself looked old and poorly maintained, but there was a potion sign on top of it.
Ludwig remembered how he was desperately in need of potions when he was fighting, and wouldn’t mind precuring a few potions in case of emergency they could save him in a time of need.
Just as Ludwig was about to enter the store, the door opened, “Thank you for your visit,” he heard from inside the store as a tall man emerged out.
Ludwig instantly froze as he saw the man’s eyes. Yellow, almost piss like. They were the first thing that brought attention to this man, while the rest of his body was covered in a long coat. A top-hat was neatly positioned above his head. The hair on his visible body was incredibly thick. But what got Ludwig completely stunned was the thing hanging from the side of his belt.
A Soul letting lantern.
“What? You look like you saw a monster?” the man said.